Man’s ear bitten off after criticising hemp smokers

Samson Folarin

A 25-year-old man, Tolani Ajisefini, has lost one of his ears in a fight that ensued after speaking against hemp smoking in the Mushin area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Ajisefini, a site manager, had lived with his parents on Olateju Street, Mushin, where the incident happened, before relocating to the Isolo area of the state.

29-year-old impersonates IG Idris, defrauds Saudi doctor

Afeez Hanafi

A suspected fraudster, Ekperebuike Akadonye, has been arrested by the police for allegedly parading himself as the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on the Internet.

The 29-year-old suspect, who was apprehended by the Inspector-General Special Intelligence Response Team, also allegedly defrauded a Saudi Arabia-based doctor, identified as Hassan Alkahallaf, to the tune of $10,000.

Another social crisis looms after Boko Haram, says Buhari

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday raised the alarm that another social crisis looms in the country if the two million Nigerians displaced by the Boko Haram sect currently in refugee camps were not properly resettled.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President spoke at a meeting he had with the world leader of the Tijjaniya Islamic Movement, Sheikh Sharif Ibn Mohammad, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Awkward sexual behaviours promotes HIV/AIDS – Red Cross

The International Red Cross Society (IRCS) has said that homosexuality and other awkward sexual behaviours, like human to animal intercourse, were significant factors hampering total victory over HIV/AIDS.

Prof. Peter Katchy, Vice Chairman of the IRSC in Anambra, said this at a news conference on Wednesday ahead of the 2016 edition of the World’ AIDS Day celebration in Awka.

Millionaire’s detention ignites jailbreak fear in Anambra

Tony Okafor, Awka

The detention of a millionaire (name withheld) at the Awka Prison in Anambra State has raised the fear of jailbreak in the area.

A prison source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Southern City News on Tuesday that there could be plot by unidentified persons to facilitate the escape of some influential inmates of the prison.

He said, “The jailbreak plot may not be unconnected with the presence of some influential persons presently under prosecution in court and detained in Awka prison.“Among the prominent people in the prison are Chief Emmanuel Nwude and some of his kinsmen from Abagana, who are facing murder charge following their matter with the Ukpo community.

Sokoto Govt test runs N3.8bn 38MW Independent Power Project

Sokoto State Government on Wednesday commenced the test running of its N3.8 billion Independent Power Project (IPP), whose contract was awarded in November, 2008.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, the project has the installed capacity of a minimum of 30 megawatts and a maximum of 38 megawatts.

Prostitute, entertainer in court over alleged N1.6m theft

A prostitute and an entertainer, both aged 22, who allegedly stole property valued at N1.6 million, on Wednesday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

The prostitute, Emmanuel Carol and Precious Aboh, who claimed to be into entertainment, are facing a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and attempted murder.

BREAKING NEWS: Senate orders NCC to stop planned data price hike

The Senate on Wednesday asked the Nigerian Communications Commission to immediately stop planned data tariff hike.

The Senate said before any such hike could be announced all parties should be consulted.

Read more: Nigerians to pay more for data from December 1

Details later…

Gunmen kill Chinese, 3 others in Nasarawa

Gunmen on Monday ambushed and killed four workers of a mining company, including a Chinese at Alongani village in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Kennedy Idirisu, confirmed the killing to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Lafia on Tuesday.

Philip Morris to stop selling Marlboro, Bond Street cigarettes

Philip Morris International, the world’s largest international tobacco company, could eventually stop selling cigarettes, said its chief executive, Andre Calantzopoulos on Wednesday.

He disclosed this to newsmen at the launch of its alternative product IQOS in the UK market.

Fuel subsidy stoppage saves FG $15.4bn – Kachikwu

Okechukwu Nnodim, Abuja

Nigeria has saved $15.4bn as a result of the elimination of subsidy on petroleum products since May this year, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has said.

Kachikwu disclosed this while hosting members of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

Let women drive, urges Saudi prince

An outspoken billionaire Saudi prince wants an “urgent” end to his country’s ban on women driving, saying overturning the law was a matter of women’s rights and economic necessity.

“Stop the debate: Time for women to drive,” Prince Alwaleed bin Talal said on his official Twitter account, @Alwaleed_Talal.

Fidel Castro begins four-day journey to final resting place

The ashes of Fidel Castro begin a four-day journey across Cuba Wednesday to his final resting place, retracing the late communist leader’s revolution victory tour of 1959.

The “caravan of freedom” will leave from Havana, making symbolic stops along the 950-kilometer (590-mile) trek that will end in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba over the weekend.

The trip follows two days of tributes in Havana where hundreds of thousands were encouraged by the government to view a picture memorial to Castro at the Revolution Square.

The commemorations in the capital ended with a massive rally Tuesday night at the square attended by Latin American, African and Caribbean leaders, along with the Greek prime minister — the only European leader at the event.

1.8 million IDPs in northeast need 30,000mt of food monthly – UN official

No fewer than 30,000 metric tonnes of food is required to feed the Internally Displaced Persons caused by Boko Haram insurgency in Northeastern Nigeria, a UN official, Mohamed Safieldin, says.

Safieldin, the immediate past UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, said in New York that the monthly requirement was currently not being met.