Man jailed 6 months for stealing refrigerator, others (Punch)
The Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has secured a six-month jail term conviction of one Kolajo Damilare for stealing household items belonging to one Razaq Salaudeen in the Abeokuta area of the state.
The state Commandant of the NSCDC, David Ojelabi, confirmed this in a telephone chat with PUNCH Metro on Sunday.
According to Ojelabi, the convict was arrested on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, around 11a.m by officers of the NSCDC located at Opeji Division while on a routine surveillance patrol of the Bode Olude area. Read more
Nigerian Navy’s Quick Response Team intercepts narcotics, stolen AGO in Lagos (ThisDay)
On two separate operations, the Quick Response Team of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, recently intercepted a massive cache of narcotics as well as a large fibre boat laden with stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
The bags of narcotics were intercepted by the team at Eleko Beach, Lekki as well as Badagry, last Friday while the fibre boat was found to be laden with AGO stored in hundreds of drums and jerry cans at the Liverpool axis of Apapa.
Confirming the arrests, Commander NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga said his Quick Response Team acted on credible intelligence to intercept and confiscate 113 bags of Cannabis Sativa at the beach, adding that the criminals, upon sighting the naval operatives, abandoned the exhibit and fled. Read more
Residents flee Rivers community as gas pipeline ruptures causing panic (Vanguard)
Many residents of Omoku Town in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, have fled their homes, following panic that a pipeline that ruptured in the area Friday might burst into flames.
It was gathered that there was leakage on a gas pipeline in Omoku town beside Grace Orphanage Home, off Egbada Road in Omoku main town reportedly operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC.
The rupture on the gas pipeline was alleged to have been as a result of equipment failure, as the facility was installed in the 60s. Read more
Enugu to spend 30% of 2024 budget on education (Guardian)
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has said his administration will spend 30 percent of the 2024 state budget on the education section sector, stressing that education remains the state’s greatest weapon against poverty.
Mbah stressed his administration’s determination to ensure that the poorest child in the remotest parts of Enugu State receives world class education using tools of the 21st century.
The governor made the declarations in his keynote address at the 19th convocation of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Agbani, on Saturday, where 9,017 graduands received various first and higher degrees. Read more
Lawyer faults Sanwo-Olu over N200m legal fees (Punch)
A Lagos-based lawyer, Festus Ogun, has knocked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for approving the payment of N200m to four law firms who defended him in a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party against the Independent National Electoral Commission and 42 others.
In a document published on the website of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency tagged ‘Letter Of Award Registered For January 2023,’ seen by our correspondent, the sum of N50m each was awarded to four law firms designated as contractors.
They are Ahmed Raji & Co, Akinboro & Co, Babatunde Ogala & Co, and Messrs Femi Okunnu & Co. Read more
Ex-chief of army staff, Chris Alli dies at 79 (Vanguard)
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has expressed heartfelt condolences on behalf of the Nigerian Army, on the passing of former COAS, retired Maj.-Gen. Chris Alli.
The condolence message is contained in a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig -Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), on Sunday in Abuja.
Nwachukwu said the former Army Chief succumbed to a brief illness in the early hours of Sunday at the Military Hospital, Lagos. Read more
CJN to inaugurate 58 new SANs November 27 (Nation)
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, will next Monday swear in 58 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) at the main courtroom of the Supreme Court.
The event is part of the programmes lined up to formally begin the court’s 2023/2024 legal year.
Supreme Court’s Director of Press and Information, Dr. Festus Akande, announced this in a statement yesterday. Read more
Student remanded over attempted rape of 3-year-old girl in Kwara (DailyTrust)
A 21-year-old student, Adamu AbdulGaniyu, a resident of Ajijola Anabi Compound, Ita Kudima, Ilorin, Kwara State, has been remanded for allegedly sexually abusing a three-year-old girl.
The mother of the girl, Maryam Zakariyau, reported the matter at the Oja Oba Police Division.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the minor broke silence on the matter while standing with her mother in front of their house when the suspect passed by. Read more
Bebe Rexha and David Guetta light up the 2023 Billboard Music Awards with “I’m Good” and “One In a Million” (AS)
Pop powerhouses Bebe Rexha and David Guetta joined forces for an energizing performance at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night (November 19). Joined by a string section and surrounded by mysterious fog, Rexha gave a dramatic rendition of “I’m Good (Blue),” the pair’s anthemic collaboration.
After showing off her expansive vocal range, Rexha made her way to a nearby stage, surrounded by cheering fans. She then slid into “One In a Million,” her most recent joint effort with Guetta, trading her orchestra backing for pulsating pop beats. Joined by a team of backup dancers, Rexha delivered a fiery rendition of the song while flying through rapid-fire choreography. Read more
Gambia parents “fight for children” in landmark trial on India syrup deaths (AlJazeera)
It’s the happy memories of his toddler son playing around their home in The Gambia’s capital that are most painful for Ebrima Sagnia to remember. When he tries to speak, Sagnia pauses mid-sentence, muted by grief.
In September last year, Sagnia watched Lamin writhe in pain on a hospital bed. The four-year-old had developed a fever early that month, which was common in the rainy season. His parents had given him prescribed medication, hoping the high temperature would go away, but Lamin developed new symptoms instead, becoming drowsy and unable to pass urine for days. He was rushed to the hospital, but his symptoms persisted.
Despite his discomfort, Lamin just wanted to return to their home in Banjul and play. He loved football and motorcars. When his dad drove, Lamin would sit in his lap and pretend he was the driver. Read more
“Unique” screen and stage actor Joss Ackland dies aged 95 (BelfastTelegraph)
Actor Joss Ackland has died at the age of 95, his family have said.
The screen and stage actor, whose career spanned more than seven decades, died peacefully at home on Sunday surrounded by relatives, the statement given to the PA news agency said.
He appeared in hundreds of films and television productions alongside his “rich and diverse” stage career, and was made a CBE for services to drama in 2001. Read more
Korea Box Office: Five Nights at Freddy’s opens on top, as Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songs and Snakes struggles (Variety)
Mystery-horror film Five Nights at Freddy’s landed on top of the South Korean cinema box office. But fellow new release title The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songs and Snakes managed only a fourth placed start.
Five Nights earned $1.78 million between Friday and Sunday, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council. Over its five-day opening period, it built a total of $2.55 million.
The Marvels, which had topped the chart a week earlier, suffered a painful 71% slump. It managed second place with $689,000 over the weekend, for a 12-day cumulative of $4.84 million. Read more
Russell Brand reportedly interviewed by Met Police over sex offence allegations (Sky)
Russell Brand has been interviewed under caution by the Metropolitan Police over allegations of sexual offences, it has been reported today.
It comes after four women alleged in a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches that the comedian and TV and radio presenter sexually assaulted them between 2006 and 2013.
Brand, 48, has denied the allegations against him and said his relationships were “always consensual”. Read more
Populist Javier Milei wins Argentina’s presidential runoff as Sergio Massa concedes defeat (PBS)
Argentina’s Economy Minister Sergio Massa conceded defeat to populist Javier Milei in Sunday’s fiercely polarized presidential runoff even before the country’s electoral authority released official results.
Massa congratulated his opponent, a right-wing economist who has promised a dramatic shake-up for many of the nation’s institutions and welcomed frequent comparisons of him to former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Immediately after Massa’s concession speech, the Argentine electoral authority released partial results: With 86.6 percent of votes tallied, Milei had 55.95 percent and Massa 44.04 percent. Read more
US ex-President Jimmy Carter’s wife Rosalynn dies aged 96 (BBC)
Former US First Lady Rosalynn Carter, the wife of ex-President Jimmy Carter, has died at the age of 96.
The Carter Center confirmed in a statement that she died peacefully with her family by her side.
On Friday, it was reported that she had entered a hospice care home in the state of Georgia, and was spending time with her 99-year-old husband, who has been in hospice care since February. Read more
Falconets beat Tanzania in U-20 World Cup qualifier (Punch)
Nigeria beat Tanzania U-20 girls 2-1 (3-2 on aggregate) in the second leg of their 2024 U-20 Women’s World Cup African qualifying series second-round fixture at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja, on Sunday to progress to the final round of qualifiers.
Both sides battled to a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Dar es Salaam last Sunday.
The Falconets edged their counterparts 2-1 as goals from Janet Akekoromowei and Comfort Folorunsho ensured that Cristopher Danjuma’s girls sail to the final qualification phase. Read more
Portugal notch 10th straight win, Serbia qualify for Euro 2024 (Vanguard)
Portugal finished their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a 100-percent record by beating Iceland 2-0 on Sunday, after Serbia booked their place at next year’s finals in Germany and Romelu Lukaku scored four goals for Belgium.
Bruno Fernandes and Ricardo Horta netted the goals for Roberto Martinez’s Portugal, with Cristiano Ronaldo not on the scoresheet, to end with 10 wins from 10 matches in Group J.
The 2016 winners will be among the favourites for the title in what could be the 38-year-old Ronaldo’s last major tournament. Read more
Caitlin Foord scores stunning goal as Arsenal stay in touch of Chelsea in the Women’s Super League (ABC)
Caitlin Foord seems determined not to let Matildas captain Sam Kerr too far out of her sights in the cross-London battle for the Women’s Super League title.
Foord continued her fine form on Sunday (Monday morning AEDT), netting her second goal of the season in Arsenal’s 3-0 win at Brighton that keeps the Gunners hot on the heels of Kerr’s Chelsea, their great capital rivals.
Foord’s excellent long-range curler in the 80th minute settled a few Arsenal nerves after they had failed to ram home their early advantage, gained when Stina Blackstenius cashed in on some poor home defending in the 12th minute. Read more
Euro wrap: Romelu Lukaku’s early goal blitz for rampant Belgium against Azerbaijan (RTE)
Romelu Lukaku scored four times in 20 first-half minutes as Belgium thrashed 10-man Azerbaijan 5-0 in Euro 2024 qualifying.
Lukaku headed the opener from Jeremy Doku’s cross before Eddy Pascual was shown a second yellow card for a foul on the Roma striker, who is on loan from Chelsea.
The 30-year-old completed his hat-trick by the half-hour mark and grabbed his fourth after 37 minutes before being substituted at half-time. Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard completed the rout late on. Read more
Jannik Sinner makes ominous prediction for Novak Djokovic’s career after ATP Finals loss (Express)
Jannik Sinner made an ominous prediction as he claimed that Novak Djokovic would be hanging around for a few more years after the Serb clinched a record seventh ATP Finals crown.
The world No 1 dispatched Sinner 6-3 6-3 in Sunday’s final, just five days after losing to the 22-year-old in the group stage. After another dominant season from Djokovic at the age of 36, Sinner believes that his rival isn’t going anywhere.
Djokovic capped off the year by winning the ATP Finals for the seventh time, surpassing the previous record of six titles that he shared with Roger Federer. It was also his seventh title of the season after he managed to set two other records – getting to 24 Grand Slam titles and 40 Masters 1000 crowns. Read more
Cricket World Cup 2023: Australia stun hosts India to win sixth title as Travis Head hits century (BBC)
Australia stunned hosts India in Ahmedabad to win the men’s Cricket World Cup for a sixth time.
Australia quietened the wild support from the 100,000-strong home crowd by dismissing their previously unbeaten opponents for 240 before Travis Head’s sensational century meant they romped to victory with seven overs to spare.
After their bowlers expertly took advantage of a slow pitch, Australia were themselves reduced to 47-3 as India hit back in an electric new-ball spell. Read more