Fake policeman nabbed with Indian hemp in Lagos (Punch)
A man, David Omoruyi, has been arrested by policemen attached to the Area ‘E’ Command of the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly having in his possession a fake police identity card and 30kg of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp at the Alaba Rago Market in the Ojo area of the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement on Sunday that Omoruyi and his fleeing accomplices were carrying the weeds on their head when policemen accosted them around 12.12am on Tuesday, adding that while Omoruyi was arrested, his accomplices fled.
Adejobi stated, “The police operatives attached to the Area ‘E’ Command in Festac, on January 19, 2021, around 12.12am, arrested one David Omoruyi, 37, of No. 4 Job Street, Afromedia, Otto-Awori LCDA, Lagos, in possession of a fake police identity card and 30kg of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.
“David Omoruyi claimed that he was a serving sergeant attached to Mopol 49, Epe, Lagos State. Read more
LASWA warns boat operators against flouting safety regulations (Vanguard)
Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) has urged users of waterways, to imbibe safety regulations in the state and adhere strictly to Night Travel restrictions placed on all ferry movements, or face heavy sanctions, the authority’s General Manager, Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, has said.
Emmanuel, who gave the warning in Lagos, on Sunday, in a statement, said all boat operators should adhere strictly to the night travel restrictions placed on all ferries or face heavy sanctions.
According to him, all ferry captains must also ensure they had sufficient fuel in their tanks, before embarking on any trip, even if it was for a short distance.
“The agency has noticed that some boats occasionally get stranded on the waterways due to insufficient fuel. Read more
3 feared dead as cult members clash in Lagos (Punch)
Three persons were feared killed on Sunday in a clash between rival cults, the Aiye and Eiye confraternities, in the Aguda area of Surulere, Lagos State.
It was gathered that the cultists, who wielded weapons such as machetes, axe, planks and broken bottles, caused panic among the residents of the area.
Some of the streets affected in include Enitan, Willy Omiyi, Akinyele and Adetola.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the fight, which started on Saturday, led to the death of one Tunde Alado, who was allegedly killed by the leader of the Aiye Confraternity, identified simply as Muleru. Read more
Quit Order: We’ll take the next step on Monday – Akeredolu (DailyTrust)
The Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu has said the state government would take ‘the next step’ inline with the quit notice issued to the herders in Ondo forest reserves.
The governor had also banned night grazing and outlawed underage herders as part of his administration’s effort to stop kidnapping in the state.
The Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo said that the state government “will wait for the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum handed down to the herdsmen occupying the forest reserves before it will know the next step.”
6 killed, 3000 displaced as bandits attack 12 villages in Niger
Tertiary institutions can resume on Monday – Kaduna Gov’t
Daily Trust also gathered that the governors of the South West States would meet with the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria also on Monday. Read more
Force HQ summons Lagos bribe-taking cops over 16-year-old’s extortion (Punch)
The Complaints Response Unit of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja has summoned four cops, Emmanuel Michael, Sunday Odubiyi, Lawrence Amedu and Aroye Dickson, for their alleged involvement in the extortion of a 16-year-old student in the Isheri area of Lagos State.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this to PUNCH Metro on Sunday, adding that the Force Headquarters had taken over the case.
“The Complaints Response Unit from the Force Headquarters in Abuja has summoned them and taken over the case. We are waiting for the outcome of their interview with them in Abuja,” Adejobi said.
The PPRO had said that the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, ordered the orderly room trial of the errant cops, who were caught harassing and extorting N70,000 from the student, identified simply as Segun, on January 18, 2021, at the NGAB junction, Isheri, in a Toyota Corolla car. Read more
Akwa Ibom govt tasks warring communities on peace, harmony (Guardian)
Akwa Ibom State Government has intervened in the communal clashes between Okopedi and Amamong communities in Okobo Council, urging them to live peace and harmony.
Deputy Governor, Moses Ekpo, gave the charge at the weekend during the distribution of relief materials worth millions of naira to victims of communal clashes.
Ekpo, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Deputy Governor’s office, Nkopuruk Ekaiko, said it was necessary for the warring communities to sheath their swords and to enable them to live in peace and harmony. Read more
FG boosts insurgency war, acquires 23 new military aircraft (ThisDay)
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it had so far taken delivery of 23 new aircraft mainly fighter aircraft procured by the federal government in 2020 to prosecute the war against insurgency.
It said 18 more aircraft, including the 12 Tucano fighter jets are expected to be delivered by the United States this year.
The NAF also said it is set to ramp up its partnership with Hungary in the areas of fighter pilot training, operation and maintenance of Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) cameras as well as other important areas of competence.
This comes as fighter jets and helicopter gunships bombed Chikwale Forest, killing scores of armed bandits in the Mangoro area of Chikun Local Area in Kaduna State. Read more
DPR blames gas explosions, others on non-compliance with guidelines (Guardian)
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has blamed gas explosions and fire accidents in the country on lack of compliance with safety guidelines by retail outlets.
It warned of dire consequences if the trend continued, insisting that gas dealers in the black market were particularly culpable and should be held accountable for the incidents.
Speaking during the zonal annual general meeting of oil and gas stakeholders tagged: Oil And Gas Safe Operations And Compliance: DPR As A Business Enabler in Warri, Delta State, Zonal Controller of DPR, Antai Asuquo, said the dealers’ lack of compliance with safety rules and guidelines had resulted in loss of lives in the sector. Read more
Senate probes alleged mismanagement of N50bn by NBET (ThisDay)
The Senate has alleged that the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) mismanaged N50 billion realised from the sale of Egbin, Omotosho and Olorunsogo power plants in 2013.
It has, therefore, mandated its committee on Public Accounts to investigate the matter.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, said the decision to probe the transaction was based on the 2015 report of the office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (AuGF), which exposed the reported mismanagement of N50 billion public funds in the Escrow Account said to have been realised from the sale of Egbin, Omotosho and Olorunsogo power stations. Read more
Man missing for three weeks in Australia ‘survived on wild mushrooms’ (Metro)
A man managed to survive 18 days in the gruelling Australian bush by eating wild mushrooms and drinking dam water. Police had called off a search for Robert Weber, 58, after he disappeared with his dog in Queensland on January 6. He was last spotted in Kilkivan leaving a hotel but later when he drove down a farm road he got stuck in the dirt. Weber spent the next three days in his vehicle but was forced to leave when he ran out of water, police said. Read more
Anti-lockdown rioters clash with police, set fires in the Netherlands (CBC)
Rioters set fires in the centre of the southern Dutch city of Eindhoven and pelted police with rocks on Sunday at a banned demonstration against coronavirus lockdown measures, while officers responded with tear gas and water cannons, arresting at least 55 people.
Police in the capital of Amsterdam also used a water cannon to disperse an outlawed anti-lockdown demonstration on a major square ringed by museums. Video showed police spraying people grouped against a wall of the Van Gogh Museum.
It was the worst violence to hit the Netherlands since the pandemic began and the second straight Sunday that police clashed with protesters in Amsterdam. The country has been in a tough lockdown since mid-December that is due to continue until at least Feb. 9. The government beefed up the lockdown with a 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. curfew that went into force on Saturday. Read more
ICC arrests CAR war crimes suspect Said Abdel Kani (VOA)
The International Criminal Court on Sunday said it had taken into custody a former Central African Republic commander of the Seleka faction suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In a statement, the court said Mahamat Said Abdel Kani had surrendered to the court Sunday and had been arrested under a warrant issued under seal January 7, 2019, relating to alleged crimes from 2013. A date for his initial appearance in The Hague has not yet been set.
The arrest comes against the backdrop of a state of emergency in the Central African Republic, with fighting between the country’s army, backed by U.N., Russian and Rwandan troops, and rebels seeking to overturn a December 27 vote in which President Faustin-Archange Touadera was declared the winner. Read more
Taiwan reports large incursion by Chinese warplanes for second day (BBC)
Taiwan has reported a large incursion by Chinese warplanes for the second day running, a show of force that coincides with the first days of US President Joe Biden’s term of office.
Sunday’s operation involved 15 aircraft and followed a similar drill that led to a warning from Washington.
China sees democratic Taiwan as a breakaway province, but Taiwan sees itself as a sovereign state.
Analysts say China is testing the level of support of Mr Biden for Taiwan. Read more
Growing number of Republican senators oppose impeachment trial of former president (CBC)
A growing number of Republican senators say they oppose holding an impeachment trial, a sign of the dimming chances that former U.S. president Donald Trump will be convicted on the charge that he incited a siege of the U.S. Capitol.
House Democrats, who will walk the impeachment charge of “incitement of insurrection” to the Senate on Monday evening, are hoping that strong Republican denunciations of Trump after the Jan. 6 riot will translate into a conviction and a separate vote to bar him from holding office again.
But Republican passions appear to have cooled since the siege. And now that Trump’s presidency is over, Republican senators who will serve as jurors in the trial are rallying to his legal defence, as they did during his first impeachment trial last year. Read more
Israel vaccinates 16 to 18-year-olds ahead of exams (BBC)
Israel has started vaccinating 16 to 18-year-olds against COVID-19, in an effort to enable them to sit exams.
More than a quarter of Israel’s population of nine million have received at least one dose of the Pfizer vaccine since 19 December, its health ministry says.
It started with the elderly and others at high risk, but people aged 40 and over can also now get the jab.
Israel hopes to start reopening its economy in February. Read more
Keira Knightley refuses to film sex scenes directed by men (Metro)
Keira Knightley has revealed why she now refuses to film ‘horrible’ sex scenes with male directors. The Pirates of the Caribbean actress has shot several sex scenes throughout her career, in films such as Atonement, Colette and The Aftermath. Earlier this year, Keira said that she was leaving on-screen nudity in the past after having two children. However, she’s also put a block on filming sex scenes directed by men. Read more
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury to exchange contracts this week as fight edges closer (Metro)
Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight bout with Tyson Fury is edging closer, with contracts set to be exchanged between the two parties this week. That’s according to Fury’s co-promoter Bob Arum, who is convinced everything will be signed off quickly. All the heavyweight belts are set to be on the line in the all-British showdown, with both men looking to unify the division this year. And Arum revealed that the fight will take another major step closer to becoming reality this week. Read more
27 teams set for ‘My Anambra Football Super Eight’ draws (Guardian)
The draws for the maiden edition of ‘My Anambra Football Super Eight’ tournament has thrown up some interesting ties with 27 teams from across the state ready for the soccer competition.
The championship is the baby of Anambra State Football Association (ANSFA), which held the draws for the zonal Playoffs at the weekend at the association’s secretariat in Awka.
According to a member of the organising Committee, Ralph Chidozie George, who is also an ANSFA board member, 27 teams participated in the draws of the grassroots competition bankrolled by Aspire FC Adazi Ani. Read more
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer provides Marcus Rashford injury update after Manchester United’s win over Liverpool (Metro)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed Marcus Rashford was set for a scan on his knee after the forward limped off in the dying moments of Manchester United’s thrilling 3-2 win over Liverpool. United’s talisman Bruno Fernandes arrowed home a sublime 78th-minute free-kick to set up an FA Cup fifth-round tie against West Ham but the sight of Rashford hobbling down the Old Trafford tunnel put a slight dampener on Solskjaer’s evening. It was a pulsating start to Sunday’s heavyweight clash and Mohamed Salah set the tone with an exquisite dinked effort over Dean Henderson before Mason Greenwood quickly equalised with a well-taken strike of his own. Read more
Everton move into FA Cup fifth round as Small becomes youngest player in their history (BBC)
Everton eased past Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin netted his 15th goal of the season by sliding in to convert Andre Gomes’ low cross.
The home side added to their tally in the second half as Richarlison and Yerry Mina headed goals from corners whipped in by James Rodriguez.
Everton will face Wycombe or Tottenham in the next round, with those two sides meeting on Monday (19:45 GMT). Read more
Anunoby’s hot hand helps short-handed Raptors down Pacers (CBC)
Toronto coach Nick Nurse knew needed somebody to replace the scoring void left by two missing All-Stars.
OG Anunoby delivered with jab after jab Sunday.
He scored a season-high 30 points, grabbed eight rebounds, defended well and made three of four free throws in the final minute to give the surging Raptors a 107-102 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
“I think it comes with opportunity, really,” coach Nick Nurse said. “We had a couple of guys (Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam) who are a good percentage of our offense out, so it’s going to shift somewhere. Tonight it shifted to OG.” Read more
Don’t worry about us, says Klopp after Liverpool exit FA Cup (BBC)
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp responded to his side’s FA Cup defeat by Manchester United by saying “don’t worry about us”.
The loss to their fierce rivals means Liverpool have now won only one of their past seven games.
The defending champions have also fallen to fourth in the Premier League, six points behind leaders United.
“I saw a lot of steps in the right direction and that’s all good,” said Klopp. Read more