Man charged with impersonating police officer (DailyTrust)
The police in Ajah, Lagos, have charged a 32-year-old man before an Igbosere chief magistrate court, Lagos, for allegedly putting on a police uniform. The suspect, Jerry Gabriel, was nabbed on December 15, 2019 at General Paints, Ajah, and charged with impersonation.
Police prosecutor Tope Adega alleged that the accused person was unlawfully in possession of a Nigerian Police Force camouflage uniform. Other items suspected to have been stolen by the accused person and found in his possession were one Infinix X627 smartphone, one Itel phone and one Tecno phone. Read more
Ex-convict arrested for snatching phone in Lagos (Punch)
An ex-convict, Tunde Ajeigbe, has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly snatching a phone from a passenger in a commercial bus.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Ajeigbe and his gang members, simply identified as Ekene and Bolenbe, who are at large, usually operate on a motorcycle.
It was gathered that Ajeigbe, on the day of the incident, jumped from the motorcycle around the 7UP area and snatched an android phone from a passenger in a commercial bus and fled with his gang members.
Our correspondent learnt that eyewitnesses gave the gang a chase from the 7UP area of the state to the Otedola Bridge and alerted the operatives of the Rapid Response Squad stationed under the bridge. Read more
‘Oshodi transport interchange recorded 1.6 million passengers’ (Guardian)
The Managing Director of Planet Projects in Lagos State, Mr. Biodun Otunola, yesterday disclosed that the Oshodi Transport Interchange had recorded 1.6 million passengers.
Otunola, who stated this during the tour of the facility, said the passenger traffic was recorded in Terminal Three, which is currently in full operation, adding that Terminals one and two were set to take off in the first quarter of the year.
Besides, Lagos State Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotosho, who described the project as beautiful, said that although he saw the project when the foundation was laid, the outcome was commendable.
According to him, the position of the Sanwo-olu administration is that all on-going projects must be completed to provide service to the people. Read more
Owners of unregistered vehicles in Lagos risk prosecution (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command has issued a seven-day ultimatum to owners and operators of unregistered vehicles in the state to register such vehicles to avoid being prosecuted by law enforcement agents.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said in a statement on Sunday that criminal elements had devised a means of operating with unregistered vehicles to attack unsuspecting members of the public without any trace.
He stated that the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, had set up a special operation to clamp down on traffic law violators in a bid to restore sanity on Lagos roads.
According to the PPRO, the ultimatum starts today (Monday) and elapses by 11.59pm on Sunday, January 12, 2020, while the clampdown will begin on Monday, January 13, 2020. Read more
3 feared killed during protest over Oyo market fire (Punch)
Three persons were feared killed by men of the Operation Burst in Oyo town on Sunday following a protest against the failure of the men of the Oyo State Fire Service to extinguish the fire that ravaged the Akesan Market.
The victims were reportedly shot by the police while trying to repel the angry mob from destroying public facilities.
The Akesan Market is famous for the sale of a wide range of food items, local artefacts, clothing materials and household utensils, among others.
The fire, which reportedly started around 2.30am, destroyed wares estimated at several millions of naira and attempts to salvage the goods proved abortive. Read more
Sushi boss pays £1.4m for a tuna and still doesn’t break his own record (Metro)
A sushi restaurant boss has paid nearly £1.5 million for a giant fish at a high profile auction in Japan. But self-styled ‘sushi king’ Kiyoshi Kimura’s 193.2 million yen (£1.37 million) buy was only the second highest on record at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market, according to the NHK broadcaster. The Bluefin tuna was sold in the first auction of the new year in the Japanese capital, but did not match the record price of 333.6 million yen (£2.48 million) that Mr Kimura paid last year. His prize was caught off northern Aomori Prefecture and weighed 276 kilograms (608 lbs) – which translates into a price of about 700,000 yen (just under £5,000) per kilogram. Read more
Iranian General’s killing: Police placed on red alert (punch)
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has placed police commands and formations nationwide on red alert.
This follows intelligence report that some “domestic interests” are planning to embark on massive public disturbances and sabotage to protest the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in an airstrike by the United States.
“Consequently, zonal AIGs and command Commissioners of Police have been directed to ensure maximum surveillance and security of lives and property across the nation,” the force spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, said in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.
Soleimani, who headed Iran’s elite Quds Force, was killed in Baghdad, Iraq on Friday. Read more
Bride and groom toss coin to see which last name they’re going to take (Metro)
If you’re conflicted between wanting to take your husband’s surname or sticking to your feminist principles (an age-old argument), then why not toss a coin? Only, instead of heads, you keep your name and tails you don’t, you could get your husband to join in and offer to change his moniker too. That’s exactly what bride and groom Jeff Conley and Darcy Ward decided to do. Instead of Darcy taking Jeff’s name as is tradition, the couple decided to flip a coin to see whose name would stick. Jeff and Darcy wanted to buck wedding tradition and left it to a 50-50 change on the day. Read more
Iran declares it will no longer abide by nuclear deal (Metro)
Iran said it will no longer stick by the limits of its unravelling 2015 nuclear deal amid growing tensions. The 2015 accord is intended to block Tehran from having enough material to build an atomic weapon. Iran’s decision to ignore the limitations within the deal comes after a US air strike killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad. The announcement came this evening, after another Iranian official said it would consider taking even harsher steps over the US killing of General Qassem Soleimani on Friday. Read more
African photography: Colonial food, cock fights and crowded buses (BBC)
Bamako Encounters, one of Africa’s most prestigious photography festivals, has been celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Held in Mali’s capital, Bamako, the biennial event brought together the work of 85 photographers from the continent and diaspora.
Ijeoma Ndukwe has been taking a look at some of the images that were on shown.
“It’s natural that the person who provides you with food will also dictate their will to you. Look at your plate, when you eat imported rice, corn or millet. That’s what imperialism is.” Read more
Boris Johnson says he ‘will not lament’ Qassem Soleimani’s death (Metro)
Boris Johnson has said he ‘will not lament’ the death of Iran’s General Qassem Soleimani. Speaking Sunday evening, he accused him of having been ‘a threat to all our interests’. He called for a de-escalation from all sides – but a short time later, Donald Trump threatened to ‘strike back’ and ‘perhaps in a disproportionate manner’ if Iran strikes a US citizen or target. The prime minister said: ‘Today I have spoken with President Macron, President Trump and Chancellor Merkel, and will be speaking with other leaders in the coming days. ‘General Qassem Soleimani posed a threat to all our interests and was responsible for a pattern of disruptive, destabilising behaviour in the region. Read more
Golden Globes 2020: Fleabag and Olivia Colman win awards (BBC)
The 77th Golden Globe Awards are taking place in Los Angeles, with Phoebe Waller-Bridge among the winners.
The British star was named best actress in a TV series (musical or comedy) for her BBC sitcom Fleabag.
Olivia Colman, one of Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag co-stars, was also honoured, for playing The Queen in the third series of The Crown.
The British Oscar-winner said she had not expected to win and had gotten “a little bit boozy” as a result. Read more
Serena glad to be back in New Zealand (Punch)
Serena Williams returns to the Auckland WTA Classic on Monday for the first time since her “miserable” debut appearance three years ago, determined to put the record straight.
“I’m in a really different frame of mind,” she said ahead of her opening match on day one — a marquee doubles appearance partnering Caroline Wozniacki — with her first round singles against long-time rival Svetlana Kuznetsova expected on Tuesday.
The 38-year-old Williams is banking on Auckland setting her up for an unprecedented 24th major title at the Australian Open later in the month. Read more
NBA: Vince Carter becomes first player to play in four different decades (BBC)
He played against the legendary Michael Jordan and made his debut when the iPhone was just a twinkle in Steve Jobs’ eye.
And on Sunday, against the Indiana Pacers, Vince Carter, 42, became the first NBA player to have a career spanning four decades.
The Atlanta Hawks star made his debut in the ’90s (1999 to be precise), and has starred in every decade since – the noughties, 2010s and now the 2020s.
To put it into further context, 36 current NBA players – including four of his team-mates (Bruno Fernando, Trae Young, Kevin Huerter and Cam Reddish) – were born after Carter was first drafted. Read more
Oshoala hits brace in Barca victory (Punch)
Super Falcons striker, Asisat Oshoala, scored a brace as Barcelona defeated Athletic Club 3-0 in the Spanish Primera Iberdrola on Sunday.
The Nigeria striker, who came in as a 60th minute substitute, doubled her side’s lead in the 77th minute, nodding home from close range.
This was after Mariona Caldentey had given Barca the lead in the 64th minute.
Oshoala scored again four minutes from full time, firing home from a goalmouth scramble to hand Barca a 3-0 victory. Read more
Amuneke shaped my career – Osimhen (Punch)
Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, has hailed former Golden Eaglets coach Emmanuel Amuneke for shaping his career into becoming a top-class footballer he is today.
Osimhen, in an interview on the Super Eagles YouTube page, said Amuneke taught him discipline as a footballer.
“I would rewind to when I joined the U-17 and when I first went to the camp. In my own mentality, I felt the coach didn’t like me. Every time, he would speak to me and yell at me on the pitch. For me, I thought maybe he was making me to suffer,” Osimhen said.
“There was a time I wanted to leave the camp, I spoke to the coordinator and he told me to be calm that the coach knew what he was doing. Read more
Jurgen Klopp reacts to Curtis Jones’ stunning goal after Liverpool beat Everton to reach FA Cup fourth round (Metro)
Jurgen Klopp has hailed Curtis Jones’ ‘sensational’ goal which secured Liverpool a 1-0 victory over Everton and a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Local lad Jones – who rose through Liverpool’s academy ranks – beat Jordan Pickford with an exquisite curled strike in 71st minute and the 18-year-old midfielder will struggle to score a better goal in the rest of his career. The youngster has impressed in each of his six appearances since his first-team debut last January and his wonder goal on Sunday afternoon will likely go down in the Merseyside derby folklore. Klopp’s young side managed to keep hold of their one-goal lead to book to secure their fourth straight win in all competitions and book their place in the next round of the cup. Read more
NFL play-offs: Seahawks beat Eagles after Vikings upset Saints in NFC wildcard games (BBC)
The Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings both won on the road to reach the second week of the NFL playoffs.
The Seahawks beat the Philadelphia Eagles 17-9 after Marshawn Lynch and DK Metcalf touchdowns in each half.
And Minnesota upset the NFC’s number three seed, a Kyle Rudolph touchdown in overtime giving them a shock 26-20 win at the New Orleans Saints.
Seattle now visit the Green Bay Packers in the NFC divisional round while the Vikings are at the San Francisco 49ers. Read more
Frank Lampard reveals Christian Pulisic suffered injury before Chelsea’s victory over Nottingham Forest (Metro)
Frank Lampard has revealed that Christian Pulisic picked up an injury in training before Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest. Pulisic, 21, played 66 minutes as Chelsea drew with Brighton on Wednesday night and was expected to feature in Sunday’s FA Cup third round tie. But Pulisic was not included in Chelsea’s matchday squad and instead watched on from the stands at Stamford Bridge as Lampard’s side booked their place in the fourth round of the competition. Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ross Barkley scored at either end of the first half as the Blues cruised to a comfortable win. Read more
Plateau Utd rout Enyimba as Kwara Utd conquer Abia Warriors (DailyTrust)
Adeniji Adewole Kabir of Mfm vs Nasarawa defenders during the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match between MFM and Nasarawa United at Agege Stadium recently. Table-toppers, Plateau United have again shown their intentions to reclaim the title following a comprehensive 4-0 victory over defending champions, Enyimba during Match Day 12 of the Nigeria Professional Football League. Uche Onwuasoanya opened the scoring in the 38th minute before Mustapha Ibrahim doubled the lead in the 59th minute after rising highest to head home a corner from Ibrahim Babawo.
As the game wore on, Abba Umar ended every hope of the ‘Peoples Elephant’ to stage a comeback as he scored the third goal of the game in the 71st minute as he capitalized on poor communication between Nwabili and Adebayo to slot home. Read more
Jesse Lingard fuels Manchester United exit rumours by teaming up with Paul Pogba’s agent (Metro)
Manchester United star Jesse Lingard has reportedly teamed up with Paul Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola. Lingard, 27, has badly struggled for form at United this season and failed to rack up a single goal or assist in the Premier League over the whole of 2019. There are serious questions being asked about Lingard’s long-term future and his latest move has fueled speculation of a potential transfer away from Old Trafford. According to The Daily Mail, the England international has begun speaking with super-agent Raiola and this news has not been well received by many inside the club. Read more
‘Shame on Lazio fans’ – Balotelli upset by alleged abuse (BBC)
Brescia striker Mario Balotelli said Lazio fans should be ashamed of themselves after alleged abuse during the sides’ Serie A match.
A stadium announcement was made during the game urging fans not to sing discriminatory songs.
Balotelli, 29, posted a message on his Instagram account following the match – a 2-1 win for Lazio.
“Lazio fans present at the stadium today, shame on you,” Balotelli wrote, with the hashtag #saynotoracism. Read more