#EndSARS: Police framed, detained me for 48 days, extracted 2 of my teeth, man tells panel (Sun)
A Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) brutality victim, Okoli Agwu Abunike, yesterday accused police lawyer of slapping him four times when he went to serve court documents at Panti Police Station, and threatened to file separate petition against the lawyer at the panel.
Okoli said that he was surprised that a lawyer, who had such issue with him, had the temerity to appear before the panel. He raised the allegations when he was being cross-examined in a petition he filed at Lagos State Judicial panel, alleging that he was tortured for 48 days by the SARS.
Narrating his ordeal, Agwu, who resides in Okokomaiko area of Lagos, said he was abused and roughly treated by SARS operatives. He said his two teeth were extracted by the disbanded police unit. Read more
2 sisters jailed 10 years for stealing N1.7m (Punch)
The Kaduna State High Court, on Tuesday, sentenced two sisters, Maryam and Rukaiya Jallo, to 10 years’ imprisonment for stealing the sum of N1.7m.
It was gathered that the siblings, who are the owners of Jamal Health Foundation, used their social media handle to solicit funds for a sick person in 2019.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the sisters converted the money they received from Nigerians into their personal use.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, on Wednesday, stated that one of the donors, one Alhaji Badamasi Shanon, petitioned the anti-graft agency that the sisters refused to use the money for the intended purpose. Read more
FG spurns UK parliamentarians’ threat of sanction over rights abuse (Thisday)
The federal government yesterday said it was unperturbed by resolutions of the United Kingdom parliamentarians for sanctions against top Nigerian officials and security agents involved in the alleged violation of #EndSARS protesters’ rights as it did not represent the position of the British government.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, told THISDAY in Abuja that the UK government will not sanction Nigerian officials based on a fake report.
He was reacting to Monday’s resolutions taken after the parliamentarians had considered a petition signed by 220, 000 signatories in the aftermath of the alleged shooting of protesters at the Lekki Tollgate on October 20, calling, among others, for sanction against indicted Nigerian officials. Read more
55-year-old caught with four human skulls, three hands in Ogun (Punch)
Men of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a 55-year-old man, Yesiru Salisu, for being in possession of human parts, including four skulls, two hands and three jaws, in Ijebu-Igbo.
The suspect allegedly severed the human parts from a Christian cemetery in Oke-Eri, Ijebu-Ode, on Monday alongside his accomplice, Lekan Bakare, who is on the run.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed this on Tuesday. Read more
Senate approves N148 bn refund for 5 states (Sun)
The Senate has approved payment of N148 billion promissory notes to Bayelsa, Cross River, Ondo, Osun and Rivers states as refund for projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government.
This followed the adoption of a report by Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, led by Ordia Clifford (PDP-Edo), at plenary, yesterday.
The Federal Government had sought the approval of the Senate for issuance of promissory notes for refund on federal projects executed by state governments. Read more
Grammy Awards: Burna becomes first Nigerian with consecutive nominations (Vanguard)
Nigerian artist, Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, has emerged the first Nigerian artist to be nominated for the Grammy awards in two consecutive years.
The ‘Wonderful’ crooner was nominated in the Best Global Music category of the 62nd Grammys with his African Giant album.
An award he lost to Angelique Kidjo, Beninese singer and songwriter, who had won the Grammys four times. Read more
South-south leaders meet FG delegation, demand restructuring, federalism (Thisday)
South-south governors and other stakeholders from the geopolitical zone yesterday in Port Harcourt met with a presidential delegation led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, and demanded restructuring of the country to ensure “true federalism” and guarantee peace, security and stability of the country.
They also demanded the relocation of the headquarters of all subsidiaries of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to the region.
Calling for the revitalisation of the region’s Calabar, Port Harcourt and Warri ports, they also demanded the immediate privatisation of the nation’s refineries to make them functional and boost the economy of the region. Read more
#EndSARS: Looters in Plateau return items (Vanguard)
Some of the people who participated in the looting, vandalism of warehouses and other public and private property during the #EndSARS protest in Plateau have returned their loot and sought forgiveness.
The repentant persons were led by Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, the Coordinator of
the Prayer and Revival Unit of Church in Christ Nations (COCIN) to the Government house, Jos, on Tuesday, to ask Gov. Simon Lalong for forgiveness.
A statement by Lalong’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Macham, said the looters confessed during a revival recently organised by COCIN at Zang Secondary School in Jos South Local Government Area. Read more
Grammys 2021: Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Dua Lipa lead nominations (BBC)
Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Dua Lipa lead the nominations for the 2021 Grammy Awards.
Beyoncé leads the field, with nine nominations overall, including four for Black Parade, a protest anthem released at the height of the Black Lives Matter protests this summer.
Swift, with six nods, could win album of the year for a record-breaking third time with her lockdown album Folklore.
Dua Lipa also picked up six nominations for the disco-tinged Future Nostalgia. Read more
Gabourey Sidibe announces engagement to Brandon Frankel (Metro)
Gabourey Sidibe has announced her engagement to Brandon Frankel after he got their cat involved to help pop the question.
The actress, 37, shared an adorable video showing off her engagement ring as she told her followers: ‘It’s weird that people think we’re already married but I guess our hearts and intentions for each other are just that clear to see.
‘My BFF proposed and now I get to hold him forever. The funniest man I’ve ever met. The sweetest human to exist. @brandontour made up a song for when i put my bonnet on at night. Read more
Period poverty: Scotland first in world to make period products free (BBC)
Scotland has become the first country in the world to make period products free for all.
MSPs unanimously approved the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill on Tuesday.
There is now a legal duty on local authorities to ensure that free items such as tampons and sanitary pads are available to “anyone who needs them”.
The bill was introduced by Labour MSP Monica Lennon. She has been campaigning to end period poverty since 2016.
She said it was a “practical and progressive” piece of legislation made all the more vital because of the coronavirus pandemic. Read more
John Legend and Chrissy Teigen open up on grief after losing baby (Metro)
John Legend and Chrissy Teigen have given their first interview since losing their third child, with the singer describing the ’emptiness’ he felt as they grieved for their son. The All Of Me hit-maker, 41, and wife Chrissy, 34, appeared on Good Morning America on Tuesday for their first live interview since losing their baby boy. Chrissy had suffered complications during her pregnancy and the couple lost their son at 20-weeks, with Chrissy and John publicly sharing their heartbreak on social media. Read more
US shares set records as investor optimism grows (BBC)
US shares hit fresh records on Tuesday with the Dow Jones index closing above 30,000 points for the first time amid hopes of a strong economic recovery and end of political uncertainty.
The S&P 500 also hit an all-time high as investors bought economically sensitive financial and energy stocks.
Trading was fuelled by positive Covid vaccine news and moves to start the Joe Biden presidential transition. Read more
Pennsylvania, Nevada certify Biden as winner of presidential vote (CBC)
Pennsylvania and Nevada certified Democrat Joe Biden’s US presidential election victory on Tuesday, dealing further blows to US President Donald Trump’s efforts to subvert the results.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf first disclosed in a tweet that the Department of State had certified the vote count for president and vice-president. Wolf, a Democrat, sent a “certificate of ascertainment” to the national archivist in Washington with the slate of electors who support president-elect Biden and vice-president-elect Kamala Harris. Read more
Thailand revives law banning criticism of king in bid to curb protests (BBC)
Thailand has revived a controversial law against criticising the royal family in an attempt to curb months of anti-government protests.
Several activists have been summoned to face charges under the lèse-majesté law, which carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison for each count.
It is the first time in over two years that such charges have been filed.
Thailand has been rocked by student-led protests for months, with demonstrators demanding changes to the monarchy. Read more
Minister orders overhaul of Super Eagles (Vanguard)
Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has called for an overhaul of the Super Eagles technical and administrative structure to achieve better results.
The minister gave the order on Tuesday in Abuja at a meeting with Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials to review the Technical Report of the Nigeria/Sierra Leone AFCON Qualifiers and other matters.
Mr. John Joshua-Akanji, Special Adviser to the minister, disclosed this in a statement.
The minister stressed the need to adhere strictly to the terms of contact of Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, especially on performance and development of the game. Read more
Fernandes scores twice as Man Utd close in on knockout stages (BBC)
Bruno Fernandes says he turned down the chance to score his first Manchester United hat-trick in their Champions League win over Istanbul Basaksehir to keep his word to team-mate Marcus Rashford.
After driving a half-volley into the net from the edge of the area, Fernandes put United two ahead inside 20 minutes when keeper Mert Gunok dropped a routine cross at the midfielder’s feet.
Despite scoring from the spot against West Brom three days earlier, Fernandes let Rashford take the penalty that made it 3-0 after the England forward had been sent flying by Boli Bolingoli. Read more
Aston Villa and England’s Jack Grealish pleads guilty to two charges of careless driving (Metro)
Jack Grealish has pleaded guilty to two charges careless driving, including one which was in relation to a crash during the first coronavirus lockdown in March. The Aston Villa and England midfielder entered his plea at Birmingham Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday through his lawyer, but did not attend himself. Police launched an investigation in March after Grealish was pictured at the scene of a crash when a white Range Rover had hit two parked vehicles, with the driver leaving details. In a statement, West Midlands police said: ‘We were called to Waterside, Dickens Heath, just before 10am to reports that a Range Rover had crashed into two parked cars in the street. Read more
Chelsea seal early qualification to last 16 (BBC)
Chelsea sealed their progress to the Champions League knockout stage with two games to spare as Olivier Giroud’s late header secured victory at Rennes.
The French striker has played just 127 minutes for the Blues so far this season, but made the most of his time on the pitch here with an injury-time finish after Timo Werner’s effort had been blocked.
Just six minutes earlier, Rennes looked to have denied Chelsea when Serhou Guirassy headed home from a corner to cancel out Callum Hudson-Odoi’s opener.
Frank Lampard’s side dominated the first half and could easily have led by more than just Hudson-Odoi’s calm finish after he had been sent clear by a pinpoint pass from Mason Mount. Read more
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gives injury updates on Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Victor Lindelof (Metro)
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is hopeful Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Victor Lindelof will recover from knocks in order to face Southampton on Sunday. The pair were taken off after an hour in United’s 4-1 win against Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir at Old Trafford on Sunday night. Lindelof has been struggling with a back injury since the start of the season and he’s been playing through the pain barrier in recent weeks to help United recover from their dismal start to the campaign. Read more
Neymar penalty eases pressure on PSG (BBC)
Neymar’s first-half penalty helped ease the pressure on boss Thomas Tuchel as Paris-St Germain leapfrogged RB Leipzig in Group H of the Champions League.
The Brazilian scored his first goal in six matches in the competition after Angel di Maria had been fouled.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side rallied but some wasteful finishing prevented them from equalising.
Leipzig drop to third in the group and are three points behind leaders Manchester United with two games left.
What can be decided in Champions League this week? Read more