Protesters heed Police warnings, stay off protests’ venues (Vanguard)
Following warnings by Lagos State Police Command against violent gatherings across the state, there appeared to be total compliance on Monday, as EndSARS Protesters were conspicuously absent at the various proposed venues in the state just as the Police have debunked a viral video about protest gatherings in the state.
As at 8am, fully armed policemen and soldiers have been deployed to some of the venues especially Lekki Toll Plaza which where the grand finale of the EndSARS Protests took place in September.
However, the social media was a washed on Monday that some youths has stormed the streets of Lagos State to protest the immediate release of all detained protesters and defreezing of their bank accounts by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Read more
4,630 appeals, 6,207 motions pending at Appeal Court in Lagos (Nation)
No fewer than 4,630 appeals and 6,207 motions are pending at the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal.
The President of the Court of Appeal (PCA) Justice Monica B. Dongban-Mensem said out of this number, only 345 appeals – eight percent – have been scheduled for a hearing.
The 345 comprise 289 commercial; 10 human rights; and 46 criminal appeals.
She pledged her determination to decongest the court, adding that it would no longer be allowed to become a dumping ground. Read more
Sanwo-Olu’s EKOEXCEL empowers 450,000 pupils in Lagos with Personal E-Learning devices (Vanguard)
Following the official flag off of Project Zero by Governor Sanwo-Olu ably represented by Deputy Governor Femi Hamzat on 19th November 2020, during which he officially received 450,000 MP3 players to enhance learning for Lagos State public primary school pupils.
Governor Sanwo-Olu’s flagship basic education transformation program, EKOEXCEL held a demonstration session showcasing the utility of the MP3 e-learning devices for primary school pupils with participation from Lagos State SUBEB, Education secretaries, parents.
Governor Sanwo-olu’s commitment to education in Lagos state during pandemic restrictions spurred a digital learning drive for state primary school pupils. Read more
Ahmad Lawan wins Leadership Award (Nation)
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, was on Dec. 6 night awarded the 2019 Zik Prize in Political Leadership.
Ola Awoniyi, his Special Adviser on Media, in a statement on Monday in Abuja said Lawan’s Chief of Staff; Dr. Babagana Muhammad-Aji, received the award on behalf of the Senate President.
Awoniyi said the award was organised by the Public Policy Research and Analysis Centre (PPRAC). Read more
Air Peace flights to Benue will bring foreign investments – Ortom (Punch)
Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom says the newly inaugurated Air Peace flight to Makurdi will further open the state to direct foreign investment.
Ortom said this during the inaugural flight of Air Peace to Makurdi on Monday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent on the inaugural flight from Lagos-Makurdi-Abuja reports the flight, number P47440 from Lagos at 7:00 a.m., was filled to capacity.
The governor said that the partnership would attract investors into the state and allay the fears of investors who had planned to come to the state by road. Read more
#EndSARS: You’re free to protest peacefully, says Buhari (Guardian)
President Muhammadu Buhari Monday said Nigerians are at liberty to freely express themselves in a democracy but the government will not tolerate any acts of hooliganism.
He said hooligans hiding behind lawful and peaceful protests will be dealt with decisively to ensure peace and stability in the country.
The warning came amidst claims of a second wave of the #EndSARS protest being allegedly planned by youths in the country.
In October, the protest against police brutality and the excesses of the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), were staged across major cities in the country, a development which resulted in the loss of lives and destruction of properties by hoodlums who hijacked the protest. Read more
By-elections: Abiru, Dickson, Dabu’ut win Senate seats (Nation)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday won senatorial by-elections in Lagos East, Imo North and Plateau South districts.
According to observers, the by-elections, which were the first critical assignments by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Mohammed Yakubu, who was cleared by the Senate for his second term last week, were generally peaceful.
The APC candidate in the Lagos East, Tokunbo Abiru, defeated his PDP rival, Babatunde Gbadamosi. Abiru, who polled 89,204 votes, defeated Gbadamosi, who got 11,257 votes. Read more
Pension contributors withdraw N14.79bn as job losses rise (Punch)
Records from the National Pension Commission have revealed that more job losers have continued to approach their Pension Funds Administrators to access parts of the funds in their Retirement Savings Accounts.
Many businesses have been challenged and workers lost their jobs due to the hardships caused by the pandemic.
Figures obtained from the quarterly accounts of PenCom showed a growing figure of job losers in the third quarter of 2020.
According to the Pension Reform Act 2014, a worker who loses his job can withdraw 25 per cent of his RSA after waiting for four months and does not get another paid job. Read more
Bob Dylan sells rights to all his songs to Universal Music Group (BBC)
US singer-songwriter Bob Dylan has sold the rights to his entire back catalogue to Universal Music Group (UMG).
The deal is one of the biggest acquisitions in Universal’s history and means the company will collect all future income from the songs.
It includes both the income Dylan currently receives as a songwriter and his control of each song’s copyright.
The 79-year-old is known all over the world for songs like The Times They Are A-Changin’, and Like a Rolling Stone. Read more
Greece extends lockdown measures to January 7 (Guardian)
Greece on Monday extended its coronavirus lockdown measures to January 7, citing the slow impact of restrictive measures announced a month ago.
The shutdown affects schools, restaurants, clubs, courts and most professional sports. There is also a ban on travel between geographical regions.
Incoming travellers must self-quarantine for 10 days. Read more
Zalando boss to quit ‘to prioritise wife’s career’ (BBC)
A chief executive of Europe’s largest online fashion site has announced plans to step down from his role, saying his wife’s “professional ambitions should take priority”.
Rubin Ritter has been co-chief executive of Zalando since 2010.
The company, which began as a Berlin-based start-up 12 years ago, now has 36 million customers and recorded revenue of €6.5bn (£5.8bn) last year.
He will step down in May, cutting short a contract that runs to late-2023. Read more
Homeless man reportedly breaks into Tom Brady’s Boston-area mansion (NYPost)
Former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his wife Gisele Bündchen’s mansion in the greater Boston area was broken into early Monday and a suspect has been arrested, according to reports.
A homeless man was arrested after police received a call about 6 a.m. about a break-in at 112 Woodland Road in Brookline, Boston 25 News reported.
The couple still owns the home but they are currently living in Florida, where Brady plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to NECN.
The QB and supermodel wife first listed their Brookline estate in August 2019 for $39.5 million, then dropped the price to $33.9 million before pulling it off the market in the midst of the pandemic, the outlet reported. Read more
US Covid rules objector ‘hits policeman with car’ while fleeing arrest (BBC)
A US bar owner opposed to coronavirus restrictions has been charged after allegedly hitting a policeman with his car while fleeing arrest.
Daniel Presti, 34, was arrested during a raid on Mac’s Public House, in New York City, which was allegedly serving patrons despite closure orders.
He has been released without a bond, according to the Washington Post, but faces 10 charges including assault.
The incident comes amid record-high coronavirus cases and hospitalisations. Read more
Australia shark attack: Surfer survives mauling that was like ‘being hit by a truck’ (BBC)
A surfer in Australia who was attacked by a great white shark has described the experience as like being “hit by a truck”.
The 29-year-old was surfing in waters around Kangaroo Island off the Adelaide coast, when he was attacked on Sunday.
He suffered serious injuries and was said to be lucky to be alive.
After the attack at remote D’Estrees Bay, he managed to swim back to shore, before walking another 300 metres (328 yards) to get help. Read more
James Bond franchise now streaming for free on YouTube (Metro)
The name’s Bond, James Bond. And now he’s on YouTube for fans in the US. The beloved espionage franchise has launched on the video streaming platform with 22 of 007’s big blockbusters now available to watch in full for free in December. YouTube announced: ‘Whether you like your martinis shaken, stirred, or don’t like them at all, you can now spend your holidays with some of the most famous Bond films of all time. ‘From Sean Connery to Pierce Brosnan and beyond, fans can now watch 22 films of the 007 movie collection at youtube.com/watchbond or by accessing the Movies & Shows tab on a living room device.’ Read more
Kibiwott Kandie smashes half marathon world record in Valencia (BBC)
Kibiwott Kandie is the first athlete to run a half marathon in under 58 minutes, with his winning time of 57:32 more than a minute faster than his previous best
Kenya’s Kibiwott Kandie has set a new world record for the half marathon in a race where the top four finishers all beat the previous record in Valencia.
Kandie took 29 seconds off the mark, set by compatriot Geoffrey Kamworor in Copenhagen last year, to complete the 13.1 miles in 57 minutes 32 seconds.
The 24-year-old won by five seconds from Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo. Read more
Evander Holyfield: Fight vs. Mike Tyson is ‘gonna happen’ (NYPost)
Nearly a quarter of a century after infamously getting his ear chomped, Evander Holyfield wants to get back in the ring with Mike Tyson.
The 58-year-old former heavyweight champion says that he and Tyson – who fought Roy Jones Jr. to a draw on Nov. 28 – also will meet in an exhibition bout in 2021.
“We’ve definitely had conversations, and it looks like it’s gonna happen,” Holyfield told TMZ over the weekend. “I’m a very confident person, so I think it’s gonna happen.
“Let’s do it, baby. Simple as that, let’s do it.” Read more
Paul Pogba’s time at Manchester United is ‘over’, says Mino Raiola (Metro)
Paul Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, says his client’s time at Manchester United is ‘over’. The Frenchman joined the club for a then-world record £89m deal in 2016 but he’s been consistently linked with an exit in the last three years. Pogba’s current deal was due to expire at the end of the season but United took up their option of extending it by a further 12 months, meaning the Frenchman is tied to the club until 2022. However, Metro.co.uk revealed Pogba’s representatives were angered by United’s refusal to sit down for contract negotiations before they activated their extension clause. Read more
Confederation Cup: Alex Song’s Arta Solar 7 thrashed 9-1 (BBC)
Former Arsenal star Alex Song’s first taste of African club competition ended in a humiliating 10-1 aggregate loss in the preliminary round of the Confederation Cup.
Song played the first half as his Arta Solar 7 side from Djibouti lost 9-1 in Egypt to Arab Contractors, who are also known as Al Mokawloon Al Arab.
Confederation Cup: Former Arsenal star Song loses on his debut
There was better news for another former Premier League player as Zambia striker Emmanuel Mayuka as he helped Napsa United beat hosts Ngazi Club of Comoros 5-1.
Mayuka, who had a spell at Southampton scored in both legs of the tie helping his Zambian side complete a 9-2 aggregate win. Read more
Toothless Arsenal ‘letting down fans’, says Holding (Guardian)
Arsenal defender Rob Holding admitted his side were letting their fans down after a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham left them languishing in 15th spot in the Premier League table.
The FA Cup winners have won just one of their past seven league games and have just 13 points from their opening 11 games.
It is their lowest points tally at this stage of a season since the 1981/82 campaign. Read more
Enyimba, Rivers United restore Nigeria’s pride (Guardian)
Enyimba of Aba and Rivers United yesterday restored some pride in Nigerian club football when they advanced to the final qualifying rounds of the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup respectively.
Nigeria entered four teams in CAF competitions this season, but Plateau United (Champions League) and Kano Pillars (Confederation Cup) were eliminated from the contests on Saturday.
Playing at the Aba Township Stadium, Enyimba went into the second leg of their Champions League tie against Rahimo FC of Burkina Faso with a one goal advantage courtesy of their away win in Ouagadougou. Read more