Court remands alleged WhatsApp hacker over N700k fraud (Punch)
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the remand of an alleged WhatsApp hacker, Stephen Andrew Ojo, at the Ikoyi centre of the Nigerian Correctional Services.
Justice Akintayo Aluko remanded the defendant following his arraignment before the court by the officers of the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos.
Ojo was arraigned on four counts which bordered on conspiracy, identity theft, and obtaining by false pretence. Read more
Yuletide: NSCDC beefs up security, deploys 2500 in Lagos (Guardian)
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has deployed 2500 personnel in Lagos State, to ensure maximum security during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Mr Seun Abolurin, spokesperson of the NSCDC, said this in a statement on Friday, in Lagos.
The personnel are drawn from Operations, Intelligence and Investigation Departments, as well as Anti–Vandal, Armed Squad and Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Explosives Units. Read more
Lagos building collapse: Death toll rises to 3 (Vanguard)
The death toll from Friday’s building collapse at Ebute Meta, Lagos State, has increased to three with the recovery of the body of a 12-year-old boy.
Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, the territorial coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency, confirmed the figure to newsmen in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) earlier reported the recovery of the bodies of two adults—a male and a female—from the rubble of the two-storey building. Read more
Please deliver us from area boys, Nollywood star Biodun Stephen begs Lagos govt (Nation)
Popular Nollywood filmmaker, Biodun Stephen, has bemoaned the rate at which thugs and area boys exhorted her film production crew in Lagos.
Biodun narrated the incident in a video shared via Instagram, in which she added that one of her crew members was almost stabbed by the “area boys” in Lagos.
The movie director said they were accosted and extorted by some area boys after their car broke down on the road. Read more
Japa: Abia discovers some doctors who relocated abroad still receiving salaries (Guardian)
The Abia State government said it has discovered that some doctors who left the state for greener pastures abroad are still collecting salaries.
Governor Alex Otti made the announcement on Thursday at the International Conference Centre in Umuahia during the State Council on Health.
Otti revealed that the ongoing digitalization of the state’s civil service has exposed the presence of these “ghost doctors” on the payroll, drawing undeserved remuneration despite their absence. Read more
FG to spend N50b on primary healthcare centres (DailyTrust)
The Federal Government will soon disburse N50bn to upgrade and expand primary healthcare centers nationwide.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate stated this on Thursday during the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting in Abuja.
He said the funds would be sourced from the Basic Health Provision Fund (BHCPF). Read more
Malaria: 8.8m mosquito nets distributed to Kano families in 2 weeks — Global Fund (Sun)
No fewer than 8.8 million mosquito nets was recently distributed to 18 million families in Kano State by the Global Fund, to strengthen the fight against malaria.
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria is an international financing and partnership organization that aims to attract, leverage and invest additional resources to end the epidemics.
The Global Fund, in a statement, posted on their verified Twitter (X), account explained that the distribution was successfully done in two weeks through the effective help of logisticians, conveyors, store managers, data managers, distributors, and several others involved in the distribution. Read more
Ebonyi police arrest 487 in 6 months (Punch)
The Ebonyi State Police Command on Friday said it recorded no fewer than 300 cases and arrested more than 487 suspects from June till now.
The command also said it prosecuted 140 cases and charged 187 suspects to court within the period.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mrs Augustina Ogbodo, gave the figures at a press conference in Abakaliki. Read more
Iggy Azalea puts Playboi Carti on blast after sweet father-son short film (HipHopDx)
Iggy Azalea has taken shots at former boyfriend Playboi Carti after he appeared in a mini-documentary with their son Onyx.
The short film, Dear O, was released on Wednesday (December 20) by Carti’s videographer Phoenix and contains home video footage of the rapper looking every bit the doting father to his three-year-old son.
In a sarcastic message posted on X (formerly Twitter) the following day, Iggy took issue with the way the footage portrayed Carti, writing: “Its cool how you can fit damn near every visit into just one video [white heart emoji] Talented!” Read more
Ariana Grande gives nod to Boyfriend Ethan Slater with inventive Christmas decoration (People)
Ariana Grande’s Christmas decorations include some special love for boyfriend Ethan Slater.
On Thursday, the Grammy-winning singer, 30, shared a carousel of photos to Instagram, including one snap that showed a Spam can ornament hanging on a wall Christmas tree made of green garland.
Of course, fans will know the ornament is a shoutout to Spamalot, the 2005 Tony-winning musical adaptation of Monty Python and The Holy Grail. A revival of the comedy is currently running on Broadway, starring Slater, 31, in a variety of roles. Read more
More bishops voice criticism — and support — for Vatican document on blessing same-sex couples (CNA)
More Catholic bishops have publicly declared their opposition to the Vatican’s Fiducia Supplicans document, which permits nonliturgical blessings of homosexual couples, while others have come forward to express support for the new guidance.
Some, including Cardinal Gerhard Müller and several bishops in Africa, have firmly denounced the Vatican’s document, which was published by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and signed by Pope Francis, and have taken steps to either prohibit or discourage priests from imparting any blessings of homosexual couples.
Others, like the German Bishops’ Conference and several Austrian bishops, have welcomed the document, while the Central Committee of German Catholics, an influential lay Catholic group supported by some German bishops, has since gone a step further and moved forward with proposals for formalized blessings of same-sex couples. Read more
4 Indian soldiers killed in Kashmir amid uptick in attacks on troops (AlJazeera)
Four Indian soldiers were killed, and three others were wounded after suspected rebels ambushed Indian military vehicles in the southernmost border district of Rajouri in Indian-administered Kashmir, officials said on Friday.
An Indian army official told Al Jazeera that the attack took place on Thursday afternoon when two army vehicles – a mini-truck and a gypsy – carrying nine soldiers were moving to a site where a search operation was under way to find the suspected rebels in Rajouri.
In a statement on Thursday evening, the Indian army said that their “troops immediately retaliated”. Read more
Student David Kozak named as gunman who left 14 dead in Charles University attack (Independent)
The gunman behind the Czech Republic’s worst-ever mass shooting has been identified.
David Kozak, 24, opened fire at Charles University in Prague on Thursday afternoon, killing at least 14 people and injuring more than 20.
The gunman, a history student at the university, started the shooting on the fourth floor of the building with legally owned weapons. Crowds of people fled for their lives as panic took over the country’s capital. Read more
Guinea: Death toll from Conakry fire rises to 23 as fuel shortages cause tension (AfricaNews)
The death toll from the explosion and fire at Guinea’s main fuel depot rose to 23 on Thursday, according to the government, while in Conakry clashes broke out between security forces and groups of young people protesting against the lack of petrol at service stations.
On Sunday night, the blast and subsequent fire in the port area of Kaloum, Conakry’s administrative and business district, caused extensive material damage and brought the economy to a standstill.
The fire caused “23 deaths” and 241 injuries, the government announced in a statement broadcast on state television on Thursday evening. Read more
Russia just lost 3 Su-34 bombers in 1 day (Newsweek)
Ukraine claimed three more Russian Su-34 bombers downed on Friday, all in the southern area of operations which has been the focus of Kyiv’s counteroffensive efforts over the past six months.
The Ukrainian military published the claim—made by Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk—on social media on Friday. This brings the total number of Russian aircraft Kyiv claims to have destroyed since February 2022 to 327.
Newsweek cannot independently verify the figure and has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry by email. Read more
Moses Simon signs new 2-year contract with Nantes (Leadership)
Super Eagles forward, Moses Simon, has signed a new contract with Ligue 1 outfit, Nantes.
The Nigeria international signed a two-year contract that will see him remain at the Maison Jaune until 2026.
Simon joined the Canaries on loan from Spanish club Levante at the start of 2019/20 season. Read more
AFCON 2023: Super Eagles’ group A foe equatorial Guinea to play Cameroon in friendly game (CompleteSports)
Nigeria’s Super Eagles’ AFCON 2023 Group A opponent, Equatorial Guinea, will face Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in a friendly game.
The game will hold on Monday, 8 January 2024 as part of preparations for both teams for the AFCON.
Equatorial Guinea will hope to maintain their unbeaten run when they face the five-time Africans champions. Read more
60-year-old explains why he did not take Aston Villa job before Unai Emery (HitC)
PSV Eindhoven coach Peter Bosz admits he turned down the Aston Villa job before Unai Emery took over at the Premier League high-flyers.
You’d struggle to find many managers in European football enjoying a better season than Unai Emery is at Aston Villa. But Peter Bosz arguably belongs to that very exclusive club.
His PSV Eindhoven side look like Champions-elect already, and we’ve only just reached the winter break. Bosz’s team have won 16 out of 16 games so far, picking up 100 per cent of the points available and putting a ten-gap gap between themselves and reigning champions Feyenoord at the top of the Eredivisie table. Read more
Oganenigu Unity Cup enters semi finals stage (Leadership)
The stage is set for semifinal matches of the ongoing Oganenigu Unity Cup in Oganenigu, Dekina local government area of Kogi State.
In the semifinal pairings released by the organisers, Awujeje will take on Ogane-Uge at the Odolu-Efu Football Pitch on Friday for a spot in the final while hard fighting Agbada FC will lock horns with their neighbours Ojuwo FC in Ugbabo Primary School’s football pitch.
To reach the last four, surprise semifinalist Awujeje dumped out pre-tournament favourite Aloko in their quarterfinal match, while Ogane-Uge stunned football giant Ugbabo with four unreplied goals at Awujeje Football Field. Read more
Arsenal must oppose Super League for fans – Arteta (BBC)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says it is important to “look after fans” as his club rejected involvement in the revised European Super League proposal.
Arsenal were one of 12 clubs who joined the original ESL plan in 2021.
On Thursday the European Court of Justice said banning clubs from joining the ESL was unlawful and a revamped league was proposed hours later. Read more
How Man Utd’s panic buying and ‘anxious’ Erik ten Hag ruined Harry Kane transfer (Mirror)
Harry Kane joined Bayern Munich from Tottenham in a £100million transfer in August – despite rumours linking the England captain with Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United
Manchester United’s hopes of signing Harry Kane in the summer were non-existent thanks to signings made during Erik ten Hag’s first transfer window in charge.
United were tipped to sign Kane, 30, from Tottenham, but the England captain joined Bayern Munich in a £100million deal instead. It’s proved to be a brilliant signing for the Germans, as Kane has already scored 25 goals – including 21 in the Bundesliga – this season. Read more