Lagos police arrest three cultists, impound gang’s bus (Punch)
Three suspected cult members, Joshua Ubokuho, Emmanuel Yusuf and Adewale Hammed, have been apprehended by the Lagos State Police Command and two cutlasses including an operational bus were recovered from them.
This is just as the command promised to raid hideouts of criminals unleashing terror on the residents of Lekki, Ajah, Badore, Sangotedo, Elemoro, Ibeju-Lekki and Akodo areas of the state.
In a statement on Saturday, the police spokesperson in the state, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, said the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, had directed that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation and prosecution. Read more
Lagos partners CIG Motors to establish world class motor vehicle assembly plant (Guardian)
CEO of Ibile Holdings Limited, Mr. Abiodun Amokomowo representing Lagos State Government and the Vice Chairman of CIG Motors, Dr. Linus Idahosa at the official Joint Venture signing for the establishment of automobile plant in Lagos.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has announced the official joint venture between the Lagos State Government and CIG Motors Company Limited to establish a world-class Motor Vehicle Assembly Plant in Ogba.
The event also witnessed the official commissioning of the first 1,000 cards for the new transport scheme – ‘LagosRide’.
The first order of the day was the legal agreement for the establishment of the automobile plant, put forward by the CEO of Ibile Holdings Limited, Mr. Abiodun Amokomowo representing Lagos State Government, and the Vice Chairman of CIG Motors, Dr. Linus Idahosa representing CIG Motors Co. Limited.
Thereafter, the governor and Chairman of CIG Motors, Chief Diana Chen led the guests to the unveiling of the automobiles comprising the GAC GS3 (Mini-SUV) that will kick off the initial phase of the new LagosRide project. Read more
Nigerians seek help for UI medical school dropout-turned porter (Punch)
The moving story of Terhemen Anongo, a former medical student who became a porter after depression forced him out of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, at 500 level, has attracted reactions from different quarters.
While many showed empathy for the 43-year-old man, some blamed his father for forcing the course on him. Others however chided him for failing to rise above the hurdles to complete his study.
Scores of people, who read Anongo’s pathetic experience published in an interview by Saturday PUNCH, sought medical and financial help for the 43-year-old, urging individuals, government and civil society organisations to urgently come to his aid.
As of 6pm on Saturday, the report had received 933 comments, over 1,900 likes and 338 shares on Facebook; 73 comments and 736 likes on Instagram; 59 retweets and 45 comments on Twitter. On PUNCH’s website, it attracted 36 comments. Read more
LASU governing council approves promotion of 11 professors, 296 others (Vanguard)
The Governing Council of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos has approved the promotion of 11 new professors and 296 others.
Among the newly-promoted staff are 12 associate professors and 18 other academic staff, while 266 non-academic staff in different categories were also promoted.
According to the Coordinator, Centre for Information Press and Public Relations, CIPPR, Mr Ademola Adekoya, among the non-teaching staff promoted were two deputy registrars and two deputy bursars.
The breakdown of the promotion exercise shows 11 associate professors being elevated to the position of professors. Read more
Adejoh, Influential Igala Traditional Ruler, Dies Suddenly (DailyTrust)
His Royal Highness, Samson Ekele Adejoh, the “traditional husband” of Attah Igala, who doubles as his custodian, is dead.
Adejoh is one of the most influential persons in the circle of the King of Igala lamd. Igala is one of the dominant ethnic groups in Kogi State.
Otherwise called “Achadu Oko Attah”, Daily Trust gathered that Adejoh slumped in Ibaji while attending the 70th birthday of Chief John Egwemi, the traditional ruler of Ibaji.
A source told Daily Trust that efforts to save the late traditional ruler ended in futility. Read more
Controversy over reported arrest of poet in Osun (Punch)
There were conflicting reports on Saturday over the alleged arrest of a poet, Akanda oro Awikonko, by security agents in Osun State.
While sources claimed that the poet, who operates underground and keeps his identity anonymous, wasn’t arrested by the police in Ile-Ife during the week, others said Awikonko was arrested by officers of the Department of State Services in Osogbo.
An independent broadcaster in the state, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Sunday PUNCH that the poet was arrested in a studio in Ile-Ife by the police last Thursday. Read more
Jebba fire victims get N31m compensation (DailyTrust)
The Kwara State Government has started the disbursement of N31 million cash compensation to 194 victims of a fuel tanker accident in Jebba in Moro Local Government Area of the state.
The Chairman of the Jebba Fire Disaster Relief Committee and Deputy House Leader, Kwara State House of Assembly, John Bello, made this known at the disbursement in Jebba on Thursday.
Hon Bello said, “We are going to pay 194 victims within three working days. His Excellency approved the sum of over N31m, and depending on the extent of the damage incurred, each victim will get between N30,000 and N1m. For some that their houses were burnt, we will give each of them between N800,000 and N1m, while the family of each of the deceased victims will receive the sum of N300,000.” Read more
CBN to pay recipients of diaspora remittances N5 for every $1 received (Tribune)
Introduces ‘Naira 4 Dollar Scheme’
To sustain and further boost inflows of diaspora remittances into the country, the Central Bank of Nigeria will pay recipients of diaspora remittances through CBN licensed IMTOs N5 for every $1 received as remittances inflow.
In a Circular seen by THISDAY, the apex bank announced the introduction of “CBN Naira 4 Dollar Scheme” as incentive for senders and recipients of international money transfers.
This takes effect from Monday March 8 and will end on Saturday May 8, 2021.
The Circular dated March 5, 2021 and signed by A.S. Jibrin for the Director, Trade and Exchange Department, read: “In an effort to sustain the encouraging increase in inflows of diaspora remittances into the country, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) hereby announces the introduction of the ‘CBN Naira 4 Dollar Scheme’, and incentive for senders and recipients of International Money Transfers. Read more
Army Redeploys Senior Officers
(DailyTrust)
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru has approved the redeployment of some top officers in the Nigerian Army.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier Mohammed Yerima in a statement yesterday said all the postings and appointments will take effect from March 10.
He said the move was a normal routine aimed at re-invigorating the system and repositioning the Nigerian Army for optimal performance.
“While wishing the newly posted senior officers well in their respective formations/units the Chief of Army Staff urges them to carry out their responsibilities in the most professional manner and absolute loyalty to the Commander- in -Chief and in defence of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said. Read more
Coronavirus: US Senate passes major $1.9t relief plan (BBC)
President Joe Biden’s relief bill aimed at helping Americans deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic has cleared a major hurdle.
The $1.9t (£1.4t) plan was approved in the Senate on Saturday despite every Republican senator voting against.
The House of Representatives – controlled by Mr Biden’s Democrats – is expected to approve it next Tuesday.
Mr Biden described the Senate vote as “one more giant step forward” in delivering the promise to help people. Read more
UN envoy urges Security Council to take action against Myanmar’s junta (France24)
Myanmar security forces used tear gas and stun grenades to break up a protest in Yangon on Saturday, just hours after a United Nations special envoy called on the Security Council to take action against the ruling junta for the killings of protesters.
The Southeast Asian country has been plunged in turmoil since the military overthrew and detained elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, with daily protests and strikes that have choked business and paralysed administration.
Sporadic protests were staged across Myanmar on Saturday and local media reported that police fired tear gas shells and stun grenades to break up a protest in the Sanchaung district of Yangon, the country’s biggest city. There were no reports of casualties. Read more
Despite palace fears, Meghan Markle has only ‘kind words’ for Kate Middleton in Oprah interview (PageSix)
Buckingham Palace is terrified that Meghan Markle will say nasty things about Kate Middleton on Sunday’s interview with Oprah Winfrey — but sources assure The Post that the duchess offers only “kind words” for her sister-in-law in the otherwise bombshell sit-down.
Markle dissing Middleton — and exposing the dirty details of their notorious rift — is feared as something that would wreak “vast” damage to the British monarchy, the U.K.’s Sun newspaper reported Saturday.
One scared source even described the interview as equivalent to a “nuclear option” for Markle, the Sun reported
But a source with knowledge of the Oprah interview, set to air Sunday, tells The Post that Buckingham Palace has nothing to worry about in that regard. Read more
Jack Dorsey: Bids reach $2.5m for Twitter co-founder’s first post (BBC)
Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has listed his first ever tweet for sale, with bids reaching $2.5m (£1.8m).
“Just setting up my twttr,” the post, sent from Mr Dorsey’s account in March 2006, reads.
It will be sold as a non-fungible token (NFT) – a unique digital certificate that states who owns a photo, video or other form of online media.
But the post will remain publicly available on Twitter even after it has been auctioned off. Read more
Peru’s victims of ‘forced sterilizations’ hope for Fujimori apology (France24)
The start of court proceedings against Peru’s former president Alberto Fujimori for a program blamed for forcibly sterilizing thousands of poor, mostly indigenous women has generated hope among victims that justice will finally be served.
“We’ve been waiting more than 20 years for justice. I want them to recognize us, to apologize to all the women” threatened or coerced into being sterilized, Gloria Basilio Huaman told AFP.
She said authorities tricked her into getting her fallopian tubes tied when she was 27, as part of a family planning program implemented by Fujimori during the final four years of his mandate. Read more
Japan supercomputer shows doubling masks offers little help preventing viral spread (NYPost)
Japanese supercomputer simulations showed that wearing two masks gave limited benefit in blocking viral spread compared with one properly fitted mask.
The findings in part contradict recent recommendations from the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that two masks were better than one at reducing a person’s exposure to the coronavirus.
Researchers used the Fugaku supercomputer to model the flow of virus particles from people wearing different types and combinations of masks, according to a study released on Thursday by research giant Riken and Kobe University. Read more
Leicester grab late winner at Brighton to go second (BBC)
Daniel Amartey scored a late winner as Leicester City came from behind to beat Brighton and boost their bid for Champions League qualification.
The defender stooped low to head into an empty net after Brighton keeper Robert Sanchez failed to claim Marc Albrighton’s corner.
Kelechi Iheanacho began the fightback with his second goal in as many games.
He cancelled out Adam Lallana’s first Brighton goal, which ended a 503-day drought without scoring. Read more
Legend of Bryson DeChambeau grows with insane shot (NYPost)
Everyone loves the long ball.
Eighty-yard touchdown passes in football. Tape-measure home runs in baseball. Half-court heaves in basketball. And, of course, long drives in golf.
Bryson DeChambeau’s par-5 experiment didn’t go so well
Years ago, John Daly drew so many eyeballs to his game because he hit it farther than anyone in the game. Then Tiger Woods came along and went longer than anyone. Read more
God has turned my cry to joy – Adachi, Heartland of Owerri leading scorer (Vanguard)
Emmanuel Adachi has four goals to his credit so far this season. He is Heartland of Owerri leading scorer in the current 2020/2021 NPFL season so far. Adachi says he’s enjoying a new lease of his career following a missed opportunity to play in Europe.
Adachi had sojourned to Switzerland for trials with Grasshopper FC but ended up being signed by a second-tier league side, FC Kornis.
But Adachi could not kick a ball for the club as he was told to return to Nigeria as the official transfer process was yet to commence.
The lanky forward recalled how his opportunity to play in Europe was truncated.
“The club, FC Kornis, a second division club in Switzerland came here (to Owerri) during a talent hunt organised by former Heartland Chairman. Read more
Derek Chisora and Joseph Parker agree May fight over FaceTime (BBC)
British heavyweight Derek Chisora and former world champion Joseph Parker have agreed to fight on 1 May after a friendly exchange on FaceTime.
Chisora was filmed repeatedly phoning Parker earlier this week but the New Zealand fighter did not pick up given it was 2am in his time zone.
When the pair did connect on FaceTime, Chisora, 37, told Parker, 29, he was “ready to rock and roll” on 1 May.
“I’ve been trying to get hold of you, son,” Chisora told his rival.
Parker replied: “Listen, you’ve been trying to get hold of me at 2am. Read more
Benzema to return for Madrid derby, says Zidane (Guardian)
Karim Benzema will be fit to play some part in Sunday’s derby between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, Zinedine Zidane said on Friday.
Benzema has missed Real Madrid’s last three games with a groin injury but Zidane said the Frenchman will return at the Wanda Metropolitano, although would not say if he will start.
“We are happy to see him again with us. He will be with us and we’ll see how it goes tomorrow,” said Zidane in a press conference on Friday. Read more
Motsepe set to become new CAF boss as opponents withdraw from polls (Punch)
Patrice Motsepe is set to become the eighth President of the Confederation of African Football after his opponents at the March 12 polls withdrew from the race and threw their weight behind the South African billionaire businessman.
The other three contestants: Ivory Coast’s Jacques Anouma, Senegal’s Augustin Senghor and Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania pulled out of the race to become the next president of CAF.This follows reports that the trio had agreed, in a deal brokered by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, to withdraw their candidacies in a meeting in Rabat, Morocco last weekend. Read more