Lagos Fire Service rescues 63-year-old plumber trapped in 120-meter-deep well (Nation)
In a daring operation, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service saved a 63-year-old plumber, Akin Kuboye, who became trapped in a 120-meter-deep well while working behind a bungalow on Sunday morning.
The fire fighter said that distress call was received at 9:54 a.m., reporting the incident at 20 Muyibi Adebayo Street, off Agric Road, Egan-Igando.
The well, located on a 648-square-meter property housing a 14-room bungalow, posed significant challenges due to its depth and the presence of ammonia gas. Read more
FG dismisses list of ambassadorial nominees, says no appointments made (Vanguard)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a warning to the public, urging them to disregard a fake list of ambassadorial nominees circulating on social media.
In a statement released on Sunday and signed by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the ministry clarified that no ambassadorial appointments have been made.
The statement emphasised that the appointment of ambassadors is solely the responsibility of the President of Nigeria. Read more
Adeleke’s aide slams Omokri for comparing Wizkid’s album revenue to Osun IGR (Tribune)
The Osun State Government on Sunday criticised Reno Omokri for comparing Wizkid’s album revenue to the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), asserting that the IGR has increased by 82% since Governor Ademola Adeleke assumed office.
This was in response to an online post by Omokri, where he wrote, “Please fact-check me: In two weeks, Wizkid’s Morayo album has generated more revenue than the total Internally Generated Revenue raised by Osun State in 2023.”
Kosile Anike Stella, Special Assistant to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Revenue Matters, responded to Omokri’s claim in a statement issued in Osogbo, describing his assertion as unfortunate. Read more
KWASUTH mulls mass burial of unclaimed bodies over filled morgue (Leadership)
The management of the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital (KWASUTH), Ilorin is considering mass burial of unclaimed bodies over its filled morgue.
Head of the Corporate Affairs Unit of KWASUTH, Kamaldeen Aliagan, confirmed that the hospital’s morgue is filled up.
He added that the hospital’s management has sent out messages inviting people to come and claim the bodies of their deceased relatives. Read more
Ghanaian politicians rarely change party every general election –INEC Chair (DailyTrust)
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has expressed his fascination for a political tradition in Ghana where politicians hardly defect to another party every general election — a practice that is common in Nigeria.
Yakubu also commended Ghana’s electoral process, especially its innovations and political stability as key factors in the smooth conduct of its 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.
Daily Trust reports that Ghana’s ex-president, John Dramani Mahama, won the country’s presidential election held on Saturday after his main opponent, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), conceded defeat. Read more
Ekiti gov honours late CJ with N300m transformer project (Punch)
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has approved the sum of N300m for the purchase of transformers for the various communities unable to connect to electricity in Ekiti East Local Government Area in honour of the state’s late Chief Judge, Justice Oyewole Adeyeye.
Oyebanji, who said that that was Adeyeye’s last request, said, “The project is a reflection of the late jurist’s commitment to service and community development and a way to perpetuate his legacy in the local government and beyond”.
A statement from the Chief Press Secretary in Ado Ekiti on Sunday stated that Oyebanji disclosed on Friday during the funeral service for the late CJ in his hometown, Araromi Ugbeshi, in the Ekiti East LG. Read more
Wait for 2031 presidency, SGF Akume tells Atiku, northerners (Vanguard)
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has advised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other northern politicians aspiring for the presidency to exercise patience until 2031, asserting that the region’s turn for the nation’s top seat is not in 2027.
He also has appealed to Nigerians to allow the bills to scale through required legislative processes stating that the bills were well envisioned for Nigerians.
The SGF defended the Tax Reform Bills as visionary legislation designed to rescue the nation’s economy, urging Nigerians to support their passage through the National Assembly. Read more
Troops clear IPOB camps in Imo, recover assorted weapons (Tribune)
In continuation of its clearance operations, troops of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA, comprising the Army, Navy, and Air Force, in conjunction with the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, cleared an IPOB/ESN camp at Uhuala-Aku in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State.
According to information from the Defence Headquarters on Sunday, the combined forces, acting on credible intelligence, arrived at the terrorist camp and encountered the irredentists, who abandoned their camp in disarray and escaped into the adjoining forest due to the troops’ superior firepower.
Items recovered by the troops from the fleeing insurgents included firearms, ammunition, and other materials, including a sack containing a human skull. The troops also destroyed 26 makeshift accommodations in the camp. Read more
TikTok star Breckie Hill addresses rumours Barry Keoghan cheated on Sabrina Carpenter with her (Mirror)
TikTok star Breckie Hill has squashed rumours linking her to Barry Keoghan, claiming she’s “never met” the actor amidst speculation of an affair allegedly leading to his split with pop star Sabrina Carpenter.
The 31-year-old social media influencer became the subject of rumours that she was the reason for the couple’s breakup but took to TikTok to clear the air, insisting she has only seen the 32-year-old star on TV in Saltburn. In her TikTok video, she explained: “I just recently got out of the hospital. I got into a skiing accident and I broke my spine.
“Now that I’m out of the hospital, I just wanted to make this video and address these rumours that have been circulating all throughout the internet. To put it simply for you all, no, I did not get with Barry. I have never encountered this man in my life. The only time I’ve seen him is on my TV from watching Saltburn.” Read more
Burkina Faso leader names new premier after dissolving government (AfricaNews)
A day after dissolving the government without providing any reason, Burkina Faso’s ruling military junta on Saturday appointed a new prime minister.
Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo, communications minister and spokesperson for the previous government, has been named as the country’s new premier.
Military leader, Ibrahim Traore, made the announcement in a presidential decree read on state television on Saturday. Read more
3 dead in a family murder-suicide in Texas, including a 15-year-old: Police (People)
Three family members have been found dead in a suspected murder-suicide in Texas, according to police.
The victims, which include a 15-year-old boy, were discovered by police at a residence in Frisco at around 4:13 p.m. local time on Friday, Dec. 6, the Frisco Police Department said in a news release.
Authorities had been called about “a welfare concern” at the home after “a coworker had not shown up to work and could not be reached by phone,” the release said. Read more
‘A number not a name’: In Syria, freed prisoners recall horrors of the past (AlJazeera)
“My name was number 1100,” Hala said, still fearful of being identified by her real name.
Hala is one of the thousands who have been freed from the prisons of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, after it spectacularly collapsed amid a rebel offensive in less than two weeks.
She told Al Jazeera that she had been taken from a checkpoint in Hama in 2019, accused of “terrorism” – a charge often thrown at anyone suspected of opposing the government. She was taken to Aleppo, where she has spent the time since in various prisons. Read more
Jay-Z accused of raping, drugging 13-year-old girl with Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2000 (USAToday)
Jay-Z has been accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs in the early 2000s.
In an amended lawsuit filed Sunday, an Alabama woman — identified anonymously as Jane Doe — claims the billionaire music mogul, born Shawn Carter, and Combs drugged and raped her at an after-party following the MTV Video Music Awards in September 2000. The woman brought a lawsuit against Combs in October for the alleged assault.
Doe also alleges that another unnamed celebrity “stood by and watched as Combs and Carter took turns assaulting” her. NBC News was the first to report the news. Read more
Disney Enthusiast Dominique Brown dies at 34 after reportedly experiencing allergic reaction at holiday food event (People)
Dominique Brown, an influencer known as a Disney theme park enthusiast and collector, died after reportedly experiencing an allergic reaction at a holiday food event hosted by BoxLunch on Thursday, Dec. 5. She was 34.
One person claiming to know her on X (formerly Twitter) wrote that Brown “instantly felt bad” and asked to be taken to a hospital.
“She was my mom’s best friend of 10 years. She asked if there was peanuts in the food and everyone told her no. When she instantly felt bad she asked someone to take her to the hospital,” X user @hideyagrannies wrote. Read more
Wizard of Oz ruby slippers become most valuable movie memorabilia ever sold (Independent)
The “ruby slippers” worn by Judy Garland’s Dorothy Gale in the classic 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz have sold at auction for an unprecedented fee.
On Saturday (7 December), it was confirmed that the slippers had been bought for $28m (£22m), nearly 10 times the amount that was expected.
Auctioneers for Heritage Auctions described the slippers as the “holy grail of Hollywood memorabilia”, stating that the winning bid – roughly $25m above the predicted ceiling of $3m – made them the most valuable item of film memorabilia ever sold at auction. Read more
Aina gets very good rating after impressive performance against Man United (CompleteSports)
Ola Aina got a very good rating for his standout performance in Nottingham Forest’s 3-2 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday.
According to Sky Sports, Aina got seven out of 10 for his impressive showing against Ruben Amorim’s side.
Aina’s Nigerian teammate Taiwo Awoniyi did not get any rating after coming on in the 90th minute to help see out the game. Read more
Lookman: Atalanta can win Serie A title this season (Nation)
Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman believes Atalanta can win this season’s Serie A title.
Lookman has been in great form, scoring eight goals and providing four assists so far in the league.
In Atalanta’s 2-1 win over AC Milan, Lookman scored the winning goal, helping his team move to the top of the Serie A table. Read more
Kuti, Adegoke, others for 10th Elcris t’tennis cup (Punch)
African Games silver medalist Matthew Kuti, and the 2024 African Championship men’s doubles champions, Muiz Adegoke and Abdulbasit Abdulfatai are among the top stars expected to participate in the 10th Elcris Table Tennis Cup, set to take place from December 22 to 23, at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
Other top table tennis players from across Nigeria have also expressed their interest in participating in the two-day tournament organised by the Lagos State Table Tennis Association and sponsored by the Babatunde Abayomi Adejobi Foundation. Read more
Chelsea rallies for a wild win at Tottenham but Arsenal stumbles in Premier League title race (JapanToday)
Don’t listen to Enzo Maresca. Chelsea really is a Premier League challenger this season.
In a wild London derby, Chelsea conceded twice in the opening 11 minutes before recovering brilliantly for a 4-3 win at Tottenham to move four points behind Liverpool on Sunday. Cole Palmer sealed the comeback with an impudent “Panenka” penalty — one of his two converted spot kicks in the match.
Liverpool, the league leader, was inactive this round after a storm forced the postponement of the Merseyside derby against Everton on Saturday. It gave Chelsea and Arsenal, Liverpool’s closest challengers, an opportunity to apply some pressure.
Chelsea did so. Arsenal couldn’t, however, after only drawing 1-1 with Fulham, despite adding to its lengthy list of goals from corners. Read more
Antonio has surgery on lower limb fracture after crash (BBC)
West Ham striker Michail Antonio has undergone surgery on a lower limb fracture following his car crash on Saturday, the club has announced.
He will be “monitored in hospital over the coming days”, the Hammers said in a statement and extended a “heartfelt thank you” to the emergency services and first responders who tended to him.
The 34-year-old Jamaica international had to be released from his car after being involved in an accident in Epping and was taken to a central London hospital. Read more
Lando Norris holds his nerve to guide McLaren to F1 glory in Abu Dhabi after 26-year wait (Independent)
There would be no second chances this time. Lando Norris has been prone to in-race lapses of judgement and concentration in 2024 but here, with a 26-year hoodoo solely in his hands, the Bristolian gave his beloved McLaren a long-awaited F1 constructors’ championship at the season finale.
Norris, pole-sitter and the quickest man all weekend, kept it clean and avoided trouble – where his teammate Oscar Piastri did not – to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and seal the teams’ title for the papaya. Ferrari did their best, with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc both on the podium, but ultimately a 14-point advantage was enough.The last time McLaren sealed the constructors’ championship, Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard were the drivers in the 1998 MP4/13 cockpit. Both were present here in Abu Dhabi, as one of F1’s biggest teams ended their long wait in the MCL38. Read more
