Police arrest cop who shot lover’s mouth in Lagos (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested Sergeant Eze Aiwansone, who allegedly shot his girlfriend, Joy Eze, in the mouth at Salvation bus stop in the Ikeja area of the state.
PUNCH Metro had reported that footage of the incident, which trended online, showed the victim in pain as some good Samaritans rushed her to hospital for treatment.
The lady’s cheek was torn due to the impact of the bullet which pierced her mouth.
Eze was said to have fled after perpetrating the crime.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed his arrest.
Adejobi said, “The Lagos State Police Command has arrested the fleeing Sgt Eze Aiwansone, attached to the Special Protection Unit, Base 16, Ikeja, for the shooting of his girlfriend, Joy Eze. Read more
#EndSARS: LCCI reschedules Lagos International Trade Fair (Vanguard)
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) says that it has rescheduled the 2020 edition of the Lagos International Trade Fair.
Dr Muda Yusuf, Director-General of LCCI, said that the fair which was scheduled to hold from Nov.5 to Nov. 15, 2020 has been rescheduled for between Dec. 4 to Dec. 13, 2020 at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos; both physically and virtually simultaneously.
Yusuf in a statement on Thursday also said that the postponement was occasioned by the economic disruptions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent #EndSARS protests across the nation. Read more
Lagos pupils to be graded with continuous assessment (Punch)
Assistant Director, Public Affair, Lagos State Examination Board, Mr Fatai Bakare, has said primary six pupils who are expected to transit to Lagos State public junior secondary schools will be assessed based on their continuous assessment scores.
This was in response to an online complaint by some parents on an educational platform. The parents had paid for common entrance but was later informed that pupils would no longer sit for the examination due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A parent, Rufus Auguster, said, “I registered my daughter for the Lagos State common entrance examination but it was postponed due to the pandemic. Only for the headmistress of the school to inform me that the state is no more writing the examination and that they are to use continuous assessment to issue them the testimonial. Read more
FG announces 2-day total closure of Third Mainland Bridge (Vanguard)
The federal government on Thursday announced a two-day total closure of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State for a concrete work on some sections.
The Federal Controller of Works in the state, Mr Olukayode Popoola, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the closure would begin from midnight of Oct. 30 and end at midnight of Nov. 1.
“We are planning to cast two number expansion joints, and we shall close the Third Mainland Bridge from midnight of Oct. 30 until midnight of Nov. 1,’’ he said.
The controller said that there was the need to shut both bounds of the bridge – from Adeniji Adele to Adekunle – in addition to the closed bound of the bridge, to complete the work. Read more
TVC recounts station destruction, says 250 workers jobless (Punch)
No fewer than 250 staff of Television Continental at Ikosi, Ketu, Lagos State, have been rendered jobless after arsonists burnt the station.
The Chief Executive Officer of the station, Mr Andrew Hanlon, added that over 500 direct employees of the station had been struggling to work in temporary accommodation put up by the company.
Halon stated these on Thursday when the state Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, visited the management and staff of the station.
Some hoodlums attacked the station after the #EndSARS protest turned violent.
Transmission gadgets, state-of-the-art studios, production rooms and operational vehicles of TVC, including cars of staff, were set ablaze. Read more
Nigerians seek end to killings as Muslims mark Eid-el Maulud (Guardian)
Nigerians have called for an end to killings and other forms of violence that have, for long, plagued the country.
The calls, amplified by Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), were contained in various messages of goodwill sent yesterday, to felicitate with the Nigerian Muslim faithful, who joined their counterparts around the world to celebrate this year’s Eid-el Maulud.
Eid-el Maulud marks the birth of Prophet Muhammad.
The need to end violence and embrace peace was also stressed in messages by some state governors to mark the day. Read more
FG begins nationwide distribution of 1m free meters in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos (Vanguard)
The federal government last night said that it will commence the distribution of free meters with the target of getting 30 million consumers.
The National Mass Metering Programme, NMMP, is expected to commence today, Friday, October 30, 2020, and to be simultaneously launched in Kano, Kaduna, Eko and Ikeja DISCO franchise areas.
The free meter distribution, a Presidency source said was in fulfillment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s promise to ensure mass metering in the country and in the process put an end to the problems of estimated billing in the electricity sector. Read more
Banditry, auto crash claim 50 lives in Enugu, Katsina (Thisday)
No fewer than 50 people have lost their lives to attacks by bandits and auto crash in Katsina and Enugu States, respectively.
While 29 villagers were reportedly killed by the marauding bandits in fresh onslaughts on communities in Dandume and Faskari Local Government Areas of Katsina State, 21 schoolchildren died in an auto crash in Mgbowo community in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The Katsina State Police Command, however, said the bandits killed 12 villagers and set some houses ablaze. Read more
Nigeria will support Okonjo-Iweala till she emerges WTO DG – Foreign Affairs Ministry (Tribune)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement saying that Nigeria will continue to support Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala by engaging relevant stakeholders in a bid to ensure that she emerges the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
A statement signed by Ferdinand Nwoye, the ministry’s spokesperson, stated: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that the third and final round of the selection process of the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) was concluded on Tuesday, October, 2020 and the result was formally announced on Wednesday, 28 October, 2020.
“The candidate from Nigeria, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has secured the support of majority of the member countries but is yet to be declared and returned the winner. Read more
Scarlett Johansson marries Colin Jost in ‘intimate’ ceremony (BBC)
Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson has married her fiancé Colin Jost in a low-key ceremony, it has been announced.
The wedding took place at the weekend, said by Meals on Wheels, a US-based charity for elderly people.
The charity said Johannson and Jost support their work with vulnerable people during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The ceremony was “intimate… with their immediate family and love ones, following Covid-19 safety precautions”, Meals on Wheels wrote on Instagram.
“Their wedding wish is to help make a difference for vulnerable older adults during this difficult time,” the post added, before asking fans to donate to the charity.
A representative for Johansson confirmed the news. Read more
“The Witches”: Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer and Stanley Tucci spill the beans on their characters for 2020 reboot (Metro)
Just in time for Halloween comes Hollywood’s glitzy reimagining of The Witches, Roald Dahl’s dark tale of evil, child-hating crones plotting to turn all the world’s kids into mice – then exterminate them.
The Les Miserables and Dark Knight Rises actress spoke of her fears stepping into Anjelica Huston’s shoes as the murderous, secretly grotesque leader of the witches. ‘I make no secret of the fact I’m a huge fan of Ru Paul’s Drag Race, so I just tried to take every single thing I’ve ever learnt from that show and incorporate it into making a fabulous entrance. ‘I saw The Witches [the 1990 version, directed by Nic Roeg – the new one is directed by Robert ‘Back To The Future’ Zemeckis] as a child and Anjelica Huston gave one of the most memorable performances I’ve ever seen – it’s so perfectly pitched – it’s flawless. Read more
France attack: Attacker arrived from Tunisia days ago (BBC)
The man who stabbed two women and a man to death in a church in France arrived from Tunisia days ago, officials say.
The suspect, 21, had an Italian Red Cross document, issued after he arrived by a migrant boat to Italy’s Lampedusa island last month. He was shot by police and is in a critical condition.
One of the victims of Thursday’s attack at the Notre-Dame basilica in the city of Nice was “virtually beheaded”.
President Emmanuel Macron said it was an “Islamist terrorist attack”. Read more
Lil Wayne supports Donald Trump ahead of US election as he poses with President (Metro)
Lil Wayne has supported Donald Trump ahead of the US election. The Lollipop hitmaker shared a photo of himself posing with the President, both giving a thumbs up to the camera in front of US flags, on social media. The 38-year-old wrote: ‘Just had a great meeting with @realdonaldtrump @potus besides what he’s done so far with criminal reform, the platinum plan is going to give the community real ownership. ‘He listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done.’ Read more
Borat fundraiser for film’s black grandmother raises $110,000 (BBC)
Over $110,000 has been raised in support of an unwitting star of Sacha Baron Cohen’s new mockumentary, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.
Jeanise Jones, 62, was recruited for the film that sees Kazakh journalist Borat playing pranks on US citizens.
She features in several scenes after being asked to babysit the fictional daughter of Cohen’s infamous character.
Following the film’s release last week, her church pastor set up a crowdfunding page for fans “to say thank you”.
Pastor Derrick Scobey said Ms Jones, who was hired from the congregation of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, had recently lost her job of 32 years due to the coronavirus pandemic. Read more
Walmart removes firearms, ammunition from store floors in US (CBC)
Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, said Thursday it has removed firearms and ammunition from its U.S. sales floors. (Sue Ogrocki/The Associated Press)
Walmart Inc. removed firearms and ammunition from store floors in the United States this week to protect customers and employees as tensions across the country rise, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.
“We have seen some isolated civil unrest and as we have done on several occasions over the last few years,” a Walmart spokesperson told the newspaper. “We have moved our firearms and ammunition off the sales floor as a precaution for the safety of our associates and customers.” Read more
Funds may hinder wrestlers’ participation at world tourney (Punch)
Nigerian wrestlers may miss out from the 2020 World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, due to lack of funds.
The championships holds from December 12 to 20 but with less than two months to the competition, our correspondent learnt that Team Nigeria may not participate at the event, with funds yet to be approved for the tournament from the sports ministry.
A source close to the federation, who spoke to The PUNCH on the condition of anonymity, said the sports ministry may not release funds for the athletes to travel to Serbia.
“From the side of the federation, everything is ready but they are hoping that the ministry will approve the funds for the competition. This is very unlikely because the country is just bouncing back from the coronavirus pandemic. This not a time the ministry will be willing to release funds for such competitions,” our source said. Read more
Udala FC of Anambra wins AIFL Season 4 playoffs to emerge champions (Vanguard)
Udala FC of Uke, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra have won the Anambra Independent Football League (AIFL) Season 4 playoffs to emerge champions for three consecutive seasons.
AIFL is an amateur football league in Anambra, organised and managed by private football technocrats under the chairmanship of Rev. Fr Coach Obinna Dike of the Catholic Diocese of Awka.
The playoffs concluded on Wednesday night featured four clubs, including Udala FC, DOSAD FA, Rangel FC and Ozalla FC. Read more
Malik Beasley: Minnesota Timberwolves guard faces felony charges (BBC)
Beasley has played 220 games, including 33 starts, in his NBA career
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Malik Beasley is facing felony charges after an alleged assault-rifle pointing incident outside his home.
The 23-year-old has been charged with felony threats of violence and fifth-degree drug possession.
Each charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
On Thursday the Hennepin County District Attorney’s office announced the charges relating to last month’s incident. Read more
Jose Mourinho slams Tottenham stars on Instagram after Royal Antwerp defeat (Metro)
An ‘upset’ Jose Mourinho took to Instagram to criticise his Tottenham players in the wake of their dismal 1-0 defeat to Royal Antwerp in the Europa League.
Lior Rafaelov broke the deadlock with a clinical strike for Antwerp in the 29th minute in Belgium and the hosts kept hold of their narrow advantage to stun Spurs in the Group J clash. Mourinho rung the changes at the halfway stage as Giovani Lo Celso, Dele Alli, Steven Bergwijn and summer signing Carlos Vinicius were all hauled off but the substitutions did not have the desired effect for the north London club. Read more
Alexander Zverev denies allegation of domestic violence by former girlfriend (BBC)
US Open finalist Alexander Zverev has denied his ex-girlfriend’s allegation he was violent towards her.
Olya Sharypova claimed Zverev tried to strangle her with a pillow in an attack before the 2019 US Open that she says left her afraid for her life.
The German called the accusations “unfounded” and “simply not true”.
“They make me very sad. I very much regret that she makes such statements,” the 23-year-old wrote in a statement on Twitter.
Sharypova initially posted on Instagram about being a victim of domestic violence, stating she was “not afraid anymore”. Read more
Arsenal beat stubborn Dundalk to maintain winning Europa League start (BBC)
Arsenal’s squad players impressed boss Mikel Arteta as they eventually broke Dundalk’s resistance to win their Europa League group game at Emirates Stadium.
Eddie Nketiah pounced from close range to give the Gunners the lead and Joe Willock blasted a shot into the roof of the net 125 seconds later.
Nicolas Pepe’s brilliant effort from the edge of the box seconds after the restart killed the game off.
They cruised after that but could not add a fourth against the Irish side.
“We gave a chance to a lot of players who haven’t played many minutes this season and it is something really positive because they showed they are well-prepared, they are at it, and they are ready when we need them,” Arteta said. Read more