Commercial bus bursts into flames on 3rd Mainland Bridge (Nation)
A lone accident was recorded on the inward Iyana Oworo carriage of the Third Mainland Bridge on Tuesday.
The bus which may have been returning to Oshodi from Oke Arin Market on the Island was seen engulfed in fire.
Though our reporter could not pick any information regarding the source of the fire, some of the goods the bus was carrying littered the scene of the accident. Read more
DSS releases Omoyele Sowore (Punch)
The Department of State Services has finally complied with the court orders directing it to release the convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore, from custody.
Omoyele’s release came a few hours after the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), said in a statement on Tuesday that he had issued a directive to the DSS to release the Sahara Reporters publisher and the immediate-past National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
Malami said his directive followed the decision by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) regime to comply with the court orders granting bail to the two men. Read more
SERAP hails Sowore’s release, wants Agba Jalingo freed (Punch)
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has welcomed the announcement by the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), ordering the release of #RevolutionNow protest convener, Omoyele Sowore; and the immediate-past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, from custody.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Tuesday directed the Department of State Services to release Dasuki and Sowore from custody.
A few hours after the order, the DSS released Sowore. Read more
20-year-old 400 level student declared missing in Ondo church (Vanguard)
A 400 level student of Mountain Top University, Faith Aluko, has again been declared missing at another church, Mountain of Fire Miracle Church in Akure, the Ondo state capital.
This is coming as the police in the state arraigned 13 persons alleged to have set ablaze Sotitobire Miracle Centre where the one-year-old boy went missing over a month ago.
Police image-maker in a statement in Akure said “13 Suspects among others still at large, who participated in the wanton destruction of lives and properties including the burning of Sotitobire Church and the Killing of one of our officers recently, were arraigned this morning. Read more
Abductors of Ondo monarch’s family slash ransom from N100m to N60m (Punch)
Abductors of Olori Regina Akinrinmade, wife of Oba Rufus Akinrinmade, the Orunja of Odigbo Kingdom; and his two daughters, have demanded N60m ransom for their release.
The Odofin of Odigbo Kingdom, Olu Akinsawe, confirmed this development to journalists on Tuesday in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the monarch’s wife, his two daughters and their driver, were abducted by some unknown gunmen on Saturday along Owo-Oba-Ikare Akoko road while heading to Akungba Akoko. Read more
Malami orders DSS to release Dasuki, Sowore (Vanguard)
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Tuesday, directed the Department of State Services (DSS) to release the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) and convener of the #RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore, from custody.
The final documentation for the release of the two men is being processed at the DSS headquarters in Abuja.
While Dasuki was arrested by the DSS in December 2015 over his alleged involvement in the arms procurement scam, the secret police picked up Sowore and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, in August for convening a protest against perceived misrule by the present administration. Read more
How bathing in warm water boosts your health (Nation)
We all can relate. The pressures of daily life provide a natural incentive to pace ourselves, and a warm shower or bath could act as a basic boost or relaxant, depending on the time of day.
However, research continues to prove warm water has significant benefits beyond a feel-good factor, with some studies placing its health advantages on par with physical exercise.
Here are a few reasons why choosing warm water shouldn’t only be a matter of personal preference. Read more
APC condemns attack on Jonathan’s residence, demands probe (Vanguard)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the attack on the Otuoke country home of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, in Abuja on Tuesday, the APC condemned the attack and urged security agencies to fish out the perpetrators and their sponsors.
Issa-Onilu said: “Following reports that gunmen attacked the country home of former President Goodluck Jonathan in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, APC demands from security and intelligence agencies a swift, sweeping and thorough probe of the shocking incident. Read more
Christmas: PDP urges unity, tasks leaders on selflessness (Nation)
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged Nigerians to live in unity even as it tasked the political leadership on selfless service to the nation.
In its goodwill message on this year’s Christmas celebrations, the party appealed to the leaders and the led to use the period to rededicate themselves to exhibiting the virtues of love, forgiveness and selfless service to others and the nation at large.
The message, conveyed in a statement by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, observed that many Nigerians are hurting and are not able to celebrate the yuletide the way they used to do in the past. Read more
Gay rights: US recalls ambassador to Zambia (Vanguard)
The United States has recalled its ambassador to Zambia amid a diplomatic row after he criticised the imprisonment of a gay couple, embassy sources have said.
Daniel Foote had said last month he was “horrified” that a judge had sentenced the men to 15 years in prison after they were caught having sex in 2017.
The government accused him of trying to dictate policy, and President Edgar Lungu declared him persona non grata. Read more
2022 FIFA World Cup: Eagles top 10 seeds for qualifying draw (Nation)
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are among the 10 top seeded teams for next month’s 2022 World Cup qualifying draw after they finished among the top 10 countries by the latest FIFA Rankings.
Nigeria finished 2019 as the third ranked team in Africa behind Senegal and Tunisia.
The other top seeded teams are 2019 AFCON champions Algeria, Morocco, Ghana, Egypt, Cameroon, Mali and DR Congo. These 10 teams will thus head the 10 qualifying groups. Read more
Arsenal prepare £40m plus Xhaka for Ndidi (Punch)
Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has been linked with a move to Arsenal.
The Guardian’s transfer rumour column claims the Gunners are hoping to fix their troubles this season by attempting to lure Ndidi to the Emirates.
The Nigerian midfielder has been key to City’s form again this season, only missing one league outing.
And Arsenal, currently stuck in 11th, are said to be impressed with what they have seen. Read more
Lampard defends Rudiger’s integrity after Mourinho attack (Vanguard)
Chelsea’s 2-0 win has since been overshadowed by allegations that both Rudiger and Son were subjected to racist abuse at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Chelsea manager Lampard and Mourinho, his former mentor at Stamford Bridge, have each spoken out against racism, but the Blues boss has questioned the way Rudiger reacted to being kicked by Son in the incident that saw the South Korea star dismissed. Read more
Real Madrid named in mega deal for Mane (Nation)
Real Madrid have set their sights on a hugely ambitious capture of Liverpool superstar Sadio Mane, according to a report.
Mane has become one of the world’s premier attacking footballers under the tutelage of Jurgen Klopp, culminating in a fourth-place finish in the recent Ballon d’Or awards.
The forward has gone from strength to strength with each season at Anfield, increasing his goals tally year on year with that trend set to continue once more in the current campaign. Read more
Lille won’t accept January offers for Osimhen (Punch)
French Ligue 1 side, Lille, will reject any offer for their Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen when the European transfer window opens in January.
Osimhen has been in fine form for the French side, scoring 13 goals since joining from Belgian side Sporting Charlero in August.
His goalscoring exploits have interests from English Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. Read more
Leno reveals four demands Arteta has placed on Arsenal (Vanguard)
Bernd Leno has revealed the four demands Mikel Arteta has made since coming in as the new Arsenal boss.
Arteta, who rejoins the club where he ended his playing career, has no managerial experience and his first game at the helm will come in the Boxing Day clash away to Bournemouth.
Arsenal are currently going through a poor run of form with only one win in 13 matches in all competitions, which has seen them slip to 11th in the Premier League table. Read more
Stoke boss hints at Etebo’s January exit (Punch)
Super Eagles midfielder, Oghenekaro Etebo, looks likely to be heading towards Stoke exit if recent comments by his manager, Micheal O’Neil is to be believed.
The Eagles midfielder who has hardly featured under the Northern Irishman since returning from injury had also hinted at Potters exit following his inability to break into O’Neil’s midfield with the trio, Joe Allen, Jordan Cousins and Nick Powell the preferred.
And the former Northern Ireland manager has now hinted at an imminent exit of fringe players in January in order to balance the squad. Read more
Oliseh: Chelsea better against Tottenham (Nation)
Former Borussia Dortmund and Juventus midfielder Sunday Oliseh has described Sunday’s London derby between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur as ‘an exhibition of proactive football’, reports goal.com.
Chelsea won the intriguing fixture 2-0, thanks to Willian’s first-half brace which moved them to fourth in the Premier League table.
Frank Lampard’s side were the dominant team in the encounter and Oliseh singled out the two-goal hero for praise as the most outstanding player on the pitch. Read more
Bees attack players, officials, disrupt football match in Tanzania (Punch)
A Federation Cup match pitting Tanzania’s Young Africans (Yanga) and Iringa United had to be stopped momentarily after a swarm of bees made its way into the stadium forcing players to take cover.
The bees are said to have stormed the pitch just seven minutes into the second half of the Saturday, December 21, encounter played at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
In a video shared on social media capturing the incident, players from both teams and match officials can be seen lying on the floor. Read more
