Four notorious Lagos ‘cultists’ arrested in Ogun (Nation)
The police in Ogun State have arrested four suspected Eiye cult members declared wanted in Lagos State.
Owolabi Rasaq, 28, Chidi Michael alias Chiboy, 26, Sunday Adetiba, 30, and Idris Jimoh, 27, were said to have participated in several violent cult clashes in Lagos that left many killed.
They were arrested on October 8, at Ogijo during a night meeting alleged to have been on plans to execute another attack.
It was gathered that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Ogijo Suleman Mohammed, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), had received information about the gathering of cultists and stormed the hideout with his men. Read more
Man steals brother-in-law’s police vest, cap for robbery (Punch)
Operatives of the Rapid Respond Squad of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a motorcyclist, Emmanuel Michael, for allegedly stealing his brother-in-law’s police vest and fez-cap to hijack a motorcycle in the Ita-Maga area of Ikorodu.
It was gathered that the 24-year-old Michael and his accomplices, Moses Ogeh and Ojonugwa Ojomeje, who posed as policemen, hijacked a motorcycle from the rider.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspects accosted the motorcyclist around 10pm and dispossessed him of his motorcycle by claiming to be policemen from a nearby station. Read more
28-year-old man docked for defrauding job seekers (PMNews)
A 28-year-old human resources personnel, Nelly Kalu, who allegedly defrauded five job seekers of N1.32 million on the pretext of securing jobs for them, on Monday appeared before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates Court.
The defendant, whose residential address was not given, is facing a six-count-charge bordering on stealing and obtaining money under false pretences.
The Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Adetutu Sanusi said the defendant allegedly obtained N1.32 million from the complainants: Mr. Temitayo Olorunsola, Friday Agada, Oluwaseun Adeshola, Babatunde Ayoola and Henry Agboge with an assurance of getting them jobs at Honeywell Flour Mill, a representation he knew to be false. Read more
FG bans import, export of all goods at land borders (DailyTrust)
The federal Government has announced a total ban on the import and export of goods at the land borders nationwide in the ongoing joint border operation, tagged: “Exercise Swift Response”.
The Daily Trust reports that the operation began on August 20, 2019, involving Customs and immigration with support from Army and other security agencies. Read more
ASUU crisis depeens as splinter group insists on registration (ThisDay)
The crisis threatening the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has deepened as the splinter group of the university lecturers’ union called Congress of University Academic (CONUA) at the weekend insisted that its immediate priority is a formal registration, accusing ASUU officials of corruption and lack of consultations in the handling of the affairs of the national body.
However, ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, has insisted that there is no split in the union, adding that his senior colleagues and comrades have continued to intervene in the matter in the last two years, with the hope that reason will prevail somewhere along the line. Read more
There is no hunger in Nigeria – FG (Sun)
The Federal Government seems unperturbed by the widespread condemnation of the current border closure, as it has categorically stated that the exercise will remain until neighbouring countries respect the laws of Nigeria against food smuggling.
This is even as he ruled out hunger issues affecting Nigerians, claiming that Nigeria is food sufficient.
On August 20, 2019, Nigeria closed her borders in four geopolitical zones across the country: South-South, South-West, North-Central and North-West. Read more
Over 15m Nigerians searching for job, FG confesses (Punch)
The Federal Government has expressed serious concerns over the rising unemployment rate in the country, saying that over 15 million Nigerians are looking for white collar jobs.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, who expressed this concern in an interview with some journalists in Enugu on Monday, said government was worried by the increasing rate of unemployment in the country. Read more
Retired law professor Kais Saied elected Tunisia’s 6th president (Tribune)
Tunisians have elected retired law professor Kais Saied as president, rejecting the North African country’s old governing elite.
Exit polls from Sunday’s election put Saied on more than 70 percent of the votes, and his election opponent on Monday congratulated him on winning.
It was a big step in Tunisia’s continuing transition to democracy after a revolution that triggered the “Arab Spring” uprisings of 2011. Read more
Zimbabwe doctors defy court, enter 43rd day of strike (Guardian)
Striking Zimbabwe doctors on Monday defied a court order to return to work, saying a pay rise offered by the government failed to meet everyday costs.
Doctors remained home for a 43rd consecutive day, striking for better pay after their salaries were eroded by the country’s spiralling inflation.
Zimbabwe’s labour court ruled the action “unlawful” on Friday and ordered the medics back to their wards within 48 hours. Read more
Angry protesters take to streets as Spain jails Catalan leaders (Guardian)
“I feel fury and a sense of powerlessness,” said Joan Guich, a 19-year-old student protesting in Barcelona after Spain’s Supreme Court jailed nine Catalan leaders jailed over a failed independence bid.
“They have been convicted for an ideology which I agree with.”
Within minutes of the ruling demonstrators had poured onto the streets of the Catalan capital, waving flags and blocking traffic over the conviction of the separatist leaders who organised a 2017 referendum banned by Madrid. Read more
Babangida satisfied with Super Eagles performance against Brazil (DailyTrust)
A former Super Eagles attacking winger, Tijani Babangida has expressed satisfaction with the performance of the young Super Eagles in their 1-1 draw with star studded Samba Boys of Brazil in Singapore.
The three-time African champions were yesterday forced to a 1-1 draw after Real Madrid Star Casemiro cancelled out Joel Aribo’s spectacular goal for the Super Eagles. Read more
Arsenal told to pay £87m to seal potentially crucial transfer (Independent)
Arsenal and other clubs have reportedly been told to pay £87million to seal the transfer of RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano.
The exciting young Frenchman looks a huge talent and has been linked with several big clubs in recent times, most notably Arsenal, who could do with a top young centre-back signing like him to replace flops like David Luiz, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Shkodran Mustafi.
A recent report from L’Equipe, translated by the Sun, linked Upamecano with Arsenal, and David Ornstein confirmed in a Q&A session on The Athletic that they are interested in the 20-year-old. Read more
Injury rules PSG’s Neymar out for four weeks (Punch)
Paris Saint-Germain striker Neymar will be out for four weeks with a hamstring injury he suffered playing for Brazil, the French club said on Monday.
Neymar limped off in the 12th minute on Sunday as Brazil drew 1-1 against Nigeria in a friendly in Singapore.
PSG said that an MRI scan showed that their star player had suffered “a grade two lesion” in his left hamstring. Read more
Guardiola to change stance on January transfer with 8 points below Klopp, Targets Barca Star (Independent)
Manchester City have allegedly identified Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic as a potential transfer target.
While Pep Guardiola has insisted that the Premier League champions will not be active in January, the Spaniard may change his stance with his side eight points off the pace in England’s top flight.
With David Silva due to end his stay at the Etihad Stadium in the summer, City could be in the market for more experience in the centre of the park. Read more
Catalan Football Federation suspends matches after separatist leaders jailed (BBC)
The Catalan Football Federation has suspended all matches in the region on Monday after nine Catalan separatist leaders were jailed.
Spain’s Supreme Court sentenced the leaders for sedition over their role in an independence referendum in 2017.
The federation says the suspension is to show solidarity with the leaders and their families and covers all of its official football and futsal matches. Read more
Gerrard Talks On Leaving Liverpool, Not Playing For Jurgen Klopp (Independent)
Steven Gerrard has admitted he still thinks about whether he left Liverpool a year early.
The Reds legend opted not to pen a one-year extension at Anfield in order to play for LA Galaxy in the MLS.
If he had stayed on Merseyside, he would have had the chance to play under Jurgen Klopp who replaced Brendan Rodgers just a few weeks into the following campaign. Read more
Lyon appoint Garcia as manager (Punch)
Former Olympique de Marseille and AS Roma coach Rudi Garcia will take charge of Olympique Lyonnais, the Ligue 1 club said on Monday.
“Olympique Lyonnais confirms the appointment of Rudi Garcia as coach starting today,” OL said in a statement, adding that he had signed a contract until 2021.
Garcia, 55, replaces Brazilian Sylvinho who was sacked last week after Lyon failed to win in Ligue 1 since their two opening victories this season. Read more
Why govt needs to invest in the domestic football league for its own good (ThisDay)
President Muhammadu Buhari wants to create 10m jobs in his second term. That is a lofty ambition. However, sports can be a quick win for him. With the right support, it can deliver over 500,000 direct and ancillary jobs to the government by 2023. Of this, the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) alone can probably account for up to half of that number. Our league could become the largest sporting enterprise in the entire Africa.
Today the NPFL is in shambles because of poor financial support. We all pay a huge price for this. Government misses its best chance to impact society: to positively engage tens of millions of its citizens, to create jobs, to improve IGR from the increased business that the league would bring, and to engender peace among an increasingly polarised populace. Read more
Adepoju lauds Eagles over performance against Brazil (Tribune)
Ex-international, Mutiu Adepoju, on Sunday praised the Super Eagles on their performance against former world champions Brazil.
The match played at the Singapore National Stadium on Sunday saw Joe Aribo opening scoring after 35th minutes of play.
Brazil however equalised three minutes into the second half when Casemiro fired home from close range. Read more
NBBF extends registration date for Premier league (Sun)
The Nigeria Basketball Federation has approved a 7-day shift of the 2019 Men’s Premier League to allow clubs complete their administrative processes.
In a letter signed by the Secretary General of the federation, Afolabi-Oluwayemi Olabisi, the deadline extension was at the instance of clubs intending to participate in the 2019 men’s basketball league.
Consequently, the 2019 season will commence on Saturday, October 19th in the Atlantic and Savannah conferences. Read more