Manchester United fans hid in Old Trafford toilet overnight BBC SPORT

• Manchester United and Arsenal played a 1 -1 draw at Old Trafford on Saturday, Nov 19.
• Two supporters of the red devils hid themselves in the stadium toilet a night before the game  
• The duo were apprehended in the morning before the game during a security sweep of the stadium and were handed over to police

Two Manchester United fans spent Friday night undetected in an Old Trafford toilet in an attempt to see Saturday's Premier League game against Arsenal.

The supporters had been on a stadium tour but managed to cut themselves off from the remainder of the party.

They were found on Saturday morning during a security sweep of the stadium before being handed over to police, who decided not to arrest the pair.

United say there was no risk to supporters attending the Arsenal game.

The pair had been searched and their belongings put through a metal detector before they went on the tour.

The incident comes six months after United's Premier League game against Bournemouth at Old Trafford had to be called off at short notice when a suspect package was found in a toilet in the corner of the stadium.

It turned out to be a fake explosive left behind after a training exercise earlier in the week.

$15M: Patience Jonathan Loses In court

JUSTICE Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court Lagos, on Tuesday refused to restrain a fellow judge from taking steps in relation to the frozen $15.5 million allegedly belonging to Patience Jonathan.

Mr. Idris declined an application by counsel to the former first lady, Ifedayo Adedipe, who sought an order to restrain Justice Babs Kuewumi from taking further steps on the frozen sum.

Mr. Adedipe had urged the court to stop Justice Kuewumi from making any forfeiture orders, in respect of the said sum, which was frozen by the EFCC, until the determination of an interlocutory application on the subject.

It will be recalled that Mrs. Jonathan had instituted a fundamental rights suit against the EFCC, claiming the sum of $200 million as damages for inconveniences suffered.

In her suit, she had joined the EFCC, Skye Bank plc, and a former aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Warampo Dudafa, as respondents.

Also joined in the suit are four companies: Pluto Property Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd, Transocean company Ltd and Globus Integrated Service Ltd.

Mr. Dudafa was charged alongside the four companies before Justice Kuewumi, on 15 counts of money laundering.

Representatives of the four companies, which the EFCC said were used by Mr. Dudafa to launder the said money, had all pleaded guilty to the offences.



The said $15.5 million is the same sum which the former first lady claims belongs to her as sole signatory to the accounts of the companies.


When the case was called on Tuesday, Justice Idris acknowledged a letter from counsel representing Skye Bank, Lanre Ogunlesi, stating that he was indisposed and could not attend the court.


The judge added that since Mr. Ogunlesi has requested for a new date to enable him appear in court, the hearing of the application on notice could not proceed.


Meanwhile, before the court could adjourned the case, Mr. Adedipe had urged the judge to direct the EFCC not to tamper with the subject matter of the case pending the hearing of the interlocutory application.


In response, counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to dismiss the application on the grounds that the accounts which housed the money had been frozen.


He urged the court to dismiss the application with a “wave of hand”; adding that there was already an order of court convicting four defendants for warehousing proceeds of crime.


In a short ruling, Justice Idris held that he could not go into the merits or demerits of the interlocutory application, until it is moved.


He ordered accelerated hearing of the case and said that he could not make any order that will be prejudicial to the outcome of the main suit.


He consequently adjourned the case to December 7 for hearing of the main application.


In her suit, Mrs. Jonathan is urging the court to issue an order discharging the freezing order, and restraining the EFCC and its agent from further placing a freezing order on the said accounts.


[NAN]

Six Cameroonian Troops Killed In Boko Haram Attack

Reuters reported that suspected Boko Haram militants also launched two separate attacks in Cameroon, including a foiled suicide-bombing attempt, but neither claimed any casualties.

Boko Haram terrorists launched an attack on an army base in the Lake Chad area on Monday that left six Cameroonian soldiers dead, according to a report by AFP.

“Boko Haram attacked a base of the Mixed Multinational Force on the island of Darak (on Lake Chad) at around 22:00 on Monday,” a military source revealed to AFP.

Another source added that a civilian from a vigilante counter-terrorist group was also killed.

Reuters reported that suspected Boko Haram militants also launched two separate attacks in Cameroon, including a foiled suicide-bombing attempt, but neither claimed any casualties.

“Between yesterday and today there were three attacks: in Darak, in Diguina and a thwarted kamikaze strike in the Kolofata [camp],” a senior military source told Reuters. All three attacks were carried out in the Far North Region of Cameroon.

The attempted suicide bomber, the source added, was a woman who attempted to enter a military post near an internally displaced persons camp. After refusing to stop running, military officers neutralized her, preventing her from detonating her bomb.

In Diguina, insurgents burned houses, but no civilians were killed, according to the same source.

Cameroon is part of the multinational coalition fighting Boko Haram that includes Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Benin. According to the International Crisis Group, more than 1500 people have been killed in Boko Haram attacks in Cameroon.

Cameroon Troops

OndoDecides: Police Deploys 26,000 Officers For Guber Poll

Additionally, Mr. Idris said 3 aerial surveillance helicopters, 20 gunboats, 12 armored personnel carriers (APCs), and 300 patrol vehicles would be deployed for the Saturday governorship election.

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) announced on Tuesday that it would deploy 26,000 police officers to Ondo State to ensure peace and security ahead of the governorship election on Saturday.

Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), made the disclosure on Tuesday at a stakeholders meeting with leaders of political parties organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the State capital of Akure.

Mr. Idris said the personnel dispatched to Ondo State for the gubernatorial poll would display a high level of professionalism in their conduct and would ensure that polling units are adequately protected.

“Purely for this election, we are deploying an additional 26,000 police officers. These officers are going to enforce security at the polling units; each polling unit will have a minimum of five policemen in addition to other sister security agencies,” Mr. Idris said.

He added that the Ondo State border would be under tight security throughout the election.

A SaharaReporters correspondent gathered that the officers would come from the Police Mobile Force, the Counter-Terrorism Unit, the Anti-Bomb Squad, the Marine Police, and the Sniffer Dog Section, in addition to conventional NPF officers.

Additionally, Mr. Idris said 3 aerial surveillance helicopters, 20 gunboats, 12 armored personnel carriers (APCs), and 300 patrol vehicles would be deployed for the Saturday governorship election.

He added that the surveillance helicopters would be deployed to each of the three senatorial district of the State for effective policing.

The police boss maintained that the police would use dogs and horses for the protection of the State Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He said that the force, in collaboration with other sister security agencies, would be decisive on the restriction of movement of electorates on the day of the election.

Mr. Idris further explained that the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Abuja, Habila Joshak, has been deployed to Ondo State to coordinate security operations ahead of the poll.

He assured that the security plan would guarantee a transparent and credible election, which will enable eligible voters to exercise their franchise freely during the Saturday governorship election.

The police boss who later addressed his officers at the State force headquarters on Igbatoro Road urged them not to compromise with unscrupulous politicians during the election.

Fourteen Police Officers Fired For Misconduct

A statement by DCP Don Awunah, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, listed the offenses as aiding and abetting serious crimes, conspiracy with militants and disappearance of explosives.

The Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday announced the dismissal of 14 policemen for various levels of misconduct.

A statement by DCP Don Awunah, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, listed the offenses as aiding and abetting serious crimes, conspiracy with militants and disappearance of explosives.

Awunah said that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, on assumption of duty, instituted strict measures to ensure that the conduct of officers conformed to international best practices and norms.

He said that the IGP was determined to ensure that Police duties and other responsibilities were carried out professionally without compromising integrity and allegiance to the nation and the force.

The force image maker listed the affected policemen as ex ASP Yuguda Abbah, ex Sgt. Habila Sarki, ex Diphen Nimmyel, ex Sgt. Yasan Danda, ex Sgt. Abbas Mailalle and ex Sgt. Bwanason Tanko.

Others were ex Sgt. Donan James, ex Cpl. Idris Salisu, ex Cpl. Zakari Kofi, ex Sgt. Musbahu Yahaya, ex Sgt. Ugenlo Sylveste, ex Sgt. Musa Umar,  ex Cpl Omale Edicha and ex Sgt. Laibi Opakegba .

He said the aforementioned personnel of the force who used their official capacities to carry out misconduct were dealt with according to the law to serve as deterrent to others.

“The following personnel of the Force who erred and compromised in discharging their duties and betraying the official oath of office were arrested, subjected to internal disciplinary measures and punished according to the gravity of their offenses," he said.

“This unacceptable professional misconduct are categorized as follows: Aiding and abetting serious crimes, Conspiracy with militants and Disappearance of explosives.

“The IGP wishes to acknowledge and commend the patriotic and tireless police officers who are making sure that Nigeria is safe and secure especially at the flash points of the North East, North Central and South- South (Niger Delta).

“Their sacrifices will not go in vain; they will be adequately rewarded.

“Admittedly, these remarkable achievements are clear testimonies of interagency synergy between the police and our sister intelligence agencies," he stated.

He said that the IGP recognized and appreciated the professional and institutional support of sister agencies.

According to Awunah, the process to progressively sanitize the system of unprofessional and criminally minded personnel will be sustained.

Buhari Won't Be Alone In 2019, Presidency Says

Reacting to allegations by a former Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) member, Buba Galadima, that Mr. Buhari would be abandoned by the people in 2019, Mr. Shehu said Mr. Galadima's calculation and prediction is utterly confused and misleading.

President Muhammadu Buhari's Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, has dismissed suggestions that the masses will desert the president in 2019 as unfounded and utterly ridiculous. He asserted that ordinary Nigerians are the backbone of Mr. Buhari's mandate and the only reason he ran for the office was to protect them against the rapacious merchants of corruption, who have held Nigeria back for decades.

Reacting to allegations by a former Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) member, Buba Galadima, that Mr. Buhari would be abandoned by the people in 2019, Mr.  Shehu said Mr. Galadima's calculation and prediction is utterly confused and misleading.

He said the masses are solidly behind Mr. Buhari because he is not stealing their money and their future, that the president's enormous goodwill remains ever strong because the people are convinced the president is acting in their best interest, despite the temporary unintended consequences of reforms.

"President Muhammadu Buhari is far from isolation. He enjoys a very strategic relationship with ordinary Nigerians. This relationship is as solid a the proverbial rock. If Buba Galadima thinks that because he has no role and no job in this government that means president is isolated he is putting himself up to ridicule," Mr. Shehu said.

According to him, Mr. Galadima cannot speak for the masses as far as their steadfast loyalty to the president is concerned. While acknowledging that Mr. Galadima was entitled to advance his own political agenda, Mr. Garba said Mr. Galadima did not have the right to decide for ordinary voters.

Mr. Shehu recalled that Buba Galadima's disagreement with Mr. Buhari was based on principle. He explained that the president is committed to a level playing field and would not want anyone to link his name to injustice.

The presidential media aide said Mr. Galadima's disagreement with Mr. Buhari started in 2011 when a group within the party orchestrated an organizational mess by which the CPC embarked on the imposition and substitution of candidates for cash payments at the expense of those duly and democratically elected.

He said Muhammadu Buhari was embarrassed by the incidents and complaints about the imposition and substitution of candidates, adding that he, as a democrat, would not suppress the will of the people to please selfish interests. Consequently he dispensed with the service, such as they are, of Buba Galadima and ran and won the 2015 elections without them.

"Let Buba Galadima go to his constituency, stand for election and see what will happen to him," Mr. Shehu concluded

Supreme Court Orders Expeditious Hearing Of Eyitayo Jegede’s Petition At Court Of Appeal

A panel of five Supreme Court justices in Abuja today ordered expeditious hearing of the election case involving two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) concerning the choice of a legitimate candidate for the governorship election in Ondo State.

The court made the decision after a counsel to Biyi Poroye, the Chairman of the Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction of the party, withdrew several motions asking for a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal which had planned to rule on the matter last week. Following the disclosure by SaharaReporters that Governor Olusegun Mimiko had penetrated the court, the panel suddenly halted its proceedings. 

In suspending the judgment, which had been scheduled for last Friday, the Court of Appeal attributed its action to the Supreme Court having indicated to it that it would consider the appeal by Mr. Poroye, which contested the legitimacy of the Justice Ibrahim Salauwa-led Court of Appeal panel.

During today’s hearing, Poroye’s lawyer, Beloulisa Nwafor (SAN) withdrew all his petitions before the Supreme Court, leading the apex court to order an expeditious hearing of the case before the Court of Appeal. 

With the decision, the Court of Appeal is expected to give a ruling that would significantly shake the gubernatorial election scheduled for Saturday, just days away, in Ondo state.

An Independent National Electoral Commission source told SaharaReporters that a postponement of the election was not in the cards.

Eyitayo Jegede (L) and Governor Olusegun Mimiko (R)