Lagos magistrate slams traffic officers, orders release of impounded car, motorist demands compensation (Punch)
A magistrate has ordered the release of a vehicle impounded by officials of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, aka task force, over an alleged traffic offence.
The driver of the vehicle, Sunday Emem, was also discharged and acquitted of the charge of driving against traffic.
PUNCH Metro had reported that Emem, while driving his boss, Adeolu Oyinlola, on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway on August 14, 2021, was accosted by one of four policemen around the BOC Gases area, Oshodi, for allegedly passing a uni-directional road (one way).
According to Oyinlola, there was no indication on the road that it was uni-directional and efforts to explain to the policemen that there was no such indication proved abortive. Read more
Dowen school: Family demands Coroner Inquest into Sylvester Omoroni’s death (Guardian)
The family of the late 12-year old student of Dowen College Lekki, Lagos, Sylvester Omoroni, who died last Tuesday, has demanded a Coroner’s inquest into their son’s death.
The family through a letter sent by their counsel, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) to the Chief Coroner of Lagos State, Justice Mojisola Dada requested that an inquest be conducted.
Sylvester was said to have died as a result of bullying and torture by some students who wanted him to join their cult.
Falana, in the letter dated December 6, said he has been briefed by Sylvester’s family that the circumstances leading to the death of the boy, demand that an inquest be conducted.
The letter, signed by Taiwo Olawanle, a lawyer in Falana’s law firm stated: “We are a firm of legal practitioners committed to the defence of human rights, rule of law and public accountability in Nigeria. Read more
Ex-Deputy Governor Ojikutu decries violence against women (Nation)
Former Lagos State Deputy Governor Sinatu Ojikutu has decried gender abuse, particularly against women and girl-child.
She said the assaults tended to tamper with the dignity of persons in contemporary society.
The Third Republic deputy governor frowned at female genital mutilation, rape against women and children, dowry violence, cast and caste system, banishment, segregation, ‘sexophobia’, forced prostitution, molestation and sex trafficking.
These vices were captured in a book written by a Federal Ministry of Women Affairs employee, Kabir Olayiwola, titled: ‘Stain on Humanity. ‘ It was presented at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja. Read more
108 suspects remanded for impersonating naval officials in Lagos (Punch)
No fewer than 108 suspects were on Monday arraigned before the Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly impersonating officials of the Nigerian Navy.
PUNCH Metro had reported that the suspects were arrested when men of the Lagos State Police Command raided their training camp in the Ogudu-Sanfield area of the state.
The state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, while parading the suspects who were said to be operating under the name of the Nigerian Merchant Navy, aka Coastal Defence, vowed to prosecute them.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, on Monday, said the 108 suspects were arraigned before Chief Magistrate O.A. Olatunbosun, adding that 107 suspects were granted N100,000 bail with two sureties in like sum. Read more
Tears as mother narrates how her 13- year-old daughter was abducted, raped in Ghana (Guardian)
Tears flowed freely, yesterday, in Delta State when a traumatised mother of a 13- year-old girl, Mrs. Loveth Taiwo, narrated how her daughter was abducted in Warri and taken to Ghana, where she was violently raped for several weeks before being brought back home half dead.
The event was the 2021 edition of 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV) against women and girls, organised by the Delta State Government in collaboration with the 05 Initiatives.
Among those who wept profusely were Delta State governor’s wife, Dame Edith Okowa, Head of Department (HOD) Mass Communication, Delta State University, Dr. Joyce Ogwezi, the State Commissioner for Humanitarian and Communities Development, Mrs. Bridget Ayanfulu and other women.
In an emotion laden voice, Mrs. Taiwo, who cried, said trouble started one Saturday morning when she sent her daughter, Sharon Taiwo, a Senior Secondary School 1 student of Dore Numa College Warri, to buy food nearby.
According to her, that was to be the last time she saw her until about six weeks later when she was dumped in the area half dead. Read more
Police arrest man for allegedly beating cigarette seller to death over N50 (Vanguard)
The Police Command in Ogun on Monday said it has arrested a 35-year-old man, Biodun Adeniyi, for allegedly beating a cigarette seller to death following an argument over N50 balance.
The Spokesman of Police in Ogun, ASP Abimbola Oyeyemi, made this known in a statement issued to newsmen in Ota, Ogun.
Oyeyemi explained that the suspect, who resides at No 35, Oladun Street, Ikotun, Lagos, was arrested on Dec. 5 following a report lodged at Idiroko Divisional Headquarters by the father of the victim, Adamu Abubakar.
The PPRO added that the father reported that the suspect came to his shop at Ajegunle area, Idiroko, at about 2.00p.m. to buy cigarettes and his son, Mukaila Adamu, attended to him. Read more
Man takes own life after allegedly killing wife in Delta (Sun)
A middle-age man has allegedly committed suicide shortly after taking the life of his wife.
The deceased man, identified as Peter, was said to have jumped into a well after allegedly killing his wife, Chikordi, a prophetess in a new generation church.
He was said to have killed his wife at Umunede and ran to his hometown, neighbouring Ekwuoma, both in Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State, where he jumped into the well.Community sources said the prophetess was the General Overseer of the new generation church in the community.
“They are staying in Umunede community, before we could know what was happening, they said the man killed his wife and ran to his hometown, Ekwuoma and jumped into the well. The man died immediately. As it is now, we don’t know what actually caused the problem,” a source volunteered. Read more
From hunting to ritual killing: How I shot, dismembered victim for N51,000 to get body parts —Suspect (Tribune)
Seven suspected members of a syndicate which specialised in killing innocent victims to get their body parts for ritual have opened up on their involvement in the criminal act.
The suspects were arrested by detectives in Ogun State Police Command after the murder of one Sunday Okosun and his dismemberment, with the intention of selling and buying the body parts for money ritual purposes.
The names of the suspects were given as Oladipupo Lekan, Aremu Sulaimon, Madru Ifayemi, Shittu Saheed, Sulaimon Samad, Akanji Moruf and Adekunle Tajudeen.
In the quest to make money from the sale of the body parts to those in need of them, Lekan, a hunter, reportedly went to the bush on a bright afternoon, and made darkness and death to envelop the victim, Okosun, whom he sighted, shot dead at close range and dismembered. After putting in a sack the body parts, including the head, heart, two hands cut from the wrist and a piece of flesh from his thigh, he took them to his contact, Sulaimon, and got paid with a sum of N51,000. Read more
Buhari Takes over Presidency of Great Green Wall (ThisDay)
Nigeria and President Muhammadu Buhari has taken over the presidency of the Great Green Wall in Africa for the next two years.
This was disclosed by the Minister of State for the Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor, at the end of the fourth Ordinary Session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government (CHSG) of the Pan-African Agency for the Great Green Wall (PAGGW) held in Abuja on December 2, 2021.
According to the minister, “At the end of the fourth Ordinary Session of the CHSG, Nigeria took over the presidency of the PAGGW. So for the next two years, Nigeria and President Buhari will be the president of the Great Green Wall Initiative in Africa.
“This means that within the period, Nigeria will work assiduously towards addressing the problems of land degradation, food security, desertification, climate change, depletion of the forest ecosystems and biodiversity in Africa, among others.” Read more
Boy decapitates pregnant sister with mum’s help and takes sick selfie with head (Mirror)
A teenager decapitated his pregnant sister with a sickle and then posed for a selfie while parading the severed head in a shocking killing in India, it is reported.
Both the teenager and his mother have been arrested by police after the barbaric attack on the 19-year-old sister. It is alleged her family members murdered her because they did not approve of her marriage.
Kirti Thore was killed in the Ladgaon village of Aurangabad when her brother and mother, Shobhabai Mote, went to visit her, reported the Daily Star.
She lived with her husband’s family in a room next to their farm, reports One India. Read more
Afghans failed by UK were left behind and killed by Taliban, says whistleblower (Mirror)
A whistleblower claims UK officials had a “lack of interest” in evacuating Afghans – with Dominic Raab allegedly taking “several hours” to engage with extreme cases of those needing safety.
Mr Raab, the then Foreign Secretary, allegedly demanded for all cases to be set out “in a well-presented table” before he could make decisions, evidence shows.
Raphael Marshall, who worked for the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in the middle of the evacuation effort, claimed Mr Raab’s demands suggested “he did not fully understand the situation”.
Mr Marshall’s comments form part of the Foreign Affairs Committee inquiry into the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Read more
Uganda gives two-month amnesty for citizens to surrender illegal guns (TheEastAfrican)
As Uganda intensifies its fight against armed violence in the country, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has announced a two-month amnesty for people in possession of illegal firearms and small weapons.
The 2021 Africa Amnesty Project was launched by the Uganda National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons on November 24 at the Silver Springs Hotel in the capital Kampala.
The amnesty runs from December 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022.
With financial support from the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the African Union Commission, the project covers four critical regions of the country, including Rwenzori, Karamoja, Northern and Kampala Metropolitan. Read more
A scientist behind the AstraZeneca vaccine is warning the next pandemic may be worse (NPR)
One of the scientists behind the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is warning that the next pandemic may be more contagious and more lethal unless more money is devoted to research and preparations to fight emerging viral threats.
In excerpts released before a speech Monday, Professor Sarah Gilbert says the scientific advances made in fighting deadly viruses “must not be lost” because of the cost of fighting the current pandemic.
“This will not be the last time a virus threatens our lives and our livelihoods,” Gilbert is expected to say.” The truth is, the next one could be worse. It could be more contagious, or more lethal, or both.”
Gilbert is scheduled to make the remarks Monday night when she delivers this year’s Richard Dimbleby lecture, named after the late broadcaster who was the BBC’s first war correspondent and a pioneer of television news in Britain. The annual televised lecture features addresses by influential figures in business, science and government. Read more
Fired anchor prepares to sue network for $18M left of his salary (DailyMail)
Former star anchor Chris Cuomo is preparing to sue his former employer for $18 million left on his contract, claiming that CNN President Jeff Zucker knew about his involvement in his brother’s sex pest probe.
The network fired Cuomo, 51, on Saturday citing the journalist’s role in defending his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, against multiple sexual harassment allegations.
Cuomo says CNN President Jeff Zucker knew about the cooperation, which the network called ‘patently false.’
He has now hired lawyers and is preparing to file a suit against CNN if it does not honor the remainder of the four year contract he signed last year, under which he receives $6 million a year, according to the New York Post. Read more
Woman gives birth in fancy Tesla while stuck in NYC traffic (NYPost)
What a ride!
A woman gave birth in a luxury Tesla in Manhattan on Sunday — after getting stuck in Midtown traffic on the way to the hospital, cops said.
The winged doors of the fancy black X model electric car came in especially handy during the labor-intensive situation — by making it a little easier for the mom and her brand-new baby to eventually disembark onto a gurney in Manhattan’s Garment District.
Minutes before the birth, the expectant woman and her husband had flagged down cops as traffic came to a standstill in front of 585 Fifth Ave. just before 4 p.m., police said.
The dad told cops he was traveling to NYU Medical Center but that he believed his wife might give birth before they could make it there. Read more
West voices its concern over Russia’s military build-up on Ukrainian border ahead of Biden call with Putin (Sky)
Mr Biden, Mr Johnson, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Angela Merkel, and Italy’s Mario Draghi all “shared concern about the Russian military build-up on Ukraine’s borders and Russia’s increasingly harsh rhetoric”, the White House said.
It comes ahead of an expected video call between Mr Biden and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, after which Mr Biden is expected to speak again with the leaders of France, Italy, Germany, and the UK.
Downing Street said that Mr Johnson promised the group that the UK would “continue to use all the economic and diplomatic tools at its disposal to prevent any Russian aggression against Ukraine”.
A spokesman said: “The leaders agreed that recent meetings of the G20 and of NATO foreign ministers had been useful forums for discussions on this issue. Read more
Pence’s former top aide cooperating with Jan. 6 panel (Independent)
The former chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence is cooperating with the House panel investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Marc Short was at the Capitol on Jan. 6 and accompanied Pence as he fled his post presiding over the Senate and hid from rioters who were calling for his hanging. Short is cooperating with the panel after receiving a subpoena, according to the person, who was granted anonymity to discuss the private interactions.
Former President Donald Trump was openly criticizing his vice president even as the insurrectionists broke into the building because Pence had said he would not try to unilaterally reject the electoral count as Congress certified President Joe Biden’s victory. Pence didn’t have the legal power to do so, but Trump pressured him anyway.
As Pence’s top aide, Short was also present for several White House meetings ahead of the insurrection. At one point, Trump banned Short from the White House grounds because he objected to the pressure on Pence to reject the legitimate election results. Read more
Eagles may play home games in Abuja after stadium renovation (Punch)
Plans are underway to have the Super Eagles move their home games to Abuja after Dangote Group handed over the rehabilitated Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
Contractors, Aron Nigeria Limited, handed over the rehabilitated stadium to the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, on Friday.
The rehabilitation work was carried out on the main bowl pitch and scoreboard.
Dare had clamoured for the return of the Eagles to Abuja on several occasions, stating the need to have a permanent home stadium. Read more
US diplomats to boycott 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics (BBC)
The US has announced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.
The White House said no official delegation would be sent to the Games because of concerns about China’s human rights record.
But it said US athletes could attend and would have the government’s full support.
China has previously said it will take “resolute countermeasures” in the event of a boycott. Read more
Iwobi, Onyekuru, labelled Everton flops (Punch)
Super Eagles forwards Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman and Henry Onyekuru have been labelled Everton flops under under Farhad Moshiri’s era, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Everton splurged over £500m on 43 players under Moshiri but their current crisis and Marcel Brands’ exit shows up the waste a report on Daily Mail reveals.
Iwobi signed for £27m from Arsenal in 2019 but a return of just six goals in 78 appearances for the club suggests he has been a flop at the club according to Daily Mail. The Nigerian hasn’t shown his quality often enough.
Henry Onyekuru on his part arrived at Goodison Park in 2017 for £6.8m from Eupen but never played a game for the club because he was immediately loaned to Anderlecht and then spent time at Galatasaray. He joined Monaco in 2019 and he is currently on loan at Olympiakos. Read more
Mikel Arteta responds to Ben Godfrey’s ‘stamp’ on Arsenal’s Takehiro Tomiyasu (Mirror)
Mikel Arteta refused to use Ben Godfrey escaping a red card as an excuse for his side’s dramatic defeat to Everton.
During the first half of the Toffees’ clash with Arsenal at Goodison Park, referee Mike Dean was forced to halt proceedings after being made aware of an incident between the two defenders.
Replays showed the Everton defender extended his leg and made contact with Tomiyasu’s chin.
Dean took a closer look on the pitchside monitor after consultation with the VAR, but decided against further sanctions for Godfrey, despite Tomiyasu appearing to be bleeding from the chin. Read more
Patriots denied Peyton Manning’s request to talk with Mac Jones (NYPost)
Peyton Manning was rebuffed by Patriots PR, but he was not offended.
The Patriots faced the Bills on “Monday Night Football,” with Peyton and brother Eli on ESPN2’s “Manningcast” simulcast.
Eli teed up his brother, who speaks with quarterbacks ahead of their MNF appearances.
“Peyton, you said you talked to Josh Allen. Did you talk to Mac Jones?” Eli asked, with a twinkle in his eye, knowing the answer. Read more
Golfer ‘sexually assaulted woman on flight’, court hears (BBC)
Ryder Cup winner Thorbjorn Olesen “grabbed and rubbed the breast” of a woman and “urinated” in the aisle during a British Airways flight in 2019, a court has heard.
The Danish golfer, 31, was also accused of being “drunk and disruptive” and swearing at members of the cabin crew.
Olesen has denied sexually assaulting a woman, being drunk on an aircraft, and assault by beating of a second woman.
His trial began at Aldersgate House Nightingale Court in London on Monday. Read more
Newcastle begin removing Sports Direct branding from stands at St James’ Park (Sky)
The Sports Direct signage at St James’ Park is finally being removed, Newcastle have confirmed.
The dismantling of the branding linked to unpopular former owner Mike Ashley has already been welcomed by Magpies fans on social media.
Work began at the Leazes End of the ground and it is understood the work will be ongoing this week, with an expected completion in time for Newcastle’s next home game against Manchester City on December 19.
Ashley was finally able to sell Newcastle to a Saudi-led consortium in October after the Premier League received “legally-binding assurances” that the Middle East state would not have direct control over the club. Read more
