Businesswoman, 26, in court over alleged N1.3m fraud (Tribune)
A 26-year-old businesswoman, Titilayo Ogunnaya, who allegedly obtained the sum of N1.3 million from her partner under false pretences on Wednesday appeared before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
Ogunnaya, whose residential address was not given, is standing trial on a three-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and stealing.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Ingobo Emby told the court that the defendant and others still at large committed the alleged offences on Sept. 5, 2018, at No. 5, Oke Close, Oregun Ikeja, Lagos. Read more
Congestion: Stakeholders react to Maerskline’s plan to dump Lagos ports (Vanguard)
Announcement by Maerskline to discontinue calls at the Lagos Ports has elicited mixed reactions from stakeholders, even as the global shipping giant has come under the hammer for jumping ship at a time of distress.
Instructively, some stakeholders have appealed to the Federal Government to take a cue from Maerskline position and urgently address all operational deficits within the Lagos ports and other ports nationwide, to forestall possible exit of additional liners from the Nigerian ports.
Maerskline had, last Thursday, said henceforth its vessels will be calling at Onne Port, South-South Nigeria, and to give the Lagos Ports which has remained the official port designation for about 90 per cent Nigerian cargo a break. Read more
Amotekun: 7 things Tinubu said about Southwest security outfit (DailyTrust)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has finally made a comment on the establishment of the Southwest regional security outfit, Amotekun, after ample pressure. There have been worries in the Southwest over the silence of the political powerhouse of the region since the issue of Amotekun came up. Amotekun was launched by six governors of the Southwest under the Western Nigeria Governors’ Forum (WNGF) penultimate week to tackle the rising insecurity in the region. Read more
21-year-old admits to defrauding American of $200 (Punch)
A 21-year-old Internet fraudster, Arowolo Ariremako, has admitted to defrauding an American of the sum of $200.
Ariremako, who appeared before a Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, on Tuesday, pleaded guilty to the offences bordering on fraud preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The EFCC prosecutor, Oluwatoyin Owodunni, explained that Ariremako defrauded an American, identified simply as Gray.
The defendant was said to have obtained the sum of $200 from the American. Read more
UN to address alleged Saudi hacking of Amazon boss’s phone (Guardian)
UN investigators are poised to release a statement about the alleged hacking of Jeff Bezos’s mobile phone after the Guardian revealed details of a forensic analysis that has implicated a WhatsApp account purportedly owned by the crown prince of Saudi Arabia.
The astonishing disclosure prompted a Democratic lawmaker in the US to urgently demand more information about the malware that was allegedly used to infiltrate Bezos’s phone in the 2018 hack of the Amazon founder.
Ron Wyden, a Democratic senator from Oregon, said in a letter to Bezos that the alleged breach of the billionaire’s phone “appears to be part of a growing trend”, citing reports that Saudi Arabia had acquired cyber-hacking capabilities from Hacking Team, based in Italy, and Israel’s NSO Group. Read more
Court arraigns 19-yr-old boy for fondling minor (Nation)
A magistrate’s court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital on Wednesday arraigned a 19-year-old boy, Tope Anisere, for allegedly fondling a three-year-old girl (name withheld).
The accused person was arraigned by police on a count charge of indecent assault before Magistrate, Mrs. Kehinde Awosika.
The police prosecutor, Sergeant Olubu Apata, said the accused person committed the offence on 3rd January, 2020 in Otun Ekiti, Moba Local Government Area.
According to police prosecutor, the accused person put the toddler on his laps and romanced her without penetration. Read more
Terry Jones, Life of Brian director and Monty Python founder, dies aged 77 (Guardian)
Terry Jones, founder member of Monty Python and director of three of Python’s celebrated feature films, has died aged 77, his family have announced. In a statement they said: “Terry passed away on the evening of 21 January 2020 at the age of 77 with his wife Anna Soderstrom by his side after a long, extremely brave but always good humoured battle with a rare form of dementia, FTD.”
“Over the past few days his wife, children, extended family and many close friends have been constantly with Terry as he gently slipped away at his home in North London. We have all lost a kind, funny, warm, creative and truly loving man whose uncompromising individuality, relentless intellect and extraordinary humour has given pleasure to countless millions across six decades.”
In 2016, Jones and his family revealed he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia a year earlier, and he became a public face of the illness – appearing at a Bafta Cymru awards ceremony to highlight its effects and being interviewed in conjunction with longtime friend and collaborator Michael Palin in 2017. Read more
Lassa fever: Three dead, 292 on Kano watch list (Nation)
Kano State Government has confirmed the outbreak of Lassa Fever in the state which has so far claimed the lives of three (3) persons comprising of two doctors and the patient believed to be the first victim.
This was made known by the Honorable Commissioner, Kano State Ministry of Health, Dr. Aminu Ibrahim tsanyawa during a press conference on Wednesday.
According to him, the ministry currently has a total of 292 persons who had contact with the said victims on its watch list which would help to quickly quarantine anyone who shows any symptoms of the disease to avoid further spread. Read more
Pope Francis condemns ‘barbaric resurgence’ of anti-Semitism (Vanguard)
Next week’s 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp should serve as a reminder not to become indifferent, Francis said to a delegation from the human rights and research group, the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
“It is troubling to see, in many parts of the world, an increase in selfishness and indifference, lack of concern for others and the attitude that says life is good as long as it is good for me, and when things go wrong, anger and malice are unleashed,” Francis said.
“This creates a fertile ground for the forms of factionalism and populism we see around us, where hatred quickly springs up … where hatred is seminated,” he said. “Even recently, we have witnessed a barbaric resurgence of cases of anti-Semitism.” Read more
US to place visa restriction on Nigeria, others (Punch)
United States President, Donald Trump, is set to add Nigeria and six others to a new list of countries on America’s visa restriction, Wall Street Journal reports.
According to the report, Nigerians would not be barred from entering the country but would not be issued with certain types of visas.
The Trump administration plans to roll out its expanded travel restrictions on Monday, marking the three-year anniversary of the initial travel ban Trump signed on his seventh day in office, sparking controversy at the beginning of his term. Read more
Serena Williams into Australian Open third round after testy win (Guardian)
Serena Williams overcame an erratic performance at the Australian Open on Wednesday to beat Slovenian Tamara Zidansek 6-2, 6-3 and advance to the third round.
The 38-year-old American, who is bidding for a record 24th grand slam singles title, was hardly troubled in the first set as she broke Zidansek twice to wrap up the opener in just over half an hour.
But the 70th-ranked Zidansek put up an impressive defence in the second set, saving seven break points as an increasingly frustrated Williams racked up more than a dozen unforced errors. Read more
I was ‘nowhere near’ Coco Gauff’s level at 15, says Serena (Punch)
Serena Williams said that she was “nowhere near” as good as 15-year-old Coco Gauff when she was that age as the American great reached the Australian Open third round Wednesday despite being far from her best.
The 38-year-old, one short of Australian Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles, fought off a stubborn Tamara Zidansek 6-2, 6-3.
Williams faces China’s 27th seed Wang Qiang next and could meet her fellow American Gauff in the quarter-finals in Melbourne. Read more
Rodgers: Ndidi to return against West Ham (Nation)
Brendan Rodgers yesterday provided an update on the fitness of Nigeria international Wilfred Ndidi ahead of the club’s clash against West Ham United today.
The Foxes are set to welcome David Moyes’ men to the King Power stadium, as part of the Premier League’s midweek fixture list.
Speaking in his pre-West Ham press conference yesterday, Rodgers was asked for a fitness update on his squad and the main talking point surrounded sidelined midfielder Ndidi whose absence has been sorely felt in the Foxes’ last two outings. Read more
De Bruyne sets assist record in Man City’s win over Sheffield United (Vanguard)
Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne produced yet another piece of magic on Tuesday evening, setting up the only goal of the game against Sheffield United.
City were denied on numerous occasions by Dean Henderson, with the Englishman also saving Gabriel Jesus’ penalty. It appeared as though Pep Guardiola’s men were heading for another frustrating evening, but De Bruyne provided the necessary quality to find Sergio Aguero, who had the simple task of tapping home with 17 minutes remaining.
City were struggling to find a way past a resolute Sheffield United defence in the second half, but the Belgium international helped his side break the deadlock with another world-class pass. De Bruyne received the ball on the right-wing and looked up before playing a perfect, pinpoint pass between the goalkeeper and defender, allowing Aguero to simply tap the ball in. Read more
Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff remain on collision course at Australian Open (Guardian)
Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff, two of the most precocious talents tennis has had in many years, are on track to meet in the third round of the Australian Open on Friday. The defending champion will start favourite, having beaten the American teenager handily at Flushing Meadows six months ago, but will take nothing for granted.
They won in contrasting styles on Wednesday, Osaka having the easier time of it over two sets against the unseeded Saisai Zheng in an hour and 20 minutes on Margaret Court Arena, while Gauff, the youngest player in either draw at 15, had to dig deep to beat the seasoned Romanian Sorana Cirstea, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, in a thriller that lasted just over two hours on the Melbourne Arena.
“It’s amazing what different personalities can bring to the sport,” Osaka said of Gauff. “Since she is so young, she has brought so much interest and a new wave. She played doubles in one of the stadiums at the US Open last year and it was full. That is not normal and I don’t think it is something that can be taken for granted.” Read more
Eni Aluko joins Aston Villa as Sporting Director (Punch)
Aston Villa have announced the appointment of Eni Aluko as the club’s first-ever Sporting Director for women’s football.
Aston Villa CEO, Christian Purslow, said, “Eni enjoyed a fabulous playing career and took her first steps in the game in this city, the city where she grew up.
“She is an inspiration and inspiring role model to young girls and women in Birmingham and will help Aston Villa to be an exemplar of women’s and girl’s football in the region.” Read more
Real Madrid’s Odriozola completes Bayern Munich loan move (Vanguard)
Bayern Munich have confirmed the signing of Real Madrid full-back Alvaro Odriozola on loan until the end of the 2019/20 season.
The 24-year-old missed training on Tuesday ahead of Los Blancos’ Copa del Rey clash with Unionistas de Salamanca on Wednesday and has been out of favour so far this season.
Odriozola will offer more depth in defence to Bayern boss Hans-Dieter Flick, who has utilised Joshua Kimmich in midfield at times this term with Benjamin Pavard filling in at right. The switch should also mean Pavard can move into his more favoured central role. Read more
Ilaboya Cycling Circuit gets February date (Nation)
Chairman of Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Frank Ilaboya, has set the ball rolling towards a successful outing for Team Edo in the forthcoming National Sports Festival holding in the state between March 22 and April 1.
Ilaboya will be sponsoring a Cycling Criterion Circuit in Sabongida-Ora, headquarters of the Owan West Local Government Area of Edo state, from February 21 to 23, 2020.
“I am aware that cycling has over 16 gold medals and with adequate preparation of Team Edo cyclists, they can win between 12 and 14 gold medals,” said the former Edo State Football Association Chairman. Read more