Nabeeha&Sisters: Kidnappers dump bodies of 4 abductees in Abuja (Tribune)
Kidnappers’ free reign has apparently continued in the Federal Capital Territory as four out of the 10 persons kidnapped in Kubwa/Dutse area of the territory have been found killed and dumped at Ida, near Ushafa in Bwari Area Council.
Among the bodies were that of a secondary school student and daughter of Ekiti State-born Chief Legal Officer of the National University Commission (NUC), Folorunsho Ariyo, and a 400 level student of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Nabeeeha Al-kadriyar.
Miss Ariyo was abducted along with her mother and three siblings two Sundays ago while Nabeeeha Al-kadriyar was seized with her father and five of her female siblings last Tuesday in the same axis. Read more
Car knocks down phone snatcher in Kano (Leadership)
A suspected phone robber has been knocked down by a moving car along the popular Zoo Road in Kano metropolis on Sunday night.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Kano State Police Command, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, disclosed this on his Facebook page.
According to him, the phone snatcher was hit by the moving vehicle while fleeing with the phone he snatched from a lady. Read more
Alleged fraud: FGC Ijanikin suspends students over parents’ petition to EFCC (Vanguard)
The management of the Federal Government College, Ijanikin in Lagos State has suspended three students of the school indefinitely because their parents dared to petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over the manner in which some funds were managed by the Parents Teacher Association, PTA, of the school.
The fourth student escaped the axe because he passed out of the school before the punitive action was taken.
According to some of the parents, who appeared on a television programme monitored on Television Continental, TVC, Lagos, their call for the PTA to explain how about N23 million was spent by the association led to them being tagged rebels and marked for punishment with their children being at the receiving end. Read more
Ex-minister Pantami’s friend donates N50m to rescue 5 sisters abducted in Abuja (Nation)
Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami has disclosed that his friend has offered to pay N50m to rescue five sisters abducted by gunmen in Abuja.
The Nation reports there was outrage over the gruesome killing of a young lady identified as Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar by the gunmen who abducted her and five other sisters.
Najeebah and her sisters were abducted on January 9, alongside their father, Alhaji Mansoor Al-Kadriyar. Read more
Alleged N394m fraud: CCT shifts ruling on motion by Kano anti-corruption boss, Magaji to Jan 24 (Sun)
The trial of the Chairman, Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), Muhuyi Magaji Rimin-Gado will resume on January 24 at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) sitting in Abuja.
The tribunal is expected to rule on a motion filed by the defendant challenging the competence of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to prosecute.
Muhuyi Magaji was docked before the CCT for allegedly engaging in a web of financial irregularities, false asset declarations, and egregious abuse of office. Read more
Betta Edu: No sacred cow, says Presidency (Punch)
The Presidency on Sunday said the Bola Tinubu administration has no sacred cows and will spare nobody found culpable in the ongoing investigation of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and its Social Investment Programmes.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Ajuri Ngelale, said this when he spoke on TVC’s Politics on Sunday.
While suspending the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, on January 7, Tinubu had directed the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to “conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as one or more agencies thereunder.” Read more
Nigeria could have been on fire had supreme sacked Yusuf as Kano Gov – Galadima (Channels)
A chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, says the country could have been on fire had the Supreme Court sacked Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State during its epochal judgements last Friday.
Galadima also congratulated President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for not interfering with the independence of the judiciary though his partyman, Nasir Gawuna, was involved in the matter.
“I am congratulating Mr President for not interfering with the judiciary because Nigeria could have been on fire by now if what happened on Friday did not happen,” the NNPP chieftain said on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics. Read more
Sanwo-Olu promises to implement policies, strategies to entrench peace (Guardian)
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, on Saturday promised to continue to implement policies and strategies that would entrench peace in the state.
Sanwo-Olu made the promise during the 15th coronation anniversary of Oba Adekanmi Oyekan, the Alapa of Apa Kingdom, Apa, Badagry, Lagos.
The governor, who was represented by Mr Bolaji Robert, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, said prosperity could only thrive in a peaceful environment. Read more
Sexyy Red fans herself with money in new maternity photo shoot (HipHopDx)
Sexyy Red has been gearing up for new motherhood, and showing the world yet another side of herself with a cash-themed maternity photo shoot.
The “Pound Town” rapper took to Instagram on Saturday (January 13) to upload a series of photos that proudly and prominently featured her growing baby bump.
She was dressed in a pink kimono wrapped in a bow, invoking a geisha-type look and, in couple of shots, made her fan out of money. Read more
The Black Crowes announce 1st new album since 2009 (NME)
The Black Crowes have announced their first album of new material in 15 years, ‘Happiness Bastards’.
On Friday (January 12), the southern rock band took to Instagram to announce the new full-length release. “Leaving the bullshit in the past… 15 years since our last album of new music, we present ‘Happiness Bastards’, our 10th studio album out March 15,” read the post’s caption, attached to a video of a man glueing posters of the album’s artwork onto a brick wall plastered with the band’s old album covers. Read more
Hezbollah says US strikes on Yemen’s Houthis harm maritime security (AlJazeera)
The leader of the Lebanese group Hezbollah has said United States actions in the Red Sea will harm the security of all shipping as the area has now become a conflict zone.
“The US should realise that the security of the Red Sea, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen are all hinged on one single thing: putting an end to the war in Gaza,” Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised speech on Sunday.
“Rather than providing a remedy to the symptoms, they should treat the cause,” he added. Read more
Iowa principal who risked his life to protect students dies 10 days after high school shooting (NBC)
The beloved principal who was injured after a gunman opened fire at a high school in Iowa has died after 10 days in the hospital.
Principal Dan Marburger was among the three staff members and four students who were injured on Jan. 4 when a 17-year-old student opened fire at Perry High School in the small community of Perry, Iowa.
Marburger tried to calm down the shooter and “distract him” so students could flee, according to a Facebook post from his daughter, Claire. He received multiple gunshot wounds. Read more
John Legend celebrates daughter Esti’s first birthday (People)
John Legend is celebrating a milestone moment for his family of six!
The musician, 45, celebrated daughter Esti Maxine’s first birthday with a heartwarming post shared on Instagram Saturday.
“Esti Maxine is ONE today!” Legend wrote in his caption. “She’s been lighting up the house since day one.” Read more
Zambia: Health authorities rallying to contain worst cholera outbreak in a decade (AfricaNews)
Zambia is dealing with one of its worst cholera outbreaks in recent years as 351 people have died and nearly 9,000 active cases have been registered. Health workers say they are scrambling to contain the crisis that has the potential to be the worst the country has seen since the first in 1977.
On Friday, relatives of people being treated gathered outside a stadium in the capital Lusaka to wait for information about their loved ones.
“They are announcing names here, but (inaudible) my nephew. So I don’t know what is going on. Whether my nephew is dead, I don’t know. Whether he is alive, I don’t know” uncle of a cholera patient said. Read more
Denmark’s King Frederik X takes the throne after abdication of Queen (CNN)
Denmark’s King Frederik X has taken the throne after the abdication of his mother Queen Margrethe II, looking emotional as he waved to the thousands who gathered in the capital Copenhagen to witness the start of a new era.
For many in Denmark, his mother Margrethe was the only monarch they had ever known. But her shock abdication, after more than five decades on the throne, paved the way for her son, the former Crown Prince Frederik, to succeed her.
The handover took place at a cabinet meeting at Christiansborg Palace in the capital Copenhagen, when Margrethe signed a declaration of her abdication, officially transferring the crown to Frederik. Read more
AFCON 2023: Nothing serious i only suffered cramp —Yusuf (CompleteSports)
Alhassan Yusuf has allayed fears over concerns that he suffered a serious injury in the Super Eagles’ 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea in their opening Group A game at AFCON 2023 on Sunday.
Yusuf made his competitive debut for the Super Eagles as he was named in the starting line-up.
The Royal Antwerp midfielder was one of few Super Eagles players who impressed in the disappointing draw with Equatorial Guinea. Read more
Nigeria’s Falconets defeat Burundi 1-0, edge closer to U-20 WWC qualification (Vanguard)
Nigeria’s Falconets edged closer to qualification for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after defeating Burundi 1-0 at at Azam Stadium Complex in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Sunday.
Janet Akekoromowei who plays for Asisat Oshoala Academy in Lagos gave Nigeria the full three points away from home after tucking home a first half penalty. Read more
Eagles vs Thunder: Yusuf dazzles as Troost-Ekong fails to lead (DailyTrust)
The Super Eagles of Nigeria failed to fly in their first match of AFCON 2023, playing out a 1-1 draw against less-fancied Equatorial Guinea in Abidjan.
Jose Peseiro’s side were guilty of missing a ghost of chances in a match they pelted the goal with 17 shots but only hit target with seven.
Daily Trust looks at the three best and poor performers respectively for Nigeria against a nation ranked 98th by FIFA. Read more
Australian Open 2024 results: Aryna Sabalenka, Maria Sakkari and Caroline Wozniacki advance (BBC)
Aryna Sabalenka started her Australian Open title defence in dominant fashion with a rapid victory over Germany’s Ella Seidel in Melbourne.
The world number two overpowered the 18-year-old qualifier 6-0 6-1 in a ruthless 53 minutes on Sunday.
She had the chance to win without dropping a game, missing two match points at 5-0 in the second before serving out the match in the next game. Read more
Novak Djokovic asked if he wants to be loved as much as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal (Tennis365)
Novak Djokovic has given one of his most revealing interviews yet, as he revealed he has given up on trying to win a popularity contest with long-time rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic’s fans around the world always claim their man is a favourite with tennis fans, but the reality on courts around the world point to a very different story.
Even though the world No 1 is the most successful tennis player of all-time statistically, he continues to get hostile receptions from fans in all corners of the world. Read more
Masters winner O’Sullivan unsure of world title chances (BBC)
Ronnie O’Sullivan is unsure if his present form is good enough to win a modern-era record eighth world title.
The 48-year-old followed an eighth UK Championship success in December by clinching his eighth Masters title with a 10-7 win over Ali Carter on Sunday.
He will head to Sheffield in April with a chance to win all three of snooker’s Triple Crown events in the same season for the first time in his career.
“I’ve never been driven by titles or numbers,” O’Sullivan told BBC Sport. Read more