ICent Rex

Nigerian president , Muhammadu Buhari yesterday publicly confirmed his intention to seek a second term in office in next year's presidential elections, recalling that he had contested for the nation’s plum job several times in the past but lost. This happened at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi, the Bauchi state capital, where the President, who is on a two-day official visit to the state, addressed a mammoth crowd. Recall that the President had about a fortnight ago before departing to London ahead of 2018 CHOGM told the National Executive Committee members of his party – the APC – that he would be seeking re-election in 2019. The President’s declaration was announced by Governors Simon Lalong, Nasir El-Rufai and a presidential aide. Confirming his decision to seek re-election, Buhari told the Bauchi crowd, “When I came into power as a military Head of State during the military era, there was nothing like insurgency in the North East, alth...

Professor Richard Akindele, the Obafemi Awolowo University OAU lecturer who was recently caught in a recorded audio conversation asking one of his female students, Enitan, for sex in order to pass his course, has been suspended indefinitely. The audio conversation went viral last week. A member of an investigative committee set up by the management of the school to look into the allegation, told Punch that the erring lecturer has appeared before the panel to state his own side but the female student who is a regular Masters student, failed to show up to testify before the panel. “The committee recommended the indefinite suspension of the professor pending the time the final report will be ready. The committee established a prima facie case against the professor. But note that this is the interim report of the committee. The committee invited the professor and the female student. We identified the student and invited her, but she did not appear. Only the professor honoured our ...

The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile Ife, Osun State, has queried professor Richard Akindele, who was accused of demanding sex from a female student. He was said to have demanded the sex to upgrade a female student’s poor result. This was disclosed by the Public Relations Officer of OAU, Abiodun Olanrewaju, when he spoke on Wednesday during a radio programme on Rave FM in Osogbo, the state capital. According to him, investigation had commenced already into the allegation against the don. The PRO said, “We have put machinery in motion to ascertain the veracity of the claims and identify the characters involved. “As I am talking to you now, the management has taken a position which we will be working on now. “On the day that the audio was leaked, the vice chancellor and other principal officers of the university acted, including the legal director of the university. “We set up a committee and the vice chancellor gave the committee...

Nathaniel Sharibu, father of the yet-to-be released Dapchi schoolgirl, Leah, has said no one has told him about the whereabouts of his daughter. Leah was among over 100 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgents in Dapchi, Yobe state, but was not released for failure to renounce Christianity. According to her father, his wife fainted and was rushed to a hospital when the other schoolgirls were released without Leah. Nathaniel said, “Till now I have not heard anything and no authority has told me anything about the whereabouts of Leah. “Loved ones were calling to congratulate me that my daughter is on her way home. But uptill now I have not seen anything yet,” adding “it's very sad; if we are going to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ without Leah.” The father of three said his “wife fainted and was rushed to a hospital when Leah’s 104 school mates were returned to Dapchi after one month in captivity. “I real...

US President Donald Trump on Friday designated April 2018 “National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month” amid a national debate over the issue. Trump himself has been repeatedly accused of sexual misconduct by different women. “Sexual assault crimes remain tragically common in our society, and offenders too often evade accountability,” said a proclamation from Trump released by the White House. “These heinous crimes are committed indiscriminately: in intimate relationships, in public spaces, and in the workplace.” “Too often, however, the victims of assault remain silent. They may fear retribution from their offender, lack faith in the justice system, or have difficulty confronting the pain associated with the traumatic experience,” it continued. “My administration is committed to raising awareness about sexual assault and to empowering victims to identify perpetrators so that they can be held accountable.”...

Anthony Joshua was taken the distance for the first time in his professional career before winning a unanimous points decision in his world heavyweight title unification fight with Joseph Parker in Cardiff on Saturday. After 12 rounds, Britain’s Joshua triumphed 118-110, 118-110, 119-109 on the three judges’ scorecards. Victory extended London 2012 Olympic champion Joshua’s perfect pro record to 21 wins from as many bouts but was the first he’d failed to do so by a knockout. It also saw International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) champion Joshua add Parker’s World Boxing Organisation (WBO) belt to his collection. This result was Parker’s first defeat in his 25- fight pro career. Saturday’s contest in front of a 78,000 capacity crowd at the Principality Stadium was the first time two previously undefeated heavyweight champions had met for a World title in Britain. Joshua’s win should move him closer to...