Navy arrest 14 crew members, fishing trawler in Bayelsa (Sun)
The Nigerian Navy has handed over a fishing trawler, MFV Seven Star 1 to the Federal Department of Fisheries in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Two of the 14 crew member of the fishing trawler, identified as Indian nationals namely, Mr Suresha Dogra and Mr Punnakal Francis Xavier are to be handed to the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Bayelsa Command a while substance is to be handed to the Bayelsa Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for investigation.
The fishing trawler was arrested by the Naval patrol team at Brass Terminal and moved to the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Formoso, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Read more
Lagos seals 19 event centres for safety violations (Leadership)
The Lagos State government has sealed 19 event centres for violating safety regulations and endangering public safety.
The action was taken by the Lagos State Safety Commission during routine inspections and on-site assessments of event centres across the state.
Director-General of the Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, stated that the safety assessment exercise is an ongoing effort to achieve the Commission’s goal of zero accidents. Read more
Tinubu appoints Lopkobiri chair, Ogbe ES NCDMB (Nation)
President Bola Tinubu has appointed the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, and Felix Omatsola Ogbe, as Chairman and Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
Ogbe is taking over as NCDMB’s Executive Secretary from Simbi Wabote, who has been running the affairs of the board since September 2016, when he was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari and reappointed in September 2020 for a second term.
A statement yesterday in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said members of the board include Oritsemyiwa Eyesan (EVC Upstream of the NNPC Limited) and Gbenga Komolafe (CEO of the NUPRC), and five others. Read more
Immortalise Kokori for role in Nigeria’s democracy, Emerhor tells FG (Vanguard)
The founding leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, OON, has commiserated with the family of the late former Secretary General of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Chief Frank Ovie Kokori, over the passage of the octogenarian.
Chief Kokori, an elder statesman and a founding chieftain of APC, died at a Warri hospital on Thursday.
But Emerhor, a renowned banker and politician, while reacting to the passage of Chief Kokori, described the former NUPENG scribe as being pivotal to the returning of Nigeria to democracy. Read more
Ogun places N50m bounty on finance director’s killers (Channels)
Ogun State Government has announced a N50m reward for anybody who could provide information leading to the arrest of the killers of Mr Taiwo Oyekanmi, the former Director of Finance and Administration attached to Governor Dapo Abiodun’s office, Oke-Mosan Abeokuta.
51-year-old Oyekanmi was killed last Wednesday, November 29 by gunmen at the Kuto Flyover Bridge in Abeokuta.
The bounty was announced in a statement on Friday by the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi in Abeokuta, the state capital. Read more
Abiodun, Obasanjo, Amosun bid late Alaba Lawson farewell (Punch)
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and immediate-past governor of the state, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun, were among the dignitaries who gathered at The African Church Cathedral of St. James, Idi-Ape, Abeokuta, on Friday to bid farewell to the foremost educationist and late Iyalode of Egba and Yorubaland, Chief Mrs Oluwaseun Alaba Lawson.
The late Lawson, aged 72 and proprietor of Alaba Lawson Group of Schools, died on October 28 after a brief illness.
The foremost educationist, philanthropist, and defender of women’s rights was also the first female National President of the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture. Read more
Lagos, British High Commission to partner on waste recycling (Nation)
Lagos State Government and the British High Commission in Nigeria will partner on energy generation from solid waste, as well as recycling, for an improved economy.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who received delegates of the British High Commission, said Lagos is ready and open for business opportunities in the environment sector.
He said public service was majorly about the people and what could be done to impact their lives positively. Read more
Those found culpable for Kaduna bombing will be punished – Shettima (Channels)
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has assured that the Federal Government is determined to fully probe the accidental bombing by the Nigerian Army in Tudun Biri village, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, and thereafter punish anyone found culpable in the incident.
He also pledged that the victims of the incident would be supported by the Federal Government.
The Vice president gave the assurance when he visited the victims of the attack at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital in the Kaduna State capital on Thursday. Read more
Italy’s ‘most handsome man’ leaves modeling career to become a priest (CNA)
Young Edoardo Santini, considered “the most handsome man in Italy,” has decided to leave his promising career as a model and enter a seminary to become a priest.
Dancer, swimmer, actor — these were a few of the dreams of Santini, a 21-year-old Italian who in 2019 when he was 17 earned the title of the most handsome young man in his country after winning a national contest.
This award opened the doors to the world of fashion, and his future seemed clear: He was destined to become a big star. However, God’s plans were different. Santini was going to continue shining, but away from the spotlight and catwalks. Read more
UK allocates additional £100m to relocate asylum seekers to Rwanda (AfricaNews)
According to Sir Matthew Rycroft, the Home Office’s top civil servant, an additional payment of £50 million is expected in the coming year.
The relocation initiative, introduced by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in April 2022, aims to process and potentially resettle asylum seekers in Rwanda, as a deterrent for those attempting to cross the English Channel in small boats. Despite legal challenges causing repeated delays, no asylum seekers have been sent from the UK under this scheme.
The revelation of the increased funding came shortly after Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s commitment to revive the plan following the resignation of the immigration minister. This move is part of the government’s effort to address the policy, which was deemed unlawful by the Supreme Court last month. Read more
Mariah Carey releases new ‘‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’’ music video featuring live tour footage (People)
All Mariah Carey wants for Christmas is to share a new video with her fans.
The self-proclaimed Queen of Christmas, 54, announced on Friday that she is gifting her fans — dubbed “the lambs” — with a new music video featuring unseen footage from her “Merry Christmas One And All!” tour.
In the new video, which is titled “All I Want For Christmas is You (Festive Lambs Edition)”, Carey has downsized her role as she puts the focus on her fans. Her “lambs” could be seen both outside the concert venues and in the stands wearing festive sweaters and hats. Read more
Ex-Ohio police detective admits to kidnapping sex workers while working undercover (NBC)
A former Ohio vice detective pleaded guilty to federal accusations Thursday that he kidnapped sex worker victims under the guise of an arrest, according to federal prosecutors.
Andrew Mitchell, 59, of Sunbury, pleaded guilty to two counts of depriving individuals of their civil rights while acting under color of law and one count of obstructing justice, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio.
Mitchell spent more than 30 years with the Columbus Division of Police and was assigned to the vice union for the final two years of his employment, which ended in 2019, prosecutors said. Read more
Denmark passes law banning Quran burning (Dailytrust)
Following a 94-77 vote, offenders now face a fine or up to two years in prison.
This came on Thursday after several burnings of the Qur’an, which caused a stir in Muslim countries, Al Jazeera reports.
The Justice Minister of Denmark, Peter Hummelgaard, said the law was necessary to stop the systematic insults that have been going on for a long time. He said the law would protect the security of Denmark and the Danes. Read more
Inside Saddam Hussein’s dirt-ridden underground lair where he hid before capture (Mirror)
After months on the run and hundreds of millions of pounds spent tracking him down, tyrant Saddam Hussein was dragged out of an eight-foot-deep hole in the ground.
Despite looking more like Catweazle than a once multi-billionaire President who commanded a million-strong army of soldiers, Saddam’s capture was a milestone in Iraq’s history.
Especially for a deluded and angry American president who saw some sort of causal link between the Iraqi regime, the al-Qaeda attacks of 9/11 and Weapons of Mass Destruction. Apache helicopters buzzed the farmland where Saddam was discovered, in al-Dawr village, close to his birthplace Tikrit and the whisper of “it’s him” passed among hundreds of troops. Read more
Elizabeth Magill: UPenn loses $100m donation after House antisemitism testimony (BBC)
In an email seen by the BBC, Ross Stevens said he was “appalled” Elizabeth Magill avoided questions about how students calling for the genocide of Jews would be punished.
She was grilled by politicians on Tuesday about antisemitism on campus.
Ms Magill has since apologised, but her remarks have led to resignation calls. Read more
Nigeria’s Kevin Akpoguma suspended for Bochum match (Guardian)
Kevin Akpoguma is suspended for Hoffenheim’s German Bundesliga match against VfL Bochum at the PreZero Arena on Friday night as a result of his accumulation of yellow cards.
Akpoguma earned himself a one match suspension after picking up his fifth booking of the season in Hoffenheim’s 2-1 Bundesliga loss to Borussia Monchengladbach last Saturday.
The Nigerian defender received a yellow card very late on in the 88th minute for a rough foul on a Monchengladbach player, making it his fifth caution of the 2023/24 campaign. Read more
Fubara Redeems N30M Pledge To Rivers Hoopers (Leadership)
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has redeemed his promise of thirty million naira (N30m) to players and officials of Nigeria Premier Basketball League Champions, Rivers Hoopers.
In September, the five-time Nigerian league champions won all six games to emerge champions of the second edition of the Louis Edem Invitational Basketball Championship held in Lagos. Read more
Naomi Osaka: Returning Grand Slam champion targets more titles and 2024 Paris Olympics (Sky)
Former world No 1 Naomi Osaka has set her sights on adding to her four Grand Slam titles and playing at the 2024 Paris Olympics in her eagerly awaited comeback to tennis.
The 26-year-old is returning at the Brisbane International from the end of December in what will be her first WTA tournament since September 2022 as she gears up for the Australian Open, which starts on January 14, where she has won twice.
Osaka gave birth to her daughter Shai in July this year. Read more
Kalvin Phillips: Pep Guardiola feels sorry for unused Manchester City midfielder but cannot see England international in his team (Sky)
Phillips has yet to start for the treble winners in the Premier League and Champions League this season, limiting his action to just 90 minutes of top-flight football.
The 28-year-old has continued to sit on the City bench even with Rodri missing, the latest example coming on Wednesday when the England international was an unused substitute for the 1-0 loss to Aston Villa.
Questions have emerged about whether Phillips will depart in the January transfer window, with Guardiola telling a press conference on Friday: “I don’t know what’s going to happen. I feel so sorry for my decision for him. I’ve said that many times. Read more
Arsenal boss Arteta says he cannot stop touchline emotion (France24)
Mikel Arteta says he will continue to show passion on the touchline despite landing himself with a ban for Arsenal’s trip to Aston Villa on Saturday.
The Spaniard will not be in the dugout at Villa Park as Arsenal aim to strengthen their grip at the top of the Premier League after he received a third yellow card of the season in Tuesday’s last-gasp victory at Luton.
The Gunners came from behind to win 4-3 as Declan Rice headed in the decider deep into stoppage time, with Arteta cautioned by referee Samuel Barrott, who deemed he had celebrated the goal excessively. Read more
Susie Wolff fumes at FIA investigation after “unsuccessful attack” on husband Toto (Mirror)
Susie Wolff has hit out at the FIA, having been bombarded with personal abuse after F1’s governing body looked into unfounded allegations about her and her husband.
It was alleged earlier this week that Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff had an unfair advantage due to his relationship with his wife, who works as the managing director of the F1 Academy racing series. The Wolffs were backed by the nine other F1 teams and the FIA later released a statement which confirmed they had not launched an official investigation into a potential conflict of interest.
Susie Wolff had previously said she was “deeply insulted but sadly unsurprised by the public allegations” against her and has now released another statement in an attempt to draw a line underneath things. It read: “When I saw the statement issued by the FIA yesterday evening, my first reaction was: ‘Is that it?’. For two days, insinuations have been made about my integrity in public and through background briefings, but nobody from the FIA has spoken to me directly. Read more
