1 feared killed, Lagos market shut down over clash (DailyTrust)
Commercial activities in the Oluwole Market in Ogba, Ojodu Local Council Development Area of Lagos State were grounded on Friday morning as Yoruba and Hausa clashed.
It was learnt that the clash ensued on Thursday night when a young man simply identified as Abbey settled a quarrel between two Hausa men and was allegedly stabbed by an unidentified man, leaving him in a pool of blood.
According to eyewitness accounts, Abbey was said to be bleeding profusely before he gave up the ghost, sparking a reprisal between Yoruba and Hausa in the area. Read more
Pasuma: I quit football for music (DailyTrust)
Fuji singer, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, has revealed that he was once a professional footballer before he quit the round leather game for music.
He said that his exclusion from the 1985 squad that participated in the FIFA/KODAK World championship in China, which Nigeria ultimately won, was the reason for his choice to venture into music.
“I was a footballer but I decided to go into music because I was not picked to go to Kodak for the World Cup,” Pasuma said in a recent interview with actress Iyabo Ojo. Read more
Reps vow to expose PMS racketeering culprits, downstream sharp practices (Tribune)
The House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), has vowed to go after people behind Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) product racketeering and downstream sharp practices.
This is as the Committee resolved to work with the leadership of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigerian (PETROAN), to resolving issues with a view to guaranteeing PMS and AGO availability and affordability
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere (PDP-Imo), gave the warning during a meeting with the leadership of the NARTO and the PETROAN in Abuja on Thursday. Read more
Retired teachers lament as suspected land grabbers terrorise Lagos estate (Punch)
Residents of the Teachers’ Renaissance Estate at Mosene Village, Isiu in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State have raised the alarm over the activities of suspected land grabbers in the community.
The residents who are mainly retired teachers from the state civil service told PUNCH Metro that the land grabbers were encroaching on their lands through forceful means.
The culprits were also said to have consistently invaded the community with a band of armed thugs wielding dangerous weapons in a trend said to have lasted for five years. Read more
CJN to swears in 11 Supreme Court Justices on Monday (ThisDay)
Barring any last minute changes, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), will on Monday, February 26, administer the oath of office on 11 justices appointed to the Supreme Court bench.
Their inauguration on Monday will make history as the bench would for the first time attain its full complement of 21 justices.
Recall that the National Judicial Council (NJC) had last December recommended 11 justices of the appellate court to President Bola Tinubu for appointment as Supreme Court justices, following their confirmation by the Senate. Read more
PDP will lose Edo State if they don’t accept me as candidate – Shaibu (Channels)
The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that failure to accept him as its candidate in the State governorship election will spell doom for the party in the state.
Asue Ighodalo won the PDP primary at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City on Thursday; Philip Shaibu won the parallel election at a different venue.
Speaking on the development on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, Shuaibu maintained that he is the authentic candidate of the party for the September 21 election, saying that Edo people do not want Ighodalo whom he said is not homeboy. Read more
Tinubu, others pay last respect to Akeredolu (Nation)
President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, February 23, led Nigerians to pay last respect to former Ondo state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
President Tinubu who described late Akeredolu as a “fearless soldier” and “unwavering advocate” for the people said the former governor was an “indomitable legacy of national service.”
Tinubu spoke in Owo, headquarters of Owo local government, at the funeral ceremony of Akeredolu held at the St. Andrew’s Cathedral. Read more
Troops rescue 12 kidnap victims in Benue (Vanguard)
Troops of Sector 1, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have rescued 12 kidnapped victims at Jootar village in Ukum LGA of Benue State.
The Force Commander (FC), OPWS, Maj. -Gen. Sunday Igbinomwanhia told newsmen on Friday in Makurdi that the victims were rescued on Feb. 21, following credible intelligence.
Maj.-Gen. Igbinomwanhia said the rescued 12 kidnapped victims were in transit from Imo to Adamawa State when they were kidnapped. Read more
Selena Gomez gets support from boyfriend Benny Blanco as she shares ‘‘Love On’’ music video pics (People)
Benny Blanco is a supportive boyfriend.
On Thursday, Selena Gomez, 31, took to Instagram to share some behind-the-scenes snaps from her new “Love On” music video shoot.
Among the carousel of photos, the musician posed in a hot pink dress featuring a feathered skirt that she teamed with long white gloves and pointed pink shoes. Read more
Kate Winslet’s new movie confirms UK release date (DigitalSpy)
Kate Winslet movie Lee has landed an official release date for UK and Irish cinemas.
Directed by feature first-timer Ellen Kuras, who was the cinematographer behind Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, it’s been announced that this biopic finally hits the big screen on September 13 after premiering at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
Andy Samberg (Palm Springs), Marion Cotillard (Inception), Alexander Skarsgård (The Northman), Josh O’Connor (Challengers) and Andrea Riseborough (To Leslie) all co-star as various real-world figures who Winslet’s photojournalist Lee Miller encountered. Read more
Sudan: Desperate malnutrition crisis in Zamzam camp, North Darfur (AfricaNews)
Displaced people living in the Zamzam camp in North Darfur are suffering from high levels of malnutrition amid insufficient humanitarian aid almost one year since the violence began.
Some 300,000 people displaced by the war in Sudan are living in difficult conditions in the camp, located 15 kilometres (nine miles) south of El Fasher, the capital of the state.
Children are the most affected by the poor conditions due to lack of care and food. Read more
Prominent K-pop composer, known as ‘‘Shinsadong Tiger,’’ found dead, South Korean police say (ABC)
Lee Ho-yang, a prominent K-pop composer and producer better known by his professional name of “Shinsadong Tiger,” was found dead on Friday, South Korean police said.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police said Lee, 40, was discovered dead at his Seoul studio. Police gave no further details and there was no word on the cause of death.
Local media reported that one of Lee’s acquaintances found him collapsed on the floor at the studio and called local emergency services. Read more
Palestinian authority says Israeli post-war Gaza plan ‘destined to fail’ (AlJazeera)
The Palestinian Authority has sharply criticised a “day after” plan for Gaza presented by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling it “destined to fail”.
“If the world wants security and stability in the region, it must end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and recognise the independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital,” Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, was quoted as saying on Friday by the Palestinian state news agency Wafa.
Netanyahu’s plan is his first official proposal for what comes after the war in Gaza – in which Israel has killed more than 29,000 Palestinians. Read more
Warner Bros. Discovery stock price plummets after Q4 earnings report (Variety)
Warner Bros. Discovery sank 9% as markets opened Friday morning following the company’s Q4 earnings report that showed financial progress for the Max streaming service but weakness in key areas including advertising sales.
Warner Bros. Discovery shares were down 9% in pre-market by the end of the company’s hourlong conference call with Wall Street analysts. Shares closed Thursday at $9.56 and were down to around $8.75 shortly after 9 a.m. ET. The stock was down 10% after just two minutes of formal trading as markets opened at 9:30 a.m. ET.
WB Discovery CEO David Zaslav sought to reassure analysts during the call that the long-term outlook for the company remains strong. He emphasized that the new regime that took over in April 2022 is still working through issues that they inherited. Read more
At least 4 dead, 15 missing after fire at Spanish high-rise apartment building (UPI)
At least four people were killed and eight injured after fire swept through a high-rise apartment complex overnight in the eastern Spanish port city of Valencia.
The death toll could rise with as many as 15 people, including a family of four including two children aged three and 15 days, still unaccounted for, the BBC said citing local media reports.
At least 10 fire crews fought the blaze in the Campanar area of the city which broke out on the fourth floor before spreading throughout the building, the Valencia Emergency Coordination Center said in a post on X. Read more
Cameroon hold Super Falcons in Paris 2024 Olympic qualifier (Channels)
The Super Falcons were on Friday held to a goalless draw by Cameroon in the first leg of the final round of qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Nigeria could have returned home with a win but had two goals disallowed during the game in Doula in Cameroon.
FULL TIME! in Douala
Cameroon 0-0 Nigeria
Not the outcome we hoped for, our main priority now is to secure a vital victory in the upcoming second leg, set for Monday, February 26 in Abuja. Keep faith in us Read more
Hamilton insists Mercedes story can end on a high (France24)
Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton says his switch to Ferrari programmed for 2025 will add a brand new chapter to his sparkling career, but insisted he hopes to leave Mercedes on a high.
The 39-year-old Briton has been with Mercedes since 2013, but recently activated a break clause to seal a move to the Italian team in 2025.
“An opportunity came up in the New Year and I decided to take it,” Hamilton said, describing the decision as the hardest he’d ever faced.
“We have had an incredible journey together, created history within the sport and it is something I take a lot of pride in,” he said. Read more
Boxing: Sports ministry to partner Yucateco promotions on talent discovery (CompleteSports)
The Minister Of Sports Development Senator John Enoh, has expressed the Ministry’s readiness to partner with the Yucateco boxing promotions, organisers of the Yucateco boxing league to broaden the scope of discovering more pugilists for the country.
The Minister made this known when he received Hon. Omolei Imadu Yakubu, CEO of Yucateco boxing promotions in his office in Abuja on Thursday.
Senator Enoh said the partnership with Yucateco Boxing promotions is expected to yield a range of initiatives aimed at nurturing talents, organising competitions, and providing necessary support structures for athletes across Nigeria by leveraging the expertise and resources of YBP. Read more
Outgoing Tuchel: I’m not the only problem at Bayern Munich (ESPN)
Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel on Friday said he was not the only one responsible for his team’s bad form, adding that the club’s decision to part ways with him at the end of the season would give him “more freedom” in his decision making for the rest of the campaign.
Bayern this week decided to cut ties with Tuchel at the end of the season, despite his contract running until 2025, following a three-game losing run in all competitions.
The Bavarian giants, who have won the previous 11 league titles in Germany, are in second place in the Bundesliga, eight points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen, who beat them 3-0 on Feb. 10. Read more
David Moyes confirms West Ham United have offered him a new contract (SportsMole)
West Ham United manager David Moyes has confirmed that he has been offered a new contract by the club.
Speculation over the 60-year-old’s future at the London Stadium has been rife for some time, with his current deal due to expire at the end of the season.
Moyes celebrated four years in charge of West Ham when he successfully steered the Hammers to a 2-0 win away against Arsenal at the end of December, but the Scotsman has since come under intense scrutiny amid the club’s poor run of form. Read more
Parker admits Zhang has rematch option ahead of their March 8 heavyweight clash (BoxingScene)
Heavyweight contender Joseph Parker has revealed there is a rematch clause in place ahead of his March 8 Saudi Arabia fight with Zhilei Zhang – if he loses – because of Zhang’s position with the WBO.
Parker, who shocked Deontay Wilder and won a wide decision in December over the heavy-hitting former champion, meets Zhang on the Anthony Joshua-Francis Ngannou bill and he is already in Riyadh, training with the likes of young heavyweight contender Moses Itauma.
Chinese southpaw Zhang, coming off two impressive stoppage wins over Joe Joyce, is 26-1-1 with 21 KOs and holds both the WBO interim title and he is the WBO’s mandatory challenger for the winner of the May bout between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk – which also has a rematch clause. Read more