20-year-old apprentice kills master, dumps corpse in well (Punch)
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 20-year-old apprentice, Josiah Godwin, for allegedly hacking his master, Saviour Joseph, to death at Imafon community, in the Akure South Local Government Area of the state.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the suspect, after killing the deceased, dumped his corpse in a well at a site where they were working.
A source said trouble started when the deceased, an asbestos operator, smashed the phone of the suspect on the floor over a dispute and the suspect attacked the deceased in retaliation. Read more
Controversial TikToker, Murja Kunya, sent to prison (DailyTrust)
A Kano State Sharia court sitting in Filin Hoki, Kano, has remanded a popular Tiktoker, Murja Ibrahim Kunya, at a correctional facility for allegedly committing offenses contrary to Islamic teachings and threatening people on Tiktok.
Murja appeared before the court presided over by Abdullahi Halliru over two count charges bordering on threatening to attack some people and releasing inciting videos that goes contrary to the norms and teachings of Islam, and may lead others wrong.
Recall that the Tiktoker was arrested by the police as a result of complaints filed by the Council of Ulama.
However, when she was arraigned before the court, she pleaded not guilty to the charges that were against her.
The judge adjourned the case to February 16th, 2023, for continuation of hearing, and ordered the remand of the convict in a correctional facility. Read more
Sex Tape: Court awards N5m against ‘classless’ Oxlade (Punch)
Justice O. A. Oresanya of a Lagos State High Court has awarded N5m damages against a singer, Ikuforijimi Abdulrahman, aka Oxlade, over a leaked explicit sex tape with a woman on a social media app, Snapchat.
A sex tape of the singer went viral online on February 9, 2022, as the artiste later apologised to his fans.
While delivering judgement on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, the judge described the action of the singer in secretly recording the explicit sex and leaking the tape online as “despicable, horrendous, distasteful and classless.”
The claimant in the suit, Blessing, had on March 15, 2022, filed a suit before the court demanding N20m damages and a declaration that the respondent’s (Oxlade) act of recording their sexual acts without her knowledge and consent amounted to contravention of enabling laws and a gross violation of her fundamental rights to dignity, privacy and freedom from discrimination guaranteed under sections 34 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Articles 5 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement), Act, Cap. A9, LFN, 2004. Read more
Kanu is fine, getting good treatment, DSS source reveals (Nation)
The detained leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, is getting good treatment in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), a trusted source in the service has said.
The media has been awash in recent times with allegations by his lawyer that Kanu was being denied access to his doctors, not well fed and treated poorly, leading to the deterioration of his health. There were also reports that he was being poisoned in detention.
But the source said the reports were false and aimed to tarnish the image of the service, which always complies with standard operating procedures in the discharge of its duties. Read more
Vandi asked me to replace his bullet – Inspector (Punch)
A policeman, Inspector Sunday Akagu, on Thursday, told a Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos Island, how Assistant Superintendent of Police Drambi Vandi, the suspected killer of a Lagos-based lawyer, Omobolanle Raheem, asked him for a bullet to replace his after shooting the woman on Christmas Day.
Vandi is standing trial on one count of murder, preferred against him by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN.
He was arraigned on January 16, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the charge. Read more
Rísé.ng, Surulere LGA partner to empower 1k artisans, vendors (ThisDay)
Surulere Local Government and Rísé.ng have partnered to empower over one thousand artisans and vendors in Lagos by funding their registration on Rísé.ng online business platform to ensure easy access to customers and accessibility.
Artisans and vendors across the local government area and environs were allowed to enlist their trades and crafts on Rísé.ng, an innovative online marketplace platform that connects artisans and vendors to clients and customers with ease today at the Surulere Local Government Area.
Rísé is a word of Yoruba origin that means “Find Work was launched in 2022 and findings show that the platform has become a platform Nigerians are appreciating for quality artisans and vendors. Read more
2023 Presidency: 22 days to go, PDP accuses Wike of working for Tinubu (Leadership)
The long running infighting in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took another turn yesterday after the party accused the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, of directing his political appointees, local government chairmen and PDP ward leaders to work for the presidential candidate of the rival All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu in the coming general election.
This is as it said it was “appalling and highly preposterous” for Wike to assume that the PDP and APC could jointly hold an event at the same venue.
The party spoke yesterday in a letter addressed to the governor, in response to a letter addressed to the director-general of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, revoking the approval given to the party to use Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium for its campaign rally. Read more
We’ll solve nation’s security challenges in first 6 months ― Abiola, PRP presidential candidate (Tribune)
Presidential candidate of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Mr Kola Abiola has said his priority in the first six months if he emerges president, will be addressing security challenges in the country.
Abiola gave this commitment while addressing supporters at the Southern zonal rally of the party held at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, on Thursday.
He noted that the nation faced security challenges because the security architecture was not being implemented as contained in the nation’s constitution. Read more
Demi Lovato, Sabrina Carpenter and Jimmie Allen honour songwriters at Grammy Week Showcase (uDiscoverMusic)
Demi Lovato, Sabrina Carpenter, and Jimmie Allen each performed intimate sets while celebrating their fellow songwriters at the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) and Billboard Grammy Week Showcase, held at Nightingale Plaza in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 1.
According to Billboard’s report of the event, “Lovato and Carpenter used the showcase to highlight the work of some of their closest collaborators, with Lovato capping off the evening by performing a pair of Holy Fvck songs–‘Feed’ and ‘4 Ever 4 Me’–that Laura Veltz, a key contributor to the album, helped create. Veltz, also a veteran pop and country songwriter, smiled from the front row as Lovato delivered both vocal showcases.”
Regarding Carpenter’s performance, the outlet shared, “Meanwhile, Carpenter highlighted longtime studio powerhouse Amy Allen, who joined the pop star onstage for a charming duet of their shared song, ‘Vicious,’ from last year’s emails i can’t send. Carpenter then performed an acoustic version of ‘Nonsense,’ her current fast-rising Billboard Hot 100 hit.” Read more
Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour is Ticketmaster’s next big test (NPR) News of Beyoncé’s first solo tour in more than six years has her many fans celebrating — and stressing out about whether they’ll actually be able to get tickets.
The singer announced on Wednesday that she will bring her Grammy-nominated album Renaissance to cities across Europe and North America between May and September, opening in Stockholm and ending in New Orleans.
Fans have been eagerly awaiting her return to venues since Renaissance dropped last summer, if not earlier. Read more
Dances With Wolves actor denied bail on charges of sex abuse (Wrap)
Dances With Wolves actor Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse, also known as Nathan Chasing Horse, was ordered held without bail until his next hearing by a Nevada judge Thursday.
The former actor, age 46, has been accused of sex trafficking, sexual assault against a child younger than 16 and child abuse while allegedly leading a cult. He was arrested on Tuesday afternoon near the North Las Vegas home which he shares with his five wives.
Best known for his role as Sioux tribe member Smiles a Lot in Kevin Costner’s Oscar-winning blockbuster Dances with Wolves, Chasing Horse was born on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. He followed up that role with parts in The Broken Chain, Into the West and Dreamkeeper. Read more
Matthew McConaughey reveals a fortune teller told him to star in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (People)
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days may have ended up with a different leading man — had Matthew McConaughey not had a chance encounter one night.
The 2003 film’s star, 53, told Vanity Fair in an interview published Thursday that he had initially been on the fence about taking the role of ad exec Benjamin Barry. However, an unlikely source convinced him to say yes.
“I remember considering whether I was going to do it or not one night while on a walk down Sunset Boulevard,” McConaughey said. “Suddenly, this guy comes up out of nowhere to me — he was a fortune teller guru [and] goes, ‘Can I tell you your fortune real quick?’ Read more
Quavo to perform gospel tribute to Takeoff at 2023 Grammy Awards (Vibe)
Quavo is set to take the stage during the 65th annual Grammy Awards in honor of Takeoff. The performance is part of the In Memoriam segment paying tribute to those from the creative community who have died within the past year.
“The Only Built For Infinity Links” rapper will be accompanied by the gospel music group Maverick City Music to perform “Without You” as they remember the life and legacy of Takeoff. Both Quavo and Offset, who formed the Migos trio with Takeoff, have shared public tributes mourning their bandmate following his death.
Takeoff, née Kirsnik Khari Ball was shot and killed in Houston on Nov. 1, 2022. In December 2022, Patrick Xavier Clark, 33, was arrested as a suspect in the murder. Another man, 22-year-old Cameron Joshua, was reportedly also at the scene of the crime and arrested the prior month for unlawful possession of a weapon. Read more
Stonebwoy releases brand new single ‘‘More of You’’ (MyJoy)
Kicking off the new year with a banger, Ghanaian Afropop, dancehall and reggae artist Stonebwoy releases new single “More Of You.”
The track was produced by GRAMMY-nominated American/Jamaican producer Supa Dups and is the third single since Stonebwoy’s historic global signing with Universal Music Group (UMG) label divisions, Def Jam Recordings in the U.S., 0207 Def Jam in the UK and Def Jam Africa in early 2022.
A feel-good, sexy love song, “More of You” lyrical tenderness comes with a message of longing and desire. Read more
Chinese spy balloon tracked over northern US-Pentagon (NYPost)
The US has been tracking a Chinese spy balloon that has been floating over the northern part of the country for days, Pentagon officials announced Thursday.
A top Pentagon official said the US intelligence community has “very high confidence” that the balloon belongs to the People’s Republic of China and has been flying over sensitive sites to collect information for the past two days.
The official, speaking anonymously, said that one of the locations the balloon has been spotted was over Montana — home to one of the US’ three nuclear missile silo fields at Malmstrom Air Force Base. Read more
Top boxing promoter keen to have fight between MMA star Ngannou and Joshua (Guardian)
Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed his interest in organizing a bout between former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou and Anthony Joshua.
Ngannou recently became a free agent in the world of combat sports after failing to renew his contract with the UFC and is expected to transition to boxing.
The 36-year-old is already being linked to several big names in the boxing world, including WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, and Hearn is looking to secure a match with Joshua. Read more
Osimhen, Lookman battle for Serie A award (Sun)
Super Eagles forwards, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman have been nominated for January’s Serie A player of the month award.
The two Nigerian attackers delivered several spectacular performances in the colors of their respective clubs.
Osimhen scored five goals and supplied an assist in five league matches played in January. Read more
Paul Pogba future already in doubt with Juventus “furious” at ex-Man Utd star (Mirror)
Juventus are reportedly considering selling or releasing Paul Pogba in the summer – as the France international’s injury woes continue.
Pogba, 29, has not played for Juventus since re-joining the Italian giants from Manchester United on a free transfer last summer. The central midfielder suffered a knee injury during pre-season and failed to recover in time for the recent World Cup in Qatar.
Pogba was on the bench for Juventus’ shock 2-0 home loss to Monza last Sunday but did not feature. Manager Massimiliano Allegri has since confirmed that the player has picked up another knock and it is unclear when he will finally make his second debut. Read more
“Extraordinary” milestone marks Barca charge as Sevilla visit (RFI)
Barcelona welcome Sevilla to Camp Nou on Sunday high on confidence and leading La Liga with the milestone of 50 points at the halfway stage of the season.
Only two sides have reached 100 points in the Spanish league’s history, Real Madrid in the 2011-12 season and Barcelona the following year.
It is the fifth time Barcelona have earned that many points at this point of a campaign and four times they went on to lift the title. Read more
Sixers’ James Harden left out of 2023 NBA All-Star Game (SI)
The third-seeded Philadelphia 76ers will only have one player in the 2023 NBA All-Star game. After the team was represented by Joel Embiid and James Harden at last year’s All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, only Embiid will make the trip this time around.
Last week, the NBA announced the starters for the big game. While Harden wasn’t expected to crack a spot in the starting lineup this season, many were shocked to see Embiid lose out a spot as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, and Jayson Tatum were named starters from the Eastern Conference.
However, Embiid’s spot in the game as a reserve was expected. While Harden was in the conversation as well, he was left out of the Eastern Conference’s reserve pool on Thursday. Read more
Tennis star Kyrgios to contest Australian assault charge (ABC)
Tennis star Nick Kyrgios was due to appear in an Australian court Friday to apply to have an assault charge stemming from events two years ago dismissed on mental health grounds.
His lawyer Michael Kukulies-Smith appeared in a court in Kyrgios’ hometown of Canberra in October and asked for an adjournment so forensic mental health reports could be prepared.
Magistrate Glenn Theakston adjourned the case until Friday, when lawyers for the 27-year-old Australian are expected to apply to have the charge dismissed under a section of the local crimes law. Read more
