Lagos inspector rapes undergraduate, threatens suicide (Punch)
A police inspector attached to the Agbado Police Station, Lagos State Police Command, Adelakun Amubieya, has been arrested for allegedly raping an undergraduate, Joy (not real name), in the Ipaja area of the state.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the suspect and the victim lived in the same compound on Abesan Estate.
The cop and his wife were said to have promised to teach the teenager how to make money with an application on her phone.
The 18-year-old, who went to the couple’s apartment on November 15, reportedly met Amubieya alone. Read more
Festac residents laud police handling of post-EndSARS protests (Guardian)
Rising from a reconciliatory meeting of community leaders and the police yesterday, apex leaders/Amuwo Odofin stakeholders have lauded the Area Commander of Area E, Festac, ACP Muayiwah Halilu, for his handling of security since the aftermath of the #EndSARS protest.
They also praised his community policing approach and open-door policy, leading to the removal of a barricade erected on the road leading into Festac Town as part of the drastic measures to curb crime and avert violence in the area.
They urged the police to see the community as partners in progress as residents’ earlier complaints against the road blockage was not meant to embarrass the police or create disaffection with the community, after many years of cordial relationship between stakeholders, residents and security agencies in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area. Read more
Residents accuse police of leading hoodlums to disrupt construction (Punch)
Policemen attached to the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos, have been accused of leading hoodlums to Magodo Phase 2 in the Kosofe Local Government Area to disrupt ongoing construction works.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, the Chairman of the Magodo Residents Association, Bajo Osinubi, while condemning the Wednesday invasion, said it snowballed into chaos as residents became apprehensive because they thought it was a kidnap operation.
Osinubi said, “A detachment of the Nigerian Police, led by an Assistant Superintendent of Police from the FCID, Alagbon, and accompanied by thugs entered the estate in two vans on Wednesday 25, 2020. Read more
Lagos kicks off research project with 1,140 pregnant women (Guardian)
The Lagos State government will on December 1, 2020 kick-off a research project with 1,140 indigent pregnant women under its Mother Infant and Child (MICH) programme.
The MICH programme, a brainchild of the Office of Civic Engagement, is seeking to support the development of socially responsible citizens from the womb through infancy, childhood, and youth into adulthood, with the first phase of the scheme held in July 2020.
Speaking at the unveiling of the second phase of MICH yesterday at the Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Special Adviser to the Governor on Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, said the project was a follow-up to the pilot scheme, with a view to assessing the impact of the MICH food and supplements on the pregnant women with full monitoring of their existing conditions, along with their unborn children throughout pregnancy till delivery and post-partum. Read more
Labour to occupy Accountant-General’s office over failure to retire (Sun)
Organised Labour yesterday, vowed it would commence occupation of the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) over his refusal to retire from service despite attaining the mandatory retirement age.
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) in a statement by its Secretary-General, Alade Bashir Lawal, on Thursday in Abuja, noted that the Union had concluded mobilisation of its members in the Federal Capital Territory, to storm the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation any moment from now to force him to proceed on retirement. Read more
Vendor’s widow disowns family over N500m compensation (Guardian)
Widow of Ifeanyi Okereke, the newspaper vendor shot dead last week by security detail attached to Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Josephine Okereke, has dissociated herself from the N500 million being demanded from the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila as compensation for the death of her husband.
In the aftermath of the incident, the Speaker had given assurance that the wife and children of the late vendor would be adequately taken care of while his family would get justice.
The family of the late vendor had on Tuesday written to the Speaker through their lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), demanding N500 million as compensation. Read more
Funds shortage slows pace of work on federal roads in Edo – Works Controller (Vanguard)
The Federal Controller of Works and Housing in Edo, Mr Razaq Aransiola, on Thursday attributed the slow pace of work on federal roads in the state to paucity of funds in the country.
Aransiola made this known when he appeared before the the state House of Assembly in Benin to brief the legislature on the state of federal roads in Edo.
He also told the house that palliative works were ongoing on roads across the state to ease vehicular movement. Read more
Okowa urges religious bodies to pray for Nigeria (Sun)
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, yesterday, called on religious bodies to embark on intercession for God to intervene in the myriads of challenges bedevilling Nigeria and the global economy.
Okowa made the call in Asaba, while playing host to the national executive of the Order of the Knights of Saint Mulumba, Nigeria.
The governor said a lot of support was needed from the Christian bodies in tackling the problems of insecurity, unemployment, poverty, coronavirus pandemic and recession which, he said, needed prayers for God to reverse the ugly trend. Read more
Gowon denies fraud claim by UK lawmaker (Guardian)
Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), has denied the fraud allegation levelled against by a member of the United Kingdom parliament, Tom Tugend.
The Briton, during a debate on a petition relating to the #EndSARS crisis, had accused the elder statesman of looting half of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and depositing the proceeds abroad during his reign.
He alleged: “We know that today, even now, in this great city of ours, there are, sadly, some people who have taken from the Nigerian people and hid their ill-gotten gains here.
“Some people will remember when General Gowon left Nigeria with half of the Central Bank.” Read more
Halima Aden quits runway modelling over religious views (BBC)
American model Halima Aden says she is quitting runway modelling as it compromises her religious beliefs.
The 23-year-old has appeared on the cover of British Vogue, Vogue Arabia and Allure.
Writing on Instagram, she said the coronavirus pandemic had given her time to stop and think about what her values are as a Muslim woman.
“Being a ‘hijabi’ is truly a journey with lots of highs and lows,” she said.
Talking about accepting modelling jobs that went against her religious views, she said: “I can only blame myself for caring more about opportunity than what was actually at stake.” Read more
Trump says ‘certainly will’ leave White House, if Electoral College makes a ‘mistake’ to certify Biden win (RT)
US President Donald Trump said that he would “certainly” vacate the Oval Office should the Electoral College verify Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 race, but still declined to concede over allegations of widespread fraud.
“It’s going to be a very hard thing to concede because we know there was massive fraud,” Trump said at a White House press event on Thursday, adding that while it would be a “mistake” for the Electoral College to certify Biden’s win, he would accept the decision.
Asked if he was conceding, however, the president replied “No, I can’t say that at all,” only agreeing to admit defeat after a winner is officially certified. Read more
Breathtaking video of Earth shot by astronaut aboard SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule (Metro)
Nasa astronaut Victor Glover recently travelled to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. And on his way up, he captured some breathtaking footage of Earth from his unique vantage point.
The clip has been watched millions of times on social media and features Victor telling us that the video doesn’t even do it justice.
Glover is the first black astronaut expected to have a six-month stay aboard the ISS, where he’ll get plenty of opportunities to admire the planet from 250 miles above the surface. ‘Looking at the Earth through the window of Dragon Resilience,’ he wrote on Twitter. A view that very, very few people ever get to see (Twitter/@AstroVicGlover) Read more
Australia to sack troops over Afghan killings (BBC)
Australia’s defence forces have sent notices of likely dismissal to 10 special forces soldiers following last week’s damning report on the murder of 39 Afghan civilians and prisoners.
They are suspected of being accessories or witnesses to the killings, or of being dishonest in testifying.
They are separate from the 19 Special Air Service troops who could face prosecution for the murders.
Australia’s prime minister and top military commander have apologised.
Afghanistan called the murders unforgiveable but welcomed last week’s report as a step towards justice. Read more
Austrian government steps up protection of churches after Vienna attack in run-up to Christmas (RT)
Austria has begun tightening security at its churches and other sites of religious worship, fearing copycat attacks after an Islamist gunman killed four people in a rampage earlier this month in the capital Vienna.
The attacker may have also intended to target houses of worship, Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said on Thursday.
“It cannot be ruled out that the perpetrator also wanted to deliberately seek out victims in churches,” Nehammer told reporters, citing the investigation’s findings. “There will therefore be a reinforced protection of church facilities as of today.” Read more
Gemma Collins pens letter to Meghan Markle as she reveals her own ‘traumatic’ miscarriage (Metro)
Warning: Details in this article may be upsetting for some. Gemma Collins has penned an open letter to Meghan Markle, recalling her own ‘traumatic’ miscarriage, after the Duchess Of Sussex revealed she lost a pregnancy earlier this year. Yesterday Meghan – who shares one-year-old son Archie with husband Prince Harry – wrote an essay for New York Times in which she described suffering a miscarriage in July. Reacting to the news, Towie star Gemma wrote of her own loss today and shared that she had her third miscarriage in July before splitting with partner James ‘Arg’ Argent. Read more
Jacob Collier: The Grammy nominee making music in his childhood bedroom (BBC)
It’s an understatement to say Jacob Collier had a bit of a shock this week.
Watching a live stream of the Grammy nominations with his family, he found out he’s up for Album Of The Year.
“My heart stopped. It was completely ridiculous. I’m absolutely thrilled,” he tells Radio 1 Newsbeat.
The 26-year-old from London was listed alongside Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa and Post Malone for his album Djesse Vol. 3.
He calls it an “extraordinary moment” in his career. Read more
African Champions League: Cameroonian side PWD Bamenda’s rise above adversity (BBC)
As last season’s Champions League finally ends on Friday in Cairo teams across the continent are set to get the next one underway this weekend.
Among them is PWD Bamenda who in 2015 were in the fourth tier of Cameroon’s football pyramid and will now face South African giants Kaizer Chiefs.
Against a backdrop of political tension and violent clashes the club managed to move up the leagues with the club eventually being promoted back to the top-flight at in 2018, after what was a 13-year absence.
They survived relegation by a whisker in their first season back in Elite One but were crowned league champions earlier this year.
Their first major silverware was won with an element of luck as they were given the title because they were top of the table with a game in hand in May when the coronavirus pandemic ended the domestic season early. Read more
Arsenal first club to welcome fans back to a Premier League ground after nine-month break (Metro)
Arsenal will be the first Premier League club to welcome fans in for a competitive fixture since March after confirming 2,000 spectators will be allowed in for their Europa League match against Rapid Vienna next Thursday.
The Gunners learned on Thursday that the Emirates Stadium is in tier two of the Government’s new regionalised approach to tackling the coronavirus pandemic, and will now be able to welcome fans in for the clash with the Austrian side.
A club statement read: ‘It’s been almost nine long months since we had fans in attendance at Emirates Stadium and our matches have simply not been the same without you. Read more
Mourinho praises ‘team player’ Alli after emphatic win against Ludogorets (BBC)
Jose Mourinho described Dele Alli as a “team player” after the out-of-favour playmaker’s performance helped Tottenham to the brink of qualification for the Europa League knockout stage thanks to a 4-0 win against Ludogorets.
Alli shone in a Spurs team that repeated the dominance they displayed in the 3-1 win in Bulgaria three weeks ago to move within a point of reaching the competition’s last 32.
Carlos Vinicius translated his side’s superiority into two goals before half-time – his first for the club.
The Brazilian, on a season-long loan from Benfica, got his second thanks to Alli’s selfless pass across goal when he could easily have shot himself. Read more
Jordan Henderson returns to Liverpool training ahead of Brighton clash (Metro)
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is set to return to the Reds’ starting line-up for their trip to Brighton after rejoining first team training. The England international has missed the last two matches with a hamstring strain that he sustained on duty with the Three Lions. Henderson’s absence came at the worst possible time for Jurgen Klopp, who is already without Thiago Alcantara while Fabinho has been forced to fill in at centre-back. Read more
African Champions League: Ahly and Zamalek set to make history (BBC)
Friday’s African Champions League final in Cairo between Egyptian giants Al Ahly and Zamalek will be the first between rivals from the same country.
It will also be the first to be decided by one match rather than over two legs.
The match will be played in an empty stadium under the slogan “no to fanaticism”.
It once again brings together two clubs whose clashes have long dominated local and continental competitions. Read more
Griezmann, Umtiti take aim at police violence in France (Vanguard)
French World Cup winners Antoine Griezmann and Samuel Umtiti on Thursday took aim at police violence after video footage was released of a black music producer being attacked by three officers in Paris.
“I feel bad for my France,” Griezmann tweeted along with a mention of French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin and the Loopsider video showing the beating on Saturday that has since gone viral.. Read more
Arteta challenges Pepe after goal in Molde (BBC)
Mikel Arteta has challenged Nicolas Pepe to improve his consistency after the Arsenal winger reacted to Sunday’s red card against Leeds by helping the Gunners to cruise into the last 32 of the Europa League.
Pepe was accused by manager Arteta of letting down his team-mates after being sent off at Elland Road in the Premier League but Arsenal’s record signing responded with the opening goal in a fine individual display against Molde.
The £72m signing from Lille curled a powerful strike into the top corner just after the break in Norway – having minutes earlier struck the bar. Read more