*Venezuela Protests Over Jailed ⛓Opposition Lawmaker's Death⚰*

Protesters in Venezuela have accused the government of murdering a jailed opposition lawmaker who the authorities say killed himself. Fernando Albán was detained over what officials say was a drone assassination attempt on President Nicolás Maduro. Crowds demanded justice outside the building in the capital Caracas where he had been held, prisoner.

The authorities say he took his own life by jumping from the 10th floor of the intelligence agency (Sebin). The reported attack on Mr Maduro in August happened as he was speaking at a military event in the capital. Seven soldiers were injured, officials say. The authorities later blamed Venezuela's opposition and also Colombia for the attack. Both denied the claim.

The United Nations called Tuesday for a "transparent investigation" into the death of Venezuelan opposition member Fernando Alban after Caracas said he killed himself in custody.

*Bellingcat🕵‍♂ Names 2nd Skripal Poisoning Suspect as Russian GRU Agent*

Investigative website Bellingcat has identified the second suspect in the nerve-agent attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in Britain as a military doctor employed by Russia's GRU military intelligence agency. Last month, British prosecutors charged two Russians -- Ruslan Boshirov and Aleksandr Petrov -- with attempted murder for carrying out the poisoning of Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, with the Novichok nerve toxin in the southern English city earlier this year.

The prosecutors said at the time the two were undercover GRU officers. Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement in the Skripals' attempted murder. "We have now identified 'Aleksandr Petrov' to be in fact Dr Aleksandr Yevgenyevich Mishkin, a trained military doctor in the employ of the GRU," the British-based group said in a report published on its website.

Fraudster Dupes Army General of N180m*

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A retired Nigerian Army Major General, Geoffrey Ejiga, has lost over N180 million to a fraud syndicate.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned Mohammed Sanni Zubair, the alleged leader of the syndicate, before Justice Ijeoma L. Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on a four-count charge of fraud.

Zubair, who was described as a serial fraudster, when the children of Major General Geoffrey Ejiga (retd.) petitioned EFCC, had been arrested by the operatives of the EFCC in 2016 for a fraud-related offence.

He then confessed to the crime, saying he acted under the instruction of one Johnson Abiodun, whose real name was Nuhu Kasim.

But in the course of investigation, Kasim was arrested in Kano, and it was discovered that the information given by the defendant against him, was completely false.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Mohammed Sanni Zubair on or about October 2016, in Abuja, within the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did make a statement to Naziru Aminu Shehu, an officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in the course of the exercise of the duties of his office, contained in your written statement dated 28th October, 2016, which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 39 (2) (a) and (b) of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the counts preferred against him.

*Hurricane 🌬Michael Reaches Category , Threatens Southern US*

Hurricane Michael strengthened to a Category 2 storm with 100-mile-per-hour winds on Tuesday as Florida's governor warned it could bring "total devastation" to parts of the southern US state.

The storm -- currently located over the Gulf of Mexico -- is sweeping toward the Florida coast at around 12 miles per hour and is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, bringing with it "life-threatening" storm surges and heavy rainfall, the National Hurricane Center said.

"It is a monstrous storm and the forecast (keeps) getting more dangerous," Florida Governor Rick Scott said. "The time to prepare is now." It "poses a deadly threat and as it grows stronger, we can expect it make landfall as a major Category 3 storm," said Scott, warning that it "could bring total devastation to parts of our state, especially in the panhandle."

A hurricane warning was up across the Florida panhandle, a low-lying area of the beachfront resort and retirement communities on northeastern Gulf coast. Forecasters warned of coastal flooding with storm surge and tides projected to raise water levels by as much as eight to 12 feet in some areas.

*Buhari, Amosun🤝 in Another Closed-Door🤐 Meeting*

Gov. Ibikunle Amosun on Tuesday visited the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he met behind closed door with President Muhammadu Buhari for about two hours.

Amosun had on Thursday met separately with President Buhari and Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo over political happenings that trailed the conduct of the All Progressives Congress primaries in Ogun.

The APC National Working Committee panel sent to Ogun State for the conduct of the governorship primary had on Wednesday night declared Prince Dapo Abiodun as the party’s governorship candidate in the 2019 general elections.

The declaration came some hours after the state chapter of the APC declared Amosun’s preferred candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, as the governorship candidate of the party.

The governor had at the weekend accused some political interest group of ‘misinforming’ President Buhari about the political situation in Ogun.

Amosun, who made the accusation on a national television during the live coverage of the APC senatorial primary in the state, vowed that Akinlade, would emerge victorious at the end of the political dispute.

*Trump Kavanaugh: President Apologises for 'Unfair' Treatment*

President Donald Trump has apologised to his new Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh for what he described as a "campaign of lies" during the confirmation hearings. He was referring to the acrimonious debate over Mr Kavanaugh's nomination after sexual assault allegations were made against him.

Mr Kavanaugh said he was not bitter despite the "contentious" confirmation. He has denied the claims made by several women. The judge was confirmed by the Senate on Saturday, in a 50-48 vote that largely followed party lines. It is seen as a major victory for President Trump, tilting the balance in the nation's highest court in favour of conservatives for years to come.

One of the women accusing the judge, Prof Christine Blasey Ford, said Mr Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a house party in 1982 when they were high school students. She provided testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee and Mr Trump initially called her a "compelling" witness - but he later questioned her credibility and mocked her at a rally.