These are the stories that drove conversation today:
The Nigerian Police Force today declared four suspects who participated in the bank robbery incidents in Offa, Kwara on April 4 wanted. Their photographs while in action were also released.
This is contained in the latest update provided by the police through its spokesman, Assistant Commissioner of Police Jimoh Moshood in Abuja on Friday, following the arrest of 20 principal suspects and the recovery of exhibits including Beretta pistols, rounds of live ammunition, cell phones and SIM cards belonging to some of the victims killed during the robbery attack.
Mr Moshood said that the Kwara State Government has promised a N5 million bounty for information about the suspects and other gang leaders at large and assured informants whose information would lead to the arrest of the suspects of their protection.
He equally assured that the police would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all the perpetrators of the Offa banks robbery which took place exactly one month ago were arrested.
An interim order was today given at the Kogi State High Court, Lokoja, in favour of Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West that he be moved to the National Hospital Abuja, for proper medical attention.
The trial judge Justice Nasir Ajanah, gave the order on Friday after the counsel to the defendant, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) sought for his bail.
The judge ruled however that the senator must remain under the police custody while he is being transferred to the national hospital and hearing for the bail application was being adjourned until Monday, May 7, 2018.
Melaye who is being tried for an alleged criminal conspiracy, causing damage to government property, attempted suicide and escape from lawful custody is currently bedridden owing to a spinal chord injury he sustained after he jumped out of a moving police vehicle on April 24.
The Independent National Electoral Commission said only N100 million was spent on the failed attempt to recall Kogi-West lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye.
The Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on Friday while responding to questions posed to him at a press conference in Abuja.
Yakubu said, “A recall exercise is just like conducting a Senatorial election, adding that Kogi-West which Melaye represents, has 552 polling units and seven local government (areas)”.
“The substantial part of it went to the payment of ad-hoc staff and logistics,’” he also added.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said its voter register was not substantially used for the February 10 Kano State local government election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this on Friday in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the report of its Investigation Committee on the alleged participation of under aged persons in the election set up on Feb. 21.
“The few images and video clips from Kano show no accreditation of voters or any relationship with the register of voters’’, he said.
He also disclosed that the commission was not creating new polling units ahead of the 2019 general elections, as there was no time to do so.
The US President Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has spent about $4.7 billion in the past 14 years to fight HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.
The Country Director, US Public Health Service, Mahesh Swaminathan, stated this on Thursday at a press conference attended by Nigerian officials on the forthcoming Nigeria Aids Indicators and Impact Survey (NAIIS) in Abuja.
NAIIS is a national household survey to be conducted by the Nigerian government with support from PEPFAR and other partners.
The survey is expected to begin in June and last for about six months covering the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with a aim to reach about 170,000 people.
And now stories from around the world:
Four miners were killed and three others were trapped underground after an earthquake hit a gold mine outside Johannesburg.
According to the owners of the mining company as contained in a statement released on Friday, thirteen miners were initially trapped about three kilometres (two miles) below the surface. Six of the rescued workers have however been hospitalised.
Atletico Madrid’s striker, Diego Costa ended Arsene Wenger’s dreams of a glorious Arsenal exit as his goal sent his team through to the Europa League final. Thursday.
Diego Costa’s 53rd minute strike which was the only goal of the night at the Wanda Metropolitano in the Spanish capital was just enough to qualify Atletico for the final with a 2-1 aggregate on Thursday.
The 1-0 defeat meant that Wenger’s final season in charge as Coach of Arsenal ends without a European trophy to his name and the North London club missing out on Champions League qualification for a second year in a row.
Atletico Madrid will now clash with French side, Olympique Marseille in the Europa League final scheduled for May 16 in Lyon.
Rangers unveiled former England and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard as their new manager on Friday, handing the rookie boss the daunting task of ending Celtic’s domination of the Scottish Premiership.
Gerrard, who had only previously worked with Liverpool’s Under-18s, takes charge of the giant club with a record 54 Scottish titles, but have fallen on hard times in the past decade, including a gradual recovery from the fallout of their liquidation in 2012 and subsequent demotion to the fourth tier of Scottish football. despite winning
The 37-year-old who hung up his boots in 2016 after a 17-year career at Anfield and a 12-month stint with LA Galaxy, named former Liverpool team-mate Gary McAllister as his assistant.
His major task would be to end the domination of the Scottish Premiership by Celtic currently under Brendan Rodgers, Gerrard’s former boss at Anfield who sealed the Scottish title with a 5-0 thrashing of Rangers on Sunday.
Temidayo Taiwo-Sidiq is a Journalist, Political Analyst and Satirist with major interest in Nigerian Politics, Governance and Sports.
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