UK ballistic expert sheds light on Lekki tollgate shootings (Guardian)
The United Kingdom (UK)-based forensic and ballistic company, hired by Lagos State government to investigate the shooting incident at the Lekki Tollgate, has said that live military-grade ammunition were not fired at protesters on the night of October 20, 2020.
The UK-based company, Oxygene Consulting UK Ltd, represented by its Executive Director, Dieye Willie-Harry, gave the report on Tuesday via zoom during the proceedings of the Lagos State Judicial Restitution for Victims of #EndSARS Related Abuses and Other Matters Panel investigating police brutality.
He said: “We have not viewed any footage, which definitively shows a muzzle aimed towards any individual and at the same time being fired with the effect thereof, but what we can freely assess was that no live bullet was fired.
“However, given the injuries sustained from 21:00 hours and further, we believe that live and military-grade ammunition were fired at some point by persons yet-to-be-identified.” Read more
Defilement: Witness testifies against Baba Ijesha (DailyTrust)
A forensic expert, Mrs Anike Ajayi-Kayode, the Executive Director of Cece Yara Foundation, on Tuesday, told an Ikeja sexual offences court how Olanrewaju James alias Baba Ijesha engaged a minor in sexual activities.
Mrs Ajayi-Kayode said the outcome of her investigation revealed that “the perpetrator engaged the child in sexual activities twice when she was seven years old.”
The witness who is a certified child forensic specialist told the court that she had participated in over 25 child forensic interviews.
She said Baba Ijesha’s victim was relaxed, cooperative and able to recall events. Read more
Retired general’s abduction: Police expand rescue operation to South-West states (Punch)
As the abduction of Air Vice Marshal Sikiru Smith (retd) enters day three, efforts to rescue him have been expanded to other parts of the South-West with the involvement of special police operatives in Ogun and Oyo states, PUNCH Metro has learnt.
Operatives of the South-West Security Network Agency, otherwise known as the Amotekun Corps, were also said to have been deployed to assist the police in combing forests to track down the kidnappers.
A police source who spoke to our correspondent on Wednesday, said Ogun and Oyo states, among other states in the region, were working with the Lagos State Police Command to rescue the retired general.
“South-West states are now involved in the ongoing operation to rescue the retired general. All the special police operatives from these states will join forces with Lagos State to track down the kidnappers. Read more
Attacks on Security Agents: Sanwo-Olu orders CP to fish out culprits for justice (Vanguard)
Lagos State Governor, Mr Bababjide Sanwo-Olu, has expressed determination to punish culprits involved in attacks on law enforcement agents in the state, vowing they will be brought to justice.
In another development, Sanwo-Olu, assured of his administration’s commitment to further create enough space for youths to thrive in business and governance as part of measures to empower them in the nation-building project of Nigeria.
The governor, who noted with deep concern over the spate of attacks on security agents, described such “senseless” attacks as attempts to trample on law and order by those who are desperate to turn the society upside down, “this will not be allowed to happen.”
In the latest of such attacks, a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, Kazeem Abonde, was killed on September 23, 2021, in Ajao Estate by yet unknown hoodlums. Read more
Kaduna: El-Rufai shuts telecoms services, bans motorbikes (Sun)
As part of critical measures to tackle the nefarious activities of fleeing bandits in parts of the state, the Kaduna State Government, yesterday, officially announced the shutdown of telecommunications services in undisclosed locations.
The development may not be unconnected with the security information that fleeing bandits from Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto states, where telecommunications services have been shut, now come to Kaduna state to make phone calls.
Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State, who stated this in a press briefing, at the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in Kaduna, added that all motorcycles (commercial and private) have also been banned for the next three months – all with effect from midnight today.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai had, on a radio chart, Tuesday night, announced that the state government had formally requested the Federal Government to enforce the shutdown of telecom services in parts of the state identified by security agencies as requiring such measures. Read more
Air Peace: Aviation security arrested passengers who assaulted our staff (DailyTrust)
The Management of Air Peace has denied arresting a passenger on its Lagos-Abuja flight, dismissing a trending video insinuating a passenger was arrested.
In a statement, the airline explained that the passengers in the video was supposed to be on a 19:20 Lagos-Abuja flight which was delayed due to “tenable unforeseen operational concerns.”
However, it said the delay was “professionally communicated” to the affected passengers while efforts were made to put 46 of them on a flight that departed at 19:16, leaving behind 46 passengers.
It confirmed that one of the passengers, Paul Samuel, who suddenly became uncontrollably irate, assaulted its Boarding Officer, prompting the invitation of Aviation security officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Read more
Nigerians without NIN won’t get passports, driving licence – NCC (Punch)
The Nigerian Communications Commission says the October 31 deadline for linking their National Identity Numbers with their Subscriber Identity Modules remains sacrosanct.
It also said that Nigerians without NIN would soon be denied the opportunity of acquiring driving licences and passports.
The commission said at the NCC Digital Signature radio programme, which transmitted the second episode of Telecoms Consumer Town Hall on Radio (live on a radio station in Lagos to discuss benefits of NIN-SIM integration.
This was disclosed in a statement titled ‘NIN-SIM Integration: NCC sensitises telecom consumers on October 31 Deadline’ signed by NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, on Wednesday. Read more
IBEDC says construction of Abeokuta-Sagamu-Mowe 33kv Double-Circuit overhead lines nearing completion (Vanguard)
The Management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has restated its commitment to the completion of the ongoing construction work on the Abeokuta-Sagamu-Mowe 33KV dual-circuit line.
This is contained in a statement signed and made available to newsmen on Wednesday by the company’s Chief Technical Officer, Mr Akin Abiodun.
He said that work had reached an advanced stage regarding the ongoing construction of the double circuit 33kV overhead lines from the new transmission station through Sagamu Interchange to Mowe which was divided into five segments.
He added that it was awarded to different contractors to hasten its completion. Read more
Will and Jada Pinkett Smith buy new $11.3M love nest amid open relationship reveal (PageSix)
Will and Jada Pinkett Smith may boom, shake the room in their new love nest.
The married couple shelled out $11.3 million for a 10,400-square-foot Hidden Hills, Calif., estate, which they can now add to their growing real estate portfolio.
The gated community has been the hub for most celebrities who have purchased a home in the neighborhood, including Drake, Kaley Cuoco, Lil Wayne and Kylie Jenner.
The move comes five months after a fire broke out at the couple’s $42 million Calabasas mansion, which they are now having to renovate, The Post previously reported.
It also comes amid his memoir release, “Will,” in November. Read more
Britney Spears’ father suspended as conservator (BBC)
A judge has suspended Britney Spears’ father from the legal arrangement that gave him control of her life after Spears accused him of years of abuse.
Jamie Spears was appointed her guardian in 2008, amid concerns over her mental health. On Wednesday, a judge handed the role to a man appointed by Spears.
Mr Spears, who denies any abuse, had filed to end the conservatorship after Spears requested another guardian.
Fans around the world have supported her through the #FreeBritney campaign. Read more
Artist is paid for blank canvases after being given £60,000 to create work (Metro)
When a Danish museum loaned a regarded artist £60,000 to recreate old artworks of his using the banknotes, no one thought he would just pocket the money.
Jens Haaning was commissioned by the Kunsten Museum in Aalborg for an exhibition named ‘Work it Out’.
He was asked to reproduce two works using Danish kroner and Euros to represent the annual salary in Denmark and Austria.
But when gallery staff unpacked the pieces, they were stunned to find two empty glass frames with the money nowhere to be seen. Read more
50 Cent tells Jalen Rose how he brought the Black Mafia Family story to TV (NYPost)
This week’s “Renaissance Man” guest comes from the streets but is sitting in the boardroom. He’s a known fighter who has taken his licks (9 gunshots) and not only lived to tell about it, but had the ultimate revenge: resounding success in music, business and entertainment. So it’s only fitting that Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, in crafting his television turn, looks to the man who brought underdog Rocky Balboa to life.
“First, I looked at, like my hero, as far as a career or how to navigate the business of entertainment, is Sylvester Stallone,” he told me. “You know, he kind of made all the vehicles that he actually worked [on].”
Like late great Tupac, Ice Cube, Ice-T and Queen Latifah, he has made the jump from music to film and television. The Southside Jamaica, Queens, native said there’s a synergy to both music and television that allowed him to transition.
He knew how to make a hit and assemble a team that could bring continuity to his vision and carried that over into creating a show. “My habits and what I am conditioned for is why I progressed so fast in television,” he said. Read more
‘Lost’ David Bowie album set for birthday release (BBC)
A David Bowie album that was never officially released during his lifetime is to come out the day before what would have been his 75th birthday.
Toy, which was recorded in 2001 and leaked online in 2011, will be released in a three-CD box set on 7 January.
Before that, it will form part of David Bowie 5: Brilliant Adventure, a larger box set to be released in November.
According to the singer’s producer Mark Plati, the album captures “the sound of people happy to be playing music”. Read more
Women followed lockdown rules more closely than men, study shows (Metro)
The first Covid lockdown showed that women followed rules more closely than men, according to a new study which branded the restrictions a ‘live social experiment’.
Researchers looking at 15% of the Austrian population’s behaviour said that everyone tended to make significantly longer phone calls during the crisis.
Men were found to be less likely to accept having their movements restricted by lockdown measures and tended to return to normal more quickly, along with younger people. Read more
NFF waiting for Rohr’s team list as Eagles’ camp opens October 4 (Guardian)
Nigeria’s preparation for the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifier against Central African Republic will begin with the arrival of players to the Eagles’ camp, which will open on Monday, next week.
According to officials of the team, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has started making arrangements for the players’ arrival on Sunday at the team’s Eko Hotels camp.
The Super Eagles will host the Les Fauves of Central African Republic on October 10 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
Super Eagles’ Media Officer, Femi Raji, told The Guardian yesterday that plans were ongoing to ensure Nigeria maintains its winning streak in the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifying series, which started with a 2-0 defeat of Liberia in Lagos and a 2-1 victory over Cape Verde in Mindelo. Read more
Ronaldo scores in 95th minute as Man Utd beat Villarreal (BBC)
Cristiano Ronaldo scored an injury-time winner as Manchester United came from behind to beat Villarreal in an action-packed Champions League Group F contest.
The repeat of last season’s Europa League final, which the Spanish side won on penalties, looked to be heading for a draw after another disappointing United performance but summer signing Ronaldo stroked home from Jesse Lingard’s lay-off to spark jubilant scenes at Old Trafford.
However, visiting manager Unai Emery will be left wondering how his side did not come away with all three points.
United started brightly, with Bruno Fernandes scooping over and Ronaldo also failing to hit the target with a header in the opening seven minutes.
Villarreal took charge thereafter but could not score in a first half in which they created chance after chance. Read more
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits Jesse Lingard is unhappy at Man Utd after his crucial assist in Villarreal win (Metro)
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits that Jesse Lingard is unhappy at the club due to his lack of game time, after the England star came off the bench to set up Cristiano Ronaldo’s last minute winner against Villarreal on Wednesday.
Lingard is yet to start a game in the Premier League or Champions League this season, but has come off the bench on five occasions and proved influential in doing so.
The 28-year-old scored the winner against West Ham in the Premier League earlier this month and turned provider for Ronaldo at Old Trafford in the 2-1 win over the Spanish side. Read more
Chelsea: Thomas Tuchel puzzled by ‘strange’ display from the Blues in Juventus defeat (BBC)
Thomas Tuchel’s side have not won in 90 minutes in their three most recent games, only scoring once in that time
Thomas Tuchel said “I don’t know why” Chelsea did not play well in their 1-0 Champions League defeat by Juventus.
Federico Chiesa scored Juve’s goal 10 seconds into the second half.
The Blues have now lost twice in five days – with only one shot on target in total – after a 1-0 home Premier League defeat to Manchester City on Saturday.
“I felt we were a bit slow and tired, mentally slow in our decision making. That’s why it’s a strange one to analyse,” boss Tuchel told BT Sport. Read more
Corey Davis looks to beat former team, get first win as Jet (NYPost)
Jets wide receiver Corey Davis is set to take the field on Sunday against his former team, the Titans, for the first time since the organization let him walk as a free agent this offseason.
Tennessee declined the fifth-year option on Davis’ contract last May, allowing the 26-year-old to become a free agent after last season and sign a three-year, $37.5 million deal with the Jets in March. It wasn’t a tough decision to leave the franchise he played with for four seasons, Davis said Wednesday, but he noted the Titans also didn’t make much of an effort to retain him.
Asked if that bothered him, Davis was honest about feeling a tad scorned by the team that drafted him fifth overall in 2017. Read more
Ballon d’Or returns as Messi, Lewandowski battle for award (Punch)
The Ballon d’Or ceremony is set to return in November after it was cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Nominees for the various awards — which include naming a men’s and women’s player of the year — are set to be unveiled on October 8, 2021.
The ceremony will take place at the usual Chatelet Theatre in Paris as the most prestigious individual honours in football are handed out, The Independent reports.
Six-time winner of the men’s award Lionel Messi is currently the favourite to land himself a record-extending seventh Ballon d’Or later this year. Read more