Gov Adeleke pardons man sentenced to death over fowl theft (DailyTrust)
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has pardoned Segun Olowookere, a young man convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to death in 2014.
In a statement on Thursday, the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, disclosed that Olowookere was pardoned alongside his accomplice, Sunday Morakinyo.
The claim that the duo got a death sentence for stealing a fowl went viral on social media. But the Osun State Judiciary has clarified that they were convicted for armed robbery, including robbing a poultry in 2010. Read more
Hardship: Have hope in God, Cleric admonishes Nigerians at Yuletide (Leadership)
The founder of Solid Rock Kingdom Church (SRKC), in Akwa Ibom State, Apostle John Okoriko, has admonished Nigerians to look up to God as the only leeway towards the prevailing socio-economic challenges in the country, and urged Nigerians to open doors of their hearts for God’s intervention.
Speaking while declaring open the ongoing four – day prayer and fasting convention at West Itam Secondary School ground at Itam, in Itu local government area on the theme; “An Open Door, No Man Can Shut”, Okoriko blessed youths of the church for their efforts to host the end of year meeting and charge Nigerians to open their hearts for God to dwell.
Okoriko, who does not believe in the existence of Satan and witches, disclosed that he would dwell on the strategic messages throughout the four days the convention would subsist. Read more
YP4T distributes food items, cash to over 2000 less privileged in Lagos (Sun)
A group of Nigerian patriots under the aegis of Young Professionals For Tinubu (YP4T) has donated cash and food items to over 2000 indigent and less privileged members of the society including widows.
The event, which was the fifth edition of the annual show of love and support, saw thousands of people in the Highway Police Barracks and the Ikeja environ, filled with joy and excitement, as they trooped out to receive the largesse.
The event kicked off with a medical outreach tagged, ‘BATIFIED Medical Outreach’, where thousands of people received free medical check on different ailments, as well as free drugs and counseling. Read more
OPS, Lagos Water Commission Face-off: NECA courts Sanwo-Olu’s intervention (ThisDay)
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State to intervene in the face-off between some manufacturing companies and the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO) over nonpayment of water abstraction levies.
NECA alleged the face-off has also led to purported closure of the factories of some major manufacturing companies in Lagos by LASWARCO over nonpayment of water abstraction levies.
It also urged the commission to toe the path of support for struggling businesses and stop the ongoing misinformation and media onslaught tantamount to economic sabotage. Read more
Police arrest man for raping 16-year-old girl in Ogun (Channels)
Police operatives have arrested a 20-year-old man for allegedly raping and impregnating a 16-year-old girl in the Olodo Community of Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The suspect, Akeem Sumonu, was arrested on Tuesday by operatives stationed at the community’s security post.
The spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists on Thursday in Abeokuta, the state capital. Read more
Timeline to appeal judgement nullifying Olaleye’s rape conviction expires Saturday (Tribune)
The Lagos State Government has not filed any appeal against the Court of Appeal’s judgement that nullified Dr Femi Olaleye’s rape conviction, contrary to the expectations of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) that called for an appeal.
Dr Olaleye, a medical practitioner and the managing director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, was charged with child defilement and sexual assault by penetration and was convicted by the Lagos Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court in October 2023.
However, in November 2023, the Court of Appeal overturned the conviction, citing errors in the lower court’s judgement after deeming the evidence provided by the prosecution to be “tainted”
and “unreliable,” leading to Dr. Olaleye’s acquittal. Read more
CBN disqualifies 41.65m shares in Access Holdings Rights Issue (Vanguard)
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has disqualified 41.65 million shares worth N822.60million in Access Holdings Plc’s Rights Issue that was recently concluded.
In a corporate notice filed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited, NGX on Wednesday, the disqualified shares, linked to five applicants, were flagged for reasons stated in the Capital Verification Report.
“41,650,447 shares from five applicants among the 24,100 acceptances, valued at N822,596,328.25 were disqualified by the Central Bank of Nigeria for reasons stated in the Capital Verification Report. Therefore, 18,755,158,972 shares valued at N370.41billion were accepted having been confirmed as valid and verified by the CBN,” the statement said. Read more
Lagos, Enugu join Commonwealth trade network (Punch)
Lagos and Enugu States have officially become strategic partners of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, a move expected to boost trade and investment opportunities across Nigeria and the Commonwealth.
This announcement was made during separate signing ceremonies held in Lagos and Enugu, with CWEIC’s Chief Executive Officer, Rosie Glazebrook, disclosing the development, according to a statement.
Glazebrook, speaking at a recent Lagos event held at Lagos House Marina, described the partnership as a significant platform for businesses in the state and said, “This will provide an excellent platform for businesses in Lagos State and beyond to interact across the Commonwealth.” Read more
Taylor Swift beats out Drake for most Billboard Music Awards ever with 49 (MXDWN)
According to nme.com, Taylor Swift has surpassed Drake to become the artist with the most wins at the Billboard Music Awards. The ceremony was held in the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and the event was broadcasted on Fox. Following the Eras Tour, Swift added 10 more awards to her collection.
This included Top Artist, Top Billboard 200, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Hot 100 Songwriter, Top Radio Songs Artist, Top Billboard 200 Global Artist, Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Artist, Top Streaming Songs Artist and Top Billboard 200 Album for “The Tortured Poets Department”. Read more
Bad Bunny shares new single ‘‘Pitorro de Coco’’ and announces new album ‘‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’’ (NME)
Bad Bunny has announced his new album ‘‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’’, and released the surprise single ‘‘Pitorro de Coco’’.
The Puerto Rican superstar – real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio – took to his official Instagram account today (December 26) to announce that his forthcoming sixth album ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’ – which translates to ‘I Should Have Taken More Photos’ – will be released on January 5 2025.
He shared a video teaser for the album which sees prominent Puerto Rican film director Jacobo Morales reflecting on his life with his cartoon friend named “Concho”. Read more
Marvel alum and Creature Commandos star Frank Grillo on why he enjoys DC more: “It’s so much more personal” (Deadline)
Frank Grillo opened up about starring in Marvel and DC Studios films and revealing the differences between both universes.
Grillo has had the privilege of playing a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the new DC Universe James Gunn and Peter Safran are creating.
The actor played the role of Brock Rumlow “Crossbones” across the MCU and is now voicing the character of Rick Flag Sr. for Max’s animated series Creature Commandos. In a recent interview, Grillo explained the differences between both studios. Read more
Sean Lennon trades childish insults online after being attacked for defending of Elon Musk (Independent)
John Lennon’s son exchanged childish insults with other social media users after being criticized for defending Elon Musk, even hitting one user with a “mom” joke.
Sean Lennon, 49 – the only child of the Beatles legend and Yoko Ono – came under fire after remarking online about the levels of influence that the tech billionaire has been wielding on US politics in recent weeks.
Democrats have slammed the billionaire and suggested he is calling the shots instead of Trump. Some even began referring to him as “President Musk” after the pair joined forces to tank a proposed stopgap spending bill in Congress. Read more
S Korea MPs file motion to impeach acting president (BBC)
South Korea’s opposition lawmakers have filed a motion to impeach the country’s prime minister and acting leader Han Duck-soo, less than two weeks after parliament voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol.
This comes after Han refused to appoint constitutional court judges nominated by the main opposition Democratic Party (DP).
“Han has revealed himself to be an acting insurrectionist, not an acting president”, DP’s floor leader Park Chan-dae said on Thursday. Read more
Palestinian TV news channel accuses Israel of killing 5 of its journalists (UPI)
A Palestinian television channel said an Israeli air strike killed five of its journalists in the central region of the Gaza Strip on Thursday, but the Israel Defense Forces said it targeted Islamic Jihad operatives posing as journalists.
Al Quds Today said one of its vans, marked “Press,” was attacked outside al-Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp, one of the few operating hospitals left in Gaza. The news organization said a wife of one of the journalists was giving birth at the hospital when the attacked took place.
The IDF called it an attack on operatives of the Islamic Jihad and officials said steps had been taken to avoid harming civilians. Israel military spokesman Nadav Shoshani said that reports that the IDF targeted journalists was a “fake claim.” Read more
Haiti’s health minister loses his job after a deadly gang attack on a hospital in the capital (ABC)
Haiti’s health minister has been removed from his post, government officials told The Associated Press on Thursday, following a deadly gang attack on the largest public hospital in the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The two government officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the issue, said Health Minister Duckenson Lorthe will be replaced by Justice Minister Patrick Pelissier until a new health minister is found.
Two journalists and a police officer were killed Tuesday as gang members burst into the General Hospital and fired indiscriminately at reporters who were there to cover the facility’s reopening. Read more
Ola Aina’s Nottingham Forest move to 3rd spot (Leadership)
Ola Aina’s Nottingham Forest moved up to third spot in the Premier League table after a narrow win over Tottenham on Thursday.
In-form winger Anthony Elanga struck for a third straight game as Forest clinched fourth successive win in the top flight for the first time since 1995.
It also earned boss Nuno Espirito Santo a first win over Tottenham – who had ex-Forest defender Djed Spence sent off in injury time – since being sacked by them three years ago. Read more
Nigeria, Ghana ditch Christmas, train ahead of CHAN qualifier (Punch)
Nigerian players and their Ghanaian counterparts are not taking any days off ahead of their crucial Africa Nations Championship qualifiers second leg clash in Uyo on Saturday, as both teams continued their training on Christmas Day, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The eighth CHAN tournament will be hosted by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, from February 1-28, 2025 and Nigeria and Ghana are still locked in a delicately poised contest for one of the tickets.
Both countries played out a goalless draw in the first leg of the encounter in Accra last Sunday, setting the tone for a fight to finish at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium. Read more
Man Utd crash at Wolves; Liverpool 7 points clear at top, Man City held by Everton (JapanToday)
Bruno Fernandes was sent off as Manchester United crashed to an embarrassing 2-0 defeat at lowly Wolves, while Erling Haaland missed a penalty as crisis-torn Manchester City failed to end their dismal run with a 1-1 draw against Everton on Thursday.
United suffered a third successive loss in all competitions to leave new boss Ruben Amorim with five defeats in his 10 games since replacing the sacked Erik ten Hag.
Fernandes was dismissed two minutes into the second half at Molineux for a second booking after fouling Nelson Semedo. Read more
Gabriel Jesus, David Raya could break Arsenal records in Ipswich Town Premier League clash (SportsMole)
Arsenal pair Gabriel Jesus and David Raya could both write new chapters of Gunners history when Mikel Arteta’s men host Ipswich Town in Friday’s Premier League encounter.
The title outsiders return from the Christmas festivities hoping to keep the momentum going from their 5-1 thumping of London rivals Crystal Palace, where Gabriel Jesus found the back of the net twice.
The Brazilian’s brace made it five goals in two games for the born-again striker, who also struck a terrific hat-trick against the Eagles in the EFL Cup quarter-finals last week. Read more
Caitlin Clark bags Female Athlete of the Year award beating Simone Biles and Imane Khelif (Express)
Caitlin Clark has been crowned the AP Female Athlete of the Year, having soared to new heights and etched her name in women’s basketball history.
Her journey, which saw her lead Iowa to the national title game before becoming the WNBA’s top draft pick and Rookie of the Year, enchanted fans who flocked to sold-out venues and tuned in by the millions.
Clark’s phenomenal rise has shone a spotlight not only on basketball but also other women’s sports. The prestigious award, voted for by 74 sports journalists from The Associated Press and its affiliates, was dominated by Clark with 35 votes, leaving Olympic hero Simone Biles and boxing sensation Imane Khelif trailing in her wake. Read more
“World-class” Schoeman signs long-term Edinburgh deal (BBC)
Scotland prop Pierre Schoeman has signed a new contract with Edinburgh until 2028.
The loose-head, 30, has made over a century of appearances since joining the capital club in 2018 and has cemented himself in Gregor Townsend’s Scotland side after making his debut in 2021.
He now has 37 caps for his adopted country, having qualified on residency grounds, and is widely expected to receive a call-up to the British & Irish Lions next summer. Read more