Delta pastor, Fufeyin, petitions police, accuses fellow clerics of blackmail, cyberstalking (Punch)
The General Overseer of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry, Effurun, Delta State, Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin, has petitioned the state Commissioner of Police, Ali Mohammed, over a video clip.
The petition said the video was recorded by his detractors to damage his reputation as a man of God.
The petition, titled, ‘A case of conspiracy, cybercrime, criminal defamation using the Internet, suspected murder, cyberstalking and conduct against Bishop Ufuoma Prince, Pastor Johnmark Ighosotu and others’, was made available to our correspondent in Asaba, the state capital.
The petition read in part, “One Pastor Johnmark Ighosotu of God’s Delight Gospel Assembly connived with one Bishop Ufuoma Prince and Apostle Dr C. Kassy, in a bid to concoct confessions and miracles maliciously, and falsely use on the Internet to blackmail me and the entire membership of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry. Read more
Hold Naira Marley responsible if I’m killed, says Mohbad, singer arrested by NDLEA (DailyTrust)
Nigerian singer, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji popularly known as Mohbad, has alleged that his record label manager and boss, Naira Marley, and other members of the group are after his life.
Mohbad, who is one of Naira Marley’s signees was arrested on Thursday morning alongside colleague, Zinoleesky, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Femi babafemi, NDLEA spokesman, had told Daily Trust that they were arrested for being in possession of cannabis.
Mohbad, who later regained freedom, went on Instagram live to accuse Naira Marley.
He said, “Everybody in the whole world please help me, if I die woh na Marlian music and Naira Marley kill me.
“Abeg if I die like this, God, please help me. Look at all these people sha my God will never fuck me up, never. I’m in Idado estate.” Read more
Court sentences kidnapper Evans, two others to life imprisonment (Guardian)
The Lagos High Court in Ikeja has sentenced kidnap kingpin Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike popularly known as Evans and two others, Uchenna Amadi and Okuchuwkwu Nwachukwu, to life imprisonment.
Justice Hakeem Oshodi handed out the sentence to the trio on Friday after convicting them on two counts of conspiracy and kidnapping of a businessman, Donatus Duru, the managing director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
In convicting the trio, Justice Oshodi held that the prosecution had successfully proved the charge against them beyond a reasonable doubt.
In reaching his verdict on Evans, the judge held that he observed the demeanour of the witness, stating that in some of the confessional videos played in court, Evans had mentioned some of the other defendants and the roles they played in the crime.
“He showed no remorse in the dock and tried to lie his way out of the crimes despite the video evidence,” Justice Oshodi said. Read more
Asa drops 5th album ‘V’ (DailyTrust)
Nigerian Jazz singer and Songwriter, Bukola Elemide, also known as Asa, has finally delivered her highly-anticipated fifth studio album, ‘V’.
The ‘Fire on the mountain’ singer took to her Instagram page to announce the release date of her new album.
The award-winning pop-jazz singer released the 10-track Album on Friday as earlier announced.
The album ‘V’, was produced by Priimebeatz, and features tracks with Wizkid, Amarae, and The Cavemen.
The 10-track album features guest appearances from top Nigerian highlife duo, The Cavemen, and Ghanaian artiste Amaarae. Read more
NDLEA arraigns 2 for possession of 24.8kg Indian hemp (Guardian)
NDLEA arraigned two men, Samuel Ekomwen (33) and Thompson Okotie (50), at a Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday for alleged drug trafficking.
It charged the duo of conspiracy and unlawfully dealing in Indian hemp.
The prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on Jan. 30 at Akerele area of Agege in Lagos, where they were arrested following a tip-off.
He said 24.8kg of Indian hemp was found on them, an offence which contravenes the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation 2004.
No plea was taken before the court ruled that the NDLEA should take them into custody. No date was fixed for hearing also. Read more
Nigerians appeal to FG to meet ASUU demands (Vanguard)
Some Nigerians on Friday in Abuja had called on the Federal Government to meet the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to end the lecturers ongoing strike.
They made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
They told NAN that the incessant strike was not good for the education,saying it had stalled the academic progress of many students.
Mr Mark Asekhemhe, a student said the ongoing strike had impacted negatively on academic activities in universities.He said that strike was an `old way of cajoling the government in meeting the demands of ASUU’. Read more
Ondo restricts movement over by-election (Punch)
The Ondo State Government has announced the restriction of vehicular and human movements over the Akure North/South Federal Constituency by-election scheduled for Saturday, February 26.
This is to ensure a violence-free election and for purposes of achieving an electoral process devoid of infractions and breaches.
Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, disclosed this in a statement on Friday titled ‘Restriction Of Movement Over By-election.’
He said, “All vehicular and human movements are hereby restricted as from 12 midnight of Friday 25th to 5pm of Saturday 26th, February 2022, within the affected electoral jurisdiction. Read more
Fresh uproar in APC over national chair (Tribune)
Drespite its release of date for convention and endorsement of same along with zoning arrangement by the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari, there appears to be no respite for the embattled APC caretaker/extraordinary convention planning committee led by Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni.
Investigation by Nigerian Tribune revealed that certain aspirants who have been stripped of eligibility to contest the office of national chairman by the zoning arrangement unveiled by the party have vowed to continued to push for the office at the convention slated for March 26. According to the arrangement, the office of national chairman was zoned to the North Central, thereby excluding aspirants from the North-West and North-East geopolitical zones in the country.
While one of the aspirants from the North East, Sylvester Moniedafe, from Adamawa State has since dropped his ambition in deference to the zoning arrangement and now seeking for the office of deputy national chairman zoned to his area, a source close to another leading aspirant from the zone told Nigerian Tribune in confidence that a former governor from one of the states in the NorthEast and chairmanship aspirant has vowed not to dismantle his campaign structures.
A source close to the aspirant who spoke with Nigerian Tribune in confidence said it would take formal pronouncement from President Buhari on the zoning arrangement and consensus deal being flaunted by the governors for their candidate to shelve his ambition. Read more
My ex-convict boyfriend lured me into hemp business — Suspect (Vanguard)
A 31-year-old Senior Secondary School II dropout, Mary Donejay, has narrated how her ex-convict boyfriend, Henry Daniel, lured her into the Indian hemp business in Ondo State with a promise to finance their wedding with the proceeds.
Both suspects were arrested alongside 11 others by operatives of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Ondo State Command during the destruction of 255 hectares of cannabis farms in five council areas in the state said to be worth N900 million.
In an interview, the bar attendant, Mary Donejay, said: “I met Henry Daniel in Oba-ile where I was working in a restaurant. He proposed to me after some months of dating him. I was hopeful for a blissful marital life.“He told me that he was an ex-convict that deals in ‘Igbo’ business. He told me to join him to harvest cannabis and that we will get married, promising that he will open a provision shop for me and as a Senior Secondary School II dropout. I saw it as a good deal for me.
“The idea made me happy because I have two children from another man, who are with my mother at the moment. All I do for Daniel is to cook here in the forest. Read more
MTN, Mafab pay for 5G licences (Sun)
Provisional winners of the 3.5 Gigahertz (GHz) spectrum licence, MTN Communications Nigeria Plc and Mafab Communications Limited, have made their full payment of $273.6 million each for the 5G Spectrum license to the Nigerian Communications Commission.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, officially confirmed the payment status yesterday just as the deadline set for the two winners of the spectrum auction elapsed.
As part of the auction process emplaced by the Commission in the Information Memorandum (IM), three companies, namely MTN Nigeria, Mafab Communications Ltd and Airtel Networks Ltd submitted bids with an initial bid deposit (IBD) of $19.74 million, representing 10 per cent of the Reserve Price of the 3.5GHz Spectrum by the close of the Bid submission date of November 29, 2021.
Following the successful auction on December 13, 2021 and the emergence of MTN and Mafab as winners, they were required to pay the balance of the bid amount of $253.86 million on or before February 24, 2022. Read more
Lizzo opens up about auditioning for Disney’s The Little Mermaid remake (HuffPost)
Lizzo has opened up about auditioning for Disney’s upcoming remake of The Little Mermaid, after losing out on her desired role to Melissa McCarthy.
When the live-action film was first announced, Lizzo made no secret of her hopes to play the iconic sea witch Ursula, even going as far as sharing videos of herself dressed and performing in character as the Disney villain on social media.
In a new interview with Variety, the Good As Hell singer admitted that she went as far as auditioning in person for the part, though it wasn’t to be.
“Everyone knows I auditioned for Ursula in The Little Mermaid, and I didn’t get it,” she explained. “But you know, I’m fine as hell.
“That has nothing to do with Ursula, but I was down to make Ursula a thot, shaking ass.”
The part ended up going to two-time Oscar nominee Melissa McCarthy, who Lizzo recalled meeting last year at the taping of Adele’s US television special.
“And then I was like, ‘Girl, because my audition was terrible.’ And I say that as Tyler Perry walks by. And I was like — ruined my chances there.”
However, Lizzo later insisted: “My audition wasn’t terrible. Sometimes I like to make jokes. Read more
Daniel Radcliffe, Jack Black and Conan O’Brien get into character as they film Weird Al biopic(Metro)
Daniel Radcliffe, Jack Black and Conan O’Brien have been spotted filming their upcoming Weird Al biopic in Los Angeles.
The actors got into character in wigs and garish costumes as they transformed themselves for the movie based on the American comedy musician.
Radcliffe was far from incognito as he donned a big curly wig, a Hawaiian print shirt, a moustache and round wire-frame eyeglasses for the title role.
O’Brien was seen for the first time as the iconic artist, Andy Warhol, wearing a black turtle neck and white wig.Read more
Twitter warns users posting from Ukraine to bolster account security (NYPost)
Twitter responded to the Russian invasion of Ukraine that began in earnest on Thursday morning with advice for users in conflict zones on how to safeguard their accounts.
The company posted a tweet thread in both English and Ukrainian on Thursday, offering tips for those in high-risk conflict regions.
Twitter is urging users to bolster account security by employing two-factor authentication, strengthening passwords, and confirming email and telephone number information.
The company is also recommending that its users disable tweet location data and avoid revealing personal information.
Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms have been criticized in years past for their responses to political and military crises abroad.
The companies have been accused of being too slow to react to misinformation and propaganda spread by countries such as Russia, China, and Turkey. Read more
Michael Madsen arrested in Malibu for trespassing (Independent)
Michael Madsen, star of Quentin Tarantino films Reservoir Dogs and The Hateful Eight, was arrested on Wednesday night (23 February) at his Malibu home for trespassing.
Citing the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the report says Madsen was arrested shortly after 9 pm.
Police told US media that a local property owner attempted to make a citizen’s arrest and phoned authorities on Wednesday evening.
Authorities reportedly responded to a “call for service” where they were told that the owner of the property wanted to press charges against the actor, 64.
Madsen was arrested and escorted to a local hospital before being transferred to the police station.
He was given a $500 citation for a misdemeanour and released shortly before 7am on Thursday.
Madsen’s arrest comes a month after his 26-year-old son Hudson died by suicide. Read more
Moscow warns Russians against staging anti-war protests (VOA)
Russian authorities on Thursday warned anti-war sympathizers from gathering for protests after President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine.
The Investigative Committee, a government body that investigates major crimes, warned Russians of legal repercussions for joining unsanctioned protests related to “the tense foreign political situation.”
It said it was responding to social media calls to protest against Putin’s decision to attack Ukraine.
“One should be aware of the negative legal consequences of these actions in the form of prosecution up to criminal liability,” it said.
The Russian interior ministry said it will take “all necessary measures to ensure public order.”
Russia has strict protest laws and demonstrations often end in mass arrests. Read more
Tears For Fears ‘proud’ of their new album Tipping Point (MusicNews)
Tears For Fears are “so proud” of their new album Tipping Point.
The 80s pop duo – which consists of Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, both 60 – think their new release – which came out on Friday (25.02.22) – is “an album of now”, the platform adds.
After 17 years since they released a new album, Curt told the Sun: “The Tipping Point’ is an album now. There are some very contemplative songs, some sadder subjects, but it still leaves you with a sense of optimism.
“It’s the ultimate Tears For Fears album and we are both so, so proud of it.”
Roland admitted that the “task” was to make a record that was “representative” of the group – who formed in 1981.
He said: “The task was how to make an album representative of us, at 60.”
Roland added: “How can we bring our life experience good and bad to the table and make something that speaks to people. Our best work, and the work that’s lasted over the years is the stuff that resonates with people.”
Roland was prompted to begin work on the album – and reunite with Curt – back in 2017 following the death of his first wife Caroline, who passed away after dealing with alcohol abuse-induced dementia for five years after 35 years of marriage. Read more
China shows solidarity with Russia on day of Ukraine invasion (Newsweek)
China leaned heavily into Russia’s camp in the wake of Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine on Thursday, with Beijing’s top diplomat calling his counterpart in Moscow but shunning his opposite number in Kyiv.
In an unprecedented Chinese Foreign Ministry press conference that lasted for over an hour, its senior spokesperson, Hua Chunying, told reporters that China’s leaders hadn’t made contact with Ukrainian officials in the hours after Russian forces were ordered across the border for a multi-front offensive. “Everybody is busy now,” Hua said. At the start of the event, she balked at the term “invasion” and said Beijing wouldn’t “rush into a conclusion” about the nature of the ongoing military offensive.
However, a few hours later, the ministry said the foreign ministers of China and Russia, Wang Yi and Sergey Lavrov, had spoken by phone. In the subsequent readout, Lavrov laid the blame for the crisis at the feet of the United States and NATO, while Wang backed Moscow’s position against the West. “Russia was forced to take necessary measures to safeguard its rights and interests,” Lavrov said.
“China always respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries,” said Wang. “At the same time, we also see a complex and unique historical context behind the Ukraine issue, and understand Russia’s legitimate concerns on security issues.” Read more
Nnadozie tips Nigeria for WAFCON title (Punch)
Super Falcons goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, believes the nine-time winners stand a good chance of clinching a 10th Africa Women’s Cup of Nations title in Morocco, after securing qualification for the tournament, The PUNCH reports.
The Falcons defeated Ivory Coast 1-0 in the second leg of their final qualifiers for Africa’s showpiece women football tournament on Wednesday to advance to the group stage of the competition on a 3-0 aggregate win.
Esther Okoronkwo capped her second appearance for the Falcons with the winner in the 89th minute, after Nnadozie had saved a first half penalty to ensure score remained goalless.
The Nigerians had earlier defeated Ghana 2-1 on aggregate in the previous qualifying round and the Paris FC goalie stated that after knocking out the two West African giants, the Falcons were favourites for the title. Read more
Conte insists he is ‘committed’ to Spurs (BBC)
Tottenham manager Antonio Conte says he is “committed” to the club, despite questioning his future following the midweek defeat by Burnley.
The loss on Wednesday was a fourth in five league games for Spurs and, afterwards, Conte said “if the problem could be the coach I’m ready to go”.
“I spoke to Daniel Levy,” said Conte, speaking before his side’s game at Leeds United at 1230 GMT on Saturday.
“Our chairman knows very well that I’m here to help the club in every moment.”
He added: “I will do that until the end.
“He shows me great consideration every day and for this reason, I’m committed for this club much more because I know the consideration for me is very high.” Read more
AFN declines comment over Okagbare’s fate (Vanguard)
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) says it will not comment on the 10-year ban slammed on Blessing Okagbare by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) until after the next meeting of the federation.
Chairman of the AFN, Tonobok Okowa, said on Thursday in Asaba that the federation would await the outcome of its next meeting before making its stance known.
Okowa who spoke through his media aide, Mr Jovial Agbagwu, told NAN that at the appropriate time, the AFN would make an official statement on the Okagbare ban.
“For now, there is no official statement from the chairman of the AFN over the ban placed on Blessing Okagbare by the AIU. Read more
Manchester United sever ties with Aeroflot (RT)
Premier League giants Manchester United have ended their commercial partnership with Russian airliner Aeroflot “in light of the events in Ukraine.”
The club’s sponsorship with Aeroflot was due to expire in the coming year but the Old Trafford team announced on Friday that they were ending the deal early, following news that that Aeroflot has been banned from flying to the United Kingdom by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
“In light of events in Ukraine, we have withdrawn Aeroflot’s sponsorship rights,” the club said in a statement.
“We share the concerns of our fans around the world and extend our sympathies to those affected.”
Aeroflot had been the club’s official carrier since 2013 but United opted to use a different airline for their Champions League trip to Spain to face Atletico Madrid this week. Read more
Eriksen set to make emotional Brentford debut (Guardian)
Brentford manager Thomas Frank has confirmed Christian Eriksen will make his first competitive appearance since suffering a cardiac arrest last year when the Dane is given his debut against Newcastle on Saturday.
Frank confirmed on Friday that Eriksen would play some part this weekend at the Brentford Community Stadium after proving his fitness in two behind-closed-doors friendlies.
Eriksen’s brush with death occurred while he was playing for Denmark against Finland in the European Championship in June.
“Christian will be in the squad and he will get on the pitch tomorrow,” Frank told reporters. “It is a big day for all of us, but especially Christian and his family.
“When he is in training, it is really remarkable the things he has been doing.” Read more
Russia stripped of Champions League final by UEFA with Paris picked as replacement host (Metro)
The 2022 Champions League final will no longer take place in St Petersburg after UEFA held an emergency meeting to relocate the match to Paris following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The decision was made at an ‘extraordinary meeting’ of the executive committee on Friday after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military invasion of neighbouring Ukraine on Thursday.
Putin’s hometown of St Petersburg was due to stage the final at the 68,000-capacity Gazprom Arena on May 28, but European football’s governing body have instead moved the match to Paris.
Paris’ Stade de France at Euro 2016
Paris’ Stade de France hosted the Euro 2016 final (Picture: Getty)
For the latest updates on the Russia-Ukraine war, visit our live blog: Russia-Ukraine live
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday to agree the plan to move the final. Read more
A German soccer team is removing a Russian logo from jerseys over the Ukraine attacks (NPR)
The logo of Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom is being removed from the jerseys of German soccer team Schalke following Russia’s wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday.
Schalke said the logo will be replaced by lettering reading “Schalke 04” instead following what it called “recent developments.”
A senior Gazprom executive had already quit the supervisory board of Schalke earlier Thursday after being a target of U.S. sanctions.
Matthias Warnig is CEO of the newly built but never operated Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 pipeline which is a multibillion-dollar project of Gazprom and European companies.
Gelsenkirchen-based Schalke said Warnig informed the board that he would step down with immediate effect from his position after two years as a representative of main sponsor Gazprom. Read more