Fake policeman escorting contraband goods arrested in Lagos (Punch)
Policemen have arrested a fake cop, Monday Job, for allegedly posing as a riot policeman to escort people conveying contraband goods from Cotonou in Benin Republic to Lagos State.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Bala Elkana, said policemen on duty arrested the suspect, adding that during interrogation, he could not state the squadron he was attached to.
He added that Job would be charged for the crime.
Elkana stated, “On February 10, 2020, around 8am, policemen on enforcement of the ban on motorcycles in restricted areas arrested one Monday Job, 32, at Oshodi, while riding a motorcycle and fully dressed in riot police uniform. A close look at his name tag and badge gave room for further probing. He could not give a satisfactory account of himself and the squadron he was attached to. In the course of investigation, he confessed to being an impersonator. Read more
Prostitution: Court sentences 21 girls to clean court premises for 4 hours (DailyTrust)
Chief Magistrate C. A. Adedayo, sitting at the Botanical Gardens magistrate court, Ebute-Meta, Lagos, yesterday sentenced 21 girls of loose virtue to a communal service of cleaning the court premises for four hours. Deputy Superintendent of Police, Barrister Yetunde Cardoso, the officer-in-charge, Legal, Lagos State Police Command, alleged that the girls, on January 28, 2020 at Oyingbo, conducted themselves “in a manner dangerous to the public by unlawfully displaying themselves in public as prostitutes.” The girls are Aisha Musa, 27; Experience Abraham, 24; Blessing Augustine, 30; Jennifer Peter, 25; Angela Peter, 27; Josephine Daudu, 21; Mariam Asukwu, 22; Ayomide Afolahanmi, 26; Sandra Uzoma, 24; Dosu Charles, 31; and Patience Iboro, 20. Others are Joy Kingsley, 27; Sophia Uchechukwu, 22; Treasure Joseph, 23; Chisom Ena, 27; Ifeoma Stephen, 27; Angela Abonka, 24; Olamide William, 22; Aisha Aruna, 28; Inamdi Success, 22; and Gift Kelechi, 24. Read more
Soldiers beat up Lagos officials for seizing hawkers’ wares (Punch)
The enforcement team of the Ikoyi/Victoria Island Clean-up Committee of the Lagos State Government has been attacked by some military personnel.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the incident happened at the Bonny Camp on the Victoria Island.
In a statement on Wednesday, the government said the team had been conducting daily raids on the area.
The officials were said to have on Tuesday visited the roundabout and under the bridge opposite the Bonny Camp, which served as a store and distribution point for goods sold on the streets.
The statement said, “Immediately the exercise commenced, the operatives were confronted by some uniformed military personnel, who prevented them from seizing the items and taking them away. Read more
I am a thug paid to stage fights against enemies – Berry Boys cult leader (DailyTrust)
The self-confessed “supreme leader” of the Berry Boys, an illegal cult group in Lagos State, Malik Bello, has admitted he was being paid as a dreaded street thug to stage wars against perceived enemies. The Lagos State Police Command is holding the 22-year-old suspect for alleged murder and other related offences. Bello was paraded yesterday before journalists at the Command Headquarters, Ikeja, along with about 15 other suspects. The Berry Boys gang has its operational base at the Itire and Mushin areas of the state. Read more
Ogun teenager stabs boyfriend to death over N3,000 (Punch)
Men of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a teenager, Abosede Idowu, for allegedly stabbing her boyfriend, Aliyu Ibrahim, to death over N3,000.
The suspect was reported to have stabbed Ibrahim in the chest after spending the night with him and allegedly taking N3,000 from his pocket the following morning.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said both Abosede and Ibrahim were seen dragging a knife with each other in the public before she allegedly stabbed him in the chest, which led to his death.
Oyeyemi said the suspect was arrested following a distress call by the Seriki Hausa in Sagamu to the Sagamu Divisional Police Headquarters. Read more
Cleric charged with alleged sodomy, remanded (DailyTrust)
The Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has ordered that a clergyman, Seyi Adelana, be remanded in a correctional facility for allegedly sodomising two teenage boys (names withheld). Justice Abiola Soladoye ordered Adelana to be remanded after the defendant was arraigned on a two-count charge that the Lagos State government levelled against him for allegedly assaulting the two boys, aged 17 and 18 years, sexually. The state counsel, Mrs Arinola Momoh-Ayokanbi, told the court that the defendant committed the offences between June 2018 and January 2019 in his residence at No. 11, Itumaro Street, Igbobo, Ikorodu, Lagos. The prosecution alleged that Adelana lured the boys with cash gifts before perpetrating the sexual assault by having anal sex with them. Read more
Yabatech security guards assault undergraduate over jeans (Punch)
Nigerians have condemned the assault on an unidentified student of the Yaba College of Technology allegedly by the school’s security guards for wearing a pair of ripped jeans.
In a video posted on Instablog9ja on Wednesday, one of the security guards could be seen pushing the student to the wall while holding on to his shirt.
The student could be heard in the video telling the guard to leave his shirt, while onlookers were also begging the security man to leave the victim.
However, one of the security guards started beating the student, who struggled to get free from the grip of the man.
Reacting to the video, a commenter, @kunlereal wrote, “In Nigeria, once you’re a uniform man, even if it’s Shoprite security man, the spirit of harassment just comes naturally.”
Another commenter, @organicsbytrish, wrote, “He’s not a criminal! These useless security officials doing wetin dem no send dem! If ordinary tire burst now they’ll take cover!” Read more
Court remands man charged with alleged murder (DailyTrust)
A chief magistrate court sitting at the Botanical Garden, Ebute Meta, Lagos, yesterday ordered that a 21-year-old man charged with murder should be remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, Lagos. Chief Magistrate C. A. Adedayo handed down the order following the arraignment of Emmanuel Osim for allegedly killing a man, identified as White London. The police from the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, alleged that Osim stabbed London to death on February 13, 2020 at about 1am at the White sand area of Ijora Badia, Lagos. No plea was taken from the accused person before he was ordered to be remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending legal advice from the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). Read more
Mum gives daughter inspirational lesson to love her skin after she was bullied (Metro)
A little girl has learned to love her skin after bullies at her school made her wish she was white to fit in. Mum Serlina Boyd said she realised the affect bullies were having on Faith, 6, when she asked her how it felt being the only child of colour in her class. She told Metro.co.uk: ‘I said do you wish there was another girl that looked like you, and she said, “no mummy I just wish I was white.” It just blew me away because I didn’t know it affected her in that way.’ Serlina, 38, said Faith had been struggling with her identity growing up in a majority-white area of south London. The mother-of-two had a similar upbringing but didn’t appreciate the damage it could do to her daughter. Faith Boyd, 6, at home in south London (Picture: Susannah Ireland) She said: ‘Faith has always been the only black child in her nursery and classes. Read more
Teenager’s remains found in lion enclosure at Pakistani zoo (BBC)
Lahore Safari, Pakistan’s largest zoo, has nearly 40 lions in captivity
The remains of a teenage boy have been found in the lion enclosure of a Lahore zoo, a day after he went missing.
Officials said they are investigating how Muhammad Bilal, 17, made it over the fence and what caused his death.
But locals have blamed Mr Bilal’s demise on staff incompetence, and earlier this week the zoo’s offices were ransacked.
The state-back Lahore Safari, established in 1982, is Pakistan’s largest and oldest animal park. Read more
Exploding hammer’ festival leaves 43 injured in Mexico (Metro) Dozens of people have been injured in the annual ‘exploding hammer’ festival in Mexico. The event, which takes place every February, involves people attaching a mix of sulpher and chlorate to the ends of sledge hammers. They smash the hammers against rail beams, making the substance explode and send up massive clouds of smoke. Some of the participants are flung backwards with the force. Read more
Five dead in Milwaukee shooting at Molson Coors beer company (BBC)
Five people have been killed in a shooting at the Molson Coors Brewing Company campus in Milwaukee, Wisconsin state, local officials say.
They say the gunman died from “self-inflicted wounds”. The attacker was identified as a 51-year-old Milwaukee resident. His motives were unclear.
The shooting occurred in the early afternoon while hundreds of employees were still at work.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said it was a “tragic day for the city”.
Speaking at a news briefing shortly after Wednesday’s shooting, he described it as a “horrific act”. Read more
Woman pees alcohol despite not drinking a drop (Metro)
A woman has been diagnosed with a never-before-seen condition after doctors discovered she was urinating alcohol – without drinking a single drop. The unnamed patient, 61, has become the first person in the world to be diagnosed with ‘urinary auto-brewery syndrome’ caused by yeast in her bladder that ferments sugar in her urine to produce alcohol. The process is almost exactly the same as one used by beer makers – but it was happening in her own body. At first medics suspected she may have been hiding an alcohol addiction when urine tests for the drug were repeatedly positive. Read more
Coronavirus: How China is keeping busy during quarantine (BBC)
Many businesses such as gyms are turning to live-streaming to help their customers in quarantine
With millions of people across China under lockdown, businesses across the country are trying to come up with ways to keep their customers occupied and connected.
In Hubei province, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, at least 56 million people remain under strict instruction to remain inside their residential communities and villages. At one point, around 500 million people were said to be affected by movement restrictions to contain the virus.
Many people have turned to the internet as one way to cure their boredom.
According to The Paper, searches for the word “boring” on social media site Weibo grew by 626% on 26 January and topics such as “how to spend time at home when bored” also started to trend on the website. Read more
Tiamiyu’s car vandalised in police station – Father (Punch)
The last has not been heard about the death of Remo Stars assistant captain Kazeem Tiamiyu as his Lexus car, in which he was traveling before he died, was allegedly vandalised at the police station at Owode Egba, Ogun State, where it was parked.
Fasasi Tiamiyu, father of the late footballer told The PUNCH that after he saw his son’s body in the morgue, he asked for the car and on seeing it, he told the police to take it to their station at Owode Egba Police station for safety pending the end of investigations.
He said, “After I saw my son’s corpse in the mortuary, I told the police from Owode Egba Police Station that the car should be taken to the station for more investigation.
“I was surprised today (Wednesday) when we went there and discovered that the car had been vandalised. The gear is not working again and some parts of the car are missing. Read more
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer invites Tyson Fury to give speech to Manchester United squad (Metro)
Tyson Fury has been invited to give a speech at Manchester United’s training ground to discuss his journey from the brink of suicide to beating Deontay Wilder to be crowned WBC world heavyweight champion. The Gypsy King’s win in Las Vegas capped one of the most remarkable comebacks in sporting history as Fury fought back from drug addiction and depression to land the world title. Tyson Fury on his struggles with mental health ‘I woke up wanting to die on a daily basis, I didn’t want to live anymore because I was het up by depression so that’s as low as you can go. You’re looking at the man who has everything, acclaim, glory, fame, many achievements, a family and everything that goes with it, the trimmings, the gravy and still he isn’t happy. We’re made to believe success is happiness, but that’s very untrue. One day I woke up and thought, ‘today’s the day I end it all’. I was heading towards this bridge, I was going to smash the car into the bridge at very high speed, I just didn’t have the ambition to live anymore. Before I got to the bridge I heard a voice saying, ‘don’t do this, you’re going to destroy your family’s life,’ and I immediately pulled the car over and that was the first time I thought, ‘right, now or never. I need to get well immediately’.
Fury’s openness about his struggles has earned him praise from the sporting community, which still trails behind other industries that are increasingly willing to confront mental health issues. Read more
Man City fight back to win at Real Madrid (BBC)
Manchester City produced a stunning late fightback as goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kevin de Bruyne secured a memorable 2-1 win at Real Madrid to take control of their Champions League last-16 tie.
After a cagey first half, the hosts capitalised on a defensive mix-up between Rodri and Nicolas Otamendi to take the lead as the impressive Vinicius Junior raced towards goal before neatly squaring for Isco to slot home.
Sergio Ramos shot over as Real Madrid looked to double their advantage but City equalised 12 minutes before time when Jesus nodded in from close range.
It was the least City deserved for what had been an impressive away performance by Pep Guardiola’s side and things got even better seven minutes from time when substitute Raheem Sterling was brought down inside the box and De Bruyne stepped home to confidently convert from the spot. Read more
Pillars’ Nwagua celebrated by kinsmen in Port Harcourt (DailyTrust)
Any time Kano Pillars visit Rivers United in Nigeria’s top flight league, it is always an occasion that brings hundreds of members of the Northern community in the city of Port Harcourt to the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in the heart of the city. Sunday’s Match Day 21 clash between both sides had an extra dimension to it as it was Pillars striker Nyima Nekabari Nwagua’s first appearance in front of his own people in 24 months. Tens of family members and well wishers thronged the stadium, donning the Number 28 jersey of the ‘Ogoni Man’. Although Nwagua’s effort was ultimately not enough to earn his team a result against Rivers United, the burly striker did enough to draw sporadic applause from his supporters on the day. Read more
Onazi back from injury (Punch)
Denilzspor midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, has returned to training after recovering from a muscle injury.
Onazi played just eight minutes in his team’s 1-1 with Gozetepe on February 3 and was replaced by Ismail Aissati.
The injury ruled the Nigerian out for 10 days.
The former Trabzonspor midfielder is setting his sights on the team’s next game against Yeni Malatyaspor on Sunday in the Turkish Super Lig. Read more
Lyon earn surprise first-leg win over Juventus (BBC)
Lucas Tousart scored the winner in the first half at Groupama Stadium
Lyon produced a spirited display to take a surprise lead after the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Juventus.
Lucas Tousart scored the only goal in the first half as the hosts claimed their first victory over the Italian giants.
Juve started confidently but failed to create any clear chances before Tousart converted Houssem Aouar’s cross from close range to hand the Ligue 1 side the lead.
The visitors continued to have more possession but they struggled to penetrate the resolute Lyon defence, failing to register a single shot on target. Read more
Maria Sharapova be remembered? (Metro)
Maria Sharapova, one of tennis’ greatest fighters, finally threw in the towel on Wednesday. But framing her career is no straightforward task. A five-time Grand Slam champion, a former world No. 1, a Wimbledon champion at the age of 17 and one of just 10 women to complete the career Grand Slam – Sharapova leaves tennis with a stellar record on paper. There’s little doubt she will be admitted to the Hall of Fame. That said, there’s a sense of ‘what if’ about her playing days. Injuries certainly took their toll, while co-existing alongside bitter rival Serena Williams – who was rarely more focused than when she faced the Russian, winning their last 19 meetings – will keep her name nowhere near the debate of the greatest player of all time, even if she will be remembered as one of the most ferocious competitors. Read more
Gattuso says Napoli will use ‘helmets and armour’ at Barca (DailyTrust) Gennaro Gattuso Napoli coach Gennaro Gattuso was in typically combative mood after his side were held 1-1 at home by Barcelona in the Champions League, saying they would use “helmets and armour” to defend themselves in the return. Tuesday’s result left the Serie A side with a huge task in the return at Camp Nou on March 18 but the famously fiery coach refused to accept his side were out of the running in the round of 16 tie. “I’d like to answer that question in my style but I can’t,” he said when asked if Napoli still had hope of reaching the quarterfinals for the first time. “Of course nothing is finished, we know there will be difficulties but we’ll buy the helmets, the armour and we’ll go and play at Camp Nou.” Read more
Crowd violence: LMC fines Abia Warriors N5m (Punch)
Following disturbance at the Umuahia Township Stadium in a Nigeria Professional Football League match between Abia Warriors and Enyimba at the Umuahia Township Stadium on February 9, the League Management Company has fined Warriors N5m.
The team will also play three of their next home games behind closed doors.
The Abia derby, the second of the season, was called off in the 24th minute after fans of the home club refused to leave the pitch after Emeka Isaac missed a penalty kick in the game with the referee forced to call off the game which was later rescheduled for Monday, February 10 in Okigwe. Read more
Egypt’s Saleh, Meshref top Quadri, Edem in ITTF Africa Top 16 finals (DailyTrust)
Poster boy of Nigerian table tennis, Aruna Quadri will compete in the colours of Egyptian giants, ENPPI in the 2019 Africa Clubs table tennis championship in Lagos Nigeria’s table tennis champion, Aruna Quadri was yesterday defeated by Egypt’s Ahmed Saleh in the singles finals at the 2020 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Top 16 Cup which ended in Tunis. In the gruelling encounter to ensued between the continental heavyweights, Saleh, whose last major title was in 2012 defeated Quadri 4-3 (11-6, 5-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-3). Asides Saleh, Egypt’s Dina Meshref continues her dominance in Africa when she edged out another Nigerian, Cecilia Offiong Edem 4-1 (11-2, 11-8, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6) to retain the title being her fourth trophy since the inception of the competition in 2016. In the third place matches, Egypt’s Omar Assar beat Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw 3-0 (11-6, 11-8, 12-10) while Cameroun’s Sarah Hanffou defeated Egypt’s Yousra Helmy 3-1 (11-8, 5-11, 11-6, 12-10) to settle for bronze medals. Read more
LeBron James scores 40 points in LA Lakers win over New Orleans Pelicans (BBC)
LeBron James scored a season-high 40 points as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New Orleans Pelicans 118-109.
The three-time NBA champion scored 16 points in the third quarter, while team-mate Anthony Davis finished with 21 points.
Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson, playing the Lakers for the first time, scored 29 points.
“The kid is special man, they got a good one in him,” James, 35, said of Williamson.
Williamson, 19, who was the number one draft pick, missed the first 44 games of the season with a knee injury. Read more
Deontay Wilder reveals details of ear injury after Tyson Fury loss (Metro)
Deontay Wilder insists he did not suffer an injury to his eardrum during his loss to Tyson Fury and downplayed the severity of the cut to his left ear. Fury won the WBC heavyweight title by stopping Wilder in the seventh round of their highly anticipated rematch in Las Vegas on Saturday evening. Wilder was being dominated throughout the fight and was even warned by referee Kenny Bayless that the contest would be stopped early before the Bonze Bomber’s co-trainer, Mark Breland, threw in the towel. One major concern during the fight was the amount of blood that could be seen around Wilder’s left ear, but the 34-year-old insists he was not affected during the first defeat of his professional career. Read more
Saka best young player in EPL – Lacazette (Punch)
Ahead of their Europa League round of 32-second leg clash against Olympiacos on Thursday (today), Arsenal striker, Alexander Lacazette, has declared wing-back, Bukayo Saka, as the team’s best young player this season.
Saka has been an integral part of Mikel Arteta’s side this term and has played in different positions including left-back, forward and the left wing-back, flourishing in all the positions.
The English player of Nigerian descent provided the assist for Lacazette in the Gunners 1-0 win over the Greek side a week ago at the Karaiskakis Stadium.
“It’s nice (that Arsenal’s young players are doing well). It’s good for the club. They are listening, so it’s good for us,” he told UEFA.com. Read more
Fury promoter wants Joshua next instead of Wilder rematch (DailyTrust)
Tyson Fury’s promoter Frank Warren wants the new WBC heavyweight champion to fight fellow Brit Anthony Joshua next in a world title unification bout but says Deontay Wilder will first have to be persuaded to forgo an immediate rematch. Fury claimed the WBC title in Las Vegas on Saturday with a seventh-round stoppage of Wilder, who fought the Briton to a split-decision draw in their first meeting in December 2018. Wilder told The Athletic this week that he would exercise his option of a third fight but Warren said he does not want to delay a mouth-watering match-up with Joshua, who holds the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts. “I prefer to go straight to Joshua but that’s the contract,” Warren told the BBC. “If he insists on the fight, we’re locked into it. Read more