Kumuyi reveals how Deeper Life pastor recovered from COVID-19, says COVID-19 real (Guardian)
The General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, has reaffirmed that COVID-19 is real following his personal observation with his junior pastors and reassures the world of God’s solution to every problem.
Kumuyi stated that the virus is not politically arranged as widely believed and noted that the experiences of some DLBC members in Nigeria and abroad, showed that the virus is real.
The cleric spoke in Lagos on Tuesday at an interaction with the press ahead of the church’s global crusade which started on today. The event tagged ‘Great Miracle Explosion’, will run till December 26 at the Deeper Life International Conference Centre, Km 42, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Responding to questions on the virus, Kumuyi said: “Concerning COVID, I want to say that from my observations, from looking at things, I know that Covid-19 is real; it is not fake, it is not a politically arranged thing to do whatever. It’s real. Read more
‘My 2nd wife threatened to kill my first wife, children’ (DailyTrust)
A 59-year-old surveyor, Adeoye Akintoye, on Monday begged a customary court in Igando, Lagos to dissolve his marriage to Modupe, on the grounds that she threatened to kill his first wife and children.
“When we met, I told her I had a wife and four children, along the line, she got pregnant for me.
“She threatened to kill herself if I refused to marry her. Initially, Modupe wanted me to divorce my first wife so that she can be the only wife but when I refused. She swore to kill her and the children,” he said.
He accused his wife of being mischievous.
“She came to my church with her child and introduced herself as my wife. I warned her not to because I did not want my church to know that I had a second wife because I am a deacon and a chorister. Read more
Lagos community fears dark Yuletide over faulty transformer (Punch)
Residents of Oke and Ajani Akingbogun streets in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State have expressed fear of spending the Yuletide in darkness after a power firm, Ikeja Electric, took the community’s transformer for repairs.
The residents told PUNCH Metro that officials of the firm who removed the transformer reneged on their promise to return it in two weeks.
A bar owner in the area, Ese Alaka, said he was disappointed that the power firm did not keep to its word, thereby throwing residents into darkness.
She said, “When the Ikeja Electric officials came here, many people tried to stop them from taking the transformer away, but they said that it would not take more than two weeks for us to get it back. Read more
Avoid patronising touts, pay online for passport application, FG tells Nigerians (Tribune)
THE Federal Government says it has digitised payments for Nigerian passports, advising citizens to avoid patronising touts and unscrupulous officials when applying for the document.
Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, stated this on Monday at the Oyo State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Ibadan, Oyo State, during the rollout of the enhanced e-Passport with polycarbonate data page and other security features.
While unveiling the new epassports, he noted that the new development was part of the reforms, indicating the migration of international passport application and payments to digital platforms.
Aregbesola, however, said that “We regret to observe that applicants still patronise touts and unscrupulous officials in the hope to beat the system and get expedited services. When they are disappointed, they come to report to us. Of course, we have zero tolerance for corruption and subversion of due process. We therefore take seriously any such report and invoke the necessary disciplinary measures.
“I will implore applicants to stop patronising touts. Follow the process we put in place. Apply for passports and pay online. Read more
Buhari receives COVID-19 vaccine booster shot (DailyTrust)
President Muhammadu Buhari received the COVID-19 booster Pfizer Biontech vaccine, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.
This comes as Nigeria enters the fourth wave of coronavirus disease following a 500 percent increase in the number of cases in the past two weeks.
The booster shot was administered on the President by his Chief Personal Physician, Dr Suhayb Rafindadi, after which his vaccination card was signed by the Director-General (DG) of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib.
Speaking on the importance of the occasion after the brief event, the Director General of NPHCDA said President Buhari had demonstrated leadership by example with the decision to take the booster shot. Read more
EFCC arrests suspect with 576 ATM cards at Kano airport (Guardian)
The Kano Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a suspect at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport while attempting to smuggle 576 Automated Teller Machine cards out of the country.
The commission said this was coming a few hours after it secured the conviction of three smugglers who were arrested with 1,144 ATM Cards at the same airport.
The suspect, Khalil Bashir Lawal, was intercepted on Monday by operatives of the Commission in collaboration with Nigeria Aviation Security and Nigeria Customs Service under the aegis of Special Task Force on Money Laundering.
Upon his arrest, it was discovered that Khalil who was traveling to Uganda with Ethiopian Airlines had concealed 576 ATM cards bearing different names and banks in his luggage. Read more
Ortom hails Buhari for declining assent to Electoral Bill (DailyTrust)
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, on Tuesday, hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for declining assent to the amended Electoral Bill.
Daily Trust reports that the National Assembly had recently passed the amended Electoral Act and transmitted to the President for assent.
But the president had declined assent to the bill, citing the issue of direct primaries and electronic transmission of election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as reason.
Ortom, while speaking to newsmen in Makurdi, noted that there was need for the National Assembly to reconsider the clause for direct primaries.
He stressed that the electronic transmission of result will deepen democracy and add value to the electoral system. Read more
Customs officers seize imported sex drugs, other items worth N110.8m (Guardian)
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says its officers have intercepted imported drugs including sex enhancement drugs and other items along Katsina State axis worth N110.890 million.
The Coordinator, Strike Force Zone ‘B’, DC. Useni Aliyu, who disclosed this on Tuesday in Katsina while briefing newsmen, said that the seizure was done from Oct. 2 till date.
He said that the service intercepted 52 cartons of different drugs with fake NAFDAC numbers valued N6.102million and a motorcycle valued N60,000.
“During the period under review, we were also able to intercept 450 bags of 50 kilogrammes of foreign parboiled rice valued N10.890million.
“We also intercepted another 100 bags of 25kg of the same parboiled rice worth N1.210million, 300 cartons of foreign spaghetti worth N1.080million.
“Our operatives also succeeded in seizing 790 cartons of foreign soaps valued N91.008.000 concealed in noodle packs,” he said. Read more
Court slams N2m fine on NIS over Odili’s seized passport (Sun)
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on Tuesday slammed a fine of N2 million against the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for refusing to appear in court on two occasions in the hearing of the seized passport of former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, who frowned at the action of the NIS and its lawyer, Mr JA Adamu, described the Service’s action as unprofessional and gross disregard for the court.
Justice Ekwo ordered the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice to ‘take disciplinary action against JA Adamu, who has been appearing in court for the respondent/applicant for his unprofessional conduct.
‘I make an order for the counsel to appear in court on the next adjourned date to show cause why I shall not make further order against him.’ Read more
Ghana MPs brawl in parliament over mobile money tax (BBC)
A brawl has broken out in Ghana’s parliament during a late-night session over a contentious government-proposed levy on electronic transactions.
MPs shoved, pushed and threw punches at each other, while others tried to stop the fighting.
The chaos started after opposition MPs rushed forward to prevent Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei Owusu from leaving his seat to vote, local media reports.
He was chairing the session, which was then adjourned because of the disorder. Read more
‘Deeply saddened’ ‘Sex and the City’ cast issues joint statement on Chris Noth (PageSix)
Three of the stars of Sex and the City have issued a statement regarding the sexual assault and misconduct allegations against their former co-star Chris Noth.
“We are deeply saddened to hear the allegations against Chris Noth,” reads the statement, posted to Instagram and signed by Cynthia Nixon, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kristin Davis.
“We support the women who have come forward and shared their painful experiences,” it continues. “We know it must be a very difficult thing to do and we commend them for it.”
Ex-“Sex” star Kim Cattrall — who was written out of the current “SATC” sequel series, “And Just Like That,” amid years of bad blood between her and Parker — was noticeably not a signatory of the terse statement. Read more
Fully vaccinated people who catch Covid ‘have super immunity’ (Metro)
Dear reader, I assume if you are reading this story you are probably self-isolating – or at least, have done so recently – because you have tested positive for Covid-19.
Well, for once it’s positive news because you and I (poor, ill writer) may now be ‘super immune’, like a medical equivalent of Superman.
A small study compared 26 vaccinated people at Oregon Health and Science University, in the US, who caught coronavirus to people who were vaccinated but never tested positive.
And the group which had infections after being vaccinated saw a huge surge in antibodies by up to 2,000%. Read more
2 deaths, 13 rape allegations reported after Sudan protests (AlJazeera)
The United Nations Human Rights Office has said that it had received 13 allegations of rape and gang rape by security forces during protests in Sudan, while opposition medics reported a second person killed.
Sunday’s demonstration drew hundreds of thousands of people to the capital Khartoum to protest against a military coup on October 25 and a November 21 agreement signed to reinstate Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.
Demonstrators converged on the presidential palace, where they attempted a sit-in before being dispersed after sunset.
The UN Human Rights Office spokeswoman Liz Throssell told a briefing on Tuesday that the office received 13 allegations of rape and gang rape as well as reports of sexual harassment against women by security forces as they attempted to flee. She did not give details of the alleged rapes or gang rapes. Read more
Abducted Haiti missionaries describe daring escape (BBC)
Twelve missionaries who were abducted in Haiti managed to get away on their own, their organisation has said.
The group escaped their captors at night and used the stars for navigation to trek through dense bush for hours, a spokesman said.
Christian Aid Ministries announced the group were finally free last week, after being held captive since October.
The gang that seized them had demanded a ransom of $1m (£740,000) per hostage. It is not clear if any money was paid. Read more
Former adult film star responds to Billie Eilish’s thoughts on ‘disgraceful’ pornography (Metro)
Retired porn star Randy Spears has responded to Billie Eilish’s thoughts on adult films, after the singer reflected on the damage watching hardcore porn at a young age had on her.
Last week 20-year-old Billie revealed she began watching porn when she was just 11, and is now ‘angry’ at herself for the way it began to impact her sex life down the line.
Speaking about the star’s comments this week, Randy applauded the star’s feelings on the effect hardcore porn can inflict on children as he agreed ‘it’s pretty despicable stuff’.
Speaking to Howard Stern about her experience viewing extreme porn from a young age, the Bad Guy singer had said on his SiriusXM show: ‘As a woman, I think porn is a disgrace. I used to watch a lot of porn, to be honest. I started watching porn when I was like 11. Read more
Putin blames West for tensions as fears rise over Ukraine (AlJazeera)
Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed the West for escalating tensions in Europe, saying it had incorrectly assessed the outcome of the Cold War.
Speaking to senior military officials on Tuesday, Putin said Russia would respond “adequately” to any Western aggression and would develop its army further.
“Why did they expand NATO and renounce the missile defence treaties? They are to blame for what is happening now, for the tensions building up in Europe,” Putin said, reiterating his demand for guarantees from the US and its allies that NATO will not expand eastwards.
After what it regarded as its victory in the Cold War, Washington’s judgement has been clouded by euphoria, he said, leading it to poor policy choices. Read more
I will be available for 2021 AFCON if selected -Osimhen (Punch)
Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, has confirmed he would be fit for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON in Cameroon next month if selected.
He made this known via his Twitter handle on Tuesday amid reports that Super Eagles officials would be meeting to decide on players to be invited.
There had been doubt over the player’s availability after sustained an injury and subsequent had a facial surgery.
The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations is expected to hold in Cameroon next month.
“I will be available for AFCON unless I’m not among the players picked to represent Nigeria,” Osimhen twitted. Read more
NPFL: Wikki Tourists, Sunshine Stars bicker over abandoned clash (DailyTrust)
The Match Day 1 game of the 2021/22 Nigeria Professional Football League season between Sunshine Stars of Akure and Wikki Tourists of Bauchi again failed to hold yesterday after it was rescheduled.
It will be noted that the game initially scheduled for Sunday could not hold after Wikki Tourists failed to complete their player registration formalities before the commencement of the league but the League Management Company (LMC) ruled that the game be played yesterday.
In an exclusive chat, the Wikki Tourists Secretary, Abdullahi Ibrahim said they were in Ijebu-Ode to honour the game but said their opponents were not on the field for the game.
“The officials came to the venue this evening and we waited for them, we dressed up and we couldn’t see Sunshine players. I looked at the match commissioner making calls, it was after I called the chairman of the appointment committee, Babagana Khali. Read more
Anderlecht’s Kompany ‘disgusted’ by racist abuse from Brugge fans (AlJazeera)
Anderlecht coach Vincent Kompany has accused rival fans of racially abusing him and his players during a Belgian league game over the weekend.
The former Manchester City captain said he was targeted by racist insults during Sunday’s game against Club Brugge and said his players and staff were also subjected to racist abuse. He said Brugge fans yelled “black monkey”.
“I am going home disgusted and disappointed,” Kompany told TV channel Eleven Sports. “I don’t want to comment on the game. I just want to get together with my staff, to stay with the people who matter to me. We should no longer go through this.”
The son of a Black father and a white mother, Kompany was often the target of racist abuse during his playing years. The 35-year-old has been involved in the fight against racism in football for a long time, pushing for more diversity within the game. Read more
Terrell Owens: White coach couldn’t relate to Travis Hunter like Deion Sanders (NYPost)
Deion Sanders’ poaching of America’s top recruit Travis Hunter to the HBCU Jackson State, away from his own alma mater Florida State, continues to be a hot button topic in the sports world. Even NFL legends are talking about it
Terrell Owens, Hugh Douglas, Shannon Sharpe and Doug Williams had a conversation about what Sanders did on the HANG platform on Saturday.
In a clip shared to Twitter, the group collectively felt Sanders was in a much better position to relate to top recruits and their families than traditional college football coaches, with Owens saying there’s not a white coach who could go into Hunter’s home and speak to his family and him like Sanders did.
The clip begins with Sharpe, who played at the HBCU Savannah State and went on to become a three-time Super Bowl champion and one of the greatest tight ends of all-time, sharing his views. Read more
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp avoids FA punishment despite comments aimed at referee Paul Tierney (Metro)
Jurgen Klopp will face no further action from the FA for his comments aimed towards referee Paul Tierney after Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham on Sunday.
Klopp was left fuming by several decisions Tierney made during the match including when he chose not to send off Spurs striker Harry Kane for a tackle on Andrew Robertson, while Liverpool were also denied a penalty when Diogo Jota went down following pressure from Emerson Royal.
The Liverpool boss confronted Tierney on the pitch after the full-time whistle, saying: ‘I have no problems with other referees, only you.’
When asked if Spurs striker Harry Kane should have been sent off for a tackle on Andy Robertson during the game, Klopp told Sky Sports: ‘Yes definitely. Read more
Omicron: Festive sport ‘effectively spectator-free’ in Scotland (BBC)
Most festive sport in Scotland will be “effectively spectator-free” as the government continues the fight against Covid-19’s Omicron variant.
The restrictions, affecting all levels of sport, start on 26 December for a three-week period.
Outdoor events will be limited to 500 people, with one metre social distancing in place, first minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.
It comes amid surging numbers of Omicron cases across the country. Read more
Xavi ‘dreams’ of signing £72m Chelsea transfer target Jules Kounde (Metro)
Barcelona boss Xavi ‘dreams’ of signing Sevilla defender and Chelsea transfer target Jules Kounde.
The Frenchman came close to moving to Stamford Bridge last summer, going as far as agreeing personal terms with the Blues.
However, Chelsea were unable to agree a fee with Sevilla for the defender as the La Liga giants would only accept Kounde leaving if a club activated a £72m release clause in his contract.
Thomas Tuchel remains keen on signing the defender and Chelsea have kept in dialogue with the Frenchman’s representatives. Read more