Court remands woman for trafficking girls (Punch)
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday ordered the remand of a woman, Rejoice John, alias Success, at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre for allegedly trafficking three young ladies to Ghana for prostitution.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke remanded the defendant, pending the hearing and ruling on her bail application.
In the charge marked FHC /L /829c /24, John is facing five counts bordering on deporting, harbouring and organised foreign travel for prostitution, preferred against her by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Read more
NSCIA supports establishment of Shariah panels in Ekiti, Oyo (Tribune)
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) today declared its support for the establishment of independent Shariah arbitration panels in the South-West zone of the country, particularly in Ekiti and Oyo states, since Muslims in the states have been denied their constitutional right to the Shariah Court of Appeal.
The Council, in a press statement signed by its Deputy National Legal Adviser, Imam Haroun Muhammad Eze, Esq, made available to Tribune Online in Abuja, stated that it could not find any legal justification for the unnecessary alarm and unwarranted resistance to the establishment of Shariah panels in the South-West.
The NSCIA stated that it was particularly disturbed about the high spate of intolerance and disregard for the rights of Muslims, especially in Southern Nigeria. Read more
APC expels Aregbesola over ‘‘anti-party’’ activities (DailyTrust)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has expelled Rauf Aregbesola, the former governor of Osun State, over alleged anti-party activities.
A letter issued by the party’s state chapter on Wednesday confirmed the expulsion.
Aregbesola, who served as the minister of interior in the last administration, had led a faction within the APC, initially known as “The Osun Progressives,” which was later rebranded as the Omoluabi Caucus. Read more
NLC to hold nationwide rally against telecom tariff hike (Channels)
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it will embark on a nationwide mass rally on Tuesday February 4, 2025, in protest of the 50 per cent telecom tariff increase recently approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
According to a communique signed by the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, on Wednesday, the decision was taken at an emergency meeting convened by the union’s National Administrative Council (NAC) on Wednesday.
The NLC said the rally will serve as a warning on the dangers of imposing such an unfair increase on a struggling population earning a minimum wage of only ₦70,000; a population that has suffered outrageous hike in the price of petrol, high cost of food, hike in electricity tariff and general rising inflation. Read more
NASS to meet Tinubu over population census (Guardian)
The National Assembly (NASS) has said it will meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to discuss conducting the population census this year, saying it is essential for establishing the country’s true population.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, said in Abuja on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by the board and management of the National Population Commission (NPC) that it is unacceptable that the country has yet to conduct a new census in over 19 years.
“It is unacceptable for a country as big as Nigeria to go 19 years without conducting a population census,” he said.
He argued that an updated census would end speculation over the country’s population figures, emphasizing the accuracy of biometric technology. Read more
Trial of terror suspects: How govt botched prosecution of 888 terror suspects (Vanguard)
In December 2024, the Federal Government through the office of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre announced it had concluded about 1,743 terrorism-related trials between 2017 and 2024.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mohammed Babadoko stated that within the seven-year review period, 742 convictions were secured, while 888 individuals were discharged and acquitted, primarily due to insufficient evidence.
Giving a breakdown of the terrorism-related trials, Babadoko stated that in 2017, 50 suspects were convicted, while 203 were acquitted, with 28 cases adjourned to the following year. Read more
UNILAG hosts Higher Education Proactive Ethics Programme by Fulbright Specialist (Independent)
In a demonstration of its commitment towards ensuring enhanced operational standards and improved service delivery, the Management of the University of Lagos is currently hosting a Fulbright Specialist and Deputy Ethics Officer from the Texas A&M University, Central Texas, USA, Professor Russell Porter.
Prof. Porter is in UNILAG to facilitate a 3-day Intensive Training Workshop on Higher Education Ethics which kicked off on Wednesday, January 29, and runs till Friday, January 31, 2025.
Holding at the Arthur Mbanefo Digital Research Center (AMDRC) of UNILAG, the training is targeted at upscaling the knowledge of faculty members in ways and methods of proactive ethics as well as inculcating its indispensability in promoting standards while also driving excellent service delivery. Read more
Demand for Aradel Holdings, 25 others lift stock market by N365b (ThisDay)
Investors’ aggressive demand for Aradel Holdings Plc, and 25 other companies yesterday lifted the market capitalisation by N365billion as these companies released full year 2024 financial results on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).
As Aradel Holdings gained 10 per cent, the NGX All-Share Index rose by 590.55 basis points or 0.57 per cent to close at 104,549.74 basis points. While the overall market capitalisation value gained N365 billion to close at N64.521 trillion.
As a result, the NGX ASI Year-to-Date return inched higher to +1.6per cent. Read more
Lady Gaga blows kiss and wears black gown in waxwork unveiled at Madame Tussauds (Standard)
A waxwork of Lady Gaga blowing a kiss and dressed in a black and white gown has been unveiled at Madame Tussauds London.
The figure is being released ahead of the 67th Grammy Awards after the US singer, real name Stefani Germanotta, was nominated for song of the year and best duo/group performance for her song Die With A Smile with Bruno Mars.
It replicates the Bad Romance singer’s black and white Armani Prive gown and statement gold earrings and necklace which she wore to the Grammy awards ceremony in 2022. Read more
Princess Beatrice welcomes baby daughter Athena several weeks early (RTE)
Britain’s Princess Beatrice has given birth to a daughter several weeks prematurely, with the 4lb 5oz baby, named Athena, said to be healthy and doing well.
The late Queen’s granddaughter, 36, and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi welcomed their second child a week ago on 22 January at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London.
Beatrice and her daughter are now said to be at home, with the family enjoying spending time together with Athena’s older siblings, Wolfie and Sienna. Read more
Strictly’s Craig Revel Horwood hits back at replacement comments from ex-pro (DigitalSpy)
Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood had a cheeky response to a former pro who suggested he be replaced on the panel.
Taking to Twitter/X, the judge addressed former Strictly pro dancer Ola Jordan regarding some alleged comments she’d made about having a “spicier” panel member on board to take over from Horwood.
“Former Strictly pro Ola Jordan says ‘nicey nicey’ Craig Revel Horwood replaced with ‘spicier’ judge,” Horwood posted earlier today. Read more
Mona Lisa to be moved as part of major Louvre overhaul (BBC)
The Mona Lisa will be moved to a new exhibition space at the Louvre in Paris as part of a plan to renovate the world’s most frequented museum.
Emmanuel Macron stood in front of the masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci as he made the announcement to an audience of dignitaries, with the change to be introduced by 2031 and visitors charged separately to see the painting.
The French president was outlining his New Renaissance project, which will also involve an international competition to design a second entrance to relieve the growing pressure of visitor numbers beneath the famous glass Pyramid. Read more
US President Trump to transfer undocumented immigrants to Guantanamo (AlJazeera)
President Donald Trump has announced plans to transform the United States detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, into a holding centre for undocumented immigrants.
The surprise announcement came on Wednesday, as the Republican president signed his first major piece of legislation, the Laken Riley Act.
Trump had campaigned for a second term on the promise of leading a “mass deportation” campaign, targeting the nearly 11 million undocumented people living in the US. Many have been in the country for decades, serving as pillars for their families and communities. Read more
20 killed in South Sudan plane crash, officials say (CNN)
A small aircraft carrying oil workers in South Sudan’s Unity State crashed on Wednesday, killing 20 people, an official said.
The plane crashed at the Unity oilfield airport on Wednesday morning as it was heading to the capital Juba, Gatwech Bipal, Unity State’s information minister, said.
Bipal said the passengers were oil workers of the Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC) , a consortium that includes China National Petroleum Corporation and state-owned Nile Petroleum Corporation. Read more
Dozens killed in crowd crushes at Kumbh Mela in India (Guardian)
At least 30 people have been killed and scores injured in crowd crushes at the Kumbh Mela festival, Indian police have confirmed, as vast numbers of people went to bathe at one of the holiest sites of the Hindu gathering.
Tens of millions of people flocked to the northern state of Uttar Pradesh to immerse themselves at the sacred confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers on one of the most auspicious days of the Hindu festival.
A senior police officer, Vaibhav Krishna, told a news conference that 30 people had died and at least double that number were wounded in fatal crushes that took place in the early hours of Wednesday. Read more
Napoli reject Galatasaray’s €65m Osimhen bid (Punch)
Italian giants Napoli have rejected a €65m bid from Galatasaray for Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
According to Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, the Turkish giants attempted to make Osimhen’s loan move permanent but fell short of the striker’s €75m release clause.
The 26-year-old joined Galatasaray on loan until the end of the season without an option to buy, but the Turkish club have a unique advantage in negotiations due to a compensation clause in the agreement. Read more
Ikorodu City Humble Pillars As El-Kanemi Warriors Down Rangers (DailyTrust)
Ikorodu City delivered a commanding performance as they thrashed Kano Pillars 4-1 in the 20th round of the Nigerian Premier League (NPFL), which resumed yesterday in Lagos.
The match had barely begun when the home fans erupted in celebration. Just two minutes in, Adelani Shola found himself in the right place at the right time, clinically finishing past the goalkeeper to give Ikorodu City an early lead. The stadium buzzed with excitement as the underdogs looked determined to make history.
Pillars, still finding their rhythm, struggled to contain the relentless attacks from their hosts. In the 27th minute, Uzondu Harrison doubled the lead, latching onto a well-placed pass and slotting the ball into the net. The visitors were stunned as this wasn’t the same Ikorodu City they had comfortably beaten 3-0 earlier in the season. Read more
Man City, PSG stay alive in Champions League as Arsenal reach last 16 (JapanToday)
Manchester City came from behind against Club Brugge to reach the Champions League knockout phase, where they were safely joined by Paris Saint-Germain as Arsenal qualified directly for the last 16 on Wednesday in the final round of league-phase matches.
Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille and Aston Villa also followed Liverpool and Barcelona in securing top-eight finishes to skip the new play-off round.
On a dramatic night in which only two of the closing 18 games were dead rubbers, Man City got the win they needed to avoid an embarrassing exit with a nervy 3-1 victory over Club Brugge. Read more
Macarthur FC star Jed Drew set to join TSV Hartberg in transfer to the Austrian Bundesliga (ABC)
In-form A-League Men star Jed Drew has sealed a move to the Austrian Bundesliga in a bid to bolster his shot for a Socceroos call-up.
Drew is tipped to join top-flight side TSV Hartberg after Macarthur FC confirmed his departure on Thursday.
The 21-year-old sets sail off the back of a thrilling campaign in the Australian domestic league. Read more
Caitlin Clark reportedly turns down competing in 3-point contest at NBA All-Star Weekend (People)
Caitlin Clark has reportedly declined an offer from the NBA to participate in the upcoming All-Star Weekend showcase.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Clark’s representatives at Excel Sports said the Indiana Fever star, 23, “will not participate in NBA All-Star special 3-point shootout in San Francisco” after rumors that the WNBA’s rookie of the year — who is renowned for her prowess with long-range shots — was invited to compete.
Clark reportedly “wants her first three-point contest to be at WNBA All-Star in Indianapolis this summer,” rather than the NBA’s, her representatives told Charania on Wednesday, Jan. 29. Read more
Frustrated Hovland not at best ahead of Pebble Beach (ESPN)
Viktor Hovland said his toe is fine after breaking it late last year, but said his game entering this week’s Pebble Beach Pro-Am could use some fixing.
“It’s not very good,” said Hovland, who won the U.S. Amateur title at Pebble Beach in 2018. “Yeah, it’s been frustrating. I do feel like I’m making headway and I’m constantly trying to put the piece of the puzzle together. Even if I’m not seeing results from day to day, which is extremely frustrating, I do feel like I’m learning more.
“Even if kind of that domino doesn’t start to fall today or tomorrow or the next day, I’m hoping the cumulative effect of that knowledge and experience, eventually I’ll get over that hump and we’ll turn things around. Right now, it’s pretty frustrating. This game of golf, as I said earlier, it’s very elusive, it’s counterintuitive and it’s very difficult right now.” Read more