Wanted man appointed into MC Oluomo’s committee (Punch)
A man declared wanted by the Lagos State Police Command in January has been appointed into the caretaker committee of the National Union of Road Transport Workers led by Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo. The man, Mustapha Adekunle, aka Seigo, is listed as number one on the new list of members of the caretaker committee of the NURTW. Adekunle, who is also a member of the All Progressives Congress, was declared wanted by the immediate past Commissioner of Police in the state, Imohimi Edgal, for his alleged role in the violence that erupted at an APC rally in which two journalists were shot. Read more
Xenophobia: I’m in South Africa to ensure govt never again looks away while our citizens are attacked —Ezekwesili (Punch)
A former Minister of Education and presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria in the February 2019 General Election, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, has responded to criticisms trailing her participation at the ongoing World Economic Forum for Africa. She said that she was at the South Africa event to ensure that authorities of the southern African country never again looks away while Nigerians are attacked, maimed and killed. Read more
Xenophobia: Don’t pay for evacuation flight from S/Africa, Air Peace tells Nigerians (Nation)
Nigerian carrier, Air Peace has warned against scammers who are allegedly collecting money from Nigerians in South Africa for their evacuation back to the country. The Chairman of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, told newsmen in Lagos on Thursday that the airline was offering free flights for Nigerians fleeing from xenophobic attacks in South Africa He said the gesture was part of the airline support to the government. Read more
Xenophobia: Why I travelled to South Africa —Fayemi (Punch)
Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, has stated the reason he travelled to South Africa, despite the protests that had greeted the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians resident there. The Kano Emirate Council had shared the photographs of Fayemi, alongside the Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai; and the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi, at the Africa in the World conference holding in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Read more
South East govs won’t apologise to IPOB – Umahi (Nation)
Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi on Thursday said the South-East governors have no apology to tender to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). In a recent open letter to the governors, IPOB had made some demands including an open apology. But briefing State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, Umahi said “We have no apology to tender.” Read more
Insecurity: Policemen to get body armours —IG (Punch)
The Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, on Thursday expressed the Federal Government’s commitment to equipping the Nigeria Police and its men to ensure that no officer dies fighting criminals. Adamu, who spoke in Ado Ekiti during a security stakeholders’ meeting said the South-West governors had “shown their commitment towards supporting the police and other security agencies in terms of providing logistics to enhance their (police) mobility”. Read more
We’ll honour all agreements with China –Buhari tells envoy (Punch)
President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria is ready to provide counterpart funding on all agreements reached with China for the provision of infrastructure that directly improves the livelihood of Nigerians. The president stated this when he received Yang Jiechi, Special Envoy of the President of China, Xi Jinping, at State House, Abuja, on Thursday. Read more
Tribunal sacks APC Rep in Cross River (Guardian)
The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Calabar, on Wednesday, nullified the election of Mr Alex Egbonna of the All Progressive Congress (APC) representing Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency of Cross River. The Tribunal upheld the petition filed by Mr John- Gaul Lebo, who contested for the seat under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Read more
Police parade 72 suspects in Imo (Nation)
The Imo State Police Command Thursday paraded 72 suspects believed to be behind the recent wave of criminalities across the State. The Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Ladodo, said that the suspects were picked at different points within the state and beyond within the last six weeks. He said that the clampdown on criminal elements in the state is in line with the “Operation Puff Adder” launched by the Inspector General of Police, which he said is still in force. Read more
NCC budgets N252.2m as research grant (Punch)
The Nigerian Communications Commission has a budget of N252.2m as research grant for higher institutions in the country, Executive-Vice Chairman of commission, Prof Ibrahim Danbatta, disclosed on Thursday. The research grant is available for members of the academia who are conducting research on issues that relate to the development of the telecommunications industry. Read more
Court remands woman for abandoning 2-month-old baby (Guardian)
A Karmo Grade I Area Court, Abuja on Thursday ordered that a 25-year-old woman, Lauratu Mohammed, who pleaded guilty to abandoning a two-month-old baby, be remanded in a correctional centre, pending sentencing. Mohammed of Kado Village Abuja pleaded guilty on a count charge of cruelty to a child and begged the court for mercy. Read more
Drought threatens to kill over 38,000 livestock in north-western Botswana – official (Guardian)
A prolonged and crippling drought is threatening to wipe out over 38,000 livestock, hippos in the north-western part of Botswana, as over 20 animals are dying every week. Thato Raphaka, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Wildlife, made the shocking revelation on Wednesday night when addressing journalists in Gaborone, Botswana’s capital city. Read more
PM’s brother quits as Tory MP and minister (BBC)
Jo Johnson, the younger brother of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, is resigning as an MP and minister, saying he is “torn between family loyalty and the national interest”. The business minister and Tory MP for Orpington, south-east London, cited an “unresolvable tension” in his role. Mr Johnson voted Remain in the 2016 EU membership referendum, while his brother co-led the Leave campaign. Read more
Kohistan video murders: Three guilty in ‘honour killing’ blood feud (BBC)
Three men have been given life sentences in connection with one of Pakistan’s most notorious “honour killing” cases. Named as Omar Khan, Sabeer and Saheer, they are related to three women killed after being filmed singing and clapping at a wedding in 2011. Their bodies were never found. Two men they were with are still in hiding. The fates of another two women are unknown. Read more
MH17 Ukraine plane crash: ‘Key witness’ released (BBC)
A Ukrainian court has released a potentially key witness to the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 five years ago. Volodymyr Tsemakh was seized earlier this year from a separatist-held part of Ukraine. He is reported to have played a key role in the rebels’ air defences. Read more
Afghanistan violence: Car bomb attack in Kabul kills 10 (BBC)
A car bomb attack in the Afghan capital Kabul has killed at least 10 people and injured 40 others, officials say. The blast happened near a security checkpoint in a highly protected area close to embassies and government buildings. Taliban militants said they had carried out the attack. Read more
Putin rebuffs call by Japan’s Abe to sign World War Two peace treaty (Guardian)
Russian President Vladimir Putin told Shinzo Abe on Thursday that Tokyo’s military ties with the U.S. have made it hard for Japan and Russia to sign a World War Two peace treaty. Putin made the comment at an economic forum in Russia’s Far East after Abe called on him to resolve a row between the countries. Read more
Mystery surrounds lost German sea data station (BBC)
A massive environmental monitoring station off Germany’s Baltic coast has disappeared from the seabed, baffling police and researchers. The seabed “observatory”, worth about €300,000 (£270,000), weighed more than half a tonne. It could not have been dragged off by a storm, tide or large animal, German experts say. Divers only found a torn power cable at the site, 22m (72ft) down and 1.8km (1.2 miles) offshore. Read more
Mum sees son’s first day at school after having two eye transplants (Metro)
A loving mum has said she wouldn’t have witnessed her son’s first day at school without two transplants that saved her sight. Laura Grady, 38, didn’t think she would see Noah walk through the school gates because her vision had deteriorated so badly she could only see grey ‘shadows and silhouettes’. She had two cornea transplants, using lenses donated by two complete strangers. Read more
Jennifer Lopez describes turning 50 as ‘best moment of my life’ (Metro)
Jennifer Lopez has reflected on turning 50 – and by the sounds of things, she couldn’t have enjoyed the experience more. The Play singer hit the five-decade milestone in July. She tells the new issue of ES magazine: ‘Did I think I would be doing this at 50? I didn’t think I’d stop, but I didn’t know that it would be the best moment of my life.’ Read more
Best Fifa Football Awards: Premier League receives most nominations for World11 team (BBC)
The Premier League has the largest number of nominations for the Fifa Fifpro Men’s World11 for the first time in 10 years. Twenty-one of the 55 nominees play club football in England, as the Premier League ends La Liga’s dominance. Seven of Liverpool’s European champions are included although Real Madrid and Barcelona each provided more players. Read more
A bad day in the life of Cristiano Ronaldo still involves mansions, swimming pools and leopard-print dressing gowns (Metro)
It turns out even Cristiano Ronaldo has bad days just like the rest of us! While that statement is probably true, the star gives a very playful look at what a bad morning in his life for the launch of his new fragrance, CR7 Play It Cool. The footballer is a bit of businessman off the pitch thanks to his successful CR7 brand which includes clothing, underwear, and fragrances. Read more
Gareth Bale: ‘Critics do not know what they are talking about’ (BBC)
Real Madrid star Gareth Bale says his critics do not know what they are talking about. Bale, 30, will lead Wales against Azerbaijan in Cardiff on Friday night after a turbulent spell in his career. But the forward insists he has not been affected by a summer when he almost left Real for China after being marginalised under Zinedine Zidane. Read more
As coach I wouldn’t have wanted Neymar back, says former Real Madrid coach (Punch)
Former Spain manager Vicente del Bosque has said he would not have brought Neymar back to the Spanish La Liga had he been the coach of FC Barcelona or Real Madrid. This was however in spite of the fact he recognises the Brazilian’s outstanding qualities as a player. FC Barcelona recently held several meetings with Paris St-Germain (PSG) to bring the Brazilian back to the Camp Nou. Read more
Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount admits there could be tears if he makes his England debut this week (Metro)
Mason Mount has admitted that it will be an emotional occasion for him and his family if he is handed a senior England debut against Bulgaria or Kosovo by Gareth Southgate this week. The 20-year-old has made an eye-catching start to the Premier League season, scoring twice in four appearances after being handed a first-team opportunity by Frank Lampard. Southgate has clearly been impressed by Mount’s form saying last week that he has been one of the ‘outstanding’ players in the league and that he was in the squad ‘on merit’. Read more
Euro 2020 qualifier: Germany’s Goretzka ruled out against Netherlands —Loew (Punch)
Germany will be without midfielder, Leon Goretzka for their Euro 2020 qualifier against the Netherlands in Hamburg on Friday, Coach Joachim Loew said on Thursday. The Germans are already without several players who are forming the new backbone of the team since the disappointing World Cup last year as they prepare to face the Dutch in Hamburg. “Leon Goretzka is nursing a minor injury that has been nagging him for some time. He will not be able to play tomorrow. Read more
Christian Pulisic praises Frank Lampard for helping him to settle at Chelsea (Metro)
Christian Pulisic has hailed Frank Lampard for helping him to settle in at Chelsea following his big-money move from Borussia Dortmund and admits that playing for the club is ‘amazing’. The 20-year-old joined Chelsea in a £58m deal in January before spending the second half of the 2018-19 campaign back at Dortmund in the Bundesliga. Pulisic finally linked up with his new club in pre-season and he has featured prominently under Lampard thus far, playing in all five of Chelsea’s competitive matches. Read more
Chelsea announce Michael Hector will join Fulham after failing to play a game for the club in four years (Metro)
Chelsea have confirmed that Michael Hector will leave the club on a permanent basis to sign for west London rivals Fulham when the transfer window re-opens in January. The 27-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Fulham with an option for a further year and the transfer fee between the clubs has been undisclosed. Read more
Bob Arum responds to Deontay Wilder wanting Tyson Fury to step aside for unification fight (Metro)
Bob Arum has rubbished Deontay Wilder’s suggestion that Tyson Fury should step aside and allow him a unification fight against Andy Ruiz Jr. if the Mexican defends his belts. The WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion will take on Anthony Joshua once again, this time in Saudi Arabia on December 7, while WBC champ Wilder has yet to set a date for his own rematch against Luis Ortiz later this year. Read more
Carl Frampton: Belfast boxer set for November return in the USA (BBC)
Carl Frampton is set to make his comeback from injury against Isaac Dogboe in California on 30 November. Frampton pulled out of a bout against Emmanuel Dominguez after a “freak accident” with an ornament last month. Michael Conlan is also set to face Vladimir Nikitin in New York on 14 December after the Russian withdrew from August’s fight in Falls Park. Read more
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father reveals huge payday coming for UFC 242 fight against Dustin Poirier (Metro)
Khabib Nurmagomedov is going to be paid very handsomely for his UFC 242 main event against Dustin Poirier, according to his father. The Eagle defends his UFC lightweight title against the Diamond in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night as he looks to extend his sensational professional MMA record of 27-0. The Dagestani has not fought since his dominant submission victory over Conor McGregor at UFC 229 in October, when he earned $2m (£3.25m) for making the Irishman tap out in the fourth round in Las Vegas. Read more
