Medical doctor, 17 others in EFCC net over Internet fraud
(Punch)
The Uyo Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday arrested a 28-year-old medical doctor, Chijioke Precious, and 17 others over alleged Internet fraud in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
The EFCC identified the other suspects, whose ages ranged between 21 and 34, as Anthony Joshua, Henry Mezie, Chukwuebuka Ahiwe, Michael Chinagorom, Jossy Irokwe, Ibe Chukwuebuka, Iroadinma Chibuike, Uchechukwu Divine and Nwosu Emmanuel.
Others are Kenneth Williams, Mmesoma Oparanozie, Chikezie Ogochukwu, Uchenna Ejiogu, Victor Chijioke, Chidera Cyprian, Chukwuebuka Precious and Anyaehie Kelvin.
The agency said the suspects were arrested around 1am on Wednesday in the Umuguma area of World Bank, Owerri, Imo State.
The EFCC said it recovered from the suspects luxurious cars, including one green Lexus ES 350, one blue Lexus ES 320, two Toyota Venza, one silver Lexus RX 350, one black Toyota vehicle and one white Mercedes Benz 4Matic. Read more
Estate residents seek justice as thugs, police brutalise CSO (Guardian)
Residents of Pearl Garden Estate, Sangotedo, Ibeju Lekki area of the state, have called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Lagos State government to save them from constant threat and harassment from a former developer of the estate over alleged plans to sell the green area in the masterplan.
The resident accused the developer of several attempts to sell the green area of the estate and unleash terror on residents.
They said after refusal and attempts to ward off unsuspecting buyers from the green area through a caveat mounted in the field, the developer resorted to bringing armed security officers to forcefully pull down the caveat and brutalise anyone that opposes their mission.
The Public Relations Officer of Pearl Garden Estate Residents Association, Godwin Egbebe, who spoke with The Guardian, said the developer came with some armed policemen in uniforms to the estate, who claimed they were from the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in Abuja to serve the residents warrant not to disrupt the developer from selling the green area of the estate. Read more
Apapa gridlock: Sanwo-Olu’s traffic team helpless as miscreants, “okada” riders take over road (Vanguard)
There seems to be no respite in sight on the perennial gridlock along the Apapa/Oshodi Expressway, Lagos, as all entry and exit points of the route from Ijesha to Berger Yard end, on Wednesday, were completely blocked due to the activities of recalcitrant truck drivers and miscreants.
Ironically, the newly created Lagos State Traffic Management Team, by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and other traffic officials saddled with the responsibility of controlling traffic along the axis, were on the sideline leaving motorists to the mercy of miscreants and commercial motorcyclists, called “Okada” riders, leading to a total gridlock for several hours.
The new Lagos Traffic Management Team is headed by Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr Toyin Fayinka, with General Manager Lagos Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Mr. Jide Oduyoye, as one of the members.
The chaotic situation which was said to have started building up from 11 am, grew worst at about 3 pm, with the road been on standstill. Read more
Truckers ordered to leave Apapa in 10 days (Nation)
Lagos State Government has given all truckers operating at Apapa Ports 10 days to remove them or they will be impounded.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation Oluwatoyin Fayinka, at a stakeholders’ meeting, said truckers who do business in Apapa need not make life unbearable for others, especially residents.
He said the state has taken over the management of traffic at Apapa, following the dissolution of the Presidential Task Team (PTT), headed by the Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo. Read more
Lagos pays N1.5bn pension benefits (Sun)
The Lagos State Government said it has paid N1.51 billion in pension benefits to 292 retirees even as it reiterated commitment to the welfare of pensioners.
A statement by the Public Affairs Officer, Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) Mariam, Adetokunbo Eko, quoting the Director-General, Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), Babalola Obilana, who spoke at the 82nd Bond certification presentation ceremony in Lagos recently, while issuing pensioners their certificates, assured retirees of the state government’s dedication to the well-being of its workforce even in retirement.
In his words, “LASPEC has gone beyond the excuses of retirees waiting endlessly before they can gain access to their funds, the world is moving forward and so are we. We are dedicated to our retirees because they have painstakingly contributed their quota towards making a greater Lagos.” Read more
Minister petitions IG over alleged fake news (Nation)
Youth and Sports Development Minister Sunday Dare has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to investigate Sylvanus Ofekun for alleged criminal defamation and incitement capable of threatening national security.
The petition, submitted to the IGP on February 16, alleged that Ofekun, with the moniker “Sleeky Sly” on social media, accused the minister of daily benefitting from Lagos Concession Company (LCC), operator of the Lekki Tollgate, which has been at the centre of the #EndSARS protests.
The petition reads: “Our client was surprised when Mr. Sylvanus Ofokun, also known as Sleeky Sly, published unfounded and baseless allegations of corruption against our client through direct reference and innuendo. Read more
EFCC urges Supreme Court to return Metuh to prison (Nation)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged the Supreme Court to reverse the December 16, 2020 judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which voided the conviction and sentencing of the former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, and his firm, Destra Investments Limited.
In three separate notices of appeal filed by its lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir, the EFCC also urged the apex court to void the Appeal Court finding that a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Mohammed Sambo Dasuki, was indicted in the February 25, 2020 judgment by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In the verdict, Justice Abang had convicted Metuh and his firm for money laundering, sentencing the politician to seven years in prison and ordering that the company be wound up.
Read Also; Metuh’s metamorphosis
But the Court of Appeal revered the judgment on the grounds that the trial judge exhibited bias in handling the case and ordered a retrial. Read more
Lent: Reps Minority Caucus calls for prayers, sacrifice (Vanguard)
The Minority caucus in the House of Representatives has urged Nigerians to use the forty-day Lenten period to pray for peace and unity of the nation
The lawmakers, in a statement by the Minority Leader, Rep. Ndudi Elumelu (PDP-Delta), on Wednesday, noted that “the 40 days of prayers, fasting and abstinence must lead to inward renewing, self-discipline and faithfulness as contained in the teachings of Lent”.
Elumelu tasked Nigerians, especially leaders, not to be carried away by the outward observations but allow for an innermost spiritual rejuvenation and redirection as reinforced by the period of Lent.
He stressed that “such spiritual direction is key towards restoring hope and pulling our nation out of the woods of our current political, economic and social predicaments. Read more
Kidnapping: Police deploy anti-riot squad in FCT (Sun)
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Police command has deployed a total of 150, anti riot policemen to deal with rising cases of kidnapping which is ravaging most villages and towns in the nations capital.
The 150 police personnel comprise mostly operatives from the Mobile Police Force, Counter Terrorism Unit and Special Forces. commissioner of Police Bala Ciroma, said they are to reinforce the on-going counter kidnapping operations in various parts of the territory and achieve result in the shortest possible time.
He also said their deployment wouldstrengthen security, dismantle and dislodge all criminal hideouts especially kidnappers camp within the FCT and urged them to involve the communities where they are deployed to boost their operations
Addressing the personnel, the commissioner said it was important for the men to involve members of the communities who understand the terrain to achieve the desired result. Read more
Eddie Murphy worried about ‘tainting’ “Coming To America”’s legacy with ‘bad’ sequel (Metro)
Eddie Murphy rarely puts a foot wrong with his comedic genius but he admits having fears about ‘tainting’ Coming To America’s legacy by releasing a ‘bad’ sequel. The comedian is reprising his iconic role as Akeem alongside Arsenio Hall (Semmi) and a host of new faces for Coming 2 America, set to debut on Amazon Prime in March. It’s the sequel which longtime fans of Eddie have desired for three decades but the actor had a pretty solid reason for the lengthy wait. Speaking to Essence magazine, he explained: ‘The one thing that I didn’t want to do was a bad sequel to a movie that a lot of people have a lot invested. Read more
US charges three North Koreans over $1.3b theft (BBC)
Three North Koreans have been charged in the US over a scheme to steal and extort more than $1.3bn (£940m) from banks and businesses around the world.
The three, who are not in custody, are also accused of deploying malicious cryptocurrency programs.
A Canadian-American citizen was also charged with money laundering.
The men are also accused of being part of the Wannacry cyber-attack of 2017, which crippled UK health service computer systems on a national scale. Read more
Driver arrested for allegedly killing Nicki Minaj’s father in hit-and-run (France24)
A driver accused of striking and killing US rapper Nicki Minaj’s father in a hit-and-run has been arrested, police said Wednesday.
Charles Polevich, 70, was charged with “Leaving the Scene of an Accident with a Fatality and Tampering with Evidence,” New York state’s Nassau County Police said on Twitter.
Polevich, who pleaded not guilty, was released on a $250,000 bond, his lawyer Michael Scotto told CNN.
Minaj’s 64-year-old father Robert Maraj was walking down the street in the municipality of Mineola on Long Island on Friday when he was struck by a car.
The driver fled the scene and Maraj was taken to the hospital where he died Saturday. Read more
Emma Stone is ‘brilliant, bad and a little bit mad’ as Cruella trailer drops (Metro)
Dogs of the world, beware – Cruella is here. The trailer for the 101 Dalmatians villain’s origin story has dropped, and we can expect drama, fire and a whole lot of fashion, dahling. Emma Stone stars as the titular Cruella de Vil, who says that people were ‘scared that she would be a psycho’. She says over the trailer: ‘A new day brings new opportunities, and I was ready to make a statement. How does the saying go? I am woman, hear me roar.’ Read more
Japan’s LDP party invites women to ‘look, not talk’ at key meetings (BBC)
Days after Japan’s Olympics chief was forced to resign over sexist comments, its governing party has decided to invite women to attend key meetings – as long as they do not speak.
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) proposed allowing five female lawmakers to observe its all-male board meetings.
They cannot talk during the meeting – only submit opinions afterwards.
Women in Japan have long been alienated from politics and economic participation. Read more
NASA Mars rover Perseverance robot heads for daunting landing (BBC)
The moment of truth has arrived for the US space agency’s Perseverance rover.
The six-wheeled robot is fast approaching Mars after a seven-month, 470-million-km journey from Earth for what unquestionably will be the most challenging part of its mission.
It’s got to put itself down safely on the Red Planet – a task that has befuddled so many spacecraft before it.
But if Perseverance is successful, it has an amazing opportunity to find signs of past life on Mars. Read more
Facebook blocks news stories in Australia to protest revenue-sharing law (France24)
Facebook Inc will block news content from being read and shared in its news feed in Australia, drawing a line in the sand against a proposed Australian law that would require it and Alphabet Inc’s Google to pay the country’s news publishers for content.
The move, announced in a blog post on Wednesday, represents a divergence in responses among the big tech giants to demands by news publishers, which have blamed the companies for destroying their advertising business.
Australia Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said he had a “constructive discussion” with Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg on Thursday, adding the talks with the company on the proposed media payment law would continue.
“(Zuckerberg) raised a few remaining issues with the government’s news media bargaining code and we agreed to continue our conversation to try to find a pathway forward,” Frydenberg said in a tweet. Read more
D’Tigers subdue South Sudan 75-70 to qualify for 2021 Afrobasket (DailyTrust)
D’Tigers became the first team to qualify for the 2021 FIBA Afrobasket Championship after yesterday’s hard fought 75-70 victory over South Sudan at Salle Mohamed Mzali arena in Monastir, Tunisia.
In the first ever meeting between both teams in November 2020, D’Tigers defeated South Sudan 76-56 with Ike Iroegbu leading the offensive with 13pts, 8 assists, 7 rebounds and a steal while Caleb Agada scored 16pts and 2 assists.
In yesterday match, youngster Iroegbu continued from where he stopped in the first phase of the qualifiers as he contributed 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists to D’Tigers’ victory.
South Sudan’s Nuni Omot was on rampage all through the night scoring 27 points, four rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block but his efforts were not enough to save his team from defeat. Read more
Man City beat Everton to open up 10 point lead (BBC)
Carlo Ancelotti believes Manchester City are hurtling towards a third Premier League title in four seasons after his Everton side were beaten by the Premier League leaders.
The Everton boss said it was “almost impossible” to compete against Pep Guardiola’s side, who extended their lead at the top to 10 points with 14 matches remaining.
“I think so, it is really difficult to say another name,” said the Italian when asked if Everton had lost to the team that will become champions.
“It was hard, almost impossible. At the moment they are the best team, they have quality, power, belief.
“It is very difficult to compete with them.” Read more
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta speaks out on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s coronavirus lockdown rule breach (Metro)
Mikel Arteta has defended Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after the striker appeared to break coronavirus lockdown rules by getting a new tattoo. The 31-year-old was pictured on Instagram alongside Spanish tattoo artist Alejandro Nicolas Bernal with a new inking on his hand, though UK government regulations required tattoo parlours – both mobile and static – to close during the latest lockdown. Neither of the men were wearing masks or social distancing, with Arsenal confirming they would look into the matter amid suggestions tattooist Bernal is part of Aubameyang’s bubble. Read more
Former NFL quarterback Tebow ends baseball bid (France24)
Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow abandoned his bid to break into Major League Baseball on Wednesday, announcing his retirement from the sport after four years in the minors with the New York Mets.
The 33-year-old former Heisman Trophy winner joined the Mets in 2016, four years after his last regular season start in the NFL with the New York Jets.
Although he showed promise as an outfielder — hitting a home run in his first at bat during an instructional league game — he remained a minor leaguer during his years in New York.
“It has been a pleasure to have Tim in our organization as he’s been a consummate professional during his four years with the Mets,” Mets president Sandy Alderson said in a statement. Read more
Haaland puts Dortmund in charge against Sevilla (BBC)
Erling Braut Haaland continued his stunning scoring run in the Champions League as Borussia Dortmund put aside their domestic woes to take control of their last-16 tie with Sevilla.
They trailed early on to a Suso shot that deflected in off Mats Hummels.
Mahmoud Dahoud levelled before Haaland got his 17th goal in 13 games in the competition to put them ahead.
It was 18 soon after via a neat finish, with Luuk de Jong scoring late on to give Sevilla hope in the tie.
The substitute’s side-foot finish from a free-kick was reward for a concerted push from the home side that ultimately came too late to level the score on the night. Read more
Arsene Wenger sends message to Thierry Henry over Bournemouth job (Metro) Arsene Wenger believes the Bournemouth job could be the perfect stepping stone for Thierry Henry to eventually make the step-up to Premier League management. The Montreal Impact coach has been heavily linked with a move to the Cherries and reports earlier this evening went as far to claim that he had accepted the club’s offer to take charge on the south coast. Henry had a haphazard stint at Monaco before joining the Impact in Canada but he’s keen to manage in England and has made no secret of his desire to manage Arsenal in the future. Former team-mate Patrick Vieira has been linked with the role but Henry is the current favourite and Wenger says the job would be a ‘good test’ for either of his former players. Read more