I stole my ex-boss car to fund my father’s burial – Suspect (Punch)
A suspected car thief, Joseph Ada, arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command, has disclosed that he intends to use the proceeds from selling his former boss’ car to fund his father’s burial.
This was disclosed in a statement made available on the RRS Facebook page on Friday.
According to the statement, Ada had duplicated the key of the vehicle while working as a driver to his former boss before he was sacked in June. Read more
Police re-arrest convict who escaped during Maiduguri floods (Independent)
The Borno State Police have successfully re-arrested a convict who escaped from a prison during severe flooding in Maiduguri.
The convict, identified as Mr. Kur, 28, also known as Henry, had been serving time for criminal conspiracy and theft when he fled the custodial center after part of the perimeter fence collapsed in September.
According to the police public relations officer, ASP Nahum Daso, Mr. Kur was captured on October 10 following a tip-off received by the police at the Gubio Divisional Headquarters about his location. Acting quickly on this information, police officers arrested him in Gubio town. Read more
Tinubu heads for France from London (DailyTrust)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has departed the United Kingdom for Paris, France, where he is expected to attend an “important engagement”.
This was disclosed by his Senior Special Assistant on Political and other matters, Ibrahim Kabir Masari.
Tweeting via his verified X handle, @KabirIbrah64, Masari said he had the honor of visiting President Tinubu at his private residence in the UK, where they engaged in productive discussions before he departed for Paris. Read more
Alleged N50b fraud: Arrest, prosecute Ganduje now or resign, groups tell Olukoyede (Tribune)
A Coalition of 30 anti-corruption Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have called for the resignation of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, over his alleged failure to prosecute a former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, despite multiple petitions against him on multi-billion naira fraud and bribery allegations.
The CSOs, under the umbrella, “Global Initiative for Corruption Eradication”, also called for the immediate arrest of Ganduje, who they said had no immunity, but was allegedly enjoying the cover of the Federal Government through the EFCC.
The spokesperson for GICE, Comrade Anthony Onoja, who addressed a press conference in Abuja on Friday, said, “N50 billion diverted LGA funds, dollar video and N1 billion naira probe seem to have all been swept under the carpet. It’s been over 2,200 days since the dollar video scandal broke and yet EFCC is silent.” Read more
Mele Kyari loses daughter, Shettima, Jibrin mourn (Channels)
The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has lost his 25-year-old daughter, Fatima.
Although details of her death are still sketchy as of the time of filing this report, Miss Kyari died on Friday.
Dignitaries including Vice President Kashim Shettima and the Deputy Senate President have commiserated with the NNPCL boss over the unfortunate incident. Read more
Forfeiture Of Assets: Court refuses Emefiele’s application to stay proceedings (Channels)
The Federal High Court Sitting in Lagos on Friday refused to stay further proceedings in the suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking the forfeiture of properties and monies linked to a former governor of the Central Bank (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
Through his lawyer, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), the former banker had urged the judge to stay proceedings pending the hearing of an appeal he filed before the Court of Appeal seeking to nullify the temporary forfeiture order earlier granted by the court.
But Justice Deinde Dipeolu held in his ruling that interested parties had the right to approach the Court of Appeal, which must be contingent on the trial court’s decision. Read more
Tinubu heads to France from UK (Leadership)
President Bola Tinubu is set to head to Paris, France, from London, United Kingdom, any moment from now for another ‘‘significant engagement’’.
This was disclosed by Tinubu’s close political ally and former placeholder running mate, Ibrahim Kabir Masari, on Friday evening.
LEADERSHIP reports that President Tinubu had travelled to London on October 2, 2024, for a two-week vacation. Read more
APC suspends Lokpobiri, David Lyon, and others for alleged anti-party activities in Bayelsa (Vanguard)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has suspended the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and its 2019 governorship candidate, David Lyon, alongside other key party figures, over alleged anti-party activities.
Those suspended include the state Commissioner for Power, Kharim Kumoko; Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Peres Biewari; former state APC chairman, Jothan Amos; an ex-officio member of the APC National Executive Council, Godbless Diriwari; and the Southern Ijaw APC Youth Leader, Sabi Morgan.
The suspension also extends to APC Ward 3 Chairman, Omiebi Fuoebi, and Ward 4 Chairman, Claudius Odobu, along with their respective executive members. Read more
Eminem’s daughter Hailie Jade reveals baby’s gender (MusicNews)
Eminem’s pregnant daughter, Hailie Jade Mathers, has revealed she has a baby boy on the way.
Mathers and her husband, Evan McClintock, shared the gender reveal on Friday’s episode of her Just a Little Shady podcast by popping a balloon filled with blue confetti.
“It’s a boy!” the couple exclaimed.
The expectant mum told listeners that McClintock was excited to find out they would be welcoming a “little buddy”. Read more
Milton death toll rises to 17 as rescuers navigate rising Tampa Bay floodwaters (UPI)
The death toll from Hurricane Milton in Florida rose to 17 on Friday as rescuers continued their efforts to reach residents in the Tampa Bay area who remained trapped by floodwaters triggered by record rainfalls.
New Milton-related fatalities were reported late Thursday, bringing the statewide death toll from the storm to 17, according to tallies kept by the Tampa Bay Times and Florida Today.
One of them was in Tampa, Fla., where police confirmed a woman in her early 70s died after apparently being crushed by a falling tree branch during “post-hurricane restoration efforts” on her property. Read more
R. Kelly’s daughter Buku says singer sexually abused her as a child: ‘I was too scared to tell anybody’ (People)
R. Kelly’s daughter Buku Abi is speaking out publicly for the first time about the alleged abuse she suffered during her childhood at the hands of her father.
The final minutes of TVEI Streaming Network’s new two-episode documentary Karma: A Daughter’s Journey, which premiered today, claim that Abi, 26, was abused by the singer as a child, and first reported it to her mother Andrea in 2009, when she was 10 years old.
“He was my everything. For a long time, I didn’t even want to believe that it happened. I didn’t know that even if he was a bad person that he would do something to me,” she says in the documentary, the first episode of which is streaming now. “I was too scared to tell anybody. I was too scared to tell my mom.” Read more
More clues in 100-year-old Mount Everest mystery as climber’s foot found (Guardian)
The partial remains of Andrew “Sandy” Irvine are believed to have been found on the slopes of Mount Everest, a century after he died alongside his fellow British climber George Mallory while attempting – or just possibly returning from – the first ascent of the mountain.
The two men, part of a British expedition to climb the north-east ridge, were last seen making a push for the summit on 8 June 1924. They never returned, leading to one of the most enduring mysteries in mountaineering – whether the two men died after reaching the summit, as members of their team believed.
Mallory’s remains were found in 1999, and last month, a team of climbers and film-makers discovered a foot encased in a climbing boot and sock – on which was sewn a label identifying it as Irvine’s. Read more
Dan Aykroyd praises Saturday Night as a “standalone masterpiece” (Deadline)
Saturday Night is now in theaters, and at least one person who was there has given his seal of approval.
After seeing the Jason Reitman-helmed film about the 90 minutes before the first Saturday Night Live broadcast in 1975, OG cast member Dan Aykroyd took to social media with a rave review on Friday, which also marked the 49th anniversary of the NBC sketch comedy show’s debut.
“Cracking a Head to applaud Jason Reitman’s triumphant SNL film,” he wrote on X. “Wow! What a propulsive, engaging, funny, beautifully cast and acted, suspenseful, adventurous, music-filled ride. A perfect window into the creative process at its highest level.” Read more
BBC, Sundance now take Aussie dramedy ‘‘The Last Anniversary’’ (THR)
The BBC and Sundance Now are joining “The Last Anniversary” party.
The Australian dramedy series from Big Little Lies producers Blossom Films and Made Up Stories (Nine Perfect Strangers) has been snatched up by the BBC for the U.K. and by AMC Networks’ streaming service for the U.S. ahead of its premiere “Down Under”.
Fifth Season, the production and sales outfit owned by South Korean media giant CJ Entertainment, racked up the major territory presales ahead of the international television market MIPCOM Cannes, which kicks off in France later this month and runs through Oct. 24. The show is among the drama series highlights at this year’s market. Read more
US urges Israel to stop shooting at UN peacekeepers in Lebanon (BBC)
US President Joe Biden has said he is “absolutely, positively” urging Israel to stop firing at UN peacekeepers during its conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, following two incidents in 48 hours.
On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its troops were responsible for the incident, in which two Sri Lankan soldiers for the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) were injured.
IDF soldiers operating around the Unifil base in Naqoura identified a threat and opened fire, the Israeli army said, adding the incident would be investigated “at the highest levels”. Read more
AFCON qualifiers: Super sub Dele-Bashiru hands Nigeria late win over Libya (Punch)
Super Eagles of Nigeria on Friday evening secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Libya in their AFCON 2025 qualifier, thanks to a late strike from substitute Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.
In the dramatic game in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, Dele-Bashiru stole the spotlight, delivering a late-game winner that gave Nigeria a hard-fought victory.
The midfielder, brought on as a substitute, made an instant impact, striking in the 86th minute to break the deadlock after a tense, cagey affair. Read more
Super Eagles 1-0 victory, a huge relief – Eguaveon (Vanguard)
The Super Eagles head coach Augustine Eguavoen has described the one-goal win against the Mediterranean Knights of Libya in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers as a huge relief to him and his players.
Eguavoen, who was highly excited during the post-match briefing at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, said he expected his players to have scored more goals.
The Super Eagles played a goalless draw with the Mediterranean Knights in the first 45 minutes and until Dele Bashiru came to their rescue in the 87 minutes in the second half. Read more
Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff set up semi-final clash after victories in quarter-finals (SkySports)
Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff will play each other in Saturday’s semi-finals at the Wuhan Open in China after comfortable straight-set wins in Friday’s quarter-finals.
World No 1 Sabalenka and No 4-ranked Gauff will compete for a place in Sunday’s Wuhan final, with the winner to face either Wang Xinyu or Qinwen Zheng.
Gauff claimed her eighth WTA win in a row and 50th of the year with a 6-0 6-4 triumph over Poland’s Magda Linette as the 20-year-old American chases back-to-back tournament successes after victory at last week’s China Open in Beijing. Read more
Retirements of ‘Big Four’ overwhelming – Djokovic (BBC)
Novak Djokovic is targeting a 100th ATP title this weekend but says the imminent prospect of being the final active player from the ‘Big Four’ of men’s tennis feels “overwhelming”.
For many years, Djokovic had intense and rewarding rivalries with Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal, who joined him in the famed quartet.
Djokovic beat Czech teenager Jakub Mensik 6-7 (4-7) 6-1 6-4 on Friday to reach the Shanghai Masters semi-finals and is still chasing tour success. Read more
Socceroos have “nothing to fear” from Japan (France24)
New Socceroos coach Tony Popovic says there is nothing to fear from a testing World Cup qualifying clash in Japan next week, but admitted it was a big challenge.
Australia head to Saitama for the match on Tuesday full of confidence after coming from behind to beat China 3-1 in Adelaide on Thursday.
It ensured a winning start for Popovic in his first game and three crucial points after a 1-0 home loss to Bahrain and a scoreless draw in Indonesia. Read more
Stefanos Tsitsipas posts ‘beautiful’ 133-word Rafael Nadal tribute after retirement news (Express)
Stefanos Tsitsipas has posted an emotional tribute to Rafael Nadal following the tennis icon’s decision to retire. The Greek star remembers hanging a picture of Nadal on his bedroom wall to help him emulate his idol’s journey.
Having battled fitness issues for the best part of 18 months, Nadal will hang up his racket and call time on a glittering tennis career after November’s Davis Cup. The 38-year-old has been eulogised by some of his biggest rivals. Read more