Man jailed 21 years for armed robbery (Punch)
Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court has sentenced a convict, Shola Agboola to 21 years’ imprisonment for armed robbery.
Agboola was arraigned on four counts bordering on armed robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and assault.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
During the trial, the prosecutor, Olabisi Ogungbesan, presented four witnesses and tendered five exhibits. Read more
Lagos tasks residents, others on plastics pollution reduction (Guardian)
The Lagos State Government has appealed to residents and corporate bodies to join forces with the authority to tackle the menace of plastic pollution in the state, by engaging in recycling.
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, made the appeal during yesterday’s “Morning Chats on Lagos Recycle”, which was streamed live online via the Zoom app.
He enlightened the audience on the recycling initiative introduced by the authority aimed at combating the challenge of plastics pollution.
Odumboni noted that the authority, as part of the Lagos recycle initiative, had set up recycling centres at strategic locations in the state, with the vision to have a recycling centre per local council, which would serve as collation centres for recyclables, thus ensuring the minimisation of wastes that end up at the dumpsites. Read more
#EndSARS: Lagos reminds protesters of others’ rights (Guardian)
The Lagos State Government, yesterday, reminded those planning another #EndSARS protests in the state to be mindful of the rights of other citizens of the country, stressing that government will do everything in its powers to safeguard the residents
In a statement issued by Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), said while the state recognised the rights to peaceful protests, demonstrators should not block roads and deny other members of the public their fundamental rights to free movement within the state.
He said any person or group of persons planning to organise protests should bear in mind the exigencies of the COVID-19 health regulations 2021, which prevents any gathering beyond 50 persons and other safety measures including, but not limited to maintaining social distancing and use of face masks. Read more
Lekki toll gate: FG, Lagos, police talk tough as organisers vow protests will hold (Punch)
The Federal Government and the police on Thursday gave strong warnings to youths, who planned to protest at Lekki toll gate, Lagos on Saturday.
But the young Nigerians, under the aegis of #EndSARS Season 2, vowed to defy government’s order banning the protest.
One of them, Kunle Ajayi, in an interview with The PUNCH, said nothing would stop the demonstration from holding.
Another group, under the aegis of #DefendLagos had a few weeks ago threatened to organise a counter-protest at Lekki toll gate. Read more
Bauchi Gov: Herders have no option but to carryAK-47 (DailyTrust)
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has said Fulani herders are compelled to carry firearms in self-defence.
Speaking during the Press Week Celebration organised by Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union Journalists Bauchi State Council, the governor said the arms prevent cattle rustlers from killing them and taking away their cows.
Nigerian refugees in Cameroon to return February 27
Police lied, herdsmen, cattle invaded my residence – Soyinka
Mohammed said the failure of the government to protect the herders made them resort to self-help.
He said: “Because the Fulani man is practising the tradition of pastoralism, he has been exposed to the vagaries of the forest, cattle rustlers who carry guns, kill him and take away his commonwealth, which is the cows. Read more
NIN mandatory for bank accounts, voter registration, says FG (Punch)
The National Identity Number is mandatory for transactions such as the opening of bank accounts, payment of taxes, voter registration, the Federal Government said on Thursday.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, said this in Abuja while hosting the newly elected National Executive Council of the Association Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria.
This came as operators called on the Federal Government to support in the development of a strategic plan to bridge the over N15tn infrastructure funding gap for the telecoms/information communication and technology industry.
In his address at the meeting, Pantami told his guests that the government was determined to ensure that all citizens in Nigeria had their various NINs. Read more
Ferry operations return to Lokoja (DailyTrust)
Normal boat operations have returned in Lokoja following the receding of water on River Niger in Lokoja.
Activities were halted in the middle of 2020 as the river flooded, which made it dangerous for ferry operations.
The Chairman of Ganaja branch of the operators, comrade Siyaka Musa, who spoke to North Central Trust, disclosed that activities at the area have picked up with both passengers and operators enjoying their trips.
Musa said both operators and passengers have no fear of taking a trip unlike a few months ago when it was too risky to operate. Read more
Meghan wins privacy claim against UK newspaper (BBC)
The Duchess of Sussex has welcomed her High Court privacy victory over the Mail on Sunday, saying the damage the publisher has done “runs deep”.
Meghan brought the claim against Associated Newspapers (ANL) over the publication of extracts from a letter to her father.
The judge said Meghan had a “reasonable expectation that the contents of the letter would remain private”.
ANL said it was surprised and disappointed by the judgment. Read more
New Zealand parliament drops tie requirement after Māori lawmaker ejected for refusing to wear one (CNN)
New Zealand’s parliament has dropped its requirement that male members wear neckties, after a Māori leader was ejected earlier this week for refusing to wear one in the chamber.
Rawiri Waititi, 40, argued that forcing him to a Western dress code was a breach of his rights and an attempt to suppress indigenous culture. Instead, on Tuesday he arrived wearing a taonga, a Māori greenstone pendant.
Speaker Trevor Mallard twice prevented Waititi from asking questions in the debating chamber on Tuesday, insisting that lawmakers could only ask a question if they were wearing a tie.
When Waititi continued with his question after being stopped a second time, Mallard ordered him to leave. Read more
China bans BBC World News (DW)
Chinese regulators have accused the UK’s global broadcaster of breaking China’s media code. The move follows the decision by UK authorities to revoke the license for China’s global state TV network CGTN.
Chinese regulators banned BBC World News on Thursday, claiming the global network “seriously violated” the country’s broadcasting rules.
The National Radio and Television Administration cited “the requirement that news should be truthful and fair” and not “harm China’s national interests.” Read more
Afrobeat star Fela Kuti joins Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, others on nominees list for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (CNN)
Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Kuti has been nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for 2021.
The legendary Nigerian musician made this year’s list of nominees more than two decades after his passing.
Fela was nominated alongside 15 other artists including rappers Jay-Z and LL Cool J. R&B stars Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan and Dionne Warwick.
Greg Harris, President and CEO of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame unveiled the list of nominees Wednesday.
Son of a legend carries the torch. Read more
Why the media is saying sorry to Britney Spears (BBC)
“Everybody’s talking all this stuff about me. Why don’t they just let me live?”
So sang Britney Spears on her 2004 single My Prerogative.
More than 15 years on, in the week that a new documentary, Framing Britney Spears, aired in the US, those words are echoing once again.
The New York Times film turns the spotlight on the singer’s treatment by the press before her public breakdown in 2007 and the ongoing dispute over her conservatorship – an arrangement that means she doesn’t control many aspects of her own life and career. Read more
American jazz musician Chick Corea dies of cancer (DW)
American jazz pianist and composer Chick Corea died of cancer at age 79, according to a post on his Facebook page.
The post said Corea passed away due to a rare form of cancer, which was only recently discovered.
“I want to thank all of those along my journey who have helped keep the music fires burning bright. It is my hope that those who have an inkling to play, write, perform or otherwise, do so. If not for yourself then for the rest of us. It’s not only that the world needs more artists, it’s also just a lot of fun,” he said in a message prior to his death, which was shared in the Facebook post. Read more
Super Eagles back in Lagos 20 years after (Guardian)
After more than 20 years outside the Centre of Excellence, Nigeria’s leading sports brand, Super Eagles, are set to make a sensational return to Lagos next month. Yesterday, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) disclosed that the Super Eagles will camp in Lagos ahead of their Cameroun 2022 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Benin Republic in Cotonou, adding that the team will also play their last qualifying tie against Lesotho at the Sportscity.
The Squirrels will host Super Eagles on March 22, 2021.
The last time the Super Eagles played a competitive match in Lagos was 20 years ago when they beat Zambia 1-0 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on January 13, 2001, at the National Stadium.
According to the NFF, the Super Eagles will camp in Lagos to prepare for the African Cup of Nations tie before travelling to the Benin Republic a few days to the game. Read more
Quadri seals two-year contract extension in Germany (Punch)
Aruna Quadri’s performance in his maiden season in the German Bundesliga has earned him a two-year contract extension with TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell.
Regarded as one of the best players in the Table Tennis Bundesliga, the management of TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell were impressed with the Nigerian and handed him a new deal.
Quadri, who joined the German club from Sporting in Portugal in 2020, has been outstanding this season, being the best performing player in the club for the 2020/21 TTBL season.
With four matches to the end of the season, TTC Fulda managed to escape relegation, having won five matches and lost 13 to occupy 10th place in the 12-team league table. Read more
Al Ahly beat Palmeiras to clinch third place at Club World Cup (BBC)
Egypt’s Al Ahly equalled their best-ever finish at the FIFA Club World Cup when defeating South American champions Palmeiras after their third-place play-off ended goalless.
Captain and goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy was Al Ahly’s hero in the shoot-out, saving Felipe Melo’s penalty to ensure that the African champions won 3-2 in Qatar.
El Shenawy had earlier saved Rony’s tame effort while Luiz Adriano missed the target, with Ahly also missing through Amr El-Sulaya and Marwan Mohsen.
Junior Ajayi thought he had made the breakthrough in the second half only for his goal to be narrowly ruled out for offside, while El-Sulaya could have done better with a first-half effort dragged wide. Read more
Bayern Munich crowned Club World Cup champions (CNN)
Bayern Munich claimed a sixth trophy in 12 months with a 1-0 victory over the Tigres in the Club World Cup final.
Benjamin Pavard’s second-half goal ensured the German side continues its remarkable run under Hansi Flick, adding to the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and three domestic titles all won in the space of a year — an achievement only previously matched by Barcelona in 2009.
As expected, Bayern enjoyed far more attacking chances than Mexican side Tigres, the first CONCACAF side to reach the Club World Cup final, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Qatar.
But it was only midway through the second half that the Bundesliga leader went ahead. Read more
Chelsea beat Barnsley to set up Sheffield United quarter-final (BBC)
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel said his side failed to show “enough courage” in their narrow FA Cup win over Championship side Barnsley.
Tammy Abraham scored the winner with his side’s only attempt on target to book a quarter-final home tie with Sheffield United.
Abraham was forced to make a headed goal-line clearance towards the end to deny Barnsley substitute Michael Sollbauer an equaliser.
“We scored the goal and I had the feeling that they increased the risk, but we stepped down in the little decisions,” added Tuchel, who made 10 changes to his side. Read more
English football chiefs call out Facebook, Twitter CEOs over online abuse (DW)
England’s top football officials slammed Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter chief Jack Dorsey for allowing their platforms to be “havens of abuse.”
England’s Premier League and several other top football bodies called for an online clampdown on harmful messages directed at players on Thursday. In a joint letter, the organizations asked Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter co-founder and CEO Jack Dorsey to “use the power of your global systems to bring this to an end.”
The letter warns that racist messages on social media have piled towards footballers in recent weeks. “We have had many meetings with your executives over the years, but the reality is your platforms remain havens for abuse. Your inaction has created the belief in the minds of the anonymous perpetrators that they are beyond reach,” the letter said. Read more