Police hunt for hit-and-run driver who crushed four family members (Punch)
The police in Lagos are looking for the driver of a Nissan pickup van, which rammed into four family members and two other vehicles on New Year Day in the Ikotun area of the metropolis before fleeing the scene. The accident has left the family of an employee of the Lagos State University, Sylvester Aibor, whose wife and three children were knocked down by the pickup van, in mourning as one of his children, Faith, died as a result. PUNCH Metro gathered that Sylvester and his family members were on their way home after attending the crossover service around 5.30am on Tuesday, January 1, 2019, when the driver of the pickup van, with number plate APP 990 XQ, suddenly lost control of the vehicle and rammed two other vehicles and four members of the family, who were walking on the sidewalk. Read more
I feel very sad, says Osinbajo on Onnoghen (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari did not know about the plan to arraign Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen, until Saturday evening, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said yesterday. Prof Osinbajo, who spoke at the third Online Publishers Association of Nigeria (OPAN) conference in Abuja, said he was sad about the development. The CJN is accused of false assets declaration, following a petition written against him by the Dennis Aghanya-led civil society group – the Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI) – to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). He was absent when the trial began on Monday at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). Read more
Why we must tackle youth unemployment, by Atiku (Nation)
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar yesterday warned that jobs must be created for youths, “if not, we will get mobbed one day by the unemployed youths”. He said job creation plays an integral role in economy’s growth. Atiku stated this during a business summit in Lagos with stakeholders in the business sector to discuss the state of the economy and how to get Nigeria working again. The engagement is part of his policy document to get Nigeria working again. Read more
We’re not giving PVCs to APC govs – INEC (Punch)
The Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday denied releasing unclaimed permanent voter cards to governors of the All Progressives Congress. The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, had in Osogbo on Tuesday, while addressing a rally held by the party, accused INEC of secretly releasing unclaimed PVCs to some unnamed APC governors. But addressing representatives of political parties in Osun State at an interactive session, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr Segun Agbaje, said the commission would never release PVCs to anyone or group illegally. Read more
Polls: We’re good to go, says INEC chair (Nation)
With the words of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu, the electoral body is set for the February 16 and March two polls. “INEC is good to go as far as the 2019 general elections are concerned”, Prof Yakubu told a delegation of the European Union (EU), United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (U.S.) at the Abuja Headquarters of the commission yesterday. He reassured the international community and Nigerians that the general elections will be credible, free, fair and transparent. The INEC boss also stressed that the elections will be error-free, as the commission will jealously guide the processes. Besides, he assured Nigerians that the outcome of the polls will meet the expectations of all because all votes will count. Read more
PSC warns policemen against being friendly with politicians (Punch)
The Police Service Commission on Wednesday warned policemen against fraternising with politicians and political parties during the general elections. The commission also reminded policemen that their duty during the election was to ensure that the process was free, fair and devoid of violence. The Chairman, PSC, Mr Musliu Smith, spoke in Maiduguri while presenting the guidelines of the commission for the 2019 general elections to Commissioners of Police in charge of Borno, Yobe and Bauchi states and other officers of the commands. Smith, who was represented by the North-East Zonal Commissioner of PSC, Justice Clara Ogunbiyi (retd.), noted that a lot of things had gone wrong with the police force. Read more
Imo APC commences contempt proceedings against Oshiomhole (Vanguard)
The Imo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, led by Daniel Nwafor, yesterday said a contempt proceedings against the national chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole had commenced. Nwafor disclosed this to newsmen in Owerri, at the party’s secretariat, adding that Oshiomhole had disregarded valid court judgment which affirmed him (Nwafor) the authentic chairman of APC in the state. He also announced the suspension of Mr Marcelenius Nlemigbo, who is the chairman of the Imo APC, Caretaker Committee, instituted by Oshiomhole. The suspension letter he read was said to have come from the APC Ezinihitte ward, signed by the ward chairman Henry Opara; Secretary, Clinton Gbamanti as well as the woman leader and youth leader, Adaihuoma Ofeogbu and Dominic Lawrence respectively. Read more
Dokubo warns against racketeering (Punch)
The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Prof. Charles Dokubo, has warned contractors awarded jobs by the Presidential Amnesty Programme to be faithful to the terms of agreement. In a statement on Wednesday, the special adviser said increasing reports of sale of contracts awarded to some companies were in breach of contract agreements. Dokubo, who is also the coordinator of the amnesty programme, noted that contracts awarded by his office were meant for the training and empowerment of beneficiaries of the programme. He said, “It is illegal and criminal for a contractor to be awarded a job and then he goes behind to sell the contract to another company. As part of the terms of agreement for contracts awarded by the Presidential Amnesty Office, a contract is not transferable. Read more
Magu, detectives in Ghana to block slush funds (Nation)
Politicians relying on slush funds to run their campaigns will not have it easy, The Nation has learnt. Detectives are off to Ghana to block repatriation of such funds. The mission to Ghana is headed by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu. The anti-graft agency is also hunting for properties bought with illicit cash by some Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) in Ghana and other West African countries. The EFCC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Ghana Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) and Ghana Police Service (GPS) to track down some suspects. Read more
Nnewi residents threaten to block Enugu-Onitsha Expressway over neglect by FG (Vanguard)
A group of Nnewi residents under the aegis of Recover Nigeria Project, RNP, has threatened to block vehicular movement on the ever busy Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, if the Federal Government continues to ignore dilapidated portions of the road, stretching from Onitsha to Awka, the Anambra State capital, which have become death traps that claimed many lives already. Addressing newsmen yesterday in Nnewi, the coordinator of the group, Comrade Obi Ositadinma said they have concluded arrangement to block vehicular movements on the ever busy Enugu-Onitsha expressway. Read more
Serbia prepares lavish welcome for Putin (BBC)
Russian President Vladimir Putin heads a powerful delegation to Serbia on Thursday, aiming to cement co-operation with a country seeking to join the EU. of his Belgrade visit, Mr Putin accused some Western countries of “destabilising” the Balkans. Security will be tight in the Serbian capital. MiG jets will escort his plane and 7,000 police are being deployed. Residents are being urged not to go on their balconies to watch Mr Putin being driven through Belgrade. Read more
Ronaldo seals Italian Super Cup for Juventus (Vanguard)
Cristiano Ronaldo scored the only goal to hand Juventus their first trophy of the season with a 1-0 win over ten-man AC Milan in the Italian Super Cup on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia. Ronaldo — signed by the Italian giants last year from Real Madrid as they target a first Champions League title since 1996 — headed in a 61st-minute winner. AC Milan played the last quarter of an hour a man down after Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessie saw red for a bad tackle on Emre Can. Read more
Fury deserves greater rematch purse – WBC (BBC)
Tyson Fury is entitled to a greater share of the purse for his rematch against heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, says the WBC. Britain’s Fury and American Wilder shared a controversial and thrilling draw in Los Angeles in December. The WBC has told their promoters to agree a rematch by 5 February. If there is no agreement, the WBC will split the purse bid 60-40 in favour of Wilder, “considering the market value of Fury”. This is an increase from the 30% that is typically due to the challenger in a title fight. Read more
Henry’s Monaco draw with Vieira’s Nice (BBC)
The first managerial meeting between former team-mates Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira ended level as Henry’s Monaco side drew with Vieira’s Nice. Allan Saint-Maximin put Nice ahead after a mistake from Youssef Ait Bennasser, but the visitors had Ihsan Sacko sent off just before half-time. Monaco made the extra man count within five minutes of the restart as Benoit Badiashile’s header made it 1-1. Saint-Maximin had a penalty saved and Monaco’s Radamel Falcao hit the post. Vieira won the Premier League three times with Arsenal and Henry twice, with both men instrumental in their 2003-04 season when the ‘Invincibles’ won the title without losing a league match. Read more
Police arraign bus driver for raping 78-year-old woman (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command, on Wednesday, arraigned a commercial bus driver, Jelili Lawal, for allegedly raping a septuagenarian. PUNCH Metro had reported that the 78-year-old woman, who was returning to her place of residence in the Ketu area of Lagos, had missed her way when Lawal offered her a lift to her destination. The woman, who was delighted at Lawal’s offer, never suspected that he had other intentions but he drove to another location, where he allegedly raped the victim. The state Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, had while parading Lawal said, “On Tuesday, January 1, 2019, around 8pm, a woman, 78, met one Jelili Lawal, 41, a bus driver, at Maryland and told him that she had missed her way and did not know how to get to her house in Ketu. Read more
Seven kidnappers arrested in Ondo (Nation)
Men of the Joint Security Task Force, put in place by the Ondo State Government to curb insecurity, have arrested seven suspected kidnappers at Emure-Ile junction on Owo/Akure road. Parading the suspects at the police headquarters in Akure yesterday, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Owena Cantonment, Maj. Ojo Adenegan and police spokesman Femi Joseph said they were arrested at a hideout inside Emure-Owo forest during a raid. Joseph said the task force also nabbed kidnappers’ informants, who monitored their (task force’s) operations. Read more
Cannabis dealers arrested for killing septuagenarian in Ondo (Punch)
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested two men for allegedly killing a 75-year-old woman, Modupe Olorunfemi, in Owo, headquarters of the Owo Local Government Area. The suspects, Ameh Friday, 35, and Sunday Femi, 23, who claimed to be dealing in cannabis, were allegedly involved in the killing of the septuagenarian in 2017. Parading the suspects in Akure on Wednesday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Femi Joseph, said the duo and others allegedly killed the old woman. “The suspects will be charged to court after the completion of investigation,” Joseph said. Read more