Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump promised Thursday to bring an end to raging international crises and restore American prestige on the world stage, saying he could “stop wars with a telephone call.” The former president sought to paint a dire picture of the world under his successor Joe Biden, telling the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee that the planet is “teetering on the edge of World War III.” “We will restore peace, stability and harmony throughout the world,” Trump said, without giving any detail on how he might do that. “Under our leadership, the United States will be respected again. No nation will question our power, no enemy will doubt our might, and our borders will be secure.” Trump placed the blame for conflicts around the world squarely on Biden — even those with roots stretching back far before the Democrat took office. “There is an international crisis the likes of which the world has seldom been part of… war is now raging in Europe, in the Middle East, a growing spectre of conflict hangs over Taiwan, Korea, the Philippines and all of Asia,” he said. He vowed to change all that if he is elected to a second term in the White House. “I will end every single international crisis that the current administration has created, including the horrible war with Russia and Ukraine,” Trump said. But “to achieve this future, we must first rescue our nation from failed and even incompetent leadership.” He also said he wanted Americans held abroad to be released — or else. “The entire world, I tell you this: we want our hostages back and they better be back before I assume office or you will be paying a very big price,” said Trump — again failing to give any specifics. He pledged to build a version of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system for the United States, ignoring the fact that the system is designed for short-range threats and would be ill-suited to defending against intercontinental missiles that are the main danger to the country. And he suggested that Kim Jong Un — the reclusive North Korean dictator whom he met in person during his presidency, and whose country possesses a nuclear arsenal — longed to see him back in the White House. “I get along with him, he’d like to see me back too. I think he misses me if you want to know,” Trump said. AFP

  Friday 19 July 2024 Crude supply: FG continues fuel importation as Reps probe IOCs CBN resumes BDC dollar sale as naira weakens to 1,570/$ Shadow of death: Benue’s deepening insecurity leaves trail of shattered hopes, homes Fake news nearly ruined my marriage – Lai Mohammed Ndume: N’Assembly now enabler of executive recklessness, says Atiku Policeman killed as gunmen attack Shaibu, Okpebholo’s convoy Abba Kyari Loses Appeal To Quash Drug Trafficking Case Education Minister Okays 16 Years As Admission Age For 2024 Appeal Court Dismisses Sylva’s Suit, Upholds Diri’s Election As Bayelsa Gov Hardship: Reps To Cut Own Salaries By 50% For Six Months Court Dismisses Suit Challenging Blocking Of SIMs Not Linked To NIN El-Rufai accuses judge of bias, seeks transfer of suit against Kaduna assembly Husband stabs wife’s lawyer over divorce suit Tinubu orders payment of SSANU, NASU’s withheld salaries Nigerian airlines threaten legal action over blacklist report JAMB Pegs Cut-Off Mark At 140 For Varsities, 100 For Others Corruption In Health Sector Very Deep – FG Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  Former US President Barack Obama has expressed doubts about Joe Biden’s chances of retaining the White House ahead of the November polls. Obama is said to have been deeply engaged in conversations about the future of Biden’s campaign, taking calls from many anxious Democrats, including Nancy Pelosi, a former House speaker, the Washington Post reports. Citing sources familiar with the calls, the newspaper reported that the former president had told allies recently that Biden’s path to victory has greatly diminished, adding that he thinks the president needs to seriously consider the viability of his candidacy. Obama’s concerns come against an increasing anxiety gripping the Democratic Party about Biden’s prospects and their ability to reclaim the house. Advertisement Although Biden and his team have remained defiant in public, analysts say the growing pressure is getting to the president. Calls for the 81-year-old to withdraw from the race began to heighten after his feeble performance against Donald Trump in their presidential debate. Obama had expressed support for Biden after the spar, saying “bad debate nights happen,” but has been largely silent as the discontent grows. Faltering steps and increased gaffes in recent times have also done little to convince citizens of the president’s mental alertness, despite his repeated assurances of being capable of handling the job. On Wednesday, the White House said Biden tested positive for COVID-19 and is suffering from mild symptoms.

  The court-reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, returned to Benin, the state capital, alongside the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the September 21 election in the state, Senator Monday Okpebholo, to a rousing welcome at the airport on Thursday. The joy was, however, short-lived as Insp Okon, a police officer attached to the governorship candidate, was killed after gunmen attacked the convoy of Okpebholo and Shaibu on leaving the airport. Shaibu, who was impeached on April 8 by the state House of Assembly, was reinstated on Wednesday, July 17, after Justice J. K. Omotosho of an Abuja High Court ruled that he was unjustly impeached. Both Shaibu and Okpebholo arrived at the Benin Airport around 2 pm to the rousing welcome of supporters.   Airport staff told The PUNCH that the way police officers acted around Shaibu gave a sign that something terrible would happen. “When the plane landed, the way the police officers acted around Shaibu showed that something bad was going to happen. “I saw the policeman who was killed. He was outside the VIP lounge waiting for Shaibu’s arrival. I didn’t know that he would lose his life,” he said. When the convoy left the airport, gunmen shot at the motorcade, leading to the death of the policeman and injury to two others. An eyewitness who identified himself as John said, “The incident occurred just after 2 pm when Okpebholo and several others, including the deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, arrived aboard a chartered private jet. “Unknown gunmen in a Sienna vehicle at the exit gate opened fire at the convoy of Okpebholo and Shaibu. There were reprisal gunshots by armed security details attached to the APC candidate and deputy governor. “It took the intervention of the Mobile Squad of the Nigeria Police to bring the situation under control. Several officers continued shooting to disperse the attackers as they fled in the Toyota Sienna bus.” Speaking on the attack, Okpebholo’s aide, Godswill Inegbe, fingered a prominent former member of the APC as the mastermind of the attack. He said, “This (Thursday) afternoon, the motorcade of Senator Monday Okpebholo, the APC governorship candidate, was brutally attacked by members of Edo State Security Network led by a former prominent member of the APC. “During the unprovoked brutal attack, three mobile policemen attached to the security detail of Senator Okpebholo were injured with bullet wounds, while one of the policemen had been declared dead.” He said Okpebholo and other members of his entourage were receiving treatment at undisclosed hospitals in Benin. Also, a close associate of Shaibu, Sunny Okomayin, said the police officer lost his life when the convoy was attacked by some thugs. He said Shaibu’s supporters were at the airport to welcome him peacefully, only for the gunmen to open fire on the convoy as it exited the airport. “Shaibu cannot be blamed for the fracas. His supporters came to the airport to receive him after Wednesday’s judgment. He was attacked alongside Okpebholo as soon as he exited the airport. The narrative being pushed by the government is false,” he added. The government, however, blamed Shaibu for the incident, saying he was unleashing mayhem on private citizens in the guise of enforcing a judgment reinstating him in office. A statement signed by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said: “The Edo State government has observed the level of wanton destruction perpetrated by thugs and elements working in connivance with former Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, in the guise of purportedly enforcing a judgment reinstating him in office. “Shaibu led thugs through the Airport Road axis of Benin City, attacking innocent citizens and unleashing mayhem on private citizens who are going about their lawful businesses. “The state government, through this statement, is warning Shaibu to desist from this turn to violence in the pretence that he is enforcing a judgment. “He is reminded that he is not above the law and is liable for the wanton destruction perpetrated by him and his co-travellers.” The statement added that Shaibu’s violent tendencies were well documented, adding that he had been warned at different times by respected figures of society, including the revered Benin monarch, to shun violence. “We want to reiterate that Shaibu will face the consequences of violence that he has resorted to in pursuit of his aim to return to the Edo State Government House, even when he is aware that a stay of execution of the judgment has been filed. “We enjoin the general public to be calm and go about their lawful businesses as the government will continue to deploy the instrumentality of the state to restore and maintain law and order in the state in the face of undue provocation,” the statement noted When contacted, the spokesperson of the Edo State Police Command, Chidi Nwabuzor, said the police were investigating the matter. Meanwhile, over 100 armed men of the Edo State Security Network took over the Deputy Governor’s office (outside the Government House) on Osadebe Avenue, Benin, Edo State. At the office on Thursday, the stern-looking men of the state-owned security outfit took charge with no one allowed to go in or out of the office. It was, however, not clear whether Marvellous Omobayo, who was appointed by Governor Godwin Obaseki to take over from Shaibu, was in the office at the time the ESSN men took over or not.

  The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal by a suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, seeking to quash the drug trafficking charge filed against him. In a judgement, a three-member panel of the appellate court dismissed Kyari’s appeal for lacking in merit. Justice Adebukol Banjoko, who read the lead judgement, held that there was no reason to tamper with the findings and conclusions reached by the trial court on March 22, 2023. “The learned trial judge is directed to continue and conclude the trial at the Federal High Court,” Banjoko said. “The appeal is found unmeritorious, and it is accordingly dismissed.” Other justices on the panel — Peter Obiora and Okon Abang — agreed with the lead judgement. Kyari is standing trial alongside four members of his team —Sunday Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba, and John Nuhu — on eight counts of drug trafficking. In January 2023, Kyari submitted that the charge against him was legally defective. He said the charge was premature, adding that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) ought to have allowed the police to exhaust their investigation and internal disciplinary action before instituting a suit against him. He told the court that the police had already commenced investigating allegations against him and issued an interim report. Kyari further argued that the Police Service Commission has similar powers to investigate and discipline erring officers in line with the Police Act and regulations, the same way the National Judicial Council (NJC) disciplines judicial officers. Consequently, he urged the court to quash the charge and discharge him. However, Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, dismissed the application.

  The Police Command in Borno State arrested a 40-year-old woman for striking her husband with an axe leading to his death at Kautikari village of Chibok LGA. The police spokesman, ASP Nahum Daso, said Aji was arrested for striking her husband with an axe during a fight leading to his death at Kautikari village of Chibok LGA. “Lydia Aji struck her husband on his head with an axe and he died instantly. “Investigation further revealed that the couples had a misunderstanding over their daughter, Rachael Aji 13, who stole a goat and sold it to an unknown person, the angry father then asked them to leave his house. “The case is still under investigation,” Daso said. The police also arrested a 24-year-old suspect, Mr Usakahyel Adamu, in the Kwaya-Kusar Local Government Area for allegedly killing his 90-year-old grandfather. The command’s spokesman said the suspect used a hoe to hit his grandfather after an altercation on the head leading to the old man’s death on the spot. Daso said the suspect would be charged in court upon completion of an investigation. The suspect, Adamu, who spoke to newsmen said he had epilepsy in his room and that after recovering in his room, he asked his grandfather who visited his room what happened but the old man refused to answer him. “He was just insulting me, and when I tried to get out of the room he pushed me back. “I then picked a hoe and hit him on his back and head. I was not in my senses when I did that, I am really sorry,” Adamu said. He also announced the arrest of three suspects in possession of Indian hemp and hard drugs and a syndicate of five suspected vandals of public infrastructure with exhibits of vandalised solar street lights and borehole components. Three other suspects were also paraded for criminal intimidation after threatening a man to pay them N2 million or risk death. (NAN)