I pay my 3 wives, children salaries – Lagos prophet (Punch)
General Overseer of Vineyard of Deliverance Ministry, Prophet Joseph Apata, has spoken on how he ensures his three wives feel valued and content.
The pastor, who claims divine guidance, discloses that his wives and even some church members receive monthly salaries, allowing for a distinct financial arrangement within his household.
When questioned about the number of his biological children, Prophet Apara suggests a divine directive, emphasising that his influence extends beyond his biological lineage. Strikingly, some dedicated church members have chosen to adopt his last name, viewing him as a genuine man of God. These adopted members also receive salaries, forming an unconventional familial bond. Read more
Abducted Ekiti school children regain freedom (Vanguard)
Ado-Ekiti The abducted school pupils and their teachers in Emure Ekiti have been released.
The pupils and their teachers numbering nine who were kidnapped in their school Bus along Emure Eporo road last week were released at 2am today.
The Chairman of Emure Local Government, Mr Adebayo Oluwatosin who confirmed this to newsmen in a telephone conversation, this morning, said the victims were now in the palace of Elemure of Emure Ekiti. Read more
Millions of Naira lost as fire guts Ibadan market (Nation)
Goods worth millions of naira was lost to overnight fire incident occurred at Sango market in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The inferno, which was said to have caused by electric spark burnt over 20 shops in the market.
This is coming a few days after such incident happened at Ire Akari Estate, Soka, Ibadan.
The Nation reported that some shop owners affected by the incident expressed their challenges in rebuilding their shops and businesses, emphasizing that these ventures are their sole sources of livelihood. Read more
Police arrest 2 with 70 cartons of expired drugs (Punch)
Officers from the Okokomaiko Division of the Lagos State Police Command, on Saturday evening, intercepted a Volkswagen LT bus loaded with seventy cartons of expired drugs and arrested two suspects.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, revealed this in a statement on his X handle on Sunday.
According to Hundeyin, the discovery was made at 5:40 pm at Afromedia, where the officers stopped the suspicious vehicle for a search, and found seventy cartons of Feed Fine Cyproheptadine Caplets 4g, which all had an expiry date of 2016. Read more
Diaspora Lagosians to Sanwo-Olu: Caution LASTMA, Police against abuse of duties on Lagos roads (Independent)
Lagosians living in the United Kingdom and Ireland, otherwise known as Lagos State Union UK, have appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to caution the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Police officers against causing unnecessary gridlock on the roads across the state thereby abusing their duties.
The Union in a press release signed by its President, Mr. Toyin Ibrahim Igbo; General Secretary, Mr. Olanrewaju Oluwa and Publicity Secretary, Engr. Kayode Ajayi, on Sunday February 4, 2024 said officers of the LASTMA and Police have in recent times caused Lagosians more pains and psychological trauma than good. It added that rather than LASTMA officials controlling traffic to ease free flow, they stationed at every bus stop and strategic spots causing more traffic than control. While Police officers on the other hand are everywhere disturbing road users in the name of stop-and-search. Read more
Kidnapping: Gov Oyebanji laments death of kidnapped school bus driver (Guardian)
Gov. Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti has expressed sadness over the killing of Mr Olugbaye Taiwo, Bus Driver of the abducted pupils of Apostolic Faith Nursery and Primary School, Emure Ekiti.
Oyebanji in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, consoled the family of the late driver, assuring that the perpetrators of the crime would be apprehended and brought to book.
Taiwo was reportedly killed by the kidnappers while in their custody. Read more
IGP reactivates Smartforce Database Management System over insecurity (Channels)
Worried by the security challenges in the country, the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun has reactivated the Police Smartforce DataBase System as part of his digitalization drive for the Police Force.
Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
“The main objective of the database is to tremendously enhance the competence and effective service delivery in all areas of policing, most especially in the smooth administrative management of the Nigeria Police Force as a whole.
“The system, which is integrated with modern technology and state-of-the-art appliances, will reduce reliance on manual and burdensome traditional administrative methods; thereby ensuring an effective management of the workforce of force,” the statement read. Read more
PDP wins all Bauchi constituencies rerun election (DailyTrust)
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won all of Saturday’s four state constituencies rerun election in Bauchi State.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s Returning Officers for the election, announced the results on Sunday in the affected constituencies.
Prof. Ahmed Abdulkadir, the INEC Returning Officer for Madara Chinade Constituency, said that Dr Ala Ahmed of the PDP won the election with 13,920 votes to defeat Mr Dantali Ali of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored 9,710 votes. Read more
Namibian President Hage Geingob, anti-apartheid activist turned statesman, dies at age 82 (CBS)
Hage Geingob, President of Namibia, one of Africa’s most stable democracies, died Sunday while receiving medical treatment at a local hospital, his office announced.
The Namibian presidency said Geingob’s medical team at Lady Pohamba Hospital did its best to help him, but he died with his wife, Monica Geingos, and children by his side, in a post on X, formerly Twitter,
Angolo Mbumba, Namibia’s acting president, called for calm, saying in the same post that the “Cabinet will convene with immediate effect in order to make the necessary state arrangements in this regard.” Read more
Carey Mulligan ‘gutted’ for Barbie director Greta Gerwig after Oscar snub (Standard)
Carey Mulligan has said she is “gutted” for Barbie director Greta Gerwig after she was snubbed by the Academy Awards.
The British actress’ remarks come after Barbie stars Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie both previously spoke about their disappointment that Gerwig was not nominated in the Oscar’s best director category.
Mulligan, 38, is Oscar and Bafta-nominated for best actress for her role as Felicia Montealegre, the wife of esteemed conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein, in the Netflix biopic Maestro starring Bradley Cooper. Read more
Saturday Night Live announces Shane Gillis as host after firing him in 2019 for homophobic and racist jokes (ET)
Saturday Night Live has just made a controversial announcement. The NBC sketch comedy show took to social media following last night’s show, hosted by The Bear’s Eye Edebiri, to share that comedian Shane Gillis will be hosting the Feb. 24 show with rapper 21 Savage as the musical guest.
The lesser-known comic was a controversial pick, considering SNL fired Gillis in 2019 after he made racial and homophobic slurs on a podcast at the time.
SNL had originally cast Gillis along with three other comedians in 2019. But shortly after his comments on a since-deleted 2018 episode of the podcast Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast came to light. In the footage from the podcast, Gillis was seen mocking a Chinese accent and restaurants and using racist slurs. Read more
Sterling K. Brown predicts he will lose to Robert Downey Jr. at the Oscars (Deadline)
Sterling K. Brown is unsure about winning at the Oscars after being nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category for his work on American Fiction.
While making an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, with fellow actors Dakota Johnson, Domhnall Gleeson and Colman Domingo, the This Is Us alum predicted the Academy Award would go to Oppenheimer‘s Robert Downey Jr.
“There’s no losing yet. It will happen in its own due time,” Brown said on the late-night talk show. Read more
Demi Moore reunites with Bruce Willis amid dementia battle at family celebration (Mirror)
Actress Demi Moore has been reunited with her former husband Bruce Willis as they celebrated daughter Tallulah Willis’ 30th birthday.
In snaps shared on social media, Demi can be seen smiling alongside daughter Tallulah and her ex husband as they celebrate the milestone birthday. Writing on Instagram, Demi told her followers: “Showering our #bruuski with love today on her 30th birthday”. She shared the post alongside another snap of her cuddling the birthday girl with daughter Scout and Tallulah’s partner Justin Acee.
The couple share three children together with daughters Rumer Willis, Scout LaRue Willis and Tallulah Willis and were married from 1987 until 2000. Read more
Nick Jonas posts adorable selfie with daughter Malti (People)
Nick Jonas’ daughter is getting her selfie practice early!
On Saturday, the singer, 31, participated in a cute photo session with 2-year-old daughter Malti Marie as the pair posed for a “morning selfie” together, which he then shared on Instagram.
“Morning selfies by MM.” Nick wrote in the caption, referring to his toddler daughter.
In the snap, Malti peered straight down the camera lens as she sat with her dad on the couch, while he flashed a playful pout. Read more
Biden meets grieving families of 3 US troops killed in Jordan (VOA)
U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden joined grieving families at Dover Air Force Base on Friday to honor the three American service members killed in a drone attack in Jordan. The solemn ritual, called a dignified transfer, has become relatively uncommon in recent years as the U.S. has withdrawn from conflicts abroad.
The Bidens arrived at the base Friday afternoon to witness the transfer of the remains of the troops killed in Sunday’s assault. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and General Charles Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, joined the Bidens for the transfer in Dover.
The Bidens met privately with the families before the ceremony. Read more
Senator urges Eagles, Nigerians to move on with same momentum (Leadership)
The senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Sen. Saliu Mustapha, has congratulated the Super Eagles of Nigeria over their win against Angola in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 quarter-finals, urging them and Nigerians to keep the momentum.
While celebrating the win against Angola, Mustapha said the Super Eagles should remain focused in the semi-finals while also urging Nigerians to give them more support.
Mustapha, who watched the match live in Ivory Coast in the company of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio and other senators, commended the players for their exceptional skills, teamwork and resilience that led to the outstanding outing. Read more
Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk rescheduled for 18 May with huge penalty for a withdrawal (Metro)
The heavyweight world title fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk has been rearranged for 18 May, with a huge penalty for either man if they pull out of the bout.
The pair were due to fight for the undisputed heavyweight world title on 17 February in Saudi Arabia but the contest was postponed on Friday when it was revealed that Fury suffered a severe cut in sparring.
Turki Alalshikh, the man behind the huge sporting events taking place in Saudi Arabia, quickly postponed the whole card and has now rearranged it for 18 May, revealed on The MMA Hour on Saturday evening. Read more
AFCON 2023: South Africa keeper Ronwen Williams ‘‘should be minister to save economy’’ (BBC)
South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams should be made his country’s finance minister to ‘save the economy’ after his player of the match performance against Cape Verde, his team-mate Grant Kekana jokes.
The Bafana Bafana captain saved four penalties in a remarkable performance that earned him the player of the match award after their quarter-final shootout in Yamoussoukro.
Williams, 32, also denied Gilson Benchimol with an incredible reaction save to push the Blue Sharks forward’s effort on to the bar after he was put through with a chance to win the match in injury time at the end of 90 minutes. Read more
Rasmus Hojlund ‘‘can’t stop scoring’’ as Man Utd wonder goal on 21st birthday sets record (DailyStar)
Rasmus Hojlund looks to have officially turned a corner in his Manchester United career after netting a wonder goal against West Ham.
The much-maligned Dane has struggled for goals for much of the season, but today’s strike is his fourth in as many games, and boy was it a peach. After picking the ball up on the edge of the box, Hojlund feigned to shoot, brilliantly dummying his way past Hammers defender Nayef Aguerd before unleashing a powerful drive into the bottom corner beyond Alphonse Areola’s reach.
The goal sees him become the youngest player to score in four consecutive appearances for the Red Devils, and fans on social media are waxing lyrical about his potentially coming of age moment. Read more
LeBron James’s sage advice for young NBA players: Work hard, avoid trappings of stardom (SI)
After the Los Angeles Lakers earned an impressive road win over the New York Knicks on Saturday night, Lakers star LeBron James was asked to give advice to young players in the NBA, and the league’s all-time scoring leader didn’t disappoint.
Naturally, James started out by highlighting respect and work ethic as two key components to success, but then he took aim at the celebrity trappings that seem to consume some young players.
“The cars and the jewelry and all the other dumb s— that don’t matter, means absolutely nothing,” James said after his team’s 113–105 win at Madison Square Garden. “I see a lot of these young kids—they get so unfocused about stuff that is so material that they could lose they focus. Just worry about the game. If you worry about the game, everything will take care of itself.” Read more
Villeneuve doubts Sainz will play the team game at Ferrari (F1i)
F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has thrown into Carlos Sainz’s saga with Ferrari, suggesting the Spaniard won’t play nice after Scuderia opted to replace him with Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 season.
Sainz, who had seemingly found a good home at Maranello after replacing Sebastian Vettel in 2021, often expressed his desire to stay for the long haul.
However, Thursday’s stunning announcement regarding Hamilton’s multi-year deal with Ferrari from 2025 has shattered those dreams and reduced Sainz to mere collateral damage. Read more