Coroner threatens TB Joshua for 2nd inquest no-show

Lagos - A coroner on Thursday said he would order the arrest of a Nigerian preacher after he again failed to appear to give evidence about a deadly building collapse at his Lagos megachurch.

Oyetade Komolafe was furious that TB Joshua was not in court for the start of the hearing, which is examining the circumstances of the 12 September tragedy in which 116 people were killed.

"So, TB Joshua is not in court, the [building] contractor is not in court. Any of the witnesses who is not in court today will be arrested," the coroner said.

TB Joshua challenges summons

Lagos - Lawyers for Nigerian preacher TB Joshua said on Thursday they had mounted a legal challenge against a coroner who has ordered him to testify about a fatal building collapse at his Lagos megachurch.

Joshua has been summonsed twice to give evidence at an inquest examining the circumstances of the 12 September tragedy in which 116 people were killed, but failed to appear on both occasions.

The latest no show by the popular televangelist on Thursday angered coroner Oyetade Komolafe, who said he would order his arrest.

Ramaphosa is in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

Johannesburg - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on Thursday to attend the second Africa-Turkey summit of heads of state and government, the presidency said.

Ramaphosa was representing President Jacob Zuma at the summit which was taking place on Thursday and Friday, his spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said in a statement.

Ousted Burkina leader arrives in Morocco from I Coast

Rabat - Burkina Faso's deposed president Blaise Compaore arrived in Morocco from Ivory Coast, where he has been in exile since his ouster in a popular revolt last month, the Moroccan foreign ministry announced early on Friday.

Compaore, 63, arrived with five other people for a "fixed-term visit", it said in a statement released on the official MAP news agency, without mentioning any time-frame.

Nigeria police explain why they invaded the National Assembly today

The Nigeria Police have released a statement explaining why they sent police officers to the National Assembly this yesterday morning, preventing Tambuwal and other lawmakers from gaining access into the Assembly ground.

Following an intelligence report of a likely invasion of the House of Representatives by hoodlums and thugs, the Nigeria Police Force promptly deployed its personnel to the premises to prevent a breakdown of law and order.