One dies, three others injured as Cocoa House elevator crashes (Tribune)
One person died and three injured at Cocoa House, Ibadan on Wednesday following the crash of an elevator in the building.
According to the statement signed by the Head of Corporate Affairs, Oodua Investment Company, Ltd (OICL), Mr Victor Ayetoro, “At around 11am this morning, the lift installation team from our contractor handling the lift and who were working on dismantling the old lift in readiness for a new lift instalment, while working on the lift suffered a mechanical failure. The said failure resulted in the lift car dropping and crashing into the basement pit.
“Unfortunately, one of the technicians in the team did not survive the incident. Read more
Lagos deputy governor loses brother to COVID-19 (Guardian)
Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat has lost his younger brother, Haroun, to COVID-19.
Haroun, a medical doctor, reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 before his death according to his colleagues, TVC reported.
“It is with utmost sadness that I announce the passing of my younger Brother. Dr. Haroun Hamzat,” the deputy governor said in an Instagram post on Wednesday.
Haroun was 37 years old. Read more
UNILAG loses second professor in three days (Punch)
A former Dean of Faculty of Education at the University of Lagos, Professor Duro Ajeyalemi, died at 70 on Wednesday.
He reportedly died of coronavirus-related complications at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, in Lagos.
The PUNCH gathered that Ajeyalemi, who retired from the university in November 2020, was also the pioneer registrar of the Joint Universities Preliminary Examination Board. Read more
#EndSARS: Petitioners narrate how officers threaten them to implicate Saraki (Tribune)
Two petitioners before the Kwara State judicial panel of inquiry on #EndSARS protest, in Ilorin on Wednesday, narrated how they were tortured and humiliated by men of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The petitioners, Alhaji Kehinde Gobir and Alhaji Shuaib Jawando, who accused the SARS officers of the alleged high depth of impunity and human rights abuses, said they were arrested for alleged involvement on April 5, 2018, Offa robbery incident.
The people, who said they spent over 73 days in police detention in both Ilorin and Abuja, added that the police accused them of collecting guns from the former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to allegedly participate in the robbery operation. Read more
Police to arraign Deeper Life school officials over alleged sexual abuse (Guardian)
Nigeria Police Force in Akwa Ibom is set to arraign Deeper Life school officials over alleged bullying and sexual abuse of a minor, Premium Times reported on Wednesday.
According to PremiumTimes, David Okokon, lawyer to the parents of the abused 11-year-old student of the school said he would be in court today for the arraignment.
“They (the police) are arraigning those people found culpable, this morning,” Okokon said. Read more
Minimum wage: Ekiti govt, labour reach agreement (Punch)
The Ekiti State Government and the organised labour in the state have reached an agreement on minimum wage and consequential adjustment for workers in the state.
The agreement covers those in core civil service, local government service, the judiciary and also the health workers in the state.
A statement made available to The PUNCH by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ekiti State, Olayinka Oyebode, revealed that the implementation of the consequential adjustment commences in January 2021.
The statement said, “The new development is a product of a series of meetings between labour leaders and government negotiation team as well as meetings with the state Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi at the tail end of last year. Read more
Nigerians to pay N15,000, other charges to correct NIN details, says NIMC (Guardian)
Nigeria’s National Identity Management Commission has said correction of details in the National Identity Number (NIN) will attract varying charges.
The charge, according to NIMC regional coordinator in Alausa, Lagos, Funmi Opensanwo, varies from correction of details like name, address, card renewal or replacement and date of birth.
“The money we charge is for modification fee,” Opensanwo told Channels Television programme Sunrise Daily on Wednesday.
“For the date of birth correction, the processing fee is N15,000. For card renewal or card replacement, there is a processing fee of N5,000. Read more
Theatre arts practitioners mourn Nollywood actress Orisabunmi (Punch)
The National President of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Mr Bolaji Amusan, on Wednesday expressed sadness over the death of veteran Nollywood actress, Folake Aremu, popularly known as ‘Orisabunmi’.
Orisabunmi died late Tuesday night after a brief illness at the age of 61.
Amusan, in a statement, said Orisabunmi’s demise was a big loss to the entertainment industry and Nollywood in particular.
”O death, where is your victory? Read more
Democrat Raphael Warnock wins U.S. Senate run-off election in Georgia (NBC)
Democrat Raphael Warnock won one of Georgia’s two Senate run-offs Wednesday, becoming the first Black senator in his state’s history and putting the Senate majority within the party’s reach.
A pastor who spent the past 15 years leading the Atlanta church where Martin Luther King Jr. preached, Warnock defeated Republican incumbent Kelly Loeffler. It was a stinging rebuke of outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump, who made one of his final trips in office to Georgia to rally his loyal base behind Loeffler and the Republican running for the other seat, David Perdue.
The focus now shifts to the second race between Perdue and Democrat Jon Ossoff. If Ossoff wins, Democrats will have a 50-50 seat split with Republicans in the Senate, with vice-president-elect Kamala Harris poised to cast tie-breaking votes. Read more
Anne Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor plot coronavirus diamond heist as Locked Down trailer drops (Metro)
The trailer for Anne Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor’s upcoming coronavirus movie Locked Down has dropped, and we’re kind of obsessed. You’d think after living through a pandemic that we’d want nothing to do with coronavirus being played out in cinema, but we’re not so sure. Anne and Chiwetel play a couple whose relationship has gone south after being locked down together. Read more
US Congress set to certify Joe Biden victory amid pro-Trump protests (BBC)
US lawmakers are braced for a volatile session to confirm Joe Biden as the next president, as Donald Trump’s supporters protest against the result.
A joint session of Congress will count and confirm electoral college votes.
The proceedings to select the president are usually brief and ceremonial.
But some Republicans loyal to President Trump have vowed to support his efforts to overturn the result by formally objecting at the session, in a bid that is almost certain to fail. Read more
Dr Dre recovering after being admitted to hospital (CBC)
Dr Dre says he will be “back home soon” after the music mogul received medical treatment at a Los Angeles hospital for a reported brain aneurysm.
The rapper and producer said in a social media post Tuesday night that he’s thankful for the “well wishes.” TMZ reported that he suffered a brain aneurysm Monday and was recovering at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
“I’m doing great and getting excellent care from my medical team,” he said. “I will be out of the hospital and back home soon. Shout out to all the great medical professionals at Cedars. One Love!!” Read more
Julian Assange loses extradition bail bid (BBC)
Julian Assange will remain in jail as he continues to fight against extradition to the United States.
District Judge Vanessa Baraitser said there were substantial grounds to believe he would abscond.
On Monday, she ruled the Wikileaks founder cannot be extradited to the US because he might kill himself.
The US is now appealing that decision – and had opposed releasing the 49-year-old from a maximum security prison before the case is heard. Read more
Pregnant Emma Stone pictured cradling baby bump as she expects first child with husband Dave McCary (Metro)
It looks as if Emma Stone will be trading La La Land for ga-ga land… she is reportedly expecting her first child with Saturday Night Live director Dave McCary. The 32-year-old actress was spotted cradling a large bump while strolling through LA on Monday. ‘It’s been so nice for them to be home and have this time together before the baby,’ a source told Entertainment Today. ‘They’re going to be the best parents. They are both great with kids and they make such a great team.’ Read more
Ex-Eagles celebrate Chukwu at 70 (Punch)
Some former Super Eagles players have hailed ex-captain of the national team Christian Chukwu on his 70th birthday on Monday.
Chukwu led the national team, then known as the Green Eagles, to a first-ever Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980 on home soil.
As coach, he was an assistant to Sebastian Brodericks-Imasuen as the Golden Eaglets won the maiden U-17 World Cup in China in 1985. He was also an assistant to Dutchman Clemens Westerhof when the Eagles won a second AFCON title in Tunisia in 1994 and qualified for their first-ever appearance at the World Cup same year. Read more
Man City goalkeeper Carson, 2 others contract COVID-19 (France24)
Manchester City confirmed three more cases of coronavirus on Wednesday, with goalkeeper Scott Carson, teenage midfielder Cole Palmer and a member of staff testing positivefor the virus.
City were without six other players for their Premier League victory at Chelsea on Sunday following positive tests.
“Manchester City FC can confirm that Scott Carson, Cole Palmer and one member of staff have tested positive for Covid-19,” the club said in a statement.
“Both personnel will now observe a period of self-isolation in accordance with Premier League and UK government protocol on quarantine.” Read more
Milan’s Rebic, Krunic test positive for coronavirus before Juve game (Guardian)
AC Milan forward Ante Rebic and midfielder Rade Krunic have both tested positive for coronavirus and will miss Wednesday’s Serie A clash against Juventus, the Italian league leaders confirmed.
“Ante Rebic and Rade Krunic tested positive for a molecular swab carried out yesterday (Tuesday) in anticipation of the match against Juventus,” the club said in a statement. Read more
Barca youngster Alena joins Getafe on loan (France24)
Barcelona midfielder Carles Alena has joined Getafe on loan until the end of the season, the clubs announced on Wednesday.
Getafe, who have dropped to 16th in La Liga, will pay all of Alena’s wages as the 23-year-old looks to kickstart his career away from Camp Nou.
“FC Barcelona and Getafe CF have reached an agreement for the loan of the player Carles Alena until the end of the 2020/21 season,” Barca said in a statement. Read more
Arsenal outcast Ozil nears deal with Fenerbahce: reports (Guardian)
Arsenal’s out-of-favour German midfielder Mesut Ozil is in advanced talks to join Istanbul club Fenerbahce, Turkish media reported on Wednesday.
Ozil is expected to sign a three and a half year deal with the 19-time Turkish champions, the privately-owned DHA news agency reported.
The reports came after the 32-year-old, a World Cup winner with Germany in 2014, fanned speculation by tweeting a photograph of himself in Istanbul with the words: “This city … #throwback #Istanbul.” Read more
LeBron James and Anthony Davis shine as Lakers top Western Conference (BBC)
Anthony Davis and LeBron James each scored 26 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 94-92 win at the Memphis Grizzlies.
James also had 11 rebounds and seven assists for the defending champions, who won their fourth straight game.
Memphis led 71-67 at the start of the fourth quarter before the Lakers moved ahead for good with 4:22 remaining. Read more