Gunmen abduct bride 24 hours to her wedding in Plateau (Guardian)
Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herders have abducted a bride-to-be, Format Paul, 24 hours to her wedding in Bokkos Local Council of Plateau State.
It was gathered that Format was abducted Sunday night (January 2), while she was preparing for her wedding slated for yesterday, Monday, January 3.
A family source said the bride-to-be was abducted at the residence of her pastor.
However, at the time of filing this report, it is not clear if any harm came to the cleric or any other person during the attack.
According to the source, the kidnappers, who raided the pastor’s house for about ten minutes spoke in Fulani language throughout the operation. Read more
‘LASTMA thugs’ brutalise driver, impound bus, agency ignores victim’s petition (Punch)
A commercial driver, Olasunkanmi Adejare, has accused the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority of using thugs to impound his vehicle in the Oshodi area of the state.
It was gathered that Adejare, who drove a minibus for commercial purposes on the Lagos Island, went to the Ladipo area of the state on April 12, 2021, to purchase some tyres for the vehicle.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the 44-year-old was on his way back to the Lagos Island when he was accosted by three hoodlums allegedly working for LASTMA around the Oshodi area when he parked his vehicle for a friend to alight.
The driver told our correspondent that the men demanded the key of his vehicle and when he refused to give them, they beat him up.
Adejare said the group drove the vehicle to the LASTMA office in Oshodi, adding that all efforts to retrieve the bus proved abortive. Read more
Ikeja bridge to be delivered two months ahead of deadline, says Sanwo-Olu (Guardian)
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, revealed that the Ikeja overpass bridge would be delivered a month or two before the end of August 2022, the initial deadline.
The project aims to ease the pains of commuters plying the Agege-Motor Road.
Speaking after inspecting sections of the Blue and Red lines rail project, Sanwo-Olu said the state government has asked the contractor to complete the job ahead of the earlier deadline. According to him, marching orders have been given to keep to the timelines.
The governor, who was at the overpass bridge, and the Yaba, Oyingbo and Marina train terminals, commended contractors for keeping to timelines and working even on a public holiday. Read more
2022 will witness remarkable developments, says Sanwo-Olu (Punch)
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has promised citizens that 2022 will witness remarkable development in the various sectors of the state.
Sanwo-Olu said this on Sunday in his New Year message delivered at the 2022 annual thanksgiving service, themed, ‘Songs of thanksgiving,’ at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.
He said, “This New Year 2022 is a special year for us as an administration, because it will be the final full year of the four-year mandate you gave us in 2019.
“It will therefore be ‘a Season of Consolidation,’ year in which we hope to complete all ongoing projects and significantly advance our journey towards the ‘Greater Lagos’ of our collective desire. Read more
Obaseki urges Nigerians to join govt in providing amenities (Independent)
Wife of Edo State Governor, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, has urged Nigerians to join both the federal and state governments in providing amenities for community development.
Obaseki made the call at the weekend while inaugurating a school complex built within 84-year-old Central Primary School, Obioma, in Udi Local Council of Enugu State at N100m.
Ike Chioke, an illustrious son of Obioma and Group Managing Director of Afrinvest West Africa, built the school complex, equipped it and made provision for re-training of the school’s teachers.
The governor’s wife said it was becoming increasingly difficult for the government alone to provide all the infrastructure needs of various communities; hence the need for individuals and corporate bodies to contribute. Read more
Police go after revellers behind attack on Teni in Rivers community (Punch)
A popular artiste, Teniola Akpata, aka Teni, escaped a mob attack while performing at an event in Buguma town, in the Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
In a trending video on social media, the singer was performing one of her hit tracks, Super Power, when hell was let loose as gunshots rent the air.
The ear-splitting gunshots sent everyone scampering to safety.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Teni was invited to perform at a carnival which was going on smoothly before the incident occurred.
According to the video, suspected hoodlums pelt the artiste with bottles while she sang, a situation that attracted the attention of security operatives. Read more
Olubadan: Attention shifts to next-in-line Lekan Balogun (Nation)
Relations, friends, neighbours and well-wishers started thronging the residence of the next-in-line to the throne, High Chief Lekan Balogun, who until Oba,Saliu Adetunji’s demise, was the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan.
Activities began to swell around his Alarere residence since about 9:00 am when Oba Adetunji’s demise had been fully confirmed. The crowd began to gather as people trickled in by the minutes. They rejoiced and felicitated Balogun who received them with joy.
Decking green ankara and traditional abetiaja hat to match, 79-year old Balogun was calm as he exchanged pleasantries with guests. He looked healthy and cracked jokes as his nature. But he declined an interview with reporters.
By 2:30 pm, guests were already being treated to amala and ewedu meal in Balogun’s compound. The shouting of ‘Kabiyesi, Kabiyesi‘ rented the air as they paid obeisance. Read more
Buhari, Ganduje, Atiku, Kalu, Anyim, ACF, others mourn as Tofa is buried in Kano (Sun)
Prominent Nigerians and groups, including President Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Senate Chef Whip, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, are among those who have condoled with the Kano State and the family of Tofa over the demise of the former presidential standard bearer of the National Republican Party (NRC) in the June 12, 1993 election, Othman Bashir Tofa.
The elder statesman, who passed away in the early hours of yesterday, at the Aminu KanoTeaching Hospital, Kano, has been buried at Hajj Camp cemetery on Airport Road in Kano according to Islamic rites after a funeral prayer conducted by the Chief Iman of his residential mosque, Habib Shehu, who was joined by hundreds of sympathisers and well wishers.
President Buhari, in a statement by Garba Shehu, said the late politician was not only a promoter of Islamic culture and civilisation but also noted for his untiring commitment to public enlightenment and unafraid to speak truth to power.
“He was, till the end, a patriot to the core. He envisaged a better Nigeria for all. We pray this dream and collective aspiration and necessary commitment will not go with him. We owe it to his memory and to the nation.” Read more
Don Charles Mmaduka bags endorsement deals, reaches new height in Nollywood (Vanguard)
Nollywood actor, screenwriter Don Charles Amala Mmaduka, popularly known as Pitakwa has recently bagged a mouth-watering endorsement deal with a building firm, Crystal Dave Marble And Granite Company.
The thespian and graduate of Geology from the famed Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka has successfully carved a niche for himself in the crowded Nigerian movie industry.
Like Chinwetalu Agu, Pitakwa’s synonymous catchphrase “I Don Mark Your Face” has become a popular slogan amongst movie lovers in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.
He has been dubbed by many, including his colleagues as a decorated actor who interprets his scripts and plays his roles with so much precision, accuracy and finesse. Read more
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes guilty of fraud (BBC)
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has been convicted of defrauding investors after a months-long landmark trial in California.
Prosecutors said Holmes knowingly lied about technology she said could detect diseases with a few drops of blood.
Jurors found Holmes guilty of four charges, including conspiracy to commit fraud against investors and three counts of wire fraud.
She denied the charges, which carry a maximum prison term of 20 years each.
Holmes was not taken into custody, with no date confirmed yet for sentencing and a further hearing scheduled next week. Read more
Omicron variant might have mutated from mice, says study (Metro)
We’re all wondering where the new Omicron variant of Covid-19 came from and looks like scientists might have an answer as to the origins of the Omicron variant — mice.
Researchers in China have found that the Omicron variant might have mutated in mice before making its way back to humans.
The rapid build-up of mutations in the Omicron variant that enabled its outbreak raised questions among scientists as to whether it originated in humans or other mammals.
Upon further investigation, it was found that the Omicron spike protein sequence was subjected to stronger positive selection than that of any reported variants known to evolve persistently in human hosts, suggesting a possibility called ‘host-jumping’. Read more
Betty White’s cause of death revealed, agent denies she got booster days before (PageSix)
Betty White died less than three weeks before her 100th birthday as a result of “natural causes,” her agent said Monday.
“Betty died peacefully in her sleep at her home,” the agent, Jeff Witjas, who was also White’s close friend, said in a statement to People.
Witjas also shot down a debunked report that claimed White had just gotten a COVID-19 booster shot on Dec. 28.
“People are saying her death was related to getting a booster shot three days earlier, but that is not true. She died of natural causes,” he told the magazine. “Her death should not be politicized — that is not the life she lived.”
In a new interview with Page Six, White’s “Mama’s Family” co-star Vicki Lawrence revealed that the cultural icon called out late husband Allen Ludden’s name moments before she died. Read more
Quebec begins retail store closures amid new COVID-19 wave (ABC)
Quebec proceeded with the first of three planned closures of non-essential retail stores Sunday as the provincial government tried to curb a new wave of COVID-19 driven by the highly infectious Omicron variant.
Hospitals and health-care resources in Quebec and Canada’s remote northern communities are also being stretched as case numbers explode.
Quebec Premier Francois Legault announced last week that the bulk of the province’s stores would be closed for the next three Sundays, with the exception of pharmacies, convenience stores and gas stations.
Charles Milliard, president of the Quebec Federation of Chambers of Commerce, urged the government to lift the measures as soon as possible. Read more
Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Giuffre’s $500,000 settlement with Jeffrey Epstein made public (Metro)
A 2009 settlement agreement between the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual abuse, was made public on Monday as part of Giuffre’s civil lawsuit against Britain’s Prince Andrew.
It shows that Epstein paid Giuffre $500,000 to drop the case without any admission of liability or fault. It provided a release for ‘any other person or entity who could have been included as a potential defendant’ against various claims made by Giuffre.
The 2009 agreement was filed under seal in two court cases that pit Giuffre against Prince Andrew and attorney Alan Dershowitz.
Giuffre, who at the time had the last name Roberts, has claimed that Epstein arranged for her to have sex with the men on multiple occasions when she was a minor. Read more
Bob Dylan’s accuser expands timeframe for when sexual abuse allegedly occurred (PageSix)
The woman who accused Bob Dylan of sexually abusing her in New York City on multiple occasions decades ago when she was just 12, has expanded the timeframe for when the abuse allegedly occurred — following prior reports that the songwriter was away on tour during the time of her claims, new court papers show.
The 68-year-old woman — who filed suit anonymously in August under the initials J.C. — claimed that the “Blowin’ in the Wind” singer groomed her and plied her with drugs and alcohol before allegedly sexually abusing her as a pre-teen multiple times at his Chelsea Hotel apartment over the course of six weeks in April and May of 1965.
Soon after, reporting emerged that the 80-year-old musician was away on tour for most of April and May that year.
Still, the alleged victim’s lawyer Daniel Isaacs at the time maintained that his client’s claims held up and that there was enough time between tour dates for the alleged abuse to have occurred. Read more
Doja Cat puts funny country twist on Brent Faiyaz song (HotNewHipHop)
Doja Cat is famous for two things: her tremendous pop music and artistry, and her entertaining online presence. One of the ways she amuses her fans through social media is by her goofy Instagram live sessions and her spontaneous Instagram posts.
The latest of these posts came right before 2021 ended, and she recorded a video of her singing in her bedroom. While Doja is one of the most captivating and talented pop musicians in the industry right now, she was not intending to impress with this post.
As she wore a peculiar wide-brimmed hat, she employed a humorous country twang as she sang Brent Faiyaz’s 2016 hit “Lovely.” She appears to be a huge fan of the song, as she captioned the funny post “singing.”
This came just days after Doja had expressed the desire to expand past her pop presence and release a two-sided album: one side rap and the other side pop. While her albums already contain some impressive rap verses, she has never fully committed to that style of music, so it will be fascinating to see her spit bars for a prolonged stretch of time on a record. Read more
More players expected as Eagles depart tomorrow (Guardian)
Football-loving Nigerians are worried by the attitude of some Super Eagles players who are yet to join the team’s camp in Abuja less than four days to the kick-off of the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
The tournament begins on Sunday, January 9, and coach Austin Eguavoen is yet to get a full house in Eagles’ camp. The team is expected to depart for Garoau tomorrow (Wednesday).
To some Nigerians, such an attitude is capable of derailing Nigeria’s success at the AFCON.
In particular, Nigerians want the trio of Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi to learn from the duo of Sadio Mane and Edouard Mendy, who after two hours of their EPL match (Chelsea versus Liverpool), left for Senegalese camp to team up with other players in preparation for AFCON.
Musa was said to have watched NPFL fixture between Kano Pillars and Enyimba at the weekend, while Eguavoen and a few Super Eagles players were in Abuja. Read more
Ebuehi to join Eagles in Garoua January 6 (Punch)
Venezia defender, Tyronne Ebuehi, will join the Super Eagles camp in Garoua on January 6 ahead of the tournament, President, Nigerian Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, has stated.
Ebuehi, who was initially not in the 28-man list for the tournament was drafted in by interim coach Austin Eguavoen after injury to Cyprus-based defender Shehu Abdulahi.
“We spoke with Ebuehi and he was excited to join the squad,” Pinnick said in an interview on Arise TV monitored by PUNCH Sports Extra on Monday.
“We noticed we had some lapses in the defence and we had to draft some more players in that department.” Read more
John Madden honoured across the NFL on 1st Sunday after his death (People)
John Madden was honoured across the NFL on the first Sunday following his death.
A moment of silence was held at stadiums across the NFL on Sunday in honor of Madden, who died “unexpectedly” on Tuesday at age 85. FOX and CBS also paid tribute to the late broadcaster with separate on-air tributes ahead of their afternoon slate of games.
“All around the league, we mourn the loss of the iconic John Madden: coach, broadcaster and so much more whose legacy will live forever,” said announcer Kenny Albert on FOX’s broadcast of the Las Vegas Raiders-Indianapolis Colts game.
FOX Sports: NFL also shared a compilation of some of Madden’s most iconic lines from his years as a broadcaster, including a few of his classic telestrator illustrations. Read more
Moutinho scores late winner as Man Utd lose at home to Wolves (BBC)
Joao Moutinho struck the only goal eight minutes from time to give Wolves a deserved victory at Old Trafford and end Ralf Rangnick’s unbeaten start as interim Manchester United manager.
It also needed a Jose Sa save in the fifth minute of stoppage time to earn Wolves their first Old Trafford win since 1980.
Sa turned away a curling free-kick from substitute Bruno Fernandes, who had earlier fired against the bar when he should have done better.
The visitors controlled the opening half-hour and were back on top by the time Moutinho struck, although the goal was unfortunate for central defender Phil Jones, who was one of United’s better performers on his senior return after a near two-year absence because of injuries. Read more
Luis Ortiz: They said i was old, that Martin would beat me – I’ll be here for a while! (BoxingScene)
Luis Ortiz refuses to throw in the towel. On Saturday night in Florida, King Kong defeated the dangerous Charles Martin, a former IBF world champion, by knockout in their International Boxing Federation heavyweight eliminator.
At the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Ortiz had to overcome two knockdowns before he cracked Martin with a tremendous shot in the sixth round. Ortz then battered him with heavy punches to score two knockdowns of his own for a stoppage win.
“They said I was old, that Martin was going to beat me, but you see, King Kong will be here for a while,” said Ortiz, who will soon be 43 years old, to George Ebro.
“I don’t know who I’m going to fight, but I want it to be soon. I neither want to nor can I waste time. I think I have secured myself a good fight in the future.” Read more
Heavyweight boxer punches referee after being handed controversial defeat (Metro)
Heavyweight boxer Iago Kiladze threw a punch at a referee following his controversial defeat in the ring.
Kiladze suffered a second-round defeat to Viktor Faust on the Charles Martin vs Victor Ortiz undercard in Florida on Saturday night.
There were five knockdowns in their thrilling contest with Faust forced to survive two of them before securing the win that extended his professional record to 9-0.
In a brutal second round, Kiladze hit the mat after the fifth and final knockdown of the fight but beat the count and appeared able to continue. Read more
Vancouver Canucks: ‘Hero’ ice hockey fan Nadia Popovici awarded medical scholarship (BBC)
An ice hockey fan who spotted a cancerous mole on a member of the Vancouver Canucks staff has been awarded a $10,000 (£7,416) medical scholarship.
Watching from the stands, Nadia Popovici spotted the mole on the neck of Canucks assistant equipment manager Brian Hamilton during their NHL game with the Seattle Kraken in October.
Popovici warned him by typing a message on her phone and pressing it against the plexiglass surrounding the ice.
Following her advice, Hamilton has since had the mole examined and removed after it was found to be cancerous.
She is an aspiring medical student and both teams joined forces to award her the scholarship. Read more