Masked policemen storm clinic, evacuate Dino Melaye (Punch)
Masked persons suspected to be policemen have reportedly stormed the Police Clinic in Garki, Abuja, whisking away embattled Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye. He was believed to have been taken to Lokoja, Kogi State, for interrogation over the alleged shooting of one Sgt. Danjuma Aliu by suspected political thugs. A close associate of the Kogi senator confirmed this to our Correspondent. Our correspondent learnt that the evacuation of the lawmaker was carried out around 2:15 pm Friday in commando style. Read more
APC rally: MC Oluomo may be flown abroad (Punch)
A leader of the National Union of Transport Workers, Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo, may be flown abroad for further treatment, The PUNCH has learnt. A close aide of the union leader, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity on Thursday, said MC Oluomo would travel any time soon as plans had been concluded for his treatment by a specialist in the United States where he is a citizen. This is just as our correspondent gathered that no fewer than three police vans were keeping guard at the hospital – Eko Hospital – where the patient is being treated. Politicians of different calibre were said to have visited the hospital, as security operatives screen everyone going in to see him. Read more
Buhari meets Ooni, Yoruba monarchs in Aso Rock (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met with Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi and representatives of traditional rulers from the South West at the State House, Abuja. Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, the Ooni said the meeting had nothing to do with politics. He said the meeting was to tell the President the importance of including more youths and women in government and to thank him for what he has been doing for the South West. Ooni also said the meeting was to ask for more developmental projects for the zone and appreciate Buhari for the cordial relationship between him and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who is from the South West. Read more
20 persons die, property worth N417.1m destroyed in fire disasters in Gombe (Guardian)
The Gombe State Fire Service said on Friday that 20 people died and property valued at over N417.1 million were destroyed in fire disasters in the state from January to December 2018. Mr Wambai Haruna, a Deputy Director, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe. Haruna said that the service saved 2,053 lives and property worth N4.4 billion while 168 people sustained various degrees of injuries during the period under review. He advised the public to cooperate with personnel of the service by alerting them on time for prompt action during emergency situations. Read more
IG Ibrahim Idris lays foundation of Police PR school (Punch)
The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on Friday laid the foundation of the Nigeria Police Public Relations School in Ilorin. The IGP, represented by Assistant Inspector General of Police, Ahmed Oladipupo, said the school was created to enhance the Police public collaborations based on mutual respect and understanding. He said that the public relations officers who are saddled with the responsibility of standing in for the Police must be equipped with the skills to carry out their assignments. He stressed the need to constantly inform the public of the achievements of the Nigeria Police Force to improve public perception. Read more
Fayemi’s ex-commissioner, other regain freedom (Nation)
The abducted former commissioner of Governor Kayode Fayemi, Remi Olorunleke, on Thursday evening regained freedom. The Director of Administration, Gbonyin Local Government, Mr. David Jejelowo who was kidnapped on separate occasion was also set free by abductors. They were kidnapped on Monday along Ado-Ikare road and spent four days in the kidnappers’ den before getting off the hook. Olorunleke, who hails from Aisegba in Gbonyin local government area of the State, was Commissioner for Lands, Housing, Urban Renewal and Physical Planning during Fayemi’s first term. Read more
Ekiti orders security agencies to rid state of criminals (Nation)
Ekiti State Government has given marching orders to security agencies in the state to thoroughly search the entire state and rid out criminal elements. As part of efforts to strengthening the security architecture of the state, the government has decided to review the State Security Trust Fund Law. These were parts of the decisions reached at an emergency meeting of the State Security Council, held in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on Wednesday evening. In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Yinka Oyebode, and made available to journalists on Friday, the meeting also resolved that it was necessary to visit key provisions of the law including the need to recognise informal security structures in the state as beneficiaries of the fund. Read more
Defeated Congo presidential candidate to challenge results in high court (Vanguard)
The runner-up in DR Congo’s presidential elections said Friday he would appeal to the Constitutional Court for a recount as his bloc claimed he won the poll with 61 percent of the vote. “We will go to the Constitutional Court on Saturday… (to demand) a recount of the vote,” Martin Fayulu told a rally of his supporters. Provisional results released on Thursday declared Felix Tshisekedi victor with 38.57 percent of the vote, just ahead of Fayulu with 34.8 percent. Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, the candidate backed by outgoing President Joseph Kabila, came a distant third with 23.8 percent. Read more
Bus crash kills 7 in Cuba (CNN)
Officials in Cuba are investigating the cause of a bus crash that left seven people dead in the eastern party of the country, state media reported. A bus was headed from Baracoa to Guantánamo on Thursday afternoon when it flipped over. The region is mountainous with winding roads. Of the 40 passengers, 18 people were Cubans, and the others were tourists from the Netherlands, Mexico, England, France and Canada. Officials were working to identify the dead. According to state media, 33 injured passengers arrived at a hospital in Guantánamo for treatment. Read more
Chinese children given expired polio vaccines in latest scare (Vanguard)
At least 145 children were administered expired polio vaccines in eastern China, state media reported, despite the government promising to prevent such lapses in the industry following a major scandal last year. Thirteen county-level health officials in Jiangsu province have been dismissed since the case came to light earlier this week — the latest to raise public health concerns — Jinhu county government said late Friday according to state broadcaster CCTV. Three other county-level health officials are under investigation and a case has been established against a local official, the broadcaster said. Read more
Serena still force on Melbourne return (Guardian)
Serena Williams was eight weeks pregnant during her 2017 Australian Open triumph and though she has failed to add to her tally of 23 Grand Slam titles, the American is still regarded as the dominant force in women’s tennis. The 37-year-old took a year off after the birth of her daughter, Alexis Olympia in September of that year, before returning to action last season, when she reached the finals at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Her quest for another major fell at the final hurdle on both occasions, however, with defeats to Germany’s Angelique Kerber in London and rising Japanese star Naomi Osaka in New York. Read more
Sarri blasts ‘unprofessional’ Bayern over Hudson-Odoi interest (Punch)
Maurizio Sarri has lashed out at Bayern Munich for their “unprofessional” behaviour after the Bundesliga club publicly expressed their interest in Chelsea starlet Callum Hudson-Odoi. Chelsea boss Sarri is furious that Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic said this week that they “definitely” want to sign Hudson-Odoi during the January transfer window as he “has the qualities which would fit very well” with the German champions. Chelsea have reportedly turned down a £35 million ($45 million) bid from Bayern for the 18-year-old, who has less than 18 months to run on his current contract and has so far refused to sign a new five-year deal, and Sarri is unhappy with Bayern’s public approach. Read more
Bayern to appeal as Mueller suspended for Liverpool tie (Guardian)
Bayern Munich said Friday they will appeal the two-match Champions League suspension handed to Thomas Mueller which means the Germany international will miss both legs of their last-16 tie against Liverpool. European football’s governing body UEFA handed Mueller a two-match ban on Friday following his sending-off in the 3-3 draw away to Ajax in their final group game last month. Mueller was shown the first straight red card of his career for kicking Ajax defender Nicolas Tagliafico in the head. Read more
Suspected commercial sex worker charged with stabbing friend (Punch)
A 21-year-old suspected commercial sex worker, Charity Emmanuel, who allegedly stabbed her friend with a knife, was on Friday brought before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court. Emmanuel, who resides at Ikeja area of Lagos State, is facing a charge of assault, occasioning harm. The Prosecutor, Inspector Benson Emuerhi, told the court that the accused committed the offence on December 27, 2018, at 5.00 p.m. along Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos State. According to Emuerhi, the accused stabbed her friend, Joy Emezie, on her body causing her bodily harm. Read more
Man allegedly pours acid on ex-wife’s lover, stabs him to death (Punch)
A man allegedly poured acid on his ex-wife’s lover, after which he also reportedly stabbed him to death. The suspect reportedly attacked his former wife’s lover while the woman and her lover were in a room at her father’s house. The Benue Police Command on Friday arraigned the suspect, one Abunde Goja, 32, who allegedly killed his ex-wife’s lover. Goja was charged with conspiracy, culpable homicide and membership of unlawful society before a Makurdi Upper Area Court. The Prosecutor, Inspector Veronica Shaagee, said that Goja attacked and killed Mr. Terdoo Shitov of Judges Quarters, Makurdi. Read more