#EndSARS: It’s unfair CBN froze my account, says Lagos panel member (Punch)
One of the arrowheads of the #EndSARS protests, Oluwarinu Oduala, has described the recent clampdown by the Federal Government on #EndSARS campaigners as an unfair practice in a democracy.
Oduala, who is a member of the Lagos State Panel of Judicial Inquiry probing cases of police brutality and the alleged shooting of #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate, said the recent action of the Central Bank of Nigeria was a betrayal of the supposed peace-making efforts of the government.
The PUNCH had earlier reported that the apex bank obtained a court order to freeze Oduala’s account and those of 19 others till January 2021. Read more
Sam Adeyemi, Davido, 2face, Kanu, 46 others sued over #EndSARS protests (Punch)
An activist, Kenechukwu Okeke, has filed a criminal complaint before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Abuja against 50 persons for their alleged roles in the #EndSARS protests that took place last month.
Okeke alleged that during the riot, his properties were destroyed and the defendants who promoted the #EndSARS protests must be brought to justice.
Those listed as defendants include Musician Damini Ogulu aka Burna Boy, David Adeleke popularly known as Davido, Folarin Falana popularly known as Falz; and social media comedians, Debo Adebayo aka Mr Macaroni, and Maryam Akpaokagi aka Taoma. Read more
#EndSARS Relief Fund: Lagos Council unveils list of 99 applicants (Guardian)
The Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area in Lagos State unveiled a list of 99 applicants on Tuesday for its N10 million Relief Fund for victims of the violence that trailed the October #EndSARS protest.
The Chairman of the Council, Mr Dele Oshinowo set up the Fund on Oct. 31 to cushion the effect of the violence on victims whose businesses and properties were destroyed during the protest.
In a statement jointly signed by Mr Abdulwaheed Odunuga and Mr Adeoba Adewale, the Chairman and Secretary respectively of the Committee for the Agboyi-Ketu LCDA N10million Relief Fund Initiative, they said only 99 applicants submitted application forms. Read more
Prosecuting #EndSARS protesters defeats purpose of states’ panels – Ozekhome (Vanguard)
Rights activist, Mike Ozekhome(SAN) has said by arresting, prosecuting and freezing the bank accounts of #EndSARS protesters, the Federal Government was defeating the purpose of setting up states’ panels of inquiry into the youths’ protests that swept across the country.
Ozekhome said by taking such steps, the government had pronounced #EndSARS youths guilty even before the panels made their findings.
In the wake of the #EndSARS protests, through which youths asked for reforms, including better welfare for policemen, security agents went after the peaceful protests’ promoters, with some saying their bank accounts were blocked by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. Read more
INEC to resume voter registration in Q1 2021 – Mu’azu (Guardian)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) plans to resume its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the first quarter of 2021, the Acting Chairman, Ahmed Mu’azu, said on Tuesday in Abuja.
He made the disclosure at the electoral commission’s quarterly meeting with political parties where he solicited the latters’ collaboration and support for a successful take-off of the exercise.
He said that Tuesday’s meeting was also to consult with the political parties on the 15 by-elections in 11 states, earlier scheduled for Oct. 31, but which were suspended because of the security situation in the country. Read more
Gunmen kidnap Edo deputy gov’s younger brother, Frederick (Punch)
A younger brother of the Deputy Governor of Edo State identified as Frederick Shaibu has been kidnapped by gunmen while taking his kids to school in Irhiri, Benin.
As of the time of filing this report, it was gathered that the kidnappers are yet to make contact with the family.
A family source told The PUNCH that the incident happened on Monday.
The source said, “They attacked him and took him away. It happened in the Aruogba area, Irhiri around 07 am when he was driving his children to school. The children were left by the gunmen who took their father away. But the incident has been reported to security agencies, they have not made any contact with the family. Read more
38-year-old Nigerian joins 2023 presidential race (Thisday)
A 38-year-old Victor Ani-Laju, on Monday, declared his intention to run in the 2023 presidential election.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, Ani-laju said as President, he will tackle poverty, hunger, unemployment, poor healthcare, poor education and insecurity in every part of the country.
He said the youth were the worst hit by years of bad governance, hence the older generation must step aside and allow people of younger generation to assume positions of authority.
He said: ”About 38 years ago, a child was born in Nigeria with a mandate to take the people of the country out of poverty to prosperity, and build a great nation that will benefit all Nigerians, irrespective of region or religion. This child grew up in poverty, suffering, hunger and deprivation, in an environment lacking in the most basic amenities to make life bearable – no proper healthcare system, poor quality of education, oppression by security forces and general bad governance. Today, I can say I am a survivor, but things have not changed in our country. Read more
FRSC impounds vehicle loaded with alleged stolen goats in Oyo (Vanguard)
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) RS11.35, Egbeda Unit Command in Oyo State, has impounded a Sienna car with registration number KRD 815 GN loaded with allegedly stolen goats.
The FRSC Unit Commander in Egbeda, Assistant Corps Commander, Akeem Kareem, disclosed this while showing the goats and the vehicle to journalists on Tuesday in Ibadan.
Kareem said that the Sienna car loaded with the goats was abandoned on the road in front of FRSC office in Egbeda around 4.00 am when it had a burst tyre, and the driver of the car ran away. Read more
Peru plunged into political upheaval as lawmakers oust president (CBC)
Peru’s congress ousted President Martín Vizcarra on Monday in an impeachment vote over corruption allegations, prompting immediate tensions in the Andean nation.
Vizcarra said he would accept the congress vote and would not take any legal action to counter it.
“Today I am leaving the presidential palace. Today I am going home,” Vizcarra said during a speech late on Monday, surrounded by his cabinet in the courtyard of the presidential residence in downtown Lima. Read more
US election: Justice lawyer quits after attorney general orders ‘vote fraud’ inquiries (BBC)
US attorney general William Barr has allowed prosecutors to probe alleged irregularities in the presidential election, prompting a senior justice department official to quit.
The official, Richard Pilger, would have overseen such investigations.
Any such cases would normally be the remit of individual states, but Mr Barr said this was not a hard and fast rule.
Donald Trump refuses to accept Joe Biden’s projected victory, and has made unsubstantiated fraud claims.
The president’s campaign is seeking an emergency injunction in Pennsylvania to prevent Mr Biden’s victory being certified in the state. Read more
Trump supporters in Georgia eye Biden presidency with anxiety, fear (CBC)
Inside the large auditorium of the Free Chapel megachurch in Gainesville, Ga., pastor Jentezen Franklin, an evangelical adviser to Donald Trump, delivered a message that seemed tailored to supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump still smarting from the election results.
Speaking from on top of a wide stage to about 800 churchgoers a day after Democrat Joe Biden defeated Trump, Franklin hedged on whether the former vice-president was actually the winner. Although he referred to Biden as the president-elect and insisted that whoever becomes the president “will be my president,” he also declared he wants “a good honest and certified count from every state.” Read more
Scooby-Doo co-creator Ken Spears dies aged 82 (BBC)
Ken Spears, the co-creator of the cartoon series Scooby-Doo, has died at the age of 82.
Spears, who created the animated characters alongside his creative partner Joe Ruby, died of complications from Lewy body dementia.
Their original show, Scooby Doo, Where Are You! only ran for two series from 1969-1970, but established a template that spawned 50 years of stories.
Spears’s death comes three months after that of his co-creator, Ruby.
His son, Kevin, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that Spears died in Los Angeles on Friday. Read more
Spike Lee celebrates Biden/Harris win with Fort Greene block party (PageSix)
Spike Lee celebrated Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ victory with a block party thrown by his Forty Acres and a Mule production company in Fort Greene.
The Oscar-winning writer and director led the block in singing Ray Charles’ “Hit the Road Jack,” and at one point Martin Luther King Jr.’s “We Shall Overcome” speech blasted from the speakers.
Ever the community advocate, Lee encouraged everyone to wear a mask amid New York City’s uptick in coronavirus infections. Read more
Forest Whitaker proud to still have his AOL account (Metro)
Forest Whitaker confesses he’s still not got to grips with modern technology. The actor spoke ahead of the release of his new film Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, in which he plays an inventor who has one of his prized designs stolen. In an interview alongside director David E Talbert, Forest said that he’s not as ‘savvy’ with technology as his character Jeronicus Jangle, but he is working on getting his head around his smartphone. He told Metro.co.uk and other press: ‘David thinks I’m so far behind the times that I’m just like an antiquated dinosaur somewhere trying to work a stone tablet! Read more
Michael J Fox goes back to “Back To The Future” for Lil Nas X video (BBC)
Actor Michael J Fox has reprised his role as Marty McFly in a new video for rap star Lil Nas X.
Fox appears in a trailer for the upcoming single, Holiday, which sees Nas arrive in the Wild West just as Santa Claus is thrown out of a saloon.
After he picks up Santa’s hat, Nas discovers he’s been chosen as “the new Santa” and must travel to the future.
As he sets off on a reindeer, Fox shouts after him: “Whatever you do Nas, don’t go to 2020!” Read more
AFCON qualifier: Musa assures Nigerians of victory against Sierra Leone (Guardian)
Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, has assured Nigerians of victory against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone, in the 2021 AFCON qualifiers to take place in Benin.
Musa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Tuesday in Abuja, before flying to Benin, that the team was ready to do the nation proud.
“We are ready and we just have to do our best to win the game at home, here in Benin, before going to Sierra Leone to get another victory there.
“We know the importance of these games, if we win the two games, we have already qualified for the 2021 AFCON, so Insha Allah we are going to do just that,” he said. Read more
Ex-Arsenal and Barcelona star Alex Song lands in Djibouti (BBC)
Former Cameroon international Alex Song has played in France, England, Spain, Russia and Switzerland
Former Cameroon international Alex Song has completed a surprise move to little known Djibouti club Arta Solar 7.
“I have signed a two year contract with Arta. This is an opportunity to promote Djibouti football”, the former Barcelona and Arsenal midfielder announced on twitter.
The 33-year-old has been a free agent since March when he and eight other players were dismissed by Swiss club FC Sion for refusing a pay-cut amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
Arta won last season’s Djibouti Cup as they finished fourth in country’s top flight. Read more
Tiger Woods bids to repeat Masters glory after recent stretch of poor play (CBC)
Tiger Woods will hope familiarity helps him recapture his form at Augusta National this week as the 15-time major winner aims to repeat the magic of his stunning Masters win last year.
Overcoming personal and physical obstacles that at times in his career appeared insurmountable, Woods ended an 11-year major drought to claim his fifth Masters in 2019, capping one of the most remarkable comebacks in the history of professional sport.
But a recent string of lacklustre performances have rendered that success a distant memory.
Woods has failed to crack the top 30 at any event since the PGA Tour returned from its COVID-19 hiatus in June, missing the cut at the U.S. Open in September and finishing tied 72nd in the Zozo Championship last month — a tournament he won a year ago. Read more
Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya latest to bid for CAF presidency (BBC)
Ahmed Yahya has become the fourth candidate to announce his candidacy for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) presidential elections in March.
The head of the Mauritanian federation (FFRIM) since 2011, Yahya was named the continent’s best football administrator at the 2017 Caf awards.
“After much thoughts and discussions, I have decided to present my candidacy,” Yahya announced on social media on Monday evening, adding the hashtags ‘commitment, determination, vision’. Read more
Nicolas Pepe ‘frustrated’ with Arsenal situation under Mikel Arteta (Metro)
Nicolas Pepe admits he is frustrated with his lack of playing time at Arsenal this season. The 25-year-old has showed flashes of his talent since his club-record £72 million move from Lille last year but has struggled to secure a regular role under Mikel Arteta. Pepe has started just one Premier League game this season and was given just 25 minutes to make an impact in Arsenal’s 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday evening. The Ivory Coast international says he is unhappy with his lack of minutes at Arsenal and has revealed that Arteta is keen for him to show more concentration during matches. Read more
NBA 2020-21 season to begin on 22 December (BBC)
The NBA season will begin on 22 December after an agreement was reached with players over scheduling, salary figures and free agency dates.
The usual season-start date in October was pushed back because the coronavirus pandemic caused delays to the 2019-20 campaign.
But the NBA and its players’ union have agreed a new date and a 72-game season – a reduction on a usual campaign.
The agreement is yet to be approved by the league’s board members. Read more
Jurgen Klopp hails Arrigo Sacchi as ‘one of the most influential coaches in history’ (Metro)
Jurgen Klopp has hailed legendary AC Milan manager Arrigo Sacchi as ‘one of the most influential coaches in history’ and someone who ‘completely changed how we think about football.’ The Liverpool boss is widely considered one of the finest managers on the planet, after winning league titles in Germany with Borussia Dortmund and now in England with the Reds, also lifting the Champions League trophy last year. The German has cited Sacchi as an influence, not only on his style of management, but on the way football is played around the world today. Sacchi’s AC Milan side of the late 1980s won Serie A in 1988 and then back-to-back European Cups the following two years. Read more