Witness scared to testify in court over defiling case against Baba Ijesha, says prosecution (Tribune)
The prosecution team of the Lagos State government has told an Ikeja Special Offences Court that one of the witnesses set to testify against Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James alias Baba Ijesha, is scared to testify in court.
The state counsel, Mr Yusuf Sule, made the disclosure on Friday while explaining the absence of two witnesses slated to testify against the actor in his ongoing trial for sexual assault.
“My lord, the first witness is a police officer, he could not come to court today because he has been transferred and needs to get permission from where he was posted. The second witness could not come to court; he is jittery, he is scared to come to court.
“My lord, we will ensure that all the witnesses are in court by next week Friday,” the prosecutor said. Read more
Lagos Truck owners kick against extortion at ports (Sun)
Truck owners under the aegis of United Truckers Advocacy Team on Friday decried incessant extortion of owners and drivers by some security operatives along port access roads in Lagos.
Leader of the group and Chairman, Association of Maritime Truck Owners, Chief Remi Ogungbemi, made this known in a statement he issued on Friday in Lagos.
He said the group embarked on a peaceful campaign against extortion on Thursday with visits to checkpoints mounted by security agencies along port access roads within the Lagos ports corridor.
He said members of the team visited the Ports Manager, Lagos Port Complex, Mrs Fumilayo Olotu and the Area Commander, Area B police command, Muhammed Dikwa, to register their complaints.
According to Ogungbemi, the advocacy team was inaugurated following series of complaints of extortion of truck drivers while accessing the ports. Read more
NAFDAC arraigns businessman over importation of fake tramadol from China (Leadership)
The National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has arraigned a businessman before a Federal High Court, Lagos over alleged importation of fake 100g Tramadol tablets from China.
The businessman, Afamefuna Udensi, who was brought before Justice Daniel Osiagor, was, however, remanded in prison.
NAFDAC in the charges brought before Justice Osiagor accused the businessman of concealing the fake products from its officers at the seaport with furniture and motor spare parts in groupage from China.
According to the prosecutor, Mrs Chinyere Okoli, the defendant who resides at No 2, Ezinwanne Street in Onitsha, Anambra State, committed the offence on October. 26, 2021. Read more
Man remanded for allegedly robbing 6 people (Nation)
A middle-aged man, Dare Adebayo, has appeared before a Lagos State high court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square, for allegedly robbing six people with dengerous weapons.
Adebayo is facing a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy and armed robbery, to which he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecuctor, Mr A.N. Adetokunbo, told the court that the defendant and others at large committed the offences on April 3, 2019, at No. 16A, Holy Cross Powerline St., Ejigbo, Lagos.
Adetokunbo said that the defendant armed himself with a gun, a cutlass and an axe, and robbed six people of phones, laptops, money and other valuables. Read more
FG increases prices of electricity meters (Punch)
The Federal Government has raised the cost of both single-phase and three-phase electricity meters beginning from November 15, 2021.
It announced this in a circular dated November 11, 2021, issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and addressed to managing directors, all electricity distribution companies and all meter asset providers.
The circular, with reference number NERC/REG/MAP/GEN/751/2, was entitled ‘Review of the unit price of end-use meters under the Meter Asset Provider and National Mass Metering Regulations’.
In the document, the regulator raised the price of a single-phase meter from the current cost of N44,896.17 to a revised price of N58,661.69. Read more
Plateau Assembly crisis worsens as hoodlums vandalise Chamber (Nation)
Hoodlums on Thursday night vandalised the complex of the Plateau Assembly.
The vandalisation shocked Speaker Yakubu Sanda-led faction during a visit to assess the level of damage on Friday morning.
The faction, after the visit, proceeded to hold an emergency plenary to, in their words, consider “matters of State importance.”
Twelve Assembly members led by Sanda held the emergency plenary on Friday.
Sanda presided over the plenary, which lasted for just 25 minutes. He listed matters to consider as the screening of the Chairman and members of Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) as communicated by Governor Simon Lalong as well as the consideration of the 2022 appropriation bill. Read more
Woman that rejected N5,000 bribe during Anambra election gets N1m gift (Vanguard)
Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has given N1 million to a woman that rejected N5,000 cash-for-vote bribe during the just-concluded governorship election in the state, which Professor Chukwuma Soludo won.
The woman, a native of Ukwulu in Dunukofia Local Government Area rejected the offer from a political party’s representative, who was escorted by security agents.
In the video that went viral, she insisted that although she did not have N5,000, she would never accept any gratification that would make her vote against her conscience.
Commending the woman, the governor-elect, Soludo, said: “I summarise the action of the woman of Ukwulu, who rejected N5,000 to influence her voting, as a metaphor for the spirit of Anambra. Read more
Multiple road crashes claim 10 lives, several injured in Bauchi (Tribune)
Multiple car accidents within a period of 24 hours have claimed 10 lives while several others were injured in Bauchi state as confirmed by the Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
While confirming the crashes, Bauchi Sector Commander of the FRSC, Yusuf Abdullahi, said 5 people died in the latest accident which occurred on Thursday just as three other persons sustained serious injuries in the accident.
He explained that the accident occurred in Gubi village along Bauchi – Kano road around 7:45pm on Thursday when a Keke Napep with registration number: BAU 01 WL had a head-on collision with a Sharon commercial bus with registration number plate: KLW 641 ZA.
Yusuf Abdullahi, who said that it took the Corps barely 14 minutes to arrive at the scene of the crash to clear the site on rescue operation, attributed the cause of the road crash to speed violations and overloading. Read more
FG launches online portal for over 5,000 houses (Nation)
The Federal Government has launched an online platform for its National Housing Scheme.
It stated that this platform, which will facilitate the ownership of affordable housing via home ownership and rental schemes in urban and rural areas, is available in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Lagos State is however yet to provide the government with land while Rivers State will join in phase three of the project.
Stressing that the initiative is a pilot and not its only solution for providing housing, the government stated it will provide over 5,000 units of houses in different stages on completion. Read more
Taylor Swift’s ‘All Too Well’ lyrics imply age caused Jake Gyllenhaal breakup (PageSix)
Taylor Swift’s new lyrics for her 10-minute version of “All Too Well” indicates her nine-year age gap with Jake Gyllenhaal was the reason for their breakup.
In the new version, released Friday on her rerecorded “Red” album, Swift sings, “You said if we had been closer in age maybe it would have been fine / And that made me want to die.”
The 31-year-old singer has never officially confirmed the song is about Gyllenhaal, 40, but it’s become widely accepted that it is.
The additional lyrics in her rerecorded version point to the heartbreak she felt at the time, with lyrics such as, “They say all’s well that ends well, but I’m in a new hell / Every time you double cross my mind.” Read more
US journalist Danny Fenster jailed for 11 years in Myanmar, lawyer says (Sky)
A court in the military-ruled country sentenced Danny Fenster, 37, on Friday at the court in Yangon’s Insein Prison after finding him guilty on several charges including incitement for allegedly spreading false or inflammatory information.
Mr Fenster, the managing editor of the online magazine Frontier Myanmar, was also found guilty of contacting illegal organisations and violating visa regulations.
The hearings were closed to the press and the public while accounts of the proceedings have come from Mr Fenster’s lawyer Than Zaw Aung.
He said the journalist was sentenced to the maximum term on each charge and ordered to pay a 100,000 kyat (£42) fine. Read more
Student confessed to killing grandmother in truth or dare game, jailed (BBC)
Tiernan Darnton, 21, trapped 94-year-old Mary Gregory in a blaze at her home in Heysham, Lancashire in 2018.
Her death was treated as an accident until Darnton, who had confessed to the killing in a game of truth or dare, made a similar confession during counselling in 2019.
He was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 15 years.
Darnton had denied murder but was convicted by a jury on Thursday at Preston Crown Court. Read more
Hidden Google map has tracked your movements for years – here’s how to turn it off (NYPost)
Google may have a hidden map that tracks everywhere you’ve been.
The tracker highlights your real-world movements for millions of users — but can be turned off, if you know how.
It’s possible that Google is tracking your movements without you even realizing you’ve signed up for it.
This is all linked to a system called Google Location History.
It’s an account-wide service that logs your movements by using your smartphone. Read more
AstraZeneca is starting to profit from sales of its Covid-19 vaccine (CNN)
AstraZeneca (AZN) has booked its first profit from sales of its Covid-19 vaccine.
The company sold $2.2 billion worth of the shot in the first nine months of the year. In the quarter ending September 30, the vaccine’s sales totaled $1.05 billion, contributing one cent to earnings per share.
Announcing its earnings on Friday, the UK’s largest pharmaceutical company said it expected to see modest profits from the vaccine in the final quarter of this year, as it gave guidance on the sales impact of its Covid-19 vaccine for the first time.
“The company is now expecting to progressively transition the vaccine to modest profitability as new orders are received,” it said. Read more
Kamala Harris — a 2024 problem for Biden and the Democrats (Hill)
The Democrats have a 2024 conundrum, with heir apparent Vice President Kamala Harris presenting a maze of questions and complications. Let’s start with the foundational problem: her boss, President Biden.
A USA Today/Suffolk University poll conducted last week had Biden’s job approval rating dipping to 38 percent, with 59 percent disapproving. Also, 64 percent of the registered voters surveyed opposed Biden running for reelection, including 28 percent of Democrats.
Furthermore, a mid-October NPR/Marist poll revealed that 44 percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents thought “someone else” besides Biden would have the best chance of winning the presidency.
Maybe now Biden is rethinking his March 25 statement: “My plan is to run for reelection, that’s my expectation.” After all, Biden’s “expectation” might be thwarted by the growing perception that he is a weak leader not up to the task of governing and shaken by the shellacking Democrats received in last week’s election. Read more
Boris Johnson faces High Court action next week for saving Priti Patel in bullying probe (Mirror)
Boris Johnson’s decision not to sack Home Secretary Priti Patel for bullying officials will be challenged in the courts next week.
The Prime Minister decided to overrule his independent standards adviser Sir Alex Allan, who found Ms Patel’s conduct “amounted to behaviour that can be described as bullying” in a report, which included “shouting and swearing” at her staff.
In a damning report published last November, Sir Alex concluded that Ms Patel had broken the ministerial code, even if it was done “unintentionally”.
Breaching the rules would normally lead to a minister resigning their post. Read more
French police seek leads in PSG football assault case (Guardian)
French police sought new leads on Friday to identify the attackers of French women’s football star Kheira Hamraoui after releasing her PSG teammate and rival Aminata Diallo from custody after nearly 35 hours of questioning.
Diallo, who was arrested on Wednesday at her home near Paris, was driving Hamraoui home last week when the star midfielder was pulled from a car by masked men and beaten with a metal bar.
Although seen as friends who socialised and even holidayed together, police had focused on a possible sporting rivalry that had led to violence, which Diallo denied while in detention.
A man already in jail for a separate assault case in the southeastern city of Lyon — a friend of Diallo’s — had also been arrested as part of the investigation, but he was also released on Thursday evening.
“The club remains by the side of its players to enable them to come through this challenging time and help them find peace of mind,” PSG said in a statement late on Thursday. Read more
Businessman jailed over flight that killed footballer Emiliano Sala (Independent)
A businessman has been jailed for 18 months over the plane crash that killed footballer Emiliano Sala.
The 28-year-old striker and pilot David Ibbotson, 59, died when the small plane they were flying in entered the English Channel in January 2019.
David Henderson (67) of Hotham in the East Riding of Yorkshire, was convicted of endangering the safety of the aircraft after a trial at Cardiff Crown Court in October.
Henderson pleaded guilty to another charge of trying to arrange a flight for a passenger without permission or authorisation. (Independent)
Mohammad Rizwan “spent two nights in the ICU” before T20 World Cup semi-final (Mirror)
Pakistan star Mohammad Rizwan spent two nights in hospital with a “severe chest infection” ahead of his side’s T20 World Cup semi-final clash with Australia.
Rizwan was able to recover in time to play in the game and he top scored for Pakistan, making 67.
He also suffered a blow to the head after getting hit on the grille by Mitchell Starc, with his helmet pressing into his face and leaving him with a bruise.
Despite his best efforts, Pakistan were ultimately beaten by five wickets and knocked out of the tournament. Read more
Novak Djokovic looking to end ATP Finals title drought in Turin (Independent)
Novak Djokovic has more history in his sights and is hopeful his recent break from action can help end a six-year title drought at the Nitto ATP Finals.
The world number one has dominated the sport for most of that spell but has been unable to add to the five titles he won in 2008 and from 2012-15, keeping him tied with Pete Sampras and Ivan Lendl and one short of Roger Federer’s record.
The Serbian has won half of his 20 grand slam titles in the period, and he said of the apparent discrepancy: “It could be just the amount of energy that you spend during the season that you maybe don’t have enough left in the tank for that final push, but also I’ve lost some tight, close matches.
“Against Dominic Thiem a couple of years, last year 7-6 in the third set in the semi-finals. Playing at the highest level against the top eight players of the world, every single match is really high intensity, high demand from you.” Read more
Olympic gold medalist Sunisa Lee says she was pepper-sprayed in racist attack (Guardian)
US Olympic gymnast Sunisa Lee has revealed that she was pepper-sprayed in a racist drive-by attack weeks after she won gold in the Tokyo games.
Lee, 18, was waiting for an Uber in Los Angeles after a night out with a group of friends, who are all of Asian descent. A car sped by and its passengers began yelling anti-Asian slurs and told Lee and her friends to “go back to where they came from”. One passenger sprayed Lee’s arm with pepper spray as the car sped off, said Lee, who became the first Hmong American Olympian and the first Asian American woman to win a gold medal in the all-around gymnastics competition this year.
“I was so mad, but there was nothing I could do or control because they skirted off,” Lee revealed in a recent interview with PopSugar. “I didn’t do anything to them, and having the reputation, it’s so hard because I didn’t want to do anything that could get me into trouble. I just let it happen,” she added.
The attack happened in October while Lee was in Los Angeles to film Dancing with the Stars. Read more
Gareth Southgate and England ‘close to confirming’ his bumper new contract until 2024 (DailyStar)
Gareth Southgate is reportedly close to announcing a two-year extension to his contract as England manager which will see him stay in charge until after Euro 2024.
His current deal with the Football Association runs out after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, so negotiations have been ongoing in recent weeks.
The FA are very keen to keep ahold of Southgate, who has been said to be open to making a return to club management in the Premier League.
A new and improved contract, which will see the 51-year-old earn a salary of around £5million plus bonuses, is set to be signed. Read more
Dwight Yorke admits ambitious Aston Villa call was ignored before Steven Gerrard hire (Mirror)
Dwight Yorke has revealed a request to replace Dean Smith as Aston Villa manager was ignored by the club’s co-owner Wes Edens.
The former Villa and Manchester United striker, who hung up his boots in 2009, has completed his UEFA B coaching badge, but as of yet, has no senior managerial experience.
Yorke spent almost a decade at Villa Park, scoring 98 times and is still revered by the club’s supporters.
The 50-year-old has also admitted he has a good relationship with Edens, who owns the Midlands outfit along with Nassef Sawiris. Read more
