DCP Abba Kyari arrested by police (Punch)
The suspended Head of the Intelligence Response Team, DCP Abba Kyari, has been arrested by the Nigerian police.
The PUNCH exclusively gathered that he was arrested alongside four others on Monday.
Kyari was arrested hours after National Drug Law Enforcement Agency declared he wanted over alleged drug links.
The suspended DCP is also under investigation after the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States of America indicted him in the case of fraud involving Instagram celebrity, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi.
Drug saga
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, had at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, chronicled how Kyari belonged to a drug cartel that operates the Brazil-Ethiopia-Nigeria illicit drug pipeline. Read more
Police arrest FIRS staff who held his wife, children at gunpoint for 5 days (Guardian)
A staff of the Federal Internal Revenue Service (FIRS) who held his wife and children at gunpoint has been arrested.
Felix Akeze, the FIRS staff, reportedly threatened to kill his wife and children unless they repay him all he has spent on them.
Akeze allegedly held them hostage at gunpoint in their Chevron Drive home in the Lekki area of Lagos State for five days, Eons Intelligence reported.
A media aide to FIRS chairman Johannes Wojuola said Akeze has been arrested by the police. Wojuola said preliminary investigations showed that the FIRS staff was under “mental pressure”. Read more
Memories as Badagry Grammar School old students reunite, celebrate colleagues (Guardian)
It was a day of good old memories when the 1973-1977 set of Badagry Grammar School (BGS) reunited in Lagos after over forty years apart.
Their gathering was aimed at recounting old, fun memories in school, lessons learned in the journey of life, and celebrating three of their classmates who got promoted in their fields of endeavour.
One of them was Kayode Samuel, who was recently promoted to the role of commissioner of police in charge of armament at the force headquarters in Abuja.
They also celebrated one of the Court of Appeal judges Justice Frederick Oziakpono Oho, who was represented by his wife Glory and Samson Ajibade, the permanent secretary in the office of Lagos State Head of Service. Read more
Sanwo-Olu deserves 2nd term – Lawan (Independent)
Sanwo-Olu Deserves Second Term – Lawan
Senate President Ahmad Lawan says Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State deserves to be re-elected in 2023 based on his outstanding performance in office.
Lawan disclosed that Sanwo-Olu has improved on the good works done by his successors and has continued to deliver the dividends of good governance to the people of the state.
He stated that the APC leadership had watched with satisfaction the giant strides being made by Sanwo-Olu in Lagos, urging Lagosians to re-elect the governor in 2023.
He made this submission over the weekend at the fifth town hall meeting and empowerment programme organised by Senator Solomon Olamilekan (APC- Lagos West) at the Police College, Ikeja. Read more
Bandits abduct Customs officer in Zamfara, demand N10m (Channels)
Suspected bandits have abducted the regional accountant of Nigerian Customs Service in charge of Kano & Jigawa State, Mr Mahassan Lawal.
Mr Lawal was kidnapped late on Friday night in his country home of Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The officer was whisked away by gunmen who came in their large numbers and made their way into the local government headquarters.
A younger brother to the victim, Umar Lawal, told Channels Television that the abductors have contacted the family and demanded N10 million as ransom. He said as of 12:00 pm on Saturday, they had negotiated for the release of the abductee at N3 million but the bandits insisted on N10 million as the last option.
The victim’s brother added that as of 1:00 pm, the gunmen switched off their phones and the negotiation was off since they could not be reached for further dialogue. Read more
Anambra celebrates as Chidume clinches National Order of Merit award (Punch)
The Anambra State Government has expressed delight at the award of the Nigerian National Order of Merit, the country’s highest honour for intellectual and artistic achievement, vested on Charles Ejike Chidume.
Chidume was honoured at the State House, Abuja on February 8, 2022.
An internationally recognised mathematics professor, Chidume beat over 1,200 contestants to clinch the honour last week.
Other honourees include medical scientist, Oluyinka Olutoye, and 2021 awardee for science, Prof. Godwin O. Ekhaguere. Read more
Igboho slams $1m suit on Benin Republic over detention (Sun)
Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has filed a $1,000,000 suit against the Republic of Benin before the Community Court of Justice, the Economic Community of West African States,(ECOWAS), in Abuja, over his detention.
Igboho, in the suit, is praying the court to award him $1,000,000 as general damages for alleged violation of his right.
Other prayers being sought before court by Igboho, through his lawyer, Mr Tosin Ojaomo, include a declaration that the francophone country’s actions regarding his detention, and arrest violated his freedom of movement, his right to an unbiased trial within a reasonable time and his dignity as human being.
The lawyer stated that the order sought for is Pursuant to Article 59 of Rules of Procedure, an Expedited Procedure and Hearing, regarding the imprisonment and release of Chief Adeyemo. Read more
Fani-Kayode’s ex-wife docked for alleged attempted murder (Guardian)
Precious Chikwendu, was on Monday docked in a Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja for the attempted murder of her former husband, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode.
The police charged Precious with attempted culpable homicide.
In a charge number: FHCABJ/CR/1/2022 filed by the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), against Ms Chikwendu and three others, the ex-wife was said to have attempted to stab Fani-Kayode with a kitchen knife on Nov. 24, 2018, at Asokoro, within the court jurisdiction.
Others arraigned alongside Precious include Emmanuel Anakan, Prisca Chikwendu, and Osakwe Azubuike as 1st, 3rd, and 4th defendants respectively, while others
are said to be at large.
In a 13-count charge dated and filed on Jan. 7, the defendants were also alleged to have committed offences bordering on cybercrime, intimidation to kill Fani-Kayode by use of the internet, threat to kill one Lauretta in order to cause her to leave her relationship with Fani-Kayode. Read more
Ex-BBNaija’s BamBam expecting second baby with Teddy A (Nation)
Big Brother Naija ex-housemate Bamike Olawunmi-Adenibuyan aka Bam Bam has confirmed she is expecting a second child.
The reality TV star recently revealed that she is expecting her second child with her husband of two years, Teddy A.
In a series of photos shared via her page, Bam Bam expressed the joy of motherhood.
“No one else will ever know the strength of my love for you. After all, you and your sister are the only ones who know what my heart sounds like from the inside. Being a mother is learning about the strength you didn’t know you had and dealing with fears you didn’t know existed,” she captioned some of the photos. Read more
Lizzo’s Galentine’s Day look features 3D heart manicure and a thong (PageSix)
Lizzo pulled out all the stops for her latest Galentine’s Day celebration.
The “Truth Hurts” singer, 33, celebrated the holiday of love with her team on Saturday, hosting a piercing party and dressing up in an over-the-top on-theme look.
Lizzo embraced the spirit of the holiday from head to toe in a purple velvet bikini top with a long-sleeve shrug on top. She completed the look with a matching thong and lace-up leg warmers.
But the pants-less look wasn’t even the most dramatic part of the outfit. She sported a lavender bob wig with heart-shaped buns, glitter lipstick and a 3D rhinestone-encrusted heart manicure. Read more
50 Cent salutes Lebron James after Super Bowl Performance: ‘We came in 03 & We still here’ (HipHopDX)
Once rap’s biggest villain, 50 Cent received nothing but love for his surprise cameo during Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige‘s Pepsi Halftime Show performance at Super Bowl LVI on Sunday (February 13).
Taking it all the way back to 2003, 50 crashed the star-studded set by performing his smash hit “In Da Club” while hanging upside down, just like he did in the song’s music video almost 20 years ago.
The Queens, New York rapper’s cameo was made all the more nostalgic by him rocking his once-trademark white headband and tank top, even if it did show off a slightly heavier frame.
50 Cent’s performance certainly struck a chord with LeBron James, who was seen rapping along to “In Da Club” as if he was a founding member of G-Unit in the SoFi Stadium stands during the halftime show. Read more
The Crown star Josh O’Connor, Isabella Rossellini set for Alice Rohrwacher’s ‘La Chimera’ (Variety)
Emmy-winning The Crown star Josh O’Connor will be the protagonist of Italian auteur Alice Rohrwacher’s next film “La Chimera,” which is set in the world of archeological looting and is currently shooting in and around Southern Tuscany.
O’Connor, who in The Crown played the young Prince Charles, in “La Chimera” is playing a young British archeologist named Arthur who gets involved in an international network of stolen Etruscan artifacts during the 1980s.
Also starring in “La Chimera,” which can be loosely translated as “The Unrealizable Dream,” are Isabella Rossellini as a retired opera singer; Brazilian actor Carole Duarte (“The Invisible Life”) who plays another non-Italian woman who intersects with Arthur; Alba Rohrwacher as an international artifacts trafficker; and Vincenzo Nemolato (“Martin Eden”) who plays one of the “tombaroli,” literally grave robbers, as artifacts thieves are known in Italy.
“‘La Chimera’ is the story of a young English archaeologist who gets involved in the underground world of the ‘tombaroli,’ the nocturnal raiders of Etruscan tombs,” the director said in a statement. Read more
Zoe Kravitz addresses impact of her famous parents on career (BelfastTelegraph)
Zoe Kravitz has said it was “hard” when people assumed her success was due to her famous parents.
The actress, singer and model said she was “incredibly privileged” but that she also had to work hard and began pursuing the life of a performer while still very young.
The 33-year-old is the daughter of rock and blues musician Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa
Bonet.
Kravitz, who will star as Catwoman in the forthcoming Batman film alongside Robert Pattinson, discussed her career during an interview with Elle UK. Read more
Mary J. Blige shines during Super Bowl 2022 halftime performance (PageSix)
Mary J. Blige sparkled during her Super Bowl 2022 halftime performance.
The singer, 51, joined Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar — with a surprise appearance by 50 Cent — during Sunday’s big game, handily outshining the others with her shimmering Peter Dundas disco ball look.
Blige performed “A Family Affair” and “No More Drama” in a long-sleeve lace-up crop top with matching hot pants, fingerless gloves and thigh-high boots, all covered in a reflective leopard print and silver sequins.
She upped the bling factor even more with Sister Love hoop earrings covered in 33 carats of diamonds ($1,500) and, at the culmination of the performance, topped it all off with a matching wide-brim hat over her hip-length blond extensions. Read more
Channing Tatum talks Valentine’s Day with his daughter: ‘I definitely always get her flowers’ (USAToday)
It’s Valentine’s Day in Channing Tatum’s household, which includes the usual holiday accoutrements and perhaps a visit tonight from the Night Ninja.
The actor and co-director of the new buddy dramedy “Dog” (in theaters Friday) does “the normal Valentine’s Day stuff that dads do” with his 8-year-old daughter Everly, Tatum tells USA TODAY. “I definitely always get her flowers. She loves roses and just flowers in general.” And while there are no specific V-Day plans, Tatum says one of his favorite dad-daughter activities involves late-night art projects.
“We do a thing called ‘Night Ninja’ where after bedtime every once in a while, I’ll sneak back into her room, ‘break her out’ of the house, go down to the barn and do art for exactly 37 minutes,” Tatum explains. “And then we run back up and sneak her back into her room and go to sleep.”
Everly, who Tatum shares with ex-wife Jenna Dewan, was the inspiration for his 2021 children’s book “The One and Only Sparkella.” There’s now a planned Sparkella trilogy, with the sequel “The One and Only Sparkella Makes a Plan” arriving May 31. Read more
UK execs fighting to improve mental health in film talk changes since Covid (Deadline)
Two key players fighting to improve mental health in the UK film industry have spotlighted the improvements that have taken place since the pandemic started.
Rebecca Day, a Psychologist and Producer of 2018 feature Becoming Animal, said she contributed to more panels within one month of the first lockdown than in the previous two years and is now having to hire additional therapists to take on an influx of clients.
“There was a real sense when the pandemic started of people saying ‘I can now take a pause and think about what I need, how I might want to work in the future and how we can make that happen’,” said Day, who was speaking during a Deadline-hosted European Film Market session entitled Time To Change.
“People have been given the bravery to express how they’re feeling. When I did panels on this in 2018 I was terrified that people would be insulted by the suggestion we were struggling in the workplace and while the response gave me a palpable sense of relief, that response has launched forward and sped up since the pandemic.” Read more
Araujo injury blow for Barcelona before Napoli clash (Punch)
Barcelona’s Uruguayan international defender Ronald Araujo suffered a calf injury during the La Liga side’s 2-2 draw against Espanyol, the Catalan club confirmed on Monday.
Araujo was substituted at half-time on Sunday after taking a knock to his left foot and was replaced by Eric Garcia, who made his comeback after five weeks out with a right thigh injury, and was responsible for Barcelona conceding a second goal.
Araujo’s injury is a blow for coach Xavi as Barcelona prepare to face Napoli in the Europa League on Thursday followed by a league tie against Valencia on Sunday.
“For the moment, it is only painful,” said Xavi of Araujo’s injury on Sunday after the match. Read more
Napoli vs Inter: Italian media knocks Osimhen (Punch)
The Italian media has taken a swipe at Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen in the wake of his performance in Napoli’s 1-1 draw at home to reigning Serie A champions Inter Milan on Saturday, Punch Sports Extra reports.
The media outfits: Corriere dello Sport, Corriere della Sera, La Gazzetta dello Sport and Tuttosport, all claimed the 23-year-old was not at his usual best at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
The Partenopei took an early lead in the match, following a Lorenzo Insigne penalty, after Osimhen was fouled in the area, before an Edin Dzeko strike restored parity for the visitors.
The Super Eagles striker failed to take advantage of the plethora of chances presented to him on the counter. Read more
Ralf Rangnick admits Jadon Sancho snub before Man Utd transfer (Mirror)
Ralf Rangnick has revealed he wanted to sign Manchester United ace Jadon Sancho when he was Leipzig boss – but got snubbed by the England star.
Sancho joined United from Borussia Dortmund last summer in a £73m deal to become their biggest signing of that window.
Now Rangnick is managing the England winger, having taken over as interim boss of United in November.
But Rangnick admits he targeted Sancho when he was just 17 and on the books of rivals Manchester City, only for him to reject a move to Leipzig in favour of joining Dortmund. Read more
Jack Grealish to miss first leg of Man City’s Champions League tie against Sporting (Independent)
Manchester City will again be without record signing Jack Grealish as they face Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The England international missed the Premier League leaders’ victory at Norwich on Saturday after a recurrence of the shin problem that affected him while he was at Aston Villa last season.
Manager Pep Guardiola says the injury is not serious but the 26-year-old will not travel to the Portuguese capital for the first leg of City’s last-16 tie.
Guardiola said: “He is better but for tomorrow he is not available, along with Cole Palmer and Gabriel (Jesus).” Read more
Williams signs deal with Duracell ahead of 2022 F1 livery unveil (Motorsport)
Ahead of the team’s season launch on Tuesday, the Grove-based outfit said that the new deal with Duracell – famous for its copper-top batteries – would include a variety of high-profile marketing initiatives.
As well as being the focus of a new television commercial, Williams and Duracell were planning a number of activations at races this year – starting from the Miami Grand Prix in May.
Williams said that Duracell branding will feature prominently on the new car, its team kit and the overalls of Alex Albon and Nicholas Latifi.
It is unclear, however, if a new additional livery colour that Williams has teased for 2022 includes the famous Duracell copper. Read more
Penguin named after tennis star Raducanu travels to Denmark in search of love (EveningStandard)
A penguin named after the tennis star Emma Raducanu is to travel from London to Denmark in search of love.
Eight-month-old Raducanu, who was named in 2021 after the US Open tennis champion, will be alongside five other gentoo penguins making a 1,000-mile trip from the Sea Life London Aquarium to Legoland Billund in Denmark.
The penguins named Ramsey, Clarice, Potato, Chickpea and Marmalade will help form a new colony as part of Sea Life’s global conservation breeding programme.
The female penguins of the group will be matched up with male gentoos from different aquariums to form the new breeding colony, before finally moving to the Kattegatcentret Aquarium in Denmark, which they will eventually call home, in a new purpose-built habitat. Read more
Argentine golfer Eduardo Romero dies aged 67 (Sky)
Argentine golfer Eduardo Romero has died at the age of 67 after a battle with cancer.
Romero was an eight-time winner on the European Tour, holding off future Ryder Cup captains Bernhard Langer and Jose Maria Olazabal to win his first title at the 1989 Trophee Lancome.
The last of his titles came 13 years later when he won the Scottish Open aged 47.
After turning 50, Romero moved into senior golf and claimed two major championships at the 2006 Tradition and the 2008 US Senior Open. Read more