Annie Idibia: I was pregnant with twins last year but suffered miscarriage (DailyTrust)
Annie, actress and wife to music icon, Tuface Idibia, has shared the experience of losing her twin babies a year ago.
In a private conversation with co-star and South African producer, Quinton Masina, aka Naked DJ, the 40-year-old broke down as she narrated how deeply the miscarriage affected her and the isolation she felt navigating grief.
The actress, who is a biological mother of two daughters; Isabella and Olivia Idibia, said her previous motherhood experiences didn’t lessen the pain of the ordeal. Read more
Lagos health commissioner undergoes eye surgery at LASUTH (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi has revealed that he successfully underwent eye surgery at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
Sharing updates in a series of posts on X, the commissioner expressed his gratitude to the medical team and highlighted the quality of care he received at the facility.
“Huge thanks to the incredible oculoplastic surgeons in the Eye Department, especially Prof. Mrs. Bola Adekoya and Dr. Rosemay Ngwu, for their expertise and for making the procedure painless,” Abayomi wrote. Read more
FCT police arrest gang leader, accomplices over killing of ex-girlfriend (Nation)
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a notorious gang leader, Abubakar Idris, popularly known as “Nishi”, along with his accomplices, Buhari Saidu and Musa Ahmadu Suleiman, for the murder of Ibrahim Danfulani.
According to the police, the suspects were apprehended following an intense investigation that brought an end to Nishi’s reign of terror.
The murder, which occurred on November 27, 2024, was allegedly fueled by Nishi’s frustration over Danfulani’s plans to marry a woman with whom he had made significant financial investments. Read more
Police recover 109 stolen livestock from slain bandits in Katsina (Punch)
The Nigeria Police Force has successfully thwarted an armed bandit attack in Katsina State, neutralising seven bandits and recovering 109 rustled livestock.
The operation, which took place on January 18, was a direct result of the force’s commitment to intelligence-driven policing aimed at enhancing national security.
According to a press release issued by the Force Headquarters on Monday, the Dutsinma Divisional Police Headquarters in Katsina received a distress call regarding an impending attack on Ruwan Doruwa Village, Dutsinma LGA. Read more
Delay in Court process stalls Dangote Refinery’s suit against NMDPRA (Tribune)
The delay by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals to serve its amended originating summons on Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and six other defendants on Monday, stalled the hearing of its suit seeking to stop issuance of oil import licenses to some oil marketing companies.
Dangote Refinery had sued NMDPRA, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), AYM Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, T. Time Petroleum Limited, 2015 Petroleum Limited, and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited as 1st to 7th defendants respectively in the originating summons, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1324/2024 dated September 6, 2024.
The oil company, through its lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, SAN, prayed the court to nullify import licences issued by NMDPRA to the NNPCL and the five other companies to import refined petroleum products. Read more
Nigeria welcomes implementation of Gaza ceasefire agreement (Nation)
Nigeria has welcomed the implementation of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.
A statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday said that the agreement offers the prospect of an end to the loss of civilian life and human tragedy.
A statement by Mr Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, acting spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the ceasefire agreement presents the people of the region with an opportunity for hope and compassion. Read more
5 die in lone accident on Lagos-Ibadan expressway (Vanguard)
Five persons were confirmed dead in a lone accident involving a Mercedes Benz jeep at Fatgbems bus stop on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Sunday night.
The Ogun State Police Command spokesman, CSP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident in a statement she made available to newsmen in Abeokuta on Monday.
Odutola explained that the accident which occurred at about 11:30 p.m., was caused by reckless driving on the part of the driver of the Mercedes Benz. Read more
Suspended RCCG pastor, Iluyomade, unveils new ministry in Lagos (Punch)
Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, the suspended pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David Parish, has launched a new ministry in Lagos called The Family Fellowship.
In a video that went viral on Monday morning, Iluyomade was seen celebrating with members during their inaugural service held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The service, which took place on Sunday morning, was marked by joyous dancing and jubilation. Read more
Nelly defends playing Donald Trump’s inauguration: “I’m doing this because it’s an honour” (NME)
Nelly has defended his decision to play at Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration party, calling it “an honour”.
The St. Louis rapper will be part of the line-up at the Republican’s second inauguration at the US Capitol on Monday (January 20), although the event has been moved indoors due to the expectation of dangerously cold weather.
Other acts on the bill include Carrie Underwood, Kid Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus, Village People and Jason Aldean. Read more
Tanzanian sample confirms WHO fears as Marburg disease found in remote region (ABC)
Tanzania’s president said Monday that one sample from a remote part of northern Tanzania tested positive for Marburg disease, a highly infectious virus which can be fatal in up to 88% of cases without treatment.
President Samia Suluhu spoke in Dar es Salaam, the commercial capital, alongside World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
WHO was the first to report on Jan. 14 of a suspected outbreak of Marburg that had killed eight people in Tanzania’s Kagera region. Tanzanian health officials disputed the report hours later, saying tests on samples had returned negative results. Read more
One of Them Days narrowly beats Mufasa for the top spot at the MLK weekend box office (EW)
One of Them Days, your day has come.
The Keke Palmer/SZA buddy comedy narrowly prevailed over the Disney live-action prequel Mufasa: The Lion King at the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend box office. The Sony Pictures film, produced by Issa Rae and written by Syreeta Singleton (Rap Sh!t), opened to $11.6 million and is expected to reach $14 million by the end of the four-day weekend. Barry Jenkins’ big pivot to studio franchise filmmaking came in just behind, at $11.5 million, anticipating an even $12 million for the full holiday. Read more
China executes 2 men behind separate deadly attacks in November (UPI)
China on Monday executed two men convicted of separate deadly attacks carried out in November amid a series of violent crimes committed in the Asian nation.
Fan Weiqiu, 62, was executed by the Intermediate People’s Court of Zhuhai City, in the coastal southern Guangdong Province, for killing 35 people and injuring dozens more on Nov. 11 when he drove his vehicle into a crowd of people exercising at a sports center.
Meanwhile, Xu Jiajin, 21, was executed by the Intermediate People’s Court of Wuxi City, in southeastern Jiangsu Province, for killing eight people and wounding 17 others on Nov. 17 in a knife attack at a vocational school in eastern Jiangsu Province. Read more
Axel Rudakubana: Southport knife killer pleads guilty to murdering 3 girls at Taylor Swift dance class (Mirror)
Axel Rudakubana, of Banks, Lancashire, changed his plea on day one of a trial at Liverpool Crown Court where he was charged with the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9; Bebe King, 6; and Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7.
An 18-year-old has pleaded guilty to murdering three girls in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift themed dance class in Southport last year.
Axel Rudakubana, of Banks, Lancashire, changed his plea on day one of a trial at Liverpool Crown Court where he was charged with the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine; Bebe King, six; and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven; who died following the attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class at The Hart Space shortly before midday on July 29. Read more
7 killed in clash between soldiers and Illegal miners at AngloGold Ashanti site (AfricaNews)
Seven people lost their lives during a confrontation between soldiers and illegal miners at a mine in Ghana’s Ashanti region.
According to the military, a group of around 60 miners allegedly armed with “pump-action guns and homemade weapons” forced their way into the AngloGold Ashanti site and exchanged fire with soldiers, leading to the deadly response. A miners’ representative denied that they were armed, raising questions about the events.
News of the killings triggered chaos in the nearby town of Obuasi, where protesters set company vehicles and equipment ablaze. Read more
Indian police volunteer sentenced to life in prison in rape and murder of trainee doctor (NBC)
An Indian court awarded a life sentence on Monday to a police volunteer convicted of the rape and murder of a junior doctor at the hospital where she worked in the eastern city of Kolkata, rejecting demands for the death penalty saying it was not a rare crime.
The woman’s body was found in a classroom at the state-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital on Aug. 9. Other doctors stayed off work for weeks to demand justice for her and better security at public hospitals, as the crime drew national outrage over a lack of safety for women.
Sanjay Roy, the police volunteer, was convicted on Saturday by Judge Anirban Das, who said circumstantial evidence had proved the charges against Roy. Read more
‘We should give him a chance’ — Okocha canvasses support for Chelle (CompleteSports)
Former Super Eagles captain Austine Okocha has canvassed support for new head coach of the team Eric Chelle.
Chelle was unveiled by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in Abuja last week.
The 47-year-old’s appointment was greeted with widespread criticism from football fans and pundits. Read more
NFF set to organise CAF B-License Coaching Course (Nation)
The Nigeria Football Federation has set in motion concrete plans to organize a four-month CAF B-License Coaching Course that is designed to enhance the capacity of Nigerian coaches and prepare them for current and future challenges. The programme is for both men and women coaches.
NFF Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen told thenff.com that the course is part of NFF’s strategic effort to build the capacity of coaches across the country, and will be done in modules.
To be eligible to participate in the course that will run between 7th April and 25th August 2025, a candidate must be an active coach, possess a CAF C-License certificate that has been put to use in the past two years, must be able to read and write in the English language, have basic computer skills and a laptop, have a valid G-mail account, and must submit a medical certificate that proves he/she is physically and mentally fit to undertake the course. Read more
Arsenal hero names proven goalscorer he would sign ‘in a heartbeat’ this January (Metro)
Perry Groves says he would take Victor Osimhen ‘in a heartbeat’ at Arsenal if the opportunity arose before the January transfer deadline.
Arsenal opted against signing a proven goalscorer last summer, with Mikel Arteta putting his trust in Kai Havertz after the German’s success as a false No.9 in the back-end of last season.
But calls for the Gunners to bring in an out-and-out centre-forward have intensified once again this month, with Mikel Arteta’s men sitting six points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool – who have a game in hand over their rivals. Read more
Ruben Amorim says his Man Utd side ‘are being the worst team in history’ of club after 3-1 defeat by Brighton (SkySports)
Ruben Amorim has described his Man Utd side as “the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United”.
Brighton secured a 3-1 win at Old Trafford on Sunday to keep United mired in the bottom half of the Premier League as Amorim’s torrid start to his tenure at the club continued.
“In 10 games in the Premier League, we won two,” said Amorim. Read more
Wada makes appeal decision on Iga Swiatek drugs ban (Independent)
The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) has said that it will not lodge an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) in the case of Iga Swiatek after the former World No 1 tested positive for prohibited substance trimetazidine (TMZ).
The five-time grand slam champion had accepted a one-month suspension in November after testing positive for TMZ in an out-of-competition sample in August which was caused by contamination of her medication melatonin.
Swiatek had said she had been taking it for jet lag and sleep issues and did not receive a lengthy ban after the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) ruled there was no significant fault or negligence on her part. Read more
Hamilton ‘realises dream’ on 1st day at Ferrari (BBC)
Lewis Hamilton says he has “realised his dream” and his first official day at Ferrari marked a “new era in the history of this iconic team”.
Hamilton, 40, began his preparations for his debut season with his new team on Monday at the Ferrari factory in Maranello.
The seven-time world champion signed for Ferrari in January last year but contractual commitments to Mercedes prevented any substantive contacts until the end of 2024. Read more