Edo LG boss, deputy impeached as head of legislative arm takes over (NewTelegraph)
As an after effect of the suspension of the 18 LG chairmen by the Edo State House of Assembly, the Chairman of Egor Local Government Council, Hon Eghe Ogbemudia, and the Council’s Vice Chairman, Hon Frank Osawe, were on Friday impeached by the legislative arm, while Hon Kelvin Eguakun, leader of the council legislative arm was sworn in as acting chairman.
Ogbemudia, who is the daughter of the former administrator of Midwestern region, became the first victim among the 18 LG bosses as she was impeached on four charges of alleged abuse of office, financial misappropriation, unlawful withholding of statutory allowances of members and budget padding.
The motion for the impeachment was moved by Hon Nosakhare Isiegbuwa and seconded by Hon Stella Ogida Osagioduwa. Read more
Jimmy Jatt to celebrate 40 years on stage with Lagos concert (ThisDay)
This December, the iconic on-air personality, Yaw, will join forces with legendary Cool DJ Jimmy Jatt to present a night of nostalgia and music.
The Rewind ‘A Flashback’ Concert is set to take place on Monday, December 30th, 2024, at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The star-studded concert would bring together some of Nigeria’s biggest music legends, including 2Baba, Daddy Showkey, 9ice, Style Plus, Duncan Mighty, Tony Tetuila, African China, Jazzman Olofin and many more. The event promises to take the audience on a journey through the golden era of Afrobeat, celebrating the artists and sounds that defined Nigerian music. Read more
Nigerian awarded best photographer in South Africa (Tribune)
Nigerian photographer, Akinmade Akinleye received the award as ‘Best Photographer of the Year’ at the prestigious Zikomo Africa Awards in Sandton hotel, Johannesburg, South Africa, held recently.
The honour is in recognition of Akinmade’s prowess in the event and wedding space, capturing moments and emotions with unmatched elegance and artistry.
Popularly known as “The Optimist,” Akinleye, through fine art and fashion, preaches the importance of passion, perseverance, and unity to overcome challenges and achieve greatness.Read more
Nigeria, China renew N3.28t currency swap deal (Leadership)
Nigeria has renewed its bilateral currency swap agreement with China, a move that underscores the deepening financial and economic cooperation between the two nations.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) announced the renewal of the arrangement on Friday, with the agreement amounting to N3.28 trillion, equivalent to approximately 15 billion yuan or $2.09 billion. The renewal signifies a continued commitment to fostering stronger ties and facilitating smoother economic exchanges.
The currency swap agreement, which is valid for a period of three years, retains the option for further renewal based on mutual consent between the two central banks. This mechanism has proven beneficial for both nations, providing a framework for financial collaboration that simplifies transactions involving the Nigerian naira and the Chinese yuan. By renewing this agreement, both countries aim to expand the use of their respective currencies in international trade, reducing dependency on third-party currencies like the U.S. dollar. Read more
Ex-CIBN president recommends entrepreneurship amid economic hardship (Punch)
A former president of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Segun Ajibola, has called on Nigerians to embrace entrepreneurship and self-reliance to weather the storms of the current economic hardship.
Ajibola, who is also a professor of economics at Babcock University, gave this charge in a chat with The PUNCH on Thursday.
Nigerians have been lamenting the prevalent economic hardship driven by the twin reforms of fuel subsidy removal and naira devaluation, which saw an inflation rate of 34.60 percent as of November. Read more
Coast clear for Ude Okoye to replace Anyanwu as PDP National Secretary (Vanguard)
The coast now appears clear for Ude Okoye to resume office as the new National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
He replaces Senator Samuel Anyanwu who has to this point refused to relinquish the position.
The PDP National Secretariat has officially received and acknowledged the certified true copy of the judgement of the Enugu Court of Appeal, which affirmed Ude as the substantive National Secretary of the party. Read more
Fire razes 1-storey building in Ibadan (Tribune)
Properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed in another fire incident that razed a one-storey building at Inalende area in Ibadan North West local government area late Thursday night.
Six out of the twelve rooms at the upper floor were destroyed.
The incident, according to an eyewitness account was traceable to a power surge. Read more
Imo community decry alleged extortion, harassment of youths by security personnel (Nation)
An alleged case of extortion and harassment of youths by security personnel has been reported in Aboh Mbaise, Imo State.
Eyewitnesses claimed that over 50 young people were forced at gunpoint to transfer money from their bank accounts to designated POS account numbers at a checkpoint on the Enyiogugu Mbaise road.
The incident has sparked widespread anger among residents, who are calling on traditional rulers like Eze Leo Nwokocha and other community leaders to intervene and end the alleged abuses. Read more
Rebecca Ferguson doesn’t want a Greatest Showman sequel (DigitalSpy)
Rebecca Ferguson has no interest in a sequel to The Greatest Showman.
Released in 2017, the hit musical movie follows PT Barnum’s (Hugh Jackman) rise from poverty to fame as he brings together a group of diverse performers to create a groundbreaking circus.
Ferguson starred in the film as Jenny Lind, a renowned opera singer who becomes a pivotal part of Barnum’s show, eventually challenging his professional and personal life. Read more
Olivia Hussey Eisley Dies: ‘Romeo and Juliet’ actress was 73 (Deadline)
Olivia Hussey Eisley, the actress who shot to fame as one of the star-crossed lovers in Franco Zeffirelli’s controversial Romeo and Juliet in 1968, died peacefully today at home surrounded by her loved ones, according to a post on her Instagram page. She was 73.
Hussey’s credits also include Death on the Nile opposite Peter Ustinov; Psycho IV: The Beginning in which she played Norma Bates and the 1990 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s It.
She worked again with Zeffirelli when she played Mary, the mother of Jesus, in the 1977 television movie Jesus of Nazareth. Read more
Cause of death revealed for Amen frontman Casey Chaos (NME)
The cause of death of the Amen frontman Casey Chaos has been revealed by one of the singer’s close friends.
News of his passing at the age of 59 was announced on December 21 by Brian Perera, founder of the record label Cleopatra Records. “Casey wasn’t just an extraordinary musician – he truly lived and breathed the lifestyle,” Perera wrote. “May he rest in peace alongside Rozz Williams and the many tortured souls we admire and respect.”
Now, Dean Karr, a photographer and video director who was close to Chaos – real name Karim Chmielinski – has confirmed that he died from a massive heart attack in his Laurel Canyon home near Los Angeles. Read more
At least 6,000 inmates escape Mozambique jail amid post-election riots (Guardian)
At least 6,000 inmates escaped from a high-security prison in Mozambique’s capital Maputo on Christmas Day after a rebellion, the chief of police has said, as widespread post-election riots and violence continue to engulf the country.
The police general commander, Bernardino Rafael, said 33 prisoners had died and 15 others were injured during a confrontation with the security forces.
The prisoners fled during violent protests in which police cars, stations and general public infrastructure were destroyed after Mozambique’s constitutional council confirmed the ruling Frelimo party as the winner of the 9 October elections. Read more
Ozuna’s life story to be told in feature film (FilmNews)
Ozuna’s life story will be told in a feature film.
The two-time Latin Grammy award-winning artist will play himself in Spanish filmmaker Alexis Morante’s upcoming project ‘Odisea’ – which is named after the star’s chart-topping debut album that was released in 2017.
The 32-year-old rapper told The Hollywood Reporter: “‘Odisea’ is a project that we worked on with great dedication with the goal that my story can serve as an inspiration to children and young people to not stop pursuing their dreams, and never give up until they achieve them. Read more
3 women die after eating Christmas cake at family gathering as police launch probe (Mirror)
An investigation has been launched after three women died and a further three people were hospitalised after they ate Christmas cake that was baked at a family gathering in Brazil
Three women at a family gathering have died and a further three also became ill after eating a cake.
The incident took place on December 23 in Brazil, with police initially withholding information regarding the victims. They have now been named locally and pictured. Read more
11 Illinois teens charged with felonies after men lured and beaten using dating apps (NBC)
Eleven Illinois teenagers were hit with felony charges in connection with the alleged luring and beating of two men using dating apps this summer, according to police.
Some of the teens, all males aged 17 and one aged 16, allegedly took inspiration for the crimes from a viral social media trend, the Mount Prospect Police Department said in news release published Thursday. Police did not elaborate what the social media trend entailed.
On July 8 at around 9:45 p.m., a 41-year-old man reported to police that he’d been beaten by “a group of teenagers” in a parking lot at 606 West Northwest Highway in Mount Prospect, Illinois. Read more
Balogun adds to Rangers injury woes (CompleteSports)
Rangers manager, Philippe Clement has expressed concern over Leon Balogun’s injury.
Balogun was replaced in the 19th minute of Rangers’ 2-1 loss at St Mirren on Boxing Day.
The Nigerian added to the Light Blues injury woes ahead of next week’s Old Firm derby with Celtic. Another centre-back John Souttar is already ruled out for several weeks. Read more
England star Bukayo Saka reunites with his first ever football coach, Colin Nixon (AfricaNews)
England football star Bukayo Saka reunited with his first ever football coach, Colin Nixon, as the two championed the impact that coaches can have on local communities.
Nixon spotted the winger’s flair for the sport when Saka was aged just six, before inviting him to play at Greenford Celtic.
In Saka’s view, Nixon’s support was pivotal. Read more
West Ham confirm Lukasz Fabianski is “alert” after head injury (DailyMail)
West Ham invoked concussion protocols as they treated Lukasz Fabianski following the goalkeeper’s sickening collision with Southampton defender Nathan Wood on Boxing Day.
Fabianski received around eight minutes of treatment in worrying scenes at St Mary’s after taking a blow to the head and neck in the first half of their victory over Southampton.
And Mail Sport can confirm that the former Arsenal star was treated as a concussion case by medics on the field. Read more
LaLiga welcomes court decision to reject Barcelona’s appeal to register Olmo (RTE)
LaLiga have welcomed a court’s decision to reject Barcelona’s appeal for the precautionary registration of Dani Olmo for the rest of the season, which means the Spain international may not play for the club from 1 January.
Barcelona had signed Olmo in August for around €55 million but due to the club being unable to meet LaLiga’s wage cap, the attacking midfielder was registered for the first half of the season only.
The club had managed to register Olmo after long-term injuries kept first team players out of the squad for months, which allowed Barca to allocate a portion of their wages to register the 26-year-old. Read more
Jannik Sinner may be facing ‘‘lengthy suspension’’ if failed drug test appeal goes against him (Tennis365)
The biggest moment of the 2025 tennis season may not take place on court, with Jannik Sinner’s ongoing battle to avoid a suspension following his failed drug test set to dominate the agenda in the first half of the new year.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has appealed against the verdict from tennis doping chiefs at the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) not to suspend world No 1 Sinner after banned steroid clostebol was found to be in his system after a doping test in March.
Sinner went on to enjoy a sensational 2025 that included wins at the US Open, ATP Finals and Davis Cup, but there is an expectation that he will face a suspension if the WADA appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) finds goes against the Italian. Read more
Scottie Scheffler undergoes surgery on injury suffered while preparing Christmas dinner (Standard)
World No1 Scottie Scheffler has undergone surgery on a hand injury he sustained while cooking Christmas dinner.
The 28-year-old American has been forced to withdraw from the first tournament of the season, next week’s The Sentry in Hawaii, after cutting his right hand on broken glass.The PGA Tour said: “World number one and 2024 FedEx Cup Champion Scottie Scheffler has withdrawn from the PGA Tour’s 2025 season-opening tournament, The Sentry, which will take place next week, January 2-5 at The Plantation Course at Kapalua in Maui, Hawaii.” Read more
