Mother, son, docked in Lagos over assault on policeman (Punch)
A 45-year-old woman, Aminat Salami and her son, Abiodun Salami, 22, on Wednesday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly beating up a police officer.
The defendants, who reside at Iju-Ishaga, Lagos, are standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and assault.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Olasunkanmi Adejumola, told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offences on January 6, at their residence.
He said that the defendants and one other person still at large, assaulted and willfully obstructed ASP Osadiaye Aifeshi, while on official duty. Read more
Lagos reopens isolation centre as COVID-19 infections spike (Guardian)
The Lagos State Government Wednesday said it has reopened the Indo Isolation Centre at Anthony to create more bed spaces for severe to critical cases of COVID-19 patients in the state.
The State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, made the disclosure through his verified Twitter account @ProfAkinAbayomi on Wednesday, while giving update the state’s COVID-19 status for January 10.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Indo Isolation Centre is a private COVID-19 care Centre with 50 bed capacity.
The centre was among the seven Centres shut down by the state government when the state’s COVID-19 cases declined in 2020. Read more
Passengers stranded as commercial drivers protest in Lagos (Punch)
Commercial drivers on Wednesday protested against alleged extortion by officials of the Lagos State task force.
The protest left many passengers stranded along the Agege-Ogba-Berger axis of Lagos.
As of 12.14 pm, gridlock had begun to pile up along the route with many passengers trekking long distances.
Some of the drivers held weapons in a bid to resist further arrests.
They also attacked their colleagues who attempted to convey passengers and dislodge others.
The protesters barricaded the road at the popular Omole junction. Read more
Third Mainland Bridge: FG, stakeholders review diversion points by 4-weeks (Guardian)
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Olukayode Popoola, says adjustments to be made on existing diversion points on the Third Mainland Bridge will now last between Jan. 15 and Feb. 13.
According to Popoola, the decision to extend the diversion shifts to four weeks from Jan. 15 to Feb. 13 was reached at a stakeholders meeting.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos that the bridge was not going to be closed and that the traffic switch over the period was still the same.
He added that the existing traffic arrangements were still valid, but the contractor would move the current diversion point towards Oworonsoki and close the Adekunle slip road on the Lagos Island-bound carriageway. Read more
Former Lagos governor, Ndubuisi Kanu, is dead (ThisDay)
A former military governor of Lagos and old Imo States, Rear Admiral Ndubisi Kanu (rtd), is dead. He died Wednesday morning at 77.
THISDAY gathered that he died at a private hospital in Lagos of undisclosed illness.
A naval officer, Kanu was a chieftain of NADECO, a pro-democracy group that fought late General Sani Abacha for the revalidation of the annulled June 1993 Presidential election won by late Chief Moshood Abiola.
He was among eminent Nigerians, who signed an ultimatum calling on the Abacha junta to revalidate Abiola’s mandate and hand over power the late politican and business mogul. Read more
NECO releases 2020 SSCE results
(Punch)
The National Examinations Council has released the 2020 Senior School Certificate Examination results.
This was disclosed by the Registrar, Professor Godswill Obioma while speaking at the NECO headquarters in Minna, Niger State.
The registrar said four schools in Adamawa State, two each in Kaduna, Katsina and Niger States as well as one each in Taraba State the FCT were derecognised by the Council for engaging in mass cheating.
He said the Council also blacklisted 24 supervisors who engaged in aiding and abetting, connivance with non-candidates to write answers on chalkboards. Read more
FCTA demolishes five wrestling theatres, arrests 25 for violating COVID-19 protocol (ThisDay)
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has pulled down five local wrestling and drama theatres popularly called ‘Gidan Drama’ and ‘Gidan Dembe’ for allegedly continuously violating the COVID-19 safety regulations.
It carried out the demolition exercise yesterday at Dakibiyu, Gwarimpa 1 and Sector Centre districts, with the support of armed officers of the Nigerian Police, State Security Services (SSS) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The Head of Media, Public Enlightenment and Advocacy of the FCT Ministerial Enforcement Taskforce, Mr. Ikharo Attah, who addressed journalists during the exercise, which lasted for over three hours, said the removal of the structures was inevitable following repeated warnings to the owners and operators of the Gidan Drama and Gidan Dembe to stop operations because they were prohibited to so do under the COVID-19 protocols and guidelines. Read more
UNIJOS to resume January 22
(Punch)
After more than nine months of closure, the University of Jos will on January 22 reopen to continue its academic activities for the 2019/2020 session.
The University announced this on Wednesday in a statement signed by it’s Deputy Registrar, Information and Publications, Abdullahi Abdullahi.
He said the reopening of the University was approved by the Senate of the institution at its 4th special meeting held on Monday, January 11, 2021.
Abdullahi said, “The Senate of the University of Jos has considered and approved an amended Academic Calendar for 2019/2020 Session of the University. Read more
20% of Nigeria’s COVID-19 vaccines to be donated, official says (Guardian)
Nigeria is expected to receive donations of COVID-19 vaccine that will cover 20 percent of its population, Reuters reported.
According to the report, the country will then procure an additional 50 percent of its vaccine requirement to achieve herd immunity.
Ben Akabueze, Nigeria’s Budget office boss, made the announcement during a virtual conference of the 2021 budget presentation on Tuesday.
Akabueze said the donation will include all types of vaccines. Read more
Bruce Willis calls not wearing mask in Rite Aid ‘an error in judgment’ (PageSix)
Bruce Willis now says not wearing a mask inside a Rite Aid this week was a mistake.
“It was an error in judgment,” Willis told People late Tuesday. “Be safe out there everyone and let’s continue to mask up.”
Page Six exclusively reported that Willis, 65, was asked to leave the Los Angeles store Monday after he “refused” to wear a mask and made employees and other customers upset.
His decision raised eyebrows, as Willis had a bandanna tied around his neck that he could’ve used to cover his nose and mouth. Read more
Brazil data shows China vaccine 50.4% effective (BBC)
A coronavirus vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac has been found to be 50.4% effective in Brazilian clinical trials, according to the latest results released by researchers.
It shows the vaccine is significantly less effective than previous data suggested – barely over the 50% needed for regulatory approval.
The Chinese vaccine is one of two that the Brazilian government has lined up.
Brazil has been one of the countries worst affected by Covid-19. Read more
Oral sex with multiple partners linked to HPV cancers: study (NYPost)
People who have had 10 or more oral sex partners were found to be 4.3 times more likely to develop human papillomavirus-related mouth and throat cancer, according to new research.
Scientists from Johns Hopkins University also found that having oral sex at a younger age — and with more partners — also increases the risk for the cancers caused by HPV.
“Our research helps patients and physicians answer the question of, ‘Why did I develop HPV-related … cancer,” study co-author Dr. Virginia Drake told UPI.
“Risk of infection is not solely related to number of lifetime oral sex partners, as timing of oral sex and type of partner also play a role,” said Drake, a head and neck surgeon at Johns Hopkins. Read more
Syria war: Suspected Israeli strikes on Iran-linked targets ‘kill dozens’ (BBC)
Israel has reportedly carried out a wave of air strikes on Iran-backed militia positions in Syria overnight, in the fourth such attack in two weeks.
The Syrian state news agency Sana said Israeli aircraft attacked the eastern Deir al-Zour and Albu Kamal regions.
It did not mention any casualties, but the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 14 Syrian soldiers and 43 allied militiamen were killed.
Israel has not commented, but it often attacks Iran-linked targets in Syria. Read more
‘Womb raider’ Lisa Montgomery is first woman executed in US since 1953 (NYPost)
A Kansas woman was executed Tuesday for strangling an expectant mother in Missouri and cutting the baby from her womb, the first time in nearly seven decades that the US government has put to death a female inmate.
Lisa Montgomery, 52, was pronounced dead at 1:31 a.m. Wednesday after receiving a lethal injection at the federal prison complex in Terre Haute, Indiana. She was the 11th prisoner to receive a lethal injection there since July when President Trump, an ardent supporter of capital punishment, resumed federal executions following 17 years without one.
“The craven bloodlust of a failed administration was on full display tonight,” Montgomery attorney Kelley Henry said in a statement. “Everyone who participated in the execution of Lisa Montgomery should feel shame.” Read more
Chuck Norris’s rep denies actor was at Capitol riots after photo of lookalike circulates on Twitter (Metro)
Chuck Norris’s reps have spoken out to deny the actor was at the Capitol riots in Washington DC last week after a photo of a lookalike went viral. The actor, 80, was actually at home in a different State when the riots took place and the picture in question is simply of a fairly good lookalike. His rep, Erik Kritzer, told People: ‘This is not Chuck Norris and is a wannabe look-alike although Chuck is much more handsome. ‘Chuck remains on his range in Texas where he has been with his family.’ Read more
Rebel Wilson: I was once kidnapped at gunpoint in Africa (PageSix)
Rebel Wilson revealed she was once kidnapped at gunpoint while on vacation in Africa.
She said the “petrifying” night occurred in “rural Mozambique” and left her and her group fearing for their lives.
“We were on this cattle truck and these men came on another truck with a lot of guns,” the Australian actress recalled on the Sky One series “Straight Talking” (via Daily Mail). “[They pulled up beside us] with the big guns and they were like, ‘Yeah, you’ve got to get off your truck.’”
The “Pitch Perfect” star, who didn’t specify when the incident occurred, said her group obeyed orders and were taken to a “house in the middle of nowhere.” Despite her fear, Wilson said she was able to reman calm. Read more
United’s Pogba urges calm ahead of Liverpool clash (Guardian)
Paul Pogba says he and his Manchester United team-mates must remain relaxed despite being in the unaccustomed position of topping the Premier League when they travel to champions Liverpool on Sunday.
Pogba’s goal secured United a 1-0 win over Burnley on Tuesday which sent them three points clear of the Reds.
United are top of the table after the turn of the year for the first time since they last won the title in Alex Ferguson’s swansong as manager in 2013.
Pogba has been more used to headlines in the past few seasons speculating about his future. Read more
CHAN 2020: Covid-19 rules, tickets, security for the tournament in Cameroon (BBC)
The delayed 2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN), the tournament for home-based players, kicks off in Cameroon on 16 January.
The Local Organizing Committee say it is ready to host the tournament and are putting the final touches in place ahead of Saturday’s .
It will be the continent’s biggest football tournament, which was scheduled for April last year, since the outbreak of Covid-19 and here is everything you need to know about the football tournament. Read more
Footballers warned to obey strict new COVID-19 guidelines by sports minister (Metro)
Sports minister Nigel Huddlestone has warned footballers to get on board with tough new covid-related protocols after players from the likes of Manchester United and Sheffield United appeared to flout the Premier League’s stricter advice on Tuesday. Following the scenes which accompanied the FA Cup ties at Marine and Chorley over the weekend, the authorities have been urged to clamp down on any unnecessary contact between players. As a consequence, substitutes are now required to wear face masks, while hugging, hand shaking and shirt swapping has been discouraged. All three ‘offences’ were committed last night as Manchester United beat Burnley at Turf Moor to move three points clear at the top of the Premier League table, while Chris Wilder’s Blades finally earned their first win of a torrid campaign at the 18th attempt. Read more
Embiid stars in Sixers’ overtime win over Heat (BBC)
Joel Embiid scored 45 points for the Philadelphia 76ers as they claimed an overtime win over the Miami Heat.
Thirty-five of Embiid’s haul came in the second half and overtime, and he also notched 16 rebounds, five steals and four assists in a 137-134 victory.
Team-mate Danny Green equalled a franchise record with nine three-pointers in his 29 score, while Tyler Herro top-scored for the Heat with 34.
Victory saw the Sixers end their three-game losing streak. Read more
Arsenal confirm results of Gabriel Martinelli scan after injury scare (Metro)
Gabriel Martinelli will only be sidelined for a few days with Arsenal confirming that the Brazilian youngster’s injury is not as bad a first feared, though he misses Thursday’s clash with Crystal Palace. The 19-year-old rolled his ankle in the warm-up before facing Newcastle in the FA Cup third round on Saturday and had to be pulled from the starting line-up. Martinelli was left in tears and watched the match on crutches, with Mikel Arteta initially worried that he could face another long spell out of action – though he was more optimistic at his press conference on Monday ahead of facing Palace. Arsenal have now received the results of his scan and found no serious issues, with Martinelli returning to training in the coming days and expected to be back in action in Monday’s Premier League clash with Newcastle. Read more
Australian Open: Francesca Jones qualifies for first Grand Slam tournament (BBC)
Britain’s Francesca Jones overcame a “wee mental breakdown” because of cuts on her fingers to qualify for a Grand Slam for the first time.
The 20-year-old booked a place at the Australian Open with a crushing 6-0 6-1 victory over China’s Lu Jiajing in the final round of qualifying in Dubai.
“I’m just super happy to qualify and really looking forward to getting out to Oz,” she said.
The Australian Open starts on 8 February in Melbourne. Read more