Chef’s decomposing corpse found in Lagos apartment (Punch)
The decomposing remains of a chef, Eric Ekpeyong, have been found in a room belonging to his employer on Akintan Street, in the Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the 50-year-old was employed to cook for one Remi, who had been suffering from an undisclosed ailment.
Remi’s brother, identified as Oluwaseyi, was said to have received a call from a resident that Ekpeyong’s corpse was found in the house.
The incident was reported at the Surulere Police Station as personnel of the command were mobilised to the scene. Read more
At public hearings, Yoruba leaders okay Amotekun (Guardian)
Yoruba in the south west states of Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Osun and Oyo yesterday threw aside their political and religious differences as they unanimously endorsed the newly established zonal security network known as Amotekun.
At separate public hearings on the bills for the establishment of the security network in each of the states, the stakeholders admonished the authorities to ensure proper training of the operatives and shun political, religious and other selfish considerations in the recruitment of personnel into the outfit.
In Lagos, the stakeholders spoke yesterday at a forum on a bill for a law to amend the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) Agency Law, 2019 for the purpose of establishing the Amotekun corps held on the House of Assembly premises.A representative of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) declared that the church was in support of Amotekun and that the clerics would pray for its success. Read more
Buhari to Akeredolu: Your achievements are remarkable (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday was in Ondo state to commission some Projects to mark the 3rd year anniversary of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s administration.
The two projects are Ondo Linyl Industrial Hub and Ore flyover interchange.
At the event were Governors Godwin Obaseki of Edo,Dr Kayode Fayemi(Ekiti) and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state with Ondo state Deputy Governor,Agboola Ajayi, Chief Pius Akinyelure,Pius Osunyikanmi and others.
Traditional rulers were led by the state chairman,Council of Obas and Olugbo of Ugbo,Oba Frederick Akinruntan
President Buhari praised Akeredolu for all the projects he was able to put in place within three years in office. Read more
NECO dismisses 19 workers over certificate forgery (Nation)
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has dismissed 19 of its workers for forging their certificates.
Their dismissal was approved by the Governing Board of NECO after vetting the report of a Staff Certificate Verification Committee setup by the council at its 52nd regular meeting.
The Head, Information and Public Relations Division of NECO, Azeez Sani, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
The statement said the committee wrote the institutions some of the affected workers claimed to have attended and the institutions denied issuing them certificates.
It reads: “The Governing Board of the National Examinations Council (NECO) has approved the dismissal of 19 staff from her service for certificate forgery. Read more
Kaduna House of Assembly Speaker resigns (Guardian)
Kaduna State House of Assembly speaker Aminu Abdullahi Shagali has resigned from his appointment.
Shagali said his resignation was based on personal grounds in a letter dated February 25.
“I, Aminu Abdullahi Shagali Speaker Kaduna State House of Assembly hereby resign my appointment as the Speaker Kaduna State House of Assembly on personal grounds,” he said in the letter. Read more
Kaduna gets new Speaker, Zailani (Vanguard)
Barely some hours after Hon. Aminu Shagali resigned as Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly,, Hon. Ibrahim Yusuf Zailani has emerged as the new Speaker.
Zailani was Deputy Speaker in the immediate past dispensation in the Kaduna House.
Speaking on the development, the clerk of the House, maintained that the former Speaker resigned his position as Speaker of the House on personal grounds.
However, a source confirmed to newsmen that ” 25 members of the House, allegedly passed a vote of no confidence on Shagali. Read more
Consultant doctors declare national strike over NUC’s PhD policy (Punch)
The Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria has declared an indefinite strike action over the National Universities Commission’s requirement that clinical lecturers must acquire a Ph.D. as a condition for career progression in the Nigerian university system.
The consultant doctors said their strike is to press home their demand that the circular should be withdrawn.
National President of MDCAN, Prof. Kenneth Ozoilo, announced the strike at a press conference in Jos on Tuesday.
The MCAN President said, “The decision of the NUC to embark on this policy direction, without due attention to the consequences and implications is, to say the least, embarrassing. Read more
Lawyers react to Metuh’s conviction, charge FG to prosecute corrupt govt officials (DailyTrust)
A group of lawyers has charged the federal government to deploy the same energy used in the investigation and prosecution of a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, to those in the present administration that have allegations of corruption and fraud on their heads. Metuh was sentenced to seven years imprisonment on Tuesday by a Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Okon Abang after he was found guilty of money laundering charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Reacting to the judgment of the court, lawyers under the aegis of Coalition of Public Interests Lawyers and Advocates (COPA) said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration could prove its doubters wrong if and when individuals in the administration that have cases hanging over their heads were given a similar treatment like Metuh’s. Read more
FG rakes in over N1bn from land rates, others (Nation)
The Federal Government said it generated a total of N1.289 billion from ground rents, premiums, consent, registration and penal fees among others between 2017 till date
The Director, Lands and Housing Development Department, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mrs Great-Edereka, disclosed this Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the 26th conference of directors of lands in the federal and state ministries departments and agencies in Abuja.
She said the conference with the theme: “Land Use Reform as Conflict Resolution Mechanism”, is aimed at proffering solutions to various land conflicts and management challenges in the country so as to address the disputes and disagreements that often arise between individuals on matters relating to land. Read more
Egypt’s toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak dead at 91 (Guardian)
Egypt’s former long-time president Hosni Mubarak died Tuesday at age 91 at Cairo’s Galaa military hospital, his family and state TV said.
His son Alaa Mubarak tweeted that “this morning my father, president Mubarak, passed away”.
Mubarak’s brother-in-law, General Mounir Thabet, told AFP that the family was at the hospital and that the presidential office would organise the funeral. Read more
Weinstein conviction ‘sends very strong message’ – Trump (Punch)
Harvey Weinstein’s conviction of rape and sexual assault was a “great victory” for women and send a “very strong message”, US President Donald Trump said Tuesday.
“I think that from the standpoint of women, I think it was a great thing,” Trump said at a news conference in India, a day after Weinstein was convicted. Read more
Zidane casts doubt on Hazard return this season (Vanguard)
Zinedine Zidane said on Tuesday he cannot be sure that Eden Hazard will play again this season after the Belgian suffered another foot injury last weekend.
Hazard came off during Madrid’s defeat by Levante on Saturday after making only his second start following almost three months out with a fracture in the same foot.
Madrid confirmed another fracture was revealed during tests on Sunday and Zidane has cast doubt on whether Hazard will return this term.
“I don’t know if he will need an operation, it’s not my area,” said Zidane in a press conference before Madrid’s Champions League first leg against Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday. Read more
Super Quadri shows class in Tunis (Nation)
From all the 16 players competing in the 2020 ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup, Aruna Quadri, showed his status as the Nigerian remains unbeaten in the group matches at the three-day tournament holding in Tunis.
Unlike Egypt’s Omar Assar and Ahmed Saleh who had both dropped points, Quadri’s maintains a perfect record after thrashing Tunisia’s Adam Hmam and Algeria’s Sami Kherouf 3-0 win to top Group 1 of the men’s singles.
Despite the home support enjoyed by Hmam in the first group tie, the fans were disappointed at the manner Quadri dismissed their boy at the Rades Multi-Purpose Hall in Tunis.
From the beginning of the game, a business-like Quadri known for his ferocious forehand shot confused his opponent till the final point of the tie that ended 11-5, 14-12, 11-4 to the chagrin of the home fans. Read more
Van Dijk praises Liverpool’s mental strength (Vanguard)
Virgil van Dijk says Liverpool’s ability to stay calm under pressure is the key to their astonishing Premier League title charge after they came from behind to beat West Ham 3-2.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are 22 points ahead of second-placed Manchester City and need just four more wins to guarantee winning their first top-flight title for 30 years.
Despite the huge points gap, Liverpool have had to overcome some threats to their season-long unbeaten record in recent weeks.
They were 2-1 down to the Hammers on Monday with 22 minutes to go while they beat Norwich with a solitary 78th-minute goal earlier this month. Read more
Neville blames Iwobi for Arsenal’s equaliser against Everton (Punch)
Manchester United legend, Gary Neville, has blamed Alex Iwobi for Arsenal’s equaliser against Everton in their English Premier League clash at the Emirate Stadium on Sunday.
The Gunners defeated the Toffees 3-2 in a thrilling encounter at the Emirates.
Iwobi failed to close down Bukayo Saka, whose cross was coolly finished by Eddie Nketiah in the 27th minutes.
Saka, who has been impressing in recent weeks, replaced Sead Kolasinac after 18 minutes in the encounter after he copped an elbow injury. Read more
Manchester City take fight to UEFA on and off the field (Guardian)
Manchester City may be set to go to war with UEFA, but time is of the essence for the English champions to satisfy their quest to win the Champions League.
City head to the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, knowing failure to beat 13-time winners Real Madrid over two legs could be their final European adventure for two years.
UEFA slapped a stunning two-season ban on City earlier this month for overstating sponsorship income between 2012 and 2016 to breach Financial Fair Play rules and failing to cooperate once an investigation was re-opened following the leak of internal emails to German magazine Der Spiegel.
City remain belligerent and insist they will beat UEFA off the field. An appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport will decide their fate for the next two years. Read more
Balogun tasks Wigan as relegation battle heats up (Nation)
Nigeria international Leon Balogun has stressed that Wigan cannot afford to lose focus if they are to avoid relegation in the Championship, reports goal.com.
Playing his maiden home game for the Latics, Paul Cook’s men secured a narrow 1-0 over Millwall to record their first win in three games.
After a goalless first half inside DW Stadium, Shaun Hutchinson’s 57th-minute own goal decided the clash.
The Latics currently are two points away from safety, but the 31-year-old warned that his teammates should not relent yet, insisting they must “trust in the process”.
“When you look at the other results, you see how massive this win is for us,” Balogun told Latics TV. Read more
Ikoyi Club gets state of the art court, set for international championship (Guardian)
In a bid to meet the standard required of the best badminton courts in the world, the Ikoyi Club Badminton Section recently constructed a state of the art court ahead of its 2020 engagements.
Chairman of the Badminton Section, Ikoyi Club 1938, Kassim AbdulRahman said refurbishing the court would enable national team badminton players, who don’t have the financial power to train outside the country to use the facility.
On the activities lined up for the 2020 season, AbdulRahman said the Ikoyi Club would organise top class badminton championships for its members and also groom talents from the grassroots, who would in future represent the country in international championships.
“I am delighted that Ikoyi Club has finally finished putting in place the best state of the art court you can find anywhere in the world. Read more
Brazil and Inter legend Adriano debunks death rumour (Vanguard)
Brazil legend Adriano has been forced to deny he’s dead after returning to his old hometown – a dangerous Rio de Janeiro favela.
Pro Evolution Soccer fans, in particular, will remember Adriano for his impressive career – an absolute cheat-code of a player in PES 6.
The Brazilian, now 38, retired from football in 2014 after an impressive career at clubs including Flamengo, Inter Milan, and Roma.
But in recent weeks, the 53-cap former Brazil international appeared to have dropped off the face of the Earth. Read more
Okafor to star for D’Tigers at Tokyo 2020 (Nation)
New Orleans Pelicans center Jahlil Okafor has opted to play for the Nigeria Basketball team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, newly appointed D’Tigers coach Mike Brown told ESPN.
The 24 year-old qualifies to play for Nigeria through his paternal grandfather who immigrated to the US from Nigeria as a 20-year-old.
Okafor was named the MVP of the 2012 FIBA Under-17 World Cup in Lithuania, playing for the gold medal-winning United States team and also won the FIBA World U19 Cup in Czech Republic a year later. Read more