Depression responsible for my husband’s death, wife of man who plunged into lagoon (Guardian)
Ms Sofiat Amusa, wife of the 25-year-old man who committed suicide by jumping into the lagoon in Epe, attributed her husband’s death to frustration, depression and lack of parental care.
Amusa disclosed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Epe.
She said that the ugly incident that claimed her husband’s life occurred at around 7:15 am on Tuesday, December 14.
She said that her husband has been intimating the family with frightening goodbye messages, instructing his parents to take care of his wife and his 11-month-old daughter.
The 21-year-old wife said that both of them were not legally married but both of them have been known as spouses to both parents. Read more
Evans demanded $2m, got $420,000 before releasing my husband – Witness (Punch)
A businesswoman, Mrs Chimebere Ahamonu, has narrated to an Ikeja Special Offences Court, Lagos State, how she raised a ransom of $420,000 for the release of her husband, Mr Sylvanus Ahamon, allegedly abducted by a suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike aka Evans.
Sylvanus was reportedly kidnapped on June 23, 2014 on Kara Road, off Osolo Way, Ajao Estate.
Chimebere, who gave her testimony via Zoom on Friday during the continuation of the trial of Evans and a dismissed member of the Nigerian Army, Victor Aduba, said she had spoken to her husband in the morning of the fateful day, but did not sense anything amiss until evening when Sylvanus’ phone rang out.
She said, “Then, I was not living in Lagos, I was in Onitsha. I started calling everyone we knew that I did not hear from him. A week later, a man called my line with a hidden number (and said) that my husband was kidnapped. Another week later, the same man called me and demanded $2m for his release. I shouted because I have never seen that kind of money before. I started calling family and well wishers for help.” Read more
Fani-Kayode arraigned for ‘forgery’, granted N5m bail (DailyTrust)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Friday, arraigned Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, before Justice Oluwabunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on 12 counts bordering on use of false documents, use of fabricated evidence, procuring execution of documents by false pretence, and fabricating evidence.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Femi Fani-Kayode, on or about the 11th day of October, 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, by fraudulent representation procured one Dr. Ogieva Oziegbe to execute a document titled: MEDICAL REPORT ON OLUFEMI FANI KAYODE 60 YEARS/MALE/HOSP. NO. 00345 DATED 11/10/2021 and procured the same to have been issued by Kubwa General Hospital.”
Another count reads: “That you, Femi Fani-Kayode, on or about the 11th day of October, 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently used a false document titled: MEDICALREPORT ON OLUFEMI FANI KAYODE 60 YEARS/MALE/HOSP. NO. 00345 DATED 11/10/2021 before the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division in Charge No. FHC/L/251C/2016 which document you purported to have been issued by Kubwa General Hospital.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.
Earlier before his arraignment and plea, Justice Abike-Fadipe had, in a ruling, overruled the application by the defence counsel, Wale Balogun, on December 14, 2021 when Fani-Kayode ought to have been arraigned. Read more
Households go for Zobo, Kunu as Nigerians face bleak Christmas (Leadership)
With barely six days to Christmas celebrations, it has been tales of woes and despair following the unending economic hardship and the high level insecurity Nigerians are faced with. From the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to Kaduna State, down to Lagos, Oyo, Imo to Port-Harcourt, Cross River to Kano, Kogi to Taraba States , to mention just a few, the story is not different.
LEADERSHIP Weekend investigation revealed that Nigerians are passing through hard times, and this is evident in their abysmal preparations for the Eyelid. Our correspondents reports that unlike in the past, where excitement and early preparations took the centre stage, the year 2021 has witnessed little or no formal preparations for the Christmas celebration.
When LEADERSHIP Weekend toured some city centres, it observed that both politicians, civil servants and private sector workers have been faced with low purchasing power , The excitement and joy that usually greets the Christmas celebration is no more, as many people are busy lamenting the prevailing high cost of living and worsening poverty level. The situation has further been complicated by the return of long queues of vehicles at the petrol stations across the country in addition to the deteriorating state of the nation’s security.
Some parents who spoke extensively to our correspondents across the nation said,‘Even the kids that usually demand for Christmas gifts and other things hardly ask these days because they tend to understand our plights. As we speak, some parents are depressed. We can boldly tell you that the panic buying of petrol due to the announcement that the price would be increased is affecting sales of other goods . This is because petrol scarcity often leads to increase in cost of transportation and other products. Read more
Global recognition comes way of Nigerian doctor(Nation)
Last Thursday, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of World Health Organisation (WHO), announced the appointment of a Nigerian, Dr. Ayoade Alakija, as WHO’s Special Envoy for the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-Accelerator).
The new Envoy joins former Prime Minister of Sweden, Carl Bildt, in this role to help lead the collective advocacy for the ACT-Accelerator, support the leaders of the ACT-Accelerator’s three product pillars (vaccines, tests, treatments) and advise the Director-General, ACT-Accelerator principals and stakeholders on emerging issues; and represent the ACT-Accelerator in key national and international fora.
The ACT-Accelerator partnership, a coalition of leading public health organizations, is the only global initiative offering an integrated, end-to-end solution to expedite the end of the pandemic through the accelerated development and equitable distribution of vaccines, tests and treatments.Read more
Suspected thief found dead under vehicle at Ogun mechanic workshop (Vanguard)
A man suspected to be a thief has been found dead under a parked vehicle at a mechanic workshop in Ago Egun area of Idiroko border in Ipokia local government area of Ogun State.
The yet-to-be identified man was reportedly seen under the vehicle with a hydraulic jack and spanners, fuelling speculations that he was about removing some parts of the vehicle when he died.
The cause of the death could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report.
However, it was rumoured that the jack he used in lifting the vehicle failed and the vehicle fell on him, leading to his death. Read more
Proposed N340 Fuel Price Hike: NLC slates nationwide warning protest , January 27 (Tribune)
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has resolved to embark on a nationwide protest as from 27th January 2021, to express its rejection and resistance to the proposed plans by the Federal Government to increase the pump price of petrol by 2022.
Congress however added that should the proposed price take effect before the date scheduled for the protest, Congress would immediately mobilise members to shut down services without delay.
This was contained in a communique signed by President and General Secretary of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, and Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, issued at the end of its Ventral Working Vommittee (CWC)/National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Friday in Abuja.
According to leadership of Congress, the NEC any further increase in petrol would “expose Nigerian workers and the generality of the citizenry to acute deprivation, hardship and suffering as it would worsen the already established trend of hyper-inflation in the country;
“That the genesis of the crisis in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sub-sector especially as it relates to the petrol pump price regime could be linked to a Policy of Importation Based Pricing Template for Refined Petroleum Products as against Local Production Based Pricing Template;Read more
NDLEA intercepts 64,000 pump action gun cartridges, 34 kids from traffickers (Sun)
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted 64,000 pump action gun cartridges and a new pump action gun at a store located at Success Line, Marine modern market, Onitsha, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
It was gathered that the discovery, which led to the arrest of an arms dealer, 34-year-old Donatus Onyemachi Igwebudu followed credible intelligence on drugs and arms deal in the location. Backed by soldiers from the military, NDLEA operatives swooped on the store on Wednesday and moved the arm and ammunition to the agency’s office in Awka.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Okene-Lokoja Expressway in Kogi State have intercepted 34 children between the ages of 8 and 14 being trafficked from Ijebu Ode, Ogun State to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. The minors packed in two commercial buses; Toyota Sienna and a 12- Seater Mazda with registration numbers Lagos LND124FV and Oyo BDJ-683YK respectively, were recovered in the early hours of Thursday from the human trafficking syndicate. The bus drivers confirmed that the kids were handed over to them by a woman at Ijebu Ode to be conveyed to Abuja, adding that on arrival in FCT, the woman was to call another bus driver who would convey the children to Riyom in Plateau State. It was further revealed that the children were initially trafficked from Plateau State to Ijebu Ode, where they were distributed to different households as domestic servants. Some of the children were discovered to have served for two years and their rewards sent to woman’s agent in Jos. Read more
Coscharis Motors showcases locally assembled Renault at Abuja fair (ThisDay)
Sequel to the reveal of its locally assembled Renault variants in the Southern market, Coscharis Motors Plc, a subsidiary of Coscharis Group recently showcased two locally assembled Renault automobile models at the recently held 21st Abuja Motor fair in order to target the Federal Capital Territory and by extension, the Northern Nigerian market, by giving it a feel of the vehicles.
Coscharis Motors Plc is the sole franchise for Renault brands in Nigeria. Currently, we have top-notch sales and service centres across Nigeria with major dealership outlets in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Uyo, respectively.
Commenting on the locally assembled vehicles, an obviously elated Dr. Noah Omisanya, Director, Industrial Infrastructure Department of Nigeria Automotive Design and Development Council, NADDC, commended Coscharis Motors for this great feat of investing in the local assembling of the Renault brand. He reiterated the support of NADDC for future partnership towards continuing in the direction of locally assembled vehicles. In his words, “I am excited to see that Coscharis Motors has assembled these vehicles in Nigeria. We are committed to ensuring that you continue to get the requisite support from NADDC as a government agency representative”.
Also speaking at the Fair held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, the Coscharis Group General Manager, Marketing and Communications, Abiona Babarinde said “as at today, we are excited to say that Coscharis Motors has since been rolling out two name plates of the Renault Brand, namely Renault Logan and Renault Duster, from the assembly plant located at its group head office in Lagos and these brands come with finance scheme which enables buyers to own the vehicles with as low as 10% down payment.” As a Company that is forward looking, we remain resolute to continue to deliver value for our numerous stakeholders in all ramifications of our auto business like the investment in our local assembly.”Read more
Omicron ‘greatly compromises’ all Covid vaccines including boosters in preventing infection: study (Metro)
The new coronavirus Omicron variant ‘greatly compromises’ the ability of vaccines from the four major brands – and booster shots – in preventing infection, according to a new study.
Researchers at Columbia University tested the Omicron variant on the blood of people vaccinated with two doses of vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca, as well as boosters from the first two companies.
They found a whopping 21-fold drop in antibodies neutralizing Omicron in samples from people vaccinated with two doses of Pfizer, versus the original Covid-19 strand. The drop was 8.6-fold in samples from people with two doses of the Moderna jab. Read more
Booster at least 80% effective against severe Omicron (BBC)
UK researchers have analysed the likely impact that a Covid booster shot will have on Omicron and say it could provide around 85% protection against severe illness.
The protection is a bit less than vaccines gave against earlier versions of Covid.
But it means the top-up dose should still keep many people out of hospital.
It comes as a record 861,306 number of booster jabs and third doses were given in the UK on Thursday.
The modelling, from the team at Imperial College London, is based on limited information on Omicron.
The researchers say there is a high degree of uncertainty until more real-world information is gathered about this new variant that is spreading quickly. Read more
Taylor Swift party a COVID super spreader event after 100 test positive (NYPost)
More than 100 people who attended a Taylor Swift-themed party last Friday have since tested positive for COVID-19.
The celebration of Swift’s “Red” album is now being considered a super spreader event, and even those attendees who have not yet tested positive for the coronavirus are being asked to isolate.
Swift, 32, wasn’t actually at the party — it was a gathering of fans in celebration of the re-release of her 2012 album. But the virus apparently spread quickly to the 600 people who joined.
“Anyone who attended the ‘On Repeat: Taylor Swift Red Party’” at Sydney’s Metro Theatre on “10 December is a close contact and must immediately get tested and isolate for 7 days,” a public health alert by New South Wales Health warns. At least 97 cases of COVID-19 have been connected with the party so far. “It is likely some of these cases have the Omicron variant of concern,” the alert notes.
Some who attended the affair checked in via a QR code, easing NSW Health’s ability to contact them. Read more
Russia demands NATO leave eastern Europe, limit missile deployment (DW)
Russia has released a series of security demands to NATO, including a veto on the alliance’s expansion. It is calling for an immediate dialogue, but NATO members aren’t likely to acquiesce to Moscow’s wish list.
Russia on Friday released a series of demands to the United States and NATO if it is to restore relations.
It comes as tensions between the West and Russia have ratcheted up, with fears of a military invasion of Ukraine and continuing hybrid warfare at the European Union’s external border with Belarus.
The Russian documents were submitted to the US and its allies earlier this week. The publication of unfinished agreements is an unusual move in international diplomacy.
What does Russia want?
An end to NATO military activity in eastern Europe, including Ukraine, the Caucasus and Central Asia
No expansion of NATO membership, particularly to Ukraine
No intermediate or shorter-range missiles deployed close enough to hit the territory of the other side
No military exercises of more than one military brigade in an agreed border zone
An agreement that parties do not consider each other as adversaries and will resolve disputes peacefully
Neither Russia nor the United States can deploy nuclear weapons outside their national territories. Read more
Toughest sentence yet for any Capitol rioter: Over 5 years (VOA)
A Capitol rioter who attacked police officers working to hold back the angry pro-Trump mob on Jan. 6 was sentenced Friday to more than five years behind bars, the most so far for anyone sentenced in the insurrection.
Robert Palmer, 54, of Largo, Florida, wept as he told U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan that he recently watched a video of his actions that day and could not believe what he was seeing.
“Your honor. I’m really, really ashamed of what I did,” he said through tears.
Palmer was one of several rioters sentenced on Friday in District of Columbia court for their actions that day, when the angry mob descended to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden’s victory following a rally by then-President Donald Trump. Scores of police were beaten and bloodied, five people died and there was about $1.5 million in damage done to the U.S. Capitol. Palmer is the 65th defendant to be sentenced overall. More than 700 people have been charged. Read more
Settlers attack Palestinian villages after West Bank killing (AlJazeera)
eral villages in the occupied West Bank, smashing homes and cars and beating up at least two people, Palestinian officials have said.
Friday’s attacks came a day after Palestinian gunmen killed an Israeli man in a shooting ambush in the territory.
The death of settler Yehuda Dimentman, killed when gunmen opened fire on his car near an illegal settlement outpost in the occupied West Bank late on Thursday, threatened to ignite further violence between Palestinian residents and Israeli settlers.
Two other passengers in Dimentman’s vehicle were lightly wounded on Thursday. Read more
Jxdn Shares Tour Takeaways and Whether He’ll Collaborate With Labelmate Avril Lavigne (Billboard)
Since becoming the first signee to Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker’s DTA Records in 2020, jxdn has grown into a pop-punk star, leading a new wave of artists tapping into the genre. This year, the TikTok star and singer released his debut album, Tell Me About Tomorrow; opened on tour for close friend Machine Gun Kelly; played festivals like Lollapalooza; and wrapped 2021 with the deluxe version of his full-length, which includes the aptly titled emo holiday song “Christmas Sucks.” By working with Barker, jxdn says he’s now better able to “pay respects to the people who have already done this for so long, like the Blinks, Hawthorne Heights, Finch — everybody who came before us and laid down the foundation, that’s important to me.” Now, after DTA welcomed its newest artist to the roster — none other than Avril Lavigne — the label, and jxdn, are looking ahead to an even more explosive 2022. “Being able to make more music applying what I’ve learned [this year] is the best feeling,” says jxdn, “and I wouldn’t be able to do that with anyone else but Travis.” Read more
Lawrence Taylor arrested on sex offender violation charge in Florida (NYPost)
Giants legend Lawrence Taylor was arrested in Florida on Thursday night for sex offender violations. The former defensive end was charged with two felonies, according to Andy Slater of Fox Sports 640 in Miami.
Taylor, 62, allegedly failed to tell authorities he changed his address, which he’s required to do as a registered sex offender.
Taylor was declared a sex offender in 2011 after pleading guilty sexual misconduct and patronizing a prostitute, a case in which he was accused of having sex with a 16-year old girl.
According to TMZ, Taylor was released several hours after booking.
Run-ins with law enforcement aren’t new for Taylor. In addition to the 2011 case, Taylor pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in 2016. He was also arrested in 2009 for leaving the scene of an accident. Read more
Rampaging Lyon fans force abandonment of Coupe de France clash at Paris FC (RFI)
The Coupe de France tie between Paris FC and Lyon was abandoned on Friday night after hundreds of fans invaded the pitch at the Stade Charlety in southern Paris.
Just as Lyon players were beginning to return to the field for the second period of the last 64 clash, they were ushered away by a phalanx of stewards as riot police moved into position to contain a faction of Lyon spectators who had escaped from their enclosure.
Home fans in adjacent stands fled onto the field to avoid several marauding hordes.
Once the away fans were back in their compound, they let off flares and continued to sing out abusive chants. Read more
American Football: Three NFL games postponed because of Covid-19 outbreaks (BBC)
The National Football League has postponed three games this weekend because of Covid-19 outbreaks.
It is the first time this season fixtures have had to be rescheduled because of the virus.
The games to be moved are Cleveland Browns-Las Vegas Raiders, Seattle Seahawks-Los Angeles Rams and Washington Football Team-Philadelphia Eagles.
“We have made these schedule changes based on medical advice,” the NFL said. Read more
Warriors players warned to be cautious if heading to NSW, Victoria for Christmas (Stuff)
The Warriors have told players to use commonsense if they’re heading to New South Wales or Victoria for Christmas, because of the rising number of Covid-19 cases.
The players take a break from preseason training on Tuesday and a number of them are planning to leave the team’s base in Redcliffe, to join their families in other parts of Australia.
But with New South Wales reporting 2213 cases on Friday and there being 1510 in Victoria, Warriors management don’t want to find themselves in the same situation in the new year that the Knights and Raiders are currently in, with those clubs forced to go into lockdown, because of positive cases inside the teams.
While the Warriors won’t force anyone to remain in Queensland for the two-week break, they are asking players to be cautious. Read more
‘It is very pleasing to score again’ -Super Eagles star expresses his joy after ending drought (Soccernet)
The tall Nigeria international finally got the Monkeys off his back after his goal on Thursday
Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu has expressed his happiness after scoring his first goal in almost two months.
The Genk forward scored his side’s opener to help his side to a 4-2 victory over Sporting Charleroi in the Belgian Jupiler League.
The former Midtjylland man, who was the best striker in Belgium last season, had not scored in his last six appearances for Genk in all competitions dating back to the end of October. Read more
Man City’s Guardiola cancels press conference after inconclusive COVID-19 test (Punch)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was forced to cancel a pre-match press conference on Friday after returning an inconclusive coronavirus test result.
Guardiola must now await the result of a follow-up PCR test before finding out if he will be able to lead the English champions for Sunday’s trip to Newcastle.
That match is one of just five Premier League games still scheduled to go ahead this weekend due to a series of postponements as a result of rapidly rising case numbers of Covid-19 in Britain.
Guardiola was last seen in public on Wednesday when he represented City at Sergio Aguero’s retirement announcement in Barcelona. Read more
Ronaldo and partner Rodriguez reveal gender of twins (RT)
Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and his partner Georgina Rodriguez have revealed the gender of their soon-to-be-born twins on social media.
The couple told the world they were expecting in October with a joint post on Instagram. “Our hearts are full of love – we can’t wait to meet you,” they added in the caption at the time.
Their post swiftly became the second most-liked photo of all time on the platform, with its 32.2 million likes trailing only Chris Godfrey’s immortal photo of an egg on 55.5 million.
Seven weeks later, Cristiano and Georgina have taken to the site once more to share a video of a gender reveal ceremony. Read more