Lagos police arrest three for traffic robbery (Punch)
Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Lagos State Police Command, have arrested a 17-year-old boy, Damola, for allegedly terrorising motorists and commuters on some highways in the state.
The teenager was apprehended alongside one Omotosho Seyi, 19 and 23-year-old Olanrewaju Sunday, with their operational motorcycle and some weapons reportedly recovered.
The spokesperson for the police in the state, SP Muyiwa Adejobi, said the suspects were tracked down at Agidingbi, Ikeja, around 11.30pm on Tuesday. Read more
Muslims visit church to celebrate christmas with Christians in Nasarawa (Tribune)
As Christians commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria known as Shia, Nasarawa State branch visited one of the largest denomination in Lafia the state capital to show their solidarity with its Christian population.
The prayer session was held at the Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ (ERCC), Graceland Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Leader of the Islamic group, Mallam Muhammad Amin submitted that they were at the church to pray for the healing of the country and Nasarawa State in particular as well as rejoice with Christians on the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Read more
Ogun CAN seeks prayer for Nigeria, observance of COVID-19 protocols (Vanguard)
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ogun chapter, on Friday, urged Nigerians to pray over the challenges currently confronting the country and observe COVID-19 protocols in order to flatten the curve of the ravaging virus.
The Chairman of the association in the state, Bishop Tunde Akin-Akinsanya, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abeokuta, also enjoined the citizenry to be security conscious during this year’s yuletide celebrations.
Akin-Akinsanya, while stating that prayer was the solution to all challenges, added that Nigerians should continue to seek the face of God over the challenges which the country was facing. Read more
Nollywood mourns as the show ends for Chico Ejiro (Sun)
Indeed it was with shock that the entertainment industry received news of the passing of frontline moviemaker, Chico Ejiro, yesterday, Dec. 25, Christmas Day plunging the industry into mourning again for the umpteenth time this year
According to reports, he died around 2am in the morning after experiencing a seizure believed to be a heart attack.
One of the pioneers of Nollywood when it kicked-off in the early 90s, Ejiro mentored a generation of movie makers, actors and actresses and was the brain behind movies like Silent Night, Blood Money and Deadly Affair, among others.
Nicknamed Mr. Prolific, he directed over 80 movies within a five-year period and the exact number of movies he has worked on as either director, producer, or both is unknown but in the neighbourhood of hundreds as of 2007. He was profiled in articles in The New York Times and Time Magazine in 2002. Read more
Eight die in fresh Kaduna bandit attacks (Punch)
Eight persons were said to have been killed in the Sanga and Lere local government areas of Kaduna State.
Among the eight were six bandits killed by angry youths while bandits in turn killed a motorist and beheaded a commercial motorcyclist otherwise known as okada rider.
The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, who confirmed the incident, said the attacks took place on the Christmas eve. Read more
NiMet predicts 3 days haziness, sunshine from Dec 26 (Vanguard)
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted haziness and sunshine from Saturday to Monday across the country.
NiMet`s weather outlook released on Friday in Abuja predicted thick dust haze condition over the northern region throughout the forecast period on Saturday.
According to the agency, the North Central region is expected to be in dust haze condition with horizontal visibility of 3km to 5km throughout the forecast period. Read more
Promotion of Police Officers: Ohanaeze accuses FG of marginalising Igbo (Sun)
Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has condemned the recent promotion exercise carried out by the Nigerian Police Force, where 37 officers were promoted to the rank of commissioners of police, and called for a revisit of the exercise.
In a press statement signed by Chief Emeka Attamah, special adviser on Media to the President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, expressed dissatisfaction over the imbalance and marginalisation against the zone in the promotion exercise, where the Igbo got only one slot in the commissioner of police category.
The statement reads in part: “A cursory look at the list shows that North West zone has 12 new commissioners of police; North East, eight; South West seven; South- South five; North Central, four; while predictably Southeast brought up the rear with just one new commissioner. Read more
Gunmen kidnap Oyo lawmaker’s sister, demand N20m ransom (Guardian)
Man still held as abductors release wife, daughter in Anambra
Tejumade Babalola, a sister to Oyo State Deputy Majority Leader at the House of Assembly, Sunkanmi Babalola, has been kidnapped in Ibadan. Tejumade was abducted at Monatan area of Ibadan on Monday while returning home from her shop.
It was gathered that the victim was on a commercial motorcycle when the gunmen in a vehicle double-crossed them, shot sporadically into the air and forced her into their car.
A family member, who pleaded for anonymity, said the kidnappers had reached out to the family and demanded N20 million ransom for her release. He added that efforts were in progress to secure her release, which could not be disclosed publicly. Read more
Uganda Lake Albert boat accident leaves many dead (BBC)
A boat accident on Lake Albert on the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo has left at least 26 people dead.
A “strong wind” caused the vessel to go under water, a local official told AFP news agency.
Dozens of people were on board and at least 21 people were rescued, Ashraf Oromo said.
A marine officer said poor safety and fast-changing weather meant accidents were common on the lake. Read more
‘Christmas miracle’ as couple rescued from submerged car after two hours underwater (Metro)
A couple has been rescued from a submerged car after almost two hours underwater in what onlookers named a ‘Christmas miracle’. Emergency services saved the unidentified pair from the vehicle at around 10:44am near Norwich on December 24. They were taken to hospital for ‘further assessment and treatment’ by East of England Ambulance Service, as Storm Bella threatens to bring further flooding to the UK. Read more
Lori Loughlin and other celebs in prison get special Christmas dinners (NYPost)
They’re singing “Deck the Halls,” but it’s not like Christmas at all for these celebrities spending the most wonderful time of the year in federal prison.
From Lori Loughlin to Joe Exotic, these stars are jingle bell rocking in their jumpsuits this holiday season, but the prison-industrial complex is providing them with one fragment of Yuletide delight: a Christmas meal.
TMZ obtained the prison menus for famous convicts across the nation, finding that many jailbirds will be feasting on a festive fowl this Chrimbo. Read more
Russian historian jailed for dismembering partner (BBC)
A Russian historian who admitted shooting and dismembering his student partner in St Petersburg has been jailed for 12 and a half years.
Oleg Sokolov, 63, an expert on the Napoleonic wars, pleaded guilty to the murder of Anastasia Yeshchenko, 24.
He was found drunk in a river in November 2019 with Ms Yeshchenko’s severed arms in his backpack.
Women’s rights activists say the case shows indifference towards harassment and domestic violence in Russia. Read more
Apple starts cutting App Store fees for smaller developers (NYPost)
Apple is giving some small iOS app developers a surprise Christmas present.
The iPhone maker has begun rolling out its lower App Store commission rates for some creators, slashing its fees on in-app purchases from 30 percent to 15 percent.
Apple had announced its plan to slash the rates for apps that pull in less than $1 million a year back in November, saying that the changes would go into effect on Jan. 1, but has been reaching out to developers early according to a Macrumors report. Read more
Conor McGregor expecting third child with fiancée Dee Devlin (Metro)
Conor McGregor has announced he is expecting another baby with fiancée Dee Devlin. The 32-year-old confirmed the happy news with a sweet family photo on Christmas Eve. In the picture, Conor, Dee and their two kids Conor Jr, three, and one-year-old Croia woe matching ‘Merry Christmas’ pyjamas as they sat on the floor with their dog Hugo in front of a spectacular tree. Read more
Raphael Warnock, Jon Ossoff raise over $200m in final push before runoffs (NYPost)
The Democrats running in the two critical Georgia runoffs that will decide control of the Senate have raised over $200 million in the last two months, new election filings show.
The Federal Election Commission filings, made public Thursday evening, reveal that the Rev. Raphael Warnock brought in just over $103 million between Oct. 15 and Dec. 16, while Jon Ossoff raised $106.8 million in that same timespan.
Their GOP opponents, incumbent Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, reported raising $64 million and $68 million, respectively. Read more
Yves Bissouma: No approaches for midfielder says Brighton boss Graham Potter (BBC)
Yves Bissouma scored in Brighton’s 4-2 defeat at Everton in October
Brighton boss Graham Potter says the club have not received any approaches for midfielder Yves Bissouma.
Mali international Bissouma has been linked with Real Madrid, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.
The 24-year-old, who joined Brighton from French side Lille in 2018 for a fee in the region of £15 million, has a contract until 2023.
“As I’ve said before, just because it’s in the newspaper, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true,” said Potter. Read more
Thiago Silva is Frank Lampard’s best Chelsea signing, claims Tim Sherwood (Metro)
Chelsea splashed out over £200million on new recruits back in the summer, but Tim Sherwood believes free transfer Thiago Silva was Frank Lampard’s best signing of the last transfer window. The club’s extraordinary recruitment drive saw them bring in the likes of Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell and Edouard Mendy. Some eyebrows were raised when Silva, 36, was signed after his contract expired at Paris Saint-Germain in June. Read more
Nets coach responds to new James Harden trade buzz (NYPost)
The James Harden-to-Brooklyn talk just won’t go away.
But Nets coach Steve Nash insists he’s not a part of it.
General manager Sean Marks has made it a point to say the organization works in a collaborative fashion, but when Nash was asked what kind of talks he had with his boss about possibly trading for Harden, he claimed he hasn’t had any. Read more
Jonathan Kumuteo: Boxer on ‘draining’ wait to make professional debut (BBC)
This was supposed to be Jonathan Kumuteo’s breakthrough year in boxing.
In May, he signed with leading promoter Frank Warren and a live televised fight should have followed.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic pushed that back and, nearly eight months later, he is yet to make his professional debut.
Kumuteo trains three times a day, five days a week, hoping the call will come because he “hasn’t made a penny this year”. Read more
What Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has said about Thomas Tuchel amid Arsenal speculation (Metro)
Of all the baffling elements of Arsenal’s rapid demise under Mikel Arteta, Pierr-Emerick Aubameyang’s fall from grace has, perhaps, been the most perplexing. The Gabon international’s decision to commit the remaining peak years of his career to the Gunners was cause for celebration in the summer after he ended months of speculation by signing a new long-term deal. Aubameyang began the new campaign in familiar form, scoring the decisive penalty in his side’s Community Shield win over Liverpool and netting a trademark goal in the opening day win over Fulham. Read more
Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving combine to key Nets’ lopsided victory over Celtics (CBC)
Kyrie Irving scored 37 points with eight assists in his return to Boston and Kevin Durant added 29 for Brooklyn on Friday to lead the Nets to a 123-95 victory over the Celtics.
Jarrett Allen added 11 rebounds for the Nets, who remained perfect so far this season and sent Boston to its first loss. Irving was 7 of 10 from 3-point range in his first regular-season game at TD Garden since he opted out of his Celtics contract in 2019.
BOX SCORE: Nets 123, Celtics 95
Jaylen Brown scored 27 with eight rebounds for the Celtics and Jayson Tatum had 20 points and eight boards. The Celtics beat Milwaukee in their opener on Wednesday on Tatum’s last-second shot over Giannis Antetokounmpo, but they couldn’t do it again in their second straight matchup against a team expected to contend in the Eastern Conference this season. Read more
Under pressure Premier League managers hope for Christmas cheer (Guardian)
Slaven Bilic’s sacking by West Brom last week made him the earliest managerial departure in a Premier League season for six years after it took 18 games for Cardiff City to dismiss Neil Warnock in 2014.
The next sacking may not be long in coming with several bosses having serious question marks over their futures.
AFP Sport looks at three bosses who could do with some Christmas cheer: Arteta to banish the Blues. Read more