Father of four confesses using his Sienna bus for one chance operation (Vanguard)
A 50-year old, leader of a one chance robbery gang, Matthew Tokeme who is currently being investigated by the Lagos State Police Command has revealed that he started operating a one chance syndicate two weeks ago.
According to the father of four, who uses his sienna bus with registration number APP488FH, “I live in number 2 Olawoye street, at Sango. My friend bought the sinnena bus for me to use for transportation but I started using it for one chance.”
We are three in number who usually go for operations. We ply Abule egba Ifako Ijaye route between five to six in the morning when workers and traders are going to their place of work. We pick passengers at the bus stop.”
Explaining further, Tokeme said” for instance passengers who are going to Victoria Island board our vehicle when we get to a particular location we stop and disposes of the victims their valuables. We don’t use guns, if the victims are very stubborn we threaten them till they part with their phones and laptops. We carry only one passenger at a time while my gang members sit like passengers. Read more
How trigger-happy policeman killed Lagos resident – Baale (Punch)
The Baale of Makoko Waterfront Settlement, a suburb in Lagos State, Steven Aji, on Tuesday narrated to a Lagos State High Court in Igbosere, Lagos Island, how a trigger-happy policeman, Pepple Boma, allegedly shot a resident in the stomach during the demolition of some houses in the area.
Boma, who is standing trial on one count of manslaughter, was arraigned before Justice Module Nicole-Clay sometime in 2013.
The prosecution had alleged that the accused, on July 21, 2013, around 1.20pm at Makoko, shot one Timothy Hunpoyanwa to death.
The offence was said to be contrary to Section 222 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011. Read more
Illegal structures: LASG set to clean up Mile-2 area (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Government, through Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences Unit, on Wednesday, issued a 7-day removal notice to owners, occupants of illegal structures around government public schools at Mile 2, along Badagry Expressway and environs.
Other identified illegal structures include: Shanties, mechanic workshops, petty traders, containarised kiosks and commercial bus garages.
Chairman of the agency, Chief Superintendent of Police, DSP, Olayinka Egbeyemi, issued the ultimatum, during a meeting with affected owners, occupants and sectional heads of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW. Read more
Beggars lay siege to Sanwo-Olu’s office, lament harassment (Punch)
Hundreds of beggars on Tuesday laid siege to the entrance of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the Governor’s Office at Alausa, Ikeja, to protest against what they described as undue harassment and arrest of their members by state officials.
The beggars, who came in over 10 buses and seven tricycles, barricaded the entrance to the Assembly and demanded that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu address them, saying they would sleep on the road if the governor did not come out.
Despite pleas by government officials who informed them that the governor was not around, they refused to back down on their request.
The men and women carried placards with different inscriptions, including, ‘Enough is enough, stop the persecution of people with disabilities,’ ‘If you don’t want to see us begging on the streets, give us skills and empowerment,’ ‘Seeing beggars all over our streets and roads is the failure of the system,’ and ‘We are tired of running without legs or eyes, give us skills and empowerment.’ Read more
Collapse building: Court rejects LASG plea bargain with Lekki Gardens (Vanguard)
Justice Sybil Nwaka of the Ikeja High Court, Lagos yesterday rejected an out of court settlement between the state government and Lekki Gardens Estate over a building collapse in 2017 which killed 34 persons.
Justice Nwaka rejected the “plea and sentence agreement” between the state and the company on the ground that it was drawn up in the absence of families of those who died in the incident.
The judge queried the two parties for not specifying the names of family members who would receive the N10 million compensation for the five persons the company insisted were the only casualties of the building collapse. Read more
Minimum wage: NLC state councils to take action against erring govts (Nation)
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed its state councils to go on strike if any state government fails to implement the N30,000 new national minimum wage.
Speaking with The Nation, NLC President Ayuba Wabba said the organised labour had given each state council the template on the new wage and the consequential adjustment.
He stressed that no state should be excused for not implementing the new minimum wage.
“The Minimum Wage Act is already a law and every political office holder must respect the sanctity of our Constitution and the oaths of office they have sworn to uphold.
“If a worker is entitled to be paid his wages, the wages must be commensurate with what has been negotiated. Read more
Supreme Court declines to reverse judgement on Bayelsa guber (Vanguard)
The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, declined to reverse its judgment that sacked David Lyon and Degi-Eremieoyo as governor and deputy-governor elect of Bayelsa state.
The apex court, in a unanimous decision by a seven-man panel of Justices headed by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, dismissed the two different applications that sought to set aside the judgment it delivered against Lyon and his deputy on February 13.
In the lead verdict that was delivered by Justice Amina Augie, the apex court described the fresh applications that were filed by Lyon and his deputy, as well as the All Progressive Congress, APC, as “highly vexatious, frivolous and gross abuse of the judicial process”. Read more
Dickson, Diri in worship songs to celebrate Supreme Court victory (Nation)
The Supreme Court has laid to rest the hyped review of its February 13th judgement nullifying the governorship electoral victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State.
The apex court affirmed its earlier judgement, dismissed the application for a review filed by the APC and its sacked Governor-elect, David Lyon, insisting that there must be an end to litigation.
The final verdict of the highest court implied that Senator Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who had been sworn-in since February 14th as the governor of Bayelsa, would lead the state for the next four years.
Immediately after the judgment, the immediate past Governor of the State, Seriake Dickson, the incumbent governor, Diri, the state Chairman, PDP, Cleopas Moses and other PDP stalwarts were seen singing worship songs in Dickson’s Abuja residence. Read more
Remo Stars player: IG disbands zonal SARS, dismisses inspector (Punch)
The Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Adamu, on Tuesday, announced the disbandment of the Zonal Intervention Squad, Obada-Oko, Ogun State.
The disbandment followed the death of a player of Remo Stars Football Club, Kazeem Tiyamiyu.
The victim and his friend had been arrested by police operatives at Sagamu on Saturday.
They were being taken to the ZIS office at Obada Oko, Abeokuta, when Tiamiyu was allegedly pushed out of the police vehicle. Read more
Drug trafficking: NDLEA secures release of Nigerian held by Saudi Arabia (Nation)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has secured the freedom of one Ibrahim Abubakar, a Nigerian held in Saudi Arabia for alleged drug trafficking.
Ibrahim was released after three years of incarceration in the Middle Eastern country following presentations from investigation reports by NDLEA that exonerated him.
Abubakar was arrested upon arrival in Saudi Arabia when his luggage was found to contain 1, 497 tablets of illicit tramadol.
He has been standing trial since 2017 in Saudi Arabia where punishment for drug trafficking is execution.
The Agency said they presented evidence that proved that the drugs were planted on Ibrahim and he was innocent of the crime he was accused of. Three persons have been arrested for planting the drugs on Ibrahim. Read more
Police arrest suspect who stabbed AEDC official to death in Abuja (Vanguard)
The FCT Police Command has arrested one Oputa Vitus in connection with the murder of staff of the Abuja Electrical Distribution Company (AEDC), who was attacked and stabbed with a knife by the suspect at Pasali, Kabusa on Tuesday.
The arrest was consequent upon a distress call received on Monday 25th February 2020 at about 2.44 pm at Kabusa Division that the suspect armed with a knife inflicted serious injuries on two AEDC staff who were deployed to the community on official assignment.
The knife has been recovered as an exhibit. Read more
Man stabs helper’s four-year-old son to death (Punch)
The family of a four-year-old boy, David Emmanuel-Tarfa, has been thrown into mourning after he was allegedly stabbed to death by his father’s old friend, John Cornelius, on Kashim Ibrahim Way, Jimeta, in the Yola South Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Cornelius and the victim’s father, Stephen, used to be friends, but got separated for several years.
The suspect was said to have visited Jimeta on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 and asked Stephen to allow him pass the night at his house. Read more
Monguno, Kyari attend FEC meeting as Buhari presides (Punch)
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and members of his cabinet are holding a Federal Executive Council meeting.
The FEC meeting holds every Wednesday.
It is taking place at the Executive Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo is also attending the meeting.
The National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd.), and the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Abba Kyari, are also attending the meeting. Read more
Goodbye tennis, Maria Sharapova announces retirement (Punch)
Five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova, one of the world’s most recognisable sportswomen, on Wednesday announced her retirement at the age of 32.
“Tennis — I’m saying goodbye,” Sharapova said in an article for Vogue and Vanity Fair magazines.
“After 28 years and five Grand Slam titles, though, I’m ready to scale another mountain — to compete on a different type of terrain.”
Sharapova burst onto the scene as a supremely gifted teenager and won her Grand Slams before serving a 15-month ban for failing a drugs test at the 2016 Australian Open. Read more
Wenger claims Chelsea broke ‘rule number one’ against Bayern (Vanguard)
Arsene Wenger thinks Chelsea broke “rule number one” after a brutal lesson from Bayern Munich pushed them to the brink of Champions League elimination.
Bundesliga champions Bayern took a giant step towards the quarter-finals of the competition with Tuesday’s resounding 3-0 success at Stamford Bridge.
A second-half brace from Serge Gnabry, followed by Robert Lewandowski’s 39th goal of the season, did the damage as Chelsea were comprehensively outclassed in the first leg of the last-16 tie. Read more
Guardiola: City haven’t broken rules, I’ve seen proof (Punch)
Pep Guardiola says he has been shown proof Manchester City are innocent of the financial irregularities that have seen the club hit with a European ban.
City, who face Real Madrid in the last-16 of the Champions League on Wednesday (today), have been handed a two-year suspension after being found guilty of breaching Financial Fair Play regulations by UEFA.
The club, who intend to appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, have often cited “irrefutable evidence” that they have not violated FFP regulations, and speaking at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday evening, Guardiola revealed he has been given a run down of the case by City chiefs. Read more
NFF shortlists two local coaches for Falcons job (Punch)
Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation, Bitrus Bewarang, says two local coaches have been shortlisted for the vacant Super Falcons coaching job.
In a chat with our correspondent, Bewarang also revealed that seven other coaches have also been listed for the roles of goalkeeper trainer and assistant coach.
He revealed that their choices were based on the applications they received for the vacant positions.
Bewarang also added that the Technical Department of the NFF looked at certain requirements before arriving at their decision. Read more
Sterling reveals his daughter trolls him by singing Liverpool chants (Vanguard)
Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling has admitted that his daughter Melody tries to tease him by chanting Liverpool songs to him at home.
The 25-year-old made the switch to City from Liverpool in a deal worth £49m back in 2015, and it’s a move that isn’t exactly fondly remembered by the Anfield faithful.
Speaking to AS, quoted by the Evening Standard, Sterling discussed his daughter’s tendency to troll him about his former club: Read more
Zenera golfer makes pro, gets official endorsement (Nation)
After years of training, consistency and dedication, Zenera Consulting’s protégé on the golf scene, Monday Eze, has officially joined the league of professional golfers in Nigeria.
Eze, who has been under the tutelage, mentorship and sponsorship of the Branding and Advertising firm, was on Friday, 21st February 2020, formally inducted into the Professional Golfers Association of Nigeria after emerging victorious in the Qualifying Exams.
For four years, the organisation invested in Eze through several trainings to London, Kenya and other countries. They also sponsored his competitions as an amateur golfer within and out of Nigeria. Read more
Soweto Derby: Fans want Akpeyi over Khune (Punch)
Kaizer Chiefs fans have called for the inclusion of Nigerian goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi, in the starting line-up when the Glamour Boys face Orlando Pirates on Saturday in a South African Premier League clash.
The Nigerian was benched for Itumeleng Khune in the Kaizer Chiefs’ Nedbank Cup round of 16 5-4 penalty loss to Highland Park on Saturday. Read more
Manchester City officially lodge appeal with CAS against 2-Year UEFA ban (Vanguard)
Manchester City have formally lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against their two-year ban from UEFA competitions relating to Financial Fair Play breaches.
UEFA confirmed last week concluding an investigation prompted by a series of Der Spiegel articles fed by the Football Leaks platform that City will be banned from playing in the Champions League and other European football for the next two seasons that they qualify.
City have furiously denied any wrongdoing throughout the process and their appeal has now been officially confirmed by CAS. Read more
Rohr parleys with Eagles over Sierra Leone (Nation)
Barring any last minute alterations, the 23-man Super Eagles list for the March double header against Sierra Leone will be delivered by Coach Gernot Rohr on Monday March 2nd to the vault of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) before its announcement to the public.
The Super Eagles will host the West Africans in Asaba on March 23 before traveling to Freetown for the reverse fixture eight days later.
There have been huge speculations about who-and-who would be on the list following some spectacular performances by Nigeria’s legion of Europe-based professionals but the German coach has revealed why he’s holding out yet on the list.
“I am meeting some players in Europe before giving my list next Monday,” Rohr told NationSport yesterday. Read more
Di Maria hates Man Utd so much ‘he turns TV off when they’re on’ (Vanguard)
Angel di Maria turns the TV off whenever “something related to” Manchester United comes on after his short spell at the club, according to Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Marcin Bulka.
The Argentine was signed by Louis van Gaal for a then club-record £59.7m in the summer of 2014 but failed to settle in Manchester and eventually moved to PSG for £44m just a year later.
Now 32, the winger remains at PSG but has occasionally been linked back with moves to Old Trafford during his five-year stint in the French capital. Read more