Alleged Rape: Court fixes January 26 for judgement in trial of Bishop Feyi Daniel (Channels)
The Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja has fixed January 26th to deliver judgment in the case of a cleric, Bishop Oluwafeyiropo Daniel, accused of raping two of his church members.
Justice Rahman Oshodi fixed the date for judgment after the prosecution led by Babajide Boye and the defendant’s lawyer, Fola Awonusi, adopted their final written addresses.
Daniel was arraigned before the court by the Lagos State Government on a two-count charge of rape contrary to section 260 (2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015. Read more
Army ready to flush out bandits, kidnappers from Taraba (Nation)
The 6 Brigade Nigerian Army, with headquarters in Jalingo, has expressed its determination to flush out bandits and kidnappers as well as stem the tide of other criminal activities in Taraba.
Maj.-Gen. Frank Etim, Brigade Commander of the formation, made the declaration yesterday at the Combined 6 Brigade and 114 Battalion (Rear) West African Social Activities (WASA) 2023 held in Jalingo.
Etim said that the brigade would ensure the provision of adequate security to the people of the state. Read more
Nigerian Army denies arresting, killing 11 Fulani in Kaduna forest (Sun)
The 1 Division Nigerian Army on Thursday denied a media report that its soldiers arrested and killed 11 Fulani in a Kaduna forest.
Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations 1 Division NA, Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya in a statement titled “Re: bodies of 11 Fulani arrested by soldiers found in Kaduna forest” denied all the allegations leveled against the Division in the said media report (not The Sun)
The statement read in part: “This Division wishes to unequivocally state that the Nigerian Army is a professional force committed to the rule of law and utmost respect for fundamental human rights of all citizens hence cannot be involved in extra-judicial killings and stealing of citizens’ valuables as alleged. Read more
Fubara keeps mum after meeting Tinubu in Aso Rock (NewTelegraph)
The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has kept mum following the closed-door meeting he had with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, marking a notable political engagement.
The New Telegraph had earlier reported that Governor Fubara arrived at the Aso Villa around 5:35 p.m. and proceeded directly to the President’s office.
After the meeting, which concluded around 6:30 p.m., Fubara while interacting with newsmen at the State House refused to divulge any details regarding the purpose or outcome of his discussion with President Tinubu. Read more
Lagos partners UK to train 3,000 workers in digital literacy (Punch)
The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry for Establishments and Training and the Office of Sustainable Development Goals, has partnered with UK Aid, the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office, and Tech4Dev to train 3,000 public servants in digital literacy.
Speaking at the opening of the training held on Thursday at the Public Service Staff Development Centre, Magodo, the state Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Mr Afolabi Ayantayo, said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s government was committed to empowering the state’s workforce with the right skills needed to excel and contribute to the state’s development.
“The world is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and our ability to harness the potential of digital tools will determine our effectiveness and relevance in our individual places of work. Therefore, the need for civil servants to be proficient in the realm of digital technology is not just a necessity but a strategic imperative,” Ayantayo said. Read more
Certificate Racketeering: Our system is foolproof, says NYSC Director (Leadership)
Mr Eddy Megwa, the Director, Press and Public Relations, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), says the scheme’s integrated Information and Communication Technology (ICT) system is foolproof.
Megwa was reacting to the report of an investigation into certificate racketeering titled “How Daily Nigerian Reporter Bagged Cotonou Varsity Degree in Six Weeks, Participated in NYSC Scheme.”
According to the report, there is a booming certificate racketeering syndicate in Benin Republic and Togo which specialises in selling university degrees to willing buyers from Nigeria. Read more
“Human brains don’t work in APC”, Things Bwala said before visiting Tinubu (Dailytrust)
After pictures and videos of the visit of Daniel Bwala, a presidential campaign spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar during the 2023 elections, to President Bola Tinubu at Aso Rock, were released on Thursday, the internet literally caught fire.
Some critics described Bwala as a man who has no principle.
In a chat with State House correspondents after closed-door talks, he declared his availability to work with the President Tinubu-led administration. Read more
Ex-president Jonathan loses elder sister (Vanguard)
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has lost an elder sister, Madam Obebhatein Jonathan.
She died on Thursday, January 11, 2024, at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, after a brief illness, at the age of seventy.
A statement by Jonathan’s media office noted that the deceased popularly known as Amissi was a retired teacher, businesswoman, loving mother, and grandmother who lived a dedicated life of service to God and humanity. Read more
Angela Bassett awarded honorary Oscar (AfricaNews)
Angela Bassett was honoured at the U.S. film academy’s Governors Awards on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
The event offered a chance to celebrate some of the industry’s living legends, including Mel Brooks, Bassett and film editor Carol Littleton, who all collected honorary Oscars at the Ray Dolby Auditorium, just steps from where the Academy Awards will be broadcast in March.
“It’s such an honor for me to be hosting this,” Mulaney said. “Growing up, as a boy, I would always watch the non-televised Governors Awards even though they only started 14 years ago. We would all gather in front of the turned off TV. It was the only time I ever saw my dad smile.” Read more
Julia Roberts on real reason she refuses nude scenes as she makes British Vogue debut (Mirror)
As Julia Roberts makes her iconic debut on British Vogue she finally dished on the real reason why she refuses to strip down on-camera as she shares an unexpected link to a feminist icon.
This week the 56-year-old dropped jaws as she showcased her timeless beauty in an iconic all-red leather suit on the cover of the famous magazine. Julia has become a household name during her incredible over 35 years in the acting industry – a career that she has managed to keep purely G-rated despite her famous breakthrough role as a fully-clothed prostitute in Pretty Woman.
During a vulnerable interview with screenwriter Richard Curtis for British Vogue, Julia opened up about her boundary on refusing to take part in nude scenes throughout her successful career. She explained: “My G-rated career…you know, not to be criticising others’ choices, but for me to not take off my clothes in a movie or be vulnerable in physical ways is a choice that I guess I make for myself.” Read more
Diddy reportedly cut from Yung Miami’s BET Reality Show amid sexual assault lawsuits (HipHopDx)
Diddy will continue to lay low for the foreseeable future as the embattled Bad Boy boss has reportedly been cut from Yung Miami’s upcoming BET reality show.
Amid his numerous sexual assault lawsuits, scenes involving Puff have been pulled from the City Girls rapper’s TV show, according to The Jasmine Brand.
While Diddy was set to appear in the show, giving fans a bigger peek into his relationship with Yung Miami, that will no longer be the case as producers are reportedly replacing footage featuring the Harlem native. Read more
Trump accuses New York attorney general of bias in court closing arguments (AlJazeera)
Former US President Donald Trump has used closing arguments in his civil fraud trial to attack New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Trump had sought to deliver Thursday’s full closing arguments, but permission was denied when he failed to sign off on restrictions stopping him from using the courtroom as an electioneering platform.
The former president is the current frontrunner for the Republican nomination to go against the current president, Joe Biden, in the November election. Read more
Hunter Biden pleads not guilty at arraignment on tax charges (ABC)
President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden entered a not guilty plea to 9 felony and misdemeanour tax charges at his initial appearance in a California courtroom on Thursday.
The plea was entered by Hunter Biden himself during an arraignment in federal court in downtown Los Angeles.
His plea came a day after he made a surprise appearance at a Capitol Hill hearing on whether to hold him in contempt of Congress. Read more
US and UK strikes target Houthi rebels in Yemen (BBC)
US and UK naval forces in the Red Sea have launched airstrikes against Houthi rebel targets across Yemen.
US officials say warship-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles and fighter jets hit more than 12 sites, including in the capital, Sanaa, and Hudaydah, the Houthi Red Sea port stronghold.
The strikes are in response to repeated attacks by the Iran-backed group on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Read more
3 accidentally cleared for Waterloo station stabbing due to jury forewoman’s ‘mistake’ (Mirror)
Adrian Keise’s family left the Old Bailey tearful after brothers Paul and Matthew Yusuff and their friend Moussa Traore were acquitted over his death due to a ‘mistake’
Three men were accidentally cleared of killing a man outside Waterloo Station, after an Old Bailey jury forewoman made a “mistake”.
On Wednesday, the family of 32-year-old Adrian Keise left court tearful and shaken after brothers Paul and Matthew Yusuff and their friend Moussa Traore were acquitted over his death. The jury of 11 men and women had deliberated for 10 hours and 46 minutes when the court assembled for what had been expected to be a majority direction. Read more
Peseiro tasks Eagles on victory over Equatorial Guinea (Sun)
Super Eagles Coach, Jose Peseiro has stated that all hands must be on deck for Nigeria to beat Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, BSNSports.com.ng can report.
The three times African champions will open their 2023 African Nations Cup campaign with a clash with Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, 14th January 2024.
Speaking after their first training session in Cote d’Ivoire, the Portuguese tactician said, “despite the long trip, we did training today. It’s not tactical training but only for recovery to prepare us for tomorrow’s practice. Read more
Ogwumike leads US delegation to AFCON (Guardian)
Chinenye Ogwumike, a member of the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States (PAC-ADE) and two-time Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) All-Star, has been appointed by US President Joe Biden to lead the delegation of sports envoys and US officials travelling to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, for the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Africa’s largest sporting event.
The delegation, according to a statement by US Department of State, will harness the strength of the African diaspora, showcase US investments in Côte d’Ivoire and strengthen cultural and economic ties between African communities, the global African diaspora, and the United States.
The delegation includes Lisa Leslie, four-time Olympic Gold Medalist and Basketball Hall of Famer; Crystal Dunn, U.S. Women’s National Soccer team star; Daniel Kimmage, Principal Deputy Coordinator, Global Engagement Center (GEC); and Deniece Laurent-Mantey, Executive Director, PAC-ADE. Read more
Yorkshire: Azeem Rafiq says Colin Graves’ expected return has led to racist abuse (BBC)
Colin Graves’ expected return as Yorkshire chairman “empowers” racists, says former player Azeem Rafiq.
Yorkshire’s board has approved a takeover deal from a consortium led by Graves, 75, that members will likely vote in favour of on 2 February.
Graves’ previous spell was part of the period for which the club was fined for failing to address the systemic use of discriminatory or racist language. Read more
It never ends for Grizzlies: Marcus Smart to be re-evaluated in six weeks with finger injury (NBC)
This is just not the Memphis Grizzlies year.
Add Marcus Smart to a long and devastating list of injuries that have hit the Grizzlies this season — he will be re-evaluated in six weeks for a serious finger injury.
This injury likely happened because of contact with the ball or another player. Jeff Stotts of In Street Clothes explains the injury. Read more
Rafael Nadal labelled ‘‘maybe the most important player of all time’’ by tennis great (Tennis365)
Tennis legend Mats Wilander has declared that Rafael Nadal is “maybe the most important professional tennis player of all time”, as well as being one of the greatest players ever.
The former world No 1 also expressed his hope that Nadal will get the chance to have a fitting farewell to his career but was concerned that the “miracles” needed for that might not happen.
Nadal pulled out of the 2024 Australian Open, which begins on Sunday January 14, due to a hip injury he suffered in his three-set quarter-final defeat to Jordan Thompson at the Brisbane International last week. Read more
NFL: Patriots coach Bill Belichick departs after 24 years (DW)
Bill Belichick, the architect of six Super Bowl-winning teams with the New England Patriots, has ended his 24-year spell as the team’s head coach.
The Patriots confirmed the move in a press conference involving Belichick, 71, and franchise owner Robert Kraft on Thursday afternoon, following what ESPN called “productive talks [which] resulted in a mutual decision that left both sides comfortable and at ease.”
In Belichick’s 24 seasons in charge in New England, the Patriots won 17 AFC East titles, went to 13 AFC championship games and played in nine Super Bowls — winning six of them. Read more