Kirikiri Prison resident pastor regains freedom after 14 years (Guardian)
After 14 years and seven months in prison, the resident pastor of Kirikiri Correctional centre, Apapa, Pastor David, who was condemned to death, has regained his freedom.
In a special thanksgiving service yesterday at the Celestial Church of Christ Global Genesis, Lagos, the ex-convict, who was sentenced to death for a crime he claimed, he didn’t commit, thanked God for using the Shepherd-in-Charge of Genesis Global, Prophet Israel Ogundipe to bring him out of prison.
David, who was a transporter before his conviction, said he had no case file and was waiting for the day he would be called up to die before Ogundipe intervened.
“I had nobody. I was sentenced to death by hanging by Justice Olusola Williams in September 2013. I didn’t even have a case file. No father, no mother, no relatives, nobody to speak for me. Some people, who came to preach, encouraged me and gave us palliatives, but nobody offered to help,” he said. Read more
Lagos police probe alleged N30,000 extortion, comedian tackles cops (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command has promised to investigate an allegation of extortion levelled against some men of the command.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, who spoke to our correspondent on Sunday, noted that the police had zero tolerance for corruption.
Ajisebutu was reacting to a video showing a popular comedian, Debo Adebayo, aka Mr Macaroni, accusing some policemen of collecting money from a resident.
Debo was said to be driving when he reportedly observed the victim lamenting that the police collected N30,000 from him.
In a bid to rescue the victim, the comedian stopped, disembarked from his vehicle and engaged the cops in a shouting match. Read more
Uber driver did not report assault, says Lagos CP (Punch)
Four days after an Uber driver, Adedotun Clement, was tortured by some policemen and officials of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, the police authorities have yet to begin disciplinary procedures against the cops.
However, the LNSC had since suspended two officers over their roles in the incident.
PUNCH Metro had reported that security agents, particularly policemen and officials of the LNSC brutalised Clement, including protesters and journalists, when some youths last Wednesday flooded the Lekki tollgate to mark the one year anniversary of the #EndSARS campaign.
Attacks on protesters were filmed by residents and journalists, who were present at the scene.
A clip showing the beating of Clement, however, went viral. Read more
Insecurity affects all religions, says cleric (Guardian)
Christians and other religious adherents resident in Kaduna State are all apprehensive of the state of insecurity in the country.
Kaduna State-based Christian cleric, Dr. Chinonso Nwala, in a chat with The Guardian in Umuahia, Abia State, commended Governor Nasir el-Ruf’ai’s disposition towards ensuring religious tolerance, curbing insecurity and criminality in the state.
Lamenting the prevailing insecurity in the country, Nwala of the Believers Capital Assembly said: “It is not funny or unthinkable that the scenario has caused the citizenry to live and feel they are no longer very safe.”
He wondered why the government seemed no longer capable of securing the people and maintaining peace in the country, and consequently tasked the government to do more by putting in the necessary efforts to address the menace. Read more
Unemployment, a time bomb, behind insecurity, says NLC (Punch)
Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress during the protest at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja…on Wednesday. The Nigeria Labour Congress has described unemployment as a time bomb, adding that if not urgently addressed by the Federal Government, it will be difficult for the nation to have peace.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba, said these during the 40th-anniversary celebration of the Labour Writers Association of Nigeria.
Wabba said, “There is no difference between unemployment and insecurity; it is a fact and has been established. Read more
28-floor luxury tower underway (Guardian)
Real estate and property development firm, Messrs Tetramanor Limited, has announced plans to construct a 28-floor luxury tower in the heart of Eko-Atlantic City (EAC), Lagos.
The project, known as TM High Gardens, is located at the Harbour Lights district of the city, having views of the Marina, port and waterways and consists of two-bedroom apartments as well as three-bedroom maisonettes.
Among amenities anticipated is bar and lounge, gym, elevated pool and children’s play area.
The Chief Executive Officer, Femi Beecroft, who stated this in Lagos, urged innovative construction solutions in the housing sector to make the accommodation more affordable for the masses, saying that there has to be a paradigm shift in the way homes are built in the country. Read me
ASUU cautions FG on N30b revitalisation fund, October 31 deadline nears (Punch)
ASUU cautions FG on N30bn revitalisation fund, October 31 deadline nears (Punch)
The Academic Staff Union of Universities has cautioned the Federal Government against non- payment of the N30bn revitalisation fund it promised universities.
The President of ASUU, Prof Emmanuel Oshodeke, who stated this in an interview with one of our correspondents on Sunday, said government was in the habit of not fulfilling its promises.
He said he hoped government would release the fund on or before the end of the month as it agreed with the union.
Oshodeke further said that the National Executive Committee of the union would meet early next month to assess the extent government had met its demands.
Ganduje offers blind teacher automatic job (Leadership)
Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State has offered an automatic teaching job to a visually-impaired man, Dahuru Abdulhamid Idris, who has been teaching voluntarily in the state.
After the commissioner for education, Muhammadu Sanusi Kiru, introduced Idris to the governor, Ganduje directed that he be posted to Tudun Maliki Special Education School.
He said, “You are a real model, whose visual impairment does not stand as a stumbling block for your development.”
The governor added, “You are taking the right step in your life. The Kano State government is giving you automatic employment of teaching. And I have directed the commissioner for education to post you to Tudun Maliki Special Education School.” Read more
NIMASA boss wants Nigeria on IMO council (Punch)
Nigeria has presented its case for an election into a seat on the council of the International Maritime Organisation, citing an improvement in its maritime security.
The Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency in a statement disclosed that its Director-General, Dr Bashir Jamoh, pitched the IMO Secretary-General, Kitack Lim, on the country’s preparedness to be elected into its main decision-making organ.
The country aims to clinch a Category C seat in an election, alongside 39 other members of the organisation. Jamoh explained that Nigeria had recently intensified efforts at ensuring improved maritime security, raising safety standards on Nigerian waters in line with IMO regulations, and achieving a pollution-free marine environment.
Jamoh referenced a recent report by the International Maritime Bureau that said Nigerian waterways up to the Gulf of Guinea had recorded improved security. He quoted the report as saying that the gulf recorded 28 incidents of piracy and armed robbery in the first nine months of 2021, compared to 46 in the same period in 2020. Read more
FCTA warns against buying land from native chiefs (Leadership)
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has warned residents of the FCT against buying lands from traditional chiefdoms saying that all lands in the capital city are statutory and covered by certificates of occupancy, which come from the government.
The FCTA also said that the resettlement and compensation scheme in the FCT, especially Gyadna community, are done with human face and adherence to rules of engagement as specified by the law governing the policy.
FCT director of resettlement and compensation department, Mrs Perpetual Ohammah, who made this known while responding to questions from journalists in Abuja yesterday, stressed that the mandate of the administration is to restore Abuja master plan which must be respected by all and sundry.
While reacting to a report by one Mr Johnson Oye over an alleged deprivation of compensation in Gyadna community, Ohammah described the report as cheap blackmail, adding that their attention had been drawn to a publication in a national newspaper dated October 22, 2021, on the caption. Read more
Snoop Dogg takes to social media to announce death of ‘angel for a mother’ Beverly Tate at age 70 (DailyMail)
Snoop Dogg took to social media on Sunday to announce the death of his mother Beverly Tate at age 70.
The 50-year-old rapper posted a tribute to Beverly for his roughly 65.2 million followers on Instagram.
Snoop, real name Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., shared a tender photo of Beverly smiling while sitting on a scooter as her son wrapped an arm around her.
‘Mama thank u for having me,’ Snoop wrote in the caption along with a prayer and rose emoji. Read more
Singer Ed Sheeran tests positive for COVID-19, will do performances from home (ABC)
British pop star Ed Sheeran says he has tested positive for COVID-19 and will do interviews and performances from his house while he self-isolates.
Sheeran, 30, broke the news on social media days before his new studio album was due out.
“Quick note to tell you that I’ve sadly tested positive for COVID, so I’m now self-isolating and following government guidelines,” Sheeran wrote on Instagram.
“It means that I’m now unable to plough ahead with any in-person commitments for now, so I’ll be doing as many of my planned interviews/performances I can from my house. Apologies to anyone I’ve let down.” Read more
James Michael Tyler dead: Friends star famed for playing Gunther dies after cancer battle (Express)
James Michael Tyler, best known for playing Gunther in the hit sitcom Friends, has died peacefully in his sleep today after battling stage 4 prostate cancer. His family confirmed the news in a statement today as they mourned their loss.
They typed: “The world knew him as Gunther (the seventh ‘Friend’), from the hit series Friends, but Michael’s loved ones knew him as an actor, musician, cancer-awareness advocate, and loving husband.
“Michael loved live music, cheering on his Clemson Tigers, and would often find himself in fun and unplanned adventures. If you met him once you made a friend for life.”
The actor played coffee shop worker Gunther in the popular sitcom alongside David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt Le Blanc, and Matthew Perry. Read more
UK defence minister faces call for inquiry into 2012 killing of Kenyan woman (Guardian)
The UK defence secretary, Ben Wallace, is facing calls to launch an investigation into a possible cover-up after no one was held responsible for the alleged killing of a 21-year old Kenyan woman by one or more off-duty British soldiers.
John Healey, the shadow defence secretary, described the 2012 killing of Agnes Wanjiru, a sex worker, as “dreadful” and called for Wallace to “take this more seriously”.
It happened at the Lions Court hotel in Nanyuki, central Kenya, where British soldiers were reportedly drinking and having sex with sex workers, according to the Sunday Times.
The identity of Wanjiru’s killer was “an open secret” as he had confessed to colleagues in a panic at the time, the paper reported. But the main suspect, who has not been named, said he had never been questioned. He denies involvement and now lives in England. Read more
Israel declares climate change ‘national security’ issue (Independent)
Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Sunday declared the fight against climate change a “national security” priority and pledged to “facilitate” investments in green energy.
Days before the COP26 global climate summit in the British city of Glasgow — which Bennett is due to attend — the Israeli government announced the creation of “working groups” on climate change.
“The climate crisis is one of the major issues on the world agenda,” Bennett said, calling it a “new National Security Interest” of Israel.
“It concerns the lives of all of us, and also the lives of our children and grandchildren,” he added. “We are obligated to deal with it in Israel; it is at the core of our being.” Read more
Israel to build 1,300 new West Bank settler homes (AlJazeera)
Israel has announced plans to build more residences for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, drawing immediate condemnation from Palestinians, peace activists and neighbouring Jordan.
The announcement on Sunday from the Ministry of Construction and Housing in right-wing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s government said tenders had been published for 1,355 homes in the West Bank, which was seized by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War.
Those new homes add to the more than 2,000 residences that defence sources said in August would be authorised for West Bank settlers.
Housing Minister Zeev Elkin, a member of the right-wing New Hope party, said in a statement “strengthening Jewish presence [in the West Bank] was essential to the Zionist vision”. Read more
Fire breaks out on cargo ship off Canadian coast (Independent)
A fire broke out on Saturday on containers on a cargo ship carrying mining chemicals off British Columbia, and the Canadian Coast Guard said it is working with the US Coast Guard to assess the situation, including environmental hazards.
Sixteen crew members have been evacuated from the MV Zim Kingston, while five remained onboard to fight the fire, the Canadian Coast Guard said in a statement on Saturday.
“No injuries were reported,” Danaos Shipping Co, the company that manages the container ship, said in a statement to Reuters on Sunday.
The fire “appears to have been contained,” and a salvage and fire extinguishing agency have been roped in to ensure the safe return of the vessel’s crew, Danaos said. Read more
Minister sues former world boxing champion, Bash Ali, over alleged defamatory video, disruptive comments (Guardian)
Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, has dragged former world cruiserweight boxing champion, Bash Alli, over alleged defamation of character and disruptive comments.
At the weekend, Alli released a video wherein he accused the minister of extorting ‘millions of naira’ from him as part of the process to organise a world boxing title fight for him as allegedly directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Reacting to the video, yesterday, Dare, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Multimedia, Toyin Ibitoye, described Alli’s claims as defamatory, false and unsubstantiated.
He said, “this recent video is irrespective and in disregard of a pending libel suit initiated by the minister claiming damages to the sum of N5 billion against Bash Ali for defamatory allegations made in the past. Read more
Cristiano Ronaldo says Manchester United players must take blame for Liverpool defeat (Metro)
Cristiano Ronaldo insists Manchester United’s players must take the blame for their 5-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s players were booed off at half time as Liverpool sealed an emphatic victory at Old Trafford.
Mohamed Salah scored a hat-trick, while Naby Keita and Diogo Jota also found the net for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Ronaldo had another game to forget as United struggled to create many chances against Liverpool.
The result has left United with three defeats in their last four Premier League games, and Ronaldo has called on his teammates to improve their performances.
Sprinter Alex Quiñónez, 2019 world bronze medallist, shot dead in Ecuador (Guardian)
Sprinter Alex Quiñónez has been killed in his home country of Ecuador. The 32-year-old, who finished third in the 200m at the World Athletics Championships in Doha two years ago, was reportedly shot dead outside a shopping centre in the port city of Guayaquil on Friday night, along with another unnamed person.
The Ecuadorian sports ministry announced the news in a statement on its Twitter feed, saying: “Today we lost a great athlete, a person who made us dream, who made us excited. The National Police are at the scene and the authorities are conducting the corresponding investigations. He will forever remain in the hearts of all Ecuadorians.
It later added: “Thank you for having invited us to dream big and for the infinite joys that you gave us, you leave a great legacy in Ecuadorian athletics.”
On Sunday, the Folke Anderson football stadium in Esmeraldas will host a burning chapel to receive Quiñónez’s coffin. Read more
Virat Kohli admits Pakistan ‘outplayed’ India in T20 World Cup opener (Metro)
Virat Kohli admitted Pakistan ‘outplayed’ India after his team suffered a comprehensive 10-wicket defeat in their T20 World Cup opener in Dubai.
Chasing 152, Mohammad Rizwan scored an unbeaten 78 and captain Babar Azam made 68 not out as Pakistan registered their first win over India at a World Cup.
Earlier, Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed Rohit Sharma with his fourth ball and KL Rahul with his seventh to reduce India to 6-2.
Kohli held the innings together with 57 and found support from wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant (39) to take India past 150, but Pakistan cruised to victory with 13 balls to spare.
India’s captain said: ‘We did not execute the things that we wanted to but credit is certainly due – Pakistan outplayed us today. Read more
Antonio Conte and Zinedine Zidane linked to Man Utd Job Following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer defeat at Liverpool (EuroSport)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s position at Manchester United is under more threat than ever after Sunday’s shocking 5-0 home defeat to Liverpool. The Mirror reveal that Antonio Conte is open to becoming the next United manager following his summer exit at Inter Milan. The Italian, who won the Premier League in 2016-17 with Chelsea, is “interested in succeeding” Solskjaer should the Norwegian part ways with the Manchester club. Conte’s only demand is that United “demonstrate willingness to win the Champions League”.
Conte has won league titles at Juventus, Chelsea and Inter – but his Champions League record in management is really quite poor considering he is generally viewed as an elite-level coach. The 52-year-old has never gone further than the quarter-final stage… and that was back 2012-13 with Juve. Conte clearly recognises his disappointing record so is planning to address that in his next role. United are in a mess at the moment, but their squad is only lacking in a few areas. A proper coach, like Conte, could turn this around fairly quickly like he did at Chelsea. He would be the ideal appointment for the Premier League club.
Former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has also been linked with the Manchester United job. Marca report that the Frenchman is a “wanted coach across Europe”, citing interest from United, Newcastle, Paris Saint-Germain and the French national side. Zidane is viewed as “one of the preferred options” to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, if he were to leave his role at Old Trafford. The 49-year-old has been unemployed for five months since stepping down from his job in the Spanish capital at Real Madrid. Read more
German masters snooker: Shaun Murphy secures Berlin spot, Mark Selby opens with win (Eurosport)
Shaun Murphy edged out former Scottish Open finalist Cao Yupeng 5-4 to qualify for the German Masters in Berlin while world champion Mark Selby opened his campaign with a 5-2 win over Ross Muir on Sunday.
Cao hit a break of 88 in the second frame before 2005 world champion Murphy ran in knocks of 56, 118 and 102 on his way to a 3-2 lead only for the world number 85 to produce a sparkling 128 to level at 3-3.
Murphy moved 4-3 clear with a fine 75, but Cao forced the deciding frame and had two obvious chances before three-times German Masters semi-finalist Murphy managed to claim it by clearing from the final red to secure his spot in the last 32 at Berlin’s Tempodrom in January.
Selby did not have to sweat over his progress to the last 64 as he split the first four frames with Scotsman Muir before winning the final three to secure a meeting with Ashley Carty in the last 64 on Monday. Carty overcame Sean Maddocks 5-2 in his opener. Read more