Naira Marley: Police discontinue car theft case against singer, siblings (Punch)
The police on Tuesday withdrew the car theft charges they filed against hip-hop singer, Azeez Fashola, alias Naira Marley, and his two siblings, Idris and Babatunde Fashola; and cousin, Kunle Obere.
The police filed four counts of conspiracy, stealing, assault and obstructing the police against them before the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court at Tinubu.
While Idris, Babatunde, and Obere had been arraigned on December 16, Naira Marley has yet to present himself in court.
At the December 31, 2019 hearing, the magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, had threatened to issue a warrant for the arrest of the singer. Read more
Lagos police reunite mad lady with parents in Ondo (DailyTrust)
The Lagos State Police Command has reunited a suspected mentally unstable lady, Chinyere Christopher, with her parents in Akure, Ondo State. Chinyere, according to the police, had been residing in an uncompleted house at Otowolo, Ikorodu. The police said that the mental state of the lady became worrisome when she allegedly took to the street, smashing vehicle windscreens. The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, who confirmed the report, said Chinyere’s condition was brought to the attention of the police by one Apostle Samuel Sonaiki of the Celestial Church, Cele bus stop. Read more
Three in court for stoning teenager to death (Nation)
Three men, alleged to have killed a teenager with stone, were on Tuesday docked before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The defendants, Kayode Thompson, 20; Fuad Enitan, 20; and Mutalib Kazeem, 24, are being tried on two-count charge of conspiracy and murder.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Oladele Adebayo, alleged that the defendants committed the offences on Jan. 3, at 6.00a.m on Isolo Road, Mushin, Lagos. Read more
Cleric docked for allegedly defrauding member N4.3m for sacrifices (Vanguard)
A 49-year-old Cleric, Adebayo Kabiru, on Tuesday, appeared before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defrauding one Mrs Oluwadamilola Oyesomi of N4.3 million.
Kabiru, whose address was not provided, is facing a two-count charge of fraud and stealing, to which he pleaded not guilty.
The Prosecutor, ASP Ben Emuerhi, told the court that the defendant committed the offences with some others still at large, in Dec. 2018 at Pen- Cinema, Agege area of Lagos. Read more
Reps asks NERC, others to halt planned hike on electricity tariff (DailyTrust)
The House of Representatives has directed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to halt the planned increase in electricity tariff. The directive was given at a public hearing involving relevant stakeholders conducted by the House Committee on Power on Tuesday. The Chairman of the Committee, Magaji Da’u Aliyu, faulted the NERC and Distribution Companies (DISCOs) over the planned hike saying, proper consultation was not conducted before going public. Read more
Scores killed in Benue tanker explosion (Nation)
Many people have been feared dead in Agudo village Benue state ON Tuesday when a petrol tanker exploded.
Many houses were also consumed in the explosion.
Agudo village is in Tarka local Government are on Makurdi – Gboko federal Highway at a bend in Benue state.
Tarka is the ancestral home of Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs Senator George Akume. Read more
Three Nigerians emerge winners of Russia nuclear research in Africa (Punch)
Russia’s state-run nuclear energy corporation, ROSATOM, says it has acquainted three Nigerian youths with its leading institutions for nuclear research.
The company, in a statement on Tuesday, said this was in-line with its efforts to inspire and raise the next generation of nuclear energy technology experts in Nigeria.
It said the Nigerian trio Egbe Joy, Derick Nwasor and Oghale Yome emerged winners of ROSATOM Africa’s “Atoms for Africa” competition.
“It required them to research how innovative use of nuclear technologies can assist in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals in Africa.Read more
Kuwait teaches how to produce fuel from plastic waste (Vanguard)
A workshop focusing on ways to produce clean fuel from plastic waste has opened on Tuesday in Kuwait City.
The workshop was jointly held by Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), and the U.K. Science and Innovation Network.
The Director-General of KISR, Samira Omar, said that the aim of the workshop was to exchange experiences on how to generate clean fuel from solid waste as well as using it as a useful material. Read more
Wuhan pneumonia outbreak: First case reported outside China (BBC)
A tourist in Thailand has become the first person outside China diagnosed with a new, pneumonia-like virus that has already infected dozens of people.
The woman was quarantined after landing in Bangkok from Wuhan, eastern China, where the outbreak began in December.
One person has died and 41 cases of the virus have been recorded so far.
It has been identified as a coronavirus, which can cause illnesses ranging from common colds to potentially deadly Sars. Read more
The world’s oceans are now hotter than at any point in human history (Metro)
The world’s oceans were warmer in 2019 than at any other point in recorded human history, a study has found. Scientists leading the Record-Setting Ocean Warmth study found that the oceans’ warmest 10 years on record were all measured in the past decade. Last year’s ocean temperature was about 0.075°C above the average recorded from 1981-2010. Lead author Lijing Cheng said to reach this temperature, the ocean would have taken in 228 sextillion Joules of heat – that’s 228,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. He said: ‘The amount of heat we have put in the world’s oceans in the past 25 years equals to 3.6 billion Hiroshima atom-bomb explosions. Read more
‘Miracle baby’ born after womb transplant (BBC)
Jennifer Gobrecht’s uterus transplant allowed her to have a baby, meaning Benjamin became only the second child in the US to be born through the procedure.
The medical care to the Philadelphia family was provided by a transplant trial at Penn Medicine. Read more
Cops launch murder probe after human arms and leg found in a bag (Metro)
Two arms and a leg have been found in a bag, with police in Dublin launching a murder investigation following the grim discovery. The alarm was raised shortly before 10pm, when the body parts were found by teenagers in a bag outside houses at the junction of Moatview Gardens and Moatview Drive in Coolock, north Dublin. Detectives are still looking for the head and torso, according to the Irish Independent. A source told the paper: ‘There is a lot of speculation going around about who these remains belong to, but it is simply too early to say.’ Read more
Lille not ruling out Osimhen sale (Nation)
Super Eagles in-form striker Victor Osimhen could yet leave Lille before the January Transfers deadline, NationSport can report.
Amidst strings of interests from top European clubs including Barcelona and Real Madrid in the 20-year-old Nigeria international, Lille owner Gerard Lopez was quoted as saying that the French Ligue 1 side has not ruled out the possibility of making a big player sale this month.
“I see this largely as a transfer window in which to make small adjustments though the squad is well put together and a central defender could be set to leave,” the 48-year-old entrepreneur said on the club’s official website. “A central midfielder as well. We know as well that we are going to get Timothy Weah back in attack.” Read more
Michelle-Lee Ahye: Trinidad & Tobago sprinter banned for two years (Vanguard)
Trinidad and Tobago’s Michelle-Lee Ahye, an Olympic sprint finalist, has been banned for two years after “whereabouts failures”, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced Wednesday.
Ahye, sixth in both the 100 and 200m at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and again sixth in the 100m at the 2017 London world championships, is suspended until April 2021, meaning she will miss this year’s Tokyo Olympics.
The 27-year-old will also see all her results from April 19-August 30, 2019, scrubbed from the record books, said the AIU, the independent anti-doping watchdog for track and field. Read more
Patryk Klimala: Poland Under-21 striker signs for Celtic (BBC)
Patryk Klimala is relishing the challenge of proving himself at “a huge club in Europe” after signing for Celtic on a four-and-a-half year deal.
The Poland Under-21 striker joins for a reported £3.5m fee after seven goals in 18 appearances this season for Ekstraklasa side Jagiellonia Bialystok.
Klimala, Celtic’s first signing of the January window, eases the burden on main striker Odsonne Edouard. Read more
Barcelona sack Ernesto Valverde and announce Quique Setien as new head coach (Metro)
Barcelona have confirmed that Ernesto Valverde has been sacked, with Quique Setien replacing him as head coach. Valverde, 55, had been under serious pressure at the Nou Camp after falling out with several senior players, most notably Arturo Vidal, and Barca’s defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final was the final straw. Though the Catalan giants sit level on points with Real Madrid at the top of La Liga table, it was agreed that former Real Betis boss Setien should be the man to take the club forward. Read more
Messi wants Aguero at Barca (Punch)
Lionel Messi has allegedly requested that Barcelona make an approach for Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero.
While Luis Suarez has been ruled out until May with a knee injury, the Uruguay international is expected to depart Camp Nou in the summer, leaving the Catalan giants to find a replacement.
Speculation persists regarding a move for Carlos Vela, who could be brought into the fold for the second half of the campaign. Read more
Dana White reveals Conor McGregor wants Khabib Nurmagomedov rematch after Cowboy Cerrone fight (Metro)
UFC president Dana White has played down the chances of Conor McGregor facing Jorge Masvidal if he beats Donald Cerrone on Saturday and says he is prefers a rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov. The Irishman returns to the octagon for the first time since his defeat to the Russian in October 2018 – which ended with a massive brawl that resulted in suspensions for both fighters – when he takes on ‘Cowboy’ in Las Vegas. BMF champion Masvidal has made it clear he wants to fight the winner of Saturday’s bout, but White says McGregor only has eyes for one man if he overcomes Cerrone. Read more
Wilder, Fury vow to settle rematch with knockout (Punch)
Heavyweights Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury have both promised knockouts to avoid going to the judges’ scorecards when they meet again on February 22 in Las Vegas with Wilder’s WBC world title on the line.
The first meeting between the pair in December 2018 ended in a controversial split-decision draw after 12 explosive rounds, a result that satisfied neither fighter but left both with their undefeated records intact.
Speaking at a news conference in Los Angeles, Fury (29-0-1) said he would down Wilder (42-0-1) in two rounds, while the champ said that Fury would not be able to withstand his powerful right hand this time around. Read more
Begovic replaces Reina at AC Milan (Vanguard)
AC Milan have signed Bournemouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to replace Spaniard Pepe Reina who completed a six-month loan deal to Premier League club Aston Villa on Monday.
The 32-year-old Bosnian international has just returned to the Premier League after spending the first half of the season on a temporary deal in Azerbaijan with FK Qarabag.
Begovic, who won the Premier League title with Chelsea in 2016-2017 despite playing just two league games, has agreed a six-month contract until June 30, AC Milan said in a statement. Read more
D’Tigers’ Vincent opens up on love for basketball (Nation)
Newly signed Miami Heat Point guard Nigerian-American Gabe Vincent says his love for basketball made him goal-driven and stopped playing other sports to commit to the game at a young age.
Vincent made his debut with the Heat organization by playing for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, its G-League affiliate on Saturday night.
Those players under a two-way contract are allowed to spend 45 days with the parent NBA team. Read more
Sergio Parisse plans Italy farewell in Six Nations despite not making squad (BBC)
Italy legend Sergio Parisse plans to mark his retirement from international rugby with a final appearance for the Azzurri at this year’s Six Nations.
The 36-year-old, who has 142 caps, planned to retire after the World Cup.
However, he was denied a farewell appearance when Italy’s final pool match in Japan was cancelled because of Typhoon Hagibis. Read more
Onwuasonaya confident Plateau Utd will soon reclaim NPFL top spot (DailyTrust)
Home-based Eagles midfielder, Uche Onwuasonaya has expressed confidence that Plateau United will soon reclaim leadership of the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, season from Lobi Stars. On Sunday, Plateau United were forced to 0-0 draw in Jos by Akwa United paving the way for Lobi Stars who earned a 1-0 win over MFM in Makurdi to move to the top of the table. The draw with Akwa United was Plateau United’s second at home since the 2019/2020 season kicked-off in November 2019. Read more