Funke Akindele says failed marriage didn’t affect her (Guardian)
Nollywood producer, Funke Akindele, recently spoke candidly about her perspective on failed marriages and why she doesn’t view them as failures.
In an interview with Wazobia FM, Lagos, Akindele shared that her mother instilled in her the belief that failure is an integral part of the journey to success.
Akindele expressed her approach to marriage, stating, “I just take it as it comes,” emphasising the significance of her mental health and career in the process. The actress outlined her life’s purpose, highlighting her commitment to leading a meaningful life, inspiring the younger generation, and being a pillar for her children and siblings. Read more
Sanwo-Olu seeks support for armed forces (Punch)
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday, called on residents of the state to continue to support the armed forces and their families.
The governor, who spoke at the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Thanksgiving Service held at Chapel of Christ The Light, Alausa, on Sunday, also called for prayers for men of the nation’s armed forces.
Represented by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, Sanwo-Olu noted that the event was to remember the sacrifices of the fallen heroes “who paid the supreme sacrifice while preserving the unity and territorial integrity of our nation.” Read more
Sylvester Oromoni: Coroner’s findings to be released April 12 (Nation)
Findings from the coroner’s inquest into the death of Master Sylvester Oromoni Jnr., a 12-year-old student of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos, will be made known on or before April 12.
The Coroner, Magistrate Mikhail Kadiri, gave the assurance on Monday during adoption of final written addresses by parties in the case.
Kadiri said that findings from the inquest, which began on Nov. 30, 2021 before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, would be made public. Read more
Edugate: CCB to grill Tunji-Ojo over N438m contract ‘fraud’ Tuesday (DailyTrust)
The Code of Conduct Bureau will on Tuesday quiz the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, over the alleged connection of his company in a N438m contract ‘fraud’ at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
It was alleged that New Planet Projects, reportedly belonging to the minister, benefited from the contract.
Tunji-Ojo was was dragged into a litany of sharp practices involving the humanitarian affairs ministry following the suspension of Dr Betta Edu, who headed the ministry, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Read more
Insecurity: Declare state of emergency in Abuja, FCT PCC tells FG (Channels)
Due to the rising insecurity, kidnapping, and incessant attacks on residents in Abuja by bandits, The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner for Public Complaint Dalhatu Ezekiel has asked the Federal Government to prioritize the area’s security situation and immediately declare a state of emergency.
Dalhatu was speaking on Monday at a press briefing organized to address the insecurity in the FCT.
He also called on the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to suspend all projects currently ongoing if need be to address this pertinent issue that involves the lives of FCT residents. Read more
Fire outbreak claims lives of 7 family members in Kano (Leadership)
Seven members of one family have lost their lives in a devastating fire near Tudun Wada Juma’at Mosque in Kano, Alhaji Saminu Abdullah, an official from Kano State Fire Service, has said.
Abdullahi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Kano that the incident occurred on Sunday night and affected the father, mother, and five of their children.
“We received a distress call at Dakata fire station from one Ibrahim Sani at about 12:25 am that there was a fire outbreak in a building at Tudun Wada Quarters. Read more
Bandits raid military camp, unleash mayhem on Katsina community (Vanguard)
Armed bandits stormed a joint military camp in Nahuta village, Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina state on Sunday night, leaving a trail of destruction and looted goods in their wake.
Sources within the camp confirmed the attack occurred around 11:30 pm. The heavily-armed bandits, wielding AK-47s among other weapons reportedly set ablaze vehicles and other valuables. Despite being outnumbered, the courageous soldiers managed to repel the assault as no life was lost.
“The bandits outweighed us and invaded the camp, causing considerable damage,” a source revealed, lamenting the lack of reinforcements throughout the encounter. Read more
Delta youths too scared to advocate for free education – Group (Sun)
The Nigerian Patriotic Youth Network (NPYN) has flayed what it described as the lacklustre attitude of students and youths of Delta State towards the call for free education in the oil rich state.
NPYN, a global body, regretted that it was unfortunate that youths and students who were supposed to be beneficiaries of free education at all levels in the state were not interested in supporting the cause.
Coordinator of the group and former national president of National Association of Delta State Students (NADESSTU), Akpovire Godwin Ovuomaraini, who expressed these concerns, said the call for free education remained a beacon of hope in the pursuit of a state that thrives on the intellectual prowess of its citizens. Read more
Billie Eilish set up cameras in music studio that will show her fun side (MusicNews)
Billie Eilish has set up cameras in her music studio she says will show her fun side.
The ‘‘Bad Guy’’ singer, 22, has been writing her third record with her brother and collaborator Finneas, and says the footage will show them larking around and not being constantly serious.
She told the ‘‘Awards Chatter’’ podcast: “For ‘Happier Than Ever’ (in 2021) we didn’t really record any (film), but this new one, we’ve been having a camera in the corner for every single second of writing it, which is blackmailing ourselves.
“It’s just us candidly being siblings and joking and talking (rubbish) and stuff.” Read more
Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph and Amy Poehler have Mean Girls reunion at the movies (People)
Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph and Amy Poehler are enjoying a girls’ night out!
The trio of actresses appeared in Poehler’s new TikTok video on Sunday which captured them going to see the new Mean Girls musical at the movie theatre.
Fey, 53, wrote and played the role of Ms. Norbury in the 2004 original film while 52-year-old Poehler played Regina George’s mother June George. Fey has also reprised her character in the 2024 musical adaptation of Mean Girls. Read more
Josef Fritzl who locked his daughter in a cellar for 24 years could soon be free (Metro)
Rapist Josef Fritzl could soon be released from prison after an expert ruled he is no longer a danger to the public.
Fritzl, 88, was jailed for life in 2009 after admitting he had kept his daughter Elisabeth locked in the cellar of the family home as his sex slave for 24 years.
During her ordeal in Amstetten, Austria, Elisabeth had seven children by her disturbed father. Read more
Juice WRLD’s girlfriend slammed for leaking sex tape with late rapper (HipHopDx)
Juice WRLD’s girlfriend has been heavily criticised after she appeared to post a sex tape with the late rapper on her OnlyFans.
In a screenshot of her OnlyFans account that surfaced over the weekend, Ally Lotti is selling the video and a number of pictures for $29.99, and confirmed that it is Juice in the clip.
In the caption, Lotti writes: “Fucked by my famous ex. Hackers are trying to threaten me to leak my old sex tape with my ex fiance Juice WRLD. IDGAF anymore. I’ll leak it myself. It’s a long time since I have been fucked rough with some big black cock like this. Read more
Swastika spray-painted near Holocaust memorial in Philadelphia, police say (NBC)
A swastika was discovered on a wall near Philadelphia’s Holocaust memorial on Sunday, police said.
The antisemitic image was spray-painted on a building adjacent to the Horwitz-Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza, according to the Philadelphia Police Department, which said it immediately launched an investigation.
“The suspect is an unknown male wearing a black mask and a dark jacket (possibly brown) with a stripe across the chest and down the arms,” police said in a press release. Read more
Russia dismisses Davos discussion on Ukrainian president’s peace plan (AlJazeera)
Russia has dismissed discussions on a peace plan proposed by Ukraine at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos in Switzerland as pointless.
The talks in the Swiss mountain resort will achieve nothing without Moscow’s participation, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, insisted on Monday. Organisers said 83 delegations had been present at the meeting to discuss the plan the previous day.
Put forward by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the 10-point peace plan, designed to end the war sparked by Russia’s invasion of its neighbour in February 2022, calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops, restoration of Ukraine’s state borders, and Russian accountability for war crimes. Read more
Egypt: Chinese FM kicks off Africa tour with call for a ceasefire in Gaza (AfricaNews)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry hosted his Chinese counterpart Sunday (Jan. 14).
Minister Wang Yi kicked off his Africa tour with a stop in Cario. From January 13 to 18 he will visit Egypt, Tunisia, Togo and Cote d’Ivoire.
The officials discussed joint cooperation and exchanged views on regional developments of common interest according to the Egyptian foreign ministry. Read more
AFCON 2023: We need to be more clinical, says Super Eagles Defender, Ajayi (Guardian)
Super Eagles defender Semi Ajayi has said the team must convert scoring chances against opponents following their disappointing 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea.
A Victor Osimhen goal helped the Eagles avoid a shock defeat against Equatorial Guinea.
The Eagles were also guilty of missing glaring scoring chances which would have led to a wide score margin victory. Read more
Police step in as fan tries to attack Ghana manager Chris Hughton at team hotel after shock AFCON defeat (IrishIndependent)
An angry supporter attempted to strike Ghana coach Chris Hughton after their upset loss at the Africa Cup of Nations finals on Sunday and was taken away by police, team officials confirmed on Monday.
Ghana were beaten by a stoppage time goal by the Cape Verde Islands, the smallest of the 24 teams at the tournament in the Ivory Coast in one of several shock results on Sunday.
Hughton was accosted at the team hotel as Ghana returned from the match but the angry fan was intercepted by security officials.
Nigeria unveil squad for Handball African Nations Cup (Channels)
Head coach of Nigeria Men’s Handball Senior Team, Rafiu Salami has announced his final 16-man squad for the forthcoming African Cup of Nations in Cairo, Egypt.
The 26th African Men’s Handball Championships will be held from 17th to 27th January, 2024 in Egypt.
The list consists of three goalkeepers, nine defenders, five midfielders and eight forwards. Read more
Conor McGregor: Irish MMA star donates £25,000 to injured fighter Ryan Curtis (BBC)
Conor McGregor has donated £25,000 to Irish MMA fighter Ryan Curtis after he sustained “life-changing” injuries in a training accident.
Fighter Leah McCourt said Curtis, 31, had sustained “a broken back, a broken neck and a dislocated spine”.
Curtis has been a professional since 2015 and has fought on Cage Warriors and Bellator cards. Read more
AFCON 2023: Troost-Ekong begs Nigerians to not ‘give up’ on Super Eagles (CompleteSports)
William Troost-Ekong has begged soccer loving Nigerians not to relent in their support for the team.
The Super Eagles held the Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea to a 1-1 draw in their first game at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.
Troost-Ekong expressed gratitude to the fans for their support and urged them to rally behind the team ahead of their subsequent games in the competition. Read more
Kylian Mbappe backed to make Real Madrid transfer U-turn after Liverpool lifeline (Mirror)
Kylian Mbappe’s future remains up in the air, with the Paris Saint-Germain superstar out of contract in the summer and both Real Madrid and Liverpool heavily linked with a move for the forward
Kylian Mbappe has been tipped to reject Real Madrid and Liverpool in order to remain at Paris Saint-Germain.
Mbappe was widely expected to leave PSG this summer when his contract expires, having informed the club in June last year that he was not planning to extend his current deal. The 25-year-old has come close to joining Real twice and the La Liga giants had hoped they would finally be able to sign him this year. Read more