Three journalists shot at APC rally in Lagos (Guardian)
Three journalists were shot at a rally organised for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. The rally was held at Skypower field, Ikeja, Lagos. Among those that were hit by the gun was the group political editor of Nation newspaper, Emmanuel Oladesu, NewsTelegraph correspondent, Temitope Ogunbanke, Ibile Television cameraman, Abiodun Yusuf, among others. A number of persons were also injured, robbed and beaten at the rally. Read more
CCTV footage exposes policemen who raided Lagos night club (Punch)
The management of Lakers County, a popular night club in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State, is seeking redress over an attack by men of the Anti-Cultism Unit of the Lagos State Police Command, who allegedly invaded its premises on Sunday and seized from its customers and workers valuables worth several millions of naira. Closed-circuit television footage provided to PUNCH Metro by the club’s management revealed how the officers perpetuated the act that sent shivers down the spines of the customers and workers on duty at the club at that time. Some of the customers and workers have yet to recover their belongings, which were seized by the officers during the raid. Read more
Why I haven’t fired service chiefs, acted on IG – Buhari (Punch)
President Muhammadu Buhari says the performances of the service chiefs may be disappointing but he will continue to take responsibility for their actions. This is as the President stated that he would soon decide whether to extend or terminate the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, who is due for retirement. Buhari said this during an interview with Arise TV. The President said having been a military administrator, minister and head of state, he would not make any hasty decisions. He said removing the service chiefs in the middle of the fight against insurgency might not be the right decision. Read more
I didn’t order EFCC to stop investigating Akpabio – Buhari (Guardian)
Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari said none of the ruling All Progressives Congress members or his close allies has immunity against corruption charges. “I don’t think I asked that Akpabio or whatever he did before moving to APC to be left alone. I can’t remember asking EFCC, ICPC or the police to spare any corrupt person,” Buhari said during an interview with Arise TV on Monday night “I haven’t done it, I challenge you to expose any,” he added. The president stated this while responding to a question on why the Economic Financial Crime Commission(EFCC) stopped investigating the former minority leader Godswill Akpabio after he joined the ruling party. Read more
I knew about my husband’s death on WhatsApp, widow of NAF pilot says (Guardian)
Tears flowed freely and emotions ran riot yesterday at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja during the burial of the five crew members of the crashed Nigerian Air Force attack helicopter, Mi-35M deployed to combat Boko Haram insurgents in the North East. The cynosure of all eyes was the widow of Flight Lieutenant Perowei Jacob, who died in the January 2 crash, Diepreye Jacob. She had only last month been wedded in holy matrimony to the deceased. Amid tears, she had revealed that she first learnt of her husband’s death through the WhatsApp status update of her husband’s colleague, who was unaware that she had his number. Read more
Amaechi’s alleged audio won’t break APC — FG (Punch)
The Federal Government has said the release of an audio in which the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, allegedly criticised President Muhammadu Buhari will not break the All Progressives Congress. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday. Amaechi is the director-general of the APC Presidential Campaign Council. Mohammed said, “The opposition is determined to ensure the ongoing campaign for the 2019 elections is not based on issues but on mudslinging. Read more
Seasonal politicians mustn’t deliver Kwara to Lagos paymasters – Saraki (Punch)
The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday said he dumped the All Progressives Congress for the Peoples Democratic Party because President Muhammadu Buhari was running a government that did not care for the people. Speaking at Bode Saadu, headquarters of the Moro Local Government Area where he launched the PDP’s campaign for the Kwara State governorship election, Saraki told voters to reject leaders who had no solution to the problems of the country. He said, “This election (governorship) is not about me or our governorship candidate, Razak Atunwa. It’s about this state, our tradition. Read more
DR Congo opposition candidate Fayulu says results ‘not negotiable’ (BBC)
Opposition presidential candidate Martin Fayulu has warned election officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo not to “disguise the truth” as tensions mount over the delayed result. Mr Fayulu said the “Congolese people already know” the result of the vote, which took place on 30 December. The election outcome was initially expected to be announced on Sunday. The poll is to establish a successor to Joseph Kabila, who is stepping down after 18 years as president. Mr Kabila has promised that the polls, which were supposed to have taken place two years ago, will be DR Congo’s first orderly transfer of power since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960. Read more
Eagles may prepare for 2019 African Nations Cup in Morocco (Guardian)
If everything works according to plans, the Super Eagles will camp in Morocco to prepare for the African Nations Cup, which CAF yesterday confirmed would hold in Egypt this year. According top footballlive.ng reports that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has set plans to secure a good camp for the national team ahead of the competition, which will hold from June 15 to July 13.Egypt, who are the most successful team in this championship having won it a record seven times, beat South Africa to stage the expanded tournament of 24 teams. Read more
Nigeria’s women beach volleyball squad still second in Africa (Guardian)
Following their victory at the Camtel International Beach Volleyball Championship in Yaoundé, Cameroun recently, Nigeria’s women beach volleyball team has retained the second spot in the current rankings released by the Africa Volleyball Federation (CAVF) at the weekend. Nigeria Volleyball Federation President, Musa Nimrod congratulated the girls for maintaining their position despite the threats from other beach volleyball nations. Nimrod promised that the female team would attend more championships this year and also defend their gold medal at the 2019 All Africa Games scheduled for Morocco. Read more
Kane’s penalty gives Spurs advantage (BBC)
Harry Kane’s first-half penalty gave Tottenham a slender advantage after the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Wembley. Referee Michael Oliver awarded the 26th minute spot-kick after consulting VAR for offside and Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga’s foul on Kane. Spurs and Chelsea both had chances in a fiercely fought contest and Blues’ manager Maurizio Sarri will feel this tie is still very much alive before the second leg at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, 24 January. Chelsea hit the woodwork twice in the first half through N’Golo Kante’s near-post flick, and when Spurs keeper Paulo Gazzaniga athletically turned Callum Hudson-Odoi’s deflected cross onto the post. Read more
Two siblings burnt to death in midnight fire (Guardian)
The Kano State Fire Service yesterday confirmed the death of two boys of the same parent in a fire incident. The children reportedly died yesterday during an early morning inferno that gutted their parent’s two-bedroom apartment at Sharada, Ja’en Yamma quarters in Kano metropolis. Spokesman of the State Fire Service, Alhaji Saidu Mohammed, who declined to reveal the names of the victims, however told journalists that the victims were aged four and seven. Mohammed said the parents of the children had run out of the house in search of help in the neighborhood when the fire started at 2:09a.m. A later effort to rescue the children from the fire was not successful. Read more
Osun fuel attendant steals sales proceeds, defrauded by colleagues (Punch)
Three attendants at a Nipco filling station in Osogbo, Osun State, Azeez Abdulsamad, Nasiru Aranse and Medinat Salako, have been arraigned before an Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court for stealing the sum of N1,150,000, being sales proceeds of the station. The accused were arraigned on counts of conspiracy, fraud and theft. According to the police, Abdulsamad stole the proceeds and was later defrauded by Aranse and Salako, who took the money from him under the pretext that they would provide charms that would make him rich. The charge sheet read in part, “That you, Azeez Abdulsamad, at a Nipco filling station, Osogbo, did steal the sum of N1,150,000, property of one Afolabi Kayode. Read more
25-year-old man nabbed for car theft in Niger (Punch)
The police in Niger State have arrested a 25-year-old-man, Nasiru Bala, of the Suleja Local Government Area of the state for car theft. It was learnt the police operatives, on January 4, 2019, arrested the suspect with a Toyota Camry with number plate, Nasarawa AKW 722 AA. Northern City News gathered that the suspect received the car in December 2018 from a man simply identified as Usman from Gwagwalada, who allegedly stole the vehicle from one Akwa Mallo of the same address and gave it to the suspect to sell. Bala confessed to his involvement in the sale of several stolen cars in the past. Read more