Over 70 killed during #EndSARS in Lagos unclaimed – SAN (Punch)
The interim Chairman, Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), says over 70 corpses of persons killed in Lagos during the #EndSARS protests have yet to be claimed.
Falana said this during an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday.
The Chief Coroner of Lagos State, Mojisola Dada, had in a public announcement on November 19, 2020, called on relatives of people who lost their lives between October 19 and 27 to visit the Lagos State Teaching Hospital to identify and claim bodies of their loved ones. Read more
Lagos automates land administration (Guardian)
To ease land registration process and curb corruption in the system, the Lagos State Government has adopted integrated land administration automation.
The system, which will come fully on stream in the first quarter of 2021, will allow clients to do all their land transactions online, even at the confines of their homes and offices.
Disclosing this during the 2020 stakeholders’ meeting in Alausa at the weekend, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Lands Bureau, Mr. Bode Agoro, chronicled government’s efforts since 2003 to change the manual system, which is no longer in tune with current realities. Read more
One killed as motorcyclists, task force clash in Lagos (Punch)
One person has been reported killed during a clash between motorcyclists and policemen attached to the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit in the Agric area of Ikorodu Road on Friday.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the clash started with a shouting match between the policemen and the motorcyclists and later degenerated into the use of different weapons, including bottles, cutlasses and guns.
Eyewitnesses, who spoke to PUNCH Metro, said there were continuous shootings, which sent shivers down the spines of residents and business owners operating along the Garage, Benson and Agric axis in Ikorodu. Read more
How 80 Katsina Islamic pupils were rescued, say police, military (Thisday)
The Police and the military yesterday narrated how 80 pupils of Hizburrahim Islamiyya School in Mahuta village of Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State, who were abducted by bandits on Saturday, were rescued, saying they achieved the feat after a gunfight.
The Islamic pupils were said to have been abducted while returning from Maulud celebration at Alkasim village of the local government area on Saturday night.
The abduction came barely a week after another group of bandits kidnapped 344 pupils of Government Science Secondary School Kankara, Katsina State on a day President Muhammadu Buhari arrived in Daura, his hometown in the state, on a week-long private visit. Read more
Command nabs two during Lagos traffic robbery (Punch)
Two suspected members of a cult, Awawa Boys, have been arrested by men of the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly terrorising residents in the Oko-Oto area of the state.
The police identified the suspects as Rasak Babatunde, 22, and 16-year-old Idowu Wasiu.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Sunday, said Babatunde and Wasiu were arrested after the operatives foiled a traffic robbery on the Otedola Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Read more
Lawyers, criminologists to head EFCC (Sun)
Few weeks after Ayo Salami-led panel of inquiry submitted a comprehensive report to President Muhammadu Buhari on alleged diversion of assets by a suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, the Senate has initiated moves to reform the anti-graft body.
According to a Bill sponsored by a senator from Cross River State, Professor Sandy Onor, the chairmanship of the EFCC would no longer be restricted to serving or retired senior police officers or security agents.
The Bill also seeks to amend the EFCC Act to include other criteria for the selection of a Chairman for the Commission. Read more
Oil marketers seek consistency in downstream sector liberalisation (Nation)
The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) has urged the Federal Government to remain consistent with its policies, especially the liberalisation of the petroleum downstream sector.
Its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Clement Isong, made the call at the AfCFTA Oil and Gas virtual workshop organised in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
At the workshop, with the theme: Nigeria – Africa’s Refining and Services Hub Under the AfCFTA, Isong said the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) was long overdue and a step in the right direction for the industry to progress to the next stage of growth. Read more
Nda-Isaiah for burial Dec 28 (Sun)
The remains of the late Chairman of Leadership Group, publishers of Leadership Newspapers, Mr Sam Nad-Isaiah will be laid to rest on Monday, December 28, 2020.
According to a statement by his brother, Mr. Abraham Nda-Isaiah, the funeral activities will start on Wednesday with virtual tribute for the late media mogul which will start at 12noon. Dignitaries expected to participate in the events include former heads of state, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
The foremost traditional ruler in Niger State, Etsu Nupe, Dr Yahaya Abubakar, is also expected to participate in the events. Nda-Isaiah held the traditional title of Kakaki Nupe, spokesperson of the Nupe people, among several other traditional titles. Read more
ASUU strike: NANS gives FG Jan. 15 ultimatum (Sun)
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has given the Federal Government till January 5, 2021 to resolve its impasse with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Describing the ongoing strike action as the longest so far, NANS said in Katsina that it would mobilise its members to block all federal highways indefinitely at the end of the ultimatum until the issue is resolved.
President of NANS, Sunday Asefon, who addressed a press conference after a visit to the rescued Kankara schoolboys, said “it is ridiculous that government and ASUU have not found a common ground yet and this is leaving us with no other alternative than to do everything within our power to bring an end to this strike.” Read more
Miss France runner-up April Benayoum targeted by anti-Semitic tweets (BBC)
The runner-up of the Miss France 2021 competition has been subjected to a torrent of anti-Semitic abuse on social media, promoting outrage and a police investigation.
April Benayoum, 21, was awarded second place in the pageant during a televised ceremony on Saturday.
She revealed her Israeli origins in an interview at the event, leading to anti-Semitic attacks on Twitter.
The tweets were widely condemned by French politicians and Jewish groups. Read more
Dozens of anti-Lukashenko demonstrators detained in Belarus (VOA)
A Belarusian human rights group says security forces have detained dozens of people during protests calling on strongman Alexander Lukashenko to step down.
The Vyasna rights group said on December 20 that at least 42 people had been detained in the capital, Minsk, and the cities of Barysau, Homel, Hrodna, and Salihorsk.
Marches and rallies were reported in several districts of Minsk, accordng to RFE/RL’s Belarus Service, with many carrying the opposition’s red-and-white flag or banners. Read more
US reaches long awaited deal for coronavirus aid (BBC)
After months of wrangling, US lawmakers have agreed to a roughly $900bn package of pandemic aid, including money for businesses and unemployment programmes.
The money is set to accompany a bigger $1.4tn spending bill to fund government operations over the next nine months.
It comes as many Covid-19 economic relief programmes were set to expire at the end of the month.
About 12 million Americans were at risk of losing access to unemployment benefits. Read more
Saudi Arabia shuts down international air, see & land travel over new fast-spreading Covid-19 strain (RT)
Riyadh has sealed its borders for all passenger travel for at least a week, suspending international flights as well as entry to sea and land ports over a mutant Covid-19 variant that was first discovered in the UK.
With a growing number of European countries locking out travel from the UK, Saudi Arabia has pulled all the stops in its effort to curb the spread of the new strain of the coronavirus, imposing a sweeping ban on all commercial travel, Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday, citing an ”official source” with the country’s Interior Ministry.
The ban will see all international flights, save for “exceptional cases,” be suspended for a period of one week, that may be extended for yet another week. Land and sea ports will be closed for international arrivals as well. Read more
UN condemns growing repression in Thailand (VOA)
The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights is expressing alarm at the growing repression and clampdown on freedom of expression and assembly in Thailand.
In recent weeks, Thai authorities have charged at least 35 protesters, including a 16-year-old student, with defaming the country’s royal family. A spokeswoman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ravina Shamdasani, said the juvenile’s arrest is particularly alarming.
She said the young boy was arrested on so-called lese majeste charges after participating in a fashion show mocking the royal family’s fashion style. Lese majeste is a provision of Thailand’s criminal code, that carries sentences of between three and 15 years’ imprisonment for defaming, insulting or threatening the country’s royal family. Read more
Ariana Grande engaged to boyfriend Dalton Gomez (Metro)
Ariana Grande has announced she is engaged to boyfriend Dalton Gomez. The singer, who recently released new album Positions, shared the happy news on Instagram on Sunday much to the shock of her fans. She posted a series of loved up photos with Dalton and a couple of snaps of her very fancy engagement ring. The 7 Rings singer, 27, wrote the caption: ‘Forever n then some’. Read more
European regulator says Boeing’s 737 Max is safe (BBC)
The head of Europe’s aviation safety agency, EASA, has told the BBC he is “certain” Boeing’s 737 Max is now safe to fly.
Executive Director Patrick Ky said his organisation had “left no stone unturned” in its review of the aircraft and its analysis of design changes made by the manufacturer.
The plane was grounded in March 2019.
That was after it was involved in two catastrophic accidents, in which a total of 346 people died. Read more
Lewis Hamilton wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year award (Metro)
Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton was crowned as BBC Sports Personality of the Year for the second time after a record breaking year in his sport. Hamilton, the 67th winner of the award, was the favourite to win the gong after equalling Michael Schumacher’s record of seven world titles with his fourth consecutive championship. He also surpassed the German great’s total of 91 Grand Prix victories. After winning the award, the British driver said: ‘I want to say congratulations to all the incredible nominees. I’m so proud of what they have achieved. Read more
200 players ready for Valuejet Para Table Tennis Open Championship (Guardian)
Over 200 players from across the country will today battle for honours in the 44 events lined-up for the finale of the annual Valuejet Para Table Tennis Open championship billed for the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
Among the competitors are six Tokyo bound Paralympians, who are also aiming to affirm their supremacy in their various classes. A new set of players are aiming to displace the established stars, especially in men’s class four and five, as well as women’s class four and 10.
Paralympics debutants like Isau Ogunkunle, Victor Farinloye and Faith Obazuaye are still unbeaten in all their matches and they are expected to reaffirm their reign in their classes when the finale holds, while Sydney 2000 Paralympians Tajudeen Agunbiade and Olufemi Alabi will be at loggerheads with each other in the men’s class 10. Read more
Ghana win WAFU B U-20 Championship (Nation)
Ghana came from behind to beat Burkina Faso 2-1 and win the WAFU B U-20 Championship trophy at the Stade Charles De Gaulles in Porto Novo on Sunday.
Set-piece specialist Percious Boah was the Black Satellites hero, as he set up a goal before firing the winner from a freekick to hand his country the title in the Benin capital.
It was his second freekick goal of the tournament that also serves as the Total U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Mauritania 2021 qualifiers.
Despite the victory of the Ghanaians, Burkina Faso midfielder Botue swept all the individual awards as he was named the Best Player of the Tournament and added the Top Scorer Award for scoring three goals in the tournament. Read more
Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson overpowers Geoff Neal in UFC Vegas 17 headliner (RT)
Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson served notice that he remains among the most high caliber strikers in the UFC’s welterweight division as he blitzed Geoff Neal in a conclusive five-round main event in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
Former two-time title challenger Thompson was on the front foot throughout the fight, beating former ‘Contender Series’ standout Neal – winner of five straight under the UFC banner – to the punch in practically every exchange en route to being awarded a unanimous score of 50-45 on each of the judges’ cards.
The results rarely looked in doubt, even from the early exchanges after the opening bell. Thompson, the UFC’s premier karate specialist, used his dynamic arsenal to stifle the game Neal who, despite displaying impressive heart, rarely found any type of foundation with which to pressure his opponent. Read more
Marcus Rashford honoured at BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards (Metro)
Marcus Rashford has been honoured with a special award at the BBC Sports Personality awards show on Sunday evening after his work to raise awareness of child food poverty in the UK. Rashford, who was part of the Manchester United side who beat Leeds United 6-2 on Sunday afternoon, was presented with the Panel Special Award after he successfully campaigned for the government to extend free school meals during the coronavirus pandemic. The main Sport Personality of the Year award is based around sporting achievements but the judging panel unanimously agreed the England international deserved to be commended this year. Read more
Benzema stars as Real Madrid move level with Atletico at La Liga summit (Guardian)
Karim Benzema scored the opening goal and created two others as Real Madrid won 3-1 at Eibar on Sunday to move level on points with city rivals Atletico at the top of La Liga.
Benzema and Luka Modric scored inside the first 13 minutes in the Basque Country to put Zinedine Zidane’s men on their way to a fourth straight league win, with Lucas Vazquez scoring a late third after Garcia Kike pulled one back for Eibar.
Real sit behind Atletico on goal difference, but have the better head-to-head record, which is how level teams are split at the end of the season. Read more
Scott McTominay stars as Manchester United smash Leeds United in Premier League thriller (Metro)
Scott McTominay scored two goals in the first three minutes as Manchester United smashed Leeds United 6-2 in a thriller to climb to third in the Premier League. In the first league meeting between these teams in 16 years, five goals were scored in an exhilarating first half, with McTominay becoming the first player in Premier League history to score twice inside three minutes. Bruno Fernandes and Victor Lindelof were also on target for the hosts, who went 4-0 up before Liam Cooper headed home for Leeds shortly before half-time. Read more