Lekki shootings: Sanwo-Olu must appear before panel, #EndSARS lawyer insists (Punch)
Counsel for some #EndSARS protesters in Lagos State, Mr Adesina Ogunlana, has said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will have to appear before the Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing the alleged killing of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers at the Lekki tollgate on the night of October 20.
Ogunlana said since the military claimed before the panel that their operation on that day was on the invitation of the governor, it would be important for the governor to appear before the panel, particularly to demonstrate his professed belief in the rule of law.
The Commander of 81 Military Intelligence Brigade, Victoria Island, Lagos, Brigadier General Ahmed Taiwo, had during his cross-examination on Saturday said the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, ordered the deployment of soldiers to the tollgate and other parts of the state that day following a request by the governor. Read more
#EndSARS: Lagos Assembly to earmark compensation for victims in 2021 Budget (Vanguard)
The Lagos State House of Assembly has promised to include compensations to EndSARS victims in the state’s 202 Budget currently before the House.
The Chairman, House Ad Hoc Committee on the Victims of Aftermath of the EndSARS protest in the state, Mr Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, disclosed this at the end of its three-day public hearing on Friday in Lagos.
Recall that the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, had on Oct. 26, constituted a nine-member committee to investigate the level of destruction of property and loss of lives as well as to determine compensation for the victims. Read more
Lagos communities in fear as cult killings, robberies persist (Punch)
Residents of communities in Ajah, along Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos, say they are not at ease over the incessant cult killings and robberies in their neighbourhoods.
They lamented that the incidents have become almost a daily occurrence with unsuspecting passersby falling victim to the attacks.
City Round learnt that Ilaje, Badore, Abraham Adesanya, Ado Road, Alasia and Lamgbasa areas have become hotbeds of crime following the crises that stemmed from #EndSARS protests.
On Thursday, November 12, some gunmen attacked a bullion van in broad daylight near Blenco Supermarket, Ajah and reportedly carted away a huge sum of money. Read more
#EndSARS: Paralysed torture victim identifies IPO, tenders picture, contact details (Vanguard)
A 34-year-old businessman, Mr Ndukwe Ekekwe who claimed that he became paralysed when operatives of the disbanded Special Ant- Robbery Squad, SARS threw him down from a two-storey building, yesterday identified the Investigative Police Officer, IPO who handled his case.
While being cross-examined over his previous testimony before the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution for SARS victims, Ekekwe tendered the contact details and photographs of the IPO whom he simply identified as Hamza.
Ekekwe said he got the IPO’s photograph through his WhatsApp status which he snapped and reproduced with the help of his mother. Read more
Low morale: Police assures of robust security in Yuletide (Guardian)
The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has assured Nigerians that a robust security arrangement for the Yuletide season is already being implemented.
It was gathered that the morale of members of the Force was low, following the killing of no fewer than 28 policemen by hoodlums, who hijacked the #EndSARS protests that started in the country on October 8 and lasted for two weeks.
There are also palpable fear among Nigerians that Police officers, especially in areas worst affected by the #EndSARS protests in the southern part of the country, might continue to stay off their duty posts, particularly during the approaching Christmas and New Year celebrations. Read more
All 9 kidnapped police officers regain freedom (Thisday)
Police authorities yesterday announced the rescue of its nine officers kidnapped along Katsina-Zamfara Expressway on November 8.
The officers were said to have been attacked on their way to Zamfara from Borno State to carry out a special assignment.
Police spokesman, Frank Mba, (a Deputy Commissioner of Police), who broke the news of their rescue in a statement, last night, said two of the officers are currently receiving medical attention in a hospital while the remaining seven are being debriefed.
The police image maker, who was silent on whether any ransom was paid or not, in the statement said “The Nigeria Police have successfully rescued nine police officers who earlier went missing on 8th November, 2020 between Kankara town and Sheme in Katsina State after the night commercial bus they were traveling in came under attack by heavily armed men, all dressed in Military Camouflage, but suspected to be bandits. Read more
Saraki seeks sustainable development of North Central (Guardian)
A former president of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has called on leaders across the North Central geo-political zone to push for the development, peace and unity of the region.
Saraki, speaking when the executives and a cross-section of members of the North Central Peoples’ Forum paid him a courtesy visit at his home in Maitama, Abuja, emphasised that the development of the zone is in the interest of the entire nation, adding: “If it is about development for our people, you have my support. This initiative aimed at development is long overdue.
“If you talk about the unity of this country, you must factor in the North Central. If you are talking about the future of this country, it lies on many of the resources, like minerals and agriculture that our region has. Read more
Oyo State takes full control of LAUTECH (Thisday)
The long time disagreement between the Oyo and Osun states government over ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, has been laid to rest as Oyo State takes ownership of the University.
Subsequently, the institution’s teaching hospital which is based in Oshogbo, the Osun state capital will be solely under the responsibility of the Osun state government.
LAUTECH was established in 1990 by the old Oyo State government with the main campus located in Ogbomosho. The teaching hospital was subsequently established in Oshogbo. When Osun state was carved out if the old Oyo state in 1991, both states became joint owners of the institution. Read more
Lonely man forced to give up honking pet geese after noise complaints (Metro)
A lonely bachelor who bought two pet geese after his girlfriend broke up with him during lockdown has been told to get rid of them because they are too loud.
Sven Kirby, 34, has been threatened with a fine of up to £5,000 because of his pets’ constant honking.
The birds – named Beep Beep and Norbert – were bought for £40 each in June and have become Sven’s close companions.
He lets them waddle freely around the house wearing nappies and often takes them for walks in the local area. Read more
Killing of black man in Brazil supermarket sparks protests (BBC)
The brutal killing of a black man at the hands of two white security guards outside a supermarket has sparked outrage across Brazil.
The killing happened on Thursday, the eve of Black Consciousness Day, and spurred anti-racism protests on Friday.
Footage showed Joao Alberto Silveira Freitas, 40, being repeatedly punched in the face by the guards at a Carrefour store in Porto Alegre.
One of the guards, it has emerged, was an off-duty military police officer. Read more
Trudeau rules out a ‘normal Christmas’ as Covid-19 cases spike in Canada (RT)
Canada’s health system will be “in trouble” if the daily number of Covid-19 cases continues to rise, health chiefs have warned, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged the country to “hang in there” and follow the health measures.
A second wave of the virus has forced 10 Canadian provinces to reimpose restrictions, amid predictions that the number of cases could shoot from the current level of 5,000 a day to 60,000 by the end of the year if people don’t further limit their social contacts.
“We are facing [a] winter that’s going to drive people inside more and more, and we’re really at risk of seeing caseloads go up, and hospitals get overwhelmed, and more loved ones dying,” Trudeau said, addressing the nation from the steps of his Rideau Cottage residence. Read more
Opposition warns there’s not enough time to vet UK trade deal (CBC)
As signs emerge that a transitional trade deal between Canada and the UK is imminent, Opposition MPs on the Commons trade committee warned Friday they may not be able to pass implementation legislation in time because the Liberal government let the talks drag on too long.
Doug Forsyth, Canada’s chief negotiator for the Canada-United Kingdom Transitional Trade Agreement, stopped short of confirming a Bloomberg News report earlier this week that said U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s beleaguered government was about to get a significant boost “within days” by securing its post-Brexit preferential trade access to the Canadian market. Read more
‘Multiple people wounded’ in shooting at US mall as police hunt gunman (Metro)
Police are on the hunt for a gunman after multiple people were shot at in a shopping centre in Wisconsin, US. An ‘active shooting incident’ erupted at Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa, near Milwaukee, at around 3 pm local time on Friday afternoon. At least three patients were seen being taken away by ambulance from the scene, CBS 58 in Milwaukee reported. Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride confirmed there were multiple victims, but said that none of their injuries appeared to be life-threatening. He said the shooter is ‘at large’ and that around 75 officers are at the scene. It is not clear how many people have been shot but all those injured have been taken to hospital, Mayor McBride said. Read more
Travel writer and journalist Jan Morris dies at 94 (BBC)
Prolific travel writer, journalist, soldier and novelist Jan Morris has died aged 94.
Morris wrote more than 40 books including a notable trilogy about Britain’s empire, Pax Britannica, during the 1960s and 70s.
In 1972, she transitioned from male to female, undergoing gender reassignment surgery and changing her name to Jan.
Her son Twm announced her death, saying she was on her “greatest journey”. Read more
Donald Trump Junior tests positive for coronavirus (Metro)
Donald Trump Junior has tested positive for Covid-19, his spokesman confirmed. The spokesman said the younger Trump learned of his diagnosis earlier this week, but he has no symptoms and has been quarantining. Mr Trump Jr, who is the outgoing president’s eldest son, is the latest member of the family to become infected with the virus. Trump Snr, the first lady and their son Barron have already recovered from Covid-19. Read more
Monaco come from two goals down to stun Paris St-Germain (BBC)
Monaco came from two goals down to end Paris St-Germain’s eight-match winning streak in Ligue 1, moving second with a stunning victory.
PSG’s Kylian Mbappe scored two first-half goals on his return from injury.
But Monaco came out transformed after the break, as Kevin Volland scored twice past Keylor Navas in 14 second-half minutes.
Cesc Fabregas completed the comeback after Abdou Diallo gave away a penalty and saw red six minutes from time.
PSG were dominant in the first half, scoring twice and having a further two goals disallowed as Moise Kean and Mbappe were both denied by the offside flag. Read more
Mikel Arteta sends warning to culprit of David Luiz and Dani Ceballos training ground bust-up leak (Metro)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has vowed that there will be ‘consequences’ for the mole who leaked the reported training ground bust-up between Dani Ceballos and David Luiz.
The pair were not sent away on international duty for their countries and continued training at London Colney over the last fortnight.
The Athletic claimed that Luiz was unhappy with a challenge made by Ceballos in a practice match last Friday and reacted by hitting his team-mate on the nose, drawing some blood. Read more
Gernot Rohr: Nigeria Football Federation refuses to dismiss coach (BBC)
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick has insisted there is no plan to sack coach Gernot Rohr despite mounting pressure.
Rohr has faced scrutiny following a run of four games without a win and more criticism followed after the Super Eagles let a 4-0 lead slip at home as Sierra Leone fought back to draw 4-4 in their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
It further increased after the country’s sports minister Sunday Dare took to social media to question the ‘suitability and competence’ of the coach on the back of the 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture. Read more
FIFA bans Haitian soccer president for life for sexual abuse (CBC)
Haitian soccer federation president Yves Jean-Bart was banned from the sport for life on Friday following accusations of systematic sexual abuse of female players.
The FIFA ethics committee found Jean-Bart guilty of “having abused his position and sexually harassed and abused various female players, including minors” from 2014 until this year.
He was also fined $1.1 million US.
Jean-Bart has denied the allegations, which involve national team players. Read more
ATP Finals: Novak Djokovic joins Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem and Daniil Medvedev in semi-finals (Metro)
Novak Djokovic moved into the semi-finals of the ATP Finals after a straight sets win over Alexander Zverev. Djokovic, a five-time champion, bounced back from a ruthless defeat to Group Tokyo 1970 winner Daniil Medvedev to beat Zverev 6-3 7-6 (7-4) in an hour and 36 minutes. He will face Dominic Thiem, the winner of Group London 2020, with Rafael Nadal facing Medvedev in the other semi-final. It’s a fitting end for the O2 to boast the four highest-ranked players in the world in the final four, even if there are no fans on site. Read more
Mike Tyson’s drink, drugs and jail shame mean he’s not an all-time great, insists Tyson Fury’s promoter (RT)
Mike Tyson’s ambitions of competing in the current heavyweight division have been slammed by Tyson Fury’s promoter Frank Warren, who says the “baddest man on the planet” reached his peak 30 years ago and “didn’t last the course”.
Veteran advisor Frank Warren, who once said he was “disgusted” by Tyson’s claims that he used a fake penis to fake a drugs test, organized several of the returning icon’s scraps in Britain and said he had helped to mastermind his downfall in the penultimate professional fight of his career to date. Read more