Court sentences 23-year-old man to life imprisonment over defilement (Guardian)
A Lagos Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court sentenced a 23-year-old security guard, Blessing Okon to life imprisonment for defiling a 14-year-old student.
Trial Justice Abiola Soladoye convicted Okon yesterday while delivering judgement in a charge brought against him by the Lagos State Government.
The judge held that prosecution has proved the essential ingredients of defilement beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Soladoye describing Okon as shameless, as she held that the survivor was consistent in her testimony before the court which established that the defendant had been having sexual contact with her since she was nine-year-old.
The convict was 20 years old when he committed the offence on September 13, 2019 at Ribadu Road off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The judge said that defendant is lacking in compassion, he had sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl. According to justice Soladoye, There was overwhelming evidence against him as presented by the prosecution. You therefore should pay for your sexual crime.
“The defendant is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment without an option of fine. His name should be registered in the Sexual Offenders Register as maintained by the Lagos State Government.” Read more
YABATECH emerges best polytechnic in Nigeria for third time (Punch)
The Yaba College of Technology has emerged best polytechnic in Nigeria for the third consecutive time in the Webometrics ranking released in January 2022.
The Deputy Registrar, YABATECH, Mr Joe Ejiofor, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Lagos.
Ejiofor attributed the success to the institution’s improvement in web content and researchable academic papers.
He noted that the primary objective of the ranking web was to promote open access to the knowledge generated by institutions.
“This is a ranking of higher institutions of learning, it uses both Webometric and Bibliometric (research) indicators and the primary objective is to promote open access to the knowledge generated by institutions.” Read more
Absence of witnesses stalls Oromoni’s Coroner hearing (Guardian)
The scheduled coroner inquest seeking to unravel the circumstances that led to the death of a student of Dowen College, Sylvester Oromoni Junior failed to hold yesterday, due to absence of deceased’s father, Sylvester Oromoni Senior, his sister and others in court.
Coroner Magistrate, Mikhail Kadiri had adjourned to yesterday for the deceased’s father and others to testify in an ongoing inquest. Counsel to the Oromoni’s, Mr. Andrew Efole told the court that Oromoni sister’s absence was due to ill health.
He said: “The girl who ought to testify is sick, the father who ought to be here is attending to the child who is receiving treatment.”
He added to the prompting of the coroner about the where about of the deceased’s mother, “The mother is not strong now for the things she is going through.”
Meanwhile, counsel to Oromoni’s family, Olawanle Taiwo, from the firm of messrs Femi Falana applied for the hearing to be adjourned indefinitely. The application was made on grounds that the other parties to the proceedings have not filled their witness depositions. Read more
Gunshots as Zagon Kataf comes under fresh attack (DailyTrust)
Less than 24 hours after the killing of 11 people in Kurmin Masara in Atyap Chiefdom, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, gunmen have launched another attack in Atisa, also in Kurmin Masara.
A source from the neighbouring village, who confirmed the attack to our reporter, said the shootings were ongoing as of 11:45pm on Monday.
“The gunmen arrived around 9:50pm and started shooting sporadically. As I am talking to you right now, I am still hearing the gunshots. It has been on for over an hour.”
“Because most of the residents deserted their homes in Kurmin Masara yesterday, the attackers decided to attack Atisa, a nearby settlement of the same Kurmin Masara axis.”
The Youth Leader of Atyap Chiefdom, Gabriel Joseph, also confirmed the incident to our reporter adding that the marauders have the agenda of wiping them out. Read more
Nigeria among countries still reporting over 1,000 leprosy cases annually – FG (Punch)
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, on Monday, stated that leprosy was still endemic in 18 states of the federation and that 1,508 new cases had been reported as of the last count.
Leprosy is a mildly infectious disease caused by a slow multiplying bacillus, Mycobacterium leprae, with incubation period of about five years. Symptoms can take as long as 20 years to appear. The disease mainly affects the skin, peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and also the eyes.
Leprosy is transmitted via droplets from the nose and mouth during close and frequent contact with untreated cases. Untreated leprosy can lead to life-long disabilities affecting the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes.
The minister, during a press briefing organised by the Federal Ministry of Health to mark the World Leprosy Day, said, “Leprosy is still a public health problem in Nigeria as we are among the few countries in the world that are still reporting greater than 1,000 new cases annually. Read more
Siemens deal: 40m people to get improved electricity supply – FG (Vanguard)
The Federal Government, Monday, said that the first phase of the Siemens Presidential Power Initiative, PPI, will ensure increase of electricity supply to 40 million people.
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, who stated this at the flag-off of the PPI training on network development studies by FGN Power Company in Abuja, noted that the first phase will also witness creation of 11,000 direct and indirect jobs.
According to minister, “The first phase of the Presidential Power Initiative will provide over 40 million people with more reliable electricity supply, create 11,000 direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians from power system engineers to electricians and contractors, and this will in turn improve the standard of living while providing homes and businesses with constant, reliable and affordable electricity supply.”
Zainab said the board members are the Ministers of Power, Works and Housing and Justice, as well as the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and president of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE. Read more
9 Years After: Banks battle DisCos over N820b debts (DailyTrust)
Some banks are working hard to take over 60 per cent stakes in some power Distribution Companies (DisCos) from the core investors for failing to repay at least N819.9 billion acquisition loans.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in August 2021 put the acquisition loans to the power firms at N819.97bn.
The DisCos were privatised a little in 2013 after the federal government, through the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), received $1.256bn as payment for 60 per cent stakes in 10 DisCos in 2013 and that of Kaduna DisCo in 2014 from investors.
The government retained 40 per cent stakes in the DisCos making it the minority shareholder.
The bureau also got another $1.269bn for the sale of six Generation Companies (GenCos), an upstream section of the power sector value chain. The two transactions amounted to $2.525bn which was put at N404bn as of November 2013 when a dollar was about N180.
Documents showed that a major part of that fund was borrowed by the investors from banks and with the official dollar to naira rate jumping to over N400 presently, the loan repayment value plus accruing interest is very high. Read more
Glo Battle of the Year Nigeria goes on air February (Nation)
From next week, entertainment lovers will be able to watch the latest breakdance moves to be showcased in the world’s greatest dance reality television show, Glo Battle of the Year Nigeria.
The talent cum reality TV show is bankrolled by Dr. Mike Adenuga owned telco, Globacom.
A statement by Globacom said the much-awaited episodes of the show will be available on-demand from February on the company’s streaming service, Glo TV, to enable fans to watch at any time.
The reality show will feature three stages of the competition, the company explained. These include the regional auditions which consist of the “battlegrounds” and quarter-finals, which will be followed by the live semi-finals and the finals performance shows. The show will be hosted by the energetic On-Air Personality, Oladotun Ojuolape Kayode aka Do2tun.
Globacom also announced that the viewing public would have a chance to partake in the mega millions prize money for winners by competing in a weekly fans’ challenge.Read more
2023: Hope rises as Buhari gets amended Electoral Bill for assent (Sun)
President Muhammedu Buhari has received the authenticated copies of the Electoral Bill 2022.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President of National Assembly Affairs (Senate), Babajide Omoworare, said the Clerk to the National Assembly, Olatunde Amos Ojo, transmitted the authenticated copies, yesterday.
According to Omoworare, “this was done in accordance with the provisions of Section 58 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Acts Authentication Act Cap. A2 LFN 2004.
“Mr. President had withheld assent to the Electoral Bill 2021 transmitted to him on November 19, 2021. The Electoral Bill was thereafter reworked by the National Assembly and both the Senate and House of Representatives passed same on January 25, 2022.”
President Buhari had last December withheld assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which he returned to the National Assembly. Read more
Nicole Kidman supported by daughter Bella as she shares heartfelt post (Hello!)
Nicole Kidman took to Instagram over the weekend to share a touching post with her 8 million followers – and daughter Bella was quick to show her support.
Mom-of-four Nicole posted a black and white photo showing her cuddling up to acclaimed director Alan Sorkin, and wrote: “Sending a big congratulations to the one & only Aaron Sorkin on his nomination for Best Original Screenplay at the #WritersGuild Awards. #BeingTheRicardos @LATimes #TheEnvelope @RyanPfluger.”
Among those to like the post was 29-year-old Bella, Nicole’s eldest child. Nicole and her ex-husband, Tom Cruise, adopted both Bella and her younger brother, Connor, during their 11-year marriage. Bella now lives in Croydon, south London, with her husband Max Parker, while 27-year-old Connor is based in Florida.
Following the end of her marriage to Tom, Nicole found love with country star Keith Urban and together they share daughters Sunday Rose, 13, and 11-year-old Faith Margaret. Tom, meanwhile, welcomed daughter Suri, 15, with his third wife, Katie Holmes. The couple were married from 2006 until 2012.Read more
Singer Portable ’embarrassing’ our country – Kenyan OAP, Black Cinderella(Punch)
Kenyan radio presenter, Maureen Imbai, popularly known as Black Cinderella, has called out Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, for embarrassing her country.
The media personality took to her Instagram story on Monday to lambast the Zazzu crooner over a video posted by the latter, where he was jeering at a lady in Kenya who left him after he stated that he wasn’t available for ‘hook up’.
Portable, who had been in Kenya since a couple of weeks ago, had frequently shared videos and pictures of girls he hung out with within the country.
Reacting to the latest video, Black Cinderella stated that Portable was embarrassing the country and insulting Kenyan girls.
“We all love your music but Portable zukwanuike (calm down). What you are doing in our country is embarrassing Kenya worldwide,” she wrote.
She continued, “We support your rubbish but not what you are doing to Kenyan girls and posting it online. The video Portable posted last night is not just embarrassing. It is an insult to us Kenyan girls. Read more
Plymouth’s treasured artist Robert Lenkiewicz book released by foundation in his memory(PlymouthLive)
Three years in the making but worth its weight in gold to any aspiring artist, a biography of the life of artist Robert Lenkiewicz has been released.
The first volume of his biography worked on by the Lenkiewicz foundation and written by author and art historian, Mark D Price recounts the years from his birth in 1941 through to 1979 – with the second volume soon to follow.
Regarded as one of the best artists of his time in the South West, Lenkiewicz was born in London in 1941. He came from a German-Jewish family and his parents sought London as refuge just before World War Two.
In some ways Robert reneged against trend, as soon as he was able he lived much of his life in solitude, perhaps in part due to the company he kept when his parents ran a hotel in the capital, at such a young age his surroundings then mostly consisted of the elderly and he was exposed to what the impacts of diaspora and strong bias could have on others.
His work featured the people he was closest to, those he befriended and looked after as well as his lovers. Although sometimes humorous, his work sought to tackle issues which he felt significant enough to rise through his creations. These included: mental health, disability, suicide, old-age, addiction and love. Read more
Finnish teen romance wins audience award at Sundance Film Festival(YLE)
Director Alli Haapasalo’s Girl Picture won the prize in the World Dramatic competition on Friday at the Sundance Film Festival, which was held virtually. The Grand Jury Prize in that competition went to Bolivian director Alejandro Loayza Grisi’s Utama.
“Totally unbelievable! I’m surprised, because I already considered it a prize that our film was even included in the Sundance festival,” Haapasalo told Yle.
Girl Picture focuses on the love lives of three girls aged 17-18, played by Linnea Leino, Aamu Milonoff and Eleonoora Kauhanen.
Known in Finnish as Tytöt tytöt tytöt (Girls Girls Girls), it was the first Finnish feature film selected for Sundance’s international competition.
Girl Picture is also in the running for the Crystal Bear award in the Generation 14plus series at the Berlin Film Festival, which begins on 10 February. Another Finnish director, Selma Vilhunen, won that award in 2019 for Stupid Young Heart, likewise an offbeat teen romance. Read more
Harry and Meghan ‘ask to meet Spider-Man couple Tom Holland and Zendaya'(Mirror)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are said to be in talks with Hollywood’s hottest new couple – Spider-Man movie stars – Tom Holland and Zendaya, according to a source.
The couple reportedly contacted the acting stars out of the blue and asked for a sit down with the pair despite never meeting them before.
The pal of Harry’s Mail Online: “Tom and Zendaya were rather bemused, from what I hear.
“Tom had never met Harry or spoken to him in his life, so didn’t know what they wanted.”
The secret setup is thought to have gone ahead at the Sussex’s nine-bedroom Montecito home.
The apparent meet up could have been due to the royals looking to pull in big names for their £18m Spotify podcast project which has so far failed to materialise – other than a one off special.Read more
James Blunt threatens to release new music on Spotify in protest against Joe Rogan(NME)
James Blunt has threatened to release new music on Spotify in protest against Joe Rogan’s podcast, which is an exclusive on the platform.
Earlier this week, Neil Young had his music removed from Spotify after writing an open letter that said the Joe Rogan Experience was “spreading false information about vaccines”.
“They can have Rogan or Young. Not both,” the musician wrote. “With an estimated 11 million listeners per episode, JRE, which is hosted exclusively on Spotify, is the world’s largest podcast and has tremendous influence. Spotify has a responsibility to mitigate the spread of misinformation on its platform, though the company presently has no misinformation policy.”
The removal will apparently cost Young “60 per cent” of his streaming income but he’s been joined by Joni Mitchell, who has also said she will take her catalogue down from Spotify “in solidarity with Neil Young”. Read more
Ben Whishaw says he found scene referencing Q’s sexuality in Bond film No Time to Die ‘unsatisfying’ (Independent)
Ben Whishaw has admitted he thinks “some things were not great about” the decision to acknowledge Q’s sexuality in “No Time to Die.
In the Bond film, which was released in 2021, a scene sees Bond (Daniel Craig) and Eve Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) asking for Q’s help – but a flustered Q is unhappy as he’s preparing for a date, telling them: “He’ll be here in 20 minutes.”
When the subject of the scene was raised in a new interview, Whishaw told The Guardian that, beyond a positive text from TV writer Russell T Davies, he was yet to receive “any feedback”.
“I’m really interested in these questions,” he said, adding: “And I’m very happy to admit maybe some things were not great about that [creative] decision.”
After the journalist questioned the fleeting nature of the moment, suggesting that it seemed as if the studio felt strong-armed into including the reference, Whishaw disagreed. Read more
NBBF Crisis deepens as 2 factional presidents emerge again (DailyTrust)
The crisis rocking the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has refused to abate as two factional presidents were elected yesterday at parallel elective congresses in Benin City, Edo State and Abuja.
It will be recalled that the crisis in the NBBF began in 2017 when the elective congress in Kano returned the then incumbent president, Tijanni Umar, unopposed while the one in Abuja produced Engineer Musa Kida as president.
Since 2017, basketball in Nigeria has not known peace as the leadership tussle between Kida who was eventually recognised by FIBA and the group loyal to Tijani Umar has not been resolved.
The same scenario played out yesterday as Engineer Kida was re-elected in Benin for a second term while his major opponent, Igoche Mark, was elected president in Abuja.
At the elective congress in Benin City, Musa kida unanimously polled 37 voted to be returned as the president with Babatunde Ogunde also re-elected as Vice-president.
Meanwhile, Ugo Udezue was elected representative of South East, Olumide Oyedeji South West, Alhaji Abba Kaka North East, Surajo Yusuff North West and Adamu Jalong North Central. Read more
Dare assures on early completion of National Stadium, Lagos (Guardian)
Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, has assured that the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos will soon be completed to host sporting activities.
Speaking yesterday when he visited the Sports City, the minister said he was excited by the scoreboard that has started functioning and the regrassed pitch, adding that other facilities, like tartan tracks, VIP lounge and spectators stands, among others, will soon be completed.
He said: “This facility was abandoned for many years. The stadium, unlike the Abuja Stadium, had zero maintenance funds for almost 17 years, but we got Chief Adebutu Kesington (Baba Ijebu) to get it back to life. The time needed to get it back to life is much longer than what the eyes can see.
“The underbelly of the pitch had to be excavated and new sprinklers installed because the old ones were either stolen or rotten. The 10 lane tartan tracks is starting from the scratch because we listened to expert advise, the scoreboard took longer time to dismantle because it had become obsolete and had to be replaced with a new one.
“The decay at the complex has been on for too long. The person funding the work insisted on the right quality and the international standard before work
started. Read more
Egypt not a one-man Salah show – Queiroz (Punch)
The 68-year-old Portuguese tactician feels his side deserved to beat the Atlas Lions because they dominated the game at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo
Egypt coach Carlos Queiroz has dismissed claims his team is a one-man show after they beat Morocco 2-1 to reach the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon on Sunday.
The Pharaohs were forced to come back from a goal down to beat the Atlas Lions in the “North African Derby” and it was Mohamed Salah, who put them level after Morocco had taken the lead courtesy of Soufiane Boufal from 12 yards.
Substitute Mahmoud Hassan ‘Trezeguet’ scored the winner in extra time after finishing off a great pass from Salah to send Egypt to the last four at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo. Read more
Premier League clubs pay out £295m in second-highest spending January of all time (BBC)
Premier League clubs completed the second-highest spending January in history – with a total of £295m spent – as Tottenham made the biggest moves on deadline day.
A total of 12 Premier League transfers on deadline day took spending to the highest total since 2018’s £430m as clubs appear to have recovered from the effects Covid had on finances.
Premier League clubs only spent £70m in January 2021, and less than £10m on deadline day.
Twelve months on, Spurs signed two Juventus players for at least £24m, sold England midfielder Dele Alli to Frank Lampard’s Everton for a fee of up to £40m and loaned out three players.
Newcastle brought in two Premier League defenders, while Manchester City and Burnley recruited strikers for more than £10m. Read more
Valuejet Lagos Para Open on ITTF’s listed events for 2022 (Guardian)
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has eventually included the Lagos Para Table Tennis Open among the Factor 20 events in its calendar for this year.
Valuejet Lagos Para Open is the second para competition that will be organised in the continent this year, after the Egypt Open. It will now join other elite competitions that will be sanctioned as a ranking and evaluation event for top players in the world by the ITTF.
ITTF Head of Para, According to Pablo Pérez, stated that the ruling to list the Valuejet Lagos Para Open in its calendar was as a result of the event’s appraisal by the ITTF team, adding that the experience of the country in organising continental events was a factor.
“After organising the event three years in a row from 2019 to 2021, the Nigerian federation finally felt prepared to ask for the sanctioning. They invited ITTF to send an inspector to watch the event and evaluate the conditions and the conclusions were positive. Read more
From Mahrez to Iwobi:Stars who flopped at AFCON (Punch)
As the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations tournament enters the semi-final stage, JOHNNY EDWARD writes about the players who were expected to shine at the continental showpiece but failed to sparkle in Cameroon
Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)
Manchester City winger Mahrez failed to replicate his blistering club form for Algeria, who crashed out in the group stage.
Algeria thus became the 12th AFCON champions to exit the competition in the first round when defending the trophy.
Shockingly, Mahrez, who played in all three games, failed to make an impact, score or make an assist for the Fennecs, who finished bottom of Group E with one point behind third-place Sierra Leone, who had a point more. Read more
Holders PSG lose to Nice in French Cup (BBC)
Paris St-Germain’s hopes of defending their French Cup title were brought to an end on Monday as they lost on penalties to Nice.
After the game ended goalless in normal time, the visitors won the shootout 6-5 to advance.
Keeper Marcin Bulka, on loan at Nice from PSG, produced the decisive save following 11 successful spot-kicks.
He kept out Xavi Simons’ effort to send Nice into the quarter-finals, where they will face Marseille. Read more