Police arraign 4 for allegedly stealing gold, money worth N5.4m (Vanguard)
Four men, who allegedly broke into an apartment and stole valuables worth N5.4 million, were, on Tuesday, arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The defendants, Daniel Odey, 25; Akor John, 21; Chimeh Ifoma, 20 and Chima Okpara, 34, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy, breaking in and stealing preferred against them.
The Prosecutor, ASP Bisi Ogunleye, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on Oct. 28 at 05:30 pm at Ikeja GRA.
He said that the defendants broke into the residence of Dr Layeni Adeyemo and stole her gold and money. Read more
Lagos State Assembly confirms Sanwo-Olu’s nominees (Guardian)
The Lagos State House of Assembly has confirmed the nominees of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the Local Government Service Commission.
The House confirmed the governor’s nominees through a voice vote coordinated by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa on Tuesday in Lagos.
Obasa listed the nominees that were confirmed to include the commission’s Chairman, Mr Kamal Abiodun Baiyewu.
The other members are Mr Abiodun Orekoya, Mr Ahmed Seriki, Mr Taofeek Adaranijo, and the Vice Chairman of the APC in the state, Hon. Hakeem Bamgbala. Read more
MRA condemns blocking of websites associated with #EndSARS protests (Vanguard)
Media Rights Agenda, MRA has condemned the blocking of three websites associated with #EndSARS protests in Nigeria, describing the action as a brazen and unjustifiable violation of the right to freedom of expression of the operators of the websites and other Nigerians who get information from the platforms.
In a statement issued by MRA, Ms. Chioma Nwaodike, Head of MRA’s Legal Department described the blocking of the websites as illegal and a clear violation of the norms and standards established under international human rights law for the application of any limitation on the right to freedom of expression. Read more
Forbes names Okonjo-Iweala Africa Person of the Year 2020 (Punch)
Nigeria’s former Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been named Forbes Africa Person of the Year 2020, The PUNCH has learnt.
“The 2020 #AfricanOftheYear Award honoree is…Congratulations to Dr. @NOlweala! Board Chair @Gavi; Board Chair @ARCapicity, gracing the cover of @forbesafrica,” the world’s leading voice for entrepreneurial success and free enterprise tweeted on Tuesday.
Reacting to the development, Okonjo-Iweala, who is set to become the first African and first woman to lead the World Trade Organisation in its 25-year history, said she is excited by the prestigious award. Read more
JAMB conducts NIS, NSCDC recruitment Dec 7 (Punch)
The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board will on December 7 and 8, 2020, conduct a Computer-Based Aptitude Test for recruitment into the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The exercise will hold across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
The Ministry of Interior said the partnership was to ensure transparency, equity and justice in the process.
In a statement on Tuesday titled, ‘Interior Ministry partners JAMB for transparent recruitment’, the ministry’s spokesman, Mohammed Manga, said the collaboration “which is aimed at providing all eligible and qualified Nigerians who applied for various posts in the services under the ministry’s watch, is to further give our teeming youths equal opportunity to be employed into the services.” Read more
Buhari launches autogas initiative to alleviate pains of deregulation (Thisday)
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday launched the National Autogas Rollout Initiative targeted at cushioning the harsh economic effects of the deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.
The initiative, tagged ‘National Gas Expansion Programme and National Autogas Rollout Initiative,’ and launched virtually, was conceived to convert vehicles from running on petrol to running on gas.
At the launch in the State House, Abuja, Buhari appreciated Nigerians and the organised labour for showing restraint, understanding and patience so far in the face of myriad economic challenges. Read more
“The Milkmaid” is Nigeria’s official submission for Oscars (Nation)
The Milkmaid is Nigeria’s official submission for the 93rd Academy Awards in the International Feature Film (IFF) category of the Oscars.
Announcing the selection on Tuesday, the Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) for the IFF category of the Academy Awards said it received several entries out of which six films – Sanitation Day, Voiceless, Oloture, Ibi (The Birth), The Milkmaid and Eyimofe – sailed through the first vetting exercise.
The last stage of three films, it says, had The Milkmaid, scoring overwhelming majority votes. Read more
Maina will be extradited to Nigeria soon – Police (Punch)
The police have commenced the processes for the extradition of the former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrashid Maina, who was arrested in Niamey, Niger Republic, on Monday.
He was apprehended through the joint efforts of the Nigeria Police Force, INTERPOL National Central Bureau, Abuja, and their Nigerien counterparts.
Maina is currently in a detention facility in Niger Republic awaiting the completion of the extradition processes. Read more
NNPC opens bid for PHRC rehabilitation contract (Nation)
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has publicly opened bids for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction phase of the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC).
A press release by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie Obateru, stated that the event, which held virtually, had in attendance external observers such as the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and the Civil Liberties Organizations (CLO). This signals the imminent take off of the second phase of the rehabilitation of the Refinery whose first phase was completed earlier in the year. Read more
India responds to Trudeau’s ‘ill-informed’ remarks (BBC)
India has denounced Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s “ill-informed” remarks regarding an ongoing farmers’ protest in India’s capital.
Mr Trudeau and Conservative opposition leader Erin O’Toole both made comments this week expressing concern over India’s response to the demonstrations.
“Canada will always be there to defend the right of peaceful protest,” Mr Trudeau said on Monday.
Thousands of farmers have travelled to Delhi to protest agricultural reforms. Read more
“Stranger Things” star Millie Bobby Brown in tears after distressing fan encounter (Metro)
Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown urged people to be ‘more respectful’ in a teary video after a fan filmed her while she was out with family. In a video on her Instagram Stories, the 16-year-old actress explained how a fan approached her asked if she could film her when she was Christmas shopping. Millie understandably became emotional while recalling the experience, telling her fans it was ‘overwhelming’. The Netflix star explained: ‘She said, “Can I take a video of you?” I said, “Um, no.” But why would anyone want to be taken a video of? Of me? It’s not like of the both of us.’ Read more
Eswatini PM moved to South Africa for Covid-19 treatment (Guardian)
Prime Minister of Eswatini Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini speaks during the COP24 UN Climate Change Conference 2018 in Katowice, Poland December 3, 2018. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel
The prime minister of Eswatini, Africa’s last absolute monarchy, has been taken to neighbouring South Africa for treatment, more than two weeks after he contracted Covid-19, the government said Tuesday.
The country’s 52-year-old premier, Ambrose Dlamini, announced on November 16 that he had tested positive but that he felt well and was asymptomatic. Read more
US attorney general finds ‘no voter fraud that could overturn election’ (BBC)
US Attorney General William Barr, a top ally of President Trump, has said the Justice Department has found no evidence of fraud in the 2020 election.
“To date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have affected a different outcome in the election,” said the top US law enforcement agent.
His comments are seen as a big blow to Mr Trump, who has not accepted defeat.
He and his campaign have filed lawsuits in states that he lost, as they begin certifying Joe Biden as the winner. Read more
Viggo Mortensen defends playing a gay character in new movie (Metro)
Viggo Mortensen has said not to ‘assume’ anything about his sexuality as he defended his new film role. The actor directs and stars in Falling, a drama about a homophobic elderly man (Lance Henriksen) who is reunited with his adult gay son after he shows signs of dementia. The Lord of the Rings star, who is in a relationship with a woman, Ariadna Gil, plays the son but understands why some might have an issue with it. He told The Times that the debate is a ‘healthy’ one to have however he ‘didn’t think it was a problem’ when he cast the roles. Read more
China’s Chang’e-5 Moon mission probe touches down (BBC)
China has successfully put another probe on the Moon.
Its robotic Chang’e-5 mission touched down a short while ago with the aim of collecting samples of rock and dust to bring back to Earth.
The venture has targeted Mons Rümker, a high volcanic complex in a nearside region known as Oceanus Procellarum.
The lander is expected to spend the next couple of days examining its surroundings and gathering up surface materials. Read more
Care home resident joins battle for Christmas number one with stunning Bing Cosby cover (Metro)
A care home resident has joined the race for Christmas number one, battling Mariah Carey and Jess Glynne for the crown. Margaret Mackie, 84, is taking on the charts with her cover of White Christmas, by legendary Bing Crosby. She belted out the classic at the Northcare Suites Care Home, in Edinburgh, where she resides – with help from former carer Jamie Lee Morley, 32. Singer Jamie recorded guide vocals in a recording studio last month, sharing them with his pal over a videocall – before she was sent equipment to record her own vocals. Will Margaret be able to beat the self-declared queen of Christmas to the title? Read more
Dare predicts basketball revolution in Nigeria (Guardian)
The recent impressive performance of the national basketball team, D’Tigers, is an indication there will soon be a revolution in the development of the Nigerian game, Youth and Sports Development Minister, Sunday Dare, has said.
Speaking when Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) President, Musa Kida, visited him yesterday, after Nigeria’s victory at the just concluded Afrobasket qualifiers in Kigali, Rwanda, Dares said, “My position is consistent that beyond football, Nigeria has talents and competences in several other sports and our ascendancy in basketball is no longer stoppable. That ascendancy has been proven. Read more
Brexit: New entry criteria agreed for EU players coming to England (BBC)
Chelsea’s French midfielder N’Golo Kante – uncapped when he joined Leicester from Caen in 2015 – would probably have been prevented from moving to England under the new system
All overseas players joining English clubs must qualify for entry through a points-based system when the Brexit transition period ends on 31 December.
Points will be awarded for senior and youth international appearances, club appearances and the pedigree of the selling club.
The Football Association, the Premier League and the English Football League have come together to agree the plan. Read more
Sunshine Stars crisis deepens as club suspend resumption (Punch)
The crisis rocking the Nigeria Professional Football League side, Sunshine Stars, deepens as players and staff of the team are yet to start preparations for the 2020/21 season.
The Akure Gunners have been faced with some setbacks in readiness for the new NPFL season with reports of uncertainty surrounding the future of some of their players due to their unpaid salaries.
The players had boycotted camp in October when they were expected to return to commence training for the league.
In a chat with The PUNCH, a team official of the club who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed that they are yet to start preparing for the new season. Read more
David Luiz left out of Arsenal’s squad to face Rapid Vienna after collision with Raul Jimenez (Metro)
Arsenal defender David Luiz has been left out of his side’s squad to face Rapid Vienna in the Europa League as a precaution following his nasty collision with Wolves striker Raul Jimenez. The Brazilian defender required medical attention after clashing heads with the Mexican striker but he managed to last until half-time after he cleared concussion protocols with the team doctor. Luis asked to be substituted at the interval as his bandage was seeping with blood and he was finding it difficult to head the ball. It’s since been confirmed that Jimenez has had an operation on a fractured skull and the incident has brought the issue of concussion in football to the forefront of the news agenda. Read more
Jones hits winner as Liverpool beat Ajax to reach Champions League last 16 (BBC)
Curtis Jones scored his first Champions League goal after a horrific goalkeeping mistake as Liverpool beat Ajax to win Group D and secure a place in the last 16.
Andre Onana misjudged the flight of Neco Williams’ cross and 19-year-old midfielder Jones took advantage to score with the outside of his right foot.
Caoimhin Kelleher, deputising for first-choice keeper Alisson who was missing with a hamstring injury, also played his part in Liverpool’s win, a tremendous stop to deny substitute Klaas-Jan Huntelaar the pick of his saves.
Former Everton midfielder Davy Klaassen wasted a great chance for the visitors and David Neres hit the woodwork. Read more
Thomas Tuchel warns PSG stars about Manchester United duo ahead of Champions League clash (Metro)
Thomas Tuchel has warned his PSG squad about Manchester United duo Marcus Rashford and Edinson Cavani ahead of the Champions League clash at Old Trafford. French champions PSG need to beat Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United on Wednesday night to keep qualification hopes in their own hands, just three months on from losing the 2019/20 final to Bayern Munich. Premier League giants Manchester United, meanwhile, need just one point from their two remaining Group H matches to qualify for the knockout stages, and beat PSG in Paris earlier in the season. Read more
Man City draw with Porto to finish top of group (BBC)
Manchester City had a late goal against Porto ruled out but a draw was enough for them to secure top spot in Champions League Group C.
It seemed that after a frustrating 80 minutes substitute Gabriel Jesus had broken the deadlock when he tapped home after his initial header had been saved, but the effort was ruled out because Joao Cancelo was offside.
The rest of the match saw exceptional goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin and his deep-lying five-man defence soak up incessant pressure from Pep Guardiola’s side, who came into the match having put five goals past Burnley at the weekend and with a 100% record in the group. Read more