Mechanic, 50, in court over alleged theft of vehicle (Vanguard)
A 50-year-old auto mechanic, Nkem Vitalis, on Tuesday, appeared before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged stealing of a Volkswagen bus, worth N800,000.
Vitalis, who resides at No. 20 Anglican Street, off Agbado-Oja in Ogun, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Prosecutor, ASP Akeem Raji, told the court that the defendant committed the offences, with others still at large, on Sept. 19 at Balogun Street, Oshodi, Lagos.
Raji said that the defendant stole a Volkswagen LT bus, property of the complainant, Mr Chidi Eze, from where it was parked. Read more
Panic as Okada riders, task force clash at Mile 2 (Guardian)
Officials of the Lagos State task force and motorcycle operators, popularly called ‘Okada’ riders, yesterday clashed at Second Rainbow area of Mile 2 on Apapa-Oshodi expressway during a raid by the agency around 12:15 pm.
According to eyewitnesses, the Okada riders resisted the task force officials from impounding their motorcycles. In a bid to express their displeasure, the riders set bonfires on the expressway, leading to gridlock. The clash also paralysed activities in the Amuwo-Odofin local government area.
Trouble started when officials of the task force stormed the area in the morning and seized scores of motorcycles, according to Mr. Joshua Emmanuel, chairman, Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), Second Rainbow branch, Mile 2. Read more
Maid abuse: Court dismisses case against Lekki wife (Punch)
An Ikeja Chief Magistrate’s Court has struck out a case of abuse and assault against a fashion designer, Mrs Bisi Olukayode.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr P.E. Nwaka, said the matter was discontinued over indolent prosecution.
Punch Metro in March 2018 reported that a 14-year-old Togolese, Anjuah Sunday, was employed by the Olukayodes to work as a maid at their house on Lekki Gardens Estate Phase 3.
The victim, who arrived in Lagos with her grandmother, was reportedly handed over to the family by an agent. Read more
South-south govs, leaders demand apology from presidency over botched meeting (Thisday)
Governors and leaders of the South-south geopolitical region have demanded an unreserved apology from the presidency for abruptly aborting a crucial stakeholders’ meeting scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt yesterday.
The presidency had fixed a meeting for yesterday with the governors and other leaders of the region to discuss burning national issues affecting the region and the aftermath effects of the #EndSARS protest.
The federal government delegation was supposed to include all the ministers from the geopolitical zone and other persons. Read more
#EndSARS: APC governors commend Sanwo-Olu’s leadership (Vanguard)
The Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) on Tuesday visited Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to commiserate with him and the people of Lagos State over the EndSARS protest mayhem.
Speaking with journalists during the visit at the Lagos House, Marina, the Chairman of the forum, Sen. Atiku Bagudu, commended Sanwo-Olu for demonstrating leadership during the EndSARS protest.
“He has remained committed till date. The panel (Judicial Panel of Enquiry) he set up is making progress and they are independent. The truth is coming out gradually; it is evolving. Read more
Abdulsalami backs North-Central forum, says formation long overdue (Punch)
Former Military Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, has given his blessing and support to the formation of the North Central Peoples Forum.
Abubakar stated that the forum was long overdue and would further lead to the development of the north-central region.
He made this known on Tuesday when the members of the Board of Trustees of the forum, led by General Jeremiah Useni visited him at his Uphill residence in Minna, Niger state.
He said, “The forum is long overdue. It will go a long way to minimise the disharmony between the people in the region and bridge the gap between the tribes in the region and the country. Read more
Police: Alleged abduction of 12 officers being verified (Thisday)
The police said yesterday that the claim that 12 police officers, heading to Zamfara State from Borno State on an official assignment, were abducted by gunmen is being verified.
The officers, of the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), were said to be on their way to Zamfara to conduct a special operation when the kidnappers waylaid them.
The kidnappers were said to have demanded a N10 million ransom.
But the Force Headquarters has told THISDAY that it is making efforts to verify the kidnap claim while the Borno State Police Command denied that any officer was missing from the command. Read more
ASUU strike: Integrity test on UTAS to last eight weeks – Ngige (Punch)
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, on Tuesday, said the integrity test being conducted on the software of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution being proposed by the Academic Staff Union of Universities would take between six and eight months to be completed.
ASUU is currently on strike in protest against the Federal Government’s Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.
In its stead, the union proposed UTAS as an alternative. Read more
UN helicopter made emergency landing, NAF clarifies (Vanguard)
The Nigerian Airforce on Tuesday said a United Nation helicopter develop a fault and made an emergency landing at Banki while describing the reported crash of a military helicopter as a result of it being shot by Boko Haram terrorists as Fake News.
Director of Airforce Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said, “No helicopter was shot down. No helicopter crashed in Borno State today (Tuesday).
His words, “It is sad that a respected media outlet would publish a false, unverified report like this”. Read more
Vanessa Kirby and Shia LaBeouf star in powerful new trailer for Netflix movie Pieces of a Woman (Metro)
Fans have been given a first look at Vanessa Kirby and Shia LaBeouf in moving new Netflix movie Pieces of a Woman.
The film sees Vanessa, 32, and Shia, 34, star as a couple on the verge of parenthood, who are struck by tragedy when they lose their baby during a home birth.
Ahead of the movie landing on Netflix in January, fans have been given a first look at the pair in action in a powerful new trailer, that sees Vanessa and Shia as Martha and Sean Carson, who are left devastated by their grief.
It begins with the pair excited to welcome their new baby, but things take a turn for the worst when Sean is seen rushing out of his home to stop an ambulance as Martha suffers from complications during labour. Read more
Trump fires election security official who contradicted him (BBC)
Donald Trump says he has fired a top election official who contradicted the US president’s claims of voter fraud.
President Trump said he “terminated” Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (Cisa) chief Chris Krebs for his “highly inaccurate” remarks on vote integrity.
Mr Trump has refused to concede the US election, making unsubstantiated claims of “massive” voter fraud.
Election officials said the vote was the “most secure” in US history.
Mr Krebs reportedly incurred the White House’s displeasure over a Cisa website called Rumor Control, which debunked election misinformation, much of it amplified by the president himself. Read more
Pentagon announces partial withdrawal from Afghanistan – 2,500 troops to remain (RT)
The US will withdraw 500 troops from Iraq and 2,000 from Afghanistan before President Donald Trump leaves office, leaving around 2,500 soldiers in each country, Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller has announced.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, Miller said the troop withdrawals will take place before January 15, 2021.
“I celebrate this day as we continue the president’s consistent progress in completing the mission we began two decades ago,” Miller told reporters, adding that the withdrawal decision was a “collaborative” one between Trump and senior US military leaders. Read more
“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion” reveals two cast members initially turned down roles (Metro)
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion is set to reveal a few secrets as Will Smith and his beloved castmates take a trip down memory lane together. The actor joined co-stars Tatyana Ali (Ashley), Karyn Parsons (Hillary), Joseph Marcell (Jeffrey), Daphne Maxwell Reid (Aunt Viv), Alfonso Ribeiro (Carlton) popped up in classic style and recurring co-star DJ Jazzy Jeff for the HBO Max special. As they spoke together in the show’s iconic living room, Jazzy Jeff admitted he had initially refused to take part in the show. He explained to the group: ‘I had no aspirations to act… Will is very good at talking me into things.’ Read more
5 dead, many wounded in suicide bomb attack in Somalia (AlJazeera)
At least five people have been killed in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, after a suicide bomber blew himself up in a restaurant near a police academy.
Mohamed Abdirahman, a police officer at the scene, said two of the victims of Tuesday’s attack were police personnel.
More than 10 people were wounded and rushed to hospital, some in serious condition, Abdirahman told AFP news agency.
Witness Abdukadir Hussein said there had been dozens of people in the restaurant when the attack took place. Read more
French ‘Jetman’ Vincent Reffet dies in training accident (BBC)
A French stuntman famous for airborne feats using jetpacks and carbon-fibre wing packs has been killed in a training accident in Dubai.
Vincent Reffet was part of the company Jetman Dubai.
The 36-year-old went viral for flights over the Gulf city’s waterfront waterfront and the Alps.
A statement said Reffet died “during training in Dubai” but did not give any further details. An investigation into the death is now under way.
“Vince was a talented athlete, and a much-loved and respected member of our team,” the statement said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and all those who knew and worked with him.” Read more
Dolly Parton ‘so proud’ as $1m donation helps fund COVID-19 vaccination (Metro)
Dolly Parton has said she’s immensely proud that a $1million donation to her local hospital has helped find a cure for coronavirus. The legendary country star appeared on The One Show today and spoke about going viral after it was announced that her generous donation was put towards successfully finding a cure.
Talking to Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas, Dolly said: ‘When the pandemic started many months ago, I just kind of felt led to put some money into a programme. ‘Vanderbilt hospital is a wonderful hospital here, and has been so good to me and my family through the years, so I donated a million dollars and they called it the Dolly Parton Covid Fund.’ Read more
Agent plays down Esperance move for Eleke (Punch)
Football agent, Ayo Makinwa, has played down renewed speculation linking Beerschot striker Blessing Eleke with a move to Tunisian club, Esperance.
It is the second time that the Nigerian had been linked with a move to an African team after Al Ahly made a bid to sign him in January while he was at Luzern.
Beerschot broke their transfer record when they splashed €1.5m to sign Eleke from Luzern in August and Makinwa who is the 24-year-old’s agent says it will take a mammoth offer from an African team to lure the Nigerian to the Tunisian league. Read more
Joachim Low’s future under threat as Spain smash Germany 6-0 (Metro)
Joachim Low’s future as Germany boss is under threat ahead of the European Championships after Spain inflicted the biggest competitive defeat in the country’s history with a 6-0 drubbing on Tuesday night. Germany were hoping to book their place in the Nations League Finals with a win against Spain but they were behind after just 17 minutes when Alvaro Morata put the home side ahead. Manchester City winger Ferran Torres grabbed his first of the night just after the half-hour mark and his club team-mate Rodri put Spain three up before half-time. Read more
AFCON Qualifiers: Wingless Eagles grind out bore goalless draw against Sierra Leone (Vanguard)
Nigeria’s Super Eagles played out a goalless draw against Sierra Leone in the reverse fixture of the AFCON qualifying match at the Siaka Stevens Stadium in Freetown.
Nigeria went into the match on the back of a disappointing 4-4 draw on Friday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, with a promise of a better performance.
Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho blew what was Nigeria’s best chance in the game, blasting over the goal after he was put through by Samuel Chukwueze in the 59th minute. Read more
2021 Afcon qualifiers: Mali, Tunisia qualify but Ghana, Nigeria must wait (BBC)
Mali ensured their place at an eighth consecutive Nations Cup finals with narrow hard-fought 2-1 win over hosts Namibia.
All three goals of Tuesday’s Group A encounter came in the opening 40 minutes of the game as Mali had a penalty saved in the second-half and Namibia hitting the post.
Red Bull Salzburg’s Sekou Koita scored after just 12 minutes for Mali as he drove forward to the edge of the area before firing a powerful shot past keeper Virgil Vries in to the top corner.
Vries was at fault for the second goal as Moussa Doumbia cut into the area and fired in a shot from a tight angle that beat the keeper at his near post. Read more
Dominic Thiem stuns Rafael Nadal in ATP Finals classic (Metro)
Dominic Thiem and Rafael Nadal put on a show of the highest quality in a near-empty O2 Arena as Thiem edged closer to the semi-finals with a straight sets win. Thiem, the world No. 3 from Austria with a gorgeous one-handed backhand, has firmly established himself as the best player outside of dominant duo Nadal and Novak Djokovic – and he could even finish this season finished ranked higher than his beaten opponent. If he beats Andrey Rublev next and goes on to win the title and Nadal is beaten by Stefanos Tsitsipas on Thursday, he will climb to a career-high ranking. It’d be hard to argue against him leapfrogging Nadal. This was Thiem, the US Open champion, at his very best. Read more
Olivier Giroud double as France relegates Sweden (BBC)
Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud moved closer to Thierry Henry’s goal-scoring record as France survived a late rally to relegate Sweden.
Giroud netted in each half to move to 44 goals, seven behind the Arsenal legend’s mark.
A deflected Viktor Claesson shot put Sweden ahead but Giroud’s double and a goal from full-back Benjamin Pavard turned things around.
Robin Quaison’s goal gave Sweden some hope but Kingsley Coman sealed the win.
Sweden will now drop into League B.
World champions France had already qualified for one of the four Nations League finals berths next year but went behind when Claesson’s long-range strike went in off Raphael Varane. Read more
Andy Murray defends Novak Djokovic amid question marks over his ‘motivation’ (Metro)
Andy Murray has no worries about the ‘motivation’ of Novak Djokovic, despite the world No. 1 being thrashed by Lorenzo Sonego in Vienna. Djokovic, the world No. 1 from Serbia, bounced back from the astonishing 6-2 6-1 defeat to the Italian lucky loser by cruising past Diego Schwartzman in his opening match at the ATP Finals. After the defeat Djokovic suggested that clinching the world No. 1 ranking – something he had achieved that week – had an impact on his performance. ‘I’ve done what I needed to do and why I came here. I move on completely fine with today’s result and looking to the next chapter,’ said Djokovic after the defeat. Read more