Teacher stabs ex-lover to death days to his marriage (Punch)
A teacher at a private primary school in Lagos, Jacinta Igboke, is being held in police custody for the murder of her estranged lover, Arinze Ani.
Igboke reportedly stabbed Ani to death on Tuesday during an altercation at his shop on Old Ojo Road, Satellite Town area of the state.
City Round learnt that Ani, who traded in soap chemicals, was planning to get married with a woman on January 4, 2020 after his relationship with Igboke collapsed. The relationship produced a boy, who is now 18 months old.
It was gathered that what started as true love in 2016 went sour shortly after Igboke got pregnant. Read more
Lagos residents decry increasing refuse dumps in metropolis (Guardian)
As Lagos strives to achieve megacity status, the problem of indiscriminate waste dumping at roadsides, bus stops and other unauthorized spots around the city continue to threaten this dream and the developmental strides of the state governor. It is no longer news that household waste has found its way back into the street corners of Lagos, taking the state back to the dark days when the metropolis was plagued with refuse and was regarded as one of the dirtiest cities in the world.
In the last couple of years, solid waste has found its way back to major highways, street corners, road medians and drainage channels from Agunlejika to Ijesha, Ilasa to Iyana-Isolo, Mushin to Agege and the island, spreading across all the 20 Local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the state. Read more
NITDA probes Lagos IRS over breaches (Nation)
The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) is being investigated by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for breach of the Nigerian Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
According to NITDA, the Revenue Service published a web portal where personal information of tax payers in Lagos state was being gleaned by the public.
The regulatory body said in a statement signed by its Director General and Chief Executive, Kashifu Abdullahi, that the act was contrary to the law regarding Data protection.
The statement reads in part: “The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) was reliably informed and duly ascertained that the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) published a web portal – Read more
Sanwo-Olu presents N250m seed cheque for Lagos tech start-ups (Sun)
As part of plans to make Lagos State a hub for innovation and technology, Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday, presented a seed fund of N250million to the State Science Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC).
LASRIC is a Lagos State institution in charge of research with the responsibility of boosting innovation and technology in the State. It presently has a 16-man team headed by the Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos, Professor Toyin Ogundipe.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, during the presentation of the cheque at the Government House in Alausa, charged the committee to ensure that the criteria to access the fund is flexible enough for Lagosians to benefit from. Read more
Court remands man, 22, over robbery (DailyTrust)
An Ado-Ekiti chief magistrate court has remanded a 22-year-old man, Temitope Olaboni, in a custodial centre over alleged armed robbery. The defendant, who is of no fixed address, is standing trial on a charge of armed robbery. The prosecutor, Insp. Oriyomi Akinwale, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on November 15, in Ido-Ekiti. He said that the defendant went to the house of one Alausa Muheedeen, with a locally-made gun and robbed him of the sum of N350,000, adding that he also searched the complainant’s car and took away N50,000 belonging to him. The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 402(2) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012. He urged the court to remand the defendant in prison pending legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). Read more
FG to link Niger with Abuja by rail (Punch)
The Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Bello, has said the Federal Government is on the verge of connecting Minna with Abuja by rail.
Bello dropped the hint when he addressed the last session of the state executive council meeting in Minna recently.
The state Commissioner for Investment, Dr Mustapha Jibril, who confirmed the development, said the state government would also construct light rail to link Minna with Suleja.
Jibril said, “As a result of the huge cost of carrying out the feasibility study for the project which he put sum N1.2bn, one of the three firms that showed interest in the job has agreed to do the study without any cost to the state government.” Read more
Buhari, Abdulsalam Abubakar move to resolve Ganduje, Sanusi’s rift (Guardian)
Kano Concerned Civil Society Groups have insisted that the move by the former Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar and other prominent Nigerians to resolve the lingering face-off between Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, should not have been necessary, if the Emir had complied with the rules.
The groups, in a release by Ibrahim Ali, contended that despite accepting to lead the council of Chiefs, Emir Sanusi was duty bound to embrace the newly established emirates as that measure will put an end to the raging crisis.
Although, the groups appreciated the intervention of the General Abdulsalam (Rtd.)-led committee, they expressed reservation about the motives of the mediating panel. Read more
Residents lament as gov’t demolishes 860 houses in Abuja (DailyTrust)
The location that houses over 1,000 residents left in ruins. When authorities of the Department of Development Control of Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) marked over 800 houses for demolition in Gwarimpa, Dorothy Dalhatu Haruna thought it was one of such government moves that would not be implemented. The demolition notice did not stop her from making plans for the Christmas celebration. Seven days after the markings, she was surprised to see heavy equipment outside the place she had called home for over seven years, “Then I ran to get whatsoever I could before they demolish the house,” she said adding that the demolition put an end to her Christmas plans. Read more
Controversy trails killing of Ngige’s kinsman in place of cow (Vanguard)
Controversy has trailed the mistaken killing of a middle-aged man in place of a cow at Alor, Anambra State, the home town of the Minister of labour and employment, Dr Chris Ngige, with both the police and the Department of State Service, DSS, denying responsibility.
The victim, one Onyeocha Umuokwu in the hometown of Ngige was said to be mistakenly shot dead when a yet to be identified security personnel allegedly fired a cow that was running away from the house of a prominent son of the area.
It was gathered that the security operative, who was attached to the big man, missed his target and the bullet landed on the victim. Read more
Nigeria sinking under weight of debt – Obasanjo (Nation)
Nigeria is rapidly sinking under the weight of foreign and domestic debts, and this should bother us.
This was part of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s opening lines on Friday as he presented a paper titled ‘Nigeria: The Challenges of Debt and Sustenance of Democracy.’
Speaking after Dr Olurotimi Badero, the Nigerian American cardiologist and international nephrologist who was recently recognised as world’s first and only fully trained cardio-nephrologist, Obasanjo said: “There is a dangerous emerging trend today in Africa, and it is eerily familiar with developments on the continent in the 70s. Read more
Women who made impact in 2019 (Guardian)
Top bankers, finance experts, businesswomen, medical practitioners, politicians, lawyers, technology experts, media entrepreneurs, gender experts, PR practitioners, actors, chefs, athletes, activists, “first ladies”, reality stars and more… they all graced our Guardian Woman covers this year, amazons all, to raise the bar and standards for fellow women to follow. And, as the year 2019 comes to a close, we want to celebrate all our amazing cover subjects, who have not only excelled in their various callings, but are also impacting other women and girls.
As they pursue their various goals, careers and professions, contributing their own quota to national development, they also endeavour to bring up and nurture a younger generation of women and men, too, through their various foundations, programmes and NGOs.
These women, drawn from all walks of life, have inspired us, advised us, shared their lives with us, their success stories and failures, business, career and life-tips were also given to readers. They are also helping to elevate other women and educate young girls, especially the less-privileged ones. Giving inspirational and motivational words to positively influence other women, especially those starting out in their careers into taking positive actions that would enhance their status, we have put together some of the quotes we loved best from our amazing women. Here is hoping they inspire you even more to take that bold step today: Read more
Everton keeps tab on Maja (Sun)
Everton are keeping tabs on one-cap Nigeria international Josh Maja, according to reports emanating from the French press.
French journalist Ignazio Genuardi has tweeted that the Toffees made a check on the former Sunderland starlet during Bordeaux’s 1-0 loss to Strasbourg on December 15 and added that other unnamed Premier League clubs are watching the striker.
Chelsea have been credited with an interest in the 20-year-old ahead of the reopening of the transfer window.
Maja has the honour of being the only Nigeria-eligible player to score a hat-trick in Europe’s top five leagues this season, achieving the feat in Bordeaux’s 6-0 rout of Nîmes Olympique on December 3. Read more
Wolves beat ten-man Man city (Nation)
In a dramatic comeback on Friday night, Wolverhampton Wanderers shocked Manchester City by winning 3-2 at Molineux Stadium.
Wolves came from behind to beat Manchester City led with a brace by Raheem Sterling, despite their keeper Ederson being sent off in the 12th minute for fouling Benjamin Mendy right in the box. The foul left Mendy grimacing in pain. Referee Martin Atkinson did not hesitate to show Ederson the red card.
Despite being down to 10 men, City tried to take the game to Wolves defence and they got a penalty awarded them in the 25th minute, after Riyad Mahrez was brought down in the Wolves box. A VAR check endorsed the penalty, but Sterling not only took it twice, but scored on a rebound. Read more
I will play until I’m 35 – Ighalo (Punch)
Former Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, has said he does not have plans of calling it quit from football anytime soon.
In a chat with our correspondent, Ighalo said he will continue playing until his body can no longer cope with the physical demands of the game.
“I can’t retire now, I am just 30 years old, I still have more years to play. I am not thinking about that until the next five years. I will play until you will have to send me away that I can’t move anymore,” Ighalo told Sports Extra. Read more
Our win over Leicester best of the season, Alexander-Arnold alleges (Guardian)
Trent Alexander-Arnold felt Liverpool delivered their best performance of the season so far when they hammered Leicester City 4-0 to move 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Champions League and Club World Cup holders Liverpool stormed closer to winning their first domestic title in three decades by thrashing the second-placed Foxes at the King Power Stadium.
Roberto Firmino scored twice – both goals coming from crosses provided by Alexander-Arnold, who was also on target along with a James Milner penalty as the Reds showed no sign of fatigue despite being in Qatar for the Club World Cup last week. Read more
Ronaldo not interested in coaching (Nation)
Cristiano Ronaldo says he does not expect to become a coach after he retires, but is not ready to rule it out entirely.
The Portugal international is still going strong at 34 years, scoring 12 goals in 21 appearances for Juventus this season.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner said in August that he does not know when he will bring an end to his playing career, saying he could either retire at the end of the season or keep going past his 40th birthday. Read more
Esperance, Mazembe, Etoile eye third successive wins (DailyTrust)
The 2019/20 CAF Champions League group stage match-day three will take centre stage this weekend. DR Congo’s TP Mazembe will be looking to record their third successive win in Group A when they face Angolan side C.D Primeiro de Agosto in Luanda on Friday.
Mazembe’s local rivals, AS Vita Club will also be in action on Friday when they lock horns with the defending champions and Tunisian giants Esperance de Tunis in a Group D match in Rades. Read more
‘New clause in Rohr’s contract means redemption for Nigerian football’ (Guardian)
Former International, Adegoke Adelabu, has described the inclusion of a new clause by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) before Coach Gernot Rohr’s contract can be renewed as a welcome development.
NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, had on Thursday admitted an error in the first deal signed with Rohr, saying that the new pact for the Franco-German coach would now include living in the country, which allows him only to travel twice or thrice in a year and that his list of players for any national engagement must be sanctioned by the NFF technical committee before the players are invited.
Speaking to The Guardian yesterday on the new condition by the NFF, Adelabu stated that aside the new clause for Rohr’s deal extension, that competent coaches must also be engaged to assist him with a view of taking over from him by the time the new deal ends if he agrees. Read more
Onuachu keen on improving his weaknesses (Punch)
Super Eagles forward, Paul Onuachu, reveals that he has a lot to work on when it comes to capabilities in the air, adding that new manager Hannes Wolf is very strict about the use of phones by players.
In early November, KRC Genk sacked manager Felipe Mazzú after a very disappointing campaign in the domestic league and could not get the game to flow in the Champions League.
The new manager has however led Genk to three wins out of the last four possible, and Onuachu attributed the team’s progress to Wolf’s mentality.
“I see more discipline and aggressiveness in training and in matches. Hannes Wolf require maximum focus. Read more
Real Betis extend La Liga’s oldest player contract until 2021 (DailyTrust)
Real Betis skipper Joaquin Sanchez on Thursday extended his contract with the Seville club for one more year until June 2021. The Spanish winger confirmed that he will stay in Real Betis for one more year. “Real Betis Balompié and Captain Joaquín Sánchez have extended the contract existing between them. The winger, a Green and White icon, will continue in the Club until 2021,” the club said in a statement. Read more
Arteta aims to solve Ozil issue as Chelsea clash looms (Guardian)
Mikel Arteta has backed Mesut Ozil to make the most of his fresh start as Arsenal’s new manager prepares for his home debut against Chelsea on Sunday.
Ozil has become a polarising figure at Arsenal after several seasons of lacklustre performances from the German playmaker.
He was a peripheral figure under former Gunners boss Unai Emery and looked destined to leave the club in January. Read more