Man apprehended for stealing pants, bras in Lagos (Punch)
Some residents of Ikeja area of Lagos State, on Thursday, apprehended a man for allegedly stealing bras and pants from where they were spread. It was learnt that some residents, who saw the man while allegedly collecting the underwear, accosted him and demanded to know the content of the bag he was carrying. He was said to have threatened to deal with the people for insulting him, but unmoved by his threat, some youths forced the man to open the bag. An eyewitness, Bayo Ojo, said when the man finally opened the bag, bras, pants and other clothing items were found in it. Read more
Atiku pledges to bring back prosperity, security, employment, others to Nigeria (Guardian)
Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar, yesterday promised to bring back prosperity, employment and economic development to the country, if elected. Atiku, who also promised to restore the nation’s security, spoke at a campaign rally at Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna. He said the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) has failed to fulfill its 2015 campaign promises, and urged the electorate to bring back the PDP and return the country to the path of progress. Read more
Suspected Boko Haram fighters attacked troops in Yobe – Army (Punch)
The Nigerian Army has confirmed an attack on its troops in Geidam, Yobe State. The Army spokesman, Gen. Sani Usman, in response to an enquiry by The PUNCH, said the troops repelled the attack. Although Usman did not name the attackers, our correspondent learnt that they were suspected Boko Haram members. Usman stated, “I confirm an attack on our troops’ location at Geidam at about 5pm. Our troops rose to the occasion and repelled the attack. They are currently pursuing the surviving fleeing attackers. We shall give you full details on completion of the pursuit and operations.” Read more
At last Ohanaeze endorses Atiku/Obi for presidential election (Punch)
Arising from a well-attended meeting, the Igbo highest decision-making body, ImeObi Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Thursday endorsed the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, for the February 16, 2019 presidential election. In a communiqué, the body said the endorsement of Atiku was in its collective search for a man that was just, egalitarian and inclusive. The communique signed by the President General of Ohanaeze, Chief Nnia Nwodo, reads in part, “The Ime Obi Ohaneze Ndi Igbo met today, Thursday 24 January, 2019, at the Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu, to further deliberate on the future of Ndigbo in the chequred history of a beleaguered country. Read more
Adebutu remains our gov candidate in Ogun –PDP (Punch)
The Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday said its governorship candidate in Ogun State for the March 2 election remained Mr Ladi Adebutu. It urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to insulate the commission from unnecessary controversies by immediately obeying the judgement of the Court of Appeal of December 18, 2018, and reflect Adebutu’s name on its list. The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said this at a media briefing in Abuja. Ologbondiyan also said Adebutu’s name was duly submitted to INEC after he won the primary election conducted by the party’s National Working Committee. Read more
UBTH doctor found dead in hotel (Punch)
The police in Benin, the Edo State capital, have confirmed the death of a medical doctor simply identified as Dr Ogbeide, who died in mysterious circumstances. Ogbeide was of the Radiology Department of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. While many in the hospital said the doctor was kidnapped and murdered, the UBTH management, however, noted that it was not aware that any of its doctors was kidnapped. Palpable fear enveloped the hospital, as some workers, who did not want to be named, said the doctor’s death was cult-related. Read more
Policeman, doctor killed as robbers attack bank in Osun (Punch)
Daredevil armed robbers, on Thursday, attacked a branch of Polaris Bank located in the Oke Ejigbo area of Ila Orangun, Osun State. The robbers reportedly killed a policeman, simply identified as Oloke Mewa, who was one of the security guards working at the bank, and a medical doctor, who was simply identified as Moshood. Two other people were also injured during the robbery. A resident of Ila Orangun, who gave his name as Alhaji Animasahun and whose vehicle was parked few metres away from the bank premises when the robbery began, told our correspondent that the robbers, who were armed with dangerous weapons, stormed the bank around 3pm and left after about 30 minutes. Read more
US vows to cut off money to Maduro (BBC)
The Trump administration is trying to cut Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro’s revenue streams, US National Security Adviser John Bolton says. The comments come one day after Mr Maduro cut diplomatic ties with the US. He was angry after they recognised an opposition figure, Juan Guaidó, as interim president on Wednesday. Mr Bolton told reporters outside the White House the issue was “complicated” but they were working on a plan to funnel funds to Mr Guaidó instead. Figures from the Trump administration are continuing to try and compound pressure on Mr Maduro as the international community remains divided in its support of him. Read more
Chelsea beat Spurs on penalties (BBC)
Chelsea won a penalty shootout on a night of high drama at Stamford Bridge, overcoming Tottenham to secure a Carabao Cup final meeting with Manchester City. After an enthralling 90 minutes which saw the tie end 2-2 on aggregate, the tie was settled when David Luiz scored the winning kick after Kepa Arrizabalaga’s fine save from Lucas Moura. Chelsea, who have now reached 15 finals in 16 years in all competitions, will face Pep Guardiola’s City at Wembley on 24 February. Blues boss Maurizio Sarri, who said after losing to Arsenal at the weekend that his players are “extremely difficult to motivate”, celebrated with his team at the end. Read more
Monaco sack Henry after three months (BBC)
Monaco have sacked manager Thierry Henry after 20 games in charge. The Ligue 1 strugglers announced on Thursday he had been suspended, but BBC Sport understands that is merely procedural and that the France World Cup winner has already left the club. Predecessor Leonardo Jardim is expected to replace Henry, just over three months after being fired himself. The 2017 French champions are in the relegation zone after only five wins under Henry in all competitions. Franck Passi, appointed as Henry’s assistant on 20 December, will take training on Friday, the club said. Read more
Suspected thugs stab man for exposing them (Punch)
The police in Niger State have apprehended four suspected thugs who allegedly stabbed a man simply identified as Shuaibu. The victim, who lives in Maitumbi in the Bosso Local Government Area of the state, was stabbed for allegedly exposing the hoodlums’ illicit activities to residents of the area. The suspects, Hassan Mohammed, 20; Buhari Hassan, 19; Nura Hassan, 22; and Mudasuru Abdullahi, 25, all from Maitumbi, were arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad following a tip-off. Shuaibu was said to have been beaten up by the thugs, who also stabbed him in the stomach and left him in a pool of his blood. Read more
Court sentences man to five years in jail for defrauding bank (Punch)
A Federal High Court sitting in Jos, Plateau State, has convicted a fraudster, Ibrahim Suleiman, who defrauded the defunct First Inland Bank to the tune of over N400m. Suleiman, who was first arraigned in 2007 and re-arraigned on an amended eight-count by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, was sentenced to five years in jail, on Thursday. One of the counts read, “That you, Ibrahim Suleiman, on or about June 29, 2007, in Jos within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, retained in your account with First Inland Bank now FCMB Plc, the sum of N400,700,000 on behalf of others yet at large, and which sum you knew to be proceeds of an illegal act by those yet at large, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 16 of the Money Laundering Act, 2004.” Read more