By-election: Laguda emerges APC Reps candidate in Surulere (Nation)
All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Fuad Laguda has been elected as candidate for the House of Representatives by-election in Surulere Constituency 1, Lagos state.
The election, billed for February 3, will be conducted to fill the vacancy created by the appointment of the former speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, as the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.
Laguda scored 30 votes to beat the other three contestants – Raheed Owokoniran, Lawal Kabir and Manzu Jemila-who scored nil. Read more
My office does not make payments on behalf of MDAs, AGF clarifies (Channels)
The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, has clarified that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation does not make payments on behalf of MDAs for projects and programmes implemented by the Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs).
The AGF was reacting to media reports concerning a request from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation for payment of grants to vulnerable groups in some States of the Federation.
She stated that allocations are released to self-accounting MDAs in line with the budget and such MDAs are responsible for the implementation of their projects and payments for such projects. Read more
N44b Fraud: NSIPA defends Edu, distances self from Shehu (Guardian)
Newly installed management of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), has said that social media reports linking the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, to ongoing fraud investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), of suspended National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of the agency, Halima Shehu, are false and should be ignored.
A statement from NSIPA’s Communication Office signed by the National Communications Manager, Jamaludeen Kabir, title ‘NSIPA Clarification: Setting the Record Straight on Recent Allegations and Affirming Commitment to Transparency,’ noted under the guidance of the acting National Coordinator and CEO, Dr. Akindele Egbuwalo, is demonstrating full support and collaboration towards ongoing investigation by the EFCC.
According to the statement, “NSIPA vehemently distances itself from any claims connecting the honourable minister to financial impropriety or any wrongdoing within the agency. Read more
ECOBA re-elects ex-Edo gov Igbinedion as global president (Sun)
Edo College Old Boys Association (ECOBA), has re-elected former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion as its global president.
The election also saw others returning unopposed except Mr. Nosa Iyekekpolor who has already served for two terms based on the association’s constitution.
Other Officials re-elected at the convention, were Engr. Greg Ogbeifun as 1st Vice President, Mr. Aigbe Olotu, 2nd Vice President, Sir. Geoffrey Anuta,
as Financial Secretary, Engr. Elvis Obaseki, Social Director among others. Read more
Blind woman seeks help to find missing 1-year-old daughter (Punch)
A 33-year-old blind mother, Agnes Forte, has appealed to Nigerians to assist her find her missing one-year-old daughter, Excel.
The toddler was said to have disappeared from the family’s home in Akowonjo, Lagos on November 28, 2023.
In an interview with Saturday PUNCH Forte said, “My child cannot go missing like that because I am physically challenged. I can’t see, I don’t have money, and now my baby is taken away from me.” Read more
Terry G to colleagues: Ignoring me when I need you not fair (DailyTrust)
Nigerian music star, Gabriel Oche Amanyi, fondly known as Terry G, has tackled his colleagues for allegedly ignoring him when he needed them most.
The Apako master expressed sadness over how all his efforts to reach out to some of his colleagues during his tough times proved abortive, as no one was responding to him.
In a series of posts via Instagram, Terry G reminded his colleagues how he was there for them when they came to him for help. Read more
Same terrorists killing Christians, Muslims in Kaduna, Plateau, Benue – Shehu Sani (Vanguard)
A former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani said the same terrorists killing Muslims in Katsina, Borno, and Niger State are the same persons killing Christians in Southern Kaduna, Benue, and Plateau States.
Sani made this assertion in a statement via his verified X handle on Saturday.
According to him, terrorism has no religious affiliation, adding that they are only after their target. Read more
Ejiofor calls for liberalisation of gun ownership in Nigeria (ThisDay)
Following the massacre of over 200 persons on Christmas Eve in Plateau State, security expert and former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Mike Ejiofor, has called for the liberalisation of gun ownership laws in Nigeria to enable citizens to protect themselves.
Ejiofor, who is President of the National Institute of Security Studies, said legalising the carrying of arms by Nigerians will not cause anarchy in the country as many believed.
The former DSS chief, who disclosed this in an interview with ARISE PRIMETIME on Thursday, said the government should encourage the citizens to defend themselves, given the increasing cases of insecurity across the country. Read more
Michelle Yeoh isn’t ready for her new grandson to see her as a witch in ‘‘Wicked’’ (Variety)
Michelle Yeoh doesn’t want her newborn grandchild to see “Wicked” — or at least, not until he’s older.
On the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of her Netflix series The Brothers Sun, Variety asked Yeoh what film of hers she would want her grandson, Maxime, to see first. Yeoh mused for a while, bringing up her upcoming project, Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked,” in which she plays school headmistress Madame Morrible, before ultimately deciding against it.
“I was thinking, I’ve done a musical, ‘Wicked.’ … I play a witch,” Yeoh said, referencing Madame Morrible’s status as a villain — and her desire for her grandson to not see her as one. “What is not going to traumatize them?” She concluded: “Maybe not one of my movies. Until they’re older.” Read more
Singer Michael Bolton recovering from surgery after brain tumour diagnosis (ABC)
American singer-songwriter Michael Bolton has told fans on social media that he is recovering at home after undergoing surgery to treat a brain tumour.
Bolton told followers in a Facebook post that he was required to undergo “immediate surgery” after being diagnosed with a brain tumour prior to the 2023 Christmas holidays.
Seventy-year-old Bolton — who rocketed to worldwide fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s with a series of power ballad chart hits — told fans the surgery had been a success, but he would be taking a break from touring while he recuperated at home. Read more
Tyler, The Creator & Doja Cat rumoured to be headlining Coachella 2024 (HipHopDx)
Tyler, The Creator and Doja Cat have allegedly been selected to headline this year’s for Coachella 2024, along with Lana del Rey.
Hits Daily Double reported Friday (January 5) that their sources confirmed both Tyler and Lana, while adding that Doja is still in contract negotiations.
The site also reports that Travis Scott was in conversations for a headlining slot as well, but apparently things didn’t shake out. Read more
Hezbollah fires rockets at Israel in ‘response’ to Hamas leader’s killing (AlJazeera)
Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has said it targeted a vital Israeli military post with a barrage of 62 rockets as a “preliminary response” to the killing of a Hamas leader in Beirut this week.
This comes as the European Union foreign policy chief met the Lebanese prime minister in Beirut on Saturday, and warned against Lebanon being dragged into a regional conflict in a spillover from Israel’s war on Gaza.
“As part of the initial response to the crime of assassinating the great leader Sheikh Saleh al-Arouri … the Islamic resistance (Hezbollah) targeted the Meron air control base with 62 various types of missiles,” the Iran-aligned group said in a statement on Saturday of the strikes in northern Israel. Read more
Sudan’s army chief rejects negotiations with rival RSF (AfricaNews)
The Commander in Chief of the Sudanese armed forces Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said Friday (Jan. 05) he wouldn’t accept to negotiate with the Rapid Support Forces.
al-Burhan cited war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed by the RSF of General Mohamad Hamdan Daglo.
Speaking to soldiers in the Red Sea state (eastern Sudan) the head of the Sudanese armed forces asserted that the RSF perpetrated crimes “in West Darfur and across Sudan”. Read more
Jeffrey Wright tells onscreen mom Leslie Uggams: ‘I’ve had a crush on you since the first day I saw you’ (People)
Jeffrey Wright is crushing on costar Leslie Uggams — while receiving an award from her.
The Emmy-winning actor accepted the Palm Spring International Film Festival’s Career Achievement Award from Uggams, the actress playing his mother in the hit film American Fiction, on Thursday.
“I’ve had a crush on you since the first day I saw you, mother,” Wright, 58, said onstage at the awards gala. “Who did not?” Read more
Boxing champion’s son fighting for life after being ‘stabbed in heart’ as 5 charged (Mirror)
Talented young boxer Anthony Dodson, 21, suffered stab injuries following an incident in Liverpool city centre on December 27 – with five men charged and due to appear in court today
Five suspects have been charged after a man was reportedly stabbed in the heart following an incident in Liverpool city centre.
Merseyside Police were called to the junction of Church Street and Whitechapel at around 5.30am on December 27 last year following reports of a stabbing. A 21-year-old, later named as talented young boxer Anthony Dodson – son of former British super middleweight champion boxer Tony Dobson – was found with stab wounds. He remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition. Read more
Osimhen to sign Chelsea pre-contract agreement (Punch)
Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, has agreed to leave Serie A champions, Napoli, for a move to Chelsea in the summer, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
According to TEAMtalk, the 25-year-old, who has a release clause of around £112m, will not be moving this month but is willing to sign a pre-agreement in January before making the switch to Chelsea official at the end of the season.
The report also states that the likes of Didier Drogba and John Obi Mikel have been in regular contact with Osimhen, hoping to persuade him to join Chelsea. Read more
Mario Zagallo: Brazil’s 4-time World Cup winner dies aged 92 (BBC)
Brazilian football legend Mario Zagallo, who won four World Cups as a player and coach, has died aged 92.
Zagallo was a winger in the Brazil team who won back-to-back World Cups in 1958 and 1962, starting in both finals.
He managed the side widely regarded as the greatest international team of all time, including Pele, Jairzinho and Carlos Alberto, to glory in 1970. Read more
AFCON 2023: Iheanacho to join Super Eagles squad next week (Leadership)
Injured striker Kelechi Iheanacho will next week join the rest of the Nigeria squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, according to the Nigeria football federation president on Thursday.
Leicester City star Iheanacho is nursing a muscular injury, but the NFF president Ibrahim Gusau said the player was recovering well.
“I have spoken to Iheanacho, he’s recovering fast and has even started running,” Gusau told reporters. Read more
Tyreek Hill’s Florida mansion catches fire (NBC)
Flames tore through the roof of superstar Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill’s South Florida home on Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.
Davie Fire Rescue got the call at 1:55 p.m., and 20 firefighters responded to the blaze at 16755 Berkshire Court in the town of Southwest Ranches, Fire Marshal Bob Taylor said.
It was a difficult fire to battle, because the flames were in a hard-to-get-to spot in the attic of the large two-story home, Taylor said. Read more
Arsenal legend explains big ‘doubt’ which will stop Arteta signing £60m ace (HitC)
Arsenal legend David O’Leary is a big Dominic Calvert-Lewin fan but the Everton striker’s injury record means he might not be the right striker for Mikel Arteta’s Premier League challengers.
The Everton number nine has missed more games than he’s played in recent seasons.
And, if it hadn’t been for a spate of injuries which took a sledgehammer to his reputation, would we be talking about Dominic Calvert-Lewin as one of the finest centre-forwards in the Premier League these days? Read more
AFCON 2023: Sierra Leone Captain confident of win against CIV in friendly game (CompleteSports)
Skipper of Leone Stars of Sierra Leone, Kwame Quee, believes his side is good enough to beat Côte d’Ivoire in Saturday’s friendly.
The Sierra Leone side, predominantly local stars, concluded its training at San Pedro field on Friday as they ready to tackle Cup of Nations hosts Côte d’Ivoire today (Saturday).
The newly built 20,000-seater Laurent Pokou Stadium will host the friendly which the Elephants are using as part of preparations for this year’s AFCON. Read more