Court orders final forfeiture of N280m from Obinwanne Okeke to FG (Guardian)
The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of the sum of N280,555,010 traced to Obinwanne Okeke to the Federal Government.
Justice Rilwan Aikawa ordered the forfeiture following the submissions of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel Rotimi Oyedepo.
The EFCC lawyer had told the court that the funds were warehoused in the Nigerian bank accounts of Invictus Oil and Gas Limited and Invictus Investment Limited, respectively.
The anti-graft agency had also said the two firms were owned by Invictus Obi whom it described as, “a strong leader of a cyber-crime syndicate that specialises in business e-mail compromise.” Read more
We’re back on Lagos roads, VIS tells motorists (PMNews)
The Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) in Lagos State says its officers are back on Lagos roads to carry out statutory life-saving mandates through enforcement of motor vehicles’ roadworthiness.
Mr Akin-George Fashola, Director of VIS, made this known in Lagos on Thursday.
He said that residents of the state, especially road users thought Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) were off the roads. Read more
PTA to probe Queen’s College parent-guard spat (Punch)
The Chairman of the Parent-Teacher Association of the Queen’s College, Abass Ahmed, has condemned the action of a parent to one of the pupils, who allegedly assaulted security guards for not allowing her daughter into the school.
Ahmed, while condemning the action of the pupil’s mother, noted that there were laid down rules and regulations guiding pupils, adding that the association would probe the alleged assault on both parties.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the pupil, who was dropped off in the school by her mother, was denied entry by the security guards for fixing artificial eyelashes and painting her nails. Read more
Fire destroys plaza, 15 shops, goods in Lagos (punch)
Goods worth millions of naira were, on Wednesday, destroyed by fire, which wreaked havoc on 15 shops on Balogun Road in the Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos State.
It was gathered that the fire started around 2am.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the fire started from one of the shops and spread to the others before help could come. Read more
I’ll refund N45K dowry once my husband pays N43K he owes me – Wife (Punch)
A Shari’a Court II, sitting at Magajin Gari, Kaduna, on Thursday dissolved the union between Sani Ahmad and Maryam Aliyu over irreconcilable differences.
The Judge, Murtala Nasir, also ordered the complainant to refund the N45,000 dowry she received from the defendant since she was the one that initiated the divorce.
Earlier, Maryam Aliyu, the complainant, a resident of Tudun Wada area of Kaduna, had told the court that she wanted a divorce through redemption (Khul’i). Read more
Court nullifies creation of new emirates in Kano (DailyTrust)
A Kano High Court has nullified the four newly created emirates in the state by governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. Passing the judgement on Thursday, the presiding Judge, Justice Usman Na’Abba, said creation of the emirates, and subsequent appointment of their respective emirs was null and void.
Justice Na’Abba said the Kano state House of Assembly did not follow the proper procedures in making the law establishing the new emirates. Read more
Cancel Bayelsa, Kogi elections, Secondus tells INEC (Punch)
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Uche Secondus, on Thursday, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to cancel the November 16 governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States. Read more
Women affairs ministry vows to improve wellbeing of children (DailyTrust)
Kano state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr Zahra’u Muhammad has promised to improve the living standard of children under the care of the ministry. A statement from the ministry, signed by its Public Relations Officer, Hadiza Namadi, said that the commissioner made the disclosure during a familiarization visit to Nassarawa children’s home, Torrey Home, Tudun Maliki and Juvenile home, Goron Dutse. Read more
Maina bleeds, receives treatment as court stands down proceedings (DailyTrust)
Abdulrasheed Maina A Federal High Court in Abuja has stood down proceeding for 20 minutes to allow Abdulrasheed Maina to take his medication. It was observed that while proceeding was going on, a security operative attached to the court approached the judge, Justice Okon Abang, to inform the judge that water was being poured on Maina, who is seated at the back row of the court room. Read more
Nigerians to pay more tax as Senate approves 7.5% VAT hike (Sun)
The Nigerian Senate on Thursday passed the Finance Bill which seeks to amend seven acts of the National Assembly related to taxes payable in the country.
The bill titled ‘Nigeria Tax And Fiscal Law (Amendment) Bill (Finance Bill) 2019’, sought the increment of the Value Added Tax (VAT) payable by Nigerians from 5 percent to 7.5 percent. Other amended Tax Acts as contained in the finance bill include: Company Income Tax, Personal Income Tax, Custom and Excise Tax, Stamp Duties Act and the Capital Gains Tax.
A majority of Senators expressed their opinions before voting commenced on the Finance Bill. Read more
Femi Kuti, 2baba, other celebrities congratulate Burna Boy over Grammy nod (Sun)
Nigerian celebrities have continued to congratulate musician Damini Ogulu aka `Burna Boy’ over his Grammy nomination.
The Grammy is an award presented by The Recording Academy to recognise achievements in the music industry globally.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Burna Boy’s nomination announcement on Wednesday evening sent the internet into frenzy.
The Afro-fusion star was nominated in the ‘Near World Music Album’ category for his highly acclaimed 2019 album, ‘African Giant’. Read more
General election 2019: IFS rejects Labour’s claim 95% taxpayers would not pay extra for its plans – live news (Guardian)
Billionaires and financiers are among those who have helped the Conservative party raise £5.7m in a single week, according to official figures.
Data published by the Electoral Commission for donations received between the 6th and the 12th of November shows the Tories far outstripped other parties, most of whom raised a couple of hundred thousand pounds during the same period.
The top donors to the Conservatives were:
John Gore, theatre producer and recent addition to the Sunday Times Rich List, with an estimated net worth of £1.5bn. He donated £1m. Read more
Woman on trial charged with stealing evidence, her own gun (YekimaHerald)
A woman on trial for pulling out a loaded pistol inside an Alaska bar last year faces new charges after authorities say she stole the gun from an evidence box inside the courtroom.
Tiffany Flenaugh, 29, was jailed Tuesday on new charges of felony theft, possessing a firearm in a courthouse, evidence tampering and violating conditions of release, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported.
She is represented by the Alaska Public Defender’s Office, which declined comment Wednesday.
Flenaugh was arrested on Oct. 21, 2018, at a downtown Fairbanks bar and charged with assault, weapons misconduct and resisting arrest. Read more
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup: Supersand Eagles set for Portugal (Sun)
Two–time African champions, Nigeria will begin their campaign at this year’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup finals in Paraguay when they clash with world number two Portugal in Asuncion Friday.
This year’s finals will hold at the ‘Los Pynandi’ World Cup Stadium – named after the Paraguayan national beach soccer team – and located at the headquarters of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee in Greater Asuncion.
Nigeria earned a ticket to feature at the 16 –team World Cup finals after finishing second at the CAF Beach Soccer Cup of Nations held in Egypt in December 2018. Champions Senegal is the other team flying Africa’s flag in Paraguay. Read more
Ruiz defeat made me a smarter fighter, says Joshua (Sun)
Briton Anthony Joshua said his first career defeat at the hands of Andy Ruiz Jr. was due to a lack of experience and he had become a “smarter” fighter ahead of December’s rematch.
Mexican-American Ruiz produced one of boxing’s biggest upsets when he dethroned the previously undefeated world heavyweight champion with a seventh-round stoppage at New York’s Madison Square Garden in June.
“It wasn’t burnout. The issues I faced in the last camp, it’s just down to lack of experience,” he told BBC.
“Even though it was at a high level, we were still finding experience. Read more
Minister hosts inter-ministerial session for sports devt (Sun)
Determined to revamp the sports sector in the country, the Sports Minister, Mr. Sunday Dare will today in Abuja hold an inter-ministerial technical session tagged: “Positioning sports as an industry -From concept to action.”
Other ministers expected at the brainstorming session, according to a statement by the Head, Corporate Communication, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Yinka Iyinolakan are; the Minister of Education, Information, and Culture, Women Affairs, Industry, Trade and Investment, Finance, Budget and National Planning and Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social development. Read more
Rory McIlroy finishes with a flourish in Dubai after his shot of the year (Guardian)
When Rory McIlroy labels a shot his best of a year that has delivered four victories it would be wise to seek replays. McIlroy certainly will.
His magnificent three wood to the 18th, launched to four feet from 291 yards, lit up the first round of the World Tour Championship. McIlroy tapped in for an eagle three and a round of 64 to leave him one shot adrift of the leader, Mike Lorenzo-Vera on nine under.
“As soon as I hit it I knew it was perfect,” McIlroy said. “It was right out of the middle. I’m looking forward to seeing it back on the TV. It was great to finish like that and it was a great round. I’m feeling comfortable with my game. I have done for the last while … I felt like today was just more of the same of how I’ve been feeling.” Read more
Real Madrid winger Vazquez breaks toe in dumbbell accident (Guardian)
Real Madrid winger Lucas Vazquez has broken his toe, the club announced on Thursday.
Vazquez sustained the injury after dropping a dumbbell on his foot in the gym, according to reports in the Spanish press.
“After tests done today on our player Lucas Vazquez, the medical services of Real Madrid have diagnosed him with a fracture in the big toe of his left foot,” read a club statement. Read more
Xhaka’s ‘mindset is better’ after spat with fans, says Arsenal’s Emery (Vanguard)
Arsenal boss Unai Emery said Thursday that Granit Xhaka’s “mindset is better” after he missed four matches following his public run-in with the club’s fans. The Switzerland international was stripped of the club captaincy after swearing and throwing the captain’s armband to the ground in reaction to Gunners fans booing him as he was substituted against Crystal Palace late last month. READ ALSO: Emery finds it hard to put case for Gunners defence Xhaka, 27, blamed death threats to his family for his furious response, saying he had reached “boiling point”, but Emery said he was training well after playing in both of his country’s Euro 2020 qualifiers in the past week. Read more
Costa set for three months out after operation (Guardian)
Diego Costa is facing three months out after Atletico Madrid confirmed the striker underwent surgery on a cervical disc on Thursday.
Costa felt discomfort in his neck last week in training and the club decided the injury required surgery.
“Diego Costa underwent surgery on his cervical disc herniation in Madrid on Thursday,” Atletico confirmed in a statement. Read more