Drama as hoodlums strip corps members naked (Nation)
Two female members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in Ebonyi State have become the latest victims of the pants-for-rituals menace ravaging sections of the country. The two corps members, it was gathered, were forced by some yet-to-be identified unidentified hoodlums to remove their clothes, including their pants and hand them over to them (hoodlums). One of the corps members, who was on her period, had her blood socked pants and sanitary pads taken away by the hoodlums. Read more
I never knew flogging could kill him – Woman who beat boy to death over N6,500 (Punch)
Joy Egeonu, the 47-year-old woman who accused her husband’s 11-year-old nephew of stealing her N6,500 and allegedly beat him to death, says she is still at loss to understand what happened. The resident of Ope-Ilu, Ogun State, who is with the police, stated that she only caned the boy, claiming that she was amazed that such could lead to his death. It has been reported that Egeonu hurriedly buried the primary three pupil, Chibuike, in the Ifo area of the state immediately he died. The mother of the deceased, Ijeoma, who lives elsewhere, was said to have reported the case to the police at the Agbado Police Division and Egeonu was apprehended. Read more
53 parties endorse Buhari ahead of APC rally in Lagos (Nation)
Ahead of the Saturday mega rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, a coalition of 53 political parties has endorsed the candidacy of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the decision was based on the president’s achievements in the last three years. The coalition, under the banner of Coalition of Political Parties in Lagos State (COPPILS), declared its support for Buhari at an event in Surulere. The event was witnessed by the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), APC’s National Legal Adviser, Babatunde Ogala, the party’s governorship candidate in Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and thelawmaker representing Lagos East in the Senate, Gbenga Ashafa, among others. Read more
INEC extends deadline for PVCs collection till Monday (Nation)
Registered voters now have up to Monday to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday extended the collection period by three days, including today and tomorrow. In addition, card collection can be made up to 6pm everyday as against the normal 4pm, according to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. Yakubu said the commission was ready for the polls which are taking off next Saturday with the Presidential and National Assembly elections. He PVCs that are not collected by Monday would be recalled and deposited at the CBN until after the elections. Read more
Man allegedly defrauds uncle of N44m to find missing wife (Punch)
A middle-aged man, Mr Onyenankeya Uzoma, has accused his nephew of fraud running into N43.7m and $1,000 (about N400,000). He said the nephew, one Okoro, exploited the involvement of his wife in fatal road accident to swindle him out of the sums of money under the guise that she was safe. It was learnt that the woman was not found at the scene of the crash, raising doubts about whether she was alive or dead. Uzoma claimed his nephew hypnotised him to perpetrate the alleged fraud. Read more
US envoy prepares for Trump-Kim summit (BBC)
The US envoy for North Korea has returned from Pyongyang, where he held talks to prepare for a second US-North Korean leadership summit. Stephen Biegun spent three days in discussions, and US officials said he would meet his counterpart again. US President Donald Trump confirmed he would meet North Korea’s Kim Jong-un in Hanoi, Vietnam, on 27-28 February. Mr Trump said his representatives had a “productive meeting” and that he was looking forward to advancing peace. Read more
AFCON U-20: Flying Eagles enter semis, book World Cup ticket (Punch)
The Flying Eagles on Friday booked their place in the semi-finals of the ongoing Total U-20 African Cup of Nations in Niger Republic after defeating the hosts 1-0 in Group A. The Flying Eagles will meet the winners of the tie between Ghana and Mali in Group B on Saturday (today). Senegal emerged winners of the group to also book a place in Poland. The Flying Eagles’ lone strike, which came in the 73rd minute through Adamu Alhassan, equally saw the Nigerian youngsters book a spot in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland between May 25 and June 16. Read more
Solskjaer, Rashford scoop January awards (Punch)
Manchester United caretaker boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, was named Premier League manager of the month after an unbeaten start to his reign at Old Trafford while striker, Marcus Rashford, clinched the player of the month award for January. Solskjaer, who replaced Jose Mourinho in December, became the first United manager to receive the award since long-time Alex Ferguson in October, 2012 during the season when the club last won the league title. United claimed 10 points from a possible 12 in January, with victories over Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion and a comeback home draw with Burnley. Read more
Mourinho, Wenger set to return to management (Punch)
Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger could be set for dramatic returns to football management in the coming weeks as they are already in talks with a handful of clubs, it has emerged. Mourinho is billed to hold talks with Inter Milan director BeppeMarotta over becoming manager of the Italian club for a second time. The sacked Manchester United boss is still adored by Inter fans having delivered the treble in 2010. Mourinho, 56, was dismissed from his post at Old Trafford on December 18 and is looking at his route back into management, holding talks with Inter on Thursday, according to the Mirror. Read more