Police impersonator charged to court (DailyTrust)
A 38-year-old man, Abiodun Ajayi, has been arraigned before an Ikeja, Lagos, magistrate court for alleged impersonation and falsely representing himself as a police sergeant to one Ariyo Arinola attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja. The police told the court that Ajayi committed the offences in July 2019 at about 8am at the Ikorodu area of Lagos. The police prosecutor, Sergeant Unah Mike, told the court that Ajayi impersonated a police officer with intent to extort monetary gain from a person he accused of committing an offence, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 303(a)(b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015. Read more:
Whereabouts of superintendent’s body unknown, says witness (Nation)
An Igbosere High Court heard on Wednesday that the whereabouts of the body of the late Superintendent of Police, Mr. Joseph Idehen (rtd.) is unknown and that autopsy is yet to be conducted on him.
His widow, Mrs.Taiwo Idehen and her three children, Samuel, Michael and Ruth are standing trial before Justice Adedayo Akintoye for allegedly killing her husband, Mr. Joseph Idehen.
Mr Joseph Omorose, a witness in the ongoing trial of the defendants, told the court that he does not know where the body of his cousin, the late Joseph Idehen, is up till now. Read more
Court jails 29-year-old internet fraudster (DailyTrust)
Justice Bayo Taiwo of the Oyo State High Court yesterday convicted and sentenced Shola John Wright to one year imprisonment for defrauding an American citizen, Erica Hegge, of the sum of $1,450. The 29-year-old, who operated with the pseudonym David Riger, was found guilty of a one-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibadan zonal office. Read more
2020 budget: We are sticking to deadline of defence – Gbajabiamila (Guardian)
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila has said the house would stick to the deadline of Oct. 29 given to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to conclude their budget defences for 2020.
Gbajabiamila said this while addressing newsmen on Wednesday.
The house, on Oct. 10, suspended its plenary sessions to focus on the timetable it set up for the 2020 Appropriation Bill aimed at ensuring Nigeria’s budget cycle was returned to the January-December calendar year. Read more
66% of Lagosians cannot afford basic healthcare – Commissioner (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said on Wednesday that at least 66 percent of people living in the state cannot afford basic healthcare as they are a step away from extreme poverty.
He said about N60 billion is required to rescue the people and provide healthcare for them under the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme.
Addressing journalists in Lagos on his plans to reposition the state health sector, Abayomi regretted that only 33 percent of Lagosians can afford healthcare, adding that the situation has affected the smooth take-off of the state health insurance scheme. Read more
NYSC members will enjoy new minimum wage’ (Nation)
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has confirmed that members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) will enjoy the new minimum wage of N30,000.
Read Also: FEC directs minimum wage arrears’ payment on or before Dec 31
Dare disclosed this via his official Twitter handle on Wednesday evening.
He tweeted; “New Minimum Wage: NYSC members to enjoy new minimum wage/allowee Details coming …” Read more
Nigeria, Russia sign MoU on rail, infrastructure (ThisDay)
Nigeria, Wednesday in Sochi, Russia, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Russia for the modernisation, development of railway infrastructure, rehabilitation of the existing Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) rolling stock-fleet and upgrading of workshops across the country.
The MoU involves two Russian firms: Russian Joint Stock Company Russian Railway (JSCRR) and Transmash Holding, a private rolling stock manufacturing company.
Signing the agreement on behalf of the Nigerian government, Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, stated that the move was to boost and fastrack the construction of the rail manufacturing company at Kajola, Ogun state. Read more
Mali president on the ropes as jihadist revolt mounts (Guardian)
Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has few strong cards left to play as he seeks to roll back a jihadist insurgency and mounting public discontent.
Thousands of civilians and soldiers have died since armed Islamists began their revolt in northern Mali in 2012 — a campaign that has spread to the country’s volatile centre and to neighbouring Burkina Faso.
The failure of Mali’s poorly-equipped and the demoralised military is now sparking an outcry, shaking confidence in Keita’s government.
Relatives of dozens of troops killed in twin attacks in central Mali took to the streets on October 2 to accuse the government of failure and indifference — a scenario that stoked memories of the runup to a military coup in 2012. Read more
Essex lorry deaths: Work starts to identify 39 bodies (BBC)
Media captionThirty nine bodies were found in the trailer container
Police have begun the process of trying to identify 39 bodies found in a refrigerated lorry trailer in Essex.
The trailer arrived in Purfleet on the River Thames from Zeebrugge, Belgium, at about 00:30 BST.
Ambulance staff discovered the bodies in the unit just over an hour later at Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays. Read more
Turkey Syria offensive: Trump lifts Turkey sanctions after deal (BBC)
The US is lifting sanctions on Turkey after its recent offensive against Kurdish fighters in north-eastern Syria, President Donald Trump says.
His decision came after Russia agreed with Turkey to use troops to extend a ceasefire along the Syrian border.
Turkey’s offensive began after Mr Trump’s unexpected decision to withdraw US troops from northern Syria earlier this month. Read more
Woods, Rory major draws at Japan’s PGA Tour (DailyTrust)
Tiger Woods Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are the major attractions in a world-class line-up as the US PGA Tour breaks new ground with its first tournament in Japan this week.
The inaugural Zozo Championship tees off Ton Thursday offering a $9.75 million prize pot as the middle leg of the Tour’s new near $30 million three-tournament Asian swing. Read more
Swiss Indoors: Roger Federer into quarter-finals, Dan Evans out in first round (BBC)
Local favourite Roger Federer eased into the quarter-finals of the Swiss Indoors with a 6-0 6-3 victory over Moldovan Radu Albot in Basel.
The 38-year-old world number three, seeking to win the event for the 10th time, won in one hour and two minutes.
He next faces the winner of the match between compatriot Stan Wawrinka and American Frances Tiafoe.
British number one Dan Evans was beaten 6-4 6-2 by Tiafoe in the opening round. Read more
Inter Milan beat Dortmund to boost Champions League last 16 hopes (Guardian)
Lautaro Martinez and Antonio Candreva scored in either half to boost Inter Milan’s Champions League last 16 hopes on Wednesday with a 2-0 win over Group F rival Borussia Dortmund.
Argentina forward Lautaro Martinez continued his fine form scoring after 22 minutes in the San Siro, but missed a chance for a second from the penalty spot eight minutes from time. Read more
Liverpool must improve woeful Champions League away record ― Klopp (Vanguard)
Liverpool boss, Jurgen Klopp believes Liverpool must amend their woeful away record in the Champions League group stages.
The Reds have lost the last four, scoring only once, and have not won any of the last five with their latest victory on the road in Europe in the group stage at Maribor two years ago. That success in Slovenia remains their only win in the last 10 away group matches
Liverpool scraped through last season with a 1-0 win over Napoli in their final home game, with three Anfield victories giving them nine points and second place in their group. Read more
Renault lose Japanese GP points after Racing Point protest (BBC)
Renault have been disqualified from the Japanese Grand Prix for having an illegal driver-aid system on their car.
Officials found that Renault’s brake-bias adjustment system contravened rules dictating that drivers must drive the car alone and unaided.
Renault drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg have therefore been disqualified from sixth and 10th places at the race at Suzuka on 13 October. Read more
Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League: Air Warriors, MFM Queens clash in newcomers’ finals (DailyTrust)
New kids on the block, Air Warriors of Abuja and MFM Queens of Lagos yesterday defeated their more illustrious opponents in gruelling semi-finals to set up an all newcomers grand finale of 2019 Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League. In the first semi-final played at the Indoor Sports Hall of the national stadium in Lagos, debutants Air Warriors caused a major upset as they defeated defending champions First Bank 62 – 61. Read more
Frustrated NPFL stars lament late season kick off (Nation)
Stars in the local league have expressed huge disappointment at the late start of the 2019/20 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season which has now been fixed for November 3.
Their lamentation came on the heels of the poor display of the home-based Super Eagles in the West Africa Football Union Cup (WAFU) in Senegal and CHAN qualifiers against tiny Togo.
“I am so frustrated that our league has not started on time and It is painful that the start of the league was delayed severally,” Oluwadamilare Ojo who recently moved to Akwa United from Lobi Stars told NationSport. Read more
Messi first to score in 15 straight Champions League seasons (Guardian)
Lionel Messi became the first-ever player to score at least once in 15 consecutive Champions League seasons after opening the scoring at Slavia Prague on Wednesday.
The 32-year-old Argentinian beat goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar with a low left-footed shot after robbing midfielder Petr Sevcik outside the Slavia box and a quick exchange with Arthur who put him through neatly. Read more
Lampard ‘confident’ his youngsters can pass Ajax test (Guardian)
Frank Lampard said on Tuesday that he was “aware” of the threat from a formidable Ajax team but had “confidence” in his young Chelsea team ahead of Wednesday’s key Champions League clash.
The new-look Blues, reinvigorated by an injection of youth, begin a doubleheader with Group H leaders Ajax, on Wednesday.
The Dutch champions rattled three goals past both Lille and Valencia and are averaging more than three goals a game in the Dutch Eredivisie. Read more
Why Neymar didn’t make Ballon d’or 30-man shortlist (Punch)
Neymar’s absence from the list of 30 Ballon d’Or candidates was explained Tuesday by France Football magazine which organizes the prestigious award.
The magazine said events in what it called Neymar’s “année noire” (black year) justified his failure to be nominated for the first time since 2010.
It said, “On the field, Neymar was injured and missed many key games, including Brazil’s Copa America title run and PSG’s Champions League Round of 16 exit against Manchester United. Read more