Lagos groups want assembly speaker investigated for alleged corruption (ThisDay)
Some groups in Lagos State, Society Against Illegal Demolition and Forced Eviction, and United Action for Democracy, yesterday alleged that the state House of Assembly Speaker, Hon. Midashiru Obasa, is being shielded against fresh allegations of corruption, calling for his investigation
The groups claimed at a press conference held yesterday in Ikeja that he (Obasa) was alleged to have used N15 Billion to rebuild a gate “that is not worth more than 15 Million,” describing it as unambiguously unacceptable, “given the mass poverty that is in Nigeria as a country today, and one that has shamelessly put Lagos top of the chart of cities with the largest poverty and insecurity. Read more
Wike takes sons on Christmas homage to Tinubu (Leadership)
Days after being singled out for praise by President Bola Tinubu, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, alongside his two sons, paid a Christmas Homage to the President at the latter’s private residence in Lagos, on Thursday.
LEADERSHIP reports that such visit during festive seasons is a comonplace in Nigeria by political office-holders, religious leaders and other stakeholders to the President and Governors in their respective States.
Recall that earlier on Monday, President Tinubu commended Wike for his performance in the nation’s capital since assuming office, saying his quest to make things right was commendable. Read more
Toyin Abraham’s ‘Alakada: Bad and Boujee’ hits N134m in 7 days (Nation)
Actress Toyin Abraham has expressed her gratitude and excitement after her latest movie, “Alakada: Bad and Boujee,” broke her previous box office record.
According to Toyin, her previous year’s record showed N52 million in earnings after seven days, while this year’s movie has already grossed N134 million within the same timeframe, representing a 157.69% increase.
Toyin attributed her success to her God, expressing her gratitude for helping her achieve this feat. Read more
₦180m Hack: Nigerians question VeryDarkMan’s NGO theft claim (Punch)
Social media commentator Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan is facing scrutiny after claiming that ₦180 million was stolen from his NGO account in a hacking incident.
In an Instagram video shared on Friday, Otse claimed that ₦180 million had been transferred to an unknown account, leaving just ₦20 million remaining.
However, his explanation has raised doubts, with many questioning its credibility. Read more
Tax reform: You’re calling for anarchy, Bauchi gov tells Tinubu (DailyTrust)
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State says the tax reform bills which are before the National Assembly are skewed to favour only one section of the country.
Speaking on Thursday when he received the Christian community in Bauchi State, the governor urged President Bola Tinubu to backtrack on the tax policy reforms as it could lead to anarchy.
He said the policy does not in any way favour the North, adding that the governors would not be able to pay salaries. Read more
Police nab 2 suspected drug dealers, seize 110 wraps of colos in Cross River (Vanguard)
The Anti-Cultism Squad of the Nigeria Police, Cross River Command, has apprehended two suspected drug dealers at Old Market Road, Ugep town in Yakurr Local Government Area.
Speaking to journalists on Friday in Calabar, CP Gyogon Grimah, Cross River’s Commissioner of Police, said the arrest was successfully carried out, following credible intelligence and prompt raid of the area by the squad.
He said a 21-year-old Bassey Bassey, and a 23-year-old Christopher Okoi, were arrested after the raid. Read more
Police arrest alleged mastermind of Kofar Mata youth violence (Tribune)
The Kano State Police Command has arrested a 21-year-old suspect believed to be the mastermind behind the recent escalation of violent clashes between youths in the Kofar Mata and Zango quarters.
According to a statement signed by the Command spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the arrest took place on December 24, 2024, around 8:40 p.m., during a police operation near the Murtala Mohammed Specialists Hospital, Kofar Mata.
The suspect, identified as Kabiru Jamilu, a resident of Zango Quarters, admitted during preliminary investigations to organizing and leading the notorious Daba fighting that has disrupted peace in the area. Read more
Why my administration prioritised road infrastructure — Diri (Channels)
Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has said that his administration’s major priority is to connect every local government headquarters in the largely riverine state by road.
Senator Diri stated this when he received a group, Friends of Senator Douye Diri (FSDD), at his country home In Sampou, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.
The governor said to address part of the state’s developmental challenges, his administration embarked on the construction of a network of roads and bridges to open up the hinterlands and alleviate the plight of people living in rural communities. Read more
‘Tears of joy’ – Sudan capital gets first aid convoy since war began (BBC)
A convoy carrying food aid has arrived in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, for the first time since civil war erupted in April 2023.
The country is currently experiencing the “world’s worst hunger crisis”, according to the United Nations, as a result of fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
When trucks loaded with aid rolled into south Khartoum on Thursday, there were “tears of laughter and joy”, humanitarian worker Duaa Tariq told the BBC. Read more
Some amputees in Sierra Leone turn to farming to combat discrimination (AfricaNews)
Lahai Makieu struck the bamboo with a machete until it cracked and fell. Balancing on his crutch, he reached to pick it up. But colleagues pulled the bamboo’s other end, and he tumbled into the dense grass.
“They forgot I had one leg,” the 45-year-old laughed. The trainer at a center for amputee farmers picked himself up and added: “We fall and we rise.”
The phrase encapsulates his journey since the civil war in Sierra Leone. From 1991 to 2002, conflict in the West African country created some 28,000 amputees like him. Amputation by machete was one terror tactic by rebels. Read more
Azerbaijan Airlines halts several Russian routes after crash (DW)
Azerbaijan Airlines said Friday that preliminary findings from the investigation into Wednesday’s crash of a Russia-bound passenger plane suggest “physical and technical external interference.”
The Embraer jet came down near Aktau airport in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, killing 38 people, while 29 survived.
Azerbaijan Airlines on Friday also suspended flights to a number Russian cities amid growing speculation the plane was downed by Russian air defense fire. Read more
2 climbers found dead on Italy’s Gran Sasso massif (ABC)
The bodies of two Italian climbers have been found on Italy’s Gran Sasso massif five days after they disappeared during an excursion, rescuers said.
Rescue teams supported by a helicopter managed to reach the location on Friday where the two men went missing in the central Abruzzo region.
The area is a stretch of rocks and snow and the rescue operation was hampered by adverse weather conditions, with strong winds and a high risk of avalanches. Read more
South Korean spy agency: North Korean POW fighting for Russia in Ukraine has died (UPI)
The first North Korean soldier taken prisoner of war by Ukrainian forces while fighting for Russia has died of his injuries, South Korean intelligence said Friday.
Confirming reports in Ukrainian media that a wounded North Korean soldier had been captured, the National Intelligence Service said it had had obtained the confirmation “through real-time information sharing with an allied country’s intelligence agency.”
Shortly afterward, the agency said the soldier, who it said was taken prisoner in Ukraine and not in Russia’s Kursk region, part of which is occupied by Ukrainian forces, had died. Read more
Tories accuse Farage of ‘fakery’ over claims Reform now has more members than Conservatives (Independent)
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has accused Nigel Farage of “fakery” over claims that Reform UK membership has surpassed the Conservatives, making it the second-largest political party in the UK.
Ms Badenoch said Reform’s counter was “coded to tick up automatically”, but Mr Farage said he would “gladly invite” a firm to “audit our membership numbers” as long as the Conservatives do the same.
The row comes after a digital counter on the Reform website showed a membership tally before lunchtime on Boxing Day ticking past the 131,680 figure declared by the Conservative Party during its leadership election earlier this year. Read more
‘I was told my baby died in house fire – 6 years later I saw her at birthday party’ (Mirror)
Delimar Cuevas, now 26, was raised by a family member who attempted to pass her off as her own daughter but was exposed when a DNA test proved she was not her child.
A mother who was told her new born girl had died in a fire received the shock of her life six years later when she saw her at a party.
Mum Luzaida Cuevas was distraught after being told her 10-day old child Delimar had died in a fire. But she had in fact been kidnapped by Carolyn Correa, a cousin by marriage via Delimar’s father Pedro. Read more
CHAN 2024: Ogunmodede issues ‘‘win and qualify’’ war cry to Super Eagles (Nation)
Stand-in Head Coach Daniel Ogunmodede said that the big focus of the Super Eagles B players and officials ahead of Saturday’s African Nations Championship qualifying game against Ghana’s Black Galaxies is to attain victory that will spring Nigeria to the finals of the competition early next year.
Both illustrious regional rivals battled to a scoreless stalemate in Accra on Sunday and the final qualifying fixture is delicately poised ahead of the decider at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday.
He said: “We are doing everything to stay focused by avoiding any distractions. Yes, we got a scoreless draw in the first leg away and now playing at home, but we are not in any way carried away. Our objective was to score an away goal in Accra but that did not happen. Read more
NSC launches renewed hope initiative for sports economy (Leadership)
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has unveiled the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy (RHINSE), a bold plan to transform the nation’s sports industry through the Reset, Refocus, and Relaunch (RRR).
The initiative is aiming at resetting Nigerian’s Sports eco-system from competition-driven to a developmental-driven and value addition Industry.
The strategy brief signed by the NSC chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, was designed as a framework to establish sports as a vital driver of Nigeria’s socio-economic growth and development. Read more
Ndidi fetes Ajegunle children on Boxing Day (NewTelegraph)
Super Eagles and Leicester City midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, brought festive cheer to the city of Ajegunle in Lagos State on Boxing Day, hosting a party for about 2,000 children at the iconic Maracana Sports Centre.
The former Genk of Belgium star, who melted the hearts by actively serving food to the children and distributing food items, said the idea of the event was to create memorable Christmas experiences for the children.
The 28-year-old shared that childhood Christmas memories motivated him to host the party, and he is thrilled to have brought smiles to the children’s faces. Read more
Mohamed Salah makes title admission after reaching Premier League milestone in Liverpool’s win over Leicester (SkySports)
Mohamed Salah claimed this season ‘feels different’ from previous years after his Liverpool side went seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a 3-1 comeback victory over Leicester.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s lowly Leicester stunned their hosts as Jordan Ayew beat Alisson with a smart finish to open the scoring after only six minutes at Anfield.
But Cody Gakpo’s sublime equaliser on the stroke of half-time proved a key turning point and the Reds once again underlined their title credentials in the second period, with goals from Curtis Jones and Salah putting the game to bed. Read more
Lewis Hamilton in “concrete discussions” to invest in sports team (Express)
Lewis Hamilton is in “concrete discussions” about investing in the KTM MotoGP team, according to the company’s motorsport director Pit Beirer. The Austrian parent company of KTM has faced financial challenges and may need to sell or shut down its motorsport division as part of a self-administration process.
Despite this, the firm remains publicly optimistic about its future in MotoGP, with hopes of remaining on the grid until 2025. Speaking to German publication Speedweek, Beirer hinted that seven-time F1 champion Hamilton could be a potential investor.
“All I can say is that we have had very interesting discussions with his management,” he revealed. “It is no secret that Lewis Hamilton is interested in MotoGP and is thinking about having his own team. There are concrete discussions here too. The current situation is making us creative and open to new discussions. So we are not only open to sponsors, as has been the case so far, but also to investors.” Read more
Swiatek was ‘scared’ of reaction after doping ban (BBC)
Iga Swiatek was “scared” of a hostile reaction to her doping ban and says she does not expect an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) after serving a one-month suspension.
Five-time major winner Swiatek, 23, tested positive for the heart medication trimetazidine (TMZ) in August, when she was world number one.The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted that the test result was caused by contamination and Swiatek’s short suspension ended on 4 December. Read more