Morocco issues arrest warrant for Paris attack suspect

Moroccan authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Salah Abdeslam, the Paris attack suspect who is at the center of an international manhunt, according to the Moroccan police.

The warrant was issued at the end of last month. But a Moroccan security source said it was not clear whether Abdeslam had fled to Morocco or North Africa. Last month, German police launched a search after a tip-off that he was there. Abdeslam, whose brother blew himself up in the Paris attacks which killed at least 130 people, has been on the run since Nov. 13. As a French citizen, he can travel freely in the European Union's Schengen area where there are no border controls.

Breaking: UEFA President, Michel Platini loses suspension appeal

That's the epic challenge the young designers will face tonight on Project Runway: Junior when Michelle Obama stops by, and we have your first look at the Lifetime reality hit's contestants' priceless reactions!

In the exclusive sneak peek above, the designers are utterly shocked when the First Lady appears on a TV screen to present their latest challenge and advocate for "girl power." 

Jaxson, 15, says, "I'm super-stoked because it's, like, Michelle Obama!" Zachary, 16, adds, "This is not real!"

Oh, it is. And she's offering up the biggest opportunity of their career...and to help out millions of young girls in the process. Obama presents a "Girl on the Go" challenge to the designers in support of Let Girls Learn, which helps adolescent girls worldwide stay in school and get an education, and the winner will get to design a special backpack for Lands' End, which will be sold on the brand's site. "It would mean the world to me to design a backpack for a good cause," Peytie, 15, says. 

In a parting message to the designers, Obama says, "Designers, good luck, have  fun and I can't wait to see what you all create!"

Featuring designers between the ages of 13-17, Project Runway: Junior is hosted by fan-favorite Tim Gunn and model Hannah Davis, with Christian Siriano, a former winner, serving as one of the judges.

 challenge in support of Let Girls Learn, an initiative to help adolescent girls stay in school.   

Project Runway: Junior airs tonight at 9 p.m. on Lifetime. 

Arms Deal: Dokpesi Arraigned, Remanded In EFCC Custody

The former chairman of Daar Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi was yesterday ordered to be remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pending the determination of his bail application today.

Dokpesi, who is the owner of the African Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower Radio, was arraigned before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the federal high court in Abuja by the federal government over his alleged involvement in N2.1billion money laundering

But Dokpesi pleaded not guilty to the six-count criminal charges which also involved breach of public trust and procurement.

Dokpesi had been in the custody of the anti graft agency in the past eight days, facing interrogation from operatives of the EFCC on the huge sums he allegedly collected from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA).

In the charge sheet signed by Aliyu Yusuf, Deputy Director, Legal and Prosecution Department of EFCC, Dokpesi was alleged to have between October 2014 and March 2015 committed procurement fraud by fraudulently receiving N2.12billion into the account of Daar Investment and Holding Company for the funding of media activities for the 2015 presidential election campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to the EFCC, the alleged offence is contrary to section 58 (4) (b) of the Public Procurement Act 2007 and punishable under section 58 (6) and 7 of the same Act.

One of the six-count charge read thus: “that you Dr. Raymond Dokpesi and Daar Investment and Holding Company Limited between October 2014 and 19 March, 2015 in Abuja, conducted procurement fraud by means of fraudulent and corrupt act, to wit: receipt of payment into the account of Daar Investment and Holding Company Limited with First Bank of Nigeria Plc.

of public funds in the sum of N2,120,000,000 from the account of the office of National Security Adviser (NSA) with the Central Bank of Nigeria for the funding of media activities for the 2015 presidential election campaign for the People Democratic Party (PDP) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 58 (4) (b) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 58 (6) & (7) of the same Act”.

“That you Dr. Raymond Dokpesi and Daar Investment and Holding Company Limited between October 2014 and 19 March, 2015 in Abuja, entered into a purported contract on presidential media initiative and received payment in the sum of N2,120,000,000 into the account of Daar Investment and Holding Company Limited with First Bank of Nigeria Plc. from the account of the office of National Security Adviser (NSA) with the Central Bank of Nigeria on account of the purported contract without a “Certificate of “No Objection to Contract Award” duly issued by Public Procurement Bureau and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 16 (1) (b), (4) & (5) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 58 (6) of the same Act”.

“That you Dr. Raymond Dokpesi and Daar Investment and Holding Company Limited between 22 January and 19 March, 2015 in Abuja, knew that an aggregate sum of N2,120,000,000 directly represented the proceeds of criminal conduct of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and Shuaibu Salisu who were National Security Adviser and the Director of Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) respectively to wit: criminal breach of trust in respect of the said amount, used the said property and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 17 (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004”.

Attempt by counsel to the accused, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), to move application for his bail yesterday was unsuccessful as the prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), insisted that he had just been served with a copy of the bail application.

Jacobs told the trial Judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole that he needed time to study and react to the fundamental issues raised by the accused person in the bail application.

By consent of the two lawyers, Justice Kolawole fixed today for argument on whether to grant the bail to Dokpesi or not.

Swansea sack manager Monk

Garry Monk has been sacked as manager of Swansea City following a run of one win in 11 Premier League games, the Welsh club announced on Wednesday.

Monk, 36, led Swansea to an eighth-place finish last season in his first full campaign at the helm, but he has paid the price for a run of results that has left the club a point above the relegation zone.

“The decision has been made very reluctantly and with a heavy heart,” Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins said in a statement on the club website.

“To find ourselves in our current situation from where we were in the first week of September, and considering the drop of performance levels and run of results over the last three months, it has brought us to this unfortunate decision today.”

Rihanna low-key announces she'll be showing at NYFW

Man, 32, sentenced to life imprisonment for dealing in 200 grammes of hemp

Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of a Federal High Court, Lagos, on Wednesday, sentenced a 32-year- old man, Lawrence Aluagu to life imprisonment, for drug trafficking. Aluagu who is unemployed, was arraigned on March 8 and had pleaded guilty to the charge of dealing in drugs.

 
In her judgment, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia held that the convict should serve out his term in prison. “The accused person is found guilty of the offence as charged, and is accordingly convicted. “He is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment,’’ she said.
She ordered that the drugs should to be destroyed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

 
Reviewing the facts earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, told the court that Aluagu committed the offence on Feb. 12.
He said that Aluagu was arrested under the bridge at Ojota, where he was reported to be in the business of selling hemp, and about 200 grammes of the substance was recovered from him.

 
“The offence contravened the provisions of sections 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation, 2004,’’ he said. Aluagu, after admitting guilt, had urged the court to be lenient in sentencing him, as he was a first time offender.

US envoy hails Buhari’s anti-corruption war

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, has commended the anti-corruption drive of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying it is a positive sign for Nigeria’s economic future.

The envoy challenged the nation to unite with the US to fight endemic corruption in Nigeria.

Speaking during the commemoration of the 2015 International Anti-Corruption Day on Tuesday in Abuja, Entwistle stated that corruption must be addressed by governments, civil society organisations and the private sector, through “top-down and bottom-up efforts.”

He said, “According to the recent Transparency International report on corruption in Africa, Nigerians were among the most likely to believe that corruption was getting worse in their country.

“President Buhari’s focus on addressing corruption is a positive indication for a secure and bright, economic future for this country. Corruption must be addressed by governments, civil society and the private sector, through both top-down and bottom-up efforts.

“The success of this fight depends on continuing efforts to ensure that citizens everywhere, as individuals, journalists, and as organised civil society, are able to expose corruption and participate in holding their governments accountable.”