Teenager fakes own kidnap with lover, demands N30m from family (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a teenager, Ujunwa Offiah, for allegedly conspiring with her boyfriend, Blessed Ifesinachi, to fake her kidnap and demand N30m ransom from her family.
The police also arrested an accomplice, Precious Chukwu, 22, whose phone was reportedly used to negotiate with Offiah’s family.
The state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, while parading the suspects at the command headquarters on Monday, said the principal suspect, Ifesinachi, was at large. Read more
Activists renew EndSARS protest despite threats (Guardian)
Activists, yesterday, moved to make good their threat to resume the EndSARS protest, triggering fresh concerns.
This came six weeks after a violent turn of events as the #EndSARS protests cascaded into an orgy of violence and destruction across the country.
Worried that there could be a repeat of the mayhem, President Muhammadu Buhari warned, yesterday, that while citizens were at liberty to freely express themselves in a democracy, such latitude did not include acts of hooliganism. He stated that anyone that would hide behind lawful and peaceful protests to commit crime would be dealt with decisively to ensure peace and stability in the country.
President’s warning came as police in Lagos, Cross River, and Ogun states took steps to prevent the protest, also for fear that hoodlums might hijack it. Read more
Immigration Recruitment: Officials nab two foreign applicants in Lagos (Vanguard)
Officials of the Ministry of Interior have arrested two foreigners in Lagos state who attempted to sit for the ongoing entry examination into the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS.
Director, Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Mohammed Manga disclosed this in a preliminary statement issued Monday in Abuja on the conduct of the exercise.
He said; “Reports reaching us show that, at the Ilupeju Centre of the exercise, some officers of the Ministry who were monitoring the CBT exercise, screened out two non- Nigerians, a Cameroonian and Beninoise who attempted to participate in the recruitment test. Read more
Low patronage as Lagos-Ibadan train service begins (Nation)
Only one passenger turned up and made the historic trip from Ibadan to Lagos yesterday as the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge train started operation.
The newly introduced service, according to the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), provides fully air-conditioned train services in the Economy, Business and First Class categories.
The corporation deployed only one Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) to kick-start the operation.
Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi had announced a price regime of N3,000 for the Economy, N5,000 for the Business and N6,000 for First Class. Read more
Petrol price may hit N180 as oil nears $50 (Punch)
The pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, may hit N180 per litre this month, according to marketers, as oil prices extended their rally on Monday, with Brent crude trading near $50 per barrel.
Brent, the international oil benchmark, has risen by more than 15 per cent since November 13 when the pump price of petrol was adjusted in the country. It stood at $49.39 per barrel as of 7:29pm Nigerian time on Monday.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, had said in September that the Federal Government had stepped back in fixing the price of petrol, adding that market forces and crude oil price would determine the cost of the product. Read more
Oshiomhole: I am not plotting to return as APC chair (Nation)
A former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, on Monday said he was not plotting to return to his former position in the ruling party.
He said he had nothing to do with the court case challenging the suspension of the defunct National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, which he headed.
He maintained that he was not seeking any surreptitious or backdoor court process to return as the APC National Chairman.
The former chairman said if another National Executive Committee (NEC) of APC or a court order reverses the dissolution of the former NWC, he will reject any offer to return to office. Read more
Two die, four injured in Lagos-Ibadan highway accident (Guardian)
Two escape death as patrol tanker crashes in Anambra
Two persons died yesterday while four others sustained various degrees of injury in a lone accident involving a commercial bus around Fidiwo on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, the spokesperson for Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), confirmed the incident to newsmen in Abeokuta. Akinbiyi explained that the accident, which occurred around 11:20 a.m, was caused by speeding and loss of control by the driver. Read more
Okowa tasks judiciary on justice delivery (Vanguard)
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Monday in Asaba urged the judiciary to ensure effective delivery of justice in the interest of the common man.
Okowa, who made the call during a special thanksgiving service to begin the 2020/2021 legal year, described the judiciary as the last hope of the oridinary citizen.
Represented by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, Okowa said that the judiciary should promote fairness and equity in undertaking its duties. Read more
French man guilty of shooting and impaling rowdy rooster (BBC)
A man in France has been handed a five-month suspended sentence for shooting a noisy rooster and then impaling it on an iron bar.
Marcel, a cockerel from the Ardèche, was shot dead in May by a neighbour who had become irate with his crowing.
Sebastien Verney, Marcel’s owner, then started a petition calling for “justice” for the rooster. It has since been signed by almost 100,000 people.
The neighbour was found guilty of animal cruelty and other offences. Read more
Missing Brit teen found with a three-year-old son in camp for Isis brides (Metro)
A British woman who went missing aged 18 six years ago has been found in a detention camp for Isis brides in northeast Syria. A national missing persons appeal was launched when Nasra Abukar disappeared from her family home in Lewisham, south London, in 2014. She was found in a Kurdish-run camp with a three-year-old son, Talha, having lost another boy, Faris, in an air strike, according to The Sunday Times. Read more
Georgia declares Biden winner for a third time (BBC)
For a third time, Joe Biden has been declared the winner of Georgia’s presidential election.
A final tally announced by Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger showed that Mr Biden won the normally Republican stronghold by under 12,000 votes.
The state carried out a second recount of the 3 November vote following challenges from President Trump’s team. Read more
Cinderella actress Natalie Desselle-Reid dies aged 53 (Metro)
Actress Natalie Desselle-Reid has sadly died at the age of 53. The actress was best known for playing Mickey in the 1997 movie B.A.P.S. alongside Halle Berry, and for starring alongside late comedian Bernie Mac in How To Be A Player, as well as Set It Off with Jada Pinkett Smith and Queen Latifah. A cause of death was not mentioned but sources have told TMZ the actress battled colon cancer and spent her final days in a hospice surrounded by her family. Announcing the sad news, a post on her Instagram account read: ‘It is with extremely heavy hearts that we share the loss of our beautiful Natalie this morning. ‘She was a bright light in this world. A queen. Read more
Civilians killed in airstrikes in Afghanistan soars by more than 300% (BBC)
The number of Afghan civilians killed in airstrikes carried out by the US and its allies has risen 330% since 2017, a US study says.
In 2019 alone, around 700 civilians were killed, the Costs of War Project at Brown University says.
It is the highest figure since the first years of the US invasion following the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Read more
Mariah Carey to Slade: How much top stars earn for their iconic (Metro)
Slade have topped a ranking of Christmas royalties earned every year by top stars and their festive hits. A Yuletide favourite is a big money earner for pop stars around the world, with the likes of Mariah Carey, The Sir Cliff Richard all raking in six figure annual paydays from their seasonal tunes. As reported by The Sun, Slade’s track Merry Xmas Everybody pulls in an estimated huge £520,000 a year, with Wham!’s hit Last Christmas following closely behind with £480,000 while Fairytale of New York rounds off the top three with £400,000. Read more
Covid forces Davos forum to move to Singapore (BBC)
The World Economic Forum, which usually hosts a glitzy annual meeting for political and business leaders in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, has moved next year’s event to Singapore.
The forum says it’s making the change to safeguard health and safety.
“In light of the current situation with regards to Covid-19 cases, it was decided that Singapore was best placed to hold the meeting,” it said.
Singapore has largely been seen as managing the crisis successfully. Read more
Osimhen back in training (Punch)
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has returned to training three weeks after he dislocated his shoulder while on international duty with the Super Eagles in November, The PUNCH reports.
The Nigerian, who has missed five games so far, worked in the gym and on the pitch, Napoli confirmed in an official statement.
“He worked alone on the pitch and in the gym today (Monday),” the club stated.
“Victor Osimhen had physiotherapy and worked alone in the gym and on the pitch.” Read more
Anthony Joshua v Kubrat Pulev: Champion says he has built a tougher mentality (BBC)
Anthony Joshua is adopting “a gladiator mentality” as he prepares to put his world heavyweight titles on the line.
The Briton defends his IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO belts at Wembley Arena against Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev on Saturday.
It is the 31-year-old’s first fight since winning a rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr on a unanimous points decision 12 months ago.
“I’ve become tougher, more relentless over the last year,” Joshua told the BBC 5 Live Boxing podcast. Read more
Paul Pogba unhappy at Manchester United because he wants Bruno Fernandes’ role (Metro)
Manchester United star Paul Pogba wants to leave Old Trafford because he is unhappy with his midfield role under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Frenchman’s agent, Mino Raiola, gave a wide-ranging interview to Tuttosport on Monday in which he revealed Pogba’s time at the club was ‘over’. Pogba has 18 months left on his contract at the Theatre of Dreams but Raiola says it would be best for the midfielder to be sold in January, instead of allowing him to leave for free in 2022. Read more
Brighton victims of ‘random’ VAR penalty decision in loss to Southampton (BBC)
Brighton wing-back Solly March said his side were the victims of the Premier League’s latest “random decision” as a video assistant referee-awarded penalty consigned them to defeat against Southampton.
The Seagulls looked on course for a point until March was penalised for a late foul on Southampton full-back Kyle Walker-Peters.
The Saints player’s momentum from the challenge outside the penalty area carried him forward as the players tangled and tumbled into the box. Referee David Coote initially awarded the visitors a free-kick but despite multiple camera angles appearing inconclusive his decision was overturned – allowing Danny Ings to score from the spot. Read more
Jurgen Klopp bemused by outstanding quality of Sadio Mane (Metro)
Jurgen Klopp was left bemused by the outstanding quality of Sadio Mane after Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Wolves on Sunday. The Reds eased to their seventh victory of the campaign to go level on points with Tottenham at the summit of the table. Despite not getting on the scoresheet, Mane was a threat throughout and his sublime first touch caught the eye of Klopp. Read more
Kepa Arrizabalaga to replace Edouard Mendy for game against Krasnodar (BBC)
Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga will make his first appearance since October in Tuesday’s Champions League tie against Krasnodar, says boss Frank Lampard.
Kepa, 26, has lost his number one spot to Edouard Mendy this season and sustained a shoulder injury in October.
The Spain international has started only three Premier League games and has yet to appear in the Champions League this campaign.
“Kepa starts,” said Lampard. Read more
