One injured, properties destroyed as fire gut buildings in Lagos (Punch)
A yet-to-be-identified person sustained injury as fire gutted a residential building, which also houses an interior decoration firm, Goldland Interiors and Furniture, at Omole Bus Stop in the Ogba area of Lagos State on Monday. The fire, which started around 9am, lasted several hours and destroyed properties said to worth several millions of naira. It was, however, gathered that no life was lost to the inferno. Read more
Buhari approves enhanced salary structure for NPF (Guardian)
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved an enhanced salary structure for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and given assurance that his administration will continue paying attention to the welfare and operational needs of the force, Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement on Monday, said the president confirmed the approval in the State House, Abuja. Read more
IG assures Nigerians of fairness during 2019 elections (Punch)
The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has reiterated the readiness of the police for the 2019 general elections. He also assured stakeholders that the law enforcement agency would be fair to all parties and as well approach the poll with civility. Idris urged Nigerians not to entertain any fear over the elections. Read more
Strike: Fed Govt, ASUU peace talks to continue (Nation)
A scheduled meeting between the Federal Government and striking varsity teachers’ body, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), ended in a deadlock last night. The meeting which started at about 5pm at the Federal Ministry of Education was called to find a lasting solution to the ongoing strike by the lecturers. ASUU members embarked on the strike three weeks ago over the poor funding of Nigerian universities and non-implementation of previous agreements by the government. Read more
I never said I will probe Fayose, says Fayemi (Guardian)
Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has clarified his stance on the fate of the immediate past governor of the state, Ayodele Fayose. Fayemi spoke with State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Fielding questions whether he would probe his predecessor, Fayemi explained that there was never a time he said he would probe Fayose. According to him, reports of such probe are on the table of anti-graft agencies. “Well, I am sure I have never said anything about probe, and I do not say anything about probe. Read more
Tramadol: Nigeria, India set to stop illegal importation (Punch)
The Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali(retd), has said the service is in talks with the Indian High Commission and they are making arrangement to sign a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at stemming the illegal importation of Tramadol and other illicit drugs into the country, from India. The Service had in one week, between Wednesday November 21 and Friday November 23 intercepted over 51 containers of tramadol worth over N8bn. Read more
Release Nnewi traders, they’re not our members, IPOB tells Police (Vanguard)
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, yesterday asked the Anambra state Police Command to release the innocent Nnewi traders they are holding, saying they are not IPOB members and insisting that none of its members was arrested in Nnewi over the alleged killing of a police man and snatching of Police guns. The group also said that no amount of intimidation, harassment and falsehood by the Anambra State Police Command will discourage them from their committed effort in actualization of Biafra. Read more
Buhari, writers mourn award-winning poet, Ikeogu Oke (Punch)
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed deep sadness over the death of poet laureate, Dr. Ikeogu Oke, last Saturday at the National Hospital in Abuja, after a brief illness. According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the President, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Monday, condoled with the family of the deceased and members of the literary community. Read more
10 feared killed in cult clash (Nation)
Ten people have been feared killed in Lessel town, the headquarters of Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State, following attacks by suspected cultists. A resident, James Tor, told The Nation on the phone that some suspected cultists, who came to the town for initiation on a motorcycle, refused to pay the okada rider. It was gathered that when the commercial motorcyclist demanded his money, he was hacked to death. Read more
Chinese charged over Kenya ‘railway scam’ (BBC)
Three Chinese nationals have been charged with attempting to bribe investigators working on an alleged ticketing scam in a massive Kenyan railway project. Some $10,000 (£8,000) a day was being stolen in the scheme, local media say. Officers were allegedly offered a $5,000 bribe, the prosecutor says. The $3bn Chinese-funded and operated railway line is Kenya’s biggest infrastructure project since independence in 1963. Read more
Gamer arrested ‘after rape overheard on gaming stream’ (BBC)
A Florida man has been charged after he was allegedly overheard raping a teenage girl on a PlayStation stream, US media report. Reports say Daniel Enrique Fabian, 18, was playing Grand Theft Auto earlier this year when he allegedly assaulted a 15-year-old girl during a game break. Another player alleged to police that Mr Fabian left a microphone on, and he heard a female in distress saying “no”. The alleged victim told police she was held down and raped by Mr Fabian. Read more
I’m under pressure, Dennerby confesses (Vanguard)
Super Falcons coach, Thomas Dennerby admitted that he was under little bit of tension ahead of today’s semi-final clash between Nigeria and Cameroon, after coming to terms with the level of rivalry between the two nations in the African Women Cup of Nations football contest. Nigeria have played against Cameroon 11 times in the AWCON. Cameroon have only won just one game, while the Super Falcons won nine, these include the 1-0 defeat in the final of the 2016 edition and 2-0 in the final of the 2014 tournament in Nambia. Read more
Newcastle beat Burnley to claim third successive win (BBC)
Newcastle recorded their third successive Premier League victory as they capitalised on Burnley’s defensive frailties to move up to 13th in the table. Federico Fernandez’s effort, which deflected in off Clarets defender Ben Mee for an own goal, and Ciaran Clark’s header from a Matt Ritchie cross proved decisive for Rafael Benitez’s side. Burnley had lost their past 23 top-flight matches in which they had conceded the first two goals and, although, Sam Vokes responded for the home side – connecting with Mee’s long ball to loop a header over goalkeeper Martin Dubravka from almost 18 yards – they were unable to force an equaliser. Read more
Cole released by Los Angeles Galaxy (Guardian)
Former England international Ashley Cole was among eight players released by the Los Angeles Galaxy on Monday, the club announced. The Major League Soccer club said in a statement it had declined to exercise an option to re-sign Cole for the 2019 season. Cole, 37, signed for the Galaxy in 2016 following a glittering club and international career that included stints with Arsenal, Chelsea and Roma. Read more
River Plate ‘mafia’ blamed for attack (BBC)
River Plate hooligans described as the “mafia of Argentine soccer” were behind the attack on Boca Juniors’ bus before the Copa Libertadores final second leg, says the mayor of Buenos Aires. Saturday’s game was delayed by 24 hours then postponed, with its rescheduling set to be discussed on Tuesday. Several Boca players were injured when the windows on the bus were broken on the way to River’s Estadio Monumental. Buenos Aires mayor Horacio Rodriguez Larreta said it was a revenge attack. Read more
Police killing: Court awards N7.9m as compensation to widow (Nation)
The Federal High Court, sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, has awarded N7.9 million to Mrs Queen Akarewan, widow of Christopher Akarewan, who was killed by policemen in Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state on October 13, 2011. The deceased was shot for refusing to pay N50 bribe at a checkpoint on his way home. Akarewan, a commercial cyclist, was said to have offered N30 when the police stopped him at the checkpoint, instead of N50. Read more
Man arrested for allegedly burgling police officer’s house (Punch)
For allegedly breaking into the house of a Chief Superintendent of Police and making away with his money and property, one Mohammed Salisu has been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos. The accused, whose residential address was not provided, is facing two counts of burglary and stealing. It was gathered that the suspect had been living in an uncompleted building within the Police College, Ikeja. Read more
Man accused of abducting, raping American (Nation)
Man, Matthew Adedoyin, 40, was yesterday paraded by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), for allegedly abducting and raping an American woman he met on social media. Paraded alongside Adedoyin was his alleged accomplice, Idowu Ayeni. The duo were arrested at 7, Akanbi Street, Abule Egba in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos where the victim, Tawanda Jackson, 46, was rescued around 2am. DSS Director Mrs. Betty Adoki said the raid of the suspected criminals’ hideout was carried out in collaboration with the operatives of 9 Brigade. Read more
Boy, 14, arraigned for allegedly defiling girl, 4 (Nation)
A 14-year-old boy has been arraigned for allegedly defiling a four-year-old girl. The suspect, who was remanded by an Evboriaria Magistrates’ Court in Edo State, was arraigned on a one-count charge punishable under Section 218 of the Criminal Code Cap 48 Vol. II Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, as applicable in Edo State. He pleaded not guilty. Presiding Magistrate C. E. Oghuma granted him bail at N50, 000 with two sureties. Read more