2 suspects arrested as police search for businessman behind drugs smuggling in Lagos (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Police Command has heightened efforts to track down a businessman responsible for smuggling expired drugs into the state.
According to findings, the drugs have been reported as expired since 2016.
The state police command has arrested two individuals caught transporting outdated drugs to Alaba International Market for repackaging and expiry date manipulation. Read more
You need help, Atiku blasts Tinubu over economic crisis (DailyTrust)
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has tackled President Bola Tinubu over his “renewed hope” economic plans.
Atiku, who was the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2023 presidential election, noted that the economic policies of Tinubu had dashed the hope of the citizens.
He also said the policies were shrinking small businesses and causing multinational companies to exit the country in droves. Read more
No win for Burna Boy, Davido, Tems, others at 66th Grammy Awards (Channels)
It was a disappointing outing for Nigerian Afrobeats stars at the 66th Grammy Awards as Burna Boy, Davido, Tems, Ayra Starr, Olamide and Asake failed to win from 10 nominations across five categories.
The Nigerian contingent lost the inaugural ‘Best African Music Performance’ trophy to South-African singer Tyla who earned the prize with her 2023 track, “Water”.
All the categories the Afrobeats stars contended in were announced at the Grammy Premiere ceremony where dozens of prizes are handed out before the main live telecast show.
2021 Best Global Album winner Burna Boy and compatriot Davido lost the category this year to Shakti. The world fusion band won with the album, “This Moment”, besting Burna Boy’s “I Told Them”, Davido’s “Timeless” albums, and others. Read more
Pomp as Kosofe LG boss turns 40 (Nation)
Encomiums poured in for the Executive Chairman of Kosofe Local Government Hon Barr Moyosore Ogunlewe, as political associates, friends, staff and members of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) felicitated with him on the occasion of his 40 birthday anniversary recently.
As all roads led to his Ogudu GRA residence, the celebrator hosted all invited guests who had come to wish him goodwill.
Among the A-list of dignitaries include his Vice Chairman, Hon. Oluwole Sosanya, Hon Kafilat Ogbara, the lawmaker representing Kosofe Federal Constituency, Hon. Sanni Ganiu Okanlawon, Kosofe State Constituency 1, and a host of others. Read more
1 dies, 4 hospitalised in another Ibadan fire outbreak (Punch)
A 30-year-old welder, simply identified as Alabi Quadri, has reportedly died, while four others were hospitalised as a result of varying degrees of injury sustained during a fire incident in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Saturday.
An eyewitness told The PUNCH correspondent that Quadri died early hours of Sunday at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, where he was rushed.
Investigation further revealed that four others sustained serious injuries and they were currently at UCH; Oyo Mesi Specialist Hospital, Orogun; and Hamdalat Hospital, Ojoo, all within the Ibadan metropolis. Read more
How police, hunters, Amotekun rescued 5 pupils, teachers, driver kidnapped in Ekiti (Sun)
A combined security team made up of the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service, NHFSS and Amotekun operatives, yesterday, raided the hideout of suspected herdsmen, who last week abducted pupils of a primary school, their headmistress and driver in Ekiti State.
Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi, announced the rescue of the five pupils, their teachers and driver kidnapped last week Monday morning.
Prince Adejobi said via his X handle, @Princemoye1: “Ekiti: We wish to inform the general public that the five school children, including their teachers, who were kidnapped on January 29, 2024, in Emure-Ekiti, have been rescued unhurt, today February 4, 2024. Read more
Former Gov of Yobe, Abba Ibrahim dies at 75 (Tribune)
The former governor of Yobe State, Abba Ibrahim, is dead. He died in a far-away Saudi-German hospital in Arabia after a protracted illness that kept him away from the public.
A family source who spoke under anonymity posited that he died today (Sunday) at a hospital in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
He had since been buried today, according to Islamic injunctions.
Born in 1949, Bukar Abba Ibrahim was the governor of Yobe State from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007. Read more
Power grid restored as TCN blames collapse on gas shortage (Leadership)
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has attributed the power grid collapse to gas constraints at Ibom Power Plant, feeding Eket, Ekim, Itu and Uyo transmission substations in Akwa Ibom State.
TCN general manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, in a statement on Sunday night, said during the period of partial disturbance, total generation on the grid was 3,901.25 Megawatt (MW) at 08:00Hours, a little over three hours before time of partial collapse on Sunday.
While stating that it has restored the affected part of the grid, she said the low power generation persisted in the country since January 2024, to date, exacerbating daily generation to the lingering gas constraint. Read more
Grammy Awards: Miley Cyrus, Karol G collect wins (UPI)
The 66th annual Grammy Awards are underway in Los Angeles, with early winners including Miley Cyrus, SZA and Kylie Minogue.
The show opened Sunday on CBS and Paramount+ with Dua Lipa performing her single “Training Season.”
Mariah Carey presented the award for Best Pop Solo Performance to Miley Cyrus for “Flowers.”
The category was followed by Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs performing “Fast Car.” The song, originally written and recorded by Chapman, earned Combs a nomination this year for Best Country Solo Performance. Read more
Rapper Killer Mike handcuffed and questioned by Police at 2024 Grammys for involvement in ‘‘physical altercation’’ (People)
Killer Mike was escorted out of the 2024 Grammys in handcuffs on Sunday, hours after winning three awards in the pre-show telecast.
The Atlanta rapper, 48, was seen being detained by authorities in a video captured by The Hollywood Reporter writer Chris Gardner and shared on Twitter (now known as X). As Killer Mike was walking out of the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, an onlooker could be heard in the video saying “Free Mike.”
It is unclear if Killer Mike, whose real name is Michael Render, has been booked or charged. TMZ reported that the incident occurred after an “alleged physical confrontation. Gardner reported that a police official said the music maker may be “released later from the arena.” Read more
Woman killed in horror M25 crash that shut motorway down (Metro)
A woman died in a crash on the M25 involving four vehicles after a police chase early this morning.
The ‘serious road traffic collision’ happened at around 4am this morning, and shut down part of the road for hours today.
The incident is referred to the police watchdog, and police said they had stopped pursuing the vehicle just moments before the horror collision. Read more
Trevor Noah recalls confidence boost from Jay-Z at Grammys for ‘doing a good job’ (HipHopDx)
Trevor Noah has been preparing to host the Grammys again, and he revealed how JAY-Z hyped him up for his first hosting go-around of the popular awards show.
Talking to Variety ahead of the show on Wednesday (January 31), the former Daily Show host revealed that it was Hov’s seemingly offhanded compliment towards his hosting abilities during the pandemic that primed him for the show on Sunday (February 4).
“At the first Grammys I did, during Covid, Jay-Z walked past and was like, “Hey, man, you’ve been doing a good job,” he shared. “I remember being like, “Damn, Jay-Z just told me I’m doing a good job!” Those moments really, really stand out because of how special and unique they were.” Read more
Police and protesters clash after Senegal election postponed (AlJazeera)
Police in Senegal cracked down on protests in the capital Dakar and at least one senior opposition figure was arrested a day after President Macky Sall announced the indefinite postponement of the presidential election scheduled for February 25.
The European Union on Sunday said the postponement opens a “period of uncertainty”, and the United States called for a swift new date for free polls.
In a televised address to the nation, Sall announced on Saturday that he had cancelled the relevant electoral law, citing a dispute over the candidate list. Read more
At least 99 people dead as wildfires rage in Chile, with fears toll could rise further (CNN)
At least 99 people have been killed in Chile as forest fires rage throughout the country, CNN Chile reported Sunday afternoon, citing the government’s Legal Medical Service (SML), with authorities warning the death toll is likely to rise.
A state of emergency has been declared as coastal cities like Viña del Mar and Valparaiso are choked in smoke and people living in central regions are forced to leave their homes.
There are 161 active fires across the country, according to Álvaro Hormazábal, director of the National Disaster Prevention and Response Service. Speaking on CNN Chile, Hormazábal said that firefighters have controlled 102 of those fires and are currently battling 40, while 19 are under observation. Read more
‘I called the police for help – they ended up arresting me and punching me in the head’ (Mirror)
Rasike Attanayake, a teetotal Buddhist father-of-two, reported an incident of criminal damage just for PC Jonathan Marsh to wrongly arrest him and punch him in the back of head
A dad-of-two – who is also a teetotal Buddhist – called the police after a man started smashing up his neighbour’s property, only for officers to wrongly arrest and assault him.
Rasike Attanayake, an audiologist who provides services to the NHS, has lived in Romford for more than 15 years and become a part of the local community in that time, playing in the local chess team and cricket club as well as helping out at a children’s organisation. Read more
AFCON 2023: Musa says Super Eagles can achieve anything they set their minds to (Guardian)
The Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, says he and his teammates can achieve anything that they set their minds to at the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.
Musa has equally thanked Nigerian football fans and lovers for their amazing support, which has helped the Super Eagles reach the semi-finals of the 2023 AFCON after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Angola in Abidjan on Friday.
Atalanta BC of Italy attacker Ademola Lookman broke the deadlock for the Super Eagles in the 41st minute at the end of a devastating break. Read more
AFCON: Oliseh, Babangida optimistic of Nigeria’s chances against South Africa (Channels)
Super Eagles legends Sunday Oliseh and Tijani Babangida believe Nigeria have all it takes to see off rivals South Africa in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final tie.
South Africa had late Saturday squeezed through the quarter-final after a penalty shootout win against Cape Verde to set up a mouthwatering tie with Nigeria.
Ahead of the Wednesday semi-final showdown, Babangida and Oliseh, who played in Nigeria’s victory against the Bafana Bafana at the same stage 20 years ago, have backed the Super Eagles to reach the final of the continental competition. Read more
Lawson details desire to get into F1 machinery in 2024 (RN365)
Liam Lawson is keen to get back behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car at some point in 2024, as he prepares for a year on the sidelines.
Lawson made his F1 debut in the Dutch Grand Prix in 2023, standing in for five races after Daniel Ricciardo broke his hand in a practice crash, returning to the United States.
The Kiwi earned plaudits for his efforts, including a ninth-place finish in Singapore where he banked two points, and also knocked World Champion Max Verstappen out of qualifying in Q2. Read more
Mahomes Sr. arrested on DWI charge 8 days before Super Bowl 2024 (NYPost)
Patrick Mahomes Sr., the dad of superstar Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and a former Mets pitcher, was arrested Saturday in Tyler, Texas, on a charge of DWI for the third time or more, according to jail records.
Mahomes Sr., who had been in attendance for his son’s playoff games this year, was arrested eight days before the younger Mahomes is set to play in Super Bowl 2024 against the 49ers in Las Vegas on Feb. 11.
In 2018, Mahomes Sr. received his second DWI charge and he served 40 days in jail on weekends in 2019 and 2020. Read more
Paris Grand Slam: Great Britain’s Chelsie Giles wins silver and Lucy Renshall bronze (BBC)
Great Britain’s Chelsie Giles won silver in judo’s Paris Grand Slam while team-mate Lucy Renshall took bronze.
Giles, 27, was beaten by Kosovo’s reigning Olympic champion Distria Krasniqi in the final of the women’s -52kg event.
Renshall, 28, beat the Netherlands’ two-time junior champion Joanne van Lieshout in the bronze medal match of the -63kg category. Read more
Piers Morgan names Arsenal’s best and worst players vs Liverpool (HitC)
Piers Morgan has given his verdict on the performance of Arsenal duo Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.
The Arsenal fan and TV personality was not impressed with one particular decision from manager Mikel Arteta.
So, what has Piers Morgan said about Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz? Let’s take a look. Read more