Switzerland signs Abacha money deal in Nigeria

Switzerland has agreed to return to Nigeria millions of dollars stolen by the former military ruler Sani Abacha, AFP news agency reports.

It says that Swiss authorities struck a deal with Nigeria to hand back $321m (£226m).

The agreement was signed in Abuja by Nigeria's attorney general and a visiting Swiss delegation - and seems to confirm last year’s announcement by the Geneva prosecutor's office about the return this money.

“We guarantee that recovered assets would be put to uses for which they have been intended,” Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo said in a statement released by his office. 

The money will only be returned once its agreed exactly how this will be done.

Gen Abacha was in power from 1993 to 1998 and is thought to have stolen more than $2bn of public funds - some of it being deposited in Swiss bank accounts.

Switzerland has already returned more than $720m of the money.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has compared the rhetoric of Trump to that of Hitler.

In an interview with Mexican daily Excelsior, he called Mr Trump's rhetoric "strident".

He added that "that's how [Italian fascist leader] Mussolini got in, that's how Hitler got in".

The Mexican leader also said that Mr Trump had hurt US-Mexico relations.

Donald Trump has said that if he is elected he will build a wall along the US-Mexico border to keep migrants from crossing into the US illegally.

The Republican candidate has also insisted that Mexico would pay for the border wall, which President Pena Nieto dismissed out of hand.

He said there was "no scenario" under which Mexico would ever pay for such a wall.

Mr Trump, who has made the fight against illegal immigration the main plank of his campaign, outraged Mexicans last June when he called undocumented Mexican migrants "criminals" and "rapists".

President Pena Nieto said Mr Trump offered "very easy, simple solutions to problems that are obviously not that easy to solve".

"And there have been episodes in human history, unfortunately, where these expressions of this strident rhetoric have only led to very ominous situations in the history of humanity," he said.

"That's how Mussolini got in, that's how Hitler got in, they took advantage of a situation, a problem perhaps, which humanity was going through at the time, after an economic crisis," he added.

President Pena Nieto, who had up until now avoided commenting on Mr Trump's candidacy, insisted he would be "absolutely respectful" of the US political process.

His predecessors in office, however, have been more outspoken.

Former President Vicente Fox used an expletive on live television when he said Mexico would not pay for the border wall proposed by Mr Trump.

Felipe Calderon, who governed from 2006 to 2012, also dismissed the idea saying: "Mexican people, we are not going to pay any single cent for such a stupid wall!"

Yinusa Dahiru, who is alleged to have abducted Ese Oruru has been arraigned

The suspect was arraigned before Justice Nganjiwa and accused of conspiring to commit abduction.

The suspect had five-count charges read out against him and he pleaded not guilty to all.

The prime suspect in the Ese Oruru abduction saga has been in the custody of the Police in Yenagoa since his arrest in Kano.

There were reports that he already gave his statement to the Bayelsa State Police Command and divulged those who were aware of his plans to abduct Ese Oruru.

The Commissioner of Police, Peter Ogunyanwo, told Channels TV that another accomplice to the crime is still at large but the Police has the names and other data of persons that would likely be invited for interrogation as the investigation progresses.

Arsenal Trash Hull City 4-0 In FA Cup Replay

The Gunners were gifted the lead when Hull's David Meyler set up Olivier Giroud to slot home.

Aaron Ramsey almost scored an own goal to let Hull back in but Giroud volleyed in to extend Arsenal's lead.

Theo Walcott wrapped up the victory for the holders when he side-footed in and then rifled in a late shot.

Giroud celebrated the birth of his baby boy on Monday and manager Arsene Wenger hoped it would inspire him to break his 11-game scoring drought.

The France striker was restored to the starting line-up, along with fellow forward Walcott, but the pair initially struggled against Hull, who had not conceded in six previous home games.

The Tigers were employing a three centre-back formation and rarely looked like being breached until Meyler's mistake allowed Giroud to slot in his first goal since 13 January.

Walcott's form has also been a concern and, although he looked short of confidence, he set up Giroud's second before looking like his former self when his late double gave him his first goals in five games.

Despite a return to winning ways for manager Arsene Wenger's side, some Gunners fans held up a banner reading 'Arsene, thanks for the memories but it's time to say goodbye'.

The priority for both of these teams are their league campaigns as Arsenal remain in the hunt for the Premier League title, while Hull are challenging for promotion from the Championship.

The home side made seven changes and the Gunners six, with the visitors forced into more of a reshuffle when centre-back Per Mertesacker went off injured early on after a clash of heads with Nick Powell.

Arsenal were playing their sixth game in 18 days and, with centre-back Laurent Koscielny already sidelined, the exit of fellow defender Gabriel in the second half has provided the Gunners with problems at the heart of their defence.

Gabriel's replacement in midfielder Aaron Ramsey lasted only 16 minutes before an apparent shoulder injury ended his participation and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger now faces a selection dilemma against Watford on Sunday.

His side may be attempting to win a third successive FA Cup but, after their last-eight tie, they will attempt an unlikely Champions League comeback from 2-0 down at Barcelona before returning to league action.

Hull's main threat came from set-pieces, with one particular free-kick causing panic in the Arsenal area before David Meyler forced keeper David Ospina into a smart save.

Powell's effort from the rebound was parried and Ahmed Elmohamady slotted in, but the assistant referee had already flagged for an offside decision Hull may feel aggrieved by.

However, Hull failed to capitalise on Arsenal's problems at the back and when a rare chance came their way striker Mohamed Diame sent a header wide from eight yards.

Indeed, the closest the home side came was when Ramsey sent a header wide of his own goal and Steve Bruce's men have now scored only once in six games.

Arsenal host Watford on Sunday before trips to Barcelona in the Champions League on 16 March and Everton in the Premier League on 19 March. Hull get back to Championship action when they host MK Dons on Saturday.

With BBC

Oronsaye Quizzes Again by EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Steve Oronsaye, for questioning over allegations of corruption and obtaining money by false pretence.

The former Head of Service was called in on Tuesday from his Abuja residence almost eight months after a Federal High Court ordered his release.

He was granted bail on self-recognition by a Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital in July 2015.

Mr Oronsaye, who was charged along with two others, was asked to deposit his travel documents with the court to fully secure his bail.

The EFCC has now filed two fresh charges against Mr Oronsaye at the Federal Capital Territory High Court.