When asked how he learned of the banishment to Nasarawa and whether the state was consulted, Governor Sule said: “Immediately he was dethroned, the governor of Kano called me and said, we have just dethroned the Emir and we are thinking about relocating him to Nasarawa; If you will accept him. I said I will be more than happy to accept him.”

Narrating how the message came to him, He said: “The message was all over the social media that Emir Sanusi II was dethroned. I did not check because I was busy, but when the Kano Governor called, my aid brought the phone to me in a meeting. So as a senior governor and a second term governor, and someone I respect, I stepped aside to answer his call.

“The whole world knows they were having problems, but I did not know it will lead to this. When he told me the emir has been dethroned, I never said a word about it; whether it is good or bad or why. How can I say I will not accept Sanusi Lamido II, never,” he said.

Referring to the history of their relationship with the deposed Emir, Gov. Sule said: “This is a global citizen, highly respected person. When I was the Managing Director of Dangote group, he was the Group Managing Director of First Bank. We operated as colleagues at the corporate level. When I became the Deputy Group Managing Director of Dangote, he was the CBN Governor. By the time I became the Group Managing Director of Dangote, he had become an Emir.

So at all levels, we have cooperated. Commenting on why Nasarawa has become a popular destination for deposed Emirs in the North, governor said it is because the state is seen as one of the border stateS between the deep North and the Southern part of the country.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed 34 amendments to the  Electoral Act 2010 Amendment Bill.

Speaking at a retreat on the review of the electoral legal framework on Monday March 2, INEC chairman’s Mahmood Yakubu said they received the draft of the bill from the Senate Committee on INEC which had been presented to the executive for assent before the 2019 general elections.

Mahmood further revealed that the draft bill has been shared with the National Commissioners, Directors, Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) and senior officials in the 36 states and the FCT.

He said;

“As long as violators of electoral laws are not penalised, we will continue to have issues with our elections. As part of the reforms of the key components of the Electoral Act, we will like to see the effective sanctions of those who violate electoral laws of this country.

“Any country that does not penalise offenders is doomed and we must find a way of penalising electoral offenders so that impunity can be at best reduced or even eliminated completely.

“Listening to Nigerians, it is clear that a review of the Electoral Act and our electoral legal framework in general, must be anchored on curbing incidents of violence and sundry malpractices in the electoral process.

“It is also to ensure that violators of electoral laws are effectively sanctioned. It must deepen the deployment of technology in elections.

“It will also ensure inclusivity in the electoral process for marginalised segments of the society such as women, youth and persons living with disabilities.”

Yakubu added that the retreat which was organized in partnership with the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), was meant to finalise INEC’s comprehensive proposal to the National Assembly for amendment to the electoral legal framework.

He added;

“Our draft is ready but requires further internal review ahead of submission to the National Assembly.

“I am glad to know that members of the Senate Committee on INEC and House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters are joining us on Thursday and Friday for in-depth review of both their proposal and our input.

“This is the first time that the National Assembly and INEC are coming together on electoral reform. We look forward to this opportunity to serve Nigerians better.”

INEC’s Director of Legal Services, Oluwatoyin Babalola who confirmed the development said the amendment which will include punishments for electoral violators, will also make provisions for the security of lives and property during elections.

The Nation reported that she said the lacuna in the provisions of the extant Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) had been identified and highlighted by INEC and stakeholders, adding that there have been calls in recent times for amendment to address the lacuna to foster better elections.

Mrs Babalola said “There are 34 proposed amendments elaborated in four columns.”

Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Sam Olumekun also proposed the creation of special courts for electoral offences. He further stated that the special courts will defined time frame for prosecution and speedy administration of justice.

He said;

“The commission should critically examine the issue of conflict of interests among our external solicitors that represent the petitioners in other matters.

“The commission should ensure that such solicitors do not represent any petitioner throughout the period of election petitions in the tribunals and courts of competent jurisdiction.

“While we appreciate the effort of the commission in dealing with legal issues, the commission should continue to equip the Legal Department and prepare the staff to represent the commission in election matters.”

Governor Nasir El-Rufai has apologised to the people of Kaduna State over the recent attacks in three local government areas of the state in which scores of people were killed.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how over 50 people were reported killed during attacks by bandits on six villages in Giwa, Birnin Gwari, and Igabi local government areas of the state on Sunday.

The attacks are similar to the spate in the northern part of the country.

Mr El-Rufai, on a visit to the affected villages, admitted that governments ‘best’ has not been enough in protecting citizens.

“As those that have been placed in a position of leadership, the responsibility for protecting these people rests squarely on my shoulders and those of my colleagues. I also came to apologise for my failure to fully protect them.

“We are doing the best we can and we are hoping that this banditry will end soon because the security agencies are taking the war to the bandits. But as they close one area, they attack in another area. It is a vast territory and it is difficult to cover, but we are doing our best to minimise such incidents. You should continue to forgive us,” Mr El-Rufai told journalists and residents at one of the scenes of the attacks.

The governor reiterated his government’s decision not to negotiate with criminals.

“In Kaduna State, we have zero tolerance for bandits, we don’t give them amnesty and we don’t negotiate with them. It is our duty to wipe them out, and until we send them to their maker, the security agencies are taking the war to the forest and we are eliminating them,” he said.

Anthony Joshua regained the WBA, IBF and WBO titles with victory over Andy Ruiz Jr. in Saudi Arabia in December
British world champion Anthony Joshua will fight Kubrat Pulev at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday 20 June.

Bulgarian Pulev, 38, is the mandatory IBF challenger to take on Joshua, who holds the WBA, IBF and WBO titles.

Joshua won back the belts with a unanimous points victory over Andy Ruiz Jr. in December.

“I am happy to have the opportunity to show the world how strong I really am,” said Pulev.

It will be Joshua’s first fight in the UK since beating Alexander Povetkin at Wembley in September 2018.

He was initially due to fight Pulev at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in October 2017 but the Bulgarian withdrew after suffering a shoulder injury in sparring, with Carlos Takam stepping in to replace him at 12 days’ notice.

Promoter Eddie Hearn said last week that talks were also underway for an all-British unification fight between Joshua and Tyson Fury.

Fury beat Deontay Wilder to claim the WBC title last month, meaning the British heavyweights now hold all of the division’s belts between them.

However, American Wilder has triggered a rematch clause, meaning a third Fury vs Wilder contest will take place before any potential bout between Fury and Joshua.

Pulev, a former European heavyweight champion, has suffered just one defeat in 29 bouts, a fifth-round knockout by Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015.

He beat Britain’s Hughie Fury on points in an IBF final eliminator in Bulgaria in October 2018, his first fight since pulling out of his original meeting with Joshua.

His last bout was another unanimous points victory, against American Rydell Booker, in November.

A Pulev win makes unification easier – Analysis

BBC Sport boxing reporter Luke Reddy:

Two weeks ago the BBC Sport boxing team sat in Bob Arum’s office and unprompted, he started telling us how his fighter Kubrat Pulev “will knock out Joshua”.

I guess he would say that but there is no doubt Joshua’s humbling at the hands of Andy Ruiz Jr on 1 June has drastically changed how he is viewed.

There are questions to answer still. Joshua boxed beautifully in his rematch but looked a little uneasy whenever he was pressed. Will Pulev’s team go in on the front foot in a bid to upset the odds?

Pulev could ultimately wreck the dreams of British boxing fans who have now been promised a Fury-Joshua bout for all the belts. There are so many agreements needed before that becomes a reality.

In many ways, a Pulev win would make a bout for all four belts far easier to make. Arum would control Fury and the Bulgarian, so he would only need to strike deals within his own Top Rank office to secure the historic contest.

Tyson Fury’s wife has begged the champion boxer to fight only once more – for the sake of his family.

Devoted Paris says he must take on arch rival Anthony Joshua – then call it a day to avoid being seriously hurt.

In an exclusive interview after Tyson’s stunning victory, Paris, 29, reveals how the couple considered a new life in Marbella or Monaco…but are sticking with Morecambe.

And she told how Tyson celebrated his £30 million ring win by getting back to normal life – and a trip to their local tip.

Paris said: “I’d like him to beat Anthony Joshua and then stop.

“He’s in the ring with supreme boxers and it is a dangerous sport. We both know the risks.

“I know one shot can change everything.”

The couple have been enjoying down to earth fun since Tyson stunned critics by beating Deontay Wilder at a celeb-studded bout in Las Vegas.

Millions of viewers saw the nail-biting clash – with VIPs names ringside like Leonardo DiCaprio, Gordon Ramsay and ex-One Direction star Liam Payne.

Paris said Fury vs AJ is the match the “whole world wants to see”.

And she hopes afterwards the Gypsy King, 31, – who now has own ITV fly on the wall show – will retire as the undefeated, undisputed greatest heavyweight in history.

Paris was speaking after returning home from Vegas after her husband’s stunning seven round victory over Wilder to bring home the WBC belt.

Joshua holds four other titles, and Paris said: “If they put all the belts on the line it would be such an amazing fight.

“I’d like him to take that one fight and retire undefeated.

“He can’t go on forever, he can’t go undefeated forever. I wouldn’t like to see him continue for too long and get hurt.

“I wouldn’t like to see him lose his record chasing money or fame. He doesn’t need that. He’s already cemented his name in the history books.”

After last week’s bout the champ serenaded his wife in the ring with a rendition of Don McLean classic American Pie.

“That’s just Tyson,” smiled Paris, “he’s an all or nothing person. When he’s happy he’s unbelievably happy. He’s larger than life.”

For now the couple are trying to return to a normal life with their five young children in the Lancashire seaside town of Morecambe.

“It’s been busy, busy, trying getting back to a normal life while 1,000s of people are trying to get in touch to congratulate him.

“He’s done the school run, he’s taking the rubbish to the tip and he’s pottered around a bit in the garden. It’s all about trying to get back to normality.”

This week Tyson’s dad John said he would want a “half a billion” pound purse for a fight with Joshua.

He said; “The man hasn’t been born or bred yet who can beat Tyson Fury . Get the money, half a billion, we’ll talk about it.”

But Paris said the mind-boggling amounts of money involved wouldn’t change them.

Tyson was spotted shopping with his kids at no-frills store Home Bargains. The chain offers cut price treats like a £2.99 Mr Bean DVD and £10 Spider Man costume.

Paris said: “He’s 31 now, we’ve always been sensible with money, we’ve invested sensibly.

“We already have X amount in the bank, it’s a funny one, but getting any more isn’t going to change us.

“We have a nice, comfortable life. I don’t pay attention to these crazy figures. What are we going to do with it?

“We’ve looked at footballers mansions, but we don’t want to move. We talked about moving to Marbella, Cannes, Monaco, but we don’t want to leave home. Our friends are here, the kids are settled. Why uproot it all?

“We’ve got everything we need, we know who to call if the washing machine breaks down and if the boiler needs fixing.

“He even went on at me the other day for buying some fancy cushions. He hasn’t changed and we aren’t going to change.”

She said sitting ringside in Vegas she did feel nervous – while her hubby was supremely confident.

“Before a fight I get nervous, but he’s really calm, he’s always confident. It’s always ‘when’ he wins, not ‘if’.

“Years ago I managed the nerves better because I knew he was fighting boxers at British or European level and I knew he was elite.

“Now he’s in the ring with supreme boxers and it is a dangerous sport. We both know the risks, but it’s what he wants to do.

“Even in this fight, even though round after round Tyson beat him, I knew that it only takes one punch. Deontay has that big knockout punch.

“I was with his brother at ringside and and we know one shot can change everything.”

She said her husband has had a battle with depression and drink and drug addiction with his weight ballooning to 28 stone.

She said Tyson was now doing “incredibly well” – but the demons were still there.

“You still see it. He’s had this amazing high, winning the world title in Las Vegas. Then he’s coming home on the school run.

“You can see why a lot of celebrities and sports stars suffer depression. You have all the glitz and glamour, but then you go back to being normal.

“Tyson can’t go out without someone wanting to take his photo. He can’t understand why? He doesn’t understand that if someone is a fan then they get excited when they see him.

“He’s trying to balance being a sportsman, a husband and a dad, with being a superstar.

“But he is managing a lot better now. The worst was in around 2015-16, every day he was talking about his misery and his problems.

“He was drinking heavily and he was taking drugs, which I didn’t know about at the time. And he was obese. It was a hard time to deal with him especially as I was expecting three times in a row.

“At one stage I wanted to leave.

“In the end he sought help, he got diagnosed and he has come out of it much better.”

Tyson has revealed he came within seconds of killing himself in a Ferrari after he was crowned heavyweight world champion following his fight against Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.

Paris said: “The turning point was when he mentioned suicide. I knew he was going to do it.

“He said to me ‘i’m going to stop now’ and get back into boxing. He turned his life around and stuck to it, he didn’t look back.

“We’ve been together for 15 years now, so I think I know him pretty well. It can be irritating when he gets into one of his low modes for something as simple as someone asking for a photo. How can he get so stressed out over something so trivial.

“He is a great dad, a loving husband. He always tried to do his best.”

She adds the couple are plagued by web trolls.

“I don’t read hateful comments,” said Paris. “There’s so much bullying and hatred online. I’m not going to benefit from reading hate, so I don’t.

“I worry about our kids, they’re too young for social media at the moment, but it’s inevitable that they will start using it.

“I worry about them having to deal with someone sat behind a computer saying things to them, giving them grief, just because of who their dad is.

“It will be hard to make them understand that what these people are saying is irrelevant.”

She said when he does retire Tyson wants to start his own gym and set up a foundation to help others suffering from mental health problems.

She said: “He wants to get involved, but he just doesn’t have the time at the moment. When he does it he wants to dedicate himself totally, but at the moment he still has his training.

“He has worked with mental health charities, he has given talks about it. Mental health awareness was one of the reasons we agreed to do the TV show.

“But at the minute he’s not got the time, if he’s going to do it he has to do it wholeheartedly.

“He’ll never fully retire from boxing, he’ll always be involved. He’ll be looking for lads he can train, he’ll be ringside at fights, there’s no chance he’ll just retire. He’s done it all his life, it’s a routine he’ll never break.”

The Argentine was strangely out of sorts as Barcelona slumped to a 2-0 defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu that saw the hosts move above them in the table

This was a free hit for Barcelona but Real Madrid’s season was on the line. They had to dig deep, and they did.

Vinicius Junior and Mariano Diaz’s goals earned them a 2-0 Clasico victory which took them a point clear of their bitter rivals at the top of the Liga table and gave them the better head-to-head record, which could be crucial in such a tight title race.

Certainly, there is little to choose between the two teams, as Sunday’s game showed. This entertaining, end-to-end battle at the Santiago Bernabeu between two clearly flawed teams could have gone either way.

Usually when that’s the case, Lionel Messi is the deciding factor, but the Argentine didn’t look himself, turning in a strangely lethargic, almost lifeless display.

There have been persistent stories that he’s not fully fit and is carrying a thigh problem, one which is obviously not serious enough to stop him from playing – but might just be throwing him off his perfectly calibrated best.

There was one moment which emphasised that clearly. With Madrid ahead, Frenkie de Jong burst downfield, piling past Madrid players and feeding Messi with a perfect through ball.

Nearly 80,000 in the stadium and hundreds of millions around the world held their breath, expecting the Argentine star to race clear and fire home, as he has done so many times in the past.

But Messi was tracked by Marcelo, Zinedine Zidane’s surprise pick ahead of Ferland Mendy. Perhaps the coach was looking for the attacking upside rather than worrying about the left-back’s defensive deficiencies but the Brazilian put one in the eyes of his doubters.

Marcelo stayed alongside Messi and helped dispossess him before celebrating wildly, as if he had scored a goal. This was worth more, and he knew it.

Marcelo’s contribution made it clear this was a night for Madrid players to redeem themselves after the meltdown against Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Casemiro played poorly that day but stood up huge in the second half here, helping to break down Barcelona attacks as they tried to fight back into the game.

Toni Kroos, who was dropped for the City loss, helped Madrid perform at a much higher level in this clash, showing up big despite his disappointment at not starting in midweek.

Isco continued his revival and was afforded a standing ovation by the Bernabeu as he departed, only denied a goal himself by one excellent Marc-Andre ter Stegen save and Gerard Pique’s goalline clearance.

The Barcelona defender had excelled, blocking everything, intercepting everything, serving a one-man wall which Madrid were unable to knock down, until he threw it all away for Vinicius’s goal.

Nelson Semedo, who had also impressed, was caught out of position with Vinicius in behind, and Pique bizarrely elected against closing down the Brazilian teenager until it was far too late.

Maybe he was afraid of getting too tight and being beaten by a bust of speed, or being drawn into a foul, but he should have done more to get close to the winger before he shot.

In the end, he was punished for his hesitation as Vinicius’s effort deflected off Pique and into the Barcelona net, leaving Ter Stegen with no chance.

At 19 years and 233 days old, Vinicius became the youngest player to score in the Clasico in the 21st century. He was one of the few players that offered something against City too, setting up Isco’s goal.

Madrid deserved the lead for their pressure after the break, having seen Isco go close twice and then Karim Benzema volley narrowly over, while Ter Stegen made a good stop to keep Sergio Ramos at bay.

Barcelona had the bulk of the chances in the first half, with Antoine Griezmann, Arthur and Messi all with clear-cut opportunities. Promising for the Catalans, but nothing tangible and Madrid were always dangerous on the counter.

They took advantage of Barcelona’s desperation and tiredness at the end, with substitute Mariano – on his first league appearance of the season – racing away from Samuel Umtiti to double the hosts’ advantage in injury time.

This was how deep Madrid had to go, with Eden Hazard injured, Karim Benzema and Luka Jovic badly out of form, and Gareth Bale not trusted.

Mariano killed the game – but breathed life back into the title race.