How SARS broke man’s legs (Nation)
The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Enquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS-related abuses and other matters on Tuesday heard how a businessman, Basil Chetal Ejiagwa, was tortured in 2014 till he lost the use of his legs and suffered brain damage.
Ejiagwa, who partially lost his memory, also had a brain tumour last Tuesday (November 17), while receiving treatment in his village in Imo State.
His cousin, Vincent Chukwu, who testified on Ejiagwa’s behalf, appealed to the panel for help to recover the N40 million damages awarded against the police by the Federal High Court in Lagos. Read more
SARS shot me, demanded N200k – Victim (Punch)
A 29-year-old victim of men of the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Obinna Onuka, on Tuesday, told the Abia State panel on police brutality that SARS men shot him and later demanded N200,000 for his release.
Onuka, who demanded N100 million as compensation, narrated that around 1.39 am on September 14, 2020, he was asleep with his son, his wife, and his mother when he heard a noise at his Amuke Ohafia residence.
The noise, he said, came closer when some people scaled the fence and broke open the residence of his landlord who lives in Lagos. Read more
Death benefits: Lagos pays N215m to relatives of 60 deceased employees (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Government through the state Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), has paid a sum of N 215,132,707.78 as death benefits to the relatives of 60 of its employees who died in active service.
The Executive Chairman, LASUBEB, Mr. Wahab Alawiye-King, who disclosed this during the cheque presentation ceremony at the LASUBEB office in Maryland, Lagos, added that the insurance death benefit payment covers those who died in service between the year 2019 and 2020.
While appealing to them to be prudent in the management of the payments, Alawiye-King urged the beneficiaries to be mindful of the recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics indicating that the economy of the country is sliding into recession, stressing that such vital information should guide them in making informed decisions about their investments. Read more
2 feared killed as prison officials, Okada riders clash in Ibadan (Nation)
Pandemonium broke out on Tuesday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) and commercial motorcyclists popularly called Okada riders operating at Agodi-Gate, clashed.
Trouble was said to have started when officials of the correctional service insisted that the commercial motorcyclists, who plied Iwo-Road-Bashorun-Akobo axis, would not be allowed to park at the frontage of the prison yard.
It was gathered that what started as a mere warning, later erupted in a fracas when the motorcyclists defied the order. Read more
Man allegedly beats wife to death for attending family function (Punch)
The family of Nike Opeifa has accused her husband, Abayomi, a former worker in a hotel, of allegedly beating his wife to death in the Sango area of Ogun State.
It was gathered that trouble started on Sunday when Abayomi initially prevented Nike from attending her elder brother’s child christening in the Ibafo area of the state.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Abayomi, who eventually allowed his wife to attend the ceremony, refused her entry into the house when she returned on Monday morning.
The deceased’s nephew, Pamilerin Adegoke, who spoke to our correspondent, alleged that Nike was beaten by Abayomi overnight, which led to her death. Read more
Don’t provoke Oyetola, Oyinlola advises Aregbesola (Vanguard)
A former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola has urged the Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola not to embark on activities to provoke fresh violence in the state.
This followed the tension generated by reports that ex-Governor Rauf Aregbesola plans to hold a political programme parallel to the incumbent Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s second-anniversary celebrations on Friday, 27 November 2020.
Prince Oyinlola, in a statement on Wednesday, noted that Aregbesola’s explanation that he was coming to the state to engage with the people on the EndSARS crisis as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari but advised that the Interior Minister could do that on another day. Read more
Atiku’s political godson Sen Elisha Abbo dumps PDP for APC (Sun)
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s political godson, Senator Elisha Isyaku Abbo, on Wednesday, defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Senator said he supports what he called the ‘unprecedented welfare programmes of the Muhammadu Buhari administration’.
In his letter of defection which was read to senators on the floor of the upper legislative chamber by the President, Ahmad Lawan, the lawmaker also claimed that his defection was made unavoidable by Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, through alleged polarisation of the PDP in the State. Read more
Lawyer dumps Maina, applies to quit case (Thisday)
A lawyer, Adeola Adedipe, engaged by fleeing ex-Chairman of Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abulrasheed Maina, in his ongoing trial for money laundering, has applied to quit the case.
Adedipe, who is representing Maina’s company – Common Input Property and Investment Ltd – told a Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, at the resumption of proceedings in the case, that he has filed a notice, indicating his intention to withdraw from further representing his client.
The lawyer, who said his brief has not been perfected (he has not been paid by his client), apologised to the court for being absent from proceedings during some of the recent adjournments. Read more
Meghan Markle reveals she had a miscarriage in July (CBC)
The Duchess of Sussex has revealed that she had a miscarriage in July, giving a personal account of the traumatic experience in hope of helping others.
Meghan described the miscarriage in an opinion piece in the New York Times on Wednesday. She wrote: “I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second.”
Meghan and husband Prince Harry have an 18-month-old son, Archie.
The duchess, 39, said she was sharing her story to help break the silence around an all-too-common tragedy. Read more
Car rams Angela Merkel’s gate ahead of COVID-19 decision (BBC)
A car has been driven into the gates of Angela Merkel’s Federal Chancellery building in Berlin, German police say.
No casualties were reported and the background to the incident was unclear.
However, the car had messages daubed in white on both sides. One called for an end to “globalisation politics” while another referred to “you damned killers of children and old people”.
Mrs Merkel is holding talks with regional leaders on Wednesday about extending Covid safety measures. Read more
NASA ‘megarocket’ assembly begins in Florida (BBC)
NASA has started assembling the first Space Launch System (SLS) rocket on a launch platform ahead of its maiden flight next year.
The SLS is the giant rocket that will send US astronauts back to the Moon this decade – with the first crewed landing targeted for 2024.
Engineers in Florida have begun stacking the segments that make up the vehicle’s two solid rocket boosters.
The rocket is scheduled to make its maiden flight in November 2021.
The SLS consists of a giant, 65m (212ft) – long core stage with four engines that’s flanked by the twin solid fuel boosters. Read more
Explosion damages oil tanker off Saudi Arabia (AlJazeera)
An explosion has damaged an oil tanker off the coast of Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea near the border with Yemen, according to a private security firm.
The blast on Wednesday hit the MT Agrari, a Maltese-flagged, Greek-managed vessel off the coast of Shuqaiq.
UN monitors say Houthis not behind Saudi Aramco attacks: Report
A statement from the Agrari’s operators, quoted by The Associated Press news agency, said the tanker “was attacked by an unknown source”. Read more
Victims’ families tell MPs Boeing 737 Max should stay grounded for now (CBC)
Canadians who lost loved ones in a deadly crash on a Boeing 737 Max plane in 2019 told MPs today that the aircraft should remain grounded in Canada, even though the U.S. has cleared it to fly again.
Family members of people killed in 737 Max crashes told the House of Commons’ transport committee this afternoon they want Canada to launch an independent inquiry into the crashes before clearing the planes for service.
“I believe the plane is still unsafe to fly,” said Paul Njoroge, who lost his entire family last year on Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. Read more
The Weeknd calls Grammy Awards ‘corrupt’ after nominations snub (BBC)
The Weeknd has accused the Grammys of being corrupt, after failing to receive any nominations for the 2021 awards.
The Canadian star had been expected to perform strongly, thanks to his number one album After Hours and the hit single Blinding Lights.
“The Grammys remain corrupt,” he wrote on Twitter. “You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency.” Read more
Jay-Z to be new cannabis company’s ‘chief visionary officer’ (BBC)
US rapper and entrepreneur Jay-Z has been named “chief visionary officer” of a major new cannabis company.
Cannabis is legal in several US states, including California, where it is now big business.
Jay-Z will guide TPCO’s brand strategy and enlist other “leading artists and entertainers” to promote the business.
He will also lead its investments in black and minority-owned cannabis firms and its initiatives to “rectify the wrongs” done when the drug was illegal. Read more
Diogu leads D’Tigers at AfroBasket tourney, Ezeli out (Punch)
D’Tigers coach, Mike Brown, has named long-serving captain Ike Diogu and point guard Ben Uzoh in his 12-man roster for the 2021 Afrobasket qualifiers, which dunk off in Kigali, Rwanda on Wednesday (today).
The Afrobasket qualifiers are billed to hold from November 25 to 29 at the Kigali Arena.
D’Tigers battle South Sudan in their opening Group D campaign on Thursday, before taking on Mali and hosts Rwanda. Read more
Benni McCarthy: South African players need more ambition (BBC)
Benni McCarthy says South African players lack ambition which has reflected in their performances.
Bafana Bafana have not qualified for the World Cup since 2002 and eight years later they became the first hosts to be eliminated in the group stage of a World Cup.
At continental level their sole Africa Cup of Nations triumph was back in 1996.
McCarthy, who led them to the Nations Cup runners-up spot in Burkina Faso two years later, reckons the current crop of players are not just hungry enough. Read more
Adesanya to serve as ‘ringside analyst’ for Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr card (Guardian)
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is slated to appear as a ‘ringside analyst’ for the upcoming Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. boxing card, reports bjpenn.com.
Tyson and Jones, two legends of the boxing ring, will meet in a special, eight-round exhibition bout this Saturday night. The undercard of the event will feature names like Jake Paul, Nate Robinson, Badou Jack, Rashad Coulter, and as it turns out, we’ll also be hearing from Adesanya during the broadcast.
The middleweight champ announced his involvement in the card on social media on Monday. Read more
Japan can host Olympics despite virus spike, Tokyo governor says (CBC)
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike remains firm about being able to safely hold the Olympics next year despite growing concerns about Japan’s recent resurgence of COVID-19 infections.
Japan has experienced an uptick of the infections this month with a nationwide daily total exceeding 2,000 as the government tries to balance preventive measures and business activity without further hurting the pandemic-hit economy.
“As the host city, I’m determined to achieve the Games whatever it takes,” Koike told a news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday. Read more
FIFA releases nominees for ‘The Best’ football awards 2020 (Vanguard)
FIFA, today, released the list of nominees shortlisted for The Best FIFA Football Awards™. The nominees selected by a panel of experts in seven different categories are as follows:
The Best FIFA Men’s Player: Thiago Alcântara (Spain / FC Bayern München / Liverpool FC), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal / Juventus FC), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium / Manchester City FC), Robert Lewandowski (Poland / FC Bayern München), Sadio Mané (Senegal / Liverpool FC), Kylian Mbappé (France / Paris Saint-Germain), Lionel Messi (Argentina / FC Barcelona), Neymar (Brazil / Paris Saint-Germain), Sergio Ramos (Spain / Real Madrid CF), Mohamed Salah (Egypt / Liverpool FC ), and Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands / Liverpool FC) Read more
‘Worth his weight in gold’ – Dortmund hail record-breaker Haaland (Guardian)
Borussia Dortmund say the form of Erling Braut Haaland is pure gold with the Norwegian striker netting a record 16 goals in his first 12 Champions League games, bettering even superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
“For us, he is worth his weight in gold because he can carry the team along,” Dortmund sports director Michael Zorc said of Haaland.
“Every minute, he shows that he wants to be successful.” Read more