Insecurity: Deploy more security personnel in Ekiti – Monarchs beg FG (Sun)
The Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers has called on the federal government to deploy more security personnel in the state.
The Council, which lamented that the state is generally under policed, noted that the deployment of more security personnel will help to beef up security and prevent crime in the state.
It also appealed to the state government to empower the traditional rulers with adequate resources to police and secure their respective domains to complement the efforts of security agencies. Read more
Lagos By-election: Vehicular movement only restricted in Surulere – Police (Channels)
Police authorities in Lagos State say the restriction of vehicular movement in the state owing to a by-election is only limited to the Surulere area of the state where the exercise for a federal constituency seat is taking place.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun had on Thursday imposed restrictions on movements – from 12:00 am to 6:00 pm – in areas in 26 states of the federation where by-elections and run-off polls are set to be held on Saturday.
But while providing further clarification, the spokesman of the Lagos State Police Command Benjamin Hundeyin said the restriction only applies to the Surulere area of the state where the poll is expected to take place and not all parts of the commercial city as speculated in some quarters. Read more
Lagos By-election: 121, 111 voters to determine Gbajabiamila’s replacement —INEC (Guardian)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State, says only 121, 111 registered voters possesses Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to vote at Saturday’s by-election in Surulere 1 Federal Constituency of the state.
The INEC’s spokesman in Lagos State, Alhaji Taiwo Gbadegesin disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.
He spoke ahead of the distribution of sensitive materials to various registration areas (wards) in the constituency. Read more
Anambra bans public display of caskets (Punch)
The Anambra State Government has banned the public display of caskets for fabrication and sale in the state.
This was contained in the law passed by the state House of Assembly on Thursday to control burial and funeral activities in the state.
By this law, all mortuary attendants are to report to the Ministry of Health on any corpse that has stayed beyond one month from the date it was deposited. Read more
Ondo re-appoints 4 sacked cabinet members (DailyTrust)
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo Stat has reappointd four out of the Commissioners sacked from the members of the State Executive Council (SEC) a fortnight ago.
Daily Trust reports that the four nominees were part of the names listed as Commissioner-nominees forwarded to the House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.
The nominees are Omowumi Isaac, Olukayode A. Ajulo, Razaq Obe, Emmanuel Igbassan, Akinwumi Sowore and Oseni Oyeniyi. Read more
Gunmen attack patrol team, kill policeman in Ebonyi (Vanguard)
Suspected armed men have attacked police personnel on patrol along Ngbo-Effium road in the Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi.
DSP Joshua Ukandu, Ag. Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebonyi Command, told journalists in Abakaliki on Friday that the attackers operated using an ash-coloured Toyota Sienna without a registration number.
Ukandu said the operatives engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel, which resulted in one of the policemen being fatally wounded while the other was currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital. Read more
Oyo suspends Onido of Ido (Nation)
The Oyo state government has suspended Oba Gbolagade Babalola (Gbadewolu I) as the Onido of Ido in Ido local government area of the state.
The government, in a letter dated 2nd of February, 2024 and signed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Olusegun Olayiwola, indicated that Governor Seyi Makinde approved the suspension on 1st of February, 2024.
“I wish to inform you that His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo State of Nigeria, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by Sub-section 1&2 of Section 26 of the Chiefs Law, Cap. 28 Vol I, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000 and by virtue of all other enabling powers in that regard, has approved your suspension as the Onido of Ido in the area of authority of Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State,” the letter read in part. Read more
CBN sets $1m as capital requirement for int’l money transfer operators (Tribune)
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has established a minimum operating capital requirement for International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) at $1 million for foreign entities and an equivalent amount for local IMTOs.
It equally prohibited banks from directly operating International Money Transfer services.
This significant development was outlined in the revised guidelines for the operation of IMTOs, which were officially released on January 31, 2024. Read more
Halle Bailey says having son Halo has made her and boyfriend DDG ‘‘so happy’’ (People)
Halle Bailey is loving motherhood!
The actress and singer, 23, attended the Recording Academy Honors presented by the Black Music Collective at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles on Thursday and opened up about being a parent to her baby boy Halo.
“It’s wonderful,” Bailey — who welcomed her son with rapper boyfriend DDG late last year — told Entertainment Tonight on the red carpet at the event.
“I love our baby so much. We’re so happy,” she continued. Read more
Mariah Carey honoured with Recording Academy’s Global Impact Award (THR)
It’s been almost 20 years since Mariah Carey last won a Grammy, so when she received the Global Impact Award from the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective, she offered a dose of her signature comical shade.
“Is this a real Grammy? I haven’t seen one in soooooo long,” she said Thursday night as she held the award.
“It’s weird. I don’t know,” Carey continued while laughing as the audience at the Fairmont Century Plaza cheered her on. “We’ll figure out what this is later.” Read more
Woman who murdered fiancé by hitting him with car after row jailed for life (Metro)
A woman who murdered her fiancé by hitting him with her car before telling police to ‘shoot me in the head’ has been jailed for life.
Alice Wood, 24, has been sentenced at Chester Crown Court to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years for the murder of her 24-year-old fiance Ryan Watson.
Horrific CCTV footage captured the moment Wood drove into Watson multiple times in her Ford Fiesta following a row at a party, dragging him 158 metres while he was trapped underneath the vehicle. Read more
Megan Thee Stallion claps back at Nicki Minaj: ‘Don’t make me call Roc Nation’ (Hiphopdx)
Megan Thee Stallion has clapped back at Nicki Minaj in response to her “Big Foot” diss song and social media attacks.
Speaking on the live radio app Stationhead — coincidentally, a platform favoured by Minaj — on Thursday (February 1), the Houston native taunted her rap rival by warning her: “Don’t make me call Roc Nation.”
This appeared to be in response to Nicki’s recent claims that the JAY-Z-founded label, which manages Megan, are paying people to bad-mouth her on social media and employing bots to promote Megan’s single “Hiss,” which sparked the beef. Read more
Man admits violent hate crimes against Orthodox Jews in New Jersey (NBC)
A New Jersey man admitted to a series of violent hate crimes, for driving his car into a group of people and stabbing one because they were Jewish.
Dion Marsh, 29, from Manchester, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in a federal court hearing in Trenton on Thursday to four counts of committing hate crimes and one of carjacking. He faces being sentenced to life in prison later this year.
He was charged with willfully causing bodily injury to five victims, and attempting to kill and cause injuries with dangerous weapons to four of them in 2022 in and around Lakewood, New Jersey, because they were Jewish, the United States Attorney’s Office said in a statement. Read more
Turkey arrests 7 suspected of selling information to Israel’s Mossad (AlJazeera)
Police in Turkey have arrested seven people on suspicion of selling information to Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency related to tracking and monitoring local targets.
The suspects were taken into custody in a joint operation of police and Turkey’s National Intelligence Organisation (MIT) following raids in Istanbul and the Aegean province of Izmir, state news agency Anadolu reported on Friday.
They are believed to have attempted to monitor and photograph the targets, place tracking devices on them and gain other information for Mossad, state broadcaster TRT reported quoting unnamed security sources. Read more
Kenyan police updates on Nairobi massive gas explosion (AfricaNews)
Early Friday (Feb.02nd) moring, Kenyan firefighters were still hosing a warehouse after a vehicle loaded with gas exploded igniting homes, vehicles and businesses in Nairobi.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police revised the death toll to at least 3 fatalities.
Around 270 people were injured, the assistant inspector at the scene said.
“We have around 271 people who are admitted in various hospitals in Nairobi. With Mama Lucy (hospital) having the bulk, 140 are there. The rest of the resident hospitals have various numbers, 21 were treated on site and allowed to go back to their home. We have 3 fatalities, that is as at now.” Read more
AFCON: Nwabali available for selection against Angola – S’ Eagles media officer (Channels)
There is cheering news for the teeming Super Eagles fans as shot-stopper Stanley Nwabali has been declared fit and available for selection for Nigeria’s quarter-final Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) clash with Angola.
The Chippa United man was stretchered off in Nigeria’s 2-0 win over bitter rivals Cameroon in a Round of 16 game last Saturday, raising doubts over his availability for the showdown against Angola
Coach Jose Peseiro had in his Thursday pre-match conference said Nwabali would need a late fitness test to determine his availability for the game. But hours before the match, Super Eagles Media Officer Babafemi Raji said the player was good to go. Read more
2023 AFCON: CAF unveils $7m prize for champions, runner-up $4m (Leadership)
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced the prize money for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), setting the stage for an intense battle as teams vie for the prestigious trophy. As the tournament progresses into the quarter-finals, it’s clear that there’s more than just glory at stake.
The winning team of the 2023 AFCON will earn a substantial $7 million, marking a significant achievement in their football journey. The runner-up is also set for a generous reward, receiving $4 million, while the semi-finalists who do not advance to the final will each be awarded $2.5 million.
Teams making it to the quarter-finals will be granted $1.3 million, demonstrating the tournament’s high regard and competitive spirit. Additionally, participants who exit at the round of 16 stage are not left behind, with each team receiving $800,000. Read more
Ireland’s Michael Agwi looks to set Davis Cup tone against Dominic Thiem (RTE)
Ireland’s Michael Agwi will take on Austria’s former US Open champion Dominic Thiem in the first singles match of the Davis Cup on Saturday.
The highly anticipated showdown takes place at a sold-out UL Arena in Limerick. It’s the first home tie for Ireland since 2015 and is just over 40 years on from the only occasion when the Irish played in the top tier of the competition.
They took on John McEnroe’s USA in a relegation play-off at the RDS back in September 1983. Read more
India v England: Yashasvi Jaiswal hundred keeps tourists at bay (BBC)
England admirably clung on to India, despite Yashasvi Jaiswal making a sublime century on the opening day of the second Test in Visakhapatnam.
Opener Jaiswal batted throughout the day for his unbeaten 179, leading the home side to 336-6.
The left-hander’s knock prevented India, 1-0 down after losing a thrilling first Test, from completely wasting their advantage of winning the toss and batting first on a good pitch. Read more
AFCON 2023: Enoh sends heartfelt message to the Super Eagles ahead Angola clash (CompleteSports)
The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, on Thursday the first of February sent a heartfelt message to the Super Eagles of Nigeria as a compatriot.
The Nigerian National Team the Super Eagles are expected to play the National team of Angola, Palancas Negras today (Friday) the second of February 2024, in the Quarterfinals of the ongoing African Cup of Nations, Cote D’Ivoire 2023.
Senator John Enoh’s succinct letter congratulated the Eagles on their victory at the Round of Sixteen against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and applauded the improvements of the national team during the match. Read more
George Russell reacts to Lewis Hamilton’s shock Mercedes departure (Independent)
George Russell is already reflecting upon his ‘special’ time racing alongside Lewis Hamilton, as the pair prepare for a final season together at Mercedes.
Thursday (1 February) brought the dramatic news that Hamilton will join Ferrari at the start of the 2025 Formula 1 season, ending a 12-year stint with Mercedes in which he has won six drivers’ titles so far – with the chance to add one more in 2024.
Russell, 25, joined Mercedes from Williams in 2022, and his sole F1 win came in his first season with the Silver Arrows. Read more