Curfew: Policeman kills pedestrian in attempt to impound motorcycle (Nation)
There was chaos at the Obabiyi area of Ikotun on Wednesday night after stray bullet from a policeman, Inspector Charles Okoro, killed a father of two identified as Fatai Oladipolupo, 28.
The incident occurred around 10pm while Oladipupo was said to have stepped out of his residence to buy bread in order to break his fast.
It was gathered that the policeman whom residents alleged was notorious in seizing and extorting motorcycles, had tried to shoot a rider who dodged him. Read more
Lagos doctors call off sit-at-home strike (Guardian)
Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Medical Association Thursday called off its sit-at-home order over the harassment of health workers by police officers.
In a press statement made signed by the Chairman, Dr Saliu Oseni and the Secretary, Dr Ramon Moronkola, the doctors said the decision to reverse the sit-at-home order was informed by the intervention of the state government and the top hierarchy of the Nigerian police.
“The association has further received assurances from Mr Governor and the top hierarchy of the Police that no health workers will be further harassed in the course of their lawful efforts to sustain services in the middle of the pandemic,” the statement reads. Read more
COVID-19 test for 16,000 in Lagos gulps N800m (Nation)
The Lagos State Government on Thursday said it has spent about N800million in carrying out 16,000 covid-19 test in Lagos so far.
Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi disclosed this while answering reporters question on COVID-19 situation report at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Center, Secretariate, Alausa, Ikeja.
He said each COVID-19 test cost between N40,000-N50,000 and 16,000 tests have been carried out so far fully paid for by the government.
“We have so far performed 16,000 COVID-19 tests in Lagos, which is much higher than anywhere else in Nigeria.
“We are planning to test up to about 1,000 people per day very soon in the next month or two we are going to be ramping up our capacity to test. Read more
Actor stabs neighbour to death over electricity bill (Punch)
A 30-year-old Nollywood actor, Temitayo Ogunbusola, has allegedly stabbed his neighbour, Oladotun Osho, to death following a disagreement over the payment of electricity bill.
The incident happened on Sunday at No. 4 Sebil Kazeem Street in the Ikotun area of Lagos State.
Temitayo was said to have been beaten to a pulp by a mob before the intervention of policemen from the Ikotun Police Station.
The remains of the victim were deposited in a morgue for autopsy. Read more
Why govt need to open churches, mosques – CAN spokesman (Tribune)
Pastor Adebayo Olajide, the special assistant to the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Samson Ayokunle has argued that since the government has allowed market and offices to reopen, it should also allow churches and mosques to commence their own activities.
Tribune Online recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari through a nationwide broadcast, ordered gradual relaxation of lockdown with offices, banks and markets to open within a time frame while curfew is imposed from 8 pm to 6 am daily.
Pastor Oladeji while speaking with Tribune Online, harped on the role of the church in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said the Christian Association of Nigeria is urging the Nigerian government to allow churches and mosques to reopen for worship. Read more
Police arraign ‘fake’ army officer over alleged N2.3m job scam (Guardian)
The police on Thursday arraigned a 36-year-old man, Suleiman Dukku in a Wuse Zone Six Chief Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, for allegedly defrauding job seekers of N2.3 million.
Dukku, who resides at Sanka, Kuje, Abuja is charged with two counts of impersonation and cheating.
Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Sanda Jibril told the court that the complainant, Gambo Hamza reported the matter at the Dawaki Divisional Police Headquarters, FCT Command on Feb. 24. Read more
NLRC says it’s on the same page with Supreme Court for quashing 12 year jail term on senator Kalu (Guardian)
The Nigerian Law Reform Commission (NLRC) has endorsed the Supreme Court Judgement quashing 12 – year jail term slammed on Senator Orji Uzor Kalu by Justice Mohammed Idris on the 5th of December 2019 as the right way to go.
Professor Audi who gave the indication recently during her screening for the substantive Chairmanship position of the Commission said the Orji Uzor Kalu’s case, to her mind was an absurdity.
She told the Senate Committee on Judiciary Human Rights and Legal Matters that the Judgement of the lower court against Orji Uzor Kalu was an absurdity on account of the Justice who completed hearing and ruled on the case. Read more
Eid-el-Fitri: FG declares Monday, Tuesday public holidays (Punch)
The Federal Government has declared Monday and Tuesday – May 25 and 26, 2020 – as public holidays to mark Eid-el-Fitri celebration.
The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, made the announcement on behalf of the Federal Government.
This was contained in a press statement by the Director of Press in the Ministry, Mohammed Manga, on Thursday.
In a copy of the statement obtained by The PUNCH, Aregbesola expressed concern over the spate of ethnic conflicts that has resurfaced in some parts of Northern Nigeria in recent times. Read more
Lori Loughlin to plead guilty in college-admissions scandal (DailyBeast)
Actress Lori Loughlin and husband Mossimo Giannulli have agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy charges in the sprawling college-admissions scandal, according to the Department of Justice. The couple was indicted for their alleged scheme to gain their two children admission into the University of Southern California as supposed athletic recruits.
The Los Angeles-based couple maintained their innocence in the case for more than a year, even as federal officials added new charges and indictments. But federal authorities now say Loughlin, 55, has agreed to admit to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, while Giannulli, 56, will plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and honest services wire and mail fraud. Read more
Amphan: Kolkata devastated as cyclone kills scores in India and Bangladesh (BBC)
The eastern Indian city of Kolkata has been devastated by a powerful cyclone which has killed at least 84 people across India and Bangladesh.
Amphan made landfall on Wednesday, lashing coastal areas with ferocious wind and rain. The storm is weakening as it moves north into Bhutan.
Thousands of trees were uprooted in the gales, electricity and telephone lines brought down and houses flattened.
Many of Kolkata’s roads are flooded and its 14 million people without power. Read more
The Mafia cashes in on COVID fears with fake black-market tests (DailyBeast)
Like many Italians, “Giacomo” was sure he had contracted COVID-19 in late February. He had a fever, his sense of smell was affected, and he was short of breath. But as the crisis hit its apex, testing across the country was provided only for people who needed hospitalization. The rest were told to quarantine until their symptoms had been gone for two weeks.
“I knew the test was coming from a criminal source. But there seemed to be no other way to get one. ”
Giacomo wanted to be sure he was truly immune before returning to work on Monday as a barista at a busy counter in central Rome, but he didn’t qualify for blanket testing by the health ministry because he had not called the coronavirus helpline when he was exhibiting symptoms. He’d heard that a local pusher, who mostly sells marijuana and hash, could get some tests with a catch—he had to give his personal data, including his tax identification number. Giacomo bought one for just under $215, which included enough material to run six tests from Giacomo’s self-extracted sample. Three came back positive, three came back negative. Read more
At least 11 injured as car smashes into hijab store in Australia (RT)
At least 11 people have been injured after a car smashed into a hijab store in Greenacre, New South Wales. The driver of the vehicle crashed into another car before aggressively revving the engine and plowing into the shopfront.
Police immediately responded to the scene following reports of a driver behaving erratically, but were too late to prevent the incident from happening.
Dramatic eyewitness footage shows the driver appearing to perform a burnout prior to speeding off from the traffic lights and into the unsuspecting shoppers. Read more
Doctor who raised concerns over PPE shortage admitted to mental hospital (BBC)
An Indian doctor who was suspended after raising concerns about a shortage of masks is again in the spotlight after officials committed him to a mental hospital. BBC Telugu’s V Shankar reports.
Dr Sudhakar Rao, an anaesthetist with 20 years of experience, made national headlines over the weekend for the second time in two months.
A series of videos that went viral show him and police facing off on a highway in the southern city of Visakhapatnam, where Dr Rao lives and works. Authorities say he was sent to a mental hospital after. Read more
Artist’s painting of partially nude Trudeau with laughing women creates uproar online (CBC)
Renowned Cree artist Kent Monkman has come under fire for his new painting that shows Prime Minister Justin Trudeau partially nude, on all fours, preparing for what Monkman called “a consensual act” while Indigenous women surrounding him laugh.
The painting, titled Hanky Panky, has been condemned by many who believe it portrays sexual violence and disrespects First Nations traditions. But it is also being praised by some, including Ojibway Senator Murray Sinclair.
Monkman posted the work on Facebook on Saturday and said the piece was meant to highlight problems with “the Canadian (in)justice system” and the victimization of Indigenous women, who experience violence and sexual assault at rates higher than other women in Canada. But it provoked a backlash. Read more
Why African goalkeepers hardly succeed in Europe, by Uzoho (Nation)
Super Eagles goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho, has explained why African goalkeepers are hardly successful in Europe.
Most clubs in Europe, he added, don’t reckon with African goalkeeprs because not many have proven themselves at that stage.
According to him:“It is very difficult for African goalkeepers to succeed in Europe. Outfield players have the advantage but for a goalkeeper, this is a position for just one player throughout 90 minutes.
“So most of the times some clubs will like to use an indigene to play in that position because in football there are rules for foreign players. So some clubs uses that position to play their own indigenous players. Read more
Coronavirus: Man Utd say pandemic has cost them £28m so far (BBC)
Manchester United say the coronavirus pandemic has cost them an initial £28m – and expect the final figure to be far higher.
United revealed their third-quarter results to 31 March on Thursday.
Chief financial officer Cliff Baty said they are set to hand back £20m in TV revenue to broadcasters even if the Premier League season is completed.
United lost an additional £8m over the final three weeks of March, when they had three matches postponed. Read more
Bundesliga: Dynamo Dresden return two more positive coronavirus tests (BBC)
German second-tier side Dynamo Dresden have returned two more positive tests for coronavirus.
The Bundesliga 2 club put their entire squad and coaching staff into isolation for two weeks on 9 May after two players tested positive.
Another player and the partner of a member of the coaching staff have also now tested positive for Covid-19. Read more
South Korean soccer team slammed with record fine for putting sex dolls in seats (CBC)
South Korea’s K League said on Wednesday its disciplinary committee decided to impose a 100 million won ($113,173) fine on FC Seoul for using sex dolls instead of mannequins to fill empty seats in their stadium.
The club placed dolls in seats during a K League match on Sunday to make up for the absence of fans due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“The disciplinary committee decided to take heavy disciplinary action considering the graveness of the incident, caused by the ‘real doll’, that has greatly insulted and hurt female and family fans and to prevent similar incidents going forward,” K League said in a statement. Read more
Eight footballers test positive for COVID-19 in Mexico (Punch)
Eight footballers from top-flight Mexican team Santos Laguna have tested positive for the coronavirus, the club said on Wednesday, jeopardising attempts to restart the national league after two months of suspension.
A decision on the possible resumption of the Mexican league, the Liga MX, had been expected by the end of the week, and the tests were carried out with a view to resuming training.
“This particular situation makes resuming the league more complicated,” Santos Laguna’s owner, Alejandro Irarragorri, told TV sports channel TUDN. Read more
Tennis bad boy Nick Kyrgios admits to sleeping with fans on regular basis (RT)
Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios has spoken up about life off the court, revealing he sleeps with fans on a weekly basis, also saying he broke up with his Russian girlfriend, Anna Kalinskaya.
Answering online questions from his supporters, the world number 40 boasted of his popularity among the ladies.
“Yes,” he replied when asked whether he ever slept with a fan. “In all seriousness if I’m not seeing someone it’s like a weekly thing.”
The 25-year-old Aussie said he sometimes gets distracted by attractive female fans in the stands during his matches. He recalled an episode at the Laver Cup when he was playing against Swiss legend Roger Federer. Read more