Police arrest Sergeant for shooting man in Lagos (Nation)
The police in Lagos have arrested a Sergeant, Lukmon Akanbi for shooting a 39-year-old man Ramon Adeniji to death.
The incident occurred around 4:20 am on Friday near Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island during an argument.
Sergeant Akanbi, attached to Victoria Island Police Station, was said to have pulled the trigger on the man, an unarmed civilian, who was returning from an event.
It was gathered that the victim was rushed to Naval Dockyard Hospital on Ahmadu Bello Way where he was confirmed dead on arrival. Read more
LASG begins reconfiguration of 60 gridlock-prone junctions (Guardian)
The Lagos State Government has commenced reconfiguration and remodeling of 60 traffic-prone roundabouts across the state as part of efforts to reduce travel time and congestion.
Dr Frederic Oladeinde, the Commissioner for Transportation disclosed this at a news conference in his office before embarking on an inspection tour of the roundabouts on Friday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the reconfiguration is starting with Ikotun, Allen, Maryland, and 2nd Lekki Roundabouts. Read more
Man climbing moving plane arrested at Lagos airport (Punch)
There was pandemonium at the airside of the Lagos airport on Friday as a yet-to-be-identified man mounted a moving Air Peace plane.
The man was later arrested by security operatives who were notified by the pilot of a private jet coming behind the Air Peace plane.
Airport sources could not immediately ascertain the reason for the man’s action.
Air Peace, however, said the man was a stowaway who thought the plane was heading overseas. Read more
Lady allegedly drinks ‘sniper’ over fight with lover (Nation)
The sudden death of one Joy Osain, who lives in Agbura Community, Yenagoa, Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, has sparked controversy.
Some persons were said to be blaming the death on the deceased saying that she drank sniper and died following a disagreement between her and her 28-year-old boyfriend, Eze Augustus.
On the Boxing Day when people were exchanging gifts and making merry, the late Joy reportedly engaged in a quarrel with her boyfriend at the man’s house in Azikoro in the capital city of Yenagoa. Read more
Three arraigned for attacking policemen in Abuja (Punch)
The Police on Friday arraigned three applicants, Haruna, Jeremiah, and James, in a Kabusa Grade I Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly attacking a police patrol team.
The defendants are facing four counts of criminal conspiracy, extortion, causing grievous hurt and mischief.
The Prosecution Counsel, Mahmud Lawal, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on December 11.
Lawal said a team of policemen from the Kabusa Division, while on patrol in Waru Village in Kabusa at 8 pm, was attacked by the defendants. Read more
NLNG takes FID for multi-billion dollar Train 7 project (DailyTrust)
Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) today in Abuja took the Final Investment Decision (FID) for its Train 7 Project, signalling the commencement of construction of the 7th Train at the Bonny facility of the company. This decision allows the expansion to increase the capacity of NLNG’s six-train plant from the extant 22 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) to 30 MTPA, with the award of contracts for the engineering, procurement and construction activities to follow the closure of bank and Export Credit Agency (ECA) financing, and the finalization of some key supporting commercial agreements expected in early 2020. Read more
Where CBN erred on new bank charges, by telcos (Guardian)
Days after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reduced bank charges, telecommunications operators still feel issues negatively affecting them have not been sufficiently addressed. The operators wondered why the CBN did not review the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) charges, which had in October pitted them against the banks.
In October, the USSD charges became a national issue when the body of banks chief executives denied authorising telecoms operators to charge additional fees in carrying out such operations. The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, had to direct the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to stop MTN and other service providers from charging the proposed N4.
But the operators insisted on going ahead with the charges if the CBN and others stakeholders refused to adequately resolve the matter. Read more
India asks Norwegian tourist to leave after joining protests (Punch)
A Norwegian tourist visiting India’s Kerala state on Friday posted on her social media page that she had been asked to leave the country after participating in a political protest.
Janne-Mette Johansson said in a Facebook post “a couple of hours back the Bureau of Immigration showed up at my hotel again. I was told to leave the country at once, or legal actions would be taken.
“I asked for an explanation and also something in writing. I was told I would not get anything in writing.’’ Read more
Hundreds flee lowlands as Cyclone Sarai sweeps past Fiji (Guardian)
Tropical Cyclone Sarai barrelled off the coast of Fiji early Saturday, forcing hundreds of residents to move to higher ground ahead of possible flooding.
The Category Two storm passed off the southwest of the main island of Viti Levu with forecast average winds of 95 kilometres per hour (60 miles per hour) and gusts of 130 kph at the centre of the storm.
The Fiji Meteorological Service warned of “damaging gale force winds” and heavy rain with coastal flooding expected in some areas as the cyclone intensified late Friday. Read more
At least 28 killed, 12 missing in Philippines typhoon (Punch)
The national disaster risk reduction office, on Friday, said over 28 people were killed in typhoon Phanfone’s onslaught in the Philippines, with 12 still missing.
The office said of the victims, 13 were from the province of Iloilo, 463km south of Manila, where the fatalities included a family of six who were swept away by raging floods.
It added that the other victims were from the provinces of Capiz, Aklan, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Samar and Cebu. Read more
Tour helicopter missing off Hawaii with seven on board (Guardian)
The US Coast Guard was Friday searching for a tour helicopter with seven people on board that went missing off the coast of Hawaii in “challenging” weather conditions.
The chopper was on a tour of the coast of the northwestern island of Kauai. A boat and a helicopter were sent to scour the area when its owner raised the alarm around 40 minutes after it was due back on Thursday evening, the US Coast Guard said.
There is an electronic locator on board but no signals have been received, it said. Read more
Olamide, Reminisce songs inspire me –Osimhen (Punch)
Victor Osimhen is Nigeria’s ‘nextgen’, his performance at Lille so far this season has courted the attention of Europe’s elite clubs, most especially from England.
The likes of Chelsea, Liverpool, and Spurs have been joined in the race for the Nigerian by Spanish heavyweights Barcelona.
Osimhen has bagged 13 goals while grabbing five assists in all competitions for Christian Galtier’s side.
For a 20-year-old whose only productive topflight experience was in the Belgian Jupiler league with Sporting Charleroi, the secret to his blistering start to life in France was simply ignoring harsh criticism. Read more
How Man City came to bid for Messi by accident – Cook (DailyTrust)
Former Manchester City CEO Garry Cook has told of how he once bid £70million to sign Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi – by accident. Cook worked at City between 2008 and 2011 after the club were taken over by the Abu Dhabi United Group, and was in charge of overseeing transfers. ADVERTISEMENT With the takeover imminent, City were keen on making ambitious signings for their manager Mark Hughes, but Cook admits to making a monumental bid for the best player on Earth in 2008 after mishearing club chiefs over a conference call. Read more
Mourinho hopeful Ndombele will return against Norwich (Guardian)
Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho hopes club-record signing Tanguy Ndombele will declare himself fit to play at Norwich on Saturday.
The Spurs boss has revealed that the French midfielder asked not to be included for Thursday’s Boxing Day win over Brighton as he was concerned he might not be fit.
But he has trained since and now Mourinho is looking to help him fill a midfield gap caused by the absence of the suspended Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko, while Son Heung-min is also serving a ban and Dele Alli looked to be struggling in the latter stages against the Seagulls. Read more
Nigerian players abroad: Okereke bags brace to end goal drought (Punch)
…Onuachu also on target, Aribo bags sixth assist, Success benched, Iheanacho, Balogun missing…
David Okereke scored twice for Club Brugge who thrashed Zulte-Waregem 4-0 to move nine points clear of second placed Royal Antwerp on Thursday, Sports Extra reports.
Okereke replaced his compatriot Emmanuel Dennis in the 59th minute, and doubled his side’s lead after the hour mark.
The 22-year-old made it 3-0 three minutes later.
Okereke ended the first half of the season as Club Brugge’s joint leading scorer in the league with nine goals from 17 games, level with Hans Vanaken. Read more
Nasarawa, Pillars share points (Nation)
The rescheduled match day eight of the Nigeria Professional Football (NPFL) clash between Nasarawa United and Kano Pillars ended goalless.
The Boxing Day encounter which was played at the Lafia Township Stadium failed to produce a winner as Kano Pillars extended their unbeaten and clean sheet run against Nasarawa United in the NPFL to five matches.
The struggling Nasarawa United recorded their first league win in nine games last Sunday after beating Heartland FC of Owerri 1-0 in the match day 10 encounter, but all their efforts to consolidate on the win against Pillars was futile as the visitors did everything to pick a point in the game. Read more
Injury hits Enyimba’s camp ahead CAF Confederation Cup clash with Paradou AC (Guardian)
Enyimba will be without six of their key players for Sunday’s CAF Confederation Cup away clash against Algeria’s Paradou AC, reports Completesports.com.
Goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai, Ifeanyi Anaemena, Nelson Ogbonnaya, Reuben Bala, Thomas Zenke and Dare Olatunji have all been ruled out of the game due to injuries. Second choice goalkeeper Olufemi Kayode is also nursing an injury, while captain of the team, Andrew Abalogu is also doubtful for the game.
Enyimba are placed second in Group D with three points after recording one win and a defeat from their opening two games.Paradou A C with a solitary point from two games are placed third in the group. Read more
Racism: EPL did not follow procedure, says FIFA (Nation)
FIFA has slammed the English Premier League for not enforcing a three step procedure to racism at football matches.
FIFA Secretary General, Fatma Samoura, in a July letter to every national association has created confusion as English football reels from another marquee game being tarnished by racism.
Tottenham has asked the Premier League to clarify the procedures it follows in the wake of the fallout from Chelsea defender Antonio Rüdiger reporting being subjected to monkey noises from the home fans in Sunday’s London derby. Read more
Russia challenges WADA doping ban (Punch)
Russia on Friday formally contested its ban from major sporting events over doping violations, the head of Russian Anti-Doping Agency said.
“In accordance with the established procedure, today we have sent a package of documents to the World Anti-Doping Agency,” RUSADA director general Yury Ganus told reporters in Moscow.
“The package contains a notice about disagreement with WADA sanctions.” Read more
Barcelona’s Suarez renews wedding vows, with Messi on guest list (Guardian)
Barcelona forward Luis Suarez and wife Sofia Balbi have renewed their wedding vow at a star-studded gathering in Uruguay attended by Lionel Messi among others.
The celebration to mark 10 years of marriage took place in a luxury tourist complex near the coastal city of Maldonado, about 130 km (80 miles) east of the capital Montevideo.
A crowd of football fans, including many wearing the Barcelona strip, gathered near the entrance as Suarez’s clubmates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba arrived along with Ballon d’Or winner Messi and his wife, Antonella Roccuzzo. Read more
I cried after winning Euro 2016 trophy — Ronaldo (Punch)
Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed winning Euro 2016 with Portugal is the trophy that means the most to him in his illustrious career.
The 34-year-old captained his country to their first ever piece of silverware after defeating France 1-0 in the final.
Speaking to DAZN, the Juventus forward discussed what international glory meant to him.
“The European Championship with Portugal was the most meaningful trophy I have won so far. Read more
Solskajer slams festive fixture pile-up (Guardian)
Manchester United’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has become the latest Premier League manager to complain about the “unfair” packed programme of fixtures over Christmas and New Year.
United play their final league match of 2019 against Burnley on Saturday, just over 48 hours since competing for a 4-1 comeback win over Newcastle.
Those matches form part of a sequence of seven games in 21 days that is hard to square with modern notions of rest and recovery. Read more
