Police assaulted me to obtain statement over death of LASTMA official – driver alleges (Guardian)
A 37-year-old driver, Elijah Shokoya, accused of involuntary manslaughter alleged in court on Monday that police officers assaulted him to obtain his statement.
Shokoya was accused of causing the death of one Mr Olawale Akinmade, an officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Jan. 26, on the Ikorodu Expressway, Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Shokoya made the allegations of torture at an Ikeja High Court during a trial-within-trial to determine whether the police obtained his statement under duress.
Led in evidence by Mrs Abiodun Kolawole, his counsel, Shokoya testified in Yoruba Language.
He said that he gave the police his statement in the morning of Jan. 27 a day after he was apprehended, but it was under duress.Read more
Lagos launches virtual book review programme for students (Punch)
The Lagos State Office of Sustainable Development Goals and Investment has launched a virtual book review for students in the state.
According to the statement released on Sunday, the platform is part of the state’s strategy to promote literacy among students.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals and Investment, Solape Hammond, who spoke at the launch in Alausa, described the readership promotion campaign as a fundamental uptake in improving the learning ability of students in the State.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary Office of Sustainable Development Goals and Investment, Abosede George, the Special Adviser explained that the initiative, tagged “Read Along”, is an important step to prepare children to become readers. Read more
2 men docked for allegedly abducting, defiling 16-year-old physically challenged girl (Guardian)
Two men were on Monday docked in a Magistrates’ Court in Badagry, Lagos, for allegedly abducting and defiling a 16-year-old physically challenged girl.
The police charged Aro Akeem,20; and Babatunde George 27; whose addresses were not given with are defilement, indecent assault and abduction.
The Prosecution Counsel, ASP Ikem Uko, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on Oct.26 at about 8a.m, at Olayinka Str. Ajara-Topa, Badagry area of Lagos.
Uko said that the defendants abducted the girl between 8 a.m. and 11p.m and forced her to drink dry gin in order to have defile her.
The defendants, he said, also assaulted the girl, who was deaf and dumb. Read more
Youth remain a major force in building a greater Lagos – Sanwo-Olu (Sun)
Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has described the youth as a major force in building a greater and sustainable Lagos, as well as a better future for the nation.
He said that the youth segment is an essential key in the development of any nation, because they have the potential and capacity to make change happen for themselves, their communities and for the rest of the world.
In a statement he issued on Monday in commemoration of the National Youth Day, the governor stressed the importance of youths to building a greater, sustainable Lagos and Nigeria.
Governor Sanwo-Olu explained that the National Youth Day celebration has been set aside to celebrate Nigerian youth and the contributions they make, as well as highlighting issues affecting them with the aim of tackling these issues to support them. Read more
Inter-tribal marriages among Corp members will foster national unity – NYSC (Guardian)
Mr Benjamin Ayo-Omotade, Director, Corps Welfare and Health Services, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Sunday said inter-tribal marriages among the Corp members has continue to foster national unity.
Ayo-Omotade made this known while addressing the 2021 Batch ‘C’ (Stream 1) members deployed to Ondo State, at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Ikare-Akoko.
According to him, inter-tribal marriages were hardly witnessed before the advent of the scheme in 1973 hence the NYSC has remained the only place where inter-tribal marriages are witnessed through the relationships developed from the orientation camp.
“Nigerians from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds are promoting one of the core objectives of NYSC which is to develop common ties among the youths and promote national unity and integration. Read more
Banks begin deduction of loans from chronic debtors’ accounts (Punch)
The Deposit Money Banks are recovering debts owed by chronic debtors from their accounts in other banks to curb the growth of non-performing loans in the industry, findings have revealed.
Figures obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria and the National Bureau of Statistics showed that the NPLs in the banks recorded a slight decline from N1.2tn at the end of second quarter of 2020 to N1.1tn at the end of July 2021.
This is despite an increase in the gross loans in the industry in the period. The CBN said the measures it introduced such as the Global Standing Instruction to reduce banking sector risks was helping to reduce the NPLs in the sector.
According to the CBN, the GSI, which commenced on August 1, 2020, allows banks to recover the outstanding principal and interest upon default from any account maintained by the debtor across all financial institutions in Nigeria. Read more
FCT set to receive BBNaija star, Queen, as she returns to base (Leadership)
All is now set to receive ‘The Queen of the Monarchs’ in Abuja this weekend, the BBNaija Season 6 housemate, Queen Mercy Atang, popularly known as Queen, will be returning to her base, the city of Abuja following a series of media rounds and meet-and-greet tours.
Queen’s Abuja mega homecoming event tagged ‘The Mother of all Homecomings’ has ignited intense expectations and excitement in the FCT.
A lot of surprises await the Queen of the Monarchs in FCT as her fans are in high spirit to receive her in an event organised by her Abuja Fans and powered by Moet and Chandon on November 7, 2021 at the colorful TIKI culture with an after-party at the Abuja most celebrated nightlife spot, Hustle, and Bustle.
Speaking about the event, the founder/CEO of FDN Projects, King Fajag Olufunsho Ajagbonna, said that the four-day enthralling and mission-focused event will feature media rounds and courtesy visits; a Meet & Greet at Tiki Culture and a party at the highbrow hub, Hustle & Bustle. Read more
Viral video: I wasn’t expelled for twerking, says UNN medical student (Punch)
A medical student from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Mirabel Obi, has broken silence on her alleged expulsion from the school because she twerked in a bikini on campus.
A viral video on Saturday showed a lady in bikini dancing amid cheers from other students. Alongside that video was another one, where a man, identified as the UNN Dean of Students stated that the student would be expelled and prosecuted for her actions.
Taking to her Instagram page on Sunday, the student cleared the air on her alleged expulsion, stating that she wasn’t expelled and that the school authorities ransacked her room.
She said, “It is no news that a female UNN student was expelled from UNN after supposedly stripping to win 10k in a dance competition. Well, I am that student. Normally I would let this slide because I am not clout chasing and I owe no one an explanation, but I’m tired of seeing different fake news on the story and at this moment. I feel it is pertinent to address this issue publicly.” Read more
16 lawmakers impeached Plateau speaker over incompetence, misappropriation – majority leader (Leadership)
The majority leader, Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon Naanlong Gapyil, has said that the embattled Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Nuhu Ayuba Abok, was impeached by 16 members of the House for financial misappropriation and gross incompetence.
Gapyil, who stated this in an interview at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, alleged that the former Speaker used his position to corruptly enrich himself and develop his personal political empire, thereby frustrating policies that could have engendered development to the state.
Gapyil further accused the former Speaker of shutting down the House for three months and finding a home in the major opposition party, noting that these acts culminated in what led to his ouster as the Speaker of Plateau House of Assembly.
The member representing Mikang constituency showed reporters videos of the impeachment proceedings affirming that 16 members of the House of Assembly signed the impeachment notice and followed due process in line with the House rules. Read more
Dave Chappelle performs with Dave Grohl after Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction (PageSix)
Dave Grohl performed with controversial comedian Dave Chappelle after getting inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with his band, Foo Fighters, on Saturday night.
A star-studded afterparty kicked off at around 1 a.m. at the Westin in Cleveland, Ohio, and in typical Chappelle fashion, the comic “told everyone to put phones away and enjoy the moment,” a spy told Page Six.
Ohio native Chappelle showed off his vocals, singing tunes by the Isley Brothers. He and Grohl also performed Radiohead’s “Creep,” as they did when the Foo Fighters reopened Madison Square Garden in July.
“Chappelle was singing verses and getting crowd to sing along [and] Gary Clark Jr. killed it on the guitar,” the source said. Read more
Macron hails ‘new journey’ as France returns looted Benin treasures (France24)
President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday hailed a breakthrough moment as France returned 26 artefacts looted during the colonial era to Benin at a special ceremony at the Quai Branly museum in Paris. The treasures were embarking on a “journey to return back home”, said Macron.
The 26 pieces from the collection known as the “Abomey Treasures” were looted by French forces in 1892 and have been on a final display at the Quai Branly museum before being shipped to the West African country later this month.
The decision to return them followed growing calls in Africa for European countries to return the colonial spoils from museums.
At an official ceremony in the Quai Branly museum Wednesday, Macron said the handing over of the art pieces represented an opportunity for “the people of Africa to be able to speak their truth through their artefacts”. Read more
‘We will not roll over:’ UK stands firm over French threats (ABC)
The latest post-Brexit fishing spat between Britain and France showed few signs of abating Monday, a day before a threatened French blockade of British boats and trucks.
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss warned France that the U.K. will “not roll over” in the face of what she termed “unreasonable” threats from Paris.
Both sides have accused each other of contravening the post-Brexit trade deal that the U.K. signed with the European Union, which came into force at the start of this year.
France has threatened to bar British boats from some of its ports and tighten checks on boats and trucks carrying British goods if more French vessels aren’t licensed to fish in U.K. waters by Tuesday. Paris has also suggested it might restrict energy supplies to the Channel Islands — British Crown dependencies that lie off the coast of France and are heavily dependent on French electricity. Read more
Barclays CEO quits as head of British bank over Epstein ties (TimesofIsrael)
British bank Barclays on Monday said chief executive Jes Staley had quit ahead of contesting the outcome of a UK probe into links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Barclays, which had supported Staley during the investigation, added in a statement that the preliminary conclusion “makes no findings that Mr Staley saw, or was aware of, any of Mr Epstein’s alleged crimes.”
The bank added that Staley has been replaced with immediate effect by its head of global markets, C.S. Venkatakrishnan.
The statement added that Barclays and Staley were made aware late Friday of preliminary conclusions from the investigation carried out by British financial watchdogs. Read more
Halyna Hutchins’ final words after being shot by Alec Baldwin revealed (Metro)
The final words Halyna Hutchins said to the Rust film crew have been revealed over a week after she was shot dead by Alec Baldwin on set in a tragic accident.
Last month, Baldwin, 63, discharged a gun on the set of the film Rust, accidentally killing the 42-year-old cinematographer and injuring director Joel Souza, 48.
A new report by the Los Angeles Times saw the publication speak with 14 crew members about what happened in the mother-of-one’s final moments.
According to the paper, Hutchins told a boom operator: ‘Oh, that was no good. No, that was no good. That was no good at all.’Read more
COVID global death toll tops 5 million in under two years (Aljazeera)
The global death toll from COVID-19 topped five million on Monday, less than two years into a crisis that has not only devastated poor countries but also humbled wealthy ones with better healthcare systems.
Together, the United States, the European Union, Britain and Brazil – all upper-middle or high-income countries – account for one-eighth of the world’s population but nearly half of all reported deaths. The US alone has recorded more than 740,000 lives lost, more than any other nation.
“This is a defining moment in our lifetime,” said Dr Albert Ko, an infectious disease specialist at the Yale School of Public Health. “What do we have to do to protect ourselves so we don’t get to another five million?”
The death toll, as tallied by Johns Hopkins University, is about equal to the populations of Los Angeles and San Francisco combined. It rivals the number of people killed in battles among nations since 1950, according to estimates from the Peace Research Institute Oslo. Globally, COVID-19 is now the third leading cause of death, after heart disease and stroke. Read more
Jo-Carroll Dennison, oldest living Miss America, dies at 97 (People)
Miss America 1942 Jo-Carroll Dennison has died. She was 97.
Dennison, who was the oldest living Miss America and had refused to wear a swimsuit onstage again after being crowned, died at home in California on Oct. 18, her son said, according to Deadline. Her cause of death has not yet been revealed.
“We thank her for her year of service and will miss her dearly,” the Miss America Organization wrote in a statement shared on social media last week.
Friend Evan Mills — who edited her 2021 autobiography Finding My Little Red Hat, which was released in September — told CNN that Dennison is a “model for young women — and men — in a world where many are tempted to bend to social expectations rather than trusting and following their own moral compass.” Read more
We’ll host best ever National Sports Festival in 2022, says Okowa (Guardian)
Delta State government will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development ahead of next year’s National Sports Festival, tagged Asaba 2022.
Delta State was awarded the hosting right for the biennial Sports fiesta at the end of Edo 2020. Team Delta are the current champion of the National Sports Festival having won seven times from the last nine editions since 2000. Delta is also the champion of the National Youth Games, winning all six editions of the games since inception in 2013.
The Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Chief Tonobok Okowa, stated that the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sports Ministry would take place soon.
Okowa also revealed that Delta State would construct additional new facilities ahead of the National Sports Festival saying: “The facilities will be ready.” Read more
Solskjaer relishes ‘criticism’ despite Man Utd pressure(France24)
A defiant Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he relishes criticism as Manchester United prepare for Tuesday’s Champions League match against Atalanta following their vital Premier League victory at Tottenham.
The Norwegian faced intense speculation over his future after United’s 5-0 humiliation against arch-rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford last week left them well off the pace in the English top-flight.
But the Red Devils eased the pressure on their manager with Saturday’s 3-0 win in London and it was Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo who instead lost his job on Monday.
Former players, pundits and fans have questioned Solskjaer’s tactics, team selections and ability to succeed at the highest level, with the former United forward yet to win a trophy in nearly three years at the club. Read more
Kyren Wilson feeling shunned at the English Open: ‘World number five counts for nothing’ (Metro)
Kyren Wilson feels like he’s not getting the respect he deserves as world number five, having come through his first round match at the English Open ‘out in the sticks’ on Table Two.
Wilson made short work of Noppon Saengkham at the Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes, winning 4-0 with breaks of 129 and 68 along the way.
However, despite being the highest ranked player of the eight in action in the morning session, Wilson was on Table Two, while Ding Junhui faced Andrew Pagett on the main table.
The Warrior feels like this is nothing new and is regularly given the ‘graveyard shift’ not befitting of his world ranking. Read more
AC Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic on ‘secret to my longevity’ – ‘I don’t want to stop until I’m kicked out’ (Eurosport)
AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has insisted that he has nothing to prove and will not retire unless it is out of his hands.
Ibrahimovic returned to haunt his former boss Jose Mourinho on Sunday evening as AC Milan came out 2-0 winners against AS Roma in Serie A.
The former Swedish international scored a marvellous free-kick to give the visitors the lead in the first half and was a prominent threat throughout the match as he also won a penalty, which Frank Kessie dispatched comfortably.
A 40-year-old dominating elite football would have been unheard of in the past, but Ibrahimovic is proving to the doubters that age is just a number, as he continues to be an important asset for an excellent AC Milan team. Read more
Thomas Tuchel and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer react to Nuno Espirito Santo’s dismissal at Tottenham (Metro)
Thomas Tuchel and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have passed on their messages of support to Nuno Espirito Santo after the Portuguese was sacked by Tottenham this morning.
Spurs’ 3-0 defeat at home to Manchester United proved the final straw for Nuno, with the north London outfit losing six of their last 12 matches in all competitions.
The 47-year-old lasted just four months in the position and leaves with the club languishing down in the eighth place in the Premier League table, ten points adrift of leaders Chelsea.
Widespread reports indicate that ex-Chelsea, Inter Milan and Juventus head coach Conte, 52, is in line to succeed Nuno at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Read more
Cameron Norrie boosts his ATP Finals bid as he starts his Paris Masters campaign with a convincing win over Federico Delbonis in straight sets (DailyMail)
Cameron Norrie kept alive his hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals with a dominant victory over Federico Delbonis in the first round of the Rolex Paris Masters.
The British No 1 suffered a painful loss to Felix Auger-Aliassime in Vienna last week having held three match points but began strongly in the French capital, winning nine games in a row in a 6-2 6-1 victory over Argentinian Delbonis.
It was Norrie’s 100th tour-level win, 49 of which have come this year.
The 26-year-old told Amazon Prime Video: ‘I know the score looked fairly comfortable but there were a lot of tough games in there. I felt I played a pretty complete match and really enjoyed my tennis again. It was far from easy but I was happy with my performance.’ Read more
Sophie Goodwin: Former footballer urges body image education (BBC)
Former footballer Sophie Goodwin says more education is required to emphasise “fitness doesn’t mean being thin”.
Goodwin was targeted with abuse as a youth player and developed an eating disorder during her senior career.
And the ex-Montrose keeper feels more needs to be done to disassociate female players’ talent and their body image
“People think it’s acceptable to make comments about female athletes bodies in a way that they never would a man,” Goodwin told Good Morning Scotland. Read more