Police arrest 11 suspects for allegedly burning shops, houses in Ibadan

The Police Command in Oyo State said on Sunday that it had arrested 11 suspects in connection with the burning of some shops and houses along Beere-Molete Road, Ibadan.

Some suspected arsonists in the early hours of Sunday burnt down no fewer than 20 shops and houses located on Beere-Molete Road in the Oyo State capital.

The Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) in the state, ASP Adekunle Ajisebutu, made this known to newsmen on Sunday in Ibadan.

Ajisebutu who said the arrested 11 suspects included their leader, added that law and order had been restored to the affected areas.

“The state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, has directed the policemen drafted to the area to carry out intensive patrol as well as 24 hours surveillance to avoid further breakdown of law and order.

“The CP has directed that the 11 suspects including their ring leader be charged to court immediately after conclusion of investigations,’’ Ajisebutu said.

The command’s spokesperson said the commissioner of police had warned hoodlums and other criminal elements in the state against wanton destruction of lives and property.

Meanwhile, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji , has summoned an emergency meeting of all family heads in the affected areas in his palace on Tuesday.

The Monarch’s Personal Assistant and Director of Media and Public Affairs, Adeola Oloko, said the meeting was connected with the persistent cases of arson and looting in some areas for some time now.

Oloko said the family heads expected at the meeting included those whose family compounds fell within Oja’gbo, Beyerunka, Labiran, Idi Arere/Asuni, Asaka, Isale Osi, Oopo Yeosa and Olorisa Oko areas of Ibadan.

The Police Command in Oyo State said on Sunday that it had arrested 11 suspects in connection with the burning of some shops and houses along Beere-Molete Road, Ibadan.

Some suspected arsonists in the early hours of Sunday burnt down no fewer than 20 shops and houses located on Beere-Molete Road in the Oyo State capital.

The Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) in the state, ASP Adekunle Ajisebutu, made this known to newsmen on Sunday in Ibadan.

Ajisebutu who said the arrested 11 suspects included their leader, added that law and order had been restored to the affected areas.

“The state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, has directed the policemen drafted to the area to carry out intensive patrol as well as 24 hours surveillance to avoid further breakdown of law and order.

“The CP has directed that the 11 suspects including their ring leader be charged to court immediately after conclusion of investigations,’’ Ajisebutu said.

The command’s spokesperson said the commissioner of police had warned hoodlums and other criminal elements in the state against wanton destruction of lives and property.

Meanwhile, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji , has summoned an emergency meeting of all family heads in the affected areas in his palace on Tuesday.

The Monarch’s Personal Assistant and Director of Media and Public Affairs, Adeola Oloko, said the meeting was connected with the persistent cases of arson and looting in some areas for some time now.

Oloko said the family heads expected at the meeting included those whose family compounds fell within Oja’gbo, Beyerunka, Labiran, Idi Arere/Asuni, Asaka, Isale Osi, Oopo Yeosa and Olorisa Oko areas of Ibadan.

- PM NEWS

Rooney arrested in U.S. for drunk-driven

English football star Wayne Rooney was arrested in December at Dulles Airport outside Washington, D.C. in the U.S. for public intoxication, according to local police.

Rooney, who has played for U.S. football club DC United since last year, was booked into the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on Dec. 16, on a charge of public intoxication.

The charge stemmed from an arrest by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police, the local sheriff’s office said.

The 33-year-old Rooney was released later the same day on a personal recognisance bond, said Kraig Troxell, a spokesman for the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.

It was not immediately clear why authorities had delayed details of Rooney’s arrest for more than two weeks.

Rooney’s agent could not be reached immediately for comment.

Also, DC United did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Rooney, England’s former captain and all-time top goalscorer, joined the Major League Soccer (MLS) club in mid-2018 in a deal that was reportedly worth more than $12 million.

It made him the highest paid player in DC United’s history.

Liverpool-born Rooney was the latest addition to an elite list of former England captains to hop across the Atlantic, following David Beckham and Steven Gerrard.

Rooney burst into the consciousness of English football when he made his English Premier League debut for Everton at age 16.

He joined Manchester United for $35 million in 2004 and stayed there for 13 seasons.

There, the forward won five English titles, one UEFA Champions League, one FA Cup, three League Cups and became the club’s all-time leading goalscorer with 253 goals.

- PM NEWS

FA : Iwobi, Willock take Arsenal to the next round of FA Cup

Arsenal cruised through to the FA Cup fourth round with teenager Joe Willock scoring twice at Blackpool.

The 19-year-old striker headed in after Aaron Ramsey’s free-kick hit the post and tapped in another before half-time.

League One Blackpool struggled to keep pace with the Gunners, whose arrival at Bloomfield Road was delayed when a protestor sat on top of their bus.

But after Armand Gnanduillet went close, they improved after the break before Alex Iwobi’s late finish.

The hosts had run Arsenal close during their fourth round Carabao Cup tie earlier in the season, which ended 2-1 to the Gunners.

But despite six changes to the Arsenal team, there was still a gulf in class from the start as Willock became the first Gunners teenager to score in the FA Cup since Ramsey – who ran the show here – in 2010.

Another teenage forward, Eddie Nketiah, could have had a hat-trick before the interval.

Any hope of creating a hostile atmosphere for the visitors was impossible amid ongoing protests about the way the owners run the club, which has seen fans stay away from games.

BBC reports that with 3,777 home fans present, added to Arsenal’s 5,218, Bloomfield Road was half-empty as Unai Emery’s side easily moved a step closer to adding to their record 13 FA Cup trophies.

- PM NEWS

2019: Tanko Yakassai reveals why Igbo won’t get presidency for another 20 years

Second Republic politician, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, has raised the alarm over the fate of the Igbo in the present political arrangement.

Speaking with The Sun, Yakassai expressed fears that the Southeast might be shut out of the presidency for the next 20 to 28 years, should President Muhammadu Buhari win the forthcoming general elections.

“My general assessment of the 2019 general elections is that it would be something like the 1964 elections, where you had two major groupings, namely UPGA comprising the NCNC, Action Group, NEPU and others and NNA made up of Northern Peoples Congress (NPC), Midwest Democratic Front (MDF) led by James Otobo, Niger Delta Peoples Congress (NDPC) led by the late Chief Dappa Biriye, Chief SLA Akintola’s Nigeria National Democratic Party (NNDP) and some others.

“This kind of divide is what is going to play out in the general elections.

“APC and their allies in the Southwest already have their candidate in the person of President Muhammadu Buhari. And the other block is the PDP, which has Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi as their candidates. This is a divide with far-reaching implications.

“Now, if Buhari who is now looking for a second term wins the election, he would complete his second term of four years. Since his running mate is from the Southwest, the natural thing is for APC to nominate his running mate from the Southwest. The candidate of the party would then come from the Southwest, who will naturally nominate his running mate among APC supporters from the North.

“If they succeed in winning the elections after Buhari, whoever wins the election on APC’s platform would likely run for two terms of eight years. If you put the eight years plus Buhari’s four years, it would amount to 12 years.

“And that is not all. After the man from the Southwest, it is impossible for somebody on the platform of the APC to aspire to be nominated to contest election from the entire South and, therefore, the candidature would now come back to the North after the Southwest. The North, naturally, with the trend started by Obasanjo, would also like to have two terms of eight years. If you put together that eight years, plus the eight years of the Southwest and the remainder of four years for Buhari’s second tenure, that would be a total of 20 years.

“That would be the time that it would take for anybody from the Southeast to have an opportunity to become the President of Nigeria, if elected.

“That is not all. The scenario is that by the time APC candidate from the North has completed his two terms, the slot will not automatically go to the Southeast or Igbo land, it will be available for both the Southeast and South-South geopolitical zones.

“But if, on the other hand, PDP with Atiku and a running mate from the Southeast in the person of Peter Obi, wins the election next year, they would run the government for a maximum of eight years, that is two successful terms. And after that government of eight years, automatically the shift would go to the Southeast and the possibility is that his running mate, who is from Igbo land and from the Southeast would become the candidate for the position of the President on the ticket of the party.

“In other words, if Buhari wins the coming election, it would take Igbo and the Southeast a minimum of 20 years or more before they can have the possibility of producing the President of Nigeria. Therefore, PDP’s victory in next year’s elections is the surest way of giving the Igbo man the opportunity to have one of their own becoming the President of Nigeria,” he said.

- DAILY POST

2019 presidency: Atiku has promised to sell Nigeria, Peter has no respect – Oshiomhole

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has described the Vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as a man who does not have respect for the truth.

Oshiomhole also warned Nigerians against voting Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a man he said would sell Nigeria.

Oshiomhole spoke on Friday during the official flag-off of Governor Simon Lalong’s re-election campaign, held at the Rwang Pam Township Stadium Jos, Plateau.

The former Edo State Governor also received defectors from the PDP, led by ex-factional Chairman of National Football Association (NFA), Chris Giwa, while chairmen of 45 political parties in the state endorsed Buhari and Lalong for the 2019 elections.

He called on the new comers to join the re-enforcement of the power of the broom in providing quality and purposeful leadership in the country.

“The PDP has business men as presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate.

“Atiku said he will sell Nigeria. He has said that he will sell the NNPC if elected president.

“I urged Nigerians not to support the sale of Nigeria by the PDP. You must say no to Atiku. His running mate, Peter Obi, does not have respect for the truth,” he said.

- DAILY POST

Cocaine use is ‘widespread’ among English footballers, says leading expert on drugs in sport

The use of recreational drugs including cocaine and marijuana is “widespread” among footballers in England, a leading expert on drugs in sport has warned.

Ivan Waddington, a professor at the University of Chester with decades of experience studying the use of drugs in sport, conducted a study with the cooperation of the PFA in 2005 in which players admitted via an anonymous survey that the use of recreational drugs was commonplace.

Waddington told The Independent in 2018 that the “FA doesn’t take drugs testing as seriously as it ought to”, comments that take on an extra significance just as English football’s governing body asked for witnesses to come forward after a newspaper alleged an England international was kicked out of a nightclub after being caught snorting cocaine at a Christmas party. 

“I don’t think the FA takes drug testing as seriously as it ought to – it will deny that of course,” Waddington said. “And I certainly don’t think the football clubs take drug testing seriously as seriously they ought to. And again, individual clubs will deny that.”

“In both our studies the professional footballers told us that the use of recreational drugs is widespread. There can be no doubt about that.

“The recreational drugs which are most used are cocaine and marijuana.

“There’s no difficulty about picking up marijuana. The test is technically sound and there’s no difficulty about picking up cocaine.

“We know that large numbers of these players are using these drugs because they told us so why aren’t they being picked up?”

The FA responded to the allegations made by The Sun newspaper on Friday that an international player was caught taking cocaine by a teammate, but insisted that incidents of doping in English football are rare.

An FA spokesman said: “We encourage anyone with information about any anti-doping violation in football to report it to The FA.”

- indy100

Solskjaer takes blame for Man Utd’s sloppy display

Manchester United interim manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has taken responsibility for their lacklustre display against Reading, after admitting his team selection had made the task more difficult.

United won for the fifth game in a row under the Norwegian, but United were not at their best during the 2-0 victory and Reading, second from bottom of the Championship, ended the game having had more possession and more shots.

“It was always going be difficult with my team selection.

“I made it hard for the players to be fair on them because it’s a team that’s never played together.

“Reading made it really difficult for us. We never had a kick the first five minutes, they just kept possession and we weren’t cohesive enough in the pressing. That happens when you don’t have a team that doesn’t plays together as much.

“We didn’t have too much time to work. The pleasing thing is we’re through and it’s another clean sheet. Two-nil flatters us because I think they played some great stuff,” Solskjaer, who made nine changes to his team, said according to ESPN.

- DAILY POST

A non-governmental organisation, Child Protection Network (CPN), has petitioned the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abiodun Odude over what it described as a poor way men of the state police command handled a sexual abuse case of a 7-year-old girl by a 65-year old man in Ibadan.

CPN said that it was embarrassed by the way the DPO of Ogbere Police Division, CSP Janet Talatu handled the matter by releasing the suspect, identified as Mr. Adetunji.

The NGO in a statement signed by CPN Coordinator in the state, Dr. Ebunlomo Walker, Chairperson of FIDA, Barrister Folake Ajayi, Comrade Kehinde Akinyemi of Child Growth Concern Initiative, Barrister A. A. Ibitara of JDPC, Barrister Yakub Fadare from Nigeria Bar Association, Alhaja Airat Ogungbenro from FOMWAN, Alhaji I. G Yusuf from Child Development and Concern Foundation, Mrs. Ibukunoluwa Otesile from Hope for Second Chance Foundation and Mrs. Chinyere Adeyemo from Chiyemo Global Impact Initiative argued that a case of rape or sexual assault against a ‘minor’ is a serious crime under the law, hence there is a need for the police to punish the perpetrator according to the law of the land.

CPN in the petition addressed to Odude titled, “Strong petition against gross professional misconduct and injustice on a child sexual abuse (CSA) offence case of a 7-year-old girl by a 65-year-old man ‘Mr. Adetunji’ in Ibadan”, a copy which was made available to DAILY POST Friday evening, accused the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr. Adekunle Ajisebutu for what they considered as “unprofessional and least expected from a senior police officer of PPRO’s calibre” who the society looks forward to as our hope for redress of societal ills and protection of the rights of children”.

The group in the petition copies which were also sent to the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Attorney General in Oyo State, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Community Development and Social Welfare, UNICEF, Zone B, Lagos, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists Oyo State Council, requested further that cases of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) reported at any police station should be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku, Ibadan for thorough investigations and subsequent prosecution of the offenders and suspects by the Police in accordance with the Penal Code and in order to ensure justice for the victims.

The petition reads, “Our attention was recently drawn to a case of a 7-year-old girl sexually abused by a 65-year-old man (One Mr. Adetunji) on or about the 7th day of December 2018 at Ifelodun Community, Elebolo Street, Lagbele Area, Ogbere, Orita Merin ti oya, Ibadan. The crime was reported at Ogbere Police Division by the mother of the victim, one Mrs. Tayo Ladipo. According to the Victim’s Mother, She confirmed that the result of Medical examination conducted in two different hospitals indicated that the 65 years old man Mr. Adetunji, actually committed the offence of sexual assault on the said 7-year-old innocent girl “Victoria”.

“We were most embarrassed by the way the DPO at Ogbere Police Division handled the matter by releasing the perpetrator on the flimsy excuse that the man did not penetrate hence the DPO arranged a settlement which resulted into the perpetrator paying the mother of the victim ₦12,000 to finally settle the case, thus the mother told the Police that she did not want to prosecute the matter anymore.
We wish to point out the fact that a case of Rape or Sexual Assault against a ‘Minor’ is a Serious Crime under the law. See “Sections 33 and 34 of the Child Rights Laws of Oyo State,2000” and as such CSA Case is a State Case and not one that the Victim’s Mother can decide to withdraw. Such withdrawal will only encourage more offenders to continue their advancement in crime.

“It might interest you, sir, that when our organization reported the matter to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Adekunle Ajisebutu, who we believe will do justice to the case and protect the interest and rights of the child. But to our dismay, the PPRO, Mr. Adekunle Ajisebutu, turned around to accuse the Child Rights Activist of “Crying more than the bereaved” – A statement we in CPN considered unprofessional and least expected from a Senior Police Officer of PPRO’s calibre who the society looks forward to as our hope for redress of societal ills and protection of the rights of children.

“We are equally of the firm opinion that an offence of rape or attempted Rape is a Crime against the State and as such, any attempt to sweep same under the carpet is deemed as another offence of Compounding Felony or Pervasion of Justice. It is therefore based on the foregoing that we appeal to you, Sir to use your good offices in ensuring that the perpetrator of the crime, One Mr. Adetunji is arrested and arraigned before the appropriate court forthwith in the interest of justice.

“We request further that cases of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) reported at any Police Station should be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku, Ibadan for thorough investigations and subsequent prosecution of the offenders/ suspects by the Police in accordance with the Penal Code and in order to ensure justice for the victims. Kindly treat as urgent”.

However, all efforts made by DAILY POST to get the reaction of the PPRO, Adekunle Ajisebutu proved to abortive as calls put through his telephone line were not attended to.

But, the DPO of Ogbere Police Division, CSP Janet Talatu while reacting, declared that the man did not rape the girl.

Talatu in a telephone conversation with DAILY POST on Saturday said that that the NGO, after it reported the case to the PPRO whom she said interviewed the parties and found that the man did not rape the girl, still went ahead to write the petition to the Commissioner of Police.

She said, “Good afternoon my brother, I am CSP Janet Talatu. What they are telling you is a lie. There was no case of rape. No case of rape. Any case of rape, I normally transfer to state CID. Because I am a mother and I have a daughter too, even when the parties said they are ready to settle out of court, I will transfer the case to the state CID.

“This case was reported, I think they are living in the same house, this ‘face me I face you house’. The mother of the girl was not around, she came back from school, but because of the relationship they have among themselves, one woman living in the house said, you can stay in our room. That girl slept on the bed. I think the man according to the girl removed her cloth but did not do anything. The man did not penetrate, nothing, nothing.

“So, it was after, I think ten days that the girl now told the mother that the man removed her cloth and during the process, someone came in, that was why the man could not do anything with the girl. Despite that, the man was arrested and I detained the man for three days. We took the girl to three hospitals, doctors confirmed that he has not defied the girl. No case of rape, no penetration and the girl is still a virgin. And the mother now said that the landlord association chairman pleaded with her to withdraw the case. Despite that, I said when we transfer the case to state CID you can now withdraw.

“Based on that, the woman on her own, went to court, brought a sworn affidavit that she was not interested in the case. Based on that, the man was released on bail. There was nothing. They went to the PRO at the Eleyele headquarters, the woman said that she was not the one that invited the NGO. I don’t compromise. Me I am surprised, I don’t know what they are looking for. I was supervised that they went on air. I am surprised that they went to meet the PRO, after they interviewed the parties, they still went to write petition again”.

- DAILY POST

Maradona out of danger, out of hospital – Daughter

Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona has been released from hospital after being admitted on Friday with internal bleeding in the stomach which was discovered during routine examinations.

“To all those who are really worried about my dad I tell them that it’s okay, that Giani is there with him and that in a while he’s going home! I would publish the photo they sent me but it’s not my style to publish everything!,” Maradona’s daughter Dalma wrote on twitter.

The 58-year-old was having a routine medical in his homeland before returning to Mexico, where he is coach of second division side Dorados de Sinaloa, when doctors discovered the problem.

However, a source close to the family told Reuters the problem was not serious and that the former Boca Juniors, Napoli and Barcelona midfielder, who famously led his country to the 1986 World Cup title, was not in any danger.

Another source said Maradona, who left the hospital without talking to the media, may have to undergo more tests.

Friday’s scare was the latest for Maradona, who has suffered frequent periods in hospital over the years, often due to the extravagant lifestyle that helped make him one of the most admired and iconic footballers of the 20th century.

He last fell ill at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where he was filmed passing out in an executive box at the Argentina-Nigeria game. Argentina won 2-1 to reach the last 16, where they were knocked out of the tournament by eventual winners France.

Maradona was taken into hospital in 2004 with severe heart and respiratory problems linked to cocaine use. He later underwent drug rehabilitation in Cuba and Argentina before a stomach-stapling operation in 2005 helped him lose weight.

In 2007 he checked himself into a clinic in Buenos Aires to help him overcome alcohol abuse problems.

In recent months he has walked with the aid of crutches due to problems with his knees.

The unexpected news of his admittance to hospital on Friday came just hours after Maradona’s lawyer confirmed he would coach in Mexico for a second consecutive season.

Maradona took over at struggling Dorados de Sinaloa in September and got them into the playoffs where they lost to Atletico San Luis.

“Diego Maradona has arranged to continue with the Dorados de Sinaloa and will stay as coach of the team for the whole season,” his agent Matias Morla wrote on twitter.

The club said his assistant Jose Maria Martinez would lead the team until Maradona returned.

- PM NEWS

Terrible !! 19 killed as commercial bus collided with trailer in Bauchi

Nineteen people have reportedly died in a motor accident along Gombe-Darazo road in Bauchi.

The accident was said to have occurred on Thursday evening when an 18-seater bus collided with a truck.

An official of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Darazo, told Punch that the accident occurred as a result of reckless driving by the driver of the bus.

He said the travellers were on their way to Kano State from Gombe State when the vehicle somersaulted killing all passengers except two, who sustained serious injuries.

The injured were said to have been rushed to the Darazo General Hospital in Darazo Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

He added that the 19 corpses were deposited at the mortuary of the hospital.

However, the Head of Operations of the FRSC, Bauchi Sector Command, Paul Guah, was said to have given casualty figure in the accident as 13.

Guah, a deputy sector commander, who gave sketchy details of the accident, said the vehicle, an 18-seater Hummer Bus, rammed into a trailer.

“I learnt that 13 passengers were killed instantly. The injured were rushed to the hospital for treatment,” he said.

- PM NEWS