Lagos closes road for railway project (Nation)
The Lagos State Government will from 8pm today close down Jonathan Coker Street at Fagba area till 6am the next day to allow the installation of the rubber panels on the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail project.
Alternative routes have been provided for road users to utilise during the construction to ensure motorists reach their destinations with ease.
Motorists plying Jonathan Coker axis will be diverted to the Ashade, Toyin and Adejobi level crossing to reduce the inconvenience of the ongoing construction and aid road users to get to their destinations.
The closure has been slated at this time, to ensure there is smooth and uninterrupted flow of work on the rail tracks. Read more
Court to give verdict in case of father accused of testing daughter’s virginity (Guardian)
An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has fixed April 30 to deliver judgement in the case of a 37-year-old commercial motorcyclist, Emmanuel Idoko, accused of sexually assaulting his 12-year-old daughter by testing her virginity with his fingers.
Justice Sybil Nwaka fixed the date after the prosecutor, Mr Jide Boye and the defence counsel, Mr Adeyemi Adegbite presented final written addresses.
The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the accused is facing a charge of sexual assault by penetration contrary to Section 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015. Read more
It’s strange my brother jumped into Lagoon – Sister of suicidal man (Punch)
Omasan, the sister of Toju Davies Daibo, a Uber passenger who allegedly plunged into the Lagoon from the Third Mainland Bridge last Saturday, has said she does not believe the 21-year-old jumped into the water.
She said they both had great plans for the future, wondering why he would kill himself.
Toju, a resident of Sosanya Street, Soluyi, in the Gbagada area of Lagos, had ordered a Uber cab from Gbagada.
On getting to the Third Mainland Bridge around 11am, he was said to have pretended that he had a stomach upset and begged the driver to stop so he could relieve himself.
In a jiffy, he reportedly climbed the pavement of the bridge and jumped into the water.
A combined team of state emergency management workers, Marine Police and local divers had yet to find the suicidal man, while the cab driver, Idowu Badmos, was taken to the Adekunle Police Station, along with his car. Read more
Sanwo-Olu vows to uphold sanctity of judiciary (Nation)
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said on Wednesday that his administration would strive to preserve the sanctity of judiciary, for it to be independent and uphold the rule of law.
The governor, who spoke when he hosted the delegation of justices of the courts of appeal led by their President, Zainab Bulkachuwa, at the Lagos House, Marina, hailed the retiring President of the Court of Appeal for the great service she had rendered to the nation and the judiciary. Read more
EFCC arraigns couple over N2.7m bank theft (Punch)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibadan zonal office, has arraigned an ex-banker, Akinwole Dosunmu, alongside his wife, Motunrayo, before an Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan for the alleged theft of N2,740,300.92 from Sterling Bank Plc.
Akinwole, a staff member of the bank, and his wife, a customer and beneficiary in the bank’s third party acquirer scheme, were arraigned on Tuesday, February 18.
The bank’s third party scheme is a marketing strategy through which relatives and friends of the marketing agents are awarded commission for bringing new customers to open and operate new accounts with the bank. Read more
Leah’s mother begs British PM to help rescue her daughter (Vanguard)
Mother of Leah Sharibu, kidnapped by Boko Haram, Mrs. Rebecca Sharibu, yesterday pleaded with the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, to help rescue her daughter from the clutches of Islamic insurgents.
On February 19, 2018, Leah Sharibu was taken from her school, Government Girls’ Science and Technical College. Dapchi, north-eastern Nigeria, along with 109 of her schoolmates.
Now aged 16, Leah is thought to be the only girl held by the extremist militants because she refused to convert from Christianity to Islam. Read more
CAN leaders march for Leah Sharibu (Nation)
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Wednesday held a church service and a peaceful march to mark the second year of Miss Leah Sharibu in Boko Haram captivity.
In Abuja, CAN President Rev. Samson Ayokunle and the Senior Pastor, Dunamis International Gospel Center, Dr. Paul Enenche, warned that killings in the country could lead to anarchy
Leah along with over 100 girls were forcibly abducted by Boko Haram insurgents from their hostel at the Government Girls Science Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State February 19,2018. Though her mates were later released, she was held back for refusing to renounce her Christian faith. There were reports late January that she had given birth to a boy. Read more
Protest, prayers hold at Nigerian embassy in London for Leah Sharibu (Guardian)
It was two years Wednesday since Leah Sharibu was abducted from her school in Dapchi, Yobe State. A human rights organisation specialising in freedom of religion, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) will mark the second anniversary of the abduction by protesting outside the Nigerian High Commission in London Wednesday by 3 pm
Eritrean gospel singer, Helen Berhane, who spent two and a half years imprisoned by Eritrean authorities in a shipping container on account of her faith, will give an address, while CSW’s founder and Chief Executive, Mervyn Thomas, will present to the High Commission a petition for the Nigerian government. Read more
How Aso Rock Director, Naankang, was murdered (Vanguard)
More facts have emerged on how Ms Dagan Laetitia Naankang, mother of two and an Assistant Director, Administration, State House, Abuja was gruesomely murdered.
The 47-year-old lady was killed by gunmen in her Abuja residence on Monday night after she left the State House about 8 pm.
It was reliably gathered that the deceased was killed by some criminal elements, otherwise known as Yahoo boys within the neighbourhood. Read more
Police arrest alleged conspirator in Aso Rock director’s murder (Punch)
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested an alleged conspirator in the murder of an Assistant Director attached to the State House, Abuja, Laetitia Dagan.
The FCT Police Command on Wednesday confirmed the arrest of the suspect, identified as Edirin Ohonre, who is said to have conspired with others now at large to perpetrate the crime.
The police said the suspect, who is currently under interrogation, was assisting the team of detectives with information that would lead to the arrest of the other suspects connected to the crime. Read more
DISCOs have failed in electricity supply – FG (Vanguard)
The Federal Government said yesterday that Distribution Companies, DISCOs, have failed in supplying adequate electricity to Nigerian consumers.
Government said it would no longer provide intervention funds as subsidy to the DISCOs and might take drastic actions against the companies which have continued to enjoy subsidy without commensurate result.
Its concern is that the DISCOs have consistently failed to efficiently make use of the financial intervention. Read more
WHO declares ‘progress’ in fight against coronavirus (Guardian)
The World Health Organization on Wednesday hailed “tremendous progress” in the fight against the deadly new coronavirus since it emerged in China in December.
“We are making tremendous progress in a short period of time … trends are very encouraging but we are not at a turning point yet,” said Richard Brennan, WHO’s regional emergency director, at a press conference in Cairo.
The death toll from the COVID-19 virus jumped past 2,000 on Wednesday, almost all of them in mainland China where 74,185 cases of infection have been confirmed. Read more
Man City beat West Ham in first game since ban (BBC)
Rodri opened the scoring for Manchester City on 30 minutes
Kevin de Bruyne made one goal and scored another as Manchester City easily saw off West Ham in their first game since being banned from European competition for two years by Uefa.
Friday’s punishment – which City say they will appeal against at the Court of Arbitration for Sport – has cast a shadow over the club’s future but brought a defiant reaction from their fans inside the ground. Read more
Ighalo big boost for United –Solskjaer (Punch)
Ever since striker, Odion Ighalo, landed at Old Trafford on a short-term loan, he has enjoyed unwavering support from Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, despite criticisms from some former stars and pundits.
And, after making his debut in the club’s 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday, the Norwegian seems pleased with his latest acquisition, describing his presence as a huge boost to the squad.
“Yes, this weekend he saw the boys,” the Solskjaer, a former striker, told MUTV. Read more
Madrid v Man City: Touré scared of former club’s chances (Vanguard)
Former Manchester City player Yaya Touré said he is “a little bit scared” for City in their Champions League last-16 encounter with Real Madrid.
“I wanted City to get Lyon or some club like that, but Real Madrid is going to be a tough game, a very, very tough game,” Toure told Omnisport.
“But we will see – the first game is at the Bernabeu and then it is [at the] Etihad [Stadium]. Read more
3000 athletes battle-ready for Anambra 2020 Police Games (Guardian)
Organisers of the 12th edition of the biennial Police Games scheduled for Anambra State have confirmed that the stage is set for the competition.
The Police Games, which will see athletes compete in 20 sports, will hold from February 29 to March 7, 2020.
Tagged ‘Anambra 2020,’ the state Governor, Willie Obiano had a fortnight ago unveiled the logo and mascot of the games in Abuja preparatory to the state’s hosting right. Read more
Atalanta stun Valencia at San Siro to continue Champions League fairytale (BBC)
Atalanta’s fairytale Champions League debut campaign looks set to continue into the quarter-finals after they thumped Valencia to take a commanding lead into the second leg of the last-16 tie.
Hans Hateboer, with two, Josip Ilicic and a wonder-strike from Remo Freuler saw off the two-time finalists, who were shell-shocked by the pace of their opponents in attack and their incisiveness. There is surely no way back for Albert Celades’ Spanish side. Read more
Report reveals Haaland performed U-turn on Man United transfer (Vanguard)
Erling Haaland told Manchester United of his ‘desire’ to join the club before performing a U-turn to sign for Borussia Dortmund in the January transfer window, according to reports.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s search for attacking reinforcements in January initially began with Haaland, with the ex-RB Salzburg man becoming Europe’s hottest property after netting 28 times in 22 games for the Austrian side.
The fascinating transfer saga pulled this way and that, with reports surfacing each day that a move was nearing, only for Borussia Dortmund to sweep in just days before the window closed. Read more
How athletes thrilled FUTA students, spectators at Akure All-Comers (Guardian)
Students of the Federal University of Technology (FUTA) in Akure, Ondo State will not forget in a hurry the exhilaration they got during the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) All-Comers competition last weekend.The All-Comers was the first competition organised by the Olamide George-led AFN board for the athletes to commence their preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
At the end of the competition, AFN’s Performance Director, Gabriel Okon said he was thrilled with the performances of athletes.“I can say that the future is bright for track and field in Nigeria,” an elated Okon told journalists. A sizeable number of athletes ran new personal bests on the track in their first competitive race of the year and Okon believes it is a positive sign of what to come if the athletes were given the motivation and training that they need. Read more
Leicester make ‘initial approach’ over Liverpool’s Lallana (Vanguard)
Adam Lallana’s representatives have been approached by Leicester City over a possible summer move, according to reports.
The England international has only started three matches in the Premier League this season for Liverpool, providing a goal and an assist.
Lallana is out of contract in the summer after spending six years at Anfield following his 2014 move from Southampton.
And Sky Sports now claims that Leicester have ‘made an initial approach’ for Lallana and ‘Liverpool have given Lallana permission to plan his future’. Read more
Leipzig leave Tottenham a Champions League mountain to climb (Guardian)
Tottenham need another Champions League escape act to reach the quarter-finals after Timo Werner’s penalty earned RB Leipzig a deserved 1-0 last 16, first leg win in London.
Spurs captain Hugo Lloris kept his side in the tie with a string of important saves, but last season’s finalists face a huge task to turn the tie around in Germany on March 10.
Without the firepower of the injured Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, Giovani lo Celso’s free-kick that struck the post was the closest Jose Mourinho’s men came to scoring on the night. Read more
Deontay Wilder v Tyson Fury II: ‘I rehabilitated Fury’s career,’ says Wilder (BBC)
Deontay Wilder said he “rehabilitated” Tyson Fury from being “on coke and as big as a house” as they traded jibes at a final news conference for Saturday’s WBC world heavyweight title rematch.
The pair faced off at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas and shoved each other, prompting their teams to rush on stage.
Their verbal sparring was often circus-like and continued as US television networks paused for advertising breaks.
“I brought you back, put food on your table,” Wilder said. Read more