4 drug lords jailed for 28 years, forfeit VGC houses in Lagos (Nation)
Four drug kingpins linked to the historic 2022 seizure of 2.1 tonnes of cocaine at a residential estate in Ikorodu, Lagos, have been convicted by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
Justice Yellim Bogoro sentenced the culprits to a total of 28 years imprisonment with hard labour.
The director of media and advocacy for the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. Read more
Foundation spreads love to Special Correctional Centre for Boys in Oregun (Vanguard)
In the spirit of the festive season, the Soledotun Abdulkarim-Yusuf Foundation, in collaboration with La Dots PartyCity, brought hope and joy to inmates at the Special Correctional Centre for Boys in Oregun, Lagos, through the “Hope and Joy Fest 2024.”
Speaking to journalists, the founder of the Soledotun Abdulkarim-Yusuf Foundation, Hajia Soledotun Abdulkarim-Yusuf said the Foundation is committed to empowering young boys. According to her, “Today is not just about celebrating Christmas; it is about rekindling hope and reminding these boys of the boundless potentials they possess.” Read more
Ibadan stampede: ‘‘Help free my daughter,” Naomi’s mother cries out (Tribune)
The mother of the former Queen of Ooni of Ife, Prophetess Naomi Silekunola, has appealed to Nigerians to help her after her daughter was remanded in Agodi prison, over the stampede that led to the death of 35 minors in Ibadan, the Oyo State, capital.
In a short video, the mother, in tears, pleaded and declared that her daughter is innocent of the charges against her.
She said, “Help me, have mercy on me, don’t let them destroy my life, my daughter has been doing this programme for over 10 years, it is to help children. Please, the world, help free Naomi, help free my daughter, she is very innocent.” Read more
Soldier stabs tricyclist to death in Jos (DailyTrust)
A soldier attached to 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Rukuba Barracks, Jos, has reportedly stabbed a tricycle rider, Abdullahi Muhammad, who was also a herder, to death.
The Chairman of Gan Allah Fulani Development Association (GAFDAN), Garba Abdullahi, told journalists in Jos that the soldier killed Muhammad, a 26-year-old, at Gebu-Bassa, close to a gate of the barracks
He condemned the killing and called on leadership of the division to ensure justice for the deceased.
The spokesman of the 3 division, LT Col Aliyu Danja, confirmed the incident. Read more
VP Shettima visits Maiduguri for Christmas, New Year break (VON)
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Maiduguri, Borno State, on a visit.
The Vice President is in his home state for the Christmas and New Year break.
He touched down at the Muhammad Buhari International Airport at 15:16 GMT.
Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum and some members of the Borno State Executive Council received the Vice President. Read more
Osun court debunks claims of death sentence for fowl theft (Leadership)
The Osun State High Court has dismissed viral reports of sentencing a young man to death for stealing a fowl.
The court clarified the facts of the case in a statement titled “Setting the Record Straight,” dated December 20 and signed by its Chief Registrar, Omisade F.I.
LEADERSHIP recalls that media reports claimed that one Olowookere Segun was sentenced to death for stealing a fowl, a narrative the court strongly refuted, tagging them as “mischievous and misleading.”
According to the statement, such claims were baseless and intended to malign the judiciary and its officials. Read more
Fire guts section of Plank market in Lagos (Channels)
Fire gutted a plank market at Pipeline Street in Ikotun area of Lagos State on Thursday, destroying a section of the market.
According to a statement released by the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, the inferno affected only four shops.
He said that the prompt response of the Agency’s Dolphin Response Team from Igando and efficient coordination of other responders at the incident scene, curtailed the spread of fire to adjoining buildings. Read more
Sokoto villagers accidentally killed as NAF bombs Lakurawa terrorists (Punch)
A Nigerian Air Force airstrike, intended to neutralise Lakurawa terrorists, marred Christmas celebrations in Sokoto State on Wednesday as it mistakenly hit two communities in Silame Local Government Area of the state, killing several residents, The PUNCH reports.
This is just as terrorists attacked a military base in Borno State with armed drones, injuring five members of the troops.
Eyewitnesses’ accounts said the accidental bombing in Sokoto claimed the lives of at least 10 villagers and left several others wounded. Read more
Jennifer Hudson plays Christmas music all year round (MusicNews)
Jennifer Hudson listens to Christmas music even when she’s at the beach in the summer.
The singer-actress unveiled her debut holiday album, titled The Gift of Love, in October, with the record featuring her take on classic tracks like Jingle Bells and Winter Wonderland.
Speaking to The New York Post about the project, Jennifer admitted that she plays her favourite festive tracks all year round.
“I remember bike riding, listening to Christmas music on the beach. And I was like, ‘We should probably listen to holiday music more than during the holidays because it kind of gives you this peace and relaxation,'” she recalled, adding that she started working on the album during a break from filming her self-titled daytime talk show. “It’s been a dream of mine my whole career. I’m a holiday fanatic… so it just makes sense.”
Pope urges “all people of all nations” to silence sound of arms in Christmas address (France24)
Pope Francis in his traditional Christmas message on Wednesday urged “all people of all nations” to find courage during this Holy Year “to silence the sounds of arms and overcome divisions” plaguing the world, from the Middle East to Ukraine, Africa to Asia.
The pontiff’s “Urbi et Orbi” – “To the City and the World” – address serves as a summary of the woes facing the world this year. As Christmas coincided with the start of the 2025 Holy Year celebration that he dedicated to hope, Francis called for broad reconciliation, “even (with) our enemies.”
“I invite every individual, and all people of all nations … to become pilgrims of hope, to silence the sounds of arms and overcome divisions,” the pope said from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica to throngs of people below. Read more
Irish comedy-drama “Four Mothers” coming to cinemas in 2025 (RTE)
“Four Mothers”, the new film from A Date for Mad Mary director Darren Thornton, will open in cinemas on Friday 4 April – watch a clip above.
The film received its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival in October where it won the festival’s Audience Award for Best Feature.
Written by brothers Colin Thornton and Darren Thornton, Four Mothers “tells the story of Edward (James McArdle), a novelist saddled with caring for his elderly mother (Fionnula Flanagan) who finally finds himself on the brink of literary success”. Read more
New series of The Traitors ‘‘takes my breath away’’, presenter Claudia Winkleman says (IrishIndependent)
The Traitors presenter Claudia Winkleman has said there is “something” in the new series that “takes my breath away”.
The third series, airing from New Year’s Day, will see a new group of strangers play a game of strategy, suspicion, and backstabbing in a bid to win a cash prize of up to £120,000.
Earlier this year, millions tuned in to watch “traitor” Harry Clark outwit his fellow contestants to win £95,000 in the dramatic finale of the second series. Read more
Teen actor Hudson Meek, who appeared in Baby Driver, dies after falling from moving vehicle (CNN)
Hudson Meek, the 16-year-old actor who appeared in Baby Driver, died last week after falling from a moving vehicle in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, according to CNN affiliate WVTM.
The teen sustained blunt force trauma in the fall on December 19 and was admitted to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital, where he died from his injuries on December 21, the Jefferson County Coroner’s office told CNN affiliate WVTM.
“His 16 years on this earth were far too short, but he accomplished so much and significantly impacted everyone he met,” reads a post on his Instagram account. Read more
Kremlin warns against speculation that Russia shot down Azerbaijan Airlines flight (NBC)
The Kremlin on Thursday warned against speculating what may have caused an Azerbaijan Airlines flight to crash, killing 38 of the 67 on board, after an aviation expert said evidence indicated that a Russian anti-missile battery may have brought down the passenger plane.
The Embraer 190 crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau while en route from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to Grozny in Chechnya in Russia on Wednesday. The flight attempted to make an emergency landing about 1.8 miles from Aktau, according to Azerbaijan Airlines, but instead hit the ground, erupted into a fiery ball and split into two.
President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the investigation into the cause of the crash was underway. Read more
Prayers and tears mark 20 years since the Indian Ocean tsunami that killed some 230,000 people (AfricaNews)
People gathered in prayer and visited mass graves in Indonesia’s Aceh province on Thursday to mark 20 years since the massive Indian Ocean tsunami hit the region in one of modern history’s worst natural disasters.
Many wept as they placed flowers at a mass grave in Ulee Lheue village, where more than 14,000 unidentified tsunami victims are buried. It is one of several mass graves in Banda Aceh, the capital of Indonesia’s northernmost province, which was one of the areas worst hit by a magnitude 9.1 earthquake and the massive tsunami it triggered.
“We miss them and we still don’t know where they are. All we know is that every year we visit the mass grave in Ulee Lhue and Siron,” said Muhamad Amirudin, who lost two of his children 20 years ago and has never found their bodies. Read more
Home Eagles will qualify for CHAN 2024– Eguavoen (CompleteSports)
Super Eagles caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen is upbeat the team will earn a berth at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The Eagles will face the Back Galaxies in the second leg of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier on Saturday.
Both teams battled to a 0-0 draw in the first leg in Accra last weekend. Read more
NPFL: We’ll review players’ salary in 2025/2026 season – Elegbeleye (Leadership)
Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye, has declared that the minimum salary a club should pay players will be reviewed after the 2024/2025 campaign.
Elegbeleye disclosed this during a roundtable discourse with newsmen in Akure on Tuesday, saying the league would only attract investors through transparency, credibility and professional refereeing.
“From the beginning of next season we are going to do an upward review of players salaries,” he said.
According to the former Director General of National Sports Commission (NSC), the league management would continue its zero tolerance for hooliganism and any kind of violence at match venues. Read more
Sporting sack Ruben Amorim’s successor after just eight games (Independent)
Sporting CP have sacked Ruben Amorim’s successor Joao Pereira after only eight games and the Portuguese champions have brought in Rui Borges from Vitoria Guimaraes as Pereira’s replacement.
Pereira was promoted from his role with the B team to take charge of the senior squad when Amorim departed for Manchester United in November.
At that stage Sporting were six points clear at the top of the Primeira Liga, having won 11 times in as many games, and second in the Champions League with 10 points from four outings, including a 4-1 thrashing of Manchester City. Read more
Slot reveals the reason for Chiesa’s latest Liverpool absence (DailyMail)
Arne Slot revealed why Federico Chiesa did not feature in his matchday squad as Liverpool thrashed Spurs in a nine-goal thriller on Sunday.
In the Dutchman’s first transfer window in charge at Anfield, Chiesa became the only major arrival of the summer as he joined from Juventus in a deal worth an initial £10 million at the end of August.
Despite the lack of new arrivals, Slot has immediately set about molding the team he inherited to his style of play and has enjoyed immediate success. Read more
Injured Halep withdraws from Australian Open (BBC)
Simona Halep has withdrawn from Australian Open qualifying and will delay the start of her 2025 season after feeling pain in her knee and shoulder.
The former world number one, 33, received a wildcard from tournament organisers last week but said she felt discomfort after playing at the World Tennis League exhibition event in Abu Dhabi.
Halep was given a four-year doping ban that was reduced to nine months this year, and always maintained her innocence after being charged with two separate doping offences. Read more
Floyd Mayweather splashes out £15.7m on Christmas present to himself after splurging £315m (Express)
Boxing icon Floyd Mayweather spent his Christmas adding to his lucrative real estate portfolio with a lavish £15.7million purchase. The 47-year-old’s new property is located on Sixth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan and reportedly stretches almost a quarter of a block.
Mayweather began his real estate spree in October, buying 60 properties to the tune of £315m. His interest in his latest buy was the result of his spending in stores along the same block.The building, positioned on the south-east corner of the intersection at 47th Street, consists of offices, a few jewellery shops, and a large billboard. It is an attractive part of New York City, situated a few minutes east of Broadway and three blocks south of Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center. Read more