Gunmen kidnap journalists in Anambra (Tribune)
Some sports journalists who were travelling to Uyo, through Anambra State to cover a football event in Awka Ibom State have been kidnapped by gunmen.
A source told Tribune Online that the journalists who were about eleven in number were travelling in a bus through Iseke around Ihiala area when they were kidnapped.
The incident was said to have happened on Wednesday. Read more
Murder Charge: Absence of convicted kidnap kingpin Evans stalls court hearing (Channels)
The Lagos High Court Sitting in Ikeja has adjourned till November 21st for the arraignment and plea bargain outcome of convicted kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans.
Justice Adenike Coker adjourned proceedings following the absence of Evans and his counsel in court.
The Lagos State Government was also absent.
Evans and his co-defendant, Joseph Emekam are facing an amended five-count charge of murder, attempt to murder, conspiracy to commit felony to wit: kidnapping and attempt to murder. Read more
Power-drunk soldiers kill policeman for stopping colleague driving against traffic in Lagos (Punch)
Soldiers attached to the Ojo Cantonment Barracks led by a yet-to-be-identified colleague, who was accosted for driving against the traffic around Volks Bus Stop, along the Ojo Iyana Iba Road area of Lagos State have stabbed a policeman, Saka Ganiyu, to death.
PUNCH Online gathered that the soldier, who was not wearing his uniform, while driving an unregistered T4 Volkswagen commercial bus against the traffic, was stopped by policemen on enforcement duty at Volks Bus Stop.
Angered by the action of the policemen, it was learnt that an altercation ensued and the soldier contacted some of his colleagues, who reportedly trooped out of the Ojo Cantonment Barracks and attacked the policemen. Read more
Tinubu, Obasanjo, Jonathan, others to attend Iwuanyanwu’s burial (NewTelegraph)
Nigeria’s current and former leaders, President Bola Tinubu, Olusegun Obasanjo, and Goodluck Jonathan will on Friday, November 1, 2024, attend the burial ceremony of Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the late president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
According to Charles Amadi, Chairman of the local organizing committee, a series of activities leading up to the burial have been scheduled for the week preceding the event which will take place in Iwuanyanwu’s native home, Imo state.
Amadi confirmed that Obasanjo and Jonathan are expected to attend. Read more
Alleged N320m fraud: Appeal Court dismisses Delta Reps member Mutu’s case (Nation)
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal by a House of Representatives member, Nicholas Mutu against a January 22 ruling by a Federal High Court in Abuja ordering him to enter his defence in the money laundering charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a ruling on Thursday, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Hamma Barka, granted the appellant’s application to withdraw the appeal, marked: CA/ABJ/CR/112/2024.
Mutu, representing Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency of Delta State, applied to withdraw the appeal after the EFCC, represented by Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), raised an objection, challenging its (the appeal’s) competence. Read more
Court jails Kano driver 15 years for killing traffic officer (Punch)
A Kano State High Court sentenced 27-year-old Kassim Hussain to 15 years in prison on Wednesday for killing a Kano Road Traffic Agency officer, Tijjani Adamu Gambo, who was attempting to remove his vehicle’s licence plate.
The court also imposed a fine of N500,000, with an additional five-year jail term if Hussain fails to pay the fine.
Presiding Judge, Justice Maryam Sabo, ruled that the sentences will run concurrently and commence from the date of Hussain’s arrest. Read more
Nigerian court jails Lebanese for sexual offence (DailyTrust)
A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has sentenced Zuhier R. Akar, a Lebanese national, to 14 years imprisonment for the offence of trafficking and procuring two teenagers whom he sexually exploited.
The convict was arraigned by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffick in Persons (NAPTIP) on two counts of human trafficking and sexual exploitation punishable under section 16 (1) of the Trafficking in persons act 2015.
The Lebanese, 67, lives at Gidan Wanka, Unity Road, Fagge local government area of Kano, and the victims he took to the same address were 14 and 15 years old according to court papers in suit FHC/KN/CR/224/2024. Read more
Any form of intimidation will not be tolerated — Police tell politicians (Vanguard)
The Police in Ondo State have called for respect and cooperation among supporters of political parties to ensure peace and harmony in the state.
Mr Abayomi Oladipo, Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, made the call while parading 12 suspects arrested for various crimes before newsmen on Thursday in Akure.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Ondo Governorship Election is scheduled to hold on Nov.16 in the state. Read more
Daughter escapes house where dad kept family prisoners for 20 years (Metro)
A man who kept his wife and seven children prisoner for 20 years has been arrested after one of them managed to escape.
The unnamed suspect, 54, raped them before forcing them to have abortions in Novo Oriente, Brazil.
The seven children are aged between three and 22 and investigators say the suspect’s mother-in-law was also sexually abused. Read more
Africans recruited for Russian jobs say they were tricked into building Ukraine drones (AfricaNews)
The social media ads promised the young African women a free plane ticket, money and a faraway adventure in Europe. Just complete a computer game and a 100-word Russian vocabulary test.
However, instead of a work-study program in fields like hospitality and catering, some of them learned only after arriving on the steppes of Russia’s Tatarstan region that they would be toiling in a factory to make weapons of war, assembling thousands of Iranian-designed attack drones to be launched into Ukraine.
In interviews with The Associated Press, some of the women complained of long hours under constant surveillance, of broken promises about wages and areas of study, and of working with caustic chemicals that left their skin pockmarked and itching. Read more
Snoop Dogg given clean slate as 1993 murder charge gets sealed (HipHopDx)
Snoop Dogg‘s 1993 murder case is as far behind him as it can possibly get, as the record has been officially sealed.
According to documents obtained by TMZ on Wednesday (October 9), Snoop quietly filed to have the records sealed back in January, and a judge signed off on it the very next month — so he’s actually had the case behind him since February.
The outlet reports that Ceasar McDowell and his nonprofit org Unite the People helped out with the matter. Read more
Sex Education’s Connor Swindells weds fiancée in Highlands ceremony (DigitalSpy)
Sex Education star Connor Swindells has tied the knot with fiancée Amber Anderson.
The actor, also known for his roles in SAS Rogue Heroes and Barbie, wed his long-term partner in a Scottish Highlands-based ceremony in front of family and friends – with his on-screen dad from the hit Netflix show, Alistair Petrie, officiating the wedding.
Photos of the newlyweds were shared on British Vogue’s Instagram account, giving fans a glimpse into their special day. Read more
Powerhouse classical music producer Adam Abeshouse dies at 63 (NPR)
Renowned classical music producer Adam Abeshouse has died.
Over a career that lasted more than 30 years, Abeshouse made hundreds of records with some of classical music’s biggest stars. He won two Grammy awards, including Classical Producer of the Year in 1999.
Abeshouse died Thursday at his home in Westchester, N.Y. He was 63. His death was confirmed to NPR by his studio engineer. Read more
Self-described Nazi will be sent to prison for salute at sentencing next month (Independent)
A self-described Nazi will become the first person in Australia sentenced to prison for performing an outlawed Nazi salute when a magistrate sets his term later his month.
Magistrate Brett Sonnet told Jacob Hersant on Wednesday he will be sentenced to a “relatively modest term of imprisonment” at a court appearance on Oct. 23. “It will not be a severe term of imprisonment, but I have not determined the length,” Sonnet said.
The maximum potential sentence is 12 months in prison plus a 24,000 Australian dollar ($16,177) fine. Read more
UK YouTuber Yung Filly charged with rape after allegedly ‘strangling woman’ on Australian tour (Mirror)
Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos, aka Yung Filly, was arrested in Brisbane on Tuesday after a woman in her 20s alleged he sexually assaulted her in a hotel room in Perth after a show
British YouTube star Yung Filly, 29, has been charged with rape following an alleged attack on a woman.
The rapper – birthname Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos – was arrested in Brisbane on Tuesday while touring Australia. The police transported him to Perth on Wednesday for a hearing, as the alleged assault took place there after a show. Read more
2025 AFCONQ: Libya game won’t be easy for Eagles — Simon (CompleteSports)
Ahead of Friday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Super Eagles winger Moses Simon has warned that Libya will not come easy for Nigeria.
The three-time AFCON champions will host Libya at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, as their team hopes to pick up the maximum points.
Speaking with Onrise TV, the Nantes star stated that the Super Eagles will do their very best to get the victory against Libya. Read more
Tennis legend Rafael Nadal announces his retirement from the sport at 38 (ABC)
Tennis legend Rafael Nadal has announced his retirement from the sport at the age of 38.
In a statement posted to social media, Nadal — who has won 22 Grand Slam men’s singles titles, including a record 14 French Open titles — said that “in this life everything has a beginning and an end.”
“I am here to let you know that I am retiring from professional tennis,” Nadal said in the video. The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two especially. I don’t think I have been able to play without limitations. It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make … and I think it is the appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined. Read more
AFCON 2025 qualifier: Go for victory, sports minister charges Super Eagles (Punch)
The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh, has urged the Nigerian Super Eagles to gun for victory against Libya.
In a statement released by his spokesperson, Diana-Mary Nsan, on Thursday, Enoh also warned of complacency against the Mediterranean Knights, ahead of both teams’ clash in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Friday.
“Your solid start in the qualifiers has put you in a favourable position to secure a place in the 2025 AFCON tournament. Read more
Man Utd star Noussair Mazraoui undergoes medical procedure after heart palpitations (Mirror)
Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui has undergone a medical procedure after suffering heart palpitations.
United sources have confirmed the right-back, who joined from Bayern Munich in the summer in a £12.5million deal, underwent a minor precautionary corrective procedure after experiencing palpitations. It is understood it is a relatively common condition, with Mazraoui expected to make a full recovery and be available for selection within the next few weeks.
United sources have indicated Mazraoui will hopefully be available for selection after the next international break in November, but the 26-year-old will only return to action when medics declare him fit to do so. Read more
George Baldock: Former Sheffield United defender dies aged 31 (SkySports)
Former Sheffield United defender George Baldock has died at the age of 31, Super League Greece has announced.
Greece international Baldock signed for Panathinaikos this summer after a seven-year spell at Bramall Lane, making his debut in August.
According to reports in Greece, Baldock’s body was found at his home in the Athens suburb of Glyfada. Read more
Hurricane Milton rips roof off Tampa Bay Rays’ Tropicana Field (UPI)
The fierce winds of Hurricane Milton ripped the roof off Tropicana Field, the home of MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays, in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Videos and photos of the tattered, six-acre, teflon-coated fiberglass covering was posted Wednesday and Thursday on social media platforms. That footage showed the roof’s remains blowing in the strong winds as rain poured onto the lit field.
Cots had been set up on the field, but the first responders set to be staged in the area were relocated before the damage occurred. The world’s largest cable-supported, domed roof was built to withstand winds of up to 115 mph, according to the Rays media guide. Read more