Ondo court remands church founder over member’s death (Punch)
A Magistrate Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State, has remanded a female pastor, Prophetess Sarah Abuloye, in the correctional centre, over the death of a member of her church.
The 49-year-old defendant, the founder of a church in Igbara-Oke, the headquarters of the Ifedore Local Government Area of the state, was arrested for allegedly having a hand in the death of the deceased.
At the court proceeding, the Prosecutor, Obalasa Ajiboye, informed the court that the defendant killed one Adefunke Aselogbon, and dumped her remains in a bush behind her church on January 6, 2022.
The charge sheet read, “That you, Serah Abuloye, did conspire to commit a felony, to wit: murder and thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you, Serah Abuloye and others at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did kill and dump one Adefunke Aselogbon, aged 37, in a bush at the back of your church, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.” Read more
Court remands 3 for allegedly robbing 4 people at gunpoint (Sun)
An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Friday ordered the remand of three men charged with unlawful possession of a gun and robbing four persons of their cell phones.
The defendants are Olayemi Ajayi, 22, apprentice; Kudus Olawale, 22, barber; and Wasiu Nurudeen, 20, a mechanic.
The police charged the defendants, who are residents of the Ojo area of Lagos State, with conspiracy, unlawful possession of a gun and robbery.
Magistrate O.A. Odunbanjo, who did not take the defendants’ plea, ordered that they should be remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Centre. Read more
Ex-Anglican bishop, Adebiyi, dies at 79 (Punch)
The pioneer Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Lagos West, Peter Adebiyi, is dead.
According to a statement on Friday by his first son, Adeboye, the retired bishop died at about 10:15pm on Thursday after a brief illness.
The late bishop would have been 79 in April having been born on April 27, 1943.
He was the Bishop of the diocese between 1999 and 2013 when he retired. Read more
The best will happen in 2023, says Akiolu (Nation)
The best will happen to and in Nigeria in 2023 and beyond, Oba of Lagos Rilwan Akiolu has said.
He spoke when the State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Calys Alumona visited his palace.
The monarch was perhaps reacting to statements credited to former Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who said ‘to be honest, this country, we are living on extra time. In 2015, we were in a deep hole. In 2023, we will be in an even deeper hole than in 2015’.
Akiolu urged Sanusi to pray for Nigeria rather than speak of negativity.
ATPN set to launch Lagos chapter, hosts Uzamat Akinbile -Yusuf, Others (Independent)
The Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN) will on Saturday in Badagry play host to the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Pharm. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf as the special guest of honour at the 2022 South West ATPN Summit.
The event that has as its theme: “The Place of Domestic Tourism in Post-Covid Economy” is scheduled to hold at the Fams Embassy Suites, Badagry and will also feature the inauguration of the Lagos State Chapter of ATPN.
A statement from ATPN stated that the event will also feature sub-themes presentations by Mrs. Abiola Adelana, Head Tourism Business, Sterling Bank Plc. and Mr. Aiyetan Rotimi Olusola, the Zonal Coordinator, Nigeria Tourism Development Cooperation (NTDC).
Mrs. Adelana would deliver a paper titled: “Inclusion of Financial Institutions In Tourism Development beyond Sponsorship: Investment Attention To Domestic Tourism”, Mr. Aiyetan of NTDC is scheduled to speak on the topic: “Consequence of Policymaking on Domestic Growth” while the Chairman, Villa Rica Resort, Ibeju Lekki will talk on “Eco-Tourism and Resorts Investment in Post-Covid Economy”. Read more
COVID-19: Bayelsa government reassures those living with HIV on safe vaccination (Guardian)
The Bayelsa Commissioner for Health, Dr Pabara Newton-Igwele, has reassured persons living with HIV in the state that they can safely get the coronavirus vaccination.
Newton-Igwele, who was represented by Dr Jones Stow, Director, Public Health, Bayelsa State, Ministry of Health, said this on Friday in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital, during a one-day sensitisation on COVID-19 prevention, testing and vaccination for the Bayelsa state chapter of the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NEPHWAN) and Frontline Health workers from Yenagoa and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was organized by the Bayelsa State Ministry of Health with support from USAID/Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria.
The commissioner said “We strongly recommend that everyone living with HIV should have the COVID-19 vaccine when they are offered it. Read more
Gunmen kill senior govt official in Kaduna (Channels)
Gunmen have shot and killed Mr Dauda Aliyu, a senior staff of the Kaduna Geographical Information Service (KADGIS).
The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday at the Igabi Local Government Area of the state.
The attackers were said to have stormed the residence of the victim located in Barkallahu community, about three kilometres to Kaduna metropolis, shooting him several times and leaving.
The police authorities in Kaduna state are yet to comment on the incident to ascertain if it is a case of banditry or assassination. Read more
Buhari calls for lasting peace on Korean Peninsula (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria will support efforts to bring peaceful resolution and reconciliation on the Korean peninsula.
The President’s spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, in a statement, said Buhari stated this when he joined world leaders virtually on Friday to attend the opening of World Summit 2022.
The summit with the theme, ”Reconciliation and Peace in the Korean Peninsula, through Multi Sectoral Peace Building Initiatives in Asia and in the World”, is organized by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF).
In a video-message sent to the Hybrid Summit in Seoul, South Korea, the president said the Korean peninsula had been a flashpoint of conflict, lingering many decades and therefore deserving the attention of world leaders for a peaceful resolution. Read more
1 killed as motor park manager factions clash in Ibadan (DailyTrust)
A member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), otherwise known as Oyo State Park Management System (PMS), Afiz Agate, has been reportedly shot dead in a gun duel between men of the PMS and a group, simply identified as Federal Boys.
Daily Trust learnt that the crisis started on Thursday evening at the Oremeji Agugu area of the ancient city of Ibadan.
However, the details of the disagreement between the two groups remain unclear at the time of this report, but our correspondent learnt that men of the Nigeria Police Force and Southwest Security Network also known as Amotekun had taken over the area to restore law and order.
The Public Relations Officer of the Park Management System in the state, Alhaji Emiola Jelili, when contacted confirmed the incident, but he did not reveal the number of casualties involved in the fracas. Read more
How I was almost accused of stealing in London hotel – Bovi (Punch)
Popular Nigerian comedian, Bovi Ugboma, has shared a recent experience he had at a London hotel where he was almost accused of stealing.
In a series of Instagram stories on Wednesday, the ace funnyman disclosed how he told officials at the London hotel to ‘google’ him during an interrogation, in order to save himself.
According to him, he was trying to check into a hotel in London and on arrival, he was asked to present the card he used in booking the room.
Bovi noted that he made it clear to the hotel that his wife, using her card, helped him book the hotel and she was in Nigeria. Read more
Adele promises Las Vegas shows will ‘absolutely 100%’ happen this year (BBC)
Adele has said the Las Vegas residency she recently postponed will “absolutely 100%” happen later this year.
Last month, the singer posted a tearful video the day before her first show, saying it wasn’t ready.
She has now told TV host Graham Norton she and her team are working extremely hard to prepare and confirm new dates.
“It has to happen this year because I’ve got plans for next year,” she told him. “Imagine if I have to cancel because I am having a baby!”
Adele, who has a nine-year-old son Angelo with ex-husband Simon Konecki, told Norton’s BBC One chat show she would like to have more children. Read more
Playboy wants to build a new mansion in the Metaverse (NBC)
Playboy is on a mission to spread its famous bunny logo across the digital universe.
The company has already dropped thousands of Playboy NFTs featuring bunny avatars, launched a digital social platform called Centerfold and has plans to build a new Playboy Mansion in the metaverse.
These plans for the future are taking place while an A&E documentary focuses on the company’s unflattering past. “Secrets of Playboy” is a10-part series making headlines by featuring former employees, playmates and past girlfriends of the company’s founder Hugh Hefner, alleging Playboy had a dark side.
Even before the series’ debuted in late January, Playboy’s leadership posted an open letter to its website noting, “today’s Playboy is not Hugh Hefner’s Playboy.” Read more
‘Bel-Air’ creator says “It’s gonna be a wild ride, so buckle up” (Vibe)
Transforming a classic 1990s sitcom into a 2020s-era drama might sound like a challenge; however, the cast and crew of BEL-AIR are confident they stepped up to the plate. Created after director, executive producer, and co-writer Morgan Cooper’s self-made film Bel-Air dropped in 2019 and went viral, the series reimagines the characters from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air beyond their comedic personas.
Will Smith, who starred in the original series, was impactful in seeing the series go from a YouTube concept to an actual series. In fact, he serves as an executive producer and worked with the cast and crew along the way.
“I remember him [Will Smith] telling me, to just create with confidence, always,” Cooper shared with Vibe during a virtual interview with the show’s cast and crew. “Him truly passing me that baton and giving me the trust to reimagine these characters is an honor and something I take very, very seriously, but it was a responsibility that I wanted. I’m very excited for the fans to see these reimagined characters that you know and love grounded through a modern lens. It’s gonna be a wild ride, so buckle up.”
Bel-Air stars newcomer Jabari Banks as Will, Adrian Holmes as Uncle Phil, Cassandra Freeman as Aunt Viv, Olly Sholotan as Carlton, Coco Jones as Hilary, Akira Akbar as Ashley, Jimmy Akingbola as Geoffrey, Jordan L. Jones as Jazz, and Simone Joy Jones as Lisa. From the fashion and styling choices to the music, the cast is excited for audiences to see their modern interpretations of nostalgic characters and experience the entire series. Read more
Gayle King receives false positive Covid test before going on-air: ‘It is very jarring’ (USAToday)
Gayle King is breathing a sigh of relief after learning her positive COVID-19 test was actually negative.
The “CBS Mornings” anchor spent Thursday’s broadcast in a van while isolating herself after receiving a positive test result ahead of the show. King said she received a positive PCR test but a negative antigen test.
“That primal scream you heard from the fourth floor was me,” King told co-anchor Tony Dokoupil Thursday. “Because I’ve been so freaking careful. I just couldn’t believe it.”
King, 67, said after the differing test results she tested several more times and got negative results. She added that everyone on her team also tested negative. After getting the OK from her doctor, she felt more at ease. Read more
Charlie Cox spills all on that ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ cameo and his hopes for Daredevil’s future (THR)
Charlie Cox worried he dreamt the entire conversation.
It was June 2020 when his phone rang Qone afternoon, with Kevin Feige on the other end. The Marvel Studios boss asked if the actor had a few minutes to chat. At first, Cox thought there was a chance he was being put on. “You never know. It was wild,” says the Daredevil star of that moment.
The call was not a hoax — it was a tremendous opportunity. Matt Murdock was officially joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And his first appearance after the devastating 2018 Netflix cancellation of Daredevil would be Spider-Man: No Way Home. Cox was equal parts shocked and elated.
It’s been almost two months since the Sony-Marvel film swung into theaters and quickly became the highest-grossing picture of the pandemic era with $1.77 billion globally. Enough time has finally passed for Cox to reflect — publicly. And he did just that through an in-depth interview with The Hollywood Reporter; the stage and screen actor opened up about all facets of returning to the fan-favorite superhero role and his hopes for the Daredevil future, among much more. Read more
Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift release ‘The Joker and the Queen’ music video (UPI)
Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift are back with new music.
Sheeran, 30, released a single and music video Friday for his “The Joker and the Queen” remix featuring Swift, 32.
Sheeran and Swift recruited Ava Ames and Jack Lewis from their “Everything Has Changed” video for the new music video.
Ames and Lewis played younger versions of Swift and Sheeran in “Everything Has Changed,” released in 2013. In “The Joker and the Queen,” the pair are now older and away at college, but exchange texts and reunite at the end of the video. Read more
France’s Nobel winner for co-discovery of HIV virus dies aged 89 (RFI)
French scientist Luc Montagnier, who won the Nobel prize for medicine for his co-discovery of the HIV virus that causes AIDS, has died aged 89, the mayor of the Paris suburb where he was hospitalized said Thursday.
Montagnier died on Tuesday in the American Hospital in Neuilly-sur-Seine northwest of the centre of Paris, its mayor Jean-Christophe Fromantin told AFP. Fromantin said he was in possession of the death certificate.
President Emmanuel Macron praised his “major contribution” to the fight against HIV/AIDS, “which remains one of the greatest medical and scientific challenges of the 21st century”, and sent his condolences to Montagnier’s family.
Montagnier shared the 2008 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with his colleague Francoise Barre-Sinoussi for their “discovery of human immunodeficiency virus” (HIV), which causes AIDS. Read more
NFF hails FIFA over clearance of Lookman to represent Nigeria (Leadership)
The Nigeria Football Federation says it has received the decision of world football –governing body, FIFA, that Leicester City FC of England player Ademola Lookman can now represent Nigeria at international level.
Emilio Garcia Silveiro, FIFA’s Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, on Thursday conveyed to the NFF the decision of the Single Judge of the Status Chamber of the Football Tribunal:
“The request made by the NFF – Nigeria Football Federation for a change of association of the player Ademola Olajide Lookman is accepted.
“The player Ademola Olajide Lookman is eligible to play for the representative teams of the NFF – Nigeria Football Federation with immediate effect.” Read more
West Ham confirm Kurt Zouma ‘available to play’ on Sunday despite cat-kicking scandal (Metro)
David Moyes has confirmed Kurt Zouma will remain part of his squad for West Ham United’s Premier League clash with Leicester City on Sunday.
Zouma was a surprise inclusion in the Hammers’ starting XI for their midweek clash against Watford on Tuesday following the emergence of a video in which the defender was filmed dropping, kicking and slapping one of his Bengal cats.
The 27-year-old has since been fined £250,000 by West Ham while his two pets have been seized by the RSPCA following the sickening footage which was initially posted on Snapchat by his brother Yoan.
Zouma has also lost his sponsorship deal with Adidas this week with his brother suspended by his club Dagenham and Redbridge.
But speaking at a press conference on Friday, Moyes expressed his belief that West Ham have taken as much action as they possibly can with their player.
Thousands sign petition urging RSPCA take action over Kurt Zouma for kicking cat :+1: 1 Read more
Rangnick tells Ronaldo and Manchester United’s other forwards to score more (Guardian)
Ralf Rangnick is clear that a lack of goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United’s other forwards in recent games has cost the team victory.
United have managed a single strike in each of their past three matches, drawing two – 1-1 against Middlesbrough, who beat them on penalties, and Burnley – and winning one, 1-0 against West Ham. There have been 14 United goals in Rangnick’s 11 matches as interim manager.
Ronaldo, the top scorer with 14, has not registered for five games. Rangnick was asked whether he knew how to best use the Portuguese for the benefit of the team.
“It’s not only about Cristiano Ronaldo,” he said. “That we should score more goals, it’s obvious. We created enough chances in the last couple of games but we just didn’t score enough goals. This is not only an issue with Cristiano – it’s an issue with other players, especially with the offensive players: we don’t score enough goals. Read more
Jozy Altidore bids farewell to Toronto FC in social media post (CBC)
Star striker Jozy Altidore, who has been missing from Toronto FC’s training camp, said farewell to Toronto via Instagram on Friday.
The MLS team has not said much about Altidore’s absence although coach Bob Bradley said earlier this week an announcement on the 32-year-old forward’s future was coming “shortly.”
A source, not authorized to speak publicly on the matter because talks have been ongoing behind the scenes, said TFC and Altidore’s representatives have been in prolonged discussions about a contract buyout. The New England Revolution reportedly is waiting in the wings to sign Altidore, one of TFC’s three designated players.
Friday’s social media post to Altidore’s 197,000 followers, accompanied by a photo of the player waving to the crowd, suggests those talks have finally concluded. Read more
DP World Tour: Ryan Fox moves into three-shot lead at halfway stage of the Ras Al Khaimah Classic (Sky)
Ryan Fox extended his lead to three shots heading into the weekend at the Ras Al Khaimah Classic, with Scotland’s pair Robert MacIntyre and Connor Syme in the chasing pack.
Fox followed career-best opening-round 63 with a three-under 69 on Friday morning at Al Hamra Golf Club, mixing six birdies with three bogeys to move to 12 under and set a clubhouse target that could not be matched.
The New Zealander reached the turn in 34 and cancelled out failing to get up and down from a greenside bunker at the 11th by holing from off the next green, the first of three consecutive birdies.
Fox responded to a wayward drive and bogey at the 16th by rolling in from 12 feet to pick up a shot at the next, only to see his lead reduced when he found water off the tee on the par-five last and had to settle for a closing bogey. Read more
Jenson Brooksby overcomes Andreas Seppi to advance to the quarter final in Dallas (UbiTennis)
Last year’s ATP Newcomer of the Year Jenson Brooksby overcame Andreas Seppi 6-3 3-6 6-3 at the Dallas Open.
Brooksby opened up a 2-0 lead with a break in the second game. Seppi broke straight back in the third game and held serve at deuce to draw level to 2-2. Brooksby broke in the eighth game to take the first set 6-3. Seppi broke in the fourth game and held serve in a five-deuce game (the longest of the match) to seal the second set 6-3 forcing the match to a decider.
Brooksby got the decisive break in the fourth game of the third set to open up a 4-1 lead. Seppi missed a break-back point at 2-4 before Brooksby sealed the win on his first match point.
“I thought having a good game at 3-5 in the second set, even though I didn’t get the break back, just to get the feel on the return better and play better was going into the third set. I thought I stayed pretty calm out there, a good balance of calm and competing, which is always a focus of mine”, said Brooksby. Read more
Hamilton posts another update ahead of Mercedes F1 launch (RN365)
Lewis Hamilton has posted another update on social media, revealing some more of the activities he got up to during his winter break.
Having recently ended his two-month silence spanning from the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Hamilton returned to Instagram last week to post a short update declaring that “I’m back”, alongside a photo of himself smiling at the Grand Canyon.
Since then, he shared a later post showing him on a trip to New York, before returning to the UK and posting a video of himself running in London.
A further update from Hamilton, posted on Thursday, shows the seven-time Champion enjoying some birthday cake (he celebrated his 37th birthday on 7 January), playing Monopoly and relaxing with friends, kite-surfing, and visiting the Grand Canyon. Read more