4 injured in attack on Peter Obi’s supporters – Police (Punch)
No fewer than four persons were injured in an attack on supporters of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, on Saturday in Lagos, the police have said.
According to the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, investigations into the attack had commenced.
Hundeyin, who confirmed that four persons were injured, said the attack was regrettable, adding that witnesses were already helping the police with relevant information.
“The Jakande Ward Chairman of the Labour Party commendably reported an attack on his party members at Ilasan Division. Four injured persons have been given medical attention. The Divisional Police Officer, Ilasan, has commenced preliminary investigations while the State Criminal Investigation Department is to fully take over investigations. Read more
2023 UTME: We’re not extending registration period, says JAMB (Vanguard)
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has said there would be no extension of registration period in the ongoing 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.
This came as it revealed that so far,over 1.16 million candidates have so far successfully registered to participate in the examination.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede,said these on Saturday, during a monitoring tour of some Computer Based Test,CBT centres in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Oloyede, during the tour, visited CBT centre located at Total Child International School, Dutse, JAMB Abuja zonal office, Life Camp, Global Distance Learning Institute and Sascon International College, Abuja, in that order. Read more
Nigeria decides: February, March dates sacrosanct, INEC declares (Sun)
Barely a fortnight to the conduct of presidential/National Assembly election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has declared, as sacrosanct, February 25 and by extension March 11 for governorship/State Assembly poll dates.
Commission’s Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, gave the assurance after inspecting the training of Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs) going on in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and across the country on Saturday.
Yakubu, while declaring the readiness of the commission to conduct a free, fair, credible and transparent elections, explained that for the fact that the commission is almost concluding the training of various cadres of ad-hoc staff bear eloquent testimony that it is very much ready. Read more
Lagos Guber: Candidates reject MC Oluomo distributing electoral materials (Vanguard)
The governorship candidates of opposition political parties in Lagos State, have kicked against the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to engage the services of the Parks Management Committee, PMC, led by Musiliu Akinsanya otherwise known as MC Oluomo, for the distribution of electoral materials during the forthcoming general elections.
The candidates also rejected the claims by the INEC that the Oluomo’s PMC was the only available option for election logistics including the movement of personnel, stressing that the park managers are members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Their concerns came on the heels of a statement credited to the Lagos Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Olusegun Agbaje, that the INEC was not concerned about the person MC Oluomo but about individual drivers and vehicle owners, to meet up with the high volume of logistics needs for the elections. Read more
Truck accidents: LASG mulls enforcement of logistic routes for articulated vehicles (Nation)
The Lagos State Government may have to enforce the logistics route option as contained in the State’s Transportation master plan for trucks and articulated vehicles, the Commissioner for Transportation Dr. Frederic Oladeinde said yesterday.
He spoke at a stakeholders meeting held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, with drivers, owners, and logistics operators in the state, on the heels of recurrent truck accidents in the state leading to avoidable fatalities.
Oladeinde who reiterated that the protection of lives and property is the key responsibility of the government said the government may be left with no choice but to resort to the state’s transport master plan to check the worrisome incidents. Read more
Supreme Court lambasts critics of recent judgements (Punch)
The Supreme Court on Saturday came hard on some Nigerians who had been “venting convoluted anger”, following its recent pronouncements, which affirmed a former Governor of the Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, and Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, senatorial candidates of the All Progressives Congress in the February 25 elections.
The Apex Court warned purveyors of such attacks on the judiciary and Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, especially the United States-based Professor, Farooq Kperogi and Progressive Minds Forum, to desist and channel such energies to political parties which “fail to organise themselves well.”
The Director of Press And Information in the Supreme Court, Dr Festus Akande, issued the warning in a statement titled, “Be mindful of unwarranted attacks on judicial officers.” Read more
Osun Tribunal: Oyetola, APC challenge Adeleke’s forgery in cross-appeal (Sun)
Former governor of Osun state, Adegboyega Oyetola, and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), have appealed to the appellate court to use the certificate forgery established against Governor Ademola Adeleke by the tribunal and declared him incompetent to contest the July 16 governorship election in the state.
Oyetola and APC had approached the tribunal to challenge the declaration of Adeleke as the winner of the election, positing that there was overvoting and Adeleke was not qualified for the election.
The tribunal agreed that Oyetola and APC were able to prove a case of forgery against Adeleke but held that it was not enough to make him ineligible since he had acquired additional qualifications. Read more
How palace guard lured lady seeking Zazzau Emir’s support into adultery – Witness (DailyTrust)
A prosecution witness, Inspector Abdullahi Mikail, has narrated before the Chief Magistrates’ Court, GRA Zaria, Kaduna State, how a dismissed Zazzau palace guard allegedly lured a lady seeking support from Zazzau Emir into alleged adultery.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that five men, including a dismissed palace guard, appeared before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Zaria, Kaduna State, over alleged adultery and criminal conspiracy on Jan. 11.
The offences contravened Sections 59 and 368 of the Kaduna State Penal Code, 2017. Read more
Lizzo and SZA team up for “Special” remix (AmericanSongwriter)
Pop stars Lizzo and SZA have teamed up to say, In case nobody told you today / You’re special.
The two recently came together to remix Lizzo’s smash hit, “Special,” the title track from her Grammy-nominated album. The remix marks the first time the pair of powerhouse vocalists have collaborated and the result is well … special.
The re-imagining houses the same uplifting message just with an added opening verse à la SZA. Woke up this morning to somebody judging me / No surprise they judging me, don’t know who I’m ‘posed to be / I’m just acting up, I’m pressed as fuck and never saying sorry / Found it in the end, I can only do it for me, sings the R&B star behind the latest chart-shattering success, S.O.S. You call sensitive and I call it superpower / You just like empathy ’cause you think it gives you power / All I know is only God can judge me / I don’t hide my heart, I wear it on me. Read more
Why John Legend thinks now is the right time to step back from NBC’s The Voice (CinemaBlend)
The Voice has gone through some pretty big changes over the past couple of years. After taking the spring season off for the first time since its 2010 debut, Season 22 premiered in 2022 without eight-time coach Kelly Clarkson. While she’s set to return for Season 23, this will presumably be the last time Blake Shelton sits in the Big Red Chairs. What’s more, the Blind Auditions will kick off without John Legend, a mainstay on the panel for the past seven seasons. The EGOT winner is going through changes of his own, and Legend explained why now is the right time for him to take a break from the NBC competition.
Obviously the biggest addition to John Legend’s life is his new rainbow baby with wife Chrissy Teigen. Esti Maxine Stephens was born January 13, and John Legend said that was a big reason he needed to step away from The Voice, as well as needing time to promote his new music. He told ET: Read more
Days of Our Lives star Cody Longo dies at 34 as wife says ”our whole world is shattered” (DailyStar)
Days of Our Lives star Cody Longo has been found dead at home in Texas at the age of just 34.
The actor, who made a name for himself in both the worlds of TV and film, was reportedly found on Wednesday (February 8), with it being reported that he was found at a property in Austin, Texas.
Sources shared that his wife Stephanie was at work at a local dance studio and was feeling uneasy about failed attempts to contact the actor. Read more
Spanish director Carlos Saura dies aged 91 (RFI)
Spanish director Carlos Saura, who died on Friday, hit the global spotlight in the 1960s with critiques of Franco’s dictatorship, later focusing on films about music and dance, notably flamenco and tango.
Often referred to as a giant of Spanish cinema alongside Luis Bunuel and Pedro Almodovar, Saura made about 50 films over a career spanning five decades, during which he received numerous awards.
“He died today at his home at the age of 91, surrounded by his loved ones,” the academy wrote on Twitter, describing him as “one of the most important filmmakers in the history of Spanish cinema”. Read more
Kristen Stewart lines up next biopic role after Spencer (DigitalSpy)
Kristen Stewart has lined up her next project — another biopic — after transforming into the late Princess Diana for her Oscar nominated role in Spencer.
According to Screen Daily, Stewart is set to portray Susan Sontag in the biopic Sontag. The film will be directed by Kirsten Johnson.
The film will be based on the biography ‘Sontag: Her Life and Work’ by Ben Moser, and will be written for the screen by Johnson and Lisa Kron.
2Pac’s estate reportedly gearing up to release 4 unreleased records (HipHopDX)
2Pac‘s estate is reportedly gearing up to put out four previously unreleased tracks from the late rapper as part of a Greatest Hits album.
The news arrives via 2Pac’s “only official fan page,” which wrote on Instagram that the album “will consist of previously released recordings from the ‘2Pacalypse Now’ period to Pac’s ‘Thug Life’ period with 4 previously unreleased Pre-Death Row tracks.”
In a podcast interview in December, 2Pac associate E-Love confirmed that unreleased Battlecat-produced songs have been in the vault and would be arriving sometime in 2023. Read more
Released Iranian-French academic Adelkhah awaits decision on when she can return to France, lawyer says (NewArab)
The release of Iranian-French academic Fariba Adelkhah is final, though it is still unclear how much longer she will have to stay in Iran before returning to France, her lawyer said on Saturday.
In announcing Adelkhah’s release on Friday, the French foreign ministry called for her freedoms to be restored, “including returning to France if she wishes”.
“She was freed last night and is now at her home,” Hojjat Kermani told Reuters. Read more
Osimhen wins Serie A player of the month award (Sun)
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has won the Serie A player of the month for January.
Osimhen was phenomenal for Napoli in January. Fresh off the World Cup break, the Super Wagles star consistently delivered stunning performances for the Partenopeans to help them preserve and extend their lead at the summit of the Serie A table.
After losing 1-0 to Inter Milan on their return to action Osimhen bounced back with a goal against Sampdoria. The 24-year-old then scored twice and got an assist in Napoli’s 5-1 demolition of Juventus. Read more
Why Nigerian athletes engage in doping –Porbeni (Punch)
The head coach of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Seigha Porbeni, says the quest for stardom without thorough training makes them indulge in doping, Saturday PUNCH reports.
Porbeni stated this following the suspension of Nigerian sprinter Divine Oduduru by the Athletics Integrity Unit for Anti-Doping Violations.
The sprinter faces a possible six-year ban. AIU stated this in a press statement on Thursday, noting that the sprinter had been notified of the suspension. Read more
West Ham United 1-1 Chelsea: Emerson Palmieri equalises against his former club (BBC)
Former Chelsea player Emerson Palmieri scored against his former club to earn West Ham a point and increase the pressure on Blues boss Graham Potter.
Chelsea fielded a new-look £200m forward line but, despite taking the lead, were once again frustrated and have won just once in seven Premier League matches.
Joao Felix had already had a goal ruled out for offside when the Portugal forward fired visitors Chelsea ahead with a volleyed finish following a delicious assist by Enzo Fernandez, the £107m British transfer-record signing from Benfica. Read more
Man City owners to complete deal to buy new club following Premier League charges (Mirror)
Manchester City will prove it’s business as usual by completing a stunning deal to add Brazilian club EC Bahia to the CFG portfolio.
The Premier League champions may be about to embark on a bid to clear their name after being hit by 115 charges for alleged financial irregularities.
But they remain on course to finalise the link-up with Bahia next month after fans of the Salvador-based club voted overwhelmingly in favour of the proposal. Read more
Guenther Steiner breaks silence on opposition to Andretti F1 entry (F1News)
Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has questioned what an 11th team in Formula 1 would actually bring, with the Italian believing that a new entry into the pinnacle of motorsport would simply bring “risk”.
If everything goes as expected, then Formula 1 will have an 11th team by 2026, with the FIA having opened up applications to prospective F1 teams.
The governing body are happy to add two teams to the current grid should they fit certain criteria, with one of the spots likely to go to Andretti. Read more
Emma Raducanu receives wildcard into Indian Wells (TennisWorld)
Emma Raducanu has been awarded a wildcard into a WTA 1000 event in Indian Wells, the tournament announced.
Raducanu, ranked at No 80 in the world, just missed out on making the main draw cut for Indian Wells.
However, Raducanu will be competing in the desert this March after the tournament’s main draw wildcard. Raducanu, 20, is set to make her third consecutive Indian Wells appearance. In 2021, Raducanu had a first-round bye in Indian Wells before losing to Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the second round. Read more
