Court sentences man to death for killing sex worker (Punch)
An Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta on Wednesday, sentenced 22-year-old Jamiu Malomo to death by hanging for stabbing to death one Asisat Akande, an alleged sex worker, in July 2018.
Malomo was convicted on a one count charge of murder.
Delivering his judgment, Justice O. Ogunfowora convicted Malomo for the charge brought against him, saying that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubts and that the 22-year-old was guilty as charged. Read more
NAPTIP rescues 9 pregnant girls in Abuja suspected baby factory (Leadership)
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has raided a suspected baby factory located inside one of the sprawling estates in the Ushafa area of Abuja, rescuing nine (9) pregnant girls.
NAPTIP said the victims were locked up in a rented apartment inside the estate by a yet-to-be-identified suspected trafficking agent after recruiting them through an online platform.
Spokesman of NAPTIP, Vincent Adekoga, said in a statement on Wednesday, that the raid on the facility by its operatives followed a tip-off by a concerned citizen who noticed the unusual situation and movement around the area. Read more
Secondary school students beat teacher to coma (Vanguard)
Some students of Ebira Muslim Community College Okengwe, (EMCCO) in Okene LGA o Kogi state has allegedly beaten one of their teachers to coma.
The boys whoa re said to be in SS2, operating in the guise of a cult group were said to have embarrass and humiliated th Physics teacher, Mr Muktar Salihu.
The act was said to have been part of their grand plan to bring the college under their full control and administrative commandment. Read more
Ondo Muslim cleric curses cultists for killing wife, son (Nation)
A Muslim cleric, Alhaji Abdulkareem Adedokun, has placed a curse on cultists who killed his wife, Temitope, and son, Abdul Malik, in Owo, Owo local government area.
A cult war on January 6, 2025, in Owo led to the killing of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Fisayo Oladipo and two others.
Imam Adedokun, who broke his silence since the incidence occurred, said his wife was attacked at her shop. Read more
FG backs women in oncology leadership programme to tackle cancer (Tribune)
The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health has pledged its support for a leadership program aimed at empowering women in oncology to adequately tackle cancer in the society.
This move is driven by the understanding that women play a vital role in advancing healthcare for women, particularly in the fight against breast and cervical cancer, which are the most common types of cancer affecting women in Nigeria.
Speaking to journalists at the sideline interview at the launch of the Leadership Programme for Women in Oncology(LPWO), the Head of the National Cancer Control and Nuclear Medcine Programme at the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Uchechukwu Emmanuel Nwokwu, said, the ministry recognizes the importance of preventive measures, such as the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, in reducing the incidence of cancer. Read more
Amotekun parades 21 suspects in Ondo, vows to restrict influx of bandits (Channels)
Men of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as The Amotekun Corps have apprehended 21 Suspects in recent operations carried out in various parts of the state.
Parading the suspects at the headquarters of the corps in Akure, the state capital, the Commander of the corps, Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed they included; four suspected kidnappers, five herders alleged to be violating the anti-open grazing law, and 12 others charged with a range of offences including theft, assault, and attempted murder.
Some of the Suspects interviewed by newsmen confessed to have committed the crime charges against them, blaming the devil. Read more
WEF: Nigeria seeks full implementation of Continental Free Trade (VON)
Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to leading the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and maximizing the market potential of this initiative to foster digital transformation and economic integration across the African continent.
Vice President Kashim Shettima stated this on Wednesday when he joined other world leaders to push for the full implementation of the (AfCFTA) with a target to boost Africa’s economy to $29 trillion by 2050.
This is just as the President of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Børge Brende, pointed out the transformative potential of the AfCFTA, projecting that its full implementation could boost Africa’s economy to $29 trillion by 2050. Read more
Aviation minister inspects Ekiti Agro-Allied Cargo Airport (Independent)
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, was on a two-day working visit to Ekiti State, where he conducted an inspection of the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport in Ado-Ekiti.
A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister, Tunde Moshood said that the visit is aimed at assessing the airport’s readiness for non-schedule passenger operations.
The Minister was warmly received by the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, His Excellency Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji, alongside key members of the Ekiti State Government. During the inspection, the Minister commended the state-of-the-art facilities and the airport’s international-standard runway, which positions it as a hub for agro-cargo and emerging passenger operations. Read more
Lynn Ban, Bling empire: New York star, dies at 52 after undergoing brain surgery (People)
Lynn Ban, a renowned jewelry designer and star of Netflix’s Bling Empire: New York, has died weeks after undergoing emergency surgery following a ski accident. She was 52.
Her son Sebastian announced her death in an Instagram post, writing that she died on Monday, Jan. 20.
“My mum passed away on Monday,” he wrote while sharing a selection of family photos. “I know she wanted to share her journey after her accident and brain surgery, so I thought she would appreciate one last post sharing the news to people who supported her.” Read more
1 dead after Nashville high school shooting (UPI)
Two students were hit by gunfire in a Nashville high school shooting Wednesday morning. The shooter, also a student, then shot himself. One of the students died. None were publicly identified.
Nashville Metro Police said on X, “A shooting incident is under investigation at Antioch High School. Three people have been wounded, including the suspect, who shot himself.”
Police said the shooter was no longer a threat. Read more
A rebel group is advancing on eastern Congo’s largest city and over 100,000 people have fled (ABC)
The M23 rebel group’s advance toward eastern Congo’s largest city has displaced over 178,000 people in the past two weeks, the United Nations said, as the fighters closed in on Goma on the border with Rwanda.
The M23 has been making significant advances, though it was unclear whether the rebels will try to capture Goma, which they seized in 2012 and controlled for over a week. Congolese authorities said Tuesday its fighters seized the town of Minova, on a key supply route for Goma, a regional hub for security and humanitarian efforts.
M23 is one of about 100 armed groups that have been vying for a foothold in mineral-rich eastern Congo in a decades-long conflict that has created one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. More than 7 million people have been displaced. Read more
Eminem, Janet Jackson and more snubbed for Songwriters Hall of Fame (NME)
The inductees list for the 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame has been revealed – and doesn’t include nominated acts like Eminem, Janet Jackson and more.
Last night (January 22), the Songwriters Hall of Fame unveiled the inductees for its Class of 2025 after announcing the nominees in November. Being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame this year are George Clinton, The Doobie Brothers, Ashley Gorley, Rodney Jerkins, Mike Love and Tony Macaulay.
Among the artists who were nominated back in November but did not make the cut are Eminem, Janet Jackson, Boy George, Alanis Morissette, Sheryl Crow, N.W.A., Bryan Adams and more. A total of 26 artists were nominated, with only six being selected for induction. Read more
Advocates and family react as Trump cancels Afghan refugee resettlement (AlJazeera)
Afghans who fled their home country after the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 are pleading for the United States to reconsider a decision cancelling all existing refugee resettlement efforts.
On Wednesday, reactions continued to pour in against an executive order Trump had signed two days prior, on his first day in office.
That order called for the suspension of the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), which processes refugees for resettlement in the country, starting on January 27. All applications and arrivals through the programme have likewise been suspended. Read more
Retail crime ‘queenpin’ to pay millions in restitution to Ulta, other retailers for theft ring (NBC)
The California mom who pleaded guilty to running an organized retail crime ring that stole millions of dollars in beauty products from Ulta Beauty and Sephora to resell on Amazon will now have to pay those retailers back as part of her sentence.
Michelle Mack, who began her five-year prison sentence on Jan. 9 following her arrest outside of San Diego in December 2023, was ordered to pay $3 million in restitution to Ulta, Sephora and a number of other retailers after striking a plea deal with prosecutors last year.
As part of the deal, Mack, 54, forfeited her 4,500-square-foot mansion in Bonsall, California, which was sold in December for $2.35 million, property records show. Read more
Schools in Mayotte prepare to reopen after devastating Cyclone Chido (AfricaNews)
Just over a month after Cyclone Chido devastated the French Indian Ocean island of Mayotte, schools are preparing for the return of students next week.
Teachers and administrative staff were called back to work on Monday to find some classrooms destroyed, while others were missing a roof or windows.
At the Lycée de Petite Terre high school in Mamoudzou, locals and firefighters are still working to consolidate some of the main buildings. Read more
Okocha begs media: ‘‘Stop writing falsehoods about me’’ (Vanguard)
Former Super Eagles captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha has appealed to the Nigerian Media to stop writing falsehoods about him, stressing that he is open to interviews if and when they seek his opinion on issues concerning football.
The former Bolton Wanderers of England captain was reacting to an online medium story that he criticised the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, over the appointment of Mali’s Eric Chelle as the new coach of the Super Eagles.
Speaking on Lagos Talks FM monitored in Lagos, Okocha said he didn’t grant any interview to anybody how much criticising the NFF on their appointment of a coach. Read more
Cagliari prepare bid for Okereke (CompleteSports)
Nigeria forward David Okereke is a subject of interest from Serie A club, Cagliari, reports Completesports.com.
Okereke is currently on loan at Turkish Super Lig outfit, Gaziantep from Italian outfit Cremonese.
The 27-year-old has registered five goals and two assists in 14 league appearances for Gaziantep. Read more
Naomi Girma transfer: Chelsea Women agree world-record fee for San Diego Wave defender (SkySports)
Chelsea Women have agreed a world-record fee with San Diego Wave for defender Naomi Girma.
A deal of around £890,000 ($1.1m) has been settled on between the two clubs, breaking the current record of £695,000 ($860,000) when Racheal Kundananji moved to Bay FC from Madrid CFF.
The centre-back is expected to have a medical in London later this week and become Blues manager Sonia Bompastor’s first January signing at the club. Read more
Alejandro Garnacho makes decision over Chelsea transfer as Manchester United lower asking price (Metro)
Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho favours a move to Chelsea over Napoli, according to reports in Argentina.
Napoli have already had a bid rejected for Garnacho as United initially held out for a £70 million transfer fee for the 20-year-old.
Chelsea are also exploring the possibility of signing Garnacho before the end of the January transfer window and the winger’s two agents were at Stamford Bridge on Monday night to watch Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Wolves. Read more
Manchester City accused of ‘tapping up’ 18-year-old centre-back prospect (Independent)
Manchester City have been accused of tapping up teenage defender Juma Bah by his club Real Valladolid.
The Spanish side say the 18-year-old and his agent told them on Tuesday he would be unilaterally terminating his contract and that the player from Sierra Leone then failed to report for training on Wednesday morning.
Valladolid say City are “behind this decision” and “advised the player to take this route”. Read more
F1 drivers could face bans, points deductions in new FIA misconduct rules (SkySports)
The FIA has introduced new guidelines which could see F1 drivers receive points deductions or a possible ban for misconduct violations, including swearing.
Max Verstappen was ordered to “accomplish some work of public interest” at the end of 2024 after using an expletive during a press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix.
The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) called out FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem in November in response to Formula 1’s swearing saga, which the FIA did not respond to at the time. Read more