Why Lagos commissioner resigned, by APC (Nation)
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday gave reasons for the resignation of the erstwhile Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Olawale Oluwo. In a statement in Ikeja, the state capital, by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Joe Igbokwe, the party said: “The attention of Lagos State APC has been drawn to the letter of resignation of …Mr Oluwo. “The APC wishes him well. “The APC salutes the vigilance of the party apparatus and leadership, which have put Oluwo on the watch on account of his antecedents in party politics and succeeded in checkmating his rabid opportunism. Read more
Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway gridlock worsens (Guardian)
Motorists and commuters around the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, especially the Oshodi to Iyana-Ipaja axis have continued to struggle in pain and distress as the traffic gridlock on the route worsens.The tortuous experience is due to the ongoing construction of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane, and pedestrian bridges by the Lagos state government. The project was projected for completion this month, but the current structure on ground showed that the target is not realisable. Worried by this situation, the Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, had recently given as express order for the contractors to speed up the pace of work on the project to enable him commission the proect before the end of his tenure by May next year. Read more
Billboards, posters were removed for failure to seek permission — LASAA Boss (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, LASAA, has explained that the agency removed some billboards and posters from some roads over failure of parties concerned to obtain permission. The General Manager of LASAA, Mobolaji Sanusi, gave the clarification at a security/stakeholders meeting with INEC, candidates and political parties meeting with the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, CP Imohimi Edgal. Read more
Chair: INEC ready for credible polls (Nation)
Barely two months to the 2019 general elections, has the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it is prepared to conduct a credible exercise. The commission has slated February 16, 2019 for the presidential and National Assembly elections. March 2 is for the governorship elections in 27 states and 37 state assemblies as well as the FCT council election. Speaking yesterday after his meeting with the head of the European Union (EU) delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ketil Karlson, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu stated that the commission “is prepared to conduct an election that would be an improvement on previous election”. Read more
Igbo Muslims demand better representation in politics, public space (Guardian)
Igbo Muslims under the aegis of South Eastern Muslims of Nigeria (SEMON) have expressed dissatisfaction over unfavourable political climate that has denied them playing active roles in politics and socio-economic issues. The group, in a communiqué co-signed by Chairman, Muhammad Obiahu Ajah Jr; and the Secretary, Abdur-Rahman Nwazueze Urama, said that the greatest challenge facing Igbo Muslims is their total exclusion from the political scheme in Nigeria. They observed that since the creation of Nigeria in 1914, (more than 100 years ago), Igbo Muslims have not benefitted anything from the Federal Government. Read more
Court dismisses Evans’ suit challenging his detention (Nation)
The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, yesterday dismissed a fundamental rights enforcement appeal filed by suspected billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans. Evans, in the twilight of his arrest and detention, approached a Federal High Court in Lagos, challenging his arrest and alleged detention beyond the time allowed by law, his continued detention without trial or arraignment within the time allowed by law and his subjection to media trial by the police. Read more
Dana concludes re-certification, to acquire more air planes (Guardian)
Dana Air has concluded the re-certification exercise of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), earning a clean bill of health from the apex regulatory body. The airlines said the revalidation was an incentive to do more, especially offering its guests additional flights to ease the pain of travellers, who have had to bear the high cost of tickets as a result of flight shortage across the country. Read more
Thugs disrupt TraderMoni in Ilorin (Nation)
Suspected Hoodlums yesterday invaded the Mandate Market in Ilorin, Kwara State, to disrupt the disbursement of money to beneficiaries of the TraderMoni. They scared away petty traders and agents of the scheme. As early as 9am, the suspected hoodlums stormed the Mandate Market, insisting that the TraderMoni scheme cannot be implemented in the market built on a land donated to the state government by the Senate President Bukola Saraki’s father, the late Olusola Saraki. It was not clear whether they were sent by anyone or whether they were mere party zealots, working on their own. Read more
INEC appoints Orianran-Anthony new Secretary (Punch)
The Independent National Electoral Commission has approved the appointment of Rose Orianran-Anthony as its Secretary for a four-year term with immediate effect. A terse statement issued on Thursday night by the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman (Information and Voter Education Committee), Festus Okoye, said that the decision was reached during the commission’s weekly regular meeting. Read more
Diane Rwigara: Rwanda government critic acquitted (BBC)
A Rwandan court in the capital, Kigali, has acquitted government critic Diane Rwigara and her mother of charges of inciting insurrection and forgery. Ms Rwigara was imprisoned for over a year, after being barred from running in presidential elections against the long-standing incumbent Paul Kagame. The 37-year-old opposition leader faced up to 22 years in prison for charges she said were politically motivated. A three-judge panel told a packed room all the charges were “baseless”. Read more
Pinnick tasks NFF reform committee on Nigeria football (Vanguard)
The Nigeria Football Federation yesterday in Lagos inaugurated the Reform Committee headed by the first Vice President of the NFF, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi. Tony Ubani, Sports Editor, Vanguard Newspapers is also a member of the committee. The Committee which is peopled by experienced sports personalities was charged with initiating ways that can lead to the growth, development and transformation of football in Nigeria. Read more
UNILAG to host NUGA 2019, signs MOU (Guardian)
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the President of the Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA), Prof Stephen Hamalyfeto to host the 2019 edition of the Games. It was in fulfillment of the bid made by his predecessor, Prof Rahamon Bello while in office last year. As a follow up to host the 26th edition of NUGA tournament, and as part of preparation for the Games, the VC signed the MOU with NUGA President at the institution’s senate chambers, in preparation to make the sporting competition of undergraduate athletes from different institutions in Nigeria a memorable one. Read more
Match-fixing: Super Eagles midfielder escapes jail term in Sweden (Vanguard)
Former Super Eagles midfielder, Dickson Etuhu escaped a six year jail term after a Swedish court found him not guilty yesterday. Etuhu was accused of attempting to fix the result of a 2017 league match between IFK Gothenburg and his former club, Stockholm giants AIK. Etuhu was charged with trying to bribe his former AIK teammate, goalkeeper Kenny Stamatopoulos, to fix the result of the game. Read more
Pogba is ‘bang average,’ Lukaku is ‘good for nothing’ (Guardian)
Paul Ince believes Paul Pogba is ‘bang average’ and Romelu Lukaku ‘brings nothing to the table’ as he backed Jose Mourinho’s decision to drop them from his Manchester United team. The £89million midfielder and the £75m striker started on the bench in United’s 2-2 Premier League draw with Arsenal on Wednesday night but came on in the second-half to little effect.Former Old Trafford favourite Ince says Mourinho should not receive all the blame for United’s present travails, which sees them languishing eighth in the table. Read more
Real Madrid thrash minnows Melilla (BBC)
Real Madrid thrashed third division Melilla 6-1 to record a 10-1 aggregate win and reach the Spanish Cup last 16. Marco Asensio’s double and Javi Sanchez’s debut goal earned a 3-0 half-time lead at the Bernabeu. Isco and Vinicius Junior added two more before Melilla, a tiny Spanish autonomous enclave in north Africa, scored through striker Yacine Qasmi’s 81st-minute penalty. Spain midfielder Isco got his second goal of the game to complete the rout. Read more
Family demands justice as hoodlums murder cop in Lagos (Punch)
The family of Abiodun Akinde, who was allegedly murdered by hoodlums in the Ashiribu area of Ijanikin, Lagos State, has demanded justice for his death. PUNCH Metro gathered that Akinde, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, had visited a bar in company with his colleagues on Tuesday, November 27, 2018, to have some drinks before the hoodlums besieged the bar and shot him dead. Read more
Abductors of Osun poly workers demand N4m ransom (Punch)
The abductors of the workers of the Osun State College of Technology, Esa Oke, have demanded N1m for each of the four people still in their custody, PUNCH Metro has learnt. The management of the institution has, however, declined to comment on the abductors’ demand and efforts being made to free the workers kidnapped by suspected Fulani herdsmen on Tuesday. Security sources, who pleaded not to be named, confirmed the ransom demand by the abductors, saying security agents were intensifying efforts to free the workers. Read more
Two jailed for stealing loudspeakers, fan from Osun mosque (Punch)
A citizen of Benin Republic, Mudashiru Nurudeen, and his friend, Rafiu Ismail, have been jailed by an Osun State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Osogbo for allegedly stealing loudspeakers and a wall fan from a mosque. The convicts, while appearing before Chief Magistrate M. A. Awodele, pleaded guilty to all but one of the charges preferred against them. The prosecutor, Inspector Jafani Muslim, told the court that the convicts had on December 2, 2018, around 6.30am, broke into the Islaudeen Central Mosque, Alekuwodo, Osogbo, and stole some items. Read more