Abducted Akwa Ibom judge, driver regain freedom (Channels)
Justice Joy Unwana, a judge at Oron High Court, Akwa Ibom State and her driver whom gunmen abducted, have regained their freedom.
Ini Ememobong, information commissioner, announced the development in a statement on Saturday.
The judge was said to have been kidnapped alongside her driver on her way back from a court sitting. Read more
Former CBN governor Emefiele freed from Kuje facility (Guardian)
Former CBN governor Emefiele freed from Kuje facility (Guardian)
Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has been released from the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja after meeting his bail conditions.
The development was confirmed on Saturday by Adamu Duza, spokesperson for the correctional facility, stating that Emefiele was released on Friday, December 22.
Emefiele, who served as CBN chief from 2014 to 2023, was arrested in June by the Department of State Services (DSS), the day after he was suspended as CBN governor by President Bola Tinubu. Read more
NSCDC decorates 746 promoted officers in Osun (Punch)
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Osun State Command, has decorated 746 promoted officers in the command.
According to a statement by the state NSCDC spokesperson, ASC Adeleke Kehinde, on Saturday, the decoration was done on Friday for “Six Deputy Commandants of Corps, 33 Assistant Commandants of Corps, 36 Chief Superintendents of Corps, 120 Superintendents of Corps, 127 Deputy Superintendents of Corps, 295 Assistant Superintendents of Corps (I) and 129 Assistant Superintendent of Corps (II).”
Adeleke said the state Commandant of NSCDC, Agboola Sunday, decorated the officers at the state command’s headquarters in Osogbo. Read more
Niger targets N1t revenue from agriculture (Leadership)
Governor Umar Bago of Niger State has projected that his administration is poised to achieve a revenue milestone of N1 trillion through the Niger Food Security and Logistics Company within the next five years.
This statement was conveyed by Mr. Abdullberqy Ebbo, the Special Adviser on Digital Media and Strategy to the governor, in a release issued on Saturday in Abuja.
The initiative is expected to create employment opportunities for over 100,000 farmers who will cultivate more than 100,000 hectares of land across the state. Read more
LASTMA promotes 267 officers (Punch)
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has approved the promotion of 267 Junior Staff officers within the agency.
In a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Saturday, the agency’s Public Relations Officer, Adebayo Taofiq, quoted the acting General Manager as saying that the government’s elevation of the 267 junior officers, is consistent with the agency’s ongoing strategic realignment towards more efficient service delivery.
Bakare confirmed that while 26 junior officers were promoted from Grade Level 05 to 06, 241 others were elevated from Grade Level 05 to 06 including males and females. Read more
President right to intervene in Rivers crisis – APC chieftain (DailyTrust)
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Reuben Olorunfunmi, has faulted those criticising President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in Rivers state’s political crisis.
He said the President as the father of the nation had every right to intervene and that his interventions were not politically motivated.
Tinubu had called a meeting of stakeholders in Rivers State, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, where eight resolutions were agreed upon, including the recognition of the 27 lawmakers who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party for the APC as well as the payment of their entitlements. Read more
High Airfares: NANTA backs FCCPC investigation (Independent)
The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has backed the plan by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to conduct an investigation into the high airfares in the domestic market by indigenous airlines.
Mrs Susan Akporiaye, the President, NANTA, told journalists in Lagos on Saturday that the plan was a welcome development and would ensure sanity in the system.
NANTA had a few weeks ago taken decisive advocacy steps, and complained to the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the National Assembly Committee on Aviation to wade into the issue. Read more
We stand by MC Oluomo, says Hon. Akinwande (Nation)
The Chairman, Arapapo Olori Odo Aworiland, Hon. Ganiu Akinwande, has affirmed that Awori indigenes are in support of the re-election of Alhaji Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya aka MC Oluomo as National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) state chairman.
A statement by Hon. Akinwande titled: “Lagos NURTW: The stand of the Awori people” commended Lagos governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu for seeing to the successful re-transition of the Lagos State Parks and Garage Management into NURTW.
He said: “It is important to commend the tranquil reelection of Alhaji Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya aka MC Oluomo as the state chairman. Read more
Amy Winehouse’s father files $930K lawsuit against friends who auctioned off her stuff (HipHopDx)
Amy Winehouse’s father has filed suit against two former friends of the late singer, alleging they illegally auctioned off his daughter’s possessions to make a profit.
According to documents obtained by The Daily Mail on Thursday (December 21), Mitch Winehouse is seeking £730,000 (around $930,000) from Naomi Parry and Catriona Gourlay, claiming the two women put Amy’s belongings up for sale at auctions in London this year and back in 2021.
Per the report, Mitch argues that because his daughter’s friends listed the items “in their own names and on their own behalf,” her property was “converted” to “their own use.” Read more
Ali Wong files for divorce from Justin Hakuta over a year after announcing split (People)
Ali Wong has filed for divorce from Justin Hakuta over a year after announcing their separation.
The Beef star and comedian, 41, cited “irreconcilable differences” in divorce documents obtained by PEOPLE and noted the date of her separation from Hakuta, 41, as of April 10, 2022. The pair are stated to have a prenuptial agreement in place.
Wong is seeking joint legal and physical custody of their two children daughters Mari, 8, and Nikki, 6. The documents also stated that the actress and Hakuta are in mediation over their assets. Read more
Sam Ryder hopes his Christmas song will become timeless (MusicNews)
Sam Ryder hopes his Christmas song will become a holiday classic.
The 34-year-old singer threw his hat into the ring for the annual race to the festive number one with ‘You’re Christmas To Me’ and he’s been overwhelmed with the reaction to the song, which he hopes will feature on seasonal playlists for years to come.
He told BANG Showbiz: “I’m speechless [about the reaction]! I wrote the song on the train with minutes to spare for the deadline, because it was written for a movie on Amazon Prime, and I needed to hand in my homework that evening. Read more
Sofia Coppola reveals why there are hardly any Elvis songs in her biopic Priscilla (Deadline)
Priscilla director Sofia Coppola says that, despite her plaudits and hit rate at the box office, she continues to fight for “a tiny fraction” of the money her male counterparts have to work with.
Coppola, who has an Oscar to her name for Best Screenplay for her 2002 movie Lost in Translation, told BBC News that budget restraints meant her forthcoming biopic was shot digitally, not on film, and put together in just 30 days:
“I just see all these men getting hundreds of millions of dollars and then I’m fighting for a tiny fraction of that. Read more
Israel-Hamas war: Attacks continue amid criticism of UNSC resolution (AlJazeera)
The watered-down resolution passed on Friday boosting aid to Gaza has been criticised by some countries as “nearly meaningless”.
Israel continues its deadly bombardment of Gaza, with the latest attacks reported in the Nuseirat refugee camp and Khan Younis.
The World Health Organization chief has reiterated his warning that “famine is looming in Gaza” as the conflict blocks access to food and other critical supplies. Read more
Les Arcs Film Festival’s 15th edition hands out awards to Slow, The Teachers’ Lounge (Variety)
Slow, Marija Kavtaradze’s delicate romance, won the Crystal Arrow at the 15th edition of Les Arcs Film Festival from a jury presided over by Oscar-nominated Iranian director Asghar Farhadi (A Separation).
Kavtaradze’s sophomore outing, Slow world premiered at the Sundance Film Festival where it won best director. The film revolves around the bond between Elena (Greta Grinevičiūtė), a contemporary dancer teaching to deaf youth, and Dovydas (Kęstutis Cicėnas), a sign language interpreter.
The Teachers’ Lounge, meanwhile, won the jury prize. The satirical movie, directed by Ilker Çatak, world premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, in the Panorama section, and was just shortlisted in the Oscar’s international feature film race. Leonie Benesch stars an idealistic teacher who tries to uncover a thief within her school and sparks chaos in the process. Read more
US reopens key rail crossings between Texas, Mexico (VOA)
The United States on Friday reopened two rail crossings between Texas and Mexico, five days after they were closed in response to increased migrant traffic.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said operations resumed midafternoon Friday at the international railway crossing bridges in Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas. The closures had prompted alarm from railroads, the agriculture industry and some lawmakers over the economic impact to export trade.
The White House said the United States will be operating the crossings for 24-hour-a-day operations for the next few days. Read more
Osimhen signs new Napoli contract (Punch)
Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has signed a new contract for his Napoli side as confirmed on Saturday.
Sports journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed this development via his X account on Saturday. He wrote, “Victor Osimhen signs a new deal at Napoli — confirmed. Documents also in place.”
Earlier on Friday, Romano noted that “the agreement between Napoli and Victor Osimhen on a new deal is 100% done and confirmed. Read more
Anthony Joshua vs Otto Wallin is one of AJ’s most intriguing fights yet – no, really (Independent)
For weeks, boxing fans debated whether Anthony Joshua’s fight with Otto Wallin should headline Saudi Araba’s seismic Day of Reckoning event, or whether that distinction should be awarded to Deontay Wilder’s clash with Joseph Parker. There were arguments over whether Joshua or Wilder has the greater drawing power, which of the two is likelier to deliver a knockout, and which bout is most likely to be competitive or even deliver an upset.
To settle those individual debates diplomatically: Drawing power may depend on geography and demographics; as destructive as “AJ” can be, his American counterpart may have an edge when it comes to power; and while Wallin has a tidier record than Parker, the latter is a former world champion with an arguably stronger resume than the Swede. Wilder, then, may win out – both in likelihood of producing a KO and being upset by his opponent, as strange as that sounds. Read more
Yildiz confirms goal celebration inspired by Juventus legend Del Piero (FootballItalia)
Juventus striker Kenan Yildiz confirms his goal celebration was inspired by Alessandro Del Piero and admits he was shocked when he heard his name in the starting XI.
Yildiz scored on his debut as a starter for Juventus on Saturday, breaking the deadlock at minute 12 of an away Serie A game against Frosinone.
“For me, this is too great, thanks to everyone. To the fans, they are crazy, look at them! Thanks to the coach who gave me a chance, Grazie a tutti, Grazie mille,” Yildiz told DAZN after the final whistle, mixing English and Italian. Read more
Kai Havertz urged to play major role in “defining” game against Liverpool’s key weapon (Mirror)
Martin Keown believes Arsenal’s trip to Liverpool can prove to be a “defining game” for Kai Havertz, who must endeavour to halt Trent Alexander-Arnold’s influence.
The Gunners head to Anfield seeking a first win on Merseyside in over a decade on Saturday night. The Gunners have impressed so far this term and picked up big results against some of their major rivals. They ended their poor run against Manchester City and must now do so against Liverpool if they want to be top on Christmas.
Alexander-Arnold has excelled against the north Londoners and his hybrid midfield role gives him even more freedom in the attacking third. Havertz, who is not renowned for his defensive brain, has been called upon to stop the right-back if Arsenal are to get the result they want. Read more
Daniil Medvedev hungry to keep pushing limits as he targets more success in 2024 (National)
World No 3 Daniil Medvedev says his motivation is at an all-time high as he gets ready to begin his 11th season as a professional.
The 27-year-old Russian won a maiden Grand Slam trophy at the US Open in 2021, and has spent a total of 16 weeks at the top of the world rankings.
He owns 20 titles overall and earned more than $38 million in career prize money, but despite his lengthy list of accomplishments, Medvedev assures his hunger for more remains a major driving force, even if maintaining high levels of motivation becomes more challenging with age. Read more
Lowry still hungry for big-time wins as the career clock starts to tick louder (IrishExaminer)
Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy have been joined at the hip for the past few years and the big Offaly man is prepared to do more than just watch his pal’s back during a Ryder Cup car park fracas.
The sight of the Lowry bundling an incensed McIlroy into a courtesy car in Rome is one of the abiding memories of 2023.
They fell out over the Holywood star’s bitter split from Horizon Sports when they were both members of that stable. But since moving to Florida, they have become firm friends and while Lowry has high hopes for what remains of his career as an elite golfer, he is convinced McIlroy’s best golf may well lie ahead. Read more