What lies ahead for UK after May's resignation

British Prime Minister Theresa May has announced she will step down as leader of the Conservative Party on June 7, starting a process that will lead to a Conservative Party leadership contest and a new British prime minister who will lead the government during the Brexit process. Here are answers to some questions about what this means.

HOW CAN THERE BE A NEW PRIME MINISTER WITHOUT A NEW ELECTION?

Under Britain's parliamentary system, a party in power can change its leader in a variety of ways, and can choose its new leader by following its own party rules. Whoever is chosen as the new party leader will become the new prime minister, with the right to hold that position until the next general election, which is set for 2022. That date could conceivably be moved forward — for a so-called snap or early election — if the government loses a no-confidence vote in Parliament.

It is not unusual in Britain for a prime minister to take power without an election being held. May followed Prime Minister David Cameron to power without an election in 2016, after Cameron resigned following his failure to convince voters to remain in the European Union in the Brexit referendum. Gordon Brown followed Tony Blair as prime minister the same way in 2007.

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HOW WILL THE NEW PARTY LEADER BE CHOSEN?

It's a two-part process open to any of the 313 Conservative Party legislators in Parliament. Candidates who want to run declare their interest, and the lawmakers hold a series of elimination votes until there are only two candidates remaining. The decision between those two is then made by a vote open to the roughly 120,000 Conservative party members nationwide.

The contest is officially supposed to begin around June 10, with May remaining as a caretaker prime minister while a new one is chosen, but the jockeying for position started weeks ago as May's influence ebbed.

Party officials hope to have the contest resolved by late July. The process moved quickly in 2016 because all the leadership candidates but May dropped out, making it unnecessary to move on to a full party membership vote.

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WHAT DOES MAY'S RESIGNATION MEAN TO BREXIT?

It's too early to say with certainty but many of the main contenders hoping to become Britain's next prime minister favor a hard Brexit rather than maintaining economic ties with Europe.

May's departure does not change the situation in the British Parliament, which remains deeply divided over what should happen next in the process to fulfill voters' wishes to leave the EU. Parliament does not support a "no deal" Brexit but its ability to stop it may well be limited if the new leader chooses that course. As things stand, Britain is scheduled to leave the EU on Oct. 31 unless it seeks an extension — and the EU unanimously agrees.

There is no consensus in Parliament yet about the best way forward. Some lawmakers favor a second referendum on whether to stay in the EU, others argue that only a hard Brexit will honor the results of the 2016 referendum, and no compromise stance has emerged.

Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn tried in January to trigger a general election by calling for a no-confidence vote , but he failed to get a majority in Parliament as Conservatives stayed loyal to May. He is free to call for another no confidence vote at any time, and may choose to do so again if he believes that some unhappy Conservative lawmakers are willing to back the measure.

For that to work, a small group of Conservative members of Parliament would have to be so unhappy with the new prime minister's Brexit policy that they are willing to call for a new election that could see their own party ousted from power.

The situation is made more complicated by deep divisions within the Labour Party over whether to go along with Brexit or try to reverse it with a second referendum. Many party members would like to keep Britain inside the EU, but Corbyn is willing to see Britain leave the bloc if some economic ties to it and worker and environmental protections guaranteed by the EU can be kept in place.

- AP

Sir Alex Ferguson admits Man Utd made mistake giving Solskjaer job

Legendary Manchester United boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, believes the club should have appointed Tottenham manager, Mauricio Pochettino, ahead of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the Daily Mail reports.

After Jose Mourinho was dismissed in December, United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward decided to give Solskjaer a contract until the end of the campaign.

But the Norwegian hit the ground running at Old Trafford by winning his first eight games, while he also guided United to a remarkable comeback victory against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

However, since that 3-1 victory in Paris on March 6, United won just two matches and lost eight of their remaining 12 games in all competitions.

Solskjaer was given a three-year contract at the end of March and is now tasked with a major rebuild of his United squad, who will play in the Europa League next season.

Ferguson feels that United should have made an attempt to lure Pochettino away from Tottenham, before Solskjaer was given a permanent contract.

The Scot is understood to be a huge admirer of the 47-year-old, who has guided Spurs to the Champions League final this season.

Ferguson is also, “disappointed” that he has been marginalised by Woodward and is forced to keep up to date with the team’s plans via Solskjaer’s assistant Mike Phelan, who worked alongside the Scot during his time.

- DAILY POST

Residents cry out over alleged threats by Fulani herdsmen to kill monarch in Ondo community

The people of Gedegede Community in Akoko North-West Local Government Area of Ondo State are currently in panic mood after alleged threats by suspected herdsmen to kill their monarch, Oba Walidu Sanni.

DAILY POST gathered that nine suspected Fulani herdsmen had during the week invaded the palace of Onigedegede of Gedegede over the stance of the monarch on the activities of the herdsmen in the community.

According to the monarch, he disclosed that the suspected herdsmen stormed his palace, harassed and threatened him.

He hinged the alleged threat on the recent report he lodged with the police as regards the continued destruction of his subjects’ farm produce and farmlands.

Oba Sanni also raised the alarm over threat posed by Fulani herdsmen to his life, his immediate family members and the entire community.

The monarch said he reported the case to the police after he seized a gun and a cutlass, which he deposited to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in charge of Okeagbe Police Station, Mr. Johnson Akintola.

The traditional ruler also noted that the incident was reported to the Chairman Akoko North West Local Government Area, Samson Akande, as well as fellow traditional rulers in the area.

According to him, his subjects were spoiling for a showdown following the herdsmen’s invasion of his palace and subsequent harassment, but the timely intervention of government saved the situation from snowballing into huge crisis.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ parley initiated by the state government in order to douse tension and apprehension in the council area, the monarch the timely intervention of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who deployed his Special Assistant on Security Matters, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo, to douse the tension saved the tensed situation.

Dojumo, however, reiterated that carrying of arms and ammunition were prohibited while grazing in any part of the state.

Also, he said grazing between 6am and 6pm in the state was prohibited while no under-aged children should graze in the state.

Dojumo urged herdsmen to live with their host communities peacefully, assuring them that the governor would soon invite all the stakeholders for talks in a bid to find lasting solutions to the incessant clashes.

- DAILY POST

Inmate freed with Kim’s help receives job offers from Nigeria

Out-of-jail Paul Algarin says he is now in global demand as multiple job offers are pouring in every day.

Kim Kardashian’s advocacy for prison reform had contributed immensely to Algarin’s freedom.

Algarin, who served seven years at Central Prison in North Carolina told TMZ that he has been getting hit up by people from Nigeria, UK and beyond who want to team up with him in some fashion.

Among the works are modelling and to work in a tattoo parlour.

Kardashian and her husband Kanye West early in the month facilitated Algarin’s freedom from jail and eventually helped to remove his face tattoo.

This gesture came after it was revealed Kardashian had reportedly helped free as many as 17 inmates by secretly funding a criminal justice campaign.

Algarin, a twin, was charged in 2013 with bringing guns to a Fayetteville high school.

With the job offers rolling in, it is believed that the ex-convict would become useful to himself, family and the society.

- PM NEWS

England must win FIFA Women’s World Cup to support equal pay talks

England must first win the women’s World Cup before they can start a discussion on equal pay with their male counterparts, Lionesses forward Fran Kirby has said.

England finished in third place at the 2015 edition and are currently ranked third in the women’s world rankings.

They are among the bookmakers’ favourites, along with hosts France and the U. S., to win the 2019 Women’s World Cup which begins on June 7.

“Ultimately we need to grow the women’s game,” Kirby told reporters.

“That’s the biggest issue, it always has been. Then you can talk about equal pay and everything else.

“We need to win the World Cup to have a leg to stand on in those situations. But if we keep improving the game on and off the pitch, those arguments can start to creep in.

“We’re doing the same job as the men but I understand that we’re not filling out stadiums — that makes it difficult to have that argument.

“As the women’s game improves and progresses, then they’re the conversations we can start to have.”

The U.S. women’s national football team, who are the defending champions and ranked number one in the world, sued the country’s federation in March.

They presented allegations of gender discrimination with complaints about wages and working conditions.

The U.S. players said they have been consistently paid less money than their male counterparts even though their performance has been superior to the men’s team.

Kirby said winning the World Cup allowed them to make such demands.

“The U.S. are in dispute at the moment but they’re selling out arenas,” the 25-year-old added.

“They’ve won the World Cup and have some of the best players in the world in their team.

“They’re in a position to do that.”

England begin their World Cup campaign in Group D against Scotland on June 9 before taking on Argentina on June 14 and 2011 champions Japan five days later.

- PM NEWS

Court jails fake estate agent 2 years over N1.5m fraud

Justice P. Mallong of the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna State has convicted and sentenced Mohammed Shuaibu to two years imprisonment on a one-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence.

The count reads: “That you, Mohammed Shuaibu, sometime in 2014 in Zaria, Kaduna State within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N1,500,000 (One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) from one Aisha Maman Bashir under the false pretence that you have a house located at Hauwa Low Cost, Sabon Gari, Zaria, a pretence you knew is false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a)of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offence Act 2006, and punishable under Subsection 3 of the Same Act.”

Shuaibu was arraigned on January 23, 2018 and he pleaded “not guilty” to the charge.

Over the course of the trial, the EFCC called three witnesses to testify in the case and also tendered several exhibits against him.

The prosecution and the defence had on April 2, 2019 filed and adopted their final written addresses, prompting the trial judge to adjourn to May 23, 2019 for judgement.

Prosecuting counsel, Onyeka Ekweozor, urged the Court to convict and sentence him, accordingly.

However, the defence counsel, Y.M. Hassan, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.

Upon delivering judgement, Justice Mallong convicted and sentenced him to two years in prison without an option of fine and equally ordered him to restitute the complainant the said sum fraudulently obtained.

- PM NEWS

Investigation: US Fraud Conviction Against Gbajabiamila Not True

Investigations have revealed that the ongoing smear campaign to truncate the chances of Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, being elected Speaker of the House of Representatives will fail.

The alleged US fraud conviction being levelled against Gbajabiamila by a Nigerian, Philip Undie, is not a new allegation.

PMNEWS gathered that it is an old case which was struck out for lack of diligent prosecution by an Abuja High Court last year when the plaintiff, Registered Trustees of Social Justice And Civil Rights, failed to appear in court to defend the allegation based on overwhelming evidence produced by Gbajabiamila.

Following their absence, the court struck out the matter in favour of the defendant.

Undie, in a suit marked HC/ABJ/CS/539/2019 which he filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, wants the court to declare Gbajabiamila unfit to be elected as a member or Speaker of the House of Representatives.

He said Gbajabiamila was convicted for fraud and dishonesty in the United States of America in 2007.

He also contended through his lawyer, Ayodele Justice, that by the virtue of Section 66 of the Nigerian Constitution, the judgment of the Supreme Court of the State of Georgia allegedly convicting and sentencing Gbajabiamila for fraud and dishonesty, the lawmaker was unfit to be elected as a member or Speaker of the House of Representatives.

But in dismissing the allegations against Gbajabiamila, The State Bar of Georgia (Office of the General Counsel) on August 30, 2010 absolved Gbajabiamila of any criminal conviction in a statement.

It wrote: To Whom It May Concern

”On February 26 2007, the Supreme Court of Georgia entered an order accepting Femi Gbaja’s petition for Voluntary Discipline suspending him from the practice of law in Georgia for a period of 36 months. I have attached a copy of the Court’s order.

”Mr Gbaja’s professional discipline was based upon his admitted violation of Georgia Rule of Professional Conduct 1.15(1)(Safekeeping Property), and was not related to a criminal conviction. Mr Gbaja is currently an active member in good standing of the State Bar of Georgia.”

The letter was signed by Jenny K. Mittelman, Deputy General Counsel.

See the evidence below:

The document absolving Gbajabiamila of any criminal misconduct

The Abuja High Court order dismissing allegations against Gbajabiamila

- PM NEWS