Alfa accused of leaking nude pictures of businesswoman, bags 2 years for N37.6m fraud (NewTelegraph)
An Alfa (Islamic Cleric), Awojobi Ganiu, was on Thursday sentenced to two years in prison for defrauding a United States-based businesswoman, Mrs Oluwatoyin Akinwole of the sum of N37.6 million.
The Islamic cleric was convicted following a plea bargain agreement after being re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before an Ikeja Special Offences Court, Lagos. Read more
Lagos serves 7-day abatement ultimatum to traders, transporters to clear gridlock (Guardian)
To ensure free-flowing traffic across the city, Lagos State Government has issued a seven-day abatement notice to traders, transporters and their unions in seven locations across the state, where traffic gridlock is due to trading and commercial transportation activities.
He listed the seven locations to be Ikorodu roundabout, Oyingbo, Yaba, Iyana-Ipaja, Ketu, Ikotun and Ajah. Read more
We enjoy certain privileges, say female Keke NAPEP riders (Vanguard)
Females in the tricycle business, popularly known as “Keke NAPEP” in Lagos metropolis on Thursday said they enjoyed certain privileges as women in the transport business. Some of them who have decided to venture into the male-dominated transport business across the state narrated their experiences in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. Alabi Latifat, who plies Mushin and Yaba in the axis in Lagos, told NAN that she resolved to drive tricycle after fruitless efforts to get a well-paid job as an HND holder. Read more
Man, 27, jailed for dealing in Indian hemp worth N7,000 (Vanguard)
A 27-year-old man, Muideen Shittu, was on Thursday sentenced to three months in prison by a Federal High Court in Ibadan for dealing in Indian hemp worth N7,000. Justice P.I. Ajoku said that she mitigated the sentence because Shittu had pleaded guilty to the offence.
Ajoku said that she also considered the implication of Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 on anyone who pleaded guilty to an offence in her judgment. “I also take into consideration the fact that the convict has given the assurance that he would never go back into criminality if duly considered… Read more
Xenophobia: South Africa, Nigeria mend relations, sign 30 trade deals (Punch)
South Africa and Nigeria signed 30 trade and cooperation agreements on Thursday, weeks after a wave of violence against Nigerian nationals in Johannesburg and Pretoria had strained relations between Africa’s top two economies.
Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa and Muhammadu Buhari at the conclusion of a two-day visit by the Nigerian leader said they regretted the violence and subsequent retaliation in Nigeria against South African businesses, pledging instead to deepen trade ties. Read more
Tell your kids lies and they lie more as adult, research reveals (Vanguard)
There are many ways parents try to dissuade their children from misbehaving. In fact, most of us can remember countless lies our parents told us while growing up. Parents no doubt are trying to call their wards to order with lies they tell, but a new psychology study conducted by researchers of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) suggests that such action may encourage children to lie more when they become adults. The researchers studied 379 Singaporean young adults. The participants were asked whether their parents lied to them when they were children and how many times they have lied to their parents now. The research is measuring pay back you may say ― not far from the truth anyway. Read more
House approves $57/barrel as Crude Oil Benchmark for 2020 (ThisDay)
The House of Representatives has approved $57 per barrel as crude oil benchmark price for the fiscal year 2020, while also increasing the revenue target of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) from N942.6 billion to N1.5 trillion.
The House said that the exchange rate of N305/$ should be maintained for economic stability, while adding that more work should be done by the Minister of Finance and all economic advisers and her team on improving the economic growth by increasing the GDP and reducing the inflation rate to single digit. Read more
Salary of proposed 30,000 recruits into Army, Police, others not captured in MTEF/FSP — NASS Panel (Punch)
The joint National Assembly Committee on Finance and National Planning on Thursday submitted its report on the 2020-2022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper to the Senate at plenary.
The report noted that the Federal Government did not capture the salaries of the 30, 000 personnel it is planning to recruit into the Army, Police, and other paramilitary agencies next year, in the documents. Read more
UNICEF: Army releases 25 children cleared of suspected Boko Haram ties (NewTelegraph)
The Nigerian Army released 25 children on Thursday after clearing them of suspected ties with armed Islamist groups in the country’s restive northeast region, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said.
Nigeria has fought an insurgency by militant Islamist group Boko Haram in north-eastern states that has killed more than 30,000 people over the past decade. Read more
Emefiele, Obiano, others unveil Coscharis’ N12bn rice mill (ThisDay)
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Governor of Anambra, Mr. Willie Obiano; his Kebbi State counterpart, Alhaji Abubakar Bagudu and the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mustapha Shehuri, were among the dignitaries that unveiled Coscharis Farms’ N12 billion ultra-modern rice processing mill.
In an address he delivered at the rice processing mill located in Igbariam, Anambra State yesterday, Emefiele reiterated the bank’s commitment to partner with the private sector to facilitate the development of Nigeria’s agricultural sector. Read more
Fire guts Common Room in UI (NewTelegraph)
An evening electric power surge on Wednesday caused a fire that consumed the Common Room of the Faculty of Education in the University of Ibadan, leaving the school with nothing to retrieve from the room.
The incident occurred around 9:00 p.m. during the torrential rainfall that lasted some hours. The power surge was, however, further triggered by a cooking gas kept in the common room. Read more
Ex-Perm Sec Illoh jailed five years for N14.6m fraud (Vanguard)
A Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on Thursday sentenced a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Onubuogo Clement Illoh, to five years imprisonment for N14.6million fraud.
Iloh was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2017 for allegedly awarding fictitious contracts to himself, using his personal company and friends while supervising numerous programs such as the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P). Read more
Four police killed in Paris stabbing, attacker shot dead (Guardian)
A man wielding a knife stabbed and killed four officers at the police headquarters in the heart of central Paris on Thursday, before being shot dead.
The premises were cordoned off after the lunchtime attack in the historic centre of Paris, usually thronged with tourists, and a dozens of police and emergency vehicles had converged at the scene, AFP journalists reported. Read more
Abraham celebrates birthday with goal against Lille (Guardian)
Tammy Abraham had a feeling he would mark his 22nd birthday with a goal and the Chelsea striker’s prediction came true as he scored in Wednesday’s 2-1 Champions League win at Lille.
Abraham bagged his first Champions League goal to put Frank Lampard’s side ahead — appropriately enough in the 22nd minute — when he turned to fire home from Fikayo Tomori’s pass. Read more
Rookie Holloway, Asher-Smith shine in IAAF Doha Finals (Vanguard)
Grant Holloway of the United States marked his first season in the professional ranks with a 110m hurdles gold in 13.10 at the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019, putting defending and Olympic champion Omar McLeod under such pressure that he crashed out of contention after hitting the last three hurdles with increasing force.
Silver went to authorised neutral athlete Sergey Shubenkov, the 2015 champion and 2017 silver medallist, who chased the new arrival home, adding a silver to his collection in 13.15 ahead of France’s European champion Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, who took bronze in 13.18. Read more
England calls up Abraham, Tomori amidst Nigeria link (Guardian)
Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori were rewarded for a fine start to the season under Frank Lampard with a call-up to the England squad on Thursday for Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Bulgaria.
Abraham, who has won two caps for the Three Lions before in friendlies against Brazil and Germany in 2017, had flirted with switching his international allegiance to Nigeria, who he qualifies for through his father. Read more
UEFA Champions League: Genk hold blunt Napoli in bore draw (Vanguard)
Napoli paid the price for playing a weakened side as they dropped UEFA Champions League points in 0-0 draw away at Racing Genk on Wednesday.
After beating holders Liverpool in their opening Group E game, coach Carlo Ancelotti left out Lorenzo Insigne and dropped Dries Mertens to the bench against the Belgian champions Genk had conceded six goals in their opener against Salzburg. Read more
Rohr set to dump Eagles (Sun)
Super Eagles’ Coach, Gernot Rohr has given three reasons why he may decide not to continue coaching the national team, when he comes off contract in 2020.
The German football tactician had complained that he is not respected, promises made by the Nigeria Football Federation were not kept and there were organizational problems. Read more
Lampard hails Osimhen (Tribune)
Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen has caught the eye of Chelsea boss Frank Lampard who showered praises on the Nigerian following his impressive outing in Lille’s 2-1 home loss to Chelsea.
The Blues boss hailed the 21-year-old attacker, positing that he made it difficult for his defenders to cope whilst also wishing him a great career in the future. Read more
