S/Africa Stops Al-Bashir From Leaving After Arrest Call:

South African authorities have stopped Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir from leaving the country after the International Criminal Court (ICC) called for his arrest at a summit in Johannesburg.

Bashir, who is wanted for alleged war crimes against humanity and genocide in the Darfur conflict, mostly travels to countries that have not joined the ICC, but South Africa is a signatory of the court’s statutes.

The South African judge ruling was the first time any court has prevented a head of state from leaving a country following a request by the ICC, but Khartoum remained defiant, insisting Bashir would return home.

Judge Hans Fabricius said in his ruling said that “President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan is prohibited from leaving the Republic of South Africa until the final order is made in this application.”

“The respondents are directed to take all necessary steps to prevent him from doing so,” he said.

The ICC said in a statement from its headquarters in The Hague that it “calls on South Africa… to spare no effort in ensuring the execution of the arrest warrants” against Bashir.

Buhari to African leaders: My efforts to stop Boko Haram:

 

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, briefed African leaders on his efforts towards combating the Boko Haram insurgency in the country’s North-East even as he challenged them to collectively stop the sordid stories of migrants dying across the Mediterranean Sea.

In an address presented at the opening ceremony of the 25th ordinary session of the African Union, AU, Buhari also paid respect to former President Goodluck Jonathan for helping to avert a crisis in the country by facilitating a smooth transition in power.

Noting the challenge against his administration from Boko Haram and his efforts towards overcoming the threats by the group, he said: “Our continent is currently bedevilled by the twin evils of terrorism and insecurity, poverty, youth unemployment, and underdevelopment.

“The destructive effects of the inhuman and criminal campaigns of the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria and neighbouring countries; the Al-Shabab attacks in East Africa, and the activities of the Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb, all bear testimony to a continent under siege.

Mugabe Blasts Nigeria at AU Summit for "Betraying" Africa:

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has blasted Nigeria and South Africa at the AU Summit for agreeing with the UN Security Council Resolution 1973 in 2011, which authorised military action against the regime of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, IOL reports....

He reportedly stated that the two countries had betrayed the continent which could never trust them.
He said as a result Africa would never agree to them getting permanent seats on the UN Security Council.

Mugabe intervened in a meeting of the so-called “Committee of 10” at the summit on Saturday which was discussing possible amendments to the “Ezulwini Consensus” .

The "Ezulwini Consensus" stated Africa’s position on reform of the UN Security Council.

Don’t take bribe, Aisha Buhari tells President’s men:

The wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha has warned those around the President not to use their position to curry favours, but to key into his agenda of fighting corruption and insecurity....

Speaking while she hosted women and youths to a ‘thank you’ dinner, Mrs. Buhari said the success of the administration would depend on how the people around the President conduct themselves.

According to her, there should be a better representation of women in all arms of government in order to ensure that their concerns are better articulated.

She said: “There was nothing that people did not say about the past administration. It is not Jonathan that is not good, but the people around him.

“So, the people that are going to be around General Buhari have to be very careful because this election ended peacefully.

Before the end of June, workers would get their salaries – Aregbesola

Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, said his government is set to pay workers outstanding salaries before the end of June....
Aregbesola made the declaration in a statement issued in Osogbo on Sunday through his media aide, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon.

Most workers are being owed seven months’ salaries.

But the statement was silent on whether the governor would pay the backlog or he would pay part of the salaries.

The governor stated that he had a great dream for the state and that was why he was in a hurry to begin many programmes which had earned him applause even outside the country.

EFCC slams 50 fresh money laundering charges on Sylva:

Apparently angered and disappointed by the dismissal of the money laundering charges it preferred against former Bayelsa governor, Timipre Sylva, by Justice A. R. Mohammed of the Abuja Federal High Court, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, released 50 fresh charges against the All Progressives Congress, APC, chi...eftain.

The charges were increased from the initial 42 to 50 by the anti-graft agency, thereby giving Sylva a tougher task to defend himself in the matter, which has already been filed and likely to be assigned to a new judge.

28 APC senators walk out of Senate session:

 

Members of the Barnabas Gemade -led Senate Unity Forum have threatened to take a legal action against the emergence of Bukola Saraki on Tuesday as the President of the Senate.

They told a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday that the election of Saraki did not follow due constitutional procedure.

They addressed the journalists after walking out of the Senate chambers when Saraki overruled Gemade and Kabiru Marafa while questioning the process that produced the new Senate leadership.

Saraki had administered oath of office and allegiance on 28 All Progressives Congress lawmakers, who were absent at the inauguration of the Eighth Senate but when plenary commenced, Gemade and Marafa raised a point of order on the issue.

Gemade, a former Peoples Democratic Party national chairman, demanded full integration of the SUF members who were absent from the formal inauguration on Tuesday.

APC may sanction Atiku, Tambuwal over N’Assembly elections:

There are indications that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress may sanction former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, over the outcome of the National Assembly elections of Monday.

Sources within the APC said Atiku colluded with Senator Bukola Saraki to undermine the will of the party while Tambuwal, who is the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, supported Yakubu Dogara who emerged as Tambuwal’s successor.

The suspicion of the APC leadership was reignited by the fact that Atiku was the first person Saraki visited after emerging as Senate President on Monday, apparently to thank Atiku.

A reliable source within the party said the party was aware of moves by the Peoples Democratic Party to secure principal offices in the National Assembly over a month ago and that was why the party selected staunch APC members – Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila – as its candidates for Senate President and Speaker respectively.

Senator Tinubu rejects Saraki’s handshake:

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Wednesday, administered the oath of office and allegiance on his closed rival in the contest for the Senate President for the 8th senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan and 27 other Senators that missed their oath taking on Tuesday....

But the oath-taking and allegiance witnessed a mild drama as Senator Oluremi Tinubu Representing Lagos Central on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, held back her hands when the Senate President in line with the tradition after administering the oath stretched out his hands to shake her.

However, other APC Senators who participated in the exercise including Senator Lawan who was adopted by the leadership of the APC for the Senate President position had the hand shake with Senator Saraki.

The Senate after the oath taking entered into closed door session.

Ogogoro tragedy in Rivers: Death toll now 66

Rivers State government, yesterday, said the death toll from consumed poisonous local gin, otherwise known as ogogoro, has risen to 66 from 38....

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Somiari Harry, who disclosed this to journalists shortly after a meeting with vendors of ogogoro, said efforts were on to ensure stoppage of consumption till further notice.

A major dealer of the local gin in Nembe/Creek road area in Port Harcourt, who was at the meeting, said it was unfortunate that deaths were being traced to consumption of the gin.

He said his family had been in the business since 1971, and that nobody had died from consuming their product.

28 APC senators walk out of Senate session

 

Members of the Barnabas Gemade -led Senate Unity Forum have threatened to take a legal action against the emergence of Bukola Saraki on Tuesday as the President of the Senate.

They told a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday that the election of Saraki did not follow due constitutional procedure.

They addressed the journalists after walking out of the Senate chambers when Saraki overruled Gemade and Kabiru Marafa while questioning the process that produced the new Senate leadership.

Saraki had administered oath of office and allegiance on 28 All Progressives Congress lawmakers, who were absent at the inauguration of the Eighth Senate but when plenary commenced, Gemade and Marafa raised a point of order on the issue.