EPL Suprise team Leicester City give free beer to fans as 'thank you' for successful year

Leicester City owners decided to surprise fans with free beer before their clash with Man City tonight at the King Power Stadium. The club has been the surprise package this season, staying top of the table and have a genuine shot of winning the title this season. In his programme notes ahead of the match, Leicester City Fotball Club vice chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said: 'There has been so many highlights from 2015 - the amazing escape last season, the fantastic start to this one, club records broken, Premier League records broken and moments that will live with us all for a long time. You have been a huge part of it and Leicester City heads into 2016 in better shape than it has ever been. As a thank you for the role you have played in such a great year, our friends at Singha Beer will be buying the first round tonight. Enjoy it, you've all earned it!'

Woman electrocuted in hotel room on her birthday

24 year old Funke Balogun, a National Diploma II student of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), was allegedly electrocuted in a hotel bathroom owned by her boyfriend Abolade Adetunji's mother at 30, Balogun Street, Oshodi in Lagos on Sunday December 27th. According to a report by the Nation, Funke who is a mother of one, was in a relationship with Abolade who just passed from NYSC. According to Funmi, the younger sister of the deceased, Abolade came to pick her sister at their residence on Saturday around 11pm. “Abolade was in a hurry that night and I told my sister not to go but she picked some of her things and left with him. On Sunday morning around 7, she called and said plans had changed that they were not going to the beach again but to a hotel and since then, we have been trying her mobile line. When she didn’t pick her call, I became worried. That day was her birthday and our mother still called her in the midnight to pray for her. Even, when my mum called Abolade’s mobile line, someone picked and said he forgot his phone and since then his lime has been switched off." Funmi said when she and some family members went to the hotel to see if they could check on her, they didn’t see her, adding that the receptionist said Adetunji just stepped out and wasn’t with a girl. “Even when we got to Abolade’s house, we were told he had gone to the beach. Around 8pm on Sunday, my cousin and I went to the hotel again, I sighted blood on the wall and when I asked Abolade’s brother, Bayo where my sister was, he said: ‘at the moment, Funke is dead’; he said it without remorse and was still icing drinks in the freezer. Even when we went to the police station, they said they were not aware of the incident. Is that how my sister will die? She has been dating him for almost a year. He just returned from National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Anambra State. The boy is very proud to the extent that whenever he visited her, he didn’t greet anyone.”she said When interviewed, Abolade said his girlfriend died of shock. "‎She was already in the bathroom and I went to meet my brother who was on the same floor with us to get the toothpaste. As I returned to the room, I tried to open the toilet door but it was stiff. As I gained access to the toilet, I met her on the floor with a shower handle on her right hand. When I tried to carry her, I didn’t know what happened until I saw myself on hospital bed.” His father, Jamiu Adetunji, A. K.A (Yaro), said Abolade’s elder brother called their mother that they needed a doctor. “Immediately we took them to Geo Medical Centre where Funke eventually gave up. We first took her to General Hospital, Ikeja but she was rejected because there was none of her family members with us. It was later we reported the incident to Akinpelu Police Station where they took the body to Yaba mortuary. I wouldn’t want to kill someone else’s daughter. Funke was my son’s girl friend and I told her to help me monitor his movement because at times he wouldn’t listen and since he talked about her dearly, I felt she was going to inspire him. It is really unfortunate. My son has put me in trouble. Even when they wanted to know the girl’s full name, I pinched my son few times just for him to wake up. I have arrested the electrician that connected light to the building because last Friday, occupants of the building beside the hotel complained of shock in their house and I told the electrician but he refused to come. It was after the incident he came and was arrested. “‎ The mother of the bereaved, Kehinde Balogun, has remained inconsolable since the day of the incident "Funke was my first child and she has a three-year-old son. The only reason they live alone is because her school is close to the family house in Oshodi. Why did they kill my beauty? Why? What have I done to deserve this? I wish she listened to her sister that night because she had a dream. I saw my daughter in my sleep this morning telling me she had returned. It is unfortunate. I wish it was a reality. It is a big tragedy because where she died was three houses from where I gave birth to her. I warned her about him but she told me he was okay and assured me everything was fine.” she said amid tears.

Man docked for parading himself as a Colonel and defrauding victim of over N40m

62-year-old Babatunde Idris has been arrested by the Oyo State Police Command for parading himself as a colonel in the Nigerian Army and using a fake identity to defraud one Yinusa Mustapha of the sum of N40m. The state Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade, said Idris was arrested after a petition was filed against him. He said: “Following a petition received alleging the fraudulent activities of Idris, the command’s Anti-kidnapping Squad swung into action and arrested the suspect, who until his arrest had fraudulently obtained various sums of money from his victims.” Oyebade added that the suspect promised his last victim, Mustapha, that he would help him to get a certificate for oil importation in 2012, but up till now that hasn't been done. He failed to complete the deal after the money was paid into his account. The commissioner added: “The suspect forged various letterheads of the Nigerian Army which he issued to unsuspecting individuals and corporate organisations soliciting assistance. He also had multiple identities under fake names all bearing the status of a colonel”. The suspect said on the other hand said: “I collected N16m from him claiming to be a colonel in the army. I signed the form, but truly I am not a military man. One of my brothers is a general in the army. One day, he gave me a letter to help somebody, so I made a copy of it. “Mustapha wanted me to help him to collect certificate of oil lifting and because I knew people who could do it, I took the money from him, but the deal failed.”

El-Zakzaky’s followers charged with criminal conspiracy, remanded in custody

Some members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria have been arraigned at the Chief Magistrate Court 1, Zaria Road, Kaduna and charged with criminal conspiracy and inciting public disturbances. Their leader, Ibrahim El-zakyzaky, has been taken into custody by the army before he was released to the police for investigation. The Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, on Tuesday t saidhat the Shi’ite members were being prosecuted for incitement and public disturbances among other charges. She said: “Some Shi’ite members have been arraigned in court where they were charged with criminal conspiracy, inciting public disturbances among others; they have been remanded in prison custody and the case adjourned.” The Shi’ite members had had a clash with the Army about two weeks ago during which about 20 persons were killed. They have been remanded in prison custody. Punch

Arsenal can win league –Ozil

Mesut Ozil says that Arsenal can win the Premier League title after the German overcame a chest infection to help his side beat rivals Manchester City 2-1 on Monday. Ozil, 27, took his tally of league assists to 15 as he set up first-half goals for Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud and the midfielder insists that the Gunners can end their 12-year wait to regain the title this season. “We believe in ourselves,” Ozil told Sky Sports. “If you see the games against the big clubs, we won against them so we know our quality, if we play our game we can win the league. We will give our best all the season for the title. “We have had a lot of difficult games, we are happy to win against Man City and we take the three points. All the team are happy and me too. “I’m happy to help the team, on the pitch I can play my game so I just try to help. Today was again an important game and I tried to give my best.” The victory moved Arsenal four points clear of City in second place, two points behind leaders Leicester City going into the Christmas period, and manager Arsene Wenger was impressed the Germany international was able to contribute after being ill this week. “Ozil had a chest infection and he was in bed, basically,” Wenger said. “He had only one training session. For a guy who could not prepare well, he has done extremely well physically. I’m a bit cautious because we lost three or four players recently. “In football you need one guy who gives the ball to the one who scores the goal. In our team, most of the time, Ozil is this player. The guys who sees makes you win, and he is that. “Ozil is much more mature now, much more keen to take responsibility. I believe he’s developed his physical attributes and commitment. You can see his desire to win. He plays to win the game. His talent is exceptional and he realises he can help us in every single game.”

I won’t put pressure on myself –Ighalo

On-form Watford forward Odion Ighalo is refusing to set a goal target for himself this season. The Super Eagles striker has already scored 12 Premier League goals in 17 appearances, including a brace in the Hornets’ 3-0 humiliation of Liverpool at Vicarage Road on Sunday. Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy currently tops the Premier League scoring charts with 15 goals. The 28-year-old Englishman’s Blue Army’s Algerian teammate Riyad Mahrez and Everton’s Romelu Lukaku have struck 13 times each to occupy the second and third place respectively. Ighalo is fourth on the log followed by Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud in the fifth place. Former Italy and Spain-based Ighalo, who has hit the back of the net twice for Nigeria this year, has been earning rave reviews from the British media for embarrassing highly rated Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho with his trademark ‘chop’ move on Sunday. “The fans are crazy about something like that,” the 26-year-old former Granada star told Mailonline. “I just try to play my game and do it when it’s possible. If there is space to execute it, sometimes I get lucky and sometimes it doesn’t work, but it’s become a part of my game.” He said he would keep working hard to help Watford retain their Premier League status, ruling out setting any target for himself. “I give God all the glory for my goals and the victory,” the former Udinese player was quoted by Teamtalk as saying on Tuesday. “Last season I never set a target and this season I haven’t either. I will never set myself a target as then I put pressure on myself. I want to keep going game by game. “When the team wins a game that is the most important.” Ighalo says Watford manager Quique Flores deserves credit for the team’s current run of good form in the English topflight, saying the former Real Madrid defender is one of the best coaches he has worked with. “He is one of the best coaches I’ve worked with in terms of game plans and encouraging his players,” Teamtalk quoted the ex-Flying Eagles captain as saying. “He is a very intelligent guy and deserves big credit for everything we are going through now.” Meanwhile, Flores believes Watford are ready to fend off any January offers for Ighalo. “I think Ighalo is completely clever, he chose five months ago the option to stay here with Watford. He chose to stay here because he imagined something special for him,” the Spaniard said.

Another family demands missing son from embattled DPO

Another family demands missing son from embattled DPO By Remi Latinwo - December 23, 20152340Share on FacebookTweet on Twitter Omobowale Afeez Hanafi Trouble seems to be multiplying for the Divisional Police Officer, Igbogbo Police Station, Ikorodu, Lagos State, as another family has alleged that its member, Sodiq Omobowale, got missing under his watch. The DPO is currently being detained over the disappearance of 26-year-old Waidi Kabiru, who was also abducted from the station. The DPO has been in detention at the State Department of Criminal Investigation over his failure to account for the missing youth (Kabiru). Omobowale’s case is a fresh one. It was learnt that members of a vigilance group, called Onyabo, in Ikorodu had stormed Omobowale’s residence at Atewo Jaiyesimi Itumeko on July 7 around 7am and accused him of belonging to a cult group. The vigilantes, reportedly led by one Bonbata and Lanre, were said to have beaten up the 23-year-old man. It was gathered that he was eventually taken to the station where he was detained. PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspect’s mother, Mrs. Kemi Agbaje, and his uncle, Azeez Ibrahim, had gone to the station on the fateful day and tried in vain to secure his bail. The mother said the policemen she met at the station the following day told her that Omobowale had been released to the vigilance group. Agbaje said the family approached the Onyabo men and was told to look for him at the state police command. She said the family had been to several police stations and prisons, but her son had yet to be found. Waidi “We went to the police command in Ikeja, the Federal SARS in Adeniji Adele and Badagry, Ikoyi and Kirikiri prisons. They checked their records and told us he was not in their custody. We met with the DPO too. He said my son was a cultist and told us not to bother looking for him,” he added. Omobowale’s wife, Yetunde, said the gun-wielding vigilance members, numbering about 10, beat her husband until he passed out. She added that they revived him and took him around the community before he was taken to the station. She said, “They dragged him from his room and beat him up until he collapsed. They poured water on him before he regained consciousness. I stopped begging them when they pointed guns at me and threatened to shoot me if I came near them.” Yetunde added that the policemen at the station eventually denied that her husband was detained when she put pressure on them to provide him. The Coordinator, Women Arise for Change Initiative in Ikorodu, Mr. Adebayo Obatungase, who is handling the matter on behalf of the family, appealed to Lagos State and the Federal Government to wade into Omobowale’s “disappearance” from the station. He said, “The woman (Agbaje) brought the matter to our notice last week and all efforts to locate the boy were abortive. We urged the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, to do everything he can on this matter. “I have been following reports on one Waidi Kabiru, who was also missing from the same station. It is worrisome. I can’t understand why the police would allow some people to abduct a suspect detained in a station. We are appealing to authorities to show concern on this matter.” The Lagos State police spokesperson, DSP Joe Offor, promised to verify the incident from the new DPO of the station and get back with our correspondent. He said, “The affected DPO has been removed. I will make enquiries from the new DPO on the case and get back to you.”

Ogun: Police arrest 116 robbers in six months

The Ogun State Police Command says it arrested 116 armed robbers across the state in the last six months. The state Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, stated this at the command’s headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, adding that the command was fully prepared for the Yuletide. He said seven armed robbers were killed during operations carried out by his men in the period under review. Still reeling out other achievements of the command, he said a total of 125 ammunition, 69 vehicles and 45 arms were recovered, while 205 alleged cult members and 38 rape suspects were apprehended. He said out of the total number of 980 suspects arrested for various offences, 490 were charged to court, while the command got 48 convictions. Ali warned that as Yuletide approached, his command would not tolerate any form of criminality. He warned that the use of bangers and other fireworks would not be tolerated in the state. He said, “The command wishes to send a note of warning to those who are fond of using bangers and other fireworks to desist from the acts as the law banning their use or sales is still in force. Anyone caught in possession of any of the aforementioned fireworks will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.” The commissioner also said carnivals which involved blocking of roads and streets and extortion of road users would not be allowed, as offenders would be treated as armed robbers. He said, “We will not allow blockage of streets. Any person who blocks the road or makes a road inaccessible to its users will be treated like an armed robber, as such act is tantamount to armed robbery.” Ali later paraded a fake soldier and 34 other suspected criminals. Parading the 29-year-old fake soldier, Emmanuel Abiodun, Ali said he was arrested at the Redemption Camp, on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, with two toy guns in his possession. Abiodun said he had been acting as an escort to pastors in Port Harcourt, and had escorted a pastor to the Redemption Camp, before he was arrested on Thursday, December 10, 2015. The suspect said, “I had come out to receive a call outside the Redemption Camp when a retired general saw me and challenged me. Later, I was arrested and handed over to the police.” Abiodun, who claimed to be a merchant navy, said he did not regret his action because “I have always wanted to be a soldier.” Ali also said the men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, acting on a tip-off on Friday December 18, swooped on a truck conveying hemp along Ajuwon-Akute Road, adding that the driver and others in the vehicle escaped. He said when the truck was searched, 297 bags of hemp were found. Ali said among the suspected robbers, eight confessed to snatching 38 different cars in Lagos and Ogun states.

Biafra: Kanu faces fresh charges

The Federal Government has filed six counts including treasonable felony against the founder of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, before a Federal High Court in Abuja. Two other persons charged along with Kanu are Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi. The fresh case against Kanu was filed on Friday, barely 24 hours after another judge of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, ordered Kanu’s unconditional release from the custody of the Department of State Services. The fresh charges were filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Diri, for the Attorney General of the Federation. Justice Ademola ordered the DSS to release Kanu unconditionally since there were no pending charges against him about two months after his detention. But instead of releasing him, the Federal Government filed fresh charges against him on Friday. The fresh case was listed to come up before Justice Ahmed Mohammed on Tuesday, it was however stalled due to the absence of the prosecution in court. The judge later clarified that there was a mix-up because the hearing notice was not served on the prosecution. While Kanu’s lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, was in court on Tuesday, the accused were not produced but there was heavy presence of policemen around the court, a usual feature which signified the hearing date of high profile cases. No date has been fixed for the arraignment of the accused persons on the six counts filed before Justice Ahmed Mohammed last Friday, but Ejiofor said he would file a bail application for his client by Wednesday. Kanu and the two others were charged with treasonable felony, an offence the prosecution says is punishable under Section 41(C) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria. The prosecution also accused the three men of managing an unlawful society – the Indigenous People of Biafra.

Police admit killing UNIPORT student, SUG fumes

The Rivers State Police Command has admitted to killing a final year student of the University of Port Harcourt, Oghenekevwe Edah. It was learnt that the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations), A.A. Muhammed, who delivered a condolence message to the deceased’s family on behalf of the state Commissioner of Police, Musa Kimo, promised that justice would be done in the matter. This is just as the UNIPORT Student Union Government threatened to protest against the police over the recurring killing of students on the highway. PUNCH Metro had reported on Tuesday that Oghenekevwe was returning from a church on Sunday and was standing at the Assemblies of God Church Junction, in the Alakahia area of Port Harcourt, when a police van driving against traffic hit him. The police were said to have attempted escaping from the scene, but were held by passersby who compelled them to take the victim to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, where he died. The police were said to have denied killing the victim, saying they only picked him from the road after he was knocked down by a vehicle. Our correspondent, however, learnt on Tuesday that the police had admitted to killing the student. His younger brother, Emmanuel Edah, said Oghenekevwe’s death was painful to the family because he was their breadwinner. He said, “I was in Delta State when one of his roommates called me and said he had been knocked down by a police van. I was told that he was coming from the church when the van hit him and the police wanted to reverse their vehicle to make it look as if they were on the right path, but people held them down and forced them to take him to the hospital. “I got to the emergency ward of the hospital and I was told that he was dead.” He said the victim’s roommate reported the matter at a police station and he later went to make an entry as well. He said the police contacted them on Monday and the ACP promised to get justice for the victim. He said investigation revealed that his brother was killed by a highway patrol vehicle. Lamenting the death, Emmanuel said, “We are seven in my family and two of us are the only boys. For the past 15 years, he had been doing professional photography and event coverage. He took care of us with the money and use the rest for his education. We want justice and nothing less. We have decided to follow the case legally and not take laws into our own hands.” The SUG President of UNIPORT, David Dariereka, said the students would stage a protest in the school. He said, “We are not going to take it lightly with the police because we have discovered that he was killed by a highway patrol van and we have been able to trace the vehicle. “We have asked our lawyer to take the matter up and soon, we will be having a protest to show that we will no longer condone this kind of thing. On January 1, we also lost a student on that road. We are going to use this to remind the authorities that human life is very precious and we can no longer be killed like fowls.” The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Muhammad, declined further comment on the case, saying the police wanted to conclude investigations. “We want to conclude our investigations, so for now, we will not say anything again on the matter,” he said.

Trader kills friend over N5,000 electricity bill

A 28-year-old trader, Chukwuebuka Okeke, has allegedly killed his friend and roommate, Nwabuike Ezeike, 39, after a disagreement over a N5, 000 electricity bill. PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident happened on Tuesday on Tokosi Street, Orile-Iganmu. Our correspondent gathered that the friends, who were traders on the Lagos Island, had been together for a long time. They were also said to have contributed money for the rent of the single-room apartment. The men, who hail from the same Ishida community, in the Anocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, however, had a disagreement over their electricity bill. A relative of the deceased, Ben Eze, said the deceased had paid the suspect some money as his contribution towards the bill. He said, “But his friend squandered the money. So, as the payment became overdue and pressure was mounted on him to release the money, he passed on the aggression to the deceased and there was a fight. He was actually asleep when he attacked him. “People had separated them when he suddenly punched him in the head. He was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.” It was learnt that the case was reported at the Orile Police Division and the suspect was arrested. The matter was later transferred to the State Department of Criminal Investigation, while the corpse of the victim was deposited at the Lagos Mainland mortuary. Another relative, Charles Anolue, said the victim was supposed to have his engagement ceremony later this month before he was killed. He said the family was pained that despite the death, the family of the suspect had not shown any sign of remorse over the incident. “We are grieved and despite our loss, we would have resolved this case because we are from the same community. But the suspect’s family have been playing games which we don’t understand, and that is why we are ready to pursue this case to a logical end,” he added. Lawyer for the deceased’s family, F.S. Oladele, urged the police to dig up all the evidence of the case. However, the elder brother of the suspect, Emeka Okeke, explained that his family was not happy over the incident and efforts by community leaders to wade in had been frustrated by the deceased’s family. “These two men have been friends for a long time and they are both traders. What happened between them was unfortunate and I know Chukwuebuka had no intention of killing his friend,” he added. Counsel for the suspect, Spurgeon Ataene, denied that the 28-year-old killed the victim. He said, “It was the deceased that attacked first and my client dodged his blow. It was the force with which he attempted to punch my client that made him crash into a wall, thereby killing himself.” The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joe Offor, confirmed incident, adding that investigation was on at the SDCI.

Faleke drags INEC before tribunal over inconclusive poll

The Kogi State Deputy Governor-elect, James Faleke, has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission to the election petitions tribunal to challenge its decision to declare the governorship election inconclusive. By implication, Faleke has also challenged the declaration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as the governor-elect. The petitioner, who arrived the Lokoja High Court premises around 11.20 am on Monday, said he took the action to register his displeasure at the decision of INEC and his firm belief in the nation’s judiciary to serve justice.

I made huge sacrifice to ensure APC victory – Tinubu

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, says he made a big sacrifice to ensure that the All Progressives Congress did well in the last elections. Tinubu, who is a former governor of Lagos State, said this at the 70th birthday anniversary of social commentator and National Democratic Coalition chieftain, Prof. Segun Gbadegesin, in Lagos on Monday. The APC leader said the Peoples Democratic Party ruled Nigeria for 16 years because opposition parties failed to unite.