Over three weeks after, I still carry bullets in my body – Lekki Toll Gate shooting survivor (Punch)
One of the survivors of the shooting that marred the #ENDSARS protest at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, Meshack Esanibi, says the bullets he took into his left leg are yet to be extracted over three weeks after the incident that nearly claimed his life.
On October 27, PUNCH HealthWise reported the story of Esanibi who was rushed to the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island, after he was allegedly shot on the left leg by soldiers drafted to disperse the #ENDSARS protesters at Lekki Toll Gate.
Security agents had shot at the protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate on Tuesday, October 20, leading to yet-to-be ascertained number of casualties. Read more
We never used live ammunition on #EndSARS protesters – Nigerian Army tells panel (Guardian)
The Nigerian Army on Saturday denied using live ammunition on unarmed #EndSARS protesters, during the alleged Oct. 20 shooting at the Lekki Tollgate before the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Army made the denial before the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters.
Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Taiwo, Commander of the 81 Division, Military Intelligence Brigade, Victoria Island, Lagos, who testified on behalf of the Nigerian Army said that the military had fired blank ammunition into the air to disperse protesters on the night of the alleged shooting. Read more
Dismantling a rogue pension regime (Thisday)
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, last Tuesday unfolded plans to repeal the public officials’ pension law, which grants certain benefits to former elected governors and deputy governors.
The governor, who gave the hint during his 2021 budget presentation to the House of Assembly, said he would send an Executive Bill to scrap the law, because the entitlements were not sustainable due to financial constraints.
He said the repeal of the law would reduce the cost of governance and foster the spirit of selfless service. Read more
10-year-old comedienne Emmanuella builds house for mum (Nation)
Popular YouTube child comedienne, Emmanuela Samuel, has built a house and presented it to her mother as a Christmas gift.
Taking to her Instagram page on Saturday, the 10-year-old girl, who is made popular by her role in Mark Angel Comedy’s web series, shared pictures of herself, her mother and other members of her family within the premises of the newly constructed building.
She hinged her decision to build a house for her mother on her (mother’s) care, support and encouragement.
She said: “I built this for you, mum, for all the prayers, the encouragement and support. I know you said you want a portable house, and this is it. Read more
Senate President launches free medical outreach in Yobe (Guardian)
The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, on Saturday launched a free medical outreach for the treatment of eye related diseases and other ailments at Gashua in Bade Local Government Area (LGA) of Yobe.
Lawan said that the outreach was a necessary intervention for the residents of the area.
“This medical outreach is in line with what we believe to be important and necessary as an intervention for our people who need either surgeries or general treatments to recover or improve their sights,’’ he said. Read more
House members bicker over 2021 FERMA budget (Thisday)
For more than two weeks now, both Chambers of the National Assembly have been working to ensure that the 2021 budget is passed in record time latest by December. As such, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government have been coming to defend their budgets before the various committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
While some MDAs have had a smooth sail in their budget defence, some have not. A lot of padding had also been discovered, while some fictitious plans with outrageous budgetary allocations have also found their way into the budget of some MDAs.
So, it was a familiar story, when the Managing Director of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Mr. Nurudeen Rafindadi, last week, informed members of the House Committee on FERMA that the Ministries of Finance and Works and Housing inflated the 2021 budget of the Agency by over N11 billion. Read more
Bauchi teenager allegedly stabs man to death over girlfriend (Punch)
The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested an 18-year-old man, Kabiru Ahmed, for allegedly stabbing another man to death over a girlfriend.
The Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ahmed Wakil, said this in a statement on Friday night.
He stated that a good Samaritan reported to the police that the deceased was stabbed in the chest and was rushed to a hospital where he was certified dead. Read more
Crime: 69 Ex-Soldiers, Policemen Arrested In 2 Years (DailyTrust)
No fewer than 169 security operatives were arrested for alleged involvement in various crimes in different parts of the country between 2019 and August this year, an investigation by Daily Trust on Sunday reveals.
The suspects comprised of serving, retired, dismissed and deserter officers and men of the Nigerian Army, the Police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Findings revealed that while some of the ex-security personnel engaged in criminal activities out of greed, others became deviant because of frustration or unfair treatment by their superiors that forced them out of service. Read more
Black Panther bosses rule out using digital version of Chadwick Boseman in sequel (Metro)
Marvel bosses have ruled out using a digital version of Chadwick Boseman in the Black Panther sequel, following his death. The actor – who played the iconic superhero in the 2018 movie – died in August, after a battle with cancer. Speaking about the follow-up, a studio executive explained they are still discussing how to move forward from the tragedy. In a chat with Argentinian publication Clarin, Victoria Alonso reportedly ruled out using a CGI version of the star. According to a translation from the Wrap, she said: ‘No. There’s only one Chadwick and he’s not with us. Read more
Rockets fired from Ethiopia reach Eritrea (BBC)
Rockets have been fired from the restive Tigray region of Ethiopia across the border at the capital of Eritrea, local media and diplomats say.
Explosions were heard in Asmara as several rockets landed on the outskirts of the city but there were no immediate reports of injuries.
Tigray’s ruling party, which is locked in a conflict with Ethiopia’s federal government, had threatened an attack.
The party’s forces fired rockets earlier at another region of Ethiopia.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) said it had targeted two sites in the Amhara region on Friday and warned of further strikes. Read more
Singer Jeremih Hospitalized in ICU with COVID-19, Rappers Ask for Prayers (TMZ)
Jeremih is currently on a breathing ventilator within the ICU he’s being treated at, and we’re told his condition has recently gotten worse.
Jeremih is fighting for his life, battling COVID-19 — he’s currently hospitalized in the ICU and the prognosis is bleak … sources tell TMZ.
Sources with direct knowledge tell us the R&B singer is being treated at a hospital for COVID-19. It’s unclear how long he’s been admitted, or how long he’s had the virus … but he is not doing well.
Word that he was seriously ill started percolating online Saturday — with rappers like 50 Cent, Chance the Rapper, producer Hitmaka and others asking for prayers on Jeremih’s behalf, but not necessarily saying what exactly was wrong with him at first. Read more
3 years after Mugabe overthrow, many Zimbabweans say life’s worse (AlJazeera)
Having lost his job as a sales assistant in an electrical consumables shop, Amos Chivedede at first believed Emmerson Mnangagwa, the man who succeeded Zimbabwe’s longtime President Robert Mugabe in a military coup three years ago, was a godsend.
The reason? Mnangagwa’s promises of jobs and democracy.
“Today, we are witnessing the beginning of a new and unfolding democracy,” Mnangagwa told local and foreign journalists after his return from brief exile on November 22, 2017, a day after Mugabe resigned under duress.
“The voice of the people is the voice of God,” he said at the Harare headquarters of ZANU-PF, the party that has governed Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980. Read more
Why did McFly break up? (Metro)
McFly finally broke their four-year hiatus this year after releasing their highly-anticipated new album Young Dumb Thrills – their first album in 10 years. The pop rock boyband have been heartthrobs of teenage girls across the world since the release of their hit debut song ‘5 Colours In Her Hair’ in 2004. After years of phenomenal global success, seven no.1 singles, and becoming household names, Tom Fletcher, Dougie Poynter, Harry Judd, and Danny Jones decided to call it quits and announced an ‘indefinite hiatus’. Read more
Thousands of pro-Trump protesters rally in Washington DC (BBC)
Thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump have turned out in Washington DC to back his unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud in the US election.
Flag-carrying demonstrators were joined by members of far-right groups including the Proud Boys, some wearing helmets and bullet-proof vests.
Earlier supporters swarmed Mr Trump’s motorcade as he drove past on his way to his golf course.
Joe Biden won the 3 November election. Read more
Lil Pump ‘didn’t vote in US election’ after publicly endorsing Donald Trump (Metro)
Lil Pump raised eyebrows when he endorsed Donald Trump for President in the US election – but reportedly didn’t even vote for him. The Gucci Gang rapper shared his support for the Republican candidate, who eventually lost to Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. However, it has now been claimed the 20-year-old – real name Gazzy Garcia – was not among those heading to the polls to vote in the state of Florida. According to Florida voter rolls, via Page Six, he has never been registered to vote. Read more
Eagles go for another COVID-19 tests, to arrive in freetown tomorrow (Guardian)
Players and officials of the Super Eagles went through another round of COVID-19 tests yesterday to ensure they are in good condition for the second leg of the Cameroun 2021 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Sierra Leone, in Freetown.
The Eagles disappointed Nigerians when they went from being 4-0 up against the Leone Stars to a 4-4 in the first leg of the AFCON qualifier at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, Edo State, on Friday.
Super Eagles Media Officer, Femi Raji, told The Guardian yesterday, that the latest round of tests was part of the conditions stipulated for the team, which would leave for Freetown tomorrow. Read more
Lewis Hamilton prepares for history at unpredictable Turkish Grand Prix (BBC)
For the first time all year, a Mercedes is not on pole position for a grand prix.
Ironically, though, this development probably makes it even more likely that Lewis Hamilton will become the most successful racing driver in history on Sunday.
Hamilton starts the Turkish Grand Prix from an unexpected sixth place on the grid, after Mercedes struggled in difficult wet conditions on a track surface the world champion said had less grip than any he had ever experienced.
The man in the position more familiar to Hamilton is Canadian Lance Stroll, who took his first career pole in what has to be counted as one of the biggest shocks in Formula 1 in years, if not decades. Read more
Igali promises monetary assistance to 10 top wrestlers (Guardian)
The Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) President, Daniel Igali, has pledged financial support to the top 10 wrestlers in the country, as a way of alleviating their transportation difficulties.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the athletes have not attended any competition since February, after their participation at the African Championships in Algiers, Algeria.
Each of the top 10 wrestlers, who are preparing for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games qualifying tournament in Morocco next March, is expected to get N10, 000 monthly from the NWF boss to cushion the economic effect of Covid-19. Read more
Gareth Southgate tested positive for coronavirus but kept it secret from England players (Metro)
England manager Gareth Southgate tested positive for coronavirus and was suffering with symptoms of the virus last month, but did not tell his players as he didn’t want to cause a fuss. The 50-year-old was forced into self-isolation for 10 days after the positive test and eventually produced a negative test result. The Sun reports that the positive test came in around 25 Ocotber, allowing to isolate at home in Yorkshire before linking up with his England squad for the current international break. The isolation only kept Southgate from attending some Premier League matches at the end of October and start of November. Read more
Masters 2020: Dominant Dustin Johnson takes four-shot lead at Augusta (BBC)
World number one Dustin Johnson will take a four-stroke lead into the final round of the Masters after a dominant performance at Augusta on Saturday.
Johnson pulled away with a bogey-free seven-under 65, his second of the week, to lead on 16 under after round three.
The American, chasing a first Green Jacket, equalled the Masters’ record lowest score after 54 holes.
South Korea’s Sungjae Im, Abraham Ancer of Mexico and Australia’s Cameron Smith are closest to him at 12 under. Read more
Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante the unlikely hero in star-studded France win over Portugal (Metro)
There were some of the finest attacking players in the world on show on Saturday night in Lisbon, but it was Chelsea’s holding midfielder, N’Golo Kante who scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win for France over Portugal. The French boasted the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Kingsley Coman, Anthony Martial, supported by Paul Pogba and Adrien Rabiot. Meanwhile, Portugal looked equally threatening on paper, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix, Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes in their starting line-up. Read more
Sergio Ramos misses 2 penalties on record night (BBC)
Sergio Ramos had two penalties saved on the night he became the most capped male European player as Spain drew with Switzerland in the Nations League.
Ramos was winning his 177th cap, taking him past Gianluigi Buffon’s record – but it was a game to forget.
The 34-year-old had his first penalty saved by Yann Sommer as he tried to place it in the corner.
His second was an attempted chip which barely left the ground as Sommer held on to it.
He had scored his previous 25 attempts for Spain and Real Madrid. Read more