2 men, 1 woman in court for allegedly fighting in public (Vanguard)
The police on Tuesday arraigned two men and a woman in a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Gwagwalada, FCT, for allegedly fighting in public.
The police charged Hamisu Mohammed,28, Naziru Suleiman,27 and Lovely Akinbiboye,42, with disturbing the peace.
They pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecution counsel, Mr Dabo Yakubu, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on Feb. 3 in Kuje, FCT.
Yakubu said that the defendants fought in public over a land dispute. Read more
EFCC arrests 25 suspected Internet fraudsters in Lagos (Punch)
The Lagos zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested 25 suspects for their alleged involvement in computer-related fraud.
The Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, listed the suspects to include: Ibrahim Olaiwon Olatunji, Kelechi Daniel David, Olutayo Oluwapelumi, Abiola Baruwa Gideon, Adesuyi Toheeb Adeyika, Wano Abdullahi Ahmed, Imoukhuede Idowu Peter and Ige Emmanuel Oluwatobi.
Also on the list are Durodola Peter Tolulope, Makanjuola Olamide Elijah, Emmanuel Edward Enyiema, Oguniran Samuel Boluwatife, Onikosi Olasukunmi Idris and Abdulateef Adegoke Oriyomi. Read more
Ex-Dangote GM, two others jailed for $32,000 insurance fraud (Punch)
Justice S. S. Ogunsanya of the Lagos State High Court, on Tuesday, sentenced a former General Manager of the Dangote Industries Limited, Mojisola Aladejobi, to seven years’ imprisonment over a $32,000 insurance fraud.
Aladejobi was sentenced alongside two others, Raymond Akanolu and Balogun Alaba.
The convicts were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on two counts of conspiracy and attempt to obtain money by false pretences to the tune of $32,000.
It was gathered that the convicts had sometime in October 2014 conspired among themselves to defraud Dangote Industries Limited of the sum of $32,000 by inflating the premium for the renewal of insurance policy cover for its Hawker aircraft with registration number 5N-DGN. Read more
Lagos, FCT, Bauchi, Kaduna top in vaccine allocation (Nation)
Lagos State, the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic, got the highest allocation of the AstraZeneca vaccine on Tuesday, with 507,000 dozes.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) received about 219,800 doses; Kaduna State got 180,000.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu tweeted: “The state government will soon begin vaccinations in line with the scheduled guidelines laid down by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).”
A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso, added: “The first consignment of 507,000 Astra Zeneca COVID-19 COVAX vaccine provided by the Federal Government arrived in Lagos at 5a.m today (yesterday). Read more
FG inaugurates e-temporary passport to replace ETC (Tribune)
The Federal Government, on Tuesday, inaugurated an electronic Temporary Passport to replace the Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC), for effective identity management.
Speaking at the event in Abuja, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, explained that the Temporary Passport was an electronic document with all the features of a regular passport.
According to Aregbesola, the difference is that it is temporary and valid for one trip, and will be retrieved from the user at the entry point.
“The Temporary Passport is ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) compliant and is valid for only 30 days. Read more
Many federal roads have expired, says FERMA (ThisDay)
The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) yesterday said many roads within the country had become impassable because they had outlived their in-built lifespan.
Speaking during a virtual stakeholders’ seminar, Managing Director of the agency, Mr. Nurudeen Rafindadi, stated that due to the paucity of funds, FERMA had continued to carry out palliative work on the roads instead of total reconstruction.
According to him, Nigeria’s national road network remains at about 200,000 kilometres, with about 36, 000 kilometres of them gazetted as federal roads, which is about 18 per cent of the total road network in the country.
Rafindadi stated that state governments are responsible for another 32,000 kilometres while the remaining 134,000 kilometres are rural feeder roads under local governments. Read more
FG, Delta battle over £4.2m linked to Ibori, others (Nation)
Who should be the custodian of the £4.2 million recovered from friends and family members of former Delta State governor James Ibori to be returned to Nigeria by the United Kingdom government?
The Federal Government said the cash considered as recovered loot, belongs to it. It promptly deployed it for critical infrastructure development.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami said: “The major consideration relating to who is entitled to a fraction or perhaps the money in its entirety is a function of law and international diplomacy.”
He added: “All the processes associated with the recovery were consummated by the federal government and the federal government is indeed, the victim of crime and not the sub-national,” Speaking on Channels Television last night. Read more
Labour embarks on nationwide protest over Minimum Wage Act (ThisDay)
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Trade Union Congress and their allies will today, Wednesday embark on a nationwide protest against alleged move by some members of the National Assembly to remove the Minimum Wage from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List.
In a notice distributed yesterday by the NLC, the leadership of the organised labour said workers will mobilise from the Unity Fountain at 7:30 am to the National Assembly today.
While expressing labour’s opposition to the planned amendment, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba said there will be a national protest commencing from March 10 (today) in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and especially the National Assembly.
He said the decision was taken at an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of NLC held in Abuja. Read more
Akeredolu suspends NURTW as one killed in clash (Punch)
One person was killed on Tuesday during a clash involving some factional members of the Ondo State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, at the Oja Oba area of Akure, the state capital.
Following the clash, the state government announced an indefinite suspension of all activities of the union across the 18 local government areas of the state.
A witness said the clash caused pandemonium at Oja Oba and some streets in Akure, as residents ran for their lives following sporadic gunshots by the warring members. Read more
George Floyd: First jurors for Derek Chauvin trial chosen (BBC)
The first jurors have been picked in the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin over the May 2020 killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man.
On Tuesday, two men and one woman were selected for the 12-member jury.
Mr Chauvin, 44, is accused of second-degree unintentional murder and manslaughter in the death of Mr Floyd on 25 May last year.
The less severe charge of third-degree murder was dismissed last year, but prosecutors have asked to reinstate it. Read more
How well does the AstraZeneca vaccine work? An expert reviews the current evidence (Metro)
Sarah Pitt, principal lecturer, microbiology and biomedical science practice, fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Science, University of Brighton When the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine was first authorised by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, it was hailed as a milestone in turning the tide on the coronavirus. But in the time since, this highly efficacious vaccine has suffered a lot of reputational damage. In January, the German press and French president Emmanuel Macron falsely claimed that it is largely ineffective in people over 65, despite there being no evidence to support this. Yet concrete evidence on how protective the vaccine is in older people has been lacking, leading some European countries to restrict the vaccine to under-65s. Together, these factors appear to have created high levels of scepticism in Europe and low levels of uptake. Read more
Whoopi Goldberg’s befuddled reaction to Meghan McCain goes viral (NYPost)
Whoopi Goldberg’s face said it all.
The actress is going viral for her non-reaction to Meghan McCain’s rant about Oprah Winfrey’s interview with Meghan Markle on Tuesday’s episode of “The View.”
“It’s 2021 and we are all Whoopi,” tweeted LA-based comedian Justin Martindale, along with a 15-second clip of McCain speaking on “The View,” and Goldberg’s befuddled facial reaction.
McCain appeared to be praising the two for their stance against the monarchy. Read more
Trader gets painted stones instead of $36m of copper (BBC)
A commodities trader was given painted stones instead of $36m (£26m) of copper from a Turkish supplier in a fraudulent deal last summer.
Geneva-based Mercuria Energy Group says it’s been the victim of cargo fraud following its purchase of 10,000 tons of copper blister.
When the cargoes started arriving in China, it found containers full of painted stones instead.
The bizarre case happened despite security and inspection controls. Read more
Buckingham Palace says race issues raised by Meghan and Harry are ‘concerning’ (Metro)
Buckingham Palace has said issues of race raised in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey are ‘concerning’. The two-hour interview, which was broadcast in the US on Sunday and in the UK on Monday evening, saw the Duke and Duchess of Sussex open up about their decision to leave the Royal Family at the start of 2020. A statement released on behalf of the Queen on Tuesday afternoon read: ‘The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan. Read more
Beyoncé thanks Meghan Markle for her ‘courage’ after Oprah interview (PageSix)
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry talking to Beyonce and Jay-Z at the premier of “The Lion King” on July 14, 2019 in London.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry talk to Beyonce and Jay-Z at the premier of “The Lion King” on July 14, 2019. in London.ZUMAPRESS.com
Queen Bey is showing some love to the Duchess of Sussex.
Beyoncé took to her website to support Meghan Markle, two days after Meghan and Prince Harry’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.
“Thank you Meghan for your courage and leadership,” Beyoncé, 39, wrote next to a photo of the duo meeting for the first time — alongside Prince Harry and Jay-Z — at the London premiere of “The Lion King” in the summer of 2019.
During the interview, Meghan, 39, got candid about the alleged racism she’s experienced and struggles with her mental health. Read more
WTT Star Contender: Cruising Aruna to face another Japanese star (Nation)
Quadri Aruna yesterday cruised to the third round (round of 16) of the men’s singles after a convincing 3-1 win over Japan’s Masataka Morizono in the second round at the ongoing World Table Tennis (WTT) Star Contender,
The Nigerian will again battle another Japanese star Harimoto Tamakazu in the third round today in his quest to exceed the quarterfinal finish he achieved at the WTT Contender Series last week in Doha, Qatar.
Against Morizono, Aruna dominated his opponent from the first game which he won 11-6, he repeated the same form in the second game to win at 11-9.
After conceding 11-1 in the third game, a determined Aruna returned to the table in the fourth game and he raised his performance to dominate from 7-7 before eventually winning at 11-7 to complete the 3-1 rout of his opponent. Read more
Haaland fires Dortmund into Champions League quarter-finals (BBC)
Erling Braut Haaland scored his 19th and 20th goals in 14 Champions League appearances as Borussia Dortmund drew 2-2 with Sevilla to progress to the quarter-finals 5-4 on aggregate.
The 20-year-old striker opened the scoring on 35 minutes with what was his only touch in the opposition’s box in the first half, Marco Reus’ pull-back finding the Norwegian for an easy tap-in past goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
If Haaland’s 19th Champions League goal was simple, his 20th was a test of nerve in the face of drama.
Early in the second half, he bullied his way past the Sevilla defence to find the net from a tight angle only to have the goal ruled out for a foul. But the video assistant referee then awarded a penalty for an earlier shirt-pull by Jules Kounde. Read more
Knicks hoping to allow more fans at Madison Square Garden (NYPost)
The Knicks still have 18 Garden games left before their regular-season finale versus Boston on May 16.
The Post has learned the franchise has kept in touch with state political leaders with hopes of expanding the maximum size of the crowd before season’s end.
The Knicks have staged four games with limited — but loud — fans since Feb. 23. The maximum under state guidelines is roughly 2,000 patrons (or 10 percent capacity).
According to the source, as vaccinations expedite, the Knicks are optimistic attendance numbers can at least double by mid-May’s finale. The Knicks also are in playoff position at the All-Star break, in fifth place, meaning postseason games could be added. Read more
10-man Porto shock Juventus to advance in Champions League thriller (BBC)
Sergio Oliveira’s 115th-minute goal shocked Juventus to send Porto through on away goals in a stunning Champions League last-16 tie.
Oliveira’s long-range free-kick deep into the second half of extra time went through the legs of Cristiano Ronaldo in the Juventus wall to make it 2-2 on the night and give Porto the lead over two legs.
Adrien Rabiot’s thumping header two minutes later gave the Italian champions hope, only for Porto goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin to produce a stunning save in the final moments to ensure the Portuguese champions advanced on away goals despite a 3-2 second leg Juventus win.
Porto had opened up a 3-1 aggregate lead through Oliveira’s 19th-minute penalty after Merih Demiral brought down Porto’s Mehdi Taremi. Read more
PGA Tour puts in Bryson DeChambeau rule for TPC Sawgrass (NYPost)
After his win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday, Bryson DeChambeau was asked if he had any plans to take a different approach with his length at this week’s Players Championship the way he did by hitting driver over the lake at the par-5 sixth hole at Bay Hill.
“I have thought about sometimes on 18 going left into 9,’’ DeChambeau said, referring to avoiding the lake that hugs the left side of the narrow 18th fairway. “It just gives you a better shot into the green where you can just hit it a little long and you’re always going to be OK. The cover (carry) is like 310 [yards], but we’ll see. I’ll look at all options if there is an advantage there. But if not, I’ll just hit 4-iron down the fairway and hopefully an 8-iron or 7-iron into the green.’’ Read more
Edinson Cavani’s father confirms striker is unhappy at Manchester United and wants summer exit (Metro)Edinson Cavani’s dad claims the veteran centre-forward ‘does not feel comfortable’ in England and is keen to leave Manchester United for Boca Juniors when his contract expires at the end of the season. The 34-year-old joined United on a free transfer last summer after bringing an end to a glittering seven-year spell at Paris Saint-Germain, where he was the club’s top scorer with 200 goals in 301 appearances. Eyebrows were raised at the deadline-day move given Cavani’s age and the fact he hadn’t made a single first-team appearance for seven months before arriving at Old Trafford. Read more