Attempted murder: Hospital MD to be re-arraigned (Punch)
The wife of the Medical Director of Excel Medical Centre, Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, Dr Ifeayinwa Orji, who was charged alongside her husband, Ejike, for the alleged attempted murder of 17-year-old Somtochukwu Ezi-Ashi, was on Thursday freed by the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere, Lagos Island.
While the court discharged and acquitted Ifeayinwa, her husband would be re-arraigned on an amended charge by the Lagos State Government.
PUNCH Metro had reported that the couple, who were arraigned on four counts of attempted murder, causing grievous harm and negligent act causing harm, were alleged to have fixed a plaster of Paris too tightly on Somtochukwu’s leg at their hospital on July 26, 2018, which caused him grievous harm. Read more
Man kills friend over N100 debt in Lagos (Guardian)
A disagreement between two friends over a N100 debt has resulted in one of them being stabbed to death. It was gathered that the incident occurred at about 11:00p.m. on Wednesday at Whitesand area of Ijora Badia, a suburb in Apapa-Iganmu council area of Lagos State.
The deceased, identified simply as White London, was said to be indebted to his alleged killer friend, simply named Emma, the sum of N1,100 with a promise to pay back within a week. Emma, who is an attendant in a film house/brothel located in the area, according to eyewitness, was given the sum of N1,000, with a balance of N100.
It was learnt that Emma had insisted on collecting the N100 balance immediately, but all appeal for a latter date fell on deaf ears. According to an eyewitness, a scuffle ensued in the process, which forced White London to reach for a bottle, broke it and stabbed his creditor on the head. Read more
How I celebrate valentine, by Pastor Adeboye (Nation)
General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God(RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has revealed he is part of the valentine celebration every February 14.
The respected preacher said he spends the day asking to love God more and renew his marital vows.
On his verified Facebook and Instagram pages, he shared a romantic memory of where he was kissing his adorable wife, Pastor Folu Adeboye. Read more
EFCC returns N200m recovered from former officials to Kwara State (Guardian)
Kwara State governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq Friday said Nigeria’s anti-graft agency Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will be returning N200 million to the state coffers.
The money was embezzled by former officials of the northcentral state.
“EFCC has again invited us to collect another N200m loot that was recovered from some officials of the previous administration,” Abdulrazaq said.
The EFCC earlier returned N100 million to the state. The governor said the money will be used in “rebuilding our state.” Read more
Sex-for-grade: Exam Ethics send list of 15,550 petitions to Senate (Vanguard)
The Exam Ethics Marshall International (EEMI), an NGO, says it has forwarded a list signed by 15,550 petitions to the Senate to facilitate the passage of the Sex-for-Grade Prohibition bill.
Mr Ike Onyechere, Founder of the organisation, who disclosed this in an interview with Newsmen in Abuja on Friday, said it was to avert further scandal in the nation’s tertiary institutions
Onyechere said that the bill was frustrated when it was first introduced in the 8th National Assembly in 2016. Read more
Lassa fever vaccine in first trial stage, says Minister (Nation)
The Federal Government has revealed that it is currently developing a vaccine for Lassa fever. The vaccine which is in its first stage of trial, is being developed in Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Benin, by top Nigerian scientist, alongside experts from Germany.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who made this known at a press briefing Friday in Abuja, said, “Top Nigerian scientists in Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital are working on a vaccine for Lassa fever in collaboration with German experts. They have conducted a first stage trial. It might take a couple of years to completely develop it because developing a vaccine is in stages.
“However, testing if it works and is safe, requires some time. It has to go through several stages of quality control before it can be deployed. There is a lot of progress at the moment. Read more
Nigerians in China seek evacuation over coronavirus (Guardian)
Some Nigerians still in China, including students, are not happy they are ‘trapped’ in the Asian country.
A Nigerian student in Lanzhou University, Lanzhou city, Gansu Province, who preferred anonymity, told The Guardian in a WhatsApp message: “Actually sir we are all fine here. Though we are not allowed to go out, we live normally. The school usually checks on us everyday, checks our temperature, and always asks us to put on nose masks no matter where we are. As much as you can in a day, wash hands and avoid touching other hands, shaking people, embracing.
“Where I am in is called Lanzhou City, Gansu Province. We have more than 150 Nigerian students, not the same campus but in the same city. Actually, if the Nigerian government can evacuate us, it is still good but for me, it is somehow late because by the beginning of next month, we will be resuming lectures.” Read more
Men want more than underwear on Valentine’s Day (Nation)
A cross section of men in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Friday said that women should give them valuable gifts for the Valentine Day celebration.
In interviews with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) they lamented that over the years, women do give them underwears as gifts during the celebration.
They added that women should learn to give men valuable gifts like perfumes, shirts, wrist watches among others. Read more
Protesters attack new Bayelsa gov-elect’s house (Punch)
Protesters on Friday morning attacked the home of Bayelsa governor-elect, Douye Diri, on Imgbi Road, Amarata, Yenagoa, the state capital.
During the attack, they vandalised some vehicles in his compound and damaged parts of the building. Read more
Ihedioha: Imo elders hail CJN’s, S’Court’s courage to review judgement (Nation)
Following the decision by the Supreme Court to review its judgement that sacked Emeka Ihedioha as the governor of Imo State, elder statesmen in the state have hailed the Apex Court for fixing a date for the review of the judgement.
The Supreme Court, it was learned, fixed February 18 as the date to hear the application by Ihedioha for review of the judgement which pronounced Senator Hope Uzodinma as the duly elected governor of the state.
Addressing a press conference in Owerri on Friday, the elders, who spoke under the auspices of the Guild of Imo State Elders commended the Chief Justice of the Federation and the Supreme Court for the courage to look into Imo on Tuesday February 18, 2020. Read more
Couples arrested for celebrating Valentine’s Day in Indonesia (Punch)
Indonesia wasn’t feeling the love for Valentine’s Day on Friday as authorities arrested couples in one city, scolded stores over condom displays and warned students they would be reprimanded for amorous activities.
Makassar on Sulawesi island doled out some tough love with raids at hotels and guest houses Thursday evening which netted about two dozen unmarried offenders, including a German national.
“We caught the German with his Indonesian partner in a motel and they weren’t husband and wife so that’s why we arrested them,” Iman Hud, head of the local public order office, told AFP.
The unlucky lovers were quickly released after a lecture about the evils of pre-marital sex, but five sex workers caught in the dragnet would be sent to a rehabilitation centre, he added. Read more
Mohamed Salah: Liverpool need more information about Olympics, says Jurgen Klopp (BBC)
Salah could represent Egypt as one of their three over-age players
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says the club need more information before they decide whether forward Mohamed Salah can represent Egypt at the Olympics.
The tournament is for under-23 teams but three over-age players are allowed.
Salah, 27, is on Egypt’s provisional 50-man list for the event, which has its final on 8 August – the first day of the 2020-21 Premier League season. Read more
Juventus seek Brescia boost as rivals Inter, Lazio go head-to-head (Guardian)
Juventus return to their home comforts of Turin after a poor away run, hosting struggling Brescia on Sunday with top spot in Serie A at stake as title rivals Inter Milan and Lazio go head-to-head in the Stadio Olimpico.
Inter moved top last weekend ahead of Juventus on goal difference after the eight-time reigning champions’ shock 2-1 defeat at Hellas Verona. Read more
PSG are now the club with the most financial muscle in the world (Vanguard)
Of all of the world’s most powerful clubs, Paris Saint-Germain continue to grow and have placed first in a recent study on the Football Finance Index.
With 5,318 points, they ranked above 100 other clubs and beat Manchester City to top spot in the third edition of the study.
Conducted by Soccerex Football Finance, it is based upon the value of players, tangible assets, finance available in their accounts, potential owner investment and net debt. Read more
Liverpool look to extend lead as top-four battle recommences (Guardian)
Soccer Football – FA Cup – Third Round – Liverpool v Everton – Anfield, Liverpool, Britain – January 5, 2020 Liverpool’s Neco Williams celebrates with manager Juergen Klopp after the match REUTERS/Phil Noble
Liverpool is expected to take another step towards clinching a long-awaited Premier League title at bottom-of-the-table Norwich, while behind the runaway leaders the battle for Champions League places takes centre stage this weekend.
The Reds can extend their mammoth 22-point lead over Manchester City at Carrow Road on Saturday as they aim to not only win the league for the first time in 30 years but smash the record books in the process. Read more
Stage set for AFN All-Comers meet (Nation)
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) said tomorrow’s All-Comers competition will go ahead as scheduled.
Secretary General of the federation Niyi Beyioku confirmed all arrangements have been concluded for a hitch free event and advised athletes to attend as the federation officially begins its preparations for summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
“The AFN under the leadership of Olamide George is the one recognised by the constitution of the federation and athletes, state associations and clubs are advised to take note,” Beyioku added in a press statement. Read more
Tiger Woods is on the verge of history and still tinkering (Guardian)
Tiger Woods was clad in his hallmark red for the final round at the Farmers Insurance Open last month when he took a compact swipe at his 141-yard approach shot on the second hole. The ball found the green and took two short hops before it bounced in and out of the cup, leaving him with a short putt for birdie.
It was a near miss that delighted the massive crowd that had formed around the green. But from his position on the fairway, Woods wore an impassive expression. He neither smiled nor scowled. He just seemed to be going about his familiar business at Torrey Pines Golf Course, a tract in San Diego that he knew well.
Woods did not win the tournament — he finished in a six-way tie for ninth place — but he was in contention throughout, and there was no question that he was the center of attention. Fans surrounded him on every tee box and green. They screamed his name and begged for autographs. One couple even showed up for his final round in his-and-hers tiger costumes. Read more
Coronavirus: Why Man Utd kept Ighalo away from training ground (Nation)
Manchester United’s new signing Odion Ighalo is training away from the club this week as a precautionary measure following his arrival from China.
United have decided on the policy because of the risk – albeit extremely slight – posed by coronavirus.
They decided against taking the striker on their winter break training camp in Spain because of concerns he may have difficulty getting back into the UK. Read more
Pele: Brazil legend says health problems ‘normal for people my age’ (BBC)
Legendary Brazil forward Pele has spoken for the first time since his son claimed he was reluctant to leave his house, saying his health issues were “normal for people of my age”.
Pele’s son Edinho said the three-time World Cup winner, 79, was “embarrassed” at needing a frame to walk because of his hip problems.
But Pele, widely regarded as the greatest ever player, said: “I am good. I continue to accept my physical limitations in the best way possible but I intend to keep the ball rolling.” Read more
Mourinho defends Alli over coronavirus video (Punch)
Dele Alli is not racist and regrets posting a social media video which appeared to joke about the new coronavirus, said Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho on Friday.
Mourinho put the 23-year-old Spurs and England midfielder’s Snapchat video down to “a young generation” error, although the player has been asked by the English Football Association to explain the post.
Alli’s video — which was subsequently deleted after several complaints were made — showed him wearing a face mask in an airport departure lounge with the message ‘Corona whattt, please listen with volume’. Read more
Gerrard has no regrets over criticising Rangers players (Vanguard)
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard insisted Friday he had no qualms about publicly upbraiding his players after a damaging defeat at Kilmarnock all but handed the Scottish Premiership title to arch Glasgow rivals Celtic.
Wednesday’s 2-1 loss at Rugby Park left Rangers 10 points behind leaders Celtic, who moved closer to a ninth successive title with a 5-0 thrashing of Hearts.
Rangers manager Gerrard said his side had “failed to handle the heat” at Rugby Park and would now face questions regarding their courage. Read more