Court rejects Genesis prophet’s post-conviction bail application (Punch)
The Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, on Tuesday, rejected the post-conviction bail application filed by the Senior Shepherd-in-Charge of the Celestial Church of Christ, Genesis Global, Prophet Israel Ogundipe.
Justice Olabisi Akinlade had on November 18 sentenced the popular prophet to one-year imprisonment for converting a woman’s property to his personal use and stealing.
PUNCH Metro had reported that the court found Ogundipe guilty of stealing and unlawful conversion of the property of a London-based architect, Mrs Oladele Williams-Oni. Read more
COVID-19: Lagos Assembly tasks Sanwo-Olu on second wave (Sun)
Lagos State House of Assembly, yesterday, called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to direct the Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, to intensify public enlightenment campaigns to curtail spread of COVID-19 pandemic second wave among Lagosians.
Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who presented the matter during plenary, yesterday, also said it was important for the House to invite the Commissioner for Health, Tunji Abayomi, to brief the House on the government’s efforts to prevent the spread of the disease in the state.
He said there was an urgent need to ensure COVID-19 protocols were strictly observed, even as he urged the government to ensure enforcement was total.
“The governor is down with mild symptoms of COVID-19 and I want to urge the lawmakers in the House to observe the protocols of the pandemic.
“The clerk should also ensure the staff of the House and visitors observe the protocols. Read more
Court remands trader for allegedly raping seven-year-old girl (Guardian)
An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos yesterday ordered that a 44-year-old trader, Seye Garuba, who allegedly raped a seven-year-old girl, be remanded in a Correctional Centre.
However, the court did not take the plea of the defendant following the motion by the prosecutor, Bisi Ogunleye, that the matter should be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.
Magistrate Ejiro Kubeinje ordered for the defendant’s remand in Kirikiri Correctional Centre without an option of bail and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send to the DPP for advice. Kubeinje adjourned the case until January 11. Read more
Lagos to provide care for expectant mothers (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has inaugurated the second pilot phase of the Mother, Infant and Child programme across the wards in the state.
The scheme, according to a statement on Tuesday would provide nutritional foods and supplements for over 1000 expectant mothers from their second trimester to delivery stage.
The wife of the governor, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, who was represented at the inauguration of the initiative by the special adviser to the Lagos State governor on civic engagement, Ms. Aderemi Adebowale, said the second edition of the M.I.C.H birthed through the commitment of the governor to reduce the death rate among mothers and children in the state. Read more
2023: South West APC leaders call on Tinubu to join presidential race (Sun)
Hundreds of notable leaders in the South West have called on the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to join the 2023 presidential race.
The call came in less than 24 hours after the Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Adeyemi III, endorsed Tinubu for the 2023 presidential poll.
The leaders made the call, yesterday, at the end of a meeting held by delegates from South West states of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and Lagos in Ibadan, Oyo State. Read more
CJ defends court’s role in freezing accounts of #EndSARS sponsors (Guardian)
The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, yesterday tried to clear the air on the freezing of accounts of alleged promoters of the #EndSARS protests that rocked the country in October.
He said that contrary to the belief in some quarters that the court intentionally froze the accounts of #EndSARS promoters, it only played its part as an interpreter of the law.
According to Justice Tsoho, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) approached the court, praying for an order to freeze certain accounts of corporate bodies, and names of individuals were not attached to the applications. Read more
FG orders telcos to block SIMs without NINs December 30 (Punch)
After December 30, all Subscriber Identification Modules that are not registered with valid National Identification Numbers on the network of telecommunications companies shall be blocked, the Federal Government has said.
It was gathered in Abuja on Tuesday that the declaration was part of resolutions reached during an urgent meeting of key stakeholders in the communications industry that was convened by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami.
The spokesperson of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Ikechukwu Adinde, said in a statement issued in Abuja that the meeting was convened following the earlier directive on the suspension of new SIM registration by network operators. Read more
Kalango’s One Love for presentation tomorrow (Guardian)
Koko Kalango’s new book, One Love… The Untold Story of Jamaicans Contribution to building Nigeria since 1846, is set for virtual presentation tomorrow, December 17, 2020.
The book, which covers a period of over 170 years, is divided into three parts: Pre-Nigeria to the amalgamation (1850s- 1914), amalgamation to independence (1914-1960) and independence to date (1960-2020). It documents efforts in various fields and covers stories from different parts of Nigeria.
However, for the purpose of Kalango’s narratives, the definition of a Jamaican has been narrowed down to the first-generation rather than those, like herself, who acquired citizenship by descent. Read more
Married teachers die of COVID-19 while holding hands (NYPost)
A married couple who were both teachers in Texas died of COVID-19 complications while holding hands.
Paul Blackwell, 61, and Rose Mary Blackwell, 65, died on Sunday at Harris Methodist Hospital, according to their family.
The couple spent several days in intensive care on ventilators as their conditions continued to worsen and their family made the heartbreaking decision to take them off life support, Paul’s son Christopher Blackwell told CBS 11. Read more
Naomi Ackie will play Whitney Houston in late singer’s biopic after ‘impressing’ producers (Metro)
Naomie Ackie will play Whitney Houston in the late singer’s biopic. Earlier this year, it was confirmed that I Will Always Love You hit-maker’s life story was being adapted for the big screen, with producers promising a ‘no holds barred’ biopic for fans. Clive Davis – Whitney’s former record label boss and close friend – confirmed the release and is on board to produce the movie alongside Pat Houston on behalf of Whitney’s estate. Stella Meghie will direct the movie and it’s now been revealed that actress Naomi will bring Whitney – who died eight years ago – back to life on screen. Read more
Yemen most at risk of humanitarian catastrophe in 2021: IRC (AlJazeera)
Yemen is the country most at risk of a humanitarian catastrophe in 2021, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has warned, marking the third year running the war-ravaged nation has earned the grim recognition.
Continued conflict, widespread hunger and a collapsing international aid response threaten to dramatically worsen the current crisis in Yemen next year, the IRC said on Wednesday.
Tamuna Sabadze, the aid agency’s director for Yemen, said support was critical, now more “than ever”. Read more
Lana Del Rey delivers first US TV performance in nine years (Metro)
Lana Del Rey made her first US television appearance in nine years on Monday night to perform her single, Let Me Love You Like A Woman. The singer delighted fans with a pre-recorded performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Lana, 35, showed off her unique vocals in the retro-themed clip while joined by a band and backup singers in an unnamed dive bar. Read more
5m more Afghans will need help in 2021: UN (AlJazeera)
The United Nations expects to have to help five million more Afghans in 2021 than this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and an increase in conflicts, a UN official said.
The need is increasing and “funding is urgently needed,” the acting Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Ramesh Rajasingham said during a press conference on Tuesday.
Rajasingham, who just returned from a trip to Afghanistan, highlighted the very harsh winters that the country usually experiences. Read more
Tom Cruise screams at film crew members over COVID rules in leaked audio (PageSix)
Furious Tom Cruise tore into workers who broke Covid rules on the set of “Mission: Impossible” screaming: “If I see you doing it again, you’re f—ing gone.”
The Hollywood megastar has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to enforce tight social-distancing rules during the filming, taking place in Britain.
And he flew into a rage after spotting two of the crew standing within two meters of each other. Read more
French and Russian Facebook trolls fight it out in CAR elections (AlJazeera)
Facebook has said rival French and Russian disinformation campaigns are seeking to deceive internet users – and unmask each other – in the Central African Republic (CAR) before presidential and parliamentary elections on December 27.
The social media giant said on Tuesday it was the first time it had seen such a direct battle of the trolls by competing foreign states on its platforms, with the rivals’ fake accounts denouncing each other as “fake news”.
The company said it had suspended three networks totalling almost 500 accounts and pages for so-called “coordinated inauthentic behaviour”. Read more
Joshua inspiring Nigerian youths – Mensah (Punch)
Boxing coach Joe Mensah says Anthony Joshua’s heroics will inspire Nigerian youths, especially those interested in boxing.
The Olympian stated this in a chat with The PUNCH after Joshua defeated Kubrat Pulev to defend his WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles on Saturday.
“What Joshua has been doing as a boxer will motivate Nigerian youths, especially those who would love to become professional boxers,” Mensah told The PUNCH.
“Joshua’s disciplined and professional lifestyle is worthy of emulation by our young boxers if they want to go far in the game.” Read more
Jose Mourinho hits out at Liverpool injury crisis claim (Metro)
Jose Mourinho has played down the severity of Liverpool’s injury crisis ahead of Tottenham’s clash with the Premier League champions on Wednesday evening. Jurgen Klopp will be without Virgil van Dijk, Diogo Jota, Thiago Alcantara, Joe Gomez, Xherdan Shaqiri and James Milner for Spurs’ visit to Anfield. But Mourinho believes that Klopp still has close to his strongest starting line-up for the match. Read more
Arsenal must trust in Arteta, says Guardiola (Sun)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has backed former assistant Mikel Arteta to turn Arsenal’s fortunes around in spite of the club’s dismal start to the season.
With 13 points from 12 Premier League games, Arsenal are off to their worst start to a campaign in almost 40 years and the pressure is building on Arteta, who was given the manager’s job last December after winning two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups under Guardiola at City.
“Arsenal don’t have a better manager that can lead this club in this year and the next,” Guardiola said ahead of City’s home game against West Bromwich Albion later on Tuesday. Read more
Frank Lampard hits out at Chelsea players for disappointing performance in Wolves defeat (Metro)
An angry Frank Lampard criticised Chelsea’s lacklustre performance after the side’s 2-1 defeat to Wolves and accused his players of believing their own hype and getting complacent as a result of their impressive unbeaten streak. Olivier Giroud gave the Blues the lead with a smart volley just after half-time at Molineux but Daniel Podence levelled in the 66th minute and Pedro Neto’s late strike on the counter-attack secured the hosts all three points. It’s the first time fifth-placed Chelsea have lost back-to-back games this season and Lampard cut a frustrated figure on the touchline and in his gloomy post-match interview. Read more
Tom Thibodeau says Knicks need star after Giannis Antetokounmpo signing (NYPost)
Unless Giannis Antetokounmpo demands a trade to New York down the road, it appears “The Greek Freak” will never play for the Knicks.
And now the 2021 free-agent class doesn’t appear so juicy, especially with Anthony Davis signing a long-term deal with the Lakers and not a one-and-one that would’ve put him on the market this summer.
The Knicks will have plenty of cap space in 2021, and coach Tom Thibodeau, on the eve of Wednesday’s preseason Garden opener against Cleveland, said the club has a “critical’’ need to catch a star and hopes it becomes “very aggressive.’’ Read more
Champions League draw’ – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reacts to Manchester United’s Europa League tie with Real Sociedad (Metro)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has warned his Manchester United players they must treat their Europa League tie with Real Sociedad as if it were a Champions League clash, while he also singled out former Red Devil Adnan Januzaj. United’s defeat to RB Leipzig in their final group game last week saw them drop down to the Europa League and, despite being seeded, have been handed one of the toughest draws against La Liga leaders Sociedad. Solskjaer will not be taking the Spanish side lightly and believes they will pose a stern test for his team during a busy period of the season. Read more