3 die in Ikorodu, Ajah cult clashes (Punch)
Three persons have been killed in separate cult clashes in the Ikorodu and Ajah areas of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that one of the victims was killed on the Igbogbo-Igbe Road last Thursday around 11pm.
His corpse was said to have been evacuated around 1.17pm on Friday by police personnel from the Ijede Police Station.
Some residents of the area told our correspondent that some youths, who adorned themselves with charms, visited the scene and told them that the victim was their family member. Read more
Senate probes un-remitted N20tr stamp duty revenue (Nation)
The Senate on Tuesday directed its Committee on Finance to investigate the circumstances surrounding the issue of over N20trillion un-remitted stamp duties revenue due to the Federal Government from banks and other financial institutions.
It said the investigative activities of the committee would start from 2013 to 2016 and “financial accountability of stamp duty collections from 2016 when the CBN officially directed all banks to collect on behalf of the Federal Government to date.”
The resolution of the Senate was sequel to a motion titled: “The need to improve Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the Federal Government of Nigeria significantly by over N5trillion annually through non-oil revenue sources available at its disposal” moved by Senator Patrick Akinyelure.
In his contribution, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, blamed the non-remittance on stamp duty collection agencies. Read more
I started stealing at nine, teenager tells court (Punch)
A teenager, Pelumi Alabi, on Monday appeared before an Osun State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Osogbo for breaking into the house of a man, while he was away in church.
The 18-year old Pelumi, who appeared before Magistrate Risikat Olayemi on two counts of house breaking and stealing, in his confessional statement tendered as exhibit in court, said he started stealing at the age of nine.
The police prosecutor, Abiodun Fagboyinbo, said the defendant broke into the house of one Demilade Obiyemi at No. 25 Dada Estate, Osogbo, on Sunday, December 8, 2019, around 12.22pm. Read more
Reps move to separate AGF from Minister of Justice (Nation)
The House of Representatives is seeking to separate the office of the Attorney General of the Federation from that of the Minister of Justice, saying the separation will remove political interference in the operations of the Attorney General.
A bill to alter the 1999 constitution to separate the two offices sponsored by the Chief Whip of the House, Mohammed Tahir Monguno scaled through second reading at Tuesday’s plenary of the house.
Hon. Monguno said he was sponsoring the bill based on his experience as a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Borno state, adding that at the moment, too much power was vested on the Minister or Commissioner for Justice in combining the two offices. Read more
Operators task new FIRS boss on VAT, withholding tax on capital market transactions (Guardian)
Capital market operators on Tuesday urged the new Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) chairman to ensure removal of Value Added Tax on capital market transactions to boost investment in the country.
They said this in separate interviews with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos while reacting to the appointment of Mr Muhammad Nami as the new FIRS chairman.
The operators said that VAT on capital market investments as well as withholding tax on dividends were discouraging investors from the market. Read more
Algeria jails two former prime ministers ahead of election (BBC)
An Algerian court has sentenced two former prime ministers to long jail terms amid a huge corruption investigation.
Ahmed Ouyahia was sentenced to 15 years in prison and Abdelmalek Sellal to 12 years.
They were accused of abusing authority in a car manufacturing embezzlement scandal.
It was the first time since Algeria’s independence from France in 1962 that ex-prime ministers were put on trial. Read more
Boy, 15, who studied degree in his spare time is accepted for PhD course (Metro)
Are you ready to feel just a little bit more inadequate than you did this morning? Okay, here we go. A 15-year-old boy has been accepted onto a PhD course after graduating with a Masters degree in Statistics with Medical Applications – which he studied for part-time while still at his local comprehensive school. As if that wasn’t enough, he plays piano and guitar too and loves classical music. Well done to Wang Pok Lo, who will be starting his PhD in population health science at the University of Edinburgh in September next year. Read more
Trump impeachment: House unveils formal charges (BBC)
The US House Judiciary Committee has unveiled formal charges against President Donald Trump, a key move in the impeachment process against him.
The first article revealed by committee chief Jerry Nadler accuses Mr Trump of abuse of power and the second accuses him of obstructing Congress.
The president is accused of withholding aid to Ukraine for domestic political reasons.
He insists he has done “nothing wrong” and dismissed the process as “madness”. Read more
Identical twin donates testicle to his brother – who was born without any (Metro)
A twin has donated a testicle in the hope that his brother can have children. The Serbian pair, 36, underwent six hours of surgery last Tuesday after an international team performed what is thought to be third operation of its kind in Belgrade, according to the New York Times. One of the brothers – neither of whom want to be identified – was born with an extremely rare condition meaning he had no testicles. But his identical twin offered to donate one – and surgeons say the operation was a success. Read more
Czech shooting: Gunman kills six at hospital in Ostrava (BBC)
A gunman has killed six people in a hospital waiting room in the Czech city of Ostrava before shooting himself in the head, police say.
Armed police found the suspect dead from a self-inflicted gunshot in a vehicle three hours later.
The gunman was believed to be a patient at the hospital, one unconfirmed report said. His motive remains unclear.
Officers said they were called to the hospital in the north-eastern city at 07:19 (06:19 GMT). Read more
Benzema sex tape mess gets messier (Nation)
REAL Madrid striker Karim Benzema may be facing a criminal trial after France’s highest court of appeal on Monday dismissed his appeal challenging the legality of a blackmail investigation over a sex tape featuring fellow footballer Mathieu Valbuena.
The court found that the investigative methods used in the case, in which Benzema is alleged to have colluded in blackmailing Valbuena, were within the law.
Benzema and Valbuena were both in the French national team at the time of the attempted blackmail. Read more
Lampard says Chelsea can ‘make a mark’ (BBC)
Chelsea could welcome back centre-back Antonio Rudiger for their “knockout” Champions League tie with Lille.
Rudiger recovered from knee surgery to play 45 minutes of the Premier League victory at Wolves in September, before suffering a separate groin injury.
Chelsea must beat Lille to ensure qualification for the knockout stages and manager Frank Lampard says there is a “chance” the German could feature. Read more
Benitez rules himself out of Arsenal and Everton jobs (Guardian)
Rafael Benitez insisted on Monday there is “no chance” he will fill the managerial vacancies at either Arsenal or Everton, but he refused to completely rule out a return to the Premier League.
Former Liverpool and Real Madrid boss Benitez is currently in charge of Chinese side Dalian Yifang after leaving Newcastle United after the end of last season.
Arsenal is still looking for a permanent successor to Unai Emery while Everton, Liverpool’s local rivals, sacked Marco Silva last week, and former Champions League winner Benitez said he was happy in the Chinese Super League despite finishing a lowly ninth this season. Read more
Bernd Leno heaps praise on Freddie Ljungberg for bringing ‘real Arsenal’ back (Metro)
Bernd Leno insists Freddie Ljungberg is doing an excellent job as interim coach and believes the victory over West Ham was the return of the ‘real Arsenal’. Ljungberg got his first win as caretaker manager on Monday night against West Ham, snapping Arsenal’s nine-match wait for a victory in any competition. Gabriel Martinelli was handed his full Premier League by Ljungberg in a shock decision before the game and Leno heaped praised on the Swede. ‘I do not know what the club is deciding,’ Leno said about the search for a full-time manager. ‘We only have to focus on now. Read more
Catalan separatists threaten mass protest during Madrid, Barcelona match (Punch)
Catalan separatists from Democratic Tsunami on Tuesday called for a “massive” protest around Camp Nou stadium on December 18, where Barcelona and Real Madrid are set to play their rearranged Clasico.
Spain’s most prestigious fixture had been due to take place at the Barcelona stadium on October 26 but was postponed following a wave of violent pro-independence protests in Catalonia. Read more
Klopp prepared for Salzburg ‘final’ (BBC)
European champions Liverpool need a point away at Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg on Tuesday to be sure of a place in the Champions League last 16.
Liverpool are currently top of Group E and will guarantee top spot with a win.
Salzburg, who lost 4-3 at Anfield in October, need to win and hope Napoli are beaten by Belgian side Genk. Read more
Barcelona can hurt Inter without Messi, warns Valverde (Guardian)
Lionel Messi’s absence for already-qualified Barcelona will not make them less able to stop Inter Milan gaining their spot in the Champions League last 16, coach Ernesto Valverde insisted Monday.
Barcelona are already through to the knockout stages as Group F winners after Messi scored and set up two more in a convincing 3-1 win over Borussia Dortmund last time out, a victory which means Inter will ensure themselves a spot in the next round with a win over the La Liga leaders at the San Siro on Tuesday.
Six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi broke yet another record by hitting his 35th La Liga hat-trick on Saturday as Barca maintained top spot in Spain with a 5-2 win over Mallorca.
“Messi needs to rest,” Valverde told reporters. “We’re coming off many consecutive games and we have other important ones to play, so I left him at home. Read more
Scrutiny on Simeone as change turns to stagnation at Atletico (Guardian)
Diego Simeone has called it a transition season for Atletico Madrid but while he was the best man before, results have raised doubts about whether he is right for what comes next.
A 1-0 defeat at home to Barcelona this month crushed Atletico’s chances of rejoining La Liga’s title race before a draw away at Villarreal on Friday might have made it impossible for another year.
Yet less than an hour after Lionel Messi darted inside and fired a winner into Jan Oblak’s bottom corner, Simeone was framing Atletico’s season in a way he had never done previously. Read more
Nicolas Pepe inspires Arsenal comeback against West Ham as Gunners show fight for Freddie Ljungberg (Metro)
When Freddie Ljungberg eventually gets round to watching back his first victory as Arsenal interim boss there may be chunks of it he’ll want to forget. For an hour the Gunners were as poor as they’ve been all season, no matter who has been at the helm. The passing was wayward, the tactics disjointed and the less said about the defending the better. But as the Swede will have learnt by now; it’s results that matter and what a crucial three points this was for Arsenal. The Gunners entered the match on their worst run since 1976 and with the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Everton on the horizon, it’s not far-fetched to suggest defeat could have seen them staring at the relegation places by Christmas. Read more
Deschamps’ France contract extended to 2022 World Cup (Punch)
Didier Deschamps’ contract as coach of world champions France has been extended through to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a source said Tuesday.
Deschamps, a former France skipper who led the team to 1998 World Cup glory, has been at the coaching helm of Les Bleus since summer 2012.
The decision to extend his contract will be made official by the French football federation at a press conference later Tuesday, the source told AFP. Read more
Joshua dreams of title defence in Nigeria (Nation)
Anthony Joshua has revealed his desire to defend his world heavyweight titles in Nigeria after his rematch win over Andy Ruiz Jr. on Saturday night in the Clash of Dunes, reports Belfast Telegraph.
Joshua, who is of Nigerian heritage, was congratulated on his points success in Saudi Arabia by the country’s president, Muhammadu Buhari.
Joshua is expected to return to London to defend his titles against Kubrat Pulev but his promoter Eddie Hearn has received numerous offers to stage future bouts elsewhere. Read more