Blast outside court in Port Harcourt

A suspected bomb exploded outside a court in Nigeria’s oil city of Port Harcourt on Thursday as a judge was expected to rule on a disputed election result but there were no injuries. The device went off at about 7:30 am (0630 GMT) at the gate of the Federal High Court in the southern city, which is capital of Rivers state. “The explosion damaged some parts of a car parked near the court gate. No harm or injury was recorded,” said eyewitness Alice Jumbo. Security personnel put out a fire quickly and secured the area, she added. Another witness, Harry Obele, said the blast sent people running for cover into the court. The court was due to rule on a case between the local Peoples Democratic Party, which is in power in Rivers but not nationally, against a local council chairman of the All Progressives Congress.