Graduate drowns in Abuja hotel’s pool (DailyTrust)
A woman, Ms Promise Ekong, who completed her one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year in November, 2022, has reportedly drowned in a swimming pool of a hotel in Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja.
The late Ekong, an indigene of Boki LGA of Cross River State, reportedly drowned while having fun in the swimming pool last week Wednesday.
It was learnt that the management of the hotel immediately reported her death as an accident to the police, but that the family members of the victim disagreed, arguing that there was foul play. Read more
Tension as policemen stab soldier to death in Ikorodu (Punch)
There is palpable tension in Ikorodu, Lagos State as some policemen have reportedly stabbed an unidentified soldier to death in the area.
The incident happened at the border town of Ogijo, between Ogun State and Lagos State.
According to reports, the policemen ran away to Ogijo Police Station when they discovered the victim was an officer. Read more
100 million Nigerians living in abject poverty, says Peter Obi (Guardian)
Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has said about one hundred million Nigerians live in abject poverty due to misrule and mismanagement of the nation’s economy by the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Addressing a mammoth crowd of supporters at the popular Nkwo Nnewi market in Anambra State, Obi said nearly 65 million citizens were poor in 2012, but today, over 100 million have been subjected to poverty.
Obi, however, told the enthusiastic crowd that he and his running mate, Senator Yusuf Datti-Ahmed, are prepared to change the narrative. Read more
Cash Crunch: 3 killed as protests erupt in 8 states, FCT (Leadership)
The ongoing scarcity of the Naira notes took a dangerous dimension yesterday morning as no fewer than three persons lost their lives following violent protests that erupted in parts of Nigeria.
In Benin City, the Edo State capital, angry residents, who could not access their monies in commercial banks, took to the streets in protests that led to loss of lives after security forces fired live bullets and teargas to disperse the unruly crowds.
The body of one of the protesters was deposited in front of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) amid sporadic gunfire and teargas from policemen and soldiers. Read more
Sanwo-Olu warns against rejection of old notes (Nation)
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has warned residents and businesses in Lagos against rejecting old notes.
He vowed that those who reject old notes will be prosecuted.
The Governor, in a statement on Wednesday by Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso, said: “The State Government has joined the dispute at the Supreme Court, which today adjourned the hearing of the matter till February 22. When the matter first came up on February 8, the apex court said the old notes remained legal tender.
That position has not changed. The State Government hereby warns those rejecting the old notes to desist from doing so or face prosecution. It is against the law to reject the old notes as doing so is contrary to the position of the Supreme Court.” Read more
Bolanle: Defence seeks no-case submission (Vanguard)
The police officer, Darambi Vandi, who shot and killed a Lagos-based lawyer, Omobolanle Raheem, on Christmas Day, told a Lagos High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square, that he would file a no-case submission to quash the charge.
The defendant’s counsel, Mr Adetokunbo Odutola, made this known on Wednesday after the prosecution counsel, Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyo Onigbanjo, (SAN), closed its case.
Vandi is standing trial on a count charge of shooting and killing a Lagos lawyer on Dec. 25, 2022, to which he pleaded not guilty. Read more
Buhari to address Nigerians at 7am today amid naira scarcity (Channels)
President Muhammadu Buhari will address Nigerians on Thursday by 7am, presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina has said.
The President’s nationwide broadcast is coming amid strong reactions and protests to the lingering cash crunch experienced by millions of Nigerians across the country in the last few weeks.
Adesina, however, did not state the subject the President will be addressing during the broadcast. Read more
US actress and 1960s sex symbol Raquel Welch dead at age 82 (France24)
Raquel Welch, the film actress whose sultry, curvaceous looks made her a leading sex symbol of the 1960s and ’70s, has died at age 82, news media outlets reported on Wednesday.
Her death was initially reported by TMZ.com, citing unnamed family members, and later by Hollywood trade publication Variety and the French news agency AFP, which cited her manager.
Welch came to the wide attention of moviegoers for her role in the 1966 sci-fi adventure Fantastic Voyage, followed by her iconic appearance later that year in the prehistoric drama One Million Years B.C. Read more
How to Train Your Dragon live-action movie in the works from Dean DeBlois, Universal (THR)
The dragons and Vikings are taking to the skies once again, this time in live-action.
Taking a massive swing, Universal Pictures has put in motion a How to Train Your Dragon live-action movie, with Dean DeBlois, the filmmaker behind the original animated trilogy, back in the saddle as writer, director and producer.
The feature project is already steps into the development process. Universal has dated the feature for a March 14, 2025 release. And sources also say the casting process is already underway. Read more
Rihanna admits she places ”toxic pressure” on herself to make an album that can top Anti (People)
Rihanna is not unaware of the anticipation surrounding her upcoming album, but following a project like 2016’s “Anti” is easier said than done.
“In hindsight, it really is my most brilliant album,” the “Diamonds” singer, 34, told British Vogue for its March cover issue. “I say that because at the moment, I didn’t realize it. But it always felt like the most cohesive album I’ve ever made.”
She added, “But there’s this pressure that I put on myself. That if it’s not better than that then it is not even worth it.” Read more
Jermaine Dupri responds to critics who say he isn’t ‘‘relevant’’ anymore (HipHopDX)
Jermaine Dupri has been seeing people say he’s no longer “relevant” – and the legendary producer has a message for anyone who believes the statement to be true.
During a sit-down on the latest episode of the I AM ATHLETE podcast which arrived on Monday (February 13), JD addressed the critics who’ve labeled him irrelevant and reminded them all that he actually hasn’t slowed down at all.
“I heard n-ggas say, ‘JD ain’t relevant no more.’ I’ve had a hit record every year that you can think of – you just don’t even really realize it,” JD said. When asked about 2020 and 2021, he was ready with receipts. Read more
Lufthansa IT failure strands thousands of passengers worldwide (AlJazeera)
German airline Lufthansa has blamed construction work on a rail line in Frankfurt for a massive IT failure that has disrupted its operations around the world.
The carrier said repair work would continue until Wednesday afternoon, citing information it had received from Deutsche Telekom, a German telecoms operator. It expects flight operations to stabilise by early evening.
Shares of Lufthansa, which also owns SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings, were down 1.25 percent at 11:44 GMT. Read more
Father of 2 injured in NYC U-Haul rampage placed in medically induced coma: family (NYPost)
One of the surviving victims struck by an unhinged U-Haul driver in Brooklyn was identified Tuesday as a loving father of two who’s been placed in a medically induced coma.
Mohammed Zakaria Salah Rakchi, 36, had just dropped his seven-year-old daughter off at school and was running errands for his family when he was mowed down in Bay Ridge by accused driver Weng Sor shortly before 10:20 a.m. Monday, his wife, Nadjet Tchenar, told reporters at a press conference.
Rakchi, a delivery bike driver, suffered “massive head trauma” and was placed in a medically induced coma after he was taken to a nearby hospital, Tchenar said. Read more
NPFL: Plateau hammer El-Kanemi 5-0 as Lobi Crash in Bauchi (ThisDay)
Plateau United moved into the championship playoff spots after a comprehensive 5-0 thrashing of El-Kanemi Warriors at the New Jos Stadium. The Jos side got off to a flying start scoring three goals in the first 30 minutes.
Anthony Sunday scored first in the 4th minute before Eru Jackson (21st minute) and Ibrahim Mustapha (28th minute) took the match beyond the visiting El Kanemi who were poor on the day.
Second-half goals from Tochukwu Udeh (63rd) and Uche Onwuansanya (90+2) only heaped more misery on the visitors. Read more
Man City back in business after statement win at Arsenal (France24)
Written off at times during an unusually erratic season, resurgent Manchester City delivered a resounding statement as they moved to the top of the Premier League with a 3-1 victory at title rivals Arsenal on Wednesday.
As City’s players celebrated in front of their travelling fans in one corner of the Emirates Stadium at the final whistle, Pep Guardiola’s face was wreathed in smiles, and perhaps tinged with a little relief.
Just a few minutes earlier, Guardiola had been punching the air in delight as second half goals from Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland lifted City back to the top of the table. Read more
Dortmund’s Adeyemi gives Chelsea a lesson in finishing (DW)
In their first ever meeting, Chelsea should have walked away with the victory. Instead it turned into a rousing night for Borussia Dortmund as Karim Adeyemi stepped up to give the Germans the advantage.
Borussia Dortmund will take a 1-0 lead to London for the second installment of this intriguing contest in the last 16 of the Champions League. Chelsea’s first taste of the Westfalenstadion cauldron ended with a sense of bemusement that for all the glorious chances they created the victory was ultimately Dortmund’s.
Edin Terzic’s side came into this game with a record of six wins from six in 2023 and that confidence ran through the team as the hosts dictated the tempo of the first half – even if they failed to convert that dominance into clear cut chances. The closest they came was when Sebastien Haller, spotted by inspirational captain Jude Bellingham, rippled the side-netting.
Rublev, Zverev crash in Rotterdam (StraitsTimes)
Fifth-ranked Andrey Rublev and former world No. 2 Alexander Zverev both crashed out of the Rotterdam ATP event on Wednesday.
Second seed Rublev went down 6-4, 6-4 to Australia’s Alex De Minaur who goes on to face American serve-and-volley Maxime Cressy for a quarter-final place.
Rublev was the second seeded player to exit on Wednesday after Polish world No. 10 and fifth seed Hubert Hurkacz lost to Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5) in the last 16. Read more
World Indoor Tour: Keely Hodgkinson sets world-leading time in 800m win (BBC)
Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson set a world leading time as she stormed to a dominant 800m victory at the World Indoor Tour event in Lievin, France.
The 20-year-old clocked one minute 57.71 seconds as she finished almost three seconds clear of the field.
Kenya’s Commonwealth Games champion Mary Moraa came second in 2:00.61.
It meant the in-form Hodgkinson improved on her previous world-leading time of 1:57.87 from her win at the Copernicus Cup in Torun last week. Read more