I begged rapist to use condom – Married nurse (Punch)
A married woman, Imolita (surname withheld), has told the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos State, how she was allegedly raped by a security guard, Ibuchi Emmanuel, at a school where she worked as a nurse.
According to her, she was on night duty on the day the incident happened, while Emmanuel was also on duty that night.
She said while she was on her way to inspect the school’s clinic before retiring to her desk, the defendant approached her and demanded to see her later that night.
Imolita said around 9pm while she was at her desk, which had a bed beside it, the defendant knocked on the door to the room, but she hesitated to let him in. Read more
‘We sold her legs for N30,000; heart, N50,000’ – Eight confess to murder in Ogun (Vanguard)
Eight suspects, including a couple, are currently explaining to the Police in Ogun State how they lured, killed, butchered and sold the body the parts and organs of a female friend.
They told the Police that after killing her, they cut off the head, legs and the two hands, which they sold to ready buyers.
“We sold the legs for N30,000, while the heart was sold for N50,000 to Akeem Bello,” they told the Police.
They also drained her blood into a container.
However, the person that bought the head is still at large. Read more
NBA vows to get justice for Raheem, Buraimoh (Guardian)
President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau (SAN), has restated readiness of the association to ensure justice for slain Omobolanle Raheem and Gafaru Buraimoh, both killed separately last month by officers attached to Ajiwe Police Station in Ajah, Lagos State.
NBA’s National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Habeeb Lawal, in a statement, made the vow during the valedictory court session for retired Chief Judge of Kwara State, SD Kawu, who bowed out of the judiciary after 38 years of service.
Maikyau said: “The NBA, under my leadership, is determined that the status quo must change. There must be consequences for any life taken by the police, not just for the likes of Omobolanle, who was a lawyer, but also even more for the likes of Gafaru, who is not a lawyer. Gafaru represents the ordinary Nigerians, who have no one to speak for them; their stories never make the headlines, nor get the attention of the Attorney General, the governor or Inspector General of Police.”
These are the ones whose families are frustrated by the police in their quest for justice as they keep having doors shut on their faces until they go home and leave it for God. It is for such persons that we must speak and fight to ensure that justice is done in their cases.”
Suggesting solutions to extra-judicial killings by police officers, the NBA president stated that speedy prosecutions of murder cases would serve as deterrent to others. Read more
Lagos-Ibadan Expressway: Construction resumes, gridlock-hit users appeal to FG (Vanguard)
Some road users on Thursday appealed to the Federal Government to adopt more measures to reduce gridlock as contractors returned to the site after the festive season to resume construction works on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Work on the OPIC axis, which resulted in traffic snarl-ups and hardship to road users in the area, was suspended in December for the festive season to ease the movement of travellers, bringing relief to motorists.
A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Correspondent who took a trip on Section One of the highway on Thursday reports that workmen who returned to the site on Tuesday were seen between Kara and OPIC on the Lagos-bound side.
They were using earth-moving equipment to scarify some portions while at the same time laying fresh construction materials on other sections. Read more
Lagos, police plan dialogue for youths (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has highlighted the importance of creating a platform that will promote mutual trust and a friendly relationship between the police and youths in the state.
The state Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Olusegun Dawodu, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday while he announced its plans to hold the second edition of the Police-Youth Dialogue, themed, ‘The Police, youth and the law: Strategic collaborations for a safer Lagos.’
Dawodu said, “As a proactive government, the Sanwo-Olu-led administration understands the indispensable role of youths in enhancing and sustaining the security of life and property in a cosmopolitan city like Lagos. Read more
Kano rally proves Tinubu has nothing to offer – Atiku (Sun)
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has said that the Kano State rally of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, has shown he has nothing to offer the country.
Atiku, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, yesterday, said the APC candidate could not “even manage to deliver an inspiring speech to the crowd of supporters that had gathered to hear him speak.”
He said Tinubu chose to dance at the Kano rally rather than speak to “conceal” his alleged “inability to deliver a coherent speech.”
He said: “Unfortunately, Tinubu’s dance moves proved to be as uncoordinated as his unintelligible speech. The people and the gods rejected him. But this would not be the first time that he would be doing such. In Bénin on Thursday, It was a mixture of ‘bala blu’ and concoction… Read more
FG bans withdrawal from govt accounts from March 1 (DailyTrust)
The Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has banned cash withdrawals from all bank accounts belonging to the federal, states, and local governments, effective March 1, 2023.
The Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU, Modibbo Tukur, announced this in Abuja on Thursday.
He said any government official that withdraws cash from public accounts risks investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, and the Nigeria Police Force in collaboration with the NFIU, depending on the gravity of the situation.
All government transactions will be carried out on the basis of electronic transfer if the amount exceeds the approved daily withdrawals by the Central Bank of Nigeria under the new monetary policy. Read more
NDDC, shame to Niger Delta, Nigeria, says Onochie (Nation)
The Chairman, Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Lauretta Onochie, has described the commission as a shame to the Niger Delta and the country.
She said despite the humongous funds allocated to the commission over the years, the region had remained grossly underdeveloped.
Onochie spoke shortly after assuming office at the headquarters of the commission in Port Harcourt yesterday.
The former acting Managing Director of the NDDC, Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua, formally handed over to the newly inaugurated board, which has Bayelsa State-born Samuel Ogbuku as the Managing Director and Delta State-born Onochie as the chairman. Read more
Hugh Jackman says Hollywood sets have changed for the better (THR)
Whether Hugh Jackman’s current view of the X-Men franchise is tainted by the allegations of on-set chaos and sexual harassment against director Bryan Singer is a “complicated question,” according to the actor.
Jackman, who has played Wolverine in multiple films — including Singer’s 2000s trilogy — recently spoke to The Guardian about his experience on the films’ sets while promoting his latest film, The Son. In the new interview, which also touches on the actor’s upbringing, fatherhood and his stage career, he discusses how time — and abuse allegations from multiple men, including minors, against Singer — might have changed his perspective on the movies he spent so many years working on.
“You know, that’s a really, really complicated question,” he said. “There’s certainly questions to be asked and I think they should be asked. But I guess I don’t know how to elegantly answer that.”
Jackman, who is slated to appear as the beloved mutant in the third Deadpool film despite previously stating he was done with the character, noted that his reflections on those Singer-directed movies are shaped by there being “a lot of things at stake there,” including X-Men being a “turning point” for comic-book movies, resulting in “a lot to be proud of”. Read more
WhatsApp to enable messaging in internet blackouts (BBC)
Instant-messaging service WhatsApp is letting users connect via proxy servers so they can stay online if the internet is blocked or disrupted by shutdowns.
The technology giant, owned by Meta, said it hoped blackouts such as those in Iran “never occur” again.
They denied human rights and “cut people off from receiving urgent help”.
WhatsApp is urging its global community to volunteer proxies to help people “communicate freely” and said it would offer guidance on how to set one up.
“Connecting via proxy maintains the same high level of privacy and security that WhatsApp provides,” it blogged. Read more
Diane Keaton wishes a happy 77th birthday ”to the love of my life” — herself! (People)
Diane Keaton is cheekily celebrating her birthday with a sprinkle of her signature comedy.
The Something’s Gotta Give actress posted a montage of birthday cakes, all different types, sizes, and flavors, along with a humorous self-affirmation.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE LOVE OF MY LIFE… ME!” the legendary actress wrote alongside her birthday cake slideshow.
Several of the actress’s famous friends chimed in and wished the star a happy birthday, too. Read more
Triller responds to Sony Music lawsuit over unpaid licensing fees (MBW)
Triller, the US-based challenger to TikTok, has responded to Sony Music Entertainment, four months after the major sued the company for allegedly failing to pay “millions of dollars” in contractual licensing fees.
In its response to SME’s complaint, which was lodged in a New York court in August, Triller confirmed that it has been unable to issue payments to SME due to a range of reasons. Those reasons were not disclosed in its December 5 court filing.
“Triller admits that it has not made payments to [SME] since March of 2022 and that [SME] notified Triller on July 22, 2022 that Triller was in breach of the agreement,” the company said in its response, filed on December 5, and seen by MBW.
SME then terminated the deal on August 8 after Triller failed to make payments from May to August despite Sony contacting the company in April regarding the late payments. Read more
Jay-Z moves $2.5b Bacardi dispute to Bermuda (HipHopDX)
Jay-Z is looking to bring his multi-billion dollar lawsuit against Bacardi to Bermuda.
According to a report from AllHipHop on Thursday (January 5), the Roc Nation mogul has filed paperwork to move the $2.5 billion suit to Bacardi’s headquarters in the British Overseas Territory.
“SC is now preparing to bring litigation against Bacardi in Bermuda, where Bacardi is incorporated and headquartered (the ‘Bermuda Action’), for procuring a breach of D’Usse’s Operating Agreement under Bermudian law,” the documents read. “In aid of that contemplated case, SC seeks this Court’s assistance to obtain relevant evidence from certain investors in Bacardi and/or its affiliates that are found within this Court’s jurisdiction.
“SC therefore respectfully requests that this Court approve the application and permit service of the proposed subpoenas seeking documents to aid its anticipated Bermuda Action.” Read more
Mexico captures Ovidio Guzmán, son of drug lord Joaquín ”El Chapo” Guzmán, before Biden visit (ABC)
Mexican drug cartel leader Ovidio Guzmán, a son of jailed kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, has been arrested, unleashing a violent backlash by gang gunmen that shut the airport in the city of Culiacan as authorities told residents to stay indoors.
Defence Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval told a news conference that security forces had captured the 32-year-old senior member of the Sinaloa Cartel.
The arrest comes three years after an attempt to detain him ended in humiliation for the government, when it was forced to release him shortly after to stem the flow of violence that erupted on the streets of Culiacan by gunmen aligned to the Sinaloa Cartel.
Ovidio Guzmán was now being held in the capital Mexico City, Mr Sandoval said. Read more
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says Putin’s 36-hour truce is a tactical ploy (AlJazeera)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected out of hand a Russian order for a truce over the Orthodox Christmas period, saying the proposed ceasefire is a trick to halt the Ukraine army’s progress in the eastern Donbas region and allow Moscow to bring in more troops.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a 36-hour ceasefire – which will run from midday Friday (09:00 GMT) until the end of Saturday (21:00 GMT) – after a call for a Christmas truce by the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, the Kremlin said on Thursday.
“Taking into account the appeal of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, I instruct the defence minister of the Russian Federation to introduce… a ceasefire along the entire line of contact between the sides in Ukraine,” the Kremlin said in a statement citing Putin.
The order did not specify whether the ceasefire would apply to both offensive and defensive operations by Russia, and it was not clear whether Russia would hit back if Ukraine kept fighting. Read more
Chelsea sign French international defender Badiashile (Guardian)
Chelsea signed France international defender Benoit Badiashile from Ligue 1 side Monaco on Thursday for a fee believed to be just under 40 million euros ($42 million).
The 21-year-old central defender signed a “seven-and-a-half-year contract”, according to a statement from Chelsea.
Badiashile has been a pivotal figure at Monaco, helping the club finish third in Ligue 1 for the past two seasons.
He was handed his international debut by Didier Deschamps last September, although he did not make the World Cup squad.
“At 6ft 4in, Badiashile is a dominant defender in the air but equally comfortable with the ball at his feet, capable of playing short passes out from the back or switching the play with longer diagonals,” read the Chelsea statement. Read more
NFF reads riot acts for Nigerian referees, match commissioners (ThisDay)
President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has warned that it would no longer be business as usual for match commissioners and referees in the domestic game, as persons who fail to meet the high standards already put in place will be summarily ejected and sanctioned appropriately.
The NFF President made this remark at the inauguration of the Referees and Match Commissioners’ Committees inside the NFF Secretariat, Abuja yesterday.
“We have been diligent and statute-compliant in the selection of the membership of both the Referees Committee and the Match Commissioners’ Committees, and therefore, we expect them to do their job with the highest level of integrity, passion, commitment and sense of duty.
“The onus is on the committees as we will keenly monitor the performances of your appointees and be dispassionate in our assessment. Anyone found wanting will be thrown out without ceremony, and be visited with further sanctions. The NFF is determined to change the narrative in the league and there is no going back. Please help us to have a new league that all stakeholders will be proud of,” Gusau said. Read more
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left raging after he’s subbed on and then subbed back off again (DailyStar)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s nightmare start to life at Chelsea continued against Manchester City as he was substituted off after being brought on earlier in the match.
Aubameyang, who’s scored just three goals in 15 appearances in all competitions since joining the Blues last summer, started on the bench on Thursday (January 5) evening as they played host to City.
He was called upon early on by Graham Potter after Raheem Sterling suffered a suspected hamstring injury, making his introduction in the fifth minute. But with the Blues 1-0 down, the striker was replaced in the 68th minute by youngster Omari Giraud-Hutchinson.
During his limited time on the pitch Aubameyang had just 14 touches of the ball and didn’t take a shot. It was a bad night for him and Chelsea all round. Read more
Bayern Munich sign Daley Blind to cover for injured Lucas Hernandez (ESPN)
Bayern Munich signed veteran Netherlands defender Daley Blind on Thursday to cover for the injured Lucas Hernandez.
Blind was a free agent after parting ways with Ajax Amsterdam by mutual consent last week with six months left on his contract. He joins Bundesliga champions Bayern on a short-term deal until the end of the season after completing a medical examination in Munich.
“We’re delighted that Daley is joining our team,” Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic said. “Daley is a versatile defender. He has great international experience and leadership qualities. I’m sure he’ll help us.”
The 32-year-old Blind can play in the center of defence or at left-back, where he would provide cover for Hernandez, who is expected to miss several months after tearing a knee ligament in France’s opening 4-1 win over Australia at the World Cup. Read more
Damar Hamlin woke up and asked doctors who won game (BBC)
US National Football League star Damar Hamlin woke up after collapsing during a game and asked doctors treating him in hospital if his team won the game.
The Buffalo Bills star suffered a cardiac arrest on the field during Monday night’s game in Ohio, causing an outpouring of grief from football fans.
Doctors and his team say he has shown “remarkable improvement” in the past 24 hours and is “neurologically intact”.
Hamlin has been in the intensive care unit since he was taken off the field. Read more
Zach LaVine, Bulls snap Nets’ 12-game streak with ”attention to detail” (ABC)
The Chicago Bulls snapped the Brooklyn Nets’ 12-game winning streak with a 121-112 victory Wednesday night, handing Brooklyn its first loss since Dec. 4.
Nets star Kevin Durant scored 44 points on 15-of-22 shooting, but the Bulls halted the longest winning streak in the NBA this season by controlling the game from the start. The Bulls led by as many as 18 points and once they carried a 10-point lead into halftime, they never trailed, bouncing back from a pair of back-to-back losses against the Cavaliers.
“To come out here after those two tough losses and beat one of the hottest teams in the NBA, it’s good,” Bulls guard Zach LaVine said. “I think we came out with the right attention to detail. We withstood their run at the end, and we beat them collectively.” Read more