GBV: Sanusi II threatens to strip titles of wife-beating chiefs (Punch)
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II on Monday threatened to remove any traditional title holder under his domain that beat his wife.
The monarch made the remark at Bayero University Kano, at the opening of the 2024 National Dialogue on the role of Islamic Opinion Leaders in the prevention of Gender-based violence in Northern Nigeria.
The traditional ruler also called for an urgent review of section 55 of the penal code law of Nigeria, which permits husbands to correct their wives due to gross abuse of the provision in the Northern part of the country. Read more
Farotimi asks court to strike out defamation suit (Channels)
Ahead of Tuesday’s hearing of the defamation charge against Dele Farotimi, the Lagos-based legal practitioner has filed a preliminary objection asking the Ado Ekiti Magistrate Court to strike out the suit.
The preliminary objection dated December 9, 2024, was filed through his lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, leading 19 others.
It was brought under Section 36(8) OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, 1999, SECTIONS 4(1) OF THE CRIMINAL LAW OF EKITI STATE, SECTION 77 (10(a), 147 AND 370 OF THE EKITI STATE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE LAW, 2014) and SECTIONS 25 AND 42 OF THE MAGISTRATES COURTS LAW (N0.5, 2014) OF EKITI STATE. Read more
Mama Boko Haram, 2 others jailed for N6m fraud (DailyTrust)
The Chief Executive Officer of Complete Care and Aid Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, Aisha Alkali Wakil popularly known as Mama Boko Haram, has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment over a N6 million fraud.
Wakil was jailed alongside Programme Manager, Tahiru Saidu Daura and Country Director, Prince Lawal Shoyode, by Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri.
They were re-arraigned on Monday, September 1, 2020 on four-count amended charges bordering on cheating, conspiracy and giving false information to the tune of N6m. Read more
Lagos gives guidelines on gated streets, barriers (Independent)
The Ministry of Transportation has observed a surge in the installation of unauthorized gates, particularly in the Lekki axis, erected without the necessary approvals from the Ministry, while some approved gates are being mismanaged as residents fail to adhere to the established guidelines for gated streets in Lagos State.
This non-compliance poses significant challenges to traffic flow, emergency response access, and overall public safety. As such, the Ministry is taking a firm stance to address this issue and wishes to reiterate the following in line with the Lagos State Government’s policy and regulations:
All gates and barriers installed without prior authorization from the Lagos State Government are illegal and will be removed. Read more
UBE counterpart fund: FG seeks transparency, accountability in procurement processes (Nation)
The federal government through the Universal Basic Education Commission has urged chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) to ensure value for money in the utilisation of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) counterpart fund by ensuring transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the procurement processes within the Basic Education system.
Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, made the call in Abuja while declaring open a 5-day training workshop on the 2007 Procurement Act for chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards and procurement officers from SUBEBs across the 36 states of the Federation and FCT.
The executive secretary noted that the 2007 Procurement Act was a cornerstone of public procurement in Nigeria, adding that it provided a comprehensive framework for conducting public procurement, ensuring fairness, equity, and value for money in all public transactions. Read more
Oronsaye Report implementation to end duplication of functions — SGF (Leadership)
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has commended President Bola Tinubu for taking decisive steps to implement the recommendations of the Oronsaye Report, a landmark document aimed at restructuring Nigeria’s public service.
According to a statement by the director, information in SGF office, Segun Imohiosen, Senator Akume made the remarks during an interview on TVC’s ‘Politics on Sunday’, where he emphasised that the implementation of the report would end the duplication of functions among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), thereby ensuring greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness in governance.
“The Oronsaye Report has been sitting idle since it was submitted to the previous government without action. However, President Tinubu has taken the bold step to commence implementation of parts of the report,” Akume noted. “This is a clear demonstration of the President’s commitment to reforming the public sector for the benefit of the government and the people.” Read more
NASS appoints Andrew Nwoba Clerk of Senate (Vanguard)
The National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) has approved the appointment of Andrew Ogbonnaya Nwoba as the new Clerk of the Senate.
In a statement released on Monday by Deputy Director of Information, Emmanuel N. Anyigor, on behalf of the Executive Chairman, the Commission announced that Nwoba’s appointment will take effect from December 11, 2024. The decision was made during the Commission’s meeting on December 4, 2024.
Nwoba succeeds Chinedu Francis Akubueze in the role. Prior to his appointment, Nwoba served as the Secretary of the Directorate of Legislative Budget and Planning. Read more
$1.7b airline funds blocked globally — IATA (Tribune)
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported that $1.7 billion in airline funds are still being blocked from repatriation by governments as of the end of October 2024.
Nigeria has been exempted from the debtor countries, an indication that the federal government has settled the outstanding debt balance.
IÁTA, however, described this as a small improvement compared to the $1.8 billion reported at the end of April. Read more
Musicals lead the way at Golden Globe nominations with Wicked and Emilia Perez (Standard)
Operatic musical Emilia Perez starring Selena Gomez topped the Golden Globe nominations, while Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo also scored major nods for their roles in Wicked.
The Golden Globes are the first major film awards to announce nominations and are considered a bellwether for the awards season.
US actors Mindy Kaling and Morris Chestnut announced the shortlist live on Monday, which saw Emilia Perez – about a Mexican drug lord who changes gender – score 10 nominations and Grande land her first Golden Globe nod. Read more
Charles Onana found guilty of contesting crimes against humanity (AfricaNews)
Charles Onana, a 60-year-old Franco-Cameroonian author, was found guilty by a Paris court on December 9 for “complicity in publicly contesting the existence of a crime against humanity”. His conviction stems from statements in his 2019 book, Rwanda, the Truth About Operation Turquoise, where he referred to the notion of a Hutu-planned genocide as “one of the greatest scams of the 20th century.”
Onana was fined €8,400, while his publisher, Damien Serieyx of Éditions du Toucan, was fined €5,000. They must also pay €11,000 in damages to human rights organizations that filed the lawsuit.
The case follows France’s 2017 press freedom law, which criminalizes the denial or minimization of recognized genocides. Onana’s book had drawn complaints from associations like Survie, the Ligue des droits de l’Homme, and the International Federation for Human Rights. Read more
Beyoncé’s mum Tina Knowles stuns fans with response to Jay-Z rape lawsuit report (Mirror)
Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, shocked fans when she appeared to like a news post on Instagram about the rape lawsuit against Jay-Z following the allegations being made public
Tina Knowles, Beyoncé’s mum, has shocked some music fans with her apparent Instagram reaction to the rape allegation made against Jay-Z.
The Roc-A-Fella star, 55, has been dragged into P Diddy’s ongoing legal drama after an unnamed woman claims she was raped by the pair after the 2000 MTV Music Awards. A civil lawsuit, originally filed in New York’s Southern District this past October against Combs, was refiled on Sunday naming Carter, as a defendant over an alleged incident at the MTV Awards – that he strong and vehemently denies. Read more
Taylor Swift gave staff $197m in bonuses from $2b Eras Tour (Independent)
Taylor Swift has rewarded those involved with the Eras Tour.
The Grammy winner ended her world tour in BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, Canada, on Sunday (December 8). The final show comes nearly two years after she kicked off the North American leg in March 2023.
According to People, the “Karma” singer has given out $197 million in bonuses to everyone who worked on the tour including truck drivers, caterers, instrument techs, merch team, lighting, sound, production staff and assistants, carpenters, dancers, band, security, choreographers, pyrotechnics, riggers, hair, make-up, wardrobe, physical therapists, and the video team. Read more
Chris Evans returning to Marvel for ‘‘Avengers: Doomsday’’ (THR)
After appearing in Deadpool & Wolverine, Chris Evans is dipping back into the Marvel Cinematic Universe once again for “Avengers: Doomsday”, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
Evans’ longtime collaborators the Russo brothers — who directed Evans in four films — are directing, with Robert Downey Jr. playing Doctor Doom. The film has a release date of May 1, 2026.
The actor played Johnny Storm/The Human Torch in Deadpool & Wolverine, reprising his role from a pair of Fantastic Four movies made by Fox in the 2000s. But he was best known for playing Steve Rogers/Captain America in the MCU, where he was a cornerstone of the universe. Read more
Director faces trial in Haenel assault case that ignited France’s #MeToo movement (RFI)
Director Christophe Ruggia is accused of sexually assaulting Haenel in the early 2000s when she was under 15 and he was in his mid to late 30s.
Haenel, star of films Portrait of a Lady on Fire and 120 Beats Per Minute went public in 2019 with a description of the sexual assault she allegedly suffered at the hands of Ruggia.
The two met working on the movie The Devils in 2001 when she was 12 and he was 36. Read more
Japanese atomic bomb survivors to receive Nobel Peace Prize (UPI)
A group of Japanese survivors of the World War II atomic bombings on Nagasaki and Hiroshima in 1945 is set to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Tuesday.
The delegation touched down in Oslo, Norway, on Monday, where the group will receive the honor.
The group is composed of 30 members of Nihon Hidankyo, Japan’s national organization of atomic and hydrogen bomb survivors, which was formed in 1956. Read more
NFF to appoint foreign coach to rescue Nigeria’s World Cup dream (Independent)
Barring any change of plan, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will appoint a foreigner for the remaining matches of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in a move that is aimed at rescuing the almost faded dream of the former African champions for the Mundial scheduled for the United States, Mexico and Canada.
According to a top official from the NFF, as per an online medium, the process is already underway to secure a highly qualified foreign coach capable of leading the national team to qualification for the 2026 tournament.
The official, the medium noted, clarified that careful consideration was being given to selecting the best candidate from a pool of interested foreign coaches currently undergoing interviews.
Court adjourns motion to stop demolition of Onitsha Sports Club for hearing on Dec 10 (Vanguard)
An Onitsha High Court No. 4, presided over by Justice Sylvester Odili, has adjourned hearing in a motion for an interlocutory injunction to Tuesday, December 10.
The motion seeks to restrain the Ekwerekwu family of Onitsha from further interfering with the possession and use of the Onitsha Sports Club premises or demolishing any existing structures on the property.
The adjournment followed a request by G. Ezeuko SAN, a new counsel for the second defendant, Valentine Ekwerekwu, who asked for additional time to familiarize himself with the details of the case. Read more
West Ham United 2-1 Wolves: Gary O’Neil claims “four key decisions” went against visitors in “El Sackico’’ (SportsMole)
Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Gary O’Neil has vented his frustration after claiming that four key decisions went against his side in the 2-1 defeat at West Ham United.
O’Neil went into Monday night’s fixture at the London Stadium aware that he could be sacked if his side suffered a third successive defeat and 10th in 15 top-flight fixtures during 2024-25.
Although Wolves had their moments versus the Hammers in an even game, goals from Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen ultimately proved to be the difference. Read more
Dodgers say “very unlikely” Shohei Ohtani pitches on Japan trip (ABC)
Shohei Ohtani is expected to be ready to hit when the Los Angeles Dodgers open their season in Japan next March, but it’s “very unlikely” he will also pitch in those games, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
Given the context — coming off surgery to his non-throwing shoulder, on the heels of spending an entire year rehabbing another repair of his ulnar collateral ligament, and the fact that the Dodgers will begin their season in unconventional fashion — the thought of Ohtani pitching in his home country was long seen as unlikely.
“I just don’t see us starting the clock in March to then think that we would keep that continuously going through October,” Roberts said on Day 1 of the Winter Meetings on Monday. “Then that would call for a break or reprieve in the middle of the season.” Read more
Premier League official Coote sacked after investigation (BBC)
Premier League official David Coote has been sacked by referees’ body the PGMOL following a “thorough investigation” into his conduct.
Coote, 42, was suspended by the PGMOL (the Professional Game Match Officials Limited) on 11 November pending a full investigation after a video allegedly showing him making derogatory comments about Liverpool and the club’s former manager Jurgen Klopp was circulated on social media.
A further investigation was opened two days later after the Sun published photos it says were taken during this summer’s European Championship, alleging that they appear to show Coote sniffing a white powder through a rolled up US bank note. Read more
Join me at Marseille –Rabiot tells Pogba (CompleteSports)
Olympique Marseille midfielder Adrien Rabiot has advised Paul Pogba to join him at the club.
Pogba is now a free agent after his contract with Juve was terminated and will be free to play again in March after serving his revised doping ban.
Speaking with DAZN, Rabiot stated that he would like to play together with Pogba. Read more
