17-year-old student abducts, kills 5-year-old boy after collecting ransom (DailyTrust)
A 17-year-old secondary school student, Elijah Anthony, has explained why he killed a five-year-old primary school pupil, Dawon Pam, of Bukuru community of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The suspect, who is a neighbour to the family of the victim, disclosed that he killed the boy because of economic hardship.
“Hardship and suffering was what prompted me to commit the crime. I later realized that the victim who happened to be my neighbour had already seen my face and might expose me if released. Read more
Tinubu welcomes Supreme Court judgement affirming his election as president (ThisDay)
President Bola Tinubu has formally reacted to Thursday’s Supreme Court judgment which affirmed his election on February 25, 2023 as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In a statement entitled: “IT IS TIME FOR US TO BUILD OUR GREAT NATION TOGETHER”, personally signed by him, President Tinubu
welcomed the verdict of the Justice John I. Okoro-led Panel of the Supreme Court on the Presidential Election petitions filed by the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), challenging the ruling of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. Read more
Lagos shuts Alaba International Market (Sun)
Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), has sealed the electronic section of Alaba International Market, citing poor waste management in the market, non-payment of waste bills, among other infractions.
Addressing a joint press conference on the issue on Monday, Chief Camilus Amajuoyi, President Alaba Intl Market, Electronics Section, Hon Mbonu Udechukwu, Hon Umeh Mark Anthony, Coordinator General Amalgamated Alaba Intl Market,all maintained that they were embarrassed when they got to the market on Monday morning only to discover that their well maintained market, electronic section has been sealed by officials of LAWMA without prior notice to them of any infractions.
Chief Amajuoyi said he has met his executives and so demand from the management of LAWMA to immediately re-open the market. He posited that the contract for waste removal with various PSP organisations, all approved by LAWMA are still effective; as they visit the market thrice every week to evacuate refuse generated within the market. Read more
Julie Coker hails Tinubu for appointing women into key positions (Vanguard)
Chief Julie Coker, the Yeye Oba of Lagos and one of the first women in Broadcasting in Africa, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing women as Ministers and to other key positions.
Coker was speaking in her position as Matron of Media Women in Nigeria at the 12th African Icon and Stewardship Awards (AISA) Night, which took place at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos yesterday coincidentally, it was the birthday of Princess Lillian Odumosu, National President (NLCF), making it a double celebration attended by the cream of society in Lagos.
Despite heaping praise on the presidency for giving a pride of place to women, Coker vented the opinion that a woman as president would make a more meaningful contribution to Africa’s most populous nation.
Rotary Club of Festac Central holds investiture, fundraising for 12th President (Independent)
The Rotary Club of Festac Central, last weekend, held the investiture and a fundraising programme for its 12th President, Rotarian Dora Edo.
The event which was held in Festac brought together relatives, celebrants, and well-wishers of the new president, even as it served as an avenue to plan for 2023/24 Rotary year.
Edo, the new president also described as ‘Hope President’ have served at various capacities in the club and attended many rotary seminars. Read more
Senate confirms Aliyu’s appointment as ICPC Chairman (Channels)
The Senate on Thursday confirmed Mr Musa Aliyu, a lawyer and Attorney-General of Jigawa State, for appointment as the chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission at the Senate Chamber.
Channels Television reports that the upper legislative chamber confirmed the nominees after screening them in a closed session that lasted for nearly an hour.
The Senate also confirmed the appointment of Saka Bolaji Suleiman and Prof. Gaji Dantata as members of the Federal Judicial Service Commission. Read more
Reps decline compelling JAMB, WAEC, NECO to make exams free (Punch)
The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, rejected a motion urging members to adopt at least one public school in their localities for the purpose of paying registration fees for students sitting the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination; the West African Senior School Certificate Examination; and the National Examination Council.
Trouble started when the member representing Etsako Federal Constituency, Edo State, Anamero Dekeri, moved a motion on the “Need to compel JAMB, WAEC, and NECO examination bodies to register students for free in the 2023-2024 examination exercise.”
Dekeri premised his motion on the need to assist poor parents in the face of the harsh economic realities in the country. Read more
Rivers CP handling case of UNIPORT student killed by boyfriend – Police (Guardian)
Spokesperson of the Nigerian Police Force Olumuyiwa Adejobi has said the Commissioner of Police in Rivers state is handling the death of an undergraduate of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) by her boyfriend.
Adejobi made this known while reacting to a post by an X user Gilead.
A man, simply identified as Collins, was arrested following the alleged murder of his girlfriend, Justina Nkang, a 300-level undergraduate at UNIPORT. Read more
Dame Joan Collins reveals why she scolded Harry Styles over incident at the Met Gala (Mirror)
Dame Joan Collins has brazenly called out Harry Styles over an alleged incident between them at the iconic Met Gala back in 2019.
The 90-year-old Hollywood actress and sex symbol has penned a new memoir, “Behind The Shoulder Pads: Tales I Tell My Friends”. And within the pages of the book, Dame Joan recalls how the former One Direction hunk, 29, left her fuming.
According to the London-born Dynasty icon, the As It Was hitmaker was dancing and singing along to iconic singer Cher, 77, who performed at the famous gala back in 2019, with the tattooed hunk blocking Dame Joan’s view of the stage. Read more
Sudan’s warring army, RSF paramilitary to resume negotiations in Jeddah (France24)
The Sudanese army on Wednesday accepted the invitation as “negotiations are one of the means that may end the conflict,” but said that it would not stop fighting.
The RSF also said it accepted the invitation, but on Wednesday published video of its second-in-command leading soldiers in Nyala, a major war zone.
Fighting broke out in mid-April over plans to integrate troops four years after the two forces ousted President Omar al-Bashir and 18 months after they led a coup to oust civilian partners. Read more
114 million people displaced by war, violence worldwide (AfricaNews)
More than 114 million people are currently forcibly displaced worldwide, a record number, the United Nations announced on Wednesday.
“The number of people displaced due to war, persecution, violence, and human rights violations worldwide probably exceeded 114 million at the end of September,” the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in a statement.
In the first half of 2023, population displacements were mainly caused by conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, Burma, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, but also by the continuing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and a combination of drought, flooding, and insecurity in Somalia. Read more
Bill Kenwright Dies: West End Theater and Movie Producer was 78 (Deadline)
Bill Kenwright, the British West End theater and movie producer, who also acted in Coronation Street, has died aged 78.
Everton Football Club, at which Kenwright was Chairman for two decades, shared the news on X, stating that he had “passed away peacefully last night aged 78, surrounded by his family and loved ones.” “The club has lost a chairman, a leader, a friend, and an inspiration,” the statement added.
Another statement from Kenwright’s Bill Kenwright Limited said it was “devastated to share the news,” describing him as a “beloved partner, father, grandfather and friend.” Read more
Jacob Elordi says he only knew about Elvis Presley from Lilo & Stitch before portraying him in ‘‘Priscilla’’ (THR)
Some may be surprised to learn that Jacob Elordi didn’t know much about Elvis Presley before portraying the legendary music figure in “Priscilla”.
While appearing on Monday’s episode of The Tonight Show, the Euphoria actor admitted to host Jimmy Fallon that “The most I knew of Elvis was in Lilo & Stitch. … Which is a lot.”
During the 2002 animated film, Lilo (Daveigh Chase), who is a big fan of Presley, slowly converts her adopted pet alien, Stitch (Chris Sanders), into a diehard fan of the King of Rock and Roll. The film’s soundtrack also features several of the musician’s hit songs, including “Burning Love,” “Suspicious Minds” and “Hound Dog.” Read more
SAG-AFTRA and studios to keep talking on Wednesday (Variety)
Negotiations on a new SAG-AFTRA contract are set to continue on Wednesday, as the studios aim to salvage the 2024 summer box office.
The union resumed bargaining on Tuesday for the first time in almost two weeks. The studios delivered a new offer on the most contentious issue — streaming residuals — that they hoped would break the deadlock that has led to a 103-day strike.
In a memo to members on Tuesday evening, SAG-AFTRA offered a brief update on the talks.
“Today, the CEOs came back to the table. We are scheduled to continue talks with them tomorrow,” the union stated. “We will continue to provide updates with you directly. Remember – don’t believe anything you read in the press unless it comes directly from us. Keep showing up on the picket lines and make your voices heard around the country.” Read more
The Hunger Games to be turned into London stage play in 2024 (StraitsTimes)
The Hunger Games is set to open at a London theatre in 2024 in the first live stage adaptation of American author Suzanne Collins’ novels and the hugely successful film franchise (2012 to present).
Irish playwright, screenwriter and director Conor McPherson has adapted for theatre the first book in Collins’ young adult dystopian trilogy and the first film from The Hunger Games movie franchise, which starred Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence as heroine Katniss Everdeen.
Matthew Dunster, playwright, director and former associate director at Shakespeare’s Globe theatre, will direct. Read more
Yusuf’s goal harmless as Zaidu’s Porto cruise behind Barcelona (ThisDay)
Nigerian international, Alhassan Yusuf, was on target as Belgium’s Royal Antwerp lost 1-4 to Zaidu Sanusi’s FC Porto. Zaidu was not in Porto’s line up as he is yet to recover from the muscle injury that has kept him on the sideline.
Midfielder Alhassan who was in the starting line for Antwerp due to the absence of injured Mandela Keita, fired the curtain raiser in the 37th minute.
However, that goal appeared to have jolted Porto back to life. On return from the first half break, Coach Sergio Conceicao’s lads pumped four goals into Antwerp’s net with Evanilson scoring hat trick. Read more
Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against Lesotho gets new date (Guardian)
A new date has been fixed for Nigeria’s Super Eagles 2026 FIFA World Cup match day one Group C qualifier against Lesotho.
In a post on the Super Eagles X handle on Wednesday, 25 October, the game against Lesotho was initially fixed for Friday, 17 November 2023.
On the same X handle, it was announced today that the game will now be played on Thursday, 16 November 2023.
The match day two fixture against Zimbabwe in Kigali, Rwanda, still remains Monday, 20 November. Read more
Lewis Hamilton team-mates ripped apart as Mercedes star is bluntly ruled out (Express)
Former Benetton team manager Joan Villadelprat has questioned the quality of Lewis Hamilton’s past Mercedes team-mates. The Spaniard believes that Max Verstappen’s dominance over fellow Red Bull star Sergio Perez is evidence of his superiority over the rest of the F1 field.
Hamilton won the world title six times in seven years between 2014 and 2020, with Mercedes setting the pace on the F1 grid. But rarely did he dominate one of his team-mates in the way Verstappen has done to Perez this season.
Villadelprat, who managed Benetton until 1999, does not put that down to Perez performing below expectations, but rather Verstappen being the best driver around right now. The 67-year-old even criticised a number of Hamilton’s past team-mates, including 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg, who he feels is ‘nothing special’. Read more
Aryna Sabalenka and Daniil Medvedev headline World Tennis League in Abu Dhabi (National)
Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Daniil Medvedev are among the star names set to feature at the World Tennis League in Abu Dhabi in December.
The tournament will see 16 of the world’s best men’s and women’s players competing at Yas Island’s Etihad Arena from December 21-24.
Confirmed for this year’s competition are women’s World No 1 Sabalenka, alongside world No 2 and four-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek plus the 2022 Wimbledon winner and world No 5 Elena Rybakina. Read more
Nikola Jokic grabs triple-double as Denver Nuggets beat LA Lakers in NBA season opener (StraitsTimes)
Nikola Jokic delivered a dominant triple-double performance, as the Denver Nuggets launched the defence of their National Basketball Association (NBA) championship crown with a season-opening 119-107 victory over LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.
The Serbian centre then warned that Denver “have the opportunity” to retain their title this term.
On a night which saw Nuggets players receive their championship rings as the team raised their first banner in franchise history, Denver tipped off the new season with a display which suggested they will once again be one of the teams to beat. Read more
Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou make grand arrivals in Riyadh ahead of blockbuster bout (National)
WBC heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion, made their grand arrivals in Riyadh on Tuesday evening ahead of their blockbuster fight this weekend.
Billed as “Battle of the Baddest”, Fury and Ngannou are set to face off in a highly lucrative crossover boxing bout in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Ahead of their showdown, both fighters posed for photos with their team and climbed onto the stage in front of fans and the media.
Fury, unbeaten in 34 professional fights, became a two-time heavyweight world champion in February 2020 when he defeated Deontay Wilder in a rematch after their thrilling first fight ended in a controversial draw. While the contest against Ngannou is an official 10-round professional bout, Fury’s WBC title will not be on the line. Read more
