SABINEWS EVENING NEWS UPDATE NOVEMBER 6, 2018
Dino Melaye’s Trial Stalled Over Prosecution’s Omission
The trial of the Kogi East Senator, Dino Melaye, before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama, Abuja, was aborted shortly after it commenced with the testimony of the first prosecution witness on Tuesday. The testimony of the witness was cut short after the defence raised an objection to its continuation on the grounds that the written statement of the witness was not part of the proof of evidence served on it by the prosecution. The case involves two counts in which Melaye was accused of deliberately giving false information to the Police to frame the Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Mr. Edward Onoja David, in an alleged assassination attempt on his (Melaye’s) life.
Senate Sets Up Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate $3.5bn NNPC Subsidy
The Senate says it has set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the use to which the sum of $3.5bn alleged subsidy was put. This was contained in a tweet on the verified Twitter handle of The Nigerian Senate, @NGRSenate. “Senator Bassey Akpan cited Orders 43 and 95 and drew the attention of the Senate to the various emails and complaints from the general public on the unauthorised withdrawal of $3.5bn by NNPC from the NLNG account,” the Senate added. “I ask that the Senate Committee on Gas immediately investigate this matter,” Senator Bassey Akpan said; while Senator Emmanuel Paulker urged that “The ad hoc committee that was set up should carry on with their work, while the Committee on Gas should also investigate the matter.”
Senate Probes NNPC’s Alleged Diversion Of $1bn From NLNG Dividend
The Senate has begun an investigation into the diversion of $1.05bn from the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas dividend to augment the shortfalls between the landing cost and pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol). Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Gas), Senator Bassey Akpan, raised a point of order at the plenary on Tuesday to urge the lawmakers to probe the withdrawal and payments. President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, ruled that the committee should go ahead with the probe. Saraki had on Monday said the upper chamber of the National Assembly would further probe the claims by the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Maikanti Baru, on how and why the corporation was diverting the dividends from the NLNG.
4 Reps dump APC
Four members of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the House of Representatives have announced their defection from the party. They are Mr Abiodun Awoleye-Dada, who has moved to the Accord party; Mr Samuel Segun-Williams, who has moved to the Labour Party; and Mr Lawan Hassan-Anka, who has joined the People’s Democratic Party. The fourth member, Mr Lam Adesina, has defected to the African Democratic Congress.
Lagos Inspector of Police Found Dead in Owerri Borrow Pit
An Inspector of Police, Samuel Onwuerigho, attached to the 22 Police Mobile Force, Lagos, Tuesday was found dead in a borrow pit along Ekwuoma Road, Owerri Olubo in Delta State. The 51-year-old’s weapon and ammunition were taken away by those who murdered him, confirmed by an eyewitness. The cause of the incident and those responsible for this criminal act couldn’t be ascertained at the period of filling this report.
Ex-Abia Warriors Brazilian Coach Now to Handle Akwa United FC
The management of the Akwa United Football Club (FC) of Uyo has settled with the former FC Ifeanyiuba of Nnewi coach, Rafael Everton as the new coach of the state darling team. Until his latest engagement with the Akwa United FC, the Brazilian coach was with the Abia Warriors FC of Umuahia. Coach Everton who signed a one-year contract now replaces Abdul Maikaba who crossed over to Plateau United FC of Jos last month. At a ceremony to unveil the new coach of the team, the Akwa United FC chairman Paul Bassey said yesterday that Everton fitted into the plans and visions the management has for the team.
2018 Rainoil Open Tennis Tournament to Serve off Nov 8 in Lagos
The 2018 Rainoil Open Tennis Tournament is to serve off on November 8 at the Tennis Section of Ikoyi Club 1938. Speaking at the press briefing to herald the tournament in Lagos yesterday, Group Managing Director of Rainoil, Mr Gabriel Ogbechie said that over 180 players are expected to feature in the weeklong tennis fiesta. He said the tournament was made an open one in order to add value to it and allow more top quality players to be involved. “The previous format of Tennis Masters was restrictive. It was meant for only the top eight male and top eight female players on the Nigeria Tennis Federation ranking.
Bale under scrutiny again as Madrid feel the love for Vinicius
“Bale es fantastico”, Real Madrid´s interim coach Santiago Solari said, but still took him off in the 71st minute against Real Valladolid on Saturday. Madrid was drifting towards a 0-0 draw at their Santiago Bernabeu home and, searching for inspiration, it was Bale´s number 11 that came up. He departed to whistles from the fans even if Solari, perhaps deliberately, spared him being replaced directly by Vinicius Junior.
2 Varsity Students Drown In River While Taking Selfies
Two university students, Derrick Auka and Sharon Atieno, drowned in River Yala in Bondo, Siaya County of Kenya while taking selfies. Auka, who is a third-year student of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology and Atieno, a student at Bondo Technical Training Institute, had gone on a nature walk when the incident happened. They were taking selfies when the incident occurred at Got-Winyo Bridge in Bondo Sub-county.
Americans Start Voting In Midterm Verdict on Trump Rule
Americans started voting Tuesday in critical midterm elections that mark the first major voter test of Donald Trump’s controversial presidency, with control of Congress at stake. About three quarters of the 50 states in the east and center of the country were already voting as polls began opening at 6:00 am (1100 GMT) for the day-long ballot. Republicans were keenly aware that losing their majority will hamstring his political agenda over the next two years.
