Bamise Ayanwola’s murder: BRT driver denies raping victim, fingers 3 others (Channels)
The Lagos State Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) driver, Andrew Nice Ominikoron, who is standing trial for the rape and murder of one of his passengers, Bamise Ayanwola, has denied the offence, insisting instead that it was carried out by three others.
Omininikoron, aged 47, testified on Thursday while opening his defence before Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square on the Island.
Led in evidence by his counsel, Abayomi Omotubora, the defendant told the court that he did not rape or kill the 22-year-old fashion designer, Bamise Ayanwola. Read more
Nigeria receives 1m doses of first malaria vaccine (DailyTrust)
The federal government on Thursday received one million doses of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine donated by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
It is the first-ever malaria vaccine delivered to the federal government, ahead of the rollout in the country.
Speaking during the handover ceremony in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the arrival of the malaria vaccine was a monumental step in the country’s efforts to reduce malaria morbidity and mortality. Read more
Refinery operations boost Dangote’s net worth 100% to $28b (Vanguard)
The commencement of operations of the Dangote Refinery has led to about 100 percent increase in the net worth of Aliko Dangote, Bloomberg Billionaires Index stated on Thursday.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, the commencement of full operations at the oil refinery has substantially boosted the wealth of the industrial magnate.
Dangote Refinery, situated within the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, is reputed to be the world’s largest single-train oil refinery and one of the most advanced, with the capability to process a wide range of global crude oil types. Read more
NSIB renews MoU with UNILAG on science laboratory (ThisDay)
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has renewed its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on the deployment of its metallurgical science laboratory at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.
The MoU signed with the University of Lagos at that time entailed relocation of some of the equipment in the laboratory to UNILAG.
Due to some logistics, the equipment had not been moved since the MoU was signed, prompting the new leadership of NSIB to renew the pact. Read more
Babalola seeks inclusion of private universities in students loan (Nation)
The Founder of Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti, Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, has faulted exclusion of students in private universities from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, initiative of the Federal Government.
Babalola, who described the exclusion of private universities’ students from the students loan as unjust, called for their inclusion in the scheme.
The legal luminary spoke on Thursday at the International Hydrogen Summit 2024, held at the ABUAD campus, Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital. Read more
Tanker explosion: Sanwo-Olu commiserates with Jigawa gov, victims’ families (Tribune)
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of those who died in the fire incident in Majiya town, in the Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State, following the explosion of a petrol-laden tanker.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser (SA) on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, also sent a note of sympathy to his colleague, Governor Umar Namadi, friends and associates of the victims, as well as the people and government of Jigawa State.
The governor sadly said that the unfortunate incident had left yet another scar in the minds of millions of Nigerians, saying that no nation or people could afford to experience such tragedy without its effect on the social and psychological wellbeing of the people. Read more
Customs intercepts 125,527 pieces of arms, ammunition in 6 years (Leadership)
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Wednesday, said the service has intercepted 125,527 pieces of arms and ammunition worth N9.58 billion imported into the country through various seaports in six years.
Speaking during a press conference on enforcement activities in the zone A of the service, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, also raised the alarm over massive Importation of foreign parboiled rice in neighbouring countries for onward smuggling into Nigeria.
The Customs’ CG stated further that 10,598 pieces of arms and 114,929 pieces of ammunition were imported and seized by the service.
Driver steals company’s truck, flees (Punch)
A driver and staff of a private logistics company in Lagos State identified as Temidayo, is on the run for his alleged involvement in a case of conspiracy and theft of the company’s truck.
This is just as the truck was recovered from a suspected accomplice, Segun Ajayi, in the Owode-Egba area of Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.
PUNCH Online learnt from a police source on Thursday that Temidayo had allegedly loaded his truck with goods aimed for delivery in the Lekki area of Lagos State. Read more
Nicki Minaj takes credit for stan culture in hip hop: ‘The barbz are still superior’ (HipHopDx)
Nicki Minaj has claimed that the pervasiveness of stan culture in modern Hip Hop is thanks to her and her fiercely loyal followers, the Barbz.
The Young Money rapper spoke about her role in the rise of fervent fanbases in rap at Vogue magazine’s Forces of Fashion event in New York City on Wednesday (October 16).
“Before I had a record deal, my fans were making a moment for themselves on Twitter. I had already given them a name,” she said. “When I started calling my fans the Barbz, there were no rappers naming their fans. Read more
Yahya Sinwar dead: Israel confirms it has killed leader of Hamas (Mirror)
Israel has confirmed it has killed top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar after IDF and ISA said that “three terrorists were eliminated” as they carried out operations in Gaza.
Hamas’ top leader Yahya Sinwar has been killed said Israel’s foreign minister who hopes it will now lead to the release of the hostages.
Confirmation of the death of the chief architect of last year’s attack on Israel that sparked the war came after a joint statement from the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and Israel Securities Authority (ISA) that they were “checking the possibility” that Sinwar, 62, was dead after “three terrorists were eliminated”. Read more
Londoners so fed up with phone snatchers they catch suspect seconds after theft (Metro)
A suspected phone snatcher was arrested seconds after a phone was stolen, after members of the public assisted police in apprehending him.
CCTV footage shows two men on electric bikes riding up Ludgate Hill towards St Paul’s. The video shows the first suspect stealing a phone from a woman. They were encountered by police officers, the first suspect evaded officers by riding off on the pavement at high speed.
The second suspect, aged 23 from Southwark, turned back in the direction of where the phone was stolen. Members of the public, who witnessed the phone snatching, slowed down the suspect, allowing officers, who ran down the road, to apprehend him. Read more
Kenyan lawmakers impeach deputy president, remove him from office (VOA)
Kenyan lawmakers voted Thursday to remove Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from office over accusations of gross misconduct, irregular acquisition of wealth, undermining of the president and ethnic division, among other charges.
Lawmakers proceeded with the impeachment even after Gachagua fell ill. The Senate approved five of the 11 charges against him, immediately removing him from office, the speaker of the Senate, Amason Kingi, announced a little before midnight.
Gachagua, who was supposed to testify on his own behalf, was admitted to the hospital before he could do so with what his lawyers described as severe chest pains. The proceedings were suspended but eventually resumed. Read more
Ice-T says controversy doesn’t make money: “You get a lot of buzz, but now you need lawyers’’ (People)
Ice-T’s advice to musicians who want to say something controversial? Stand by what you really mean and lawyer up.
Ahead of his heavy metal band Body Count’s forthcoming album Merciless, the 66-year-old rapper answered fan-submitted questions from The Guardian. One person asked about the band’s 1992 protest song “Cop Killer” and if he felt the “heat” and regretted releasing it.
“I never really questioned myself, but the heat came when they started sending bomb threats to Warner Bros. I threw the rock, that’s my heat,” Ice-T explained. “But when other people could get hurt, that’s nerve-racking.” Read more
Ryan Murphy has been trying to work with Taylor Swift throughout the years (EW)
Ryan Murphy has been trying to get a Taylor Swift collaboration out of the vault for several years now.
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter about the latest episode of his horror series Grotesquerie that also stars the pop star’s NFL player boyfriend Travis Kelce, the TV creator and writer revealed that he’s approached Swift’s team many times about potential projects.
“I’ve talked to Taylor’s people about various things through the years, and all I will say is that I think she’s great and if she ever has time to do it, I would do it in a heartbeat,” said Murphy. “I think she’s one of the greats.” Read more
Tom Holland offers exciting “Spider-Man 4” update (DigitalSpy)
Tom Holland has offered an exciting update on a fourth “Spider-Man” film, sharing that the script “lit a fire” within him.
The actor was last seen as Peter Parker in 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, a Marvel Cinematic Universe adventure that saw the web-slinging superhero traverse the multiverse.
With the events of the film leaving lasting consequences for the character, fans have been eager to see Holland don the suit once more, and he shared on The Rich Roll podcast that he had recently read the script for the fourth film in the series. Read more
Finidi’s Rivers United extend unbeaten streak, Ikorodu City draw away (CompleteSports)
Rivers United maintained their unbeaten streak in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) following a 2-0 win against Shooting Stars at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Thursday.
Aniekeme Okon opened scoring for Rivers United on 51 minutes, while Ndifreke Effiong doubled the advantage 14 minutes later.
Rivers United also returned to the summit having amassed 17 points from seven games. Read more
Sunshine’s Boboye blames loss on bushy Kwara pitch (Punch)
Sunshine Stars head coach Kennedy Boboye has hinged Wednesday’s NPFL matchday seven 3-0 defeat to Kwara United on the overgrown pitch of the Kwara Sports Complex in Ilorin.
According to Sunshine Stars media, the veteran gaffer opined that the bushy nature of the pitch prevented his charges from pulling the strings as they did against Rangers International a few days earlier. Boboye, however, conceded that the home team was the better side on the day.
He said, “The pitch was part of the problem that affected our playing; not that we are not used to grass, but the bone of contention was that the grass was not cut and badly maintained.
“I don’t know how a pitch like that was approved for games and they failed to cut it before the matchday,” he enthused. Read more
Barcelona president says $270m summer bid for Lamine Yamal rejected (ABC)
Barcelona president Joan Laporta said the club turned down an offer worth $270 million (€250M) for forward Lamine Yamal in the summer.
Laporta did not reveal who wanted to sign Yamal, but various reports have suggested Paris Saint-Germain had lined the teenager up as a replacement for Kylian Mbappé, who joined Real Madrid earlier this year.
Laporta made the revelation as he defended Barça’s decision to let certain players leave, denying that the club’s financial problems had forced their hand in certain situations. Read more
Angel Reese says she hopes to ‘be teammates’ with Caitlin Clark during their WNBA careers (People)
As rookies on opposing teams, Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark continued their on-court rivalry in the WNBA this season — but the Chicago Sky star is interested in a future together.
During an interview with WSJ. magazine for their cover story, Reese discussed her relationship and history with Clark, which dates back to college when they were stars for LSU and the University of Iowa, respectively.
Reese, 22, started by pointing out that their much-discussed competition — which drew headlines during the 2023 NCAA tournament — is just a normal part of sports, men’s or women’s. Read more
Police issue warrant for Ravens fan accused of viral post-game assault on Commanders fans (NBC)
The Baltimore Police Department has issued an arrest warrant for a man accused of assaulting two NFL fans after the Baltimore Ravens played the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
Police identified the man as John Callis, 24, of Baltimore. He is currently wanted on one count of first-degree aggravated assault and three counts of second-degree assault.
Callis is said to have assaulted two 23-year-old men after the NFL game, police said. Read more
Paqueta wants ‘misleading’ leaks investigated by the FA (BBC)
West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta wants the Football Association to investigate “misleading” leaks about his betting case.
The FA charged Paqueta in May for allegedly getting booked deliberately “for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market”.Paqueta, 27, has denied all four charges brought against him and believes “misleading and inaccurate” reporting is putting his chances of a fair disciplinary hearing at risk. Read more