One stabbed to death in Lagos cult clash (Guardian)
Barely a week after three suspected cultists were killed in separate clashes in Lagos around Ikorodu and Ajah, the cult war moved to Ilasa area of the state yesterday in a notorious battle for supremacy between the Eiye and Aiye cult groups.
The serene atmosphere of Atinuke Street, Ilasa, changed into pandemonium on Sunday when some members of the Eiye group allegedly butchered to death a young man popularly known as ‘Deco’ while gravely injuring another person simply identified as ‘Ota’.
The victims, according to an eyewitness who pleaded anonymity, were members of Aiye cult group. Read more
Organised labour to begin warning strike Wednesday over minimum wage (Nation)
Organised Labour comprising of Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigeria Labour Congress (TUC) in Ogun State on Monday said they have resolved to embark on two days warning strike with effect from Thursday.
The Labour unions unless the state government invite the workers for discussion on consequential adjustment on the new N30,000 minimum wage on or before Wednesday this week.
The workers stated this in a joint press statement signed by the state leaderships of both NLC and TUC, Comr Bankole Emmanuel and Comr Fajobi Olubunmi as well as Comr Folorunso Olanrewaju and Comr Adebiyi Olusegun, of the Joint Negotiating Council state Chairman and Coordinating Secretary respectively. Read more
Kidnappers kill 7-year old boy after taking ransome in Ogun (Vanguard)
Four-man Kidnap syndicate is currently cooling their feet in Police net after kidnapping and killing of a 7-year old boy, Abdulmalik Musa, after collecting an N300,000 ransom for his release.
The deceased was kidnapped last week Wednesday, at his parent resident by the kidnappers who were said to have connived with the uncle of the deceased boy, Faruq Seidu. Read more
Sex-for-marks: UniAbuja sacks dean (Guardian)
The University of Abuja (UniAbuja) has dismissed a professor and former dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Adeniji Adedayo Abiodun for sexually harassing a student.
UniAbuja’s head of information and university relations, Habib Yakoob, said the Santa’s of the institution also approved the dismissal of Professor Agaptus Buzo – Chibuzo Orji of the Department of Science and Environmental Education, Faculty of Education, University of Abuja, for falsification of academic records, aiding and abetting of examination malpractice.
According to him, “the university council had at its 85th Regular Meeting held on Wednesday, 11th and Thursday, 12th December 2019, considered reports and recommendations from its Disciplinary Committee and after due diligence, approved the termination of the appointment of the two professors. Read more
CAN urges Christians to make pilgrimage a priority (Sun)
Rev. Mathias Echioda, the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger Chapter, has urged Christians to make pilgrimage a priority and save toward it for its obvious religious importance.
Echioda made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Monday.
He said that the call became very necessary as a result of the low number of intending pilgrims.
He said he was not impressed with the 207 intending pilgrims from the state in 2019. Read more
My invention will reduce fuel price to N65, Says Venture prize winner (Vanguard)
Mr Emmanuel Uchechukwu an undergraduate of the Federal University of Technology (FUTO) Owerri who won the first African plus Partner students venture prize of N1.5m has revealed that his invention will reduce PMS price to 65 naira.
Uchechukwu a 300 level undergraduate of Mechanical Engineering who created a mini plant that produces petroleum products including PMS, AGO, DPK from waste plastic material told Vanguard that if the plant prototype was modified the cost of fuel could be as low as 65naira. Read more
Army redeploys 20 Major-Generals (Nation)
The Nigerian Army on Monday carried out a major shakeup with the redeployment of 20 Major Generals.
About 10 Brigadier-Generals were said to have been affected in the shake-up in which the Army said will bring about greater efficiency in the system.
A statement by Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa explained that the redeployment was approved by the Chief of the Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, and took immediate effect. Read more
Five years of thirst: South Africa’s Eastern Cape battles brutal drought (Guardian)
South African farmer Steve Bothma heaved a sigh of relief when the weatherman finally predicted rain.
His excitement was short-lived. Just a few days later, the forecast changed. It was back to cloudless sunshine.
In South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, no one can remember the last proper downpour. Some say it was five years ago, others six. Read more
China’s Xi vows support for Hong Kong leader during ‘most difficult’ time (Vanguard)
Chinese President Xi Jinping met Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam in Beijing on Monday, saying he recognized her courage to govern the Asian financial hub in these “most difficult” times.
“The situation in Hong Kong in 2019 was the most complex and difficult since its return to the motherland,” Xi told local media in brief comments before the closed-door session. Read more
Trump dithers on participation in 2020 presidential debates (Nation)
US President Donald Trump has cast doubt on whether he will participate in the customary televised debates in 2020 ahead of the presidential election in November.
“I will make a decision at an appropriate time,” Trump said as part of a series of tweets in which he bashed the non-profit Commission on Presidential Debates that has sponsored and produced the debates for the past three-decades. Read more
Akwa Utd FC head coach, John Obuh resigns (Nation)
The Head Coach of Akwa United FC, John Obuh, has resigned his appointment with immediate effect.
The resignation, which had been accepted by the management of the club, is the aftermath of a disappointing eight match start to the 2019/2020 NPFL season by Akwa United.
The resignation was disclosed to newsmen in a statement issued by the Akwa United FC Media Manager, Mfon Patrick in Uyo on Monday. Read more
Akwa United appoint Boboye as new coach following Obuh’s resignation (Vanguard)
Akwa United have confirmed the appointment of Kennedy Boboye as the club’s new coach.
Boboye takes the reins at Godswill Akpabio Stadium after John Obuh resigned on Monday following a terrible start to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season. Read more
Man Utd draw Club Brugge, Arsenal get Olympiakos in Europa League (Guardian)
Manchester United will take on Club Brugge in the last 32 of the Europa League while struggling Arsenal will face Greek side Olympiakos following Monday’s draw in Nyon.
United, who won the competition under Jose Mourinho in 2017, travel to Bruges for the first leg on February 20 before returning to Old Trafford a week later.
Arsenal is languishing ninth in the Premier League after sacking coach Unai Emery but finished top of their group in Europe and are also away in the first leg. Read more
Osimhen, Chukwueze deserve CAF Awards, says Rohr (Nation)
SUPER Eagles German coach Gernot Rohr has predicted a close contest between Lille OSC striker Victor Osimhen and Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze for the 2019 CAF Youth Player of the Year.
Five players including Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Borussia Dortmund); Krépin Diatta (Senegal & Club Brugge); Moussa Djenepo (Mali & Southampton) and Nigerian duo of Chukwueze and Osimhen were named in the final shortlist ahead of the award gala to be hosted 7th January 2020 at the Albatros Citadel Sahl Hasheesh, Hurghada in Egypt. Read more
China says Arsenal’s Ozil ‘deceived by fake news’ (Guardian)
China accused Mesut Ozil Monday of being “deceived by fake news” and said he should visit Xinjiang to see for himself after the Arsenal footballer decried the treatment of the region’s Uighur minority.
Ozil, a German national of Turkish origin, condemned China’s crackdown on Muslim minorities in the western region in a tweet Friday and criticised Muslim countries for failing to speak up about the alleged abuses. Read more
Liverpool face Atletico in Champions League last 16 (Guardian)
Holders Liverpool will return to the scene of last season’s Champions League triumph after they were drawn against Atletico Madrid in the last 16 of the competition on Monday and Manchester City face 13-time winners Real Madrid.
Jurgen Klopp’s side will travel to the Wanda Metropolitano, where Liverpool lifted the trophy in June, for the first leg of their tie against three-time runners-up Atletico. Read more
Giroud told to leave Chelsea to keep Euro 2020 hopes alive (Vanguard)
France manager Didier Deschamps has told Olivier Giroud to leave Chelsea if he wants a place at Euro 2020.
Giroud was a member of the World Cup-winning squad of 2018, but his place at the next major international tournament is in doubt due to his lack of game-time at Stamford Bridge. Read more
Johanna Konta fights back to reach Miami Open semi-finals (StockDailyDish)
British number one Johanna Konta fought back from a set down to beat Simona Halep 3-6 7-6 (9/7) 6-2 and reach the Miami Open semi-finals.
Halep, the tournament’s third seed, broke early on in the match in the fourth game to take the opening set, despite Konta saving set points at 5-2 down.
The Brit battled back but was on the verge of being knocked out of the competition when – after breaking Halep in the 10th game of the second set to force a tie-break – she found herself 5-3 down. Read more