5 men charged with theft of N25m Milo in Ogun (Punch)
Five men on Monday appeared before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun State for allegedly stealing a truck load of Milo products worth N25 million.
The defendants, Temidire Ramon, 35, Aminu Yusuf, 26; Olusola Opadare, 35; Oludayo Adeleye, 38, and Amodu Jimoh, 51, are standing trial on a two-count charge of stealing and conspiracy.
The prosecutor, Insp E.O.Adaraloye, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on October 13, 2020, at Agbara in Ogun. Read more
Corps Liaison officer accused of assaulting 2 female NYSC members in Enugu (Vanguard)
A Corps Liaison Officer (CLO) in Enugu East LGA, Enugu State, has been accused of assaulting two female members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) during a meeting last Saturday.
The CLO allegedly intimidated the victims and later boasted of being “untouchable” due to his connections with NYSC officials.The incident was brought to public attention when a relative of one of the victims shared details on X (formerly Twitter) via the handle @JoiceofLagos, claiming that the police were pressured to drop the case after law enforcement officers were involved. Read more
Naira scarcity in banks fuels fear of exploitation by PoS agents in Nigeria (Channels)
Mobile money agents have become a familiar sight across Nigeria, using handy point-of-sale machines to provide essential services to millions of people without access to banking, particularly in hard-to-reach rural areas.
Even on the streets of major cities, they have become a go-to, due to an ongoing shortage of cash at ATMs since a much-vilified redesign of the national currency, the naira, last year.
“There are three of them (agents) on my street alone,” Chi Etche, a 29-year-old media executive, told AFP. “This means I don’t need to take a bike or cab to reach the nearest bank ATM.” Read more
Multiple handling charges leave $1.5b Lagos-Ibadan cargo train stranded at Lagos Port (Tribune)
Checks by the Nigerian Tribune have revealed that multiple handling charges have left the $1.5 billion Lagos-Ibadan cargo train stranded inside the Apapa Port for weeks.
When the Nigerian Tribune entered the Apapa port last week, the locomotive and wagons were seen parked inside the port terminal, with very few cargoes on it.
When our correspondent asked a port worker why the train has not left with the cargoes on it, the port worker, who pleaded anonymity, explained that the train has been there for weeks with those cargoes without leaving the port. Read more
Tension in Osun PDP as Reps member Oke criticises Adeleke’s leadership style (Nation)
A crisis appears to be simmering within the Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Oluwole Oke, a member of the House of Representatives for Ijesa North Federal Constituency, has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of neglecting the Ijesa people.
Oke, who serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and is a fifth-term lawmaker under the PDP, alleged that Adeleke has abandoned the Ijesa North region since his victory in the 2022 gubernatorial election.
In a Facebook post titled “Ijesa North People Are Not Stupid” on Sunday evening, Oke outlined previous contributions to the region by past administrations. Read more
Taraba collaborates with TY Danjuma to accelerate development (Tribune)
Taraba Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, on Sunday, said the state government was collaborating with TY Danjuma to bring accelerated capital development to Taraba.
Kefas disclosed the development in Abuja during an interactive session with critical stakeholders across all political parties from Taraba state.
Nigerian Tribune reports the critical stakeholders meeting was aimed at revealing the governor’s administration toward attracting development, and the partnership with citizens from Taraba who are willing to contribute to the development of the state. Read more
I’ll run for Lagos governor again in 2027 – Rhodes-Vivour (Vanguard)
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party (LP) candidate in the 2023 Lagos governorship election, has announced his intention to contest for governor again in 2027.
Speaking during an interview on Gold Room, hosted by Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo, Rhodes-Vivour emphasized his commitment to maintaining an active opposition presence and addressing the issues faced by Lagosians.
“By God’s grace, I will run for governorship again in 2027. We are working hard. We’ve gained significant traction, learned from our mistakes, and identified the loopholes we made,” he said.
ASUP strike grounds academic activities in Kastina’s polytechnics (Nation)
The two-week warning strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) entered its final phase this week, severely disrupting academic activities across federal and state polytechnics.
Campuses visited by The Nation on Monday were notably affected, with the strike set to continue for the full two-week duration.
ASUP is demanding that the government address several critical issues, including violations of the Federal Polytechnics Act, the non-review of the contentious “Schemes of Service for Polytechnics and Conditions of Service” document, and the non-release of the 2023 NEEDS Assessment intervention funds. Read more
Suki Summer returns with poignant new single ‘‘Marianne’’ (MusicNews)
Rising music artiste Suki Summer, known for her evocative fusion of gritty rock and 80s synth, is back with her latest single, ‘‘Marianne’’. This deeply personal track showcases her ability to create music that’s as bold as it is nostalgic. Diving into genres like indie pop, dream pop, and bedroom pop, Suki crafts immersive soundscapes that offer a fresh, unapologetic voice in today’s pop-rock scene.
‘‘Marianne’’ is an intimate exploration of vulnerability and fleeting connections, drawing inspiration from Suki’s summer travels through Europe. Reflecting on a brief yet impactful romantic encounter, the song captures the exhilaration of a passionate but impermanent relationship.
“This song explores my relationship with intimacy and vulnerability,” shares Suki. “I wrote it after meeting someone during my travels. Our time together was beautiful and fun, but it was tinged with sadness, knowing it would end when the summer did. The name ‘‘Marianne’’ comes from his favorite book, ‘‘Normal People’’ by Sally Rooney. He compared my personality to Marianne in the story, even noting my resemblance to Daisy Edgar-Jones, who portrayed her in the TV adaptation. I used Marianne as a way to reflect on my longing and the impossibility of our world’s truly intersecting.” Read more
Jay-Z denies ‘heinous’ accusation he raped 13-year-old girl in Diddy lawsuit (Metro)
Jay-Z has denied accusations he raped a 13-year-old girl at the MTV Music Awards in 2000 along with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.
The accuser, known as ‘Jane Doe’, alleged the assault happened after she was driven to an after-party.
The suit only named Combs, 55, when it was first filed in New York in October but was refiled on Sunday to include Jay Z, real name Shawn Carter. Read more
Travel ban on S Korea president after martial law attempt (BBC)
South Korean authorities have imposed a travel ban on President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is under investigation for his short-lived martial law declaration last Tuesday.
Yoon narrowly survived an impeachment motion against him over the weekend, after MPs from his ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote.
PPP members said they had decided not to support the motion after Yoon agreed to shorten his term and not get involved in foreign and domestic affairs. Read more
Philippine volcano eruption sends villagers fleeing for safety as homes are blanketed in ash (ABC)
A plume of hot ash and gases up to three kilometers (1.8 miles) high forced residents to seek shelter after a volcano in the Philippines erupted on Monday.
There were no immediate reports of casualties in the latest explosion of Mount Kanlaon, on central Negros island, but authorities shut schools and imposed a nighttime curfew after several villages were hit by ashfalls that clouded the the visibility of motorists and sparked health concerns.
“It sounded like a cannon,” Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas of Canlaon city, which lies southeast of the volcano, told The Associated Press by telephone. “There have been quiet eruptions before, but this was one very loud.” Read more
South Korea’s Yoon placed under travel ban as martial law probe widens (UPI)
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was barred from leaving the country Monday as investigations for treason and abuse of power over his short-lived martial law decree get underway.
Justice Ministry official Bae Sang-up told a parliamentary hearing on Monday afternoon that Yoon was prohibited from foreign travel.
“Yes, we did,” Bae said when asked by a lawmaker if his office had approved a departure ban. A short time earlier, the government’s Corruption Investigation Office had submitted a request for the order. Read more
Elianne Andam Croydon murder trial hears teen ‘stabbed girl to death over missing teddy bear’ (Mirror)
Elianne Andam challenged Hassan Sentamu for turning up empty handed for a meeting with her friend, his ex-girlfriend. He plunged a kitchen knife 12cm deep into Eilanne’s neck
A teen acted in “white-hot anger” when he stabbed his ex-girlfriend’s pal to death after failing to return a teddy bear, a court heard.
Hassan Sentamu, 18, made the “calculated decision” to arm himself with a kitchen knife when he went to meet his ex-girlfriend to exchange possessions, a murder trial heard today. But after 15-year-old Elianne Andam challenged him for turning up empty handed, he was “disrespected by girls” and so plunged a kitchen knife 12cm deep into her neck, the Old Bailey was told. Read more
Syrians search notorious Assad jail for underground cells while freed prisoners rejoice (NBC)
Syrians on Monday celebrated the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad, as thousands of detainees were freed from his notorious jails while families and rescuers searched for those still missing.
Powerful images have emerged showing people, including women and children, being freed from prisons across the country after the toppling of Assad, whose brutal regime saw hundreds of thousands of political prisoners disappear into jails where many faced torture and death.
While Assad was in Moscow having fled the country, one facility known as the “human slaughterhouse” was being searched for signs of secret underground cells. Read more
Serbian-based Nigerian in-form star Yusuf eyes Super Eagles call-up (CompleteSports)
Vojvodina forward Bamidele Yusuf has expressed his desire to play for Nigeria’s Super Eagles, following his impressive scoring form in the ongoing 2024/25 Serbian SuperLiga season.
In 17 appearances, the 23-year-old has scored eight goals and provided two assists, capturing the attention of fans and scouts alike, and fueling discussions about his potential call-up to Nigeria’s national team.
Speaking on his chances of breaking into the Super Eagles, Yusuf believes he will get the chance to make his mark on the international scene in no distant time. Read more
Arsenal monitor Osimhen as he scores winner for Galatasaray (NewTelegraph)
Arsenal are quietly keeping eye on Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker, Victor Osimhen, to fill their poor striking position.
Even though they are not the top team in the race for Osimhen, reports suggest that the Gunners have been sending scouts to watch him play.
Arsenal is currently without a main striker, with Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard sharing the role. This has led to frustration among some, including former player William Gallas, who feels the club should show more interest in signing a top striker like Osimhen. Read more
NSC kicks as EFCC begins probe of NFF finances (Nation)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC) will this week begin the probe into the finances of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), it was learnt at the weekend.
The anti-graft agency has sought clarifications from the National Sports Commission(NSC).
Our correspondent cited a letter dated November 28, 2024 written to the NSC by the anti-graft agency asking the sports commission to furnish it with the list of all sponsors of the NFF and the Professional Football League (companies and individuals) from 2022 to date. Read more
Lando Norris makes 2025 F1 drivers’ title declaration after leading McLaren to constructors’ triumph with Abu Dhabi win (SkySports)
Lando Norris declared that “next year is my year” after leading McLaren to the Constructors’ Championship by winning the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Norris came up short in the Drivers’ Championship as Max Verstappen sealed a fourth successive title with two rounds to spare, but the Brit ensured McLaren ended 2024 with some silverware.
After team-mate Oscar Piastri dropped from second to the back of the field after a first-corner collision with Verstappen, pole-sitter Norris controlled the race superbly to ensure McLaren held off the challenge of Ferrari to win the title for the first time since 1998. Read more
Dan Ashworth’s departure puts an end to Manchester United’s latest farce (Independent)
A leader at Manchester United was abruptly removed on Saturday. Yes, Bruno Fernandes was substituted in the defeat to Nottingham Forest. It proved the prelude to a more seismic change. The departure of Dan Ashworth, confirmed on Sunday morning, means United have stripped themselves of the man they headhunted, who Sir Jim Ratcliffe described in February as “one of the top sporting directors in the world”, who only a few weeks ago, along with CEO Omar Berrada, hired new head coach Ruben Amorim. Read more
Soto set to sign reported £600m deal – biggest in history of sport (BBC)
Juan Soto is set to sign what is reportedly the biggest contract in the history of sport after agreeing a $765m (£600m) deal over 15 years with Major League Baseball’s New York Mets.
Multiple sources in the United States have disclosed details of the deal, although the Mets have yet to confirm it because the 26-year-old Dominican needs to complete a medical.
The MLB website said, external Soto would get a $75m signing bonus, with no deferred money, in a deal that could eventually be worth up to $800m (£627m). Read more