Army recruitment: Northerners arrested for attempt to take Lagos slots (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has called for the arrest and trial of six northern candidates participating in the Nigerian Army recruitment process who claimed to be indigenes of the state.
A viral video surfaced earlier on Wednesday showing six candidates in the recruitment process, who hailed from Kaduna State, claiming Kosofe Local Government Area, Lagos Island Local Government Area, and Oshodi Isolo Local Government Area, respectively, as their local governments of origin.
By claiming to hail from Lagos, the candidates intended to secure the slots designated to Lagos State indigenes. Read more
Speaker Abbas commends Gbajabiamila’s unmatched record in legislation, infrastructure (Guardian)
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, says the record of his predecessor, Femi Gbajabiamila, in the area of legislation and infrastructure is unlikely to be matched.
Abbas said this during the inauguration of a 484-bed hall of residence at the University of Lagos which was christened the Femi Gbajabiamila Hall.
The Speaker said Gbajabiamila, who served 20 years in the House of Representatives before he was appointed chief of staff to the President, was an asset not just to the people of Surulere but to the nation’s apex legislative body. Read more
Osun Amotekun promises to intensify fight against crime in 2024 (Nation)
The Osun State Amotekun Corps, yesterday said it is focusing and doubling its efforts towards greater reduction in crime and the state this year.
The state Commander of the corps, Brig-Gen. Bashir Adewinmbi (rtd.), said this at a news conference in Osogbo.
Adewinmbi lauded the efforts of his operatives, describing their dedication and commitment to duty last year as commendable. Read more
Governor Mohammed receives 7 stolen children from Bauchi (Sun)
Governor Bala Mohammed has commended the Commissioner of Police in Kano State, Mohammed Gumel for the rescue of seven stolen kids from Bauchi State expressing joy that they had been recovered alive.
Mohammed gave the commendation on Wednesday when he received the seven kids who were earlier reunited with their parents by the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, at the Government, Bauchi.
The children were handed to the state governor by the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Auwal Mohammed, in company with top security agencies in the state. Read more
2 die in Sokoto deputy governor’s convoy accident (Punch)
At least two persons were said to have died on Wednesday evening when the convoy of Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Idris Gobir, had an accident in the state.
A source who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity said the accident claimed the life of a policeman and one photographer, Buhari Tanko.
The source said, ” I just confirmed the incident now, though I was not with them when the accident happened. Read more
Nurses protest ‘poor working conditions, non-promotion’ in Ogun (DailyTrust)
Nurses working at the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Wednesday, protested against an alleged exclusion from the 2023 promotion carried out by the health institution.
The nurses under the aegis of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) also expressed displeasure over what they described as harsh working conditions.
They asked the management of the hospital to address their promotion arrears, shortage of staff, among others. Read more
NUC busts 58 illegal varsities in Nigeria, arrests proprietors (Leadership)
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has identified at least 58 illegal universities or satellite campuses operating in Nigeria, warning that Certificates obtained from the institutions will not be recognised for the purposes of compulsory one-year national service, employment, and further studies.
Acting executive secretary of NUC, Chris Maiyaki, disclosed this on Wednesday when he spoke with Channels Television in Abuja, saying that some arrests have been made in connection with the fake institutions.
Maiyaki said the Department of State Services (DSS) was involved in the clampdown on the illegal institutions and their promoters. Read more
Shi’ites burn US, Israeli flags in Abuja over alleged killing of ‘martyrs’ (Vanguard)
Hundreds of members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shi’ites, took to the streets of Abuja on Wednesday to protest the assassination of Iranian military officer Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi military leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis by the United States.
The demonstration marked the anniversary of the killings, which occurred on January 3, 2020, under the order of former US President Donald Trump.
The protesters, comprising men and women, marched through major streets in the nation’s capital, causing significant traffic disruptions. Read more
Iggy Azalea won’t be finishing her 4th album (People)
Iggy Azalea is letting her fourth album go.
On Wednesday, the “Fancy” musician, 33, shared a lengthy post on X (formerly known as Twitter) explaining that she wouldn’t be finishing the project and would be pursuing some different creative endeavours.
“I’ve always been someone who finds my joy in being creative & seeing my ideas come to life.
For a long time I used music to deliver my big crazy ideas to the world,” Azalea wrote. Read more
6ix9ine honoured with ‘unique’ gold statue in Cuba (HipHopDx)
CUBA – 6ix9ine might be one of the most polarising figures in Hip Hop but that hasn’t stopped him being honoured with a statue in Cuba after spending some quality time in the country last year.
Earlier this week, footage surfaced of a golden statue in Cuba featuring the polarising rapper’s mug grinning ear-to-ear with rainbow grills and matching kaleidoscopic braids.
The “unique” sculpture appears to be on a street corner in the favelas of Cuba and also includes 6ix9ine’s array of tattoos, golden 69 chains, and a microphone to perform in one hand while he fittingly flexes a stack of cash in the other. Read more
Hezbollah chief says group won’t ‘be silent’ after killing of Hamas leader (AlJazeera)
The head of Lebanon’s powerful armed group Hezbollah says the killing of the deputy chief of allied Palestinian faction Hamas in Beirut was “a major, dangerous crime about which we cannot be silent”.
In a televised speech on Wednesday, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah blamed Israel for the attack and offered his condolences to Hamas for what he called a “flagrant Israeli aggression” that killed Saleh al-Arouri.
Tuesday’s strike hit the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold. Read more
Jeffrey Epstein documents unsealed by New York court (National)
A New York judge on Wednesday began to unseal the identities of people linked in court documents to Jeffrey Epstein, the US financier who killed himself in 2019 as he awaited trial for sex crimes.
The initial tranche includes 40 previously undisclosed documents with almost 1,000 pages of depositions and statements, with the final library of documents expected to name prominent individuals.
Those named will include a host of Epstein associates previously identified as John or Jane Does in a lawsuit brought against Mr Epstein’s former mistress, Ghislaine Maxwell. It carries no allegation of complicity in Mr Epstein’s crimes. Read more
95 killed in bomb blasts near Iran general Qasem Soleimani’s tomb – state TV (BBC)
At least 95 people have been killed by two bomb explosions near the tomb of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani on the fourth anniversary of his assassination by the US, Iran’s state media report.
Scores of others were wounded when the blasts hit a procession near the Saheb al-Zaman mosque in the city of Kerman.
Videos showed bodies on a road and ambulances rushing to the scene. Read more
Kenya: Climate change inducing vector-borne diseases including malaria (AfricaNews)
Wilson Mutai describes malaria as destructive and lethal. Recently the 76-year-old farmer and businessman was diagnosed with the disease at a hospital in Isiolo.
“I was taken to hospital and when I got there, a blood test was done and I was found to have malaria,” he said. The hospital did not have any medication to treat him. That prompted him to hire a private doctor to treat him at his house.
However, Mutai’s friend, who was ailing with malaria at the same time, could not afford a private doctor and he passed away due to lack of treatment. Read more
Les McCann, soul jazz pianist and singer sampled by Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dogg and others, dead at 88 (People)
Les McCann, a singer and pianist who helped to pioneer the soul jazz genre, has died at age 88.
On Monday, The New York Times reported that the musician died on Friday in a Los Angeles hospital after being admitted for pneumonia.
McCann — who released over 60 albums since he made his professional debut with “Les McCann Plays The Truth” in 1960 — is best known for his innovative, groove-based rhythms and funky use of synthesizers and electronic keyboards, which pushed the bounds of jazz and contributed to the creation of the soul jazz sound. Read more
Super Eagles camp bubbles with 17 players now in Abu Dhabi (Vanguard)
A total of 17 players have arrived at the Super Eagles’ camp in Abu Dhabi ahead of the team’s campaign at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three-time African champions are hoping to end a 10-year wait for the biggest football prize on the continent.
According to a tweet on the Super Eagles official Twitter (now “X”) handle, a total of 17 players were amongst early birds at the team’s training camp in Abu Dhabi. Read more
Yusuf replaces injured Ndidi ahead AFCON (Channels)
Royal Antwerp midfielder, Alhassan Yusuf, will now replace the injured Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi as the Super Eagles prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Cote d’Ivoire.
Ndidi missed his team’s runaway Championship leaders Leicester City’s 4-1 win over Huddersfield Town on Monday due to an unspecified injury.
Team spokesman Babafemi Raji disclosed this to journalists on Wednesday where he said Ndidi has been replaced by 23-year-old Yusuf, who has been in good form with the Belgian champions. Read more
Onazi reveals why ‘nearly done’ move to Chelsea fell through (Guardian)
Former Super Eagles midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has explained how his planned move to Chelsea fell through due to age issues.
Onazi, 31, who currently plays for Italian fourth-division side Avezzano, stated that the move to Chelsea did not materialise because he was not up to 18 then.
“When I was young, I almost signed for Chelsea, but I was underage and couldn’t play,” Onazi told Spor Arena. Read more
Nick Kyrgios fires venomous accusation at tennis chiefs after Novak Djokovic injury (Tennis365)
Novak Djokovic is facing an injury nightmare ahead of the Australian Open and Nick Kyrgios has wasted little time in blaming ATP Tour chiefs for his problem.
The defending Australian Open champion has stated his belief that he is confident of making a recovery from a wrist injury in time for his appearance at Melbourne Park later this month.
Yet a wrist injury is arguably the most worrying short-term injury a tennis player can suffer from, as there is no way of covering up the problem in best-of-five-set matches at a Grand Slam tournament. Read more
Christian Horner opens up on Max Verstappen’s unique PR approach (F1News)
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has stressed that the side don’t force Max Verstappen to always give a “PR view” when completing his media duties, with the Dutchman having the “freedom” to say what he wants.
Verstappen’s honest and sometimes brutal approach to his media duties has been criticised somewhat in recent months, most notably at the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The three-time World Champion was highly critical of the race in Sin City and how he wasn’t a fan of the pre-event ceremony or all the additional interviews he was subjected to ahead of the Grand Prix. Read more
Arsenal tipped to play 22-year-old as a striker instead of Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah (HitC)
Arsenal’s struggles up front have been a negative highlight for the team over the festive period.
On Christmas Day, Mikel Arteta’s side were sitting top of the Premier League table, but fast forward to the New Year and they are now fourth.
This comes after back-to-back defeats to West Ham United and Fulham, with Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah coming under fire – they have eight Premier League goals between them this term. Read more