Withdraw ‘illegal’ no-work-no-pay threat against ASUU, Falana tells FG (Punch)
Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), on Sunday described as illegal the circular issued by the Federal Government threatening to begin to execute a no-work-no-pay policy against the striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities. Falana asked the Federal Government to immediately withdraw the “illegal circular” which he said was in violation of various judgments of the Supreme Court. He said the Federal Government was “not properly advised “in resorting to the desperate measure”. Read more
Fake news threatens national security, operations – Buratai (Punch)
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai says fake news not only poses threat to national security but makes the ongoing counter terrorism operation in the North East more difficult. In an interview with Newsmen in Maiduguri, Buratai urged Nigerians to be patriotic and wary of false information, as well as condemn those behind it. “It is inimical to national security; it is inimical to the morale of the troops and by and large, it is one of the demoralising factors making the counter insurgency operation more difficult.’’ Read more
APC not the best but far better than PDP – Keyamo (Independent)
Festus Keyamo (SAN), spokesperson of the Buhari Campaign Organisation has said though the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may not be the best political party for Nigerians, it is still far better when compared to what the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) offered during its 16 years in power. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Daily Independent in Abuja, Keyamo who once asked Nigerians to form a third bloc that will take over from the APC and PDP said while he is not denying the statement, he believes Nigerians can decide to look for an alternative to the APC in the future if they believe the party is not offering them what they desire. Read more
NAFDAC to destroy N198bn seized tramadol (Nation)
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said it was set to destroy Tramadol consignment valued at N198 billion which it impounded recently. Director-General of the agency, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, made this known on Sunday in a speech at an event to commemorate her one year in office in Abuja. She said that the drug would be burnt and disclosed that NAFDAC had in the last one year, destroyed sub-standard and falsified medicines, unsafe drugs and unwholesome food and chemicals worth N3 billion. Read more
Adeyanju’s arrest, detention plot to silent activists – Frank (Independent)
Ahead of the 2019 general elections, Comrade Timi Frank has alerted that the arrest and detention last week of Prince Deji Adeyanju, a human right campaigner as a ploy by the authorities to silent the few remaining activists. The former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC has therefore charged Nigerians to rise up and challenge what he termed the draconian President Mohammadu Buhari’s administration. Read more
Ekiti lawmaker removes EFCC marking on building (Punch)
A member of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr Samuel Omotoso, has removed markings of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from a two-storey commercial building in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital. The building, marked “Under Investigation, Please keep off” by EFCC, was among property believed to be linked to former Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, that the anti-graft agency sealed on November 22. Read more
‘Nigeria, Congo to house world’s poorest people by 2050’ (Nation)
Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo have been estimated to be home to the 40 per cent of the poorest people in the world by 2050. Presenting data from the Goalkeepers 2018 Report on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), President of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mac Suzman, said at the first Goalkeepers event in Africa held in Johannesburg, South Africa Saturday that the two countries are among the dozen in Sub-saharan Africa that would house 90 per cent of the world’s poorest people. Read more
Burundi ex-president Buyoya denounces warrant (Guardian)
Burundi’s former president Pierre Buyoya on Sunday denounced as politically motivated a warrant issued against him for his alleged role in the assassination of his country’s first democratically elected leader. On Friday, Burundi issued an international arrest warrant against Buyoya, 11 former senior officials and five civilians close to him over the 1993 killing of Melchior Ndadaye. “Everything indicates this is a simple political manipulation and another diversionary move aimed at burying painful, unresolved questions” on the crisis currently gripping the country, Buyoya said in a statement. Read more
US and China agree to suspend new tariffs (BBC)
US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have agreed to halt new trade tariffs for 90 days to allow for talks, the US says. At a post-G20 summit meeting in Buenos Aires, Mr Trump agreed not to boost tariffs on $200bn (£157bn) of Chinese goods from 10% to 25% on 1 January. China will buy a “very substantial” amount of agricultural, industrial and energy products, the US says. Meanwhile, Beijing says the two sides agreed to open up their markets. Read more
Bodyguard dies after police raid on ex-minister (Punch)
A Lebanese police raid on the home of a former minister close to the powerful Hezbollah movement left a bodyguard dead Sunday, as tensions with prime minister-designate Saad Hariri heightened. Politician Wiam Wahhab, an ally of the Syrian regime, had refused to attend an official questioning following a complaint over angry insults he made against Hariri and his parents. Footage of the diatribe sparked protests from the premier’s supporters at a time when Lebanon’s squabbling leaders are deadlocked over the formation of a new government. Read more
Chelsea beat Fulham 2-0 to return to winning ways (Punch)
Chelsea bounced back from their first Premier League defeat of the season to see off local rivals Fulham 2-0 on Sunday, with goals from Pedro and Ruben Loftus-Cheek putting the gloss on a mixed performance. The home side dominated possession at Stamford Bridge and scored early through Spanish forward Pedro but struggled to find their rhythm and looked shaky until substitute Loftus-Cheek settled their nerves with a late second. Read more
Aubameyang stars as Arsenal fightback stuns Spurs (Guardian)
Arsenal won an explosive north London derby as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s brace and Alexandre Lacazette’s crucial strike inspired a pulsating 4-2 win over bitter rivals Tottenham on Sunday. Unai Emery’s side extended their unbeaten run to 19 matches in all competitions after fighting back from 2-1 down in arguably the Premier League’s game of the season so far. Aubameyang’s penalty had put Arsenal ahead before Eric Dier’s header and a Harry Kane spot-kick gave Tottenham the lead at half-time at the Emirates Stadium. Read more
AC Milan battle back to beat Parma, climb fourth (Punch)
AC Milan got back to winning ways with second half goals from Patrick Cutrone and Franck Kessie sealing a come-from-behind 2-1 win over promoted Parma on Sunday. Gennaro Gattuso’s side fell 2-0 to Juventus and were held 1-1 by Lazio in their previous two league games but move fourth two points ahead of the Romans who travel to bottom club Chievo later on Sunday. It was a hard-fought victory for Milan days after competing in the Europa League with a number of players missing including suspended Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain. Read more