Secondary school student jailed 3 weeks for threatening teacher’s life (Vanguard)
An Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, sentenced a 20-year-old secondary school student, Segun Dosumu, to three weeks imprisonment with hard labour, for threatening to kill his teacher.
Dosumu, who resides at Iboro area of Ogun, had pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against him when it was read to him.
Consequently, after the review of facts of the case by the Prosecutor, ASP Wale Diyaolu, the Magistrate, Mr S. S. Sotayo convicted Dosumu of the charge.
Sotayo said that besides the admission of guilt, all the evidence presented in court had proven beyond reasonable doubt that the convict was guilty of the offence as charged. Read more
Lagos: Over 80 persons convicted for breaching environmental law (Sun)
Lagos State Government has read the riot act to market operators across the state over violation of environmental protection law, with emphasis on punishment for anyone caught breaching the process.
The warning was served by the government through the Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr Ibrahim Odumboni at a day seminar organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) in collaboration with the State Ministry for Local Government and Community Affairs, for market leaders in Badagry Division.
He disclosed that so far, over 80 persons have been arrested and convicted for breaching environmental protection laws in the state.
Odumboni, however, condemned the attack on the agency’s officials at Agboju Market, which led to the death of one of its personnel.
The wife of the governor of the state, Dr (Mrs) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, at the event, also charged market leaders in the state, to ensure proper sanitation and security of the markets. Read more
2 docked for alleged assault, stealing (Vanguard)
Two men were on Thursday arraigned before a Surulere Chief Magistrates’ Court, for alleged assault and theft of cell phone and cash valued N470,000.
Abiodun Adebimpe, 26 and Boluwatife Agbajelola, 18, of no fixed addresses, are being tried on a four-count charge of conspiracy, assault, stealing and breach of the peace.
The Police prosecutor, Insp. Courage Ekhueorohan, told the court that the defendants conspired to beat up one Emmanuel Akinade, stole his phone and cash valued N470,000.
Ekhueorohan said the defendants committed the offences with others still at large on Nov. 10, at 10.04 p.m. on Popo St., in the Lagos Magisterial District. Read more
Budget: Obasa tasks Sanwo-Olu on poverty alleviation projects (Independent)
The Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, has urged Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to focus more on intense projects geared towards alleviating poverty in the state.
Obasa gave the advice on Wednesday in Ikeja, when the governor presented to the House of Assembly, the state’s 2022 Budget Of Consolidation, estimated at N1.39 trillion.
He said that the state’s policies must be channelled towards fighting poverty and empowering the people of the state, particularly those below poverty line.
Obasa said that to say the state was working was more or less an understatement. Read more
Policeman seeks divorce over alleged infidelity by wife (Vanguard)
A 45-year-old policeman, Mr Rafiu Ademola, on Thursday prayed an Igando Customary Court to dissolve his 14-year-old marriage over his wife’s alleged adulterous nature.
The petitioner told the court that his wife, Rashidat, was promiscuous.
“I saw messages of her adulterous acts on her WhatsApp chats with her lovers, she
meets with them at different locations.
“She told one of the men that she is a single mother and stays with her sister.
Veteran comic actor Baba Suwe buried in Lagos (Punch)
Veteran comic actor, Babatunde Omidina, popularly known as Baba Suwe, has been buried today.
The actor died in the Ikorodu area of Lagos on Monday.
The news of his death drew reactions from prominent Nigerians including the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo who said, “Baba Suwe’s death had left a vacuum that would take some time to be filled in the entertainment industry. I pray that God will grant the late Babatunde Omidina eternal rest and grant the family, colleagues, and associates the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
Reacting, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila implored the children and family of the deceased to find solace in how he used his God-given talent to influence the lives of others positively. Read more
Reps probe uncompleted N200b Lokoja-Benin Road project (Punch)
The House of Representatives has ordered an investigation of the rehabilitation and expansion of the road linking Lokoja in Kogi State to Benin in Edo State which has gulped N200bn.
A member of the House, Johnson Oghuma, called for a probe into the alleged slow pace of the project at the plenary on Thursday.
Moving the motion titled, ‘Need to Investigate the Utilisation of Over 200 Billion Naira on Construction of Lokoja to Benin Road,’ Oghuma noted that the dualisation of the Lokoja–Benin federal highway, from Obajana junction to Benin City, was awarded to a consortium of contractors in 1999 with a completion date of December 2021.
The lawmaker said, “Over N200bn has been budgeted from 1999 to 2021, in addition to the various loans and interventions projects such as SUKUK, among others. The road is a major highway connecting routes from the North to East, South–South and Western parts of Nigeria. Read more
Man, 31, to die by hanging for kidnapping 4-year-old in Akwa Ibom (Tribune)
The Ikot Ekpene Division of the Akwa Ibom State High Court, on Thursday, passed a maximum sentence of death by hanging on a 31-year-old year, for kidnapping a four-year-old boy, who has not been found till today.
The convict, Ekerete Michael Ukpong, a native of Udok Atai in Ikono Local Government Area was sentenced by Justice Augustine Odokwo.
In a one-hour judgement, Justice Odokwo found Ekerete Ukpong guilty as charge, for kidnapping, a crime, punishable by death, under section (1) of the Akwa Ibom State Internal Security and Enforcement Law, 2009.
Justice Odokwo held that the prosecuting counsel has notified the court that the victim, 4-year-old Success Amos Kalu, a native of Ohafia in Abia State, who was kidnapped on September 25, 2015, at Ibiakpan Akananwan, Ikot Ekpene, was still missing at the time of the ruling on the matter. Read more
Tony Uranta: Diri mourns, says Nigeria, Niger Delta lost committed activist (Punch)
The Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has described the death of Nigeria Delta activist, Tony Uranta, as a painful loss to Nigeria, the region and indeed the Ijaw nation.
The activist passed away on Wednesday following a protracted illness.
Uranta was the Executive Secretary of foremost advocacy group, United Niger Delta Energy Development and Security Strategy, member of the defunct Federal Government Technical Committee on Niger Delta, the Nigeria Economic Summit Group and the Pan Niger Delta Forum, amongst others.
Diri, in a statement on Thursday, said Uranta was a committed activist and advocate for environmental justice and good governance not only in his region but also in Nigeria. Read more
FG begins process of appointing new perm secs (Leadership)
The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHSF) has commenced the process for the appointment of new Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Civil Service to fill vacancies created by the retired Solicitor-General of the Federation/Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice and Permanent Secretaries retiring in 2022 from Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Cross River, Jigawa, Plateau, Sokoto and Taraba States.
This was contained in a circular signed by the Head of Service, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan.
According to the circular in a statement by the director, press and publicity, in the office of the HoSF, Abdulganiyu Aminu, those eligible to participate in the exercise include officers in the mainstream Federal Civil Service who have attained the position of substantive Director on Salary Grade Level 17 on or before January 1, 2020, have updated their records on the IPPIS Verification Portal, are from the States listed in paragraph 1 above and are not retiring earlier than December 31, 2023.
In addition, all legal officers in the mainstream of the Federal Civil Service from all the States of the Federation who have attained the position of substantive Director on Salary Grade Level 17 on or before January 1, 2020 and are not retiring from service earlier than December 31, 2023 are eligible to participate in the exercise for the appointment of Solicitor-General for the Federation/Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Justice. Read more
Sir Elton John announces 2 shows at Watford FC’s Vicarage Road as part of Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour (Metro)
Sir Elton John will perform two special homecoming shows at Vicarage Road, the home of Watford Football Club.
The multi-award-winning singer, 74, will play at the ground in July next year as part of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour.
Sir Elton now serves as honorary life-president of the Premier League club after becoming chairman in 1976.
After appointing Graham Taylor as manager of his boyhood team he oversaw a period of great success for Watford. Read more
Lorde to play Ireland for first time at Forbidden Fruit festival 2022 (RTE)
New Zealand superstar Lorde will perform in Ireland for the first time when she takes to the stage at the Forbidden Fruit festival next summer.
The Royals singer is among the acts to have been confirmed for next year’s event which will mark the 10th anniversary of the Dublin city centre festival which takes place in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham
The festival, returning after a three-year break, also features acts such as Belfast-born electronic duo Bicep (Matt McBriar and Andy Ferguson), synthpop band Hot Chip, South Korean DJ and producer Peggy Gou and multi-instrumentalist Tom Misch.
The first bite of #FF22
Welcoming you back after 3 years with @feelmybicep Lorde, Hot Chip, Peggy Gou and many more. Register for pre-sale access via http://forbiddenfruit.ie/tickets
Marta Dusseldorp, Brooke Satchwell and Kate Mulvany join new TV crime drama “The Twelve” (DailyMail)
Wentworth star Marta Dusseldorp will return to Australian TV drama in Foxtel’s new crime series, The Twelve, which begins filming in Sydney next week.
The 48-year-old actress will be joined by Brooke Satchwell, Jurassic World star Sam Neill, Kate Mulvany, and Hazem Shammas in the 10-part series.
‘It’s good to be back (on screen) not in a trackie and not in a corset,’ Marta told press at a cast announcement in Sydney on Thursday.
Based on the 2019 Belgian series De Twaalf, The Twelve is the story of 12 jurors who, while dealing with their own personal struggles, must decide the case of a woman accused of killing a child. Read more
Minister blacked out and was carried home after drink spiked in bar (Independent)
Conservative MP Mims Davies has revealed how her drink was spiked during a night out, causing her to black out in a bar in her constituency.
The MP for Mid Sussex, the government’s employment minister, called on home secretary Priti Patel to bring in tougher enforcement measures to protect women.
Ms Davies said she found an unidentifiable black substance in her glass while out drinking with friends at a bar in Haywards Heath.
“I found something black in the bottom of my drink,” the Tory MP told BBC Radio Sussex. “I pulled it out and didn’t really think anything of it, and threw it on the floor.” Read more
As gas prices spike, Americans give electric cars a closer look (VOA)
Persistently high prices for gasoline are frustrating many Americans and causing a political headache for the administration of President Joe Biden, but they also might be accelerating the process of transitioning the country to more widespread use of vehicles that run on renewable energy — particularly electricity.
Experts say that sales of electric vehicles, or EVs, tend to rise when fuel prices do, though they cautioned it’s difficult to draw a straight line from prices at the pump to car purchases.
“People buy electric cars for lots of reasons, so they’re not completely dependent on gas prices, but that’s certainly reinforcing it,” said Genevieve Cullen, president of the Electric Drive Transportation Association, a trade group representing manufacturers of electric vehicles.
An estimated 468,000 new EVs were sold in the U.S. from the beginning of the year through September, according to data collected by Atlas Public Policy, a group that tracks the market for EVs. That represents a 45% increase over the 323,000 EVs sold during the entirety of 2020. Read more
Channel deaths: More boats arrive after 27 people drown (BBC)
More people have made the perilous journey across the English Channel, a day after 27 people drowned in the deadliest crossing on record.
A group wearing life jackets were seen huddled together onboard a lifeboat near Dover on Thursday morning.
Those who drowned on Wednesday included 17 men, seven women – one of whom was pregnant – and three children, France’s interior minister Gerald Darmanin said.
Five people have been arrested in connection with the fatal crossing. Read more
France to roll out Covid-19 booster jabs for all adults amid sharp rise in cases (France24)
France will make Covid-19 booster jabs available to all adults and reduce the gap from the last jab to five months, Health Minister Olivier Véran announced on Thursday, ruling out curfews and lockdowns to curb a fifth wave of infections.
“We still have fate in our hands,” Véran told a press conference in Paris, though warning that the fifth wave of infections “will be longer and tougher” than the fourth.
The health minister said booster jabs would be available to all people aged 18 or above “as of Saturday”, adding that France had sufficient supplies of vaccines.
From January 15, Véran added, booster shots will become a requirement for a valid health pass, which is required in France to enter restaurants, cafés, cinemas and museums, among other public venues. Read more
NPFL : 2021/22 season starts December 17 (Nation)
The 2021/22 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season is expected to kick off on December 17th across 10 centres.
Defending champions Akwa United will start their title defence at home in a Match Day 1 fixture against Kano Pillar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo
Elsewhere, Gombe United host Shooting Stars Sports Club to the Pantami stadium in Gombe in both teams’ first game of their returned season to the topflight.
The Pride of Benue, Lobi Stars will host Rivers United at the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi with the club’s Manager Eddy Dombraye leading his side against his state for the first time in many years. Read more
W’Cup qualifiers: Ministry handling D’Tigers, not Ahmadu-Kida (Punch)
The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development will be in charge of the D’Tigers to the 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers first window in Angola instead of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, The PUNCH reports.
D’Tigers are billed to face Cape Verde, Mali, and Uganda at the qualifiers billed to hold from November 26 to 28.
This comes after world body FIBA had ruled that it would only recognise the Musa Ahmadu-Kida-led board of the NBBF.
FIBA in a letter addressed to Ahmadu-Kida, said the sports ministry does have jurisdiction to manage the affairs of a National Member Federation. Read more
Zinedine Zidane ‘begins’ PSG manager talks to boost Man Utd’s Mauricio Pochettino hopes (Mirror)
Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly opened negotiations to appoint Zinedine Zidane as their next manager in an update of great importance for Manchester United.
Crucially, PSG have altered their stance and they now are open to appointing Zidane mid-season, paving the way for Mauricio Pochettino to move to Old Trafford before next summer.
Pochettino is understood to be United’s preferred option to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was sacked on Sunday, but their first approach for the Argentine was rejected earlier this week.
PSG appeared reluctant to make a change in the dugout mid-season and they are under little pressure to let Pochettino leave as he is contracted until 2023. Read more
Emile Heskey takes charge of Leicester Women as Jonathan Morgan leaves (Independent)
Emile Heskey has taken temporary charge of Leicester Women following the departure of Jonathan Morgan.
Leicester sit bottom of the Women’s Super League table having lost all eight of their matches so far this season.
Morgan, who led the Foxes to promotion from the Championship in April, assistant manager Michael Makoni and first team coach Holly Morgan have all left the club.
A statement from Leicester read: “Retention of its FA Women’s Super League status is central to the club’s vision for the long-term development of women’s football in the city. Read more
Neymar’s PSG struggles lay bare Mauricio Pochettino’s Man Utd desire (Mirror)
The struggles of Brazilian superstar Neymar at Paris Saint-Germain have laid bare Mauricio Pochettino’s desire to swap the French giants for Manchester United.
The manager’s job at Old Trafford is currently vacant after the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with Pochettino one of the favourites to replace the Norwegian in the long-term.
Pochettino is currently in charge at PSG, but is struggling under the weight of the responsibility of managing three superstars in Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.
Those struggles were clear for all to see on Wednesday, when Pochettino’s men travelled to Manchester City in the fifth game of this season’s Champions League group stages. Read more
Premiership: Bristol Bears v Northampton Saints (Fri) (BBC)
Bristol make three changes from their last Premiership outing as Northampton make the visit to Ashton Gate.
Chris Vui, Jake Kerr and Henry Purdy return for the Bears from the victory against Worcester.
Northampton welcome back eight internationals to their squad including England’s Courtney Lawes in the back row and Wales’ Dan Biggar at fly-half.
Lewis Ludlam also returns from the England camp to captain Saints and Alex Mitchell features at scrum-half.
Northampton will be looking for their first win at Ashton Gate since 2018 with five of the past six matches between the sides having been decided by a one-score margin or less. Read more
Nigerian journalist confronts Liverpool coach for branding AFCON ‘little tournament’ (Punch)
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has given reasons for branding the Africa Cup of Nations tournament as a “little tournament” after a Nigerian journalist confronted him.
Ojora Babatunde of OJB Sports had said, “Hi Jurgen, during your last pre-match presser, you deliberately called the Africa Cup of Nations a ‘little tournament’.
“I think it’s an insult to the players, an insult to the fans, an insult to the people on the continent and I think you owe the continent an apology.”
Klopp explained to the offended journalist that his remark – which came after the 4-0 win against Arsenal on Saturday – was a way of expressing his frustration at losing vital players at an important stage of the season. Read more