Father repeatedly defiled 10-year-old daughter, doctor tells court (Punch)
A driver, Ogbar, 51, repeatedly defiled his 10-year-old daughter in their home in Lagos, a medical doctor, Dr Oyedeji Alagbe, told the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Thursday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Alagbe, a consultant at the Mirabel Centre (a sexual assault referral centre), has 14 years working experience at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, where he works at the Department of Family Medicine.
While being led in evidence by the State Prosecutor, Mrs Arinola Momoh-Ayokanbi, the medical doctor told the court that he was before the court to interprete the child’s medical report, which was made by one Dr Olaniyi, who had examined the child but had since left the service of LASUTH.
Alagbe said the complainant on the day of the examination was accompanied to the Mirabel Centre by the mother of the victim and a female pastor. Read more
Lagos Fire: 17 including pregnant woman injuried, 4 buildings collapsed – LASEMA (Guardian)
The Director-General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu has confirmed that a total of 17 people sustained injuries, including a pregnant woman and firefighter at another inferno in Lagos.
Oke-Osanyintolu made the disclosure in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the Martins fire outbreak scene at about 9:30 p,m. in Lagos on Wednesday.
According to him, a total of 17 people sustained injuries, 15 were treated at the scene and discharged, while the remaining two a pregnant woman and a firefighter had been hospitalised.
He said that the pregnant woman injury was as a result of shock she experienced and the Lagos State Fire Service Staff (firefighter) sustained injuries from one of the collapsed building. Read more
Balogun Market inferno consumes seven buildings, two collapse (Punch)
Seven buildings in the Balogun Market area of Lagos Island, Lagos State, were on Wednesday, razed by fire.
The incident happened on Martins and Sunny Adewale streets.
It was learnt that the fire started around 8.30am from a four-storey building located at No. 35/37, Martins Street, and quickly spread to the adjoining buildings.
Most of the razed buildings were besides the Great Nigeria Insurance building, which was similarly burnt on November 5, 2019.
Our correspondent gathered that a generator was working when one of the traders attempted refuelling it which started the fire. Read more
Boy, 13, ‘stabs man to death’ (Nation)
An Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos on Thursday remanded at the Special Correctional Centre for Boys, Oregun, Ikeja, a 13- year-old boy (name withheld) who allegedly stabbed a man to death in a market.
Chief Magistrate A. O. Adedayo made the order following a remand application by the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Yaba, Lagos.
The police arraigned the minor on a one count temporary charge of murder marked FCY/EB/51/2019.
Prosecuting Inspector Chinalu Uwadione told the court that the incident occurred at about 6pm on December 15, 2019 at Iyana-Iba Orange Market, Ojo, Lagos. Read more
Strange disease kills four, 15 hospitalised in Benue (Guardian)
Officials have confirmed the death of four persons with15 others seriously sick following a strange disease recorded at Oye-Obi in Obi Local Government Area of Benue State.
Mr Andyson Egbodo, the new President of Igede National Youths Council, disclosed this to newsmen on Wednesday in Makurdi.
Egbodo gave the names of the deceased as Happiness Ogbu, Onah Ogbedu, Andy Edu and Wisdom Agwo. Read more
Police engage kidnappers in gun battle, rescue victims in Bayelsa (Nation)
Operatives of Operation Puff Adder of the Bayelsa State Police Command have engaged notorious kidnappers in gun battle in Bayelsa State.
Following their superior gunpower, the operatives were said to have dislodged the kidnappers operating along Imiringi general area in Ogbia and rescued the wife of a popular businessman and a medical doctor.
Vivian Okoye, the wife of Obinna Okoye popularly called Blessed Obaino, who owns the A-Z electronics shops in various parts of Yenagoa and a medical practitioner identified as Alex from Igbedi community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area were kidnapped by the hoodlums. Read more
Buhari meets Jonathan, assures ex-president of protection (Punch)
Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday paid an unscheduled visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he briefly met with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the meeting between the retired general and Jonathan, which was held behind closed door, lasted about 10 minutes.
NAN reports that Jonathan’s mission to the villa was unknown as he did not speak to newsmen. Read more
Kangaroo mother care saves preterm infant in Kebbi (Guardian)
A five months old infant delivered after seven months of pregnancy in a rural community of Kebbi State has miraculously survived after the mother was guided to apply a Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) method.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that KMC is a method of care for preterm infants, which involves infants being covered on the stomach by the mother, with skin-to-skin contact.
The method provides protection from infection; regulate temperature, breathing and brain activity; and encouraged mother-baby bonding. Read more
Coronavirus: Senate seeks self-isolation for travellers from China, others (Nation)
The Senate on Thursday urged the Federal Ministry of Aviation to immediately take steps to ensure that all persons arriving from China to self-isolate by staying indoors in their homes for at least two weeks before mixing with the general public.
According to the upper chamber such classes of persons include Chinese citizens from Nigeria that travelled for the Chinese Lunar New Year festivities.
The Senate also extended the call for self-isolation to travellers from other countries that are on record to have experienced outbreak of the deadly disease. Read more
Africa’s current debts stand at $500bn – AfDB (Vanguard)
The African Development Bank (AfDB) says the total debt stock of Africa, both external and domestic currently stands at 500 billion dollars.
The AfDB President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina disclosed this during a public presentation of African Economic Outlook 2020 in Abidjan on Thursday.
He said Median Debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had risen from 38 per cent in 2008 to 54 per cent in 2018.
The AfDB boss quickly added that in spite this development, there was no need for panic button but though there was need to tackle rising debt levels. Read more
Akpeyi gets new two-year deal (Nation)
Nigerian goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi has signed a new two-year deal with Kaizer Chiefs.
The Nigeria international has been with Amakhosi for a year now, and he’s currently the club’s number one keeper ahead of Itumeleng Khune.
A source within the Chiefs camp told Goal on Wednesday that Akpeyi would be handed a two-year deal with an option to renew for another year. Akpeyi’s current deal with the club was set to come to an end on June 30 and he was told not to worry about his immediate future by the club. The 33-year-old shot-stopper was brought in by Ernst Middendorp in January 2019 when Chiefs were struggling in the goalkeeping department without Khune. Read more
Perez joins Roma from Barcelona (Punch)
Barcelona forward Carles Perez has joined Roma in a deal worth 15.5 million euros, the Spanish club announced on Thursday.
Roma will pay Barca 1 million euros for an initial loan until June 30. The deal includes a compulsory option to buy in the summer for 11 million euros, with a further 3.5 million euros due to additional payments.
Barcelona will also retain the first refusal if Roma wants to sell Perez in the future.
“I know that I am leaving a very important club in Barcelona but I am joining an equally important club in Roma,” said Perez. Read more
Madrid thrash Zaragoza to make Copa del Rey quarter-finals (Guardian)
Real Madrid made it 20 games unbeaten by thrashing Real Zaragoza 4-0 on Wednesday to ease into the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey.
Raphael Varane, Lucas Vazquez, Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema all scored at La Romareda, where Madrid was again without injured duo Gareth Bale and Eden Hazard, while Benzema only came on as a late substitute.
Benzema will almost certainly start the Madrid derby against Atletico Madrid on Saturday when Real will be hoping to at least preserve their three-point lead over Barcelona at the top of La Liga. Read more
German Open: Quadri through to main draw after stunning wins (Nation)
Nigeria flag bearer Aruna Quadri on Wednesday secured a spot in the main draw at the on-going German Cup following a dramatic comeback from a 3-0 loss to eventually trump 4-3 against Finland’s Olah Benedek. He later in the day completed his journey to the main draw with another convincing 4-2 win over Czech Republic’s Pavel Sirucek in the fourth round of preliminary to confirm his place in the elite stage of the tournament.
The feat ranks as one of the best comeback win at the ITTF World Tour otherwise known as the German Open as the Nigerian restored his place in the competition on a day when majority of the top players were shown the exit in the third round of preliminaries. Read more
Djokovic praises ailing Federer after sweeping into final (Punch)
Novak Djokovic paid “huge respect” to old rival Roger Federer Thursday after he swept past the ailing star and into a record eighth Australian Open final to move closer to his 17th Grand Slam crown.
In the 50th instalment of one of the sport’s greatest rivalries, the Serb shrugged off a tentative start to reinforce his recent dominance, showing no mercy to the injury-hit Swiss maestro in a 7-6 (7/1), 6-4, 6-3 win.
He will play either fifth seed Dominic Thiem or seventh-ranked German Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s final, but it will take a monumental effort to prise another. Read more
Man Utd bank on free-scoring Fernandes to quieten fans’ fury (Guardian)
Manchester United finally secured a deal to sign Portuguese international midfielder Bruno Fernandes on Wednesday ending a long-running chase of the 25-year-old.
United are badly in need of midfield reinforcements due to the absence of Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay through injury, whilst Pogba’s future at the club beyond the end of the season is very much in doubt.
Fernandes will cost the Red Devils an initial 55 million euros (£47 million, $61 million) with up to 25 million euros more in performance-related add-ons. Read more
French, German coaches jostle for Falcons’ job (Nation)
At least two foreign coaches from France and Germany are among the notable names being considered as the next coach of the national women’s team, the Super Falcons.
The Super Falcons post is one of the prime positions being jostle for after the exit of Swede Thomas Dennerby and other indigenous coaches in the mix include former international and former Falcons assistant coaches, Maureen Mmadu and Ann Chiejinne; with others being past handlers of the team including Bala Nkiyu, Christopher Danjuma and Edwin Okon.
NationSport gathered that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is also in receipt of four applications from foreign coaches desirous to replace Gernot Rohr in case the incumbent Super Eagles handler fails to agree terms with NFF for contract extension. Read more
Melbourne heat ‘killed me’ says beaten Halep (Punch)
Simona Halep said the fierce heat and sun “killed me” during her Australian Open semi-final defeat after she let slip opportunities to put away unseeded Garbine Muguruza on Thursday.
The Romanian fourth seed had not dropped a set in reaching the last four, but she lost her cool — mangling her racquet — on the way to a 7-6 (10/8), 7-5 defeat.
Muguruza, like Halep a two-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one, meets American 14th seed Sofia Kenin in the final in Melbourne, where temperatures soared close to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) on Thursday. Read more
Eriksen enjoys winning debut as Inter reach Italian Cup semi-finals (Guardian)
New signing Christian Eriksen enjoyed a memorable debut as Inter Milan defeated Fiorentina 2-1 on Wednesday to reach the Italian Cup semi-finals.
After three successive draws in Serie A, Antonio Conte’s Inter were far from their best but still had enough to set up a last-four clash against Napoli.
The other semi-final sees Juventus tackle AC Milan. Read more
Australia Open: Thiem, Zverev battle for first final (Vanguard)
The fifth seed faces his good friend on Friday after stunning world number one Rafael Nadal in the last eight, with a crack at either seven-time champion Novak Djokovic or six-time winner Roger Federer at stake.
Thiem and Zverev have played each other eight times, with the Austrian holding a 6-2 advantage, including their last two encounters. They have never been forced into a five-setter.
“We have no secrets from each other. I mean, we played so many times, also on very special occasions already, at the ATP Finals, semis, French Open quarters,” said the 26-year-old.
“It’s a nice rivalry we have. It’s great that we add an Australian Open semi-final to this one. Going to be a close match again.” Read more