Customs collects N1.172t at Apapa Port in 2023, decorates promoted officers (Guardian)
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) collected N1.172 trillion in revenues from Apapa Port in 2023.
Area Controller of the NCS at the ports, Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba, made the declaration on Wednesday in Lagos during the decoration of newly-promoted officers and men of the command.
He noted that the officers decorated on Wednesday contributed immensely to attaining the revenue collection. Read more
CBN sacks Boards of Union, Keystone and Polaris Banks (Channels)
The CBN assured the public of the safety and security of depositors’ funds, saying it remained resolute in fulfilling its mandate to uphold a safe, sound, and robust financial system in Nigeria.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has sacked the boards of Union Bank, Polaris Bank and Keystone Bank.
The apex bank in a statement signed by its Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Sidi Hakama, said “this action became necessary due to the non-compliance of these banks and their respective boards with the provisions of Section 12(c), (f), (g), (h) of Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020.”
It added that “the Bank’s infractions vary from regulatory non-compliance, corporate governance failure, disregarding the conditions under which their licenses were granted, and involvement in activities that pose a threat to financial stability, among others.” Read more
Supreme Court decides Kano, 6 other Gov’ship disputes Friday (Leadership)
The Supreme Court has fixed Friday, January 12, 2024, for judgement in the Kano State governorship election appeal.
Also, barring last-minute change of plan, the apex court will deliver judgement in six other governorship disputes before it.
LEADERSHIP reports that the Supreme Court had reserved judgement on Plateau, Delta and Abia State governorship election cases so far. Read more
Tinubu Appoints NAHCON, Christian Pilgrims Commission Board (DailyTrust)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of a new board and management team for the National Hajj Commission (NAHCOM).
The appointment is pending confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.
In a statement, presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, said the President, in his resolve to ensure hitch-free and seamless 2024 Hajj operations, appointed the following persons to the Board of NAHCOM:
Jalal Arabi — Chairman (In Office); Aliu Abdulrazaq — Commissioner, Policy, Personnel, & Finance; Prince Anofi Elegushi — Commissioner, Operations and Professor Abubakar A. Yagawal — Commissioner, Planning & Research. Read more
Army arrests soldiers involved in torture in viral video in Rivers (Sun)
The Headquarters, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has arrested two of its personnel captured in a trending video involved in torturing a civilian.
A statement from the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, said Army viewed with dismay the unprofessional conduct of the officers involved in the act.
The 6 Division stated that the Nigerian Army, which believes in the respect of the citizenry, would not condone any form of infraction from its erring personnel. Read more
Collaborative efforts among critical stakeholders will end sit-at-home in South-East – COAS (Channels)
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, has underscored the significance of collaborative efforts among critical stakeholders in South-East Nigeria in ending the illegitimate sit-at-home order.
He made the call on Wednesday while on an operational visit to 14 Brigade Nigerian Army (NA), Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) Barracks in Ohafia, Abia State, according to a statement by the Nigerian Army spokesperson, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu.
The COAS further reiterated that the involvement of all stakeholders in the region will restore the region to normalcy, where socio-economic activities it is known for will blossom. Read more
I’ve no apologies for supporting Tinubu’s administration – Atiku’s spokesman, Bwala (Vanguard)
The spokesman of Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign in the 2023 elections, Daniel Bwala on Wednesday evening said he has no apologies to anyone in his commitment to supporting President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The legal practitioner, who made the declaration after meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, also said also said if supporting the President will cause him to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), he would not mind.
Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting with the President, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, member, commended President Tinubu’s style of governance since he assumed office. Read more
Kogi Governorship: APC vows to punish members over anti-party activities (Guardian)
The Kogi State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has reiterated its resolve to punish all members who worked against the interest of the party in the November 11, 2023 governorship election in the state.
The party also assured loyal members who staked their lives for the party to emerge victorious that they have nothing to worry about as the party is ready to reward them handsomely.
The Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Bello, made the disclosure on Wednesday during the submission of the report of the Election Review committee inaugurated three weeks ago. Read more
Selena Gomez to play Linda Ronstadt in new biopic (Variety)
Selena Gomez will play Linda Ronstadt in an upcoming biopic, Variety has confirmed.
The pop singer and Only Murders in the Building star teased the role Tuesday night by posting a picture of Ronstadt’s 2013 memoir “Simple Dreams” on her Instagram story.
The music biopic is currently in pre-production, with producers including Ronstadt’s manager, John Boylan, and James Keach, who produced the 2019 documentary Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice. Read more
Palestinians gather in Ramallah’s Mandela Square to thank South Africa for ICJ case (AfricaNews)
Palestinians gathered Wednesday (Jan.10) in the Nelson Mandela Square of Ramallah to thank South Africa for filling a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Participants held banners calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Mandela compared the plight of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank with that of Black South Africans under the apartheid system. Read more
DDG & Halle Bailey launch Instagram for ‘flyest baby alive’ Halo (HiphopDx)
DDG and Halle Bailey‘s newborn baby has gotten a jump on Instagram fame with the creation of his very own account.
On Tuesday (January 9), baby Halo made his debut on the social media platform with a photo of him dripped out in an all-black Nike tracksuit.
However, fans looking to get a glimpse of the baby were in for disappointment as his face was blurred out for privacy reasons. Read more
Jacob Elordi and Ayo Edebiri nominated for BAFTA Rising Star Award (FilmNews)
Jacob Elordi and Ayo Edebiri are among the nominees for the EE Rising Star prize at the 2024 BAFTA Film Awards.
The Saltburn and Priscilla actor was announced as a nominee alongside The Bear and Bottoms actress by Stephen Graham during a press conference hosted by film critic Ali Plumb on Wednesday morning.
The quintet of nominees also includes Bridgerton and Fair Play star Phoebe Dynevor, How to Have Sex actress Mia McKenna-Bruce and Talk to Me’s Sophie Wilde. Read more
Alabama can carry out nation’s 1st execution using nitrogen gas, judge rules (NBC)
Alabama will be allowed to put an inmate to death with nitrogen gas later this month, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, clearing the way for what would be the nation’s first execution under a new method the inmate’s lawyers criticise as cruel and experimental.
U.S. District Judge R. Austin Huffaker rejected Alabama inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith’s request for an injunction to stop his scheduled Jan. 25 execution by nitrogen hypoxia. Smith’s attorneys have said the state is trying to make him the “test subject” for an untried execution method, and are expected to appeal the decision.
The question of whether the execution by nitrogen gas can ultimately proceed could end up before the U.S. Supreme Court. Read more
Food Network star Darnell Ferguson arrested on strangulation and burglary charges (People)
Food Network star Darnell ‘SuperChef” Ferguson was arrested on multiple charges, including strangulation, burglary and terroristic threatening in Kentucky, according to multiple news reports citing officials.
On Tuesday, Ferguson, 36, was booked into the Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections, online booking records show. WHAS 11, WDRB and Courier Journal report that in addition to the aforementioned charges, Ferguson also faces misdemeanour charges of assault, menacing, criminal mischief and theft-receipt of a stolen credit or debit card.
Details on what led to his arrest are unclear. PEOPLE has reached out to the St. Matthews Police for comment but did not immediately hear back Wednesday. Read more
1 dead, 5 abducted after Somali al-Qaeda affiliates attack UN helicopter (Fox)
Fighters with al-Qaida’s East Africa affiliate al-Shabab attacked a United Nations helicopter that made an emergency landing Wednesday in territory controlled by the extremists in Somalia, killing one passenger and abducting five others, officials said.
The minister of internal security of Galmudug state in central Somalia, Mohamed Abdi Aden Gaboobe, told The Associated Press by phone that the helicopter made the landing due to engine failure in Xindheere village. He said six foreigners and one Somali national were on board and one was shot dead while trying to escape. One was missing.
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric confirmed that “there was an incident involving a U.N.-contracted helicopter that took place today in Galmudug.” He said that for the safety of those on board he would not provide other details except to say that “response efforts are underway. … We’re fully engaged on the issue and trying to resolve it.” Read more
Boniface surgery successful (Punch)
Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface will begin rehabilitation on his groin injury after undergoing a successful surgery, the club has confirmed.
The injury forced Boniface out of Nigeria’s 2023 AFCON squad and was replaced by Terem Moffi on Tuesday after he sustained the injury during their training camp in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
“Victor Boniface was successfully operated today (Wednesday) in Berlin. The striker will return to Leverkusen later this week to start his rehabilitation process,” the club shared on X. Read more
Wounded Djokovic faces fire from young guns at Australian Open (StraitsTimes)
Novak Djokovic will bring his simmering rivalry with two young guns of the men’s game to the Australian Open where his hunt for a record-extending 11th title and 25th Grand Slam crown overall carries an air of inevitability despite an early loss in 2024.
The 36-year-old defied the odds to raise the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup last year as he overcame a ruptured hamstring and a distracting political row involving his father to win, before going past Rafa Nadal’s tally of 22 majors at the French Open.
He claimed a third Grand Slam trophy late last season at the U.S. Open but not before being denied the Wimbledon title by the 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz in a blockbuster five-set final, a result which was briefly heralded as the dawn of a new era. Read more
Simone Biles felt like ‘failure’ after Tokyo Olympics (BBC)
American Simone Biles said she felt like a failure following a disappointing 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Biles was aiming for six gold medals at the Games, which took place in 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Instead, the 26-year-old won a silver and bronze as she suffered with the ‘twisties’, which gymnasts describe as a kind of mental block, in Japan. Read more
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink singles out Chelsea’s big money signing for criticism in Middlesborough defeat (HitC)
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink expressed his frustration with Chelsea’s performance against Middlesborough in the EFL Cup.
The Blues suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Middlesborough away from home in the first leg of the competition’s semi-finals.
After missing a number of clear-cut chances with Cole Palmer failing to put the ball into an empty net, the hosts capitalised and scored a smash-and-grab winner through Hayden Hackney’s strike before the break. Read more
Sir Jim Ratcliffe already demonstrating he’s not like Glazers as Man Utd decision made (Mirror)
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s deal for 25 per cent of Manchester United won’t be ratified until the end of February, but the INEOS billionaire wants to make his commitment clear to the club’s fans
Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to distinguish himself from the Glazer family by making it clear he won’t be an absentee owner of Manchester United.
Ratcliffe is still awaiting formal ratification for his £1.3billion deal, which will see him buy 25 per cent of United. But the new era has already started at the club, with Sir Dave Brailsford a visible presence in the stands during the past three matches, since the club officially announced the INEOS deal on Christmas Eve. Read more
Australia’s divisive Steve Smith selection ensures sandpaper scandal still casting shadow (Independent)
It was the selection decision about which everyone who is anyone in Australian cricket had expressed an opinion. When David Warner announced his intention to retire from Test cricket at the end of the series against Pakistan in Sydney last year, he gave selector George Bailey plenty of time to consider how best to replace a transformative figure – and plenty of time for the talking heads to have their say.
Ricky Ponting put forward the case of Cameron Bancroft, the form opener in the Sheffield Shield. Matthew Hayden liked the versatile Matt Renshaw. Warner himself suggested Marcus Harris, a some-time colleague internationally who has carried the drinks as the reserve opener for most of the last two years.
Bailey, captain Pat Cummins and coach Andrew McDonald reached a different conclusion. On Wednesday, the jury returned their verdict with a week until the start of the first Test of the West Indies: Steve Smith would move up to replace Warner and open for the first time, while Cameron Green would return to the side and bat at four. Read more
