Kyari’s SARS team tortured me for 14 days, stole my N41m’ (Nation)
A real estate manager and haulage consultant, Afeez Mojeed, on Saturday alleged that he was brutalised and robbed of over N41 million by a team of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abba Kyari.
He made the claims while testifying before the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Enquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS related abuses and related matters.
The 38-year-old said his ordeal began at his home in Victory Estate, Ajah, on October 18, 2014, but that following the persistence of his lawyer; he was arraigned and released on bail on October 31, 2014, after spending 14 days in police custody. Read more
COVID-19: Lagos shuts Cubana nightclub (Punch)
Security operatives have sealed off Cubana nightclub, Ikeja GRA, and other facilities over failure to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines.
Both the Lagos State Safety Commission and Lagos State Police Command shut down the nightclub and other facilities early Sunday morning.
In a video that surfaced online, the police led by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, sent the club-goers out of the Cubana building before shutting the facility. Read more
Diesel tanker explodes at Otedola Bridge (Nation)
A tanker laden with 44,000 litres of diesel was gutted by fire on Otedola Bridge along Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, causing panic among commuters plying the route.
The incident reportedly happened around 6pm, causing massive gridlock on the ever-busy expressway.
It was gathered that the tanker was fully loaded with 44,000 liters of AGO (diesel) and was moving toward the Berger axis of the expressway when one of its tyres suddenly burst into flames. Read more
Ogun asks NDLEA, police to flush out drug peddlers (Thisday)
The Ogun State Government yesterday said it had engaged the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Nigeria Police to get rid of drug peddlers and hoodlums from all parks and garages in the state.
The state government, also, assured commuters that there would not be a return of traffic logjam along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway during the period of Christmas and New Year.
The Chairman, Ogun State Parks and Garages Development Agency (PAGADA), Mr. Abeeb Ajayi gave this assurance in a chat with THISDAY just after the inaugural meeting of the board members of the agency in Abeokuta. Read more
NIN: FG approves 203 enrolment agents to boost registration (Sun)
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami has approved the licensing of 173 private sector agents as well as 30 state institutions to help conduct enrolment of Nigerians and legal residents into the National Identity Database (NIDB) on behalf of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
This approval follows the directive by the Minister who ordered that all Subscriber Identification Modules (SIM) cards without valid National Identification Numbers (NIN) should be blocked. The Director General of NIMC, Aliyu Aziz, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.
Aziz explained that the licensed agents were approved after successfully fulfilling all the conditions in the advertised Expression of Interest (EOI) which was done in 2019 as a first step towards the take-off the National Digital Identity Ecosystem project. Read more
Nigerian doctor shoots self, wife in murder-suicide in US (Nation)
The police in the US are investigating the death of a Nigerian couple believed to have resulted from murder-suicide.
Dr. Ben Okigbo and his wife, Theresa, were found dead in their Sugar Land, Texas home on Friday morning, according to police.
The discovery was said to have been made around 10:05 am at the Greatwood Subdivision in the 1500 block of Brookstone Lane.
“One of the kids dialed 911 (the emergency police number), apparently there was a fight or disturbance going on inside the resident,” Police chief, Eric Robins, said. Read more
2 arrested for raping teenager in Ogun (Sun)
Two persons have been arrested by police in Ogun State for allegedly raping a 19-year-old girl.
The suspects, Damilare Oyeniyi, 30 and Emmanuel Okori, 20, who committed the crime on December 12, were arrested on December 16, 2020, by police detectives attached to Sango Divisional headquarters.
The arrest of the duo followed a report lodged at the Sango Police Station by the victim that the two suspects who reside in the same compound with her, dragged her into a room belonging to one of them, stripped her naked, videoed her and later took their turns to rape her severally.
Upon the report, the DPO of Sango Police Division, CSP Godwin Idehai, detailed detectives to go after the suspects who were reported to have taken to their heels immediately they committed the dastard act.
“The investigative effort of the detectives paid off on the 16th of December when the duo were eventually arrested. Read more
Security forces rescue dozens of schoolchildren after new abduction in Nigeria (France24)
Gunmen in Nigeria abducted more than 80 Islamic school students in northwestern Katsina state Saturday night, but the pupils were quickly rescued by security forces after a fierce gun battle, police announced Sunday.
The foiled abduction comes less than two days after the release of 344 schoolboys who were kidnapped in the same area on Dec. 11. The incidents have highlighted the insecurity in northern Nigeria.
Saturday night’s attempted kidnapping took place in Dandume, about 64 kilometers (40 miles) from Kankara, the town where the earlier kidnapping of schoolboys occurred. Read more
Ondo State Commissioner for Regional Duties dies (Guardian)
Prof. Bayonile Ademodi, Ondo State Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, died on Saturday, an official has said.
Mr Donald Ojogo, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, disclosed this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview on Sunday in Akure.
Ademodi was 68 years old, a professor of chemical engineering, and a native of Ondo town. Read more
Tokyo bikers club in Santa outfits ride through city to raise awareness of violence against children (RT)
Bikers from the ‘Harley Santa Club’ rode their motorcycles in the Japanese capital to raise awareness of child abuse and deliver toys to orphans.
This year the usually large event was reduced to about 100 participants, many wearing masks, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The parade was followed by a toy run to donate toys and candy to children living in orphanages.
The club noted that children have become more vulnerable to domestic violence and abuse due to lockdowns. Read more
Halal Status of COVID-19 Vaccine Worries Muslims (VOA)
In October, Indonesian diplomats and Muslim clerics stepped off a plane in China. While the diplomats were there to finalize deals to ensure millions of doses reached Indonesian citizens, the clerics had a much different concern: Whether the COVID-19 vaccine was permissible for use under Islamic law.
As companies race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine and countries scramble to secure doses, questions about the use of pork products — banned by some religious groups — has raised concerns about the possibility of disrupted immunization campaigns.
Pork-derived gelatin has been widely used as a stabilizer to ensure vaccines remain safe and effective during storage and transport. Some companies have worked for years to develop pork-free vaccines: Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis has produced a pork-free meningitis vaccine, while Saudi- and Malaysia-based AJ Pharma is currently working on one of their own. Read more
Race to understand how many South Africans have had Covid (BBC)
As South Africa confronts a second wave of Covid-19 infections, scientists say new evidence indicates that at least a quarter of the country’s population – and possibly more than a third – may already have been infected by the virus during its first wave, which peaked in July.
South Africa’s unusually high infection rate – potentially far higher than in some European nations after their first waves – appears to have been accompanied by an uncommonly low death rate, with early data from one province suggesting that the Covid-19 mortality rate was less than half that experienced in the worst-hit countries.
Scientists warn that their preliminary figures could go up or down as more data becomes available in the coming weeks. Read more
Moscow refuses Christmas COVID-19 lockdown: Festivities to go ahead with curfews & tests (RT)
Although cases of coronavirus are continuing to rise in Russia, the mayor of Moscow has said there is light at the end of the tunnel, as the city prepares to celebrate a socially-distanced Christmas and New Year.
Sergey Sobyanin told Rossiya 1 news channel on Saturday that he believes “we’ll fight Covid-19 for a long time to come, but the most acute period should end in a few months.” He added that the most difficult choice for political leaders was not when to close things down, but when to open them back up.
“Cancelling restrictions means you risk the possibility of mass infections,” he said, reiterating that it was necessary to avoid catastrophic damage to whole sectors of the economy. Read more
US Congress moves closer to vote on COVID-19 economic aid package (CBC)
Top US congressional lawmakers struck a late-night agreement on the last major obstacle to a COVID-19 economic relief package costing nearly $1 trillion US, clearing the way for votes as early as Sunday.
A Democratic aide said in an email that an agreement had been reached late Saturday and that compromise language was being finalized to seal a deal to be unveiled on Sunday.
The breakthrough involved a fight over Federal Reserve emergency powers that was defused by an odd couple: the Senate’s top Democrat and a senior conservative Republican. Read more
Moderna Begins COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution in US (VOA)
Moderna Inc. and its partners have started distributing its COVID-19 vaccine, the second approved for emergency use in the country.
Shipments began leaving warehouse early Sunday for healthcare facilities around the country, which leads the world with 17.6 million coronavirus cases and more than 316,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved Moderna for emergency use. It approved a vaccine produced by Pfizer-Biotech for emergency use earlier this month. Read more
“Friday Night Dinner” and “Carry On” actress Rosalind Knight dies aged 87 (Metro)
Rosalind Knight has sadly died at the age of 87, it has been confirmed. The actress, best known for her roles in the Carry On movies and Friday Night Dinner, died on Saturday. Her family confirmed the news in a statement, which read: ‘It is with huge sadness that the family of Rosalind Knight announce her death following a glorious career as a well-loved actress in theatre, TV and film. Read more
Oshoala scores again as Barca hammer Sevilla 6-0 (Punch)
Nigerian striker Asisat Oshoala was on target again on Saturday as Barcelona Femenino continued their good run in the Primera División de la Liga de Fútbol Femenino with a comfortable 6-0 win over Sevilla Femenino at the Estadi Johan Cruyff stadium.
The Super Falcons captain came off the bench at the start of the second half for Caroline Hansen to score once with two assists.
The goal took the forward’s tally to seven in 10 games in all competitions after finding the back of the net in the 67th minute, Barca’s fourth.
Oshoala scored a hat-trick in Barca’s 7-0 over Valencia last week. Read more
Battle of the Brits: Andy Murray beats Dan Evans in Roehampton (BBC)
Three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray was in impressive form as he defeated British number one Dan Evans in his first match since October.
The 33-year-old had not played since his loss to Fernando Verdasco in Cologne and withdrew from the following event because of a pelvic problem.
Murray kept his cool as Evans lost his during the 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 Battle of the Brits victory in Roehampton.
The third edition of the league event began on Sunday and ends on Wednesday. Read more
AC Milan’s Leao scores fastest goal in Serie A history (Punch)
AC Milan forward Rafael Leao scored after just six seconds for the fastest-ever goal in Serie A history on Sunday at Sassuolo.
Milan launched straight into an attack from kick-off, with Turkish midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu setting up Leao to slot home.
The previous fastest goal had been Paolo Poggi’s for Piacenza against Fiorentina in December 2001 after eight seconds of play.
Portuguese Leao, who usually plays on the left-wing, started at centre-forward with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic still out with a leg muscle problem and his replacement Ante Rebic also injured. Read more
‘No stress’ within Chelsea team despite back-to-back defeats, claims Kurt Zouma (Metro)
Kurt Zouma insists Chelsea’s squad are ‘still confident’ despite suffering two successive defeats in the Premier League. Having previously gone nine league games unbeaten, losses to Everton and Wolves within the space of a week have seen Frank Lampard’s side drop down to eighth place in the table. The Blues go into Monday night’s game against West Ham United at Stamford Bridge in need of a win to keep up with league leaders Liverpool, who are currently nine points above them.Read more
Pele praises Messi for tying his all-time single club goalscoring tally (RT)
Football icon Pele has paid tribute to Lionel Messi after the Argentine ace drew level with the Brazilian’s all-time record of 643 goals for a single club with a strike during Barcelona’s 2-2 draw with Valencia.
Messi stooped to head a first-half injury time goal from a rebound after he saw his spot kick saved by Jaume Domenech to claim the record-equaling goal on Saturday, drawing level with Pele who scored the same number of goals during an 18-year career with Brazilian side Santos.
Messi, whose first appearance for the Catalan side came as a 17-year-old in 2004, took 748 Barca games to score his 643 strikes while Pele needed just 665 games to set the record which had stood unequaled since he ended his career with Santos in 1974. Read more
Jurgen Klopp reacts to Sadio Mane’s tantrum after being replaced by Mohamed Salah (Metro)
Jurgen Klopp insists Sadio Mane was ‘completely fine’ after Liverpool’s thumping win over Crystal Palace despite throwing a tantrum after being subbed off and cutting a glum figure in the stands. The Premier League champions moved six points clear at the top of the table – at least until their rivals have played – with a ruthless 7-0 victory at Selhurst Park on Saturday. They went ahead after just a few minutes thanks to Takumi Minamino and after riding out a good spell from Palace, ran away with the game as Mane – who had not scored in his previous eight league games – grabbed a second and Roberto Firmino put them three goals ahead at the break. Read more
Leicester win at Tottenham to go second (BBC)
Leicester City climbed to second in the Premier League as they overcame top-four rivals Tottenham to move four points behind leaders Liverpool.
In a hard-fought battle between the sides starting the day third and fourth in the table – Spurs one point above the visitors – it was the latter who established themselves as champions Liverpool’s closest challengers courtesy of Jamie Vardy’s penalty and a Toby Alderweireld own goal.
Vardy confidently dispatched his spot-kick in the fourth minute of first-half injury time, after referee Craig Pawson was advised to review Serge Aurier’s needless shove on Wesley Fofana via the pitchside monitor. Read more