Newlywed bride, bridesmaids, others died in Niger road accident (Guardian)
At least 13 people, including a newlywed bride, her five bridesmaids, and her brother-in-law, have been killed in a road accident near Lukoro in Edati, Niger State.
According to the report, the fatal collision was caused by speeding and reckless overtaking between a Toyota Corolla travelling from Mokwa to Bida and a commercial Nissan bus travelling from Minna to Ogbomoso. Read more
PDP’s Bwala meets with Tinubu in France (Channels)
Daniel Bwala, then spokesman for Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 2023 presidential poll, has met with President Bola Tinubu in Paris, France.
“It was a pleasure to meet with the father of the nation President Bola Tinubu in Paris today (Monday),” Bwala post on X (formerly Twitter).
“He continues to share his thoughts and demonstrate his passion to lead Nigeria out of the woods.”
Bwala’s Monday visit occurred about three weeks after he visited the President in Aso Villa Abuja. Read more
Ibadan Explosion: Makinde hails Obi over visit, blasts Atiku (DailyTrust)
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has taken a swipe at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for failing to express empathy to the Oyo State government over the explosion that rocked Bodija area of Ibadan.
Makinde criticised Atiku while appreciating the former Governor of Anambra State and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, who was on a condolence visit to his office.
Makinde revealed that only the former vice president had not reached out to him out of the three major candidates who contested the 2023 general election. Read more
Lawmakers accuse Fubara of unlawful conduct, gov warns pro-Wike appointees (Punch)
The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the state House of Assembly may again be on a collision course as the lawmakers on Monday accused the governor of making illegal appointments.
This was as Fubara on Monday warned nine commissioners who returned to his cabinet months after resigning, not to work against his government.
The commissioners, who are allies of ex-Governor Nyesom Wike, resigned from Fubara’s cabinet at the height of the political crisis between Fubara and Wike. Read more
72 year old soldier commits suicide in Benue (Sun)
A retired soldier, 72-year-old, identified as Francis Dooga, has allegedly committed suicide in Makurdi, the Benue state capital.
Our correspondent gathered that Dooga committed suicide in his compound opposite St. Joseph Catholic Church at Nyiniongun, a suburb of Makurdi.
It was said that the deceased hung himself to death on a tree at his residence. Read more
Sanwo-Olu witnesses arrival of LNG-powered vessel at Lekki seaport (Nation)
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other key stakeholders witnessed the arrival of the CMA CGM SCANDOLA on Monday, January 29.
This LNG-powered container vessel, boasting 14,812 TEUs, marks a historic moment as the first LNG-powered vessel to navigate to West Africa.
It berthed at the Lagos Lekki Deep Sea Port, Nigeria’s most advanced and deepest seaport. Read more
Withdraw your ‘illegal’ appointments, Rivers Assembly tells Fubara (Channels)
The Rivers State House of Assembly has called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara to withdraw his appointments into three government parastatals.
The House made this call in a letter to the governor on Monday. The letter was signed by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule.
The House said the appointment of Goodlife Ben as the Acting Chairman of the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission contravened Section 44(3) of the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018 which stipulated that “the Governor shall appoint the Chairman and Members of the Commission subject to the confirmation by a resolution of the House of Assembly”. Read more
Suspected kidnappers kill 2 traditional rulers in Ekiti (Tribune)
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have shot dead two traditional rulers travelling along a community in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti state.
Nigeria Tribune gathered that the two traditional rulers; the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin and the Onimojo of Imojo-Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Samuel Olushola were ambushed and killed by the gunmen on Monday while the Alara of Ara Ikole-Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba escaped from the scene.
Sources said that the monarchs were said to be returning from a security meeting in Irele-Ekiti in a vehicle being driven by Alara when they were attacked along the road. Read more
By-elections: Settle your debt so we can serve you better – Air Force to INEC (Vanguard)
Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to settle its outstanding bills in order doe the force to serve the electoral commission better.
Abubakar made this appeal when he hosted a delegation of INEC management, led by the commission’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who visited the Air Force Headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
The Air Force Chief said, “I would like to seize this opportunity to remind the Chairman that there are some outstanding bills which are yet to be cleared by INEC. The settlement of those bills will enable us to serve you better.” Read more
Nicki Minaj denies ‘coke’ allegations after Megan Thee Stallion rant (HipHopDx)
Nicki Minaj is on the defensive in her crusade against Megan Thee Stallion, denying allegations that she is using cocaine.
After spending the better part of this past weekend disparaging the Houston rapper on social media, Nicki faced suggestions that she was on drugs, with one X user accusing her of being on a “coke rant.”
In response, Nicki shut down the claim and clarified that she has “never done coke in [her] life.” Read more
Martin Short addresses Meryl Streep dating rumours (Variety)
Are Meryl Streep and Martin Short dating? The short answer—which is to say, the answer from Short himself—is a big no.
“We’re not a couple,” Short said during an appearance on the Club Random with Bill Maher podcast, in an episode published Sunday. “We are just very close friends.”
The two lauded performers have been at the center of romantic rumors after being spotted at the Golden Globes 2024 ceremony earlier in January. The two co-starred in the latest season of Only Murders In the Building, where their characters also had a complicated love connection. Both actors were nominated this year for their work on the show, as was fellow castmate Selena Gomez. Read more
Colorado man dies while skydiving after parachutes fail to deploy (NBC)
A Colorado man died while skydiving after his parachutes failed to deploy Saturday, according to authorities.
Longmont Public Safety responded to the area south of Vance Brand Airport at around 3:27 p.m., according to a news release.
The victim, a 36-year-old man, was a participant with the Mile-Hi Skydiving Center in Longmont and wearing a wing suit at the time of his death, authorities said. Read more
Israeli intelligence accuses UNRWA staff of kidnap, seizing body (AlJazeera)
An Israeli intelligence document that prompted several countries to halt funds for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) includes allegations that some staff took part in abductions and killings during the Hamas-led attack against Israel on October 7.
The Israeli dossier alleges that some 190 UNRWA employees, including teachers, have doubled as Hamas or Islamic Jihad fighters, the Reuters news agency reported.
Palestinian officials have accused Israel of falsifying information to tarnish UNRWA. The UN has fired nine of the accused workers, condemned “the abhorrent alleged acts” and launched an investigation into the allegations. Read more
Keanu Reeves seen standing on set of Good Fortune Days after being photographed with crutches (People)
Keanu Reeves is back on set days after he was spotted using crutches.
On Monday morning, the actor, 59, was seen filming his upcoming movie Good Fortune with costars Seth Rogen, Aziz Ansari and Keke Palmer on its Los Angeles set. The John Wick star was previously photographed walking with crutches and sporting an ice pack on his left knee while on the movie’s set last Thursday. On Monday, Reeves did not appear to be using crutches and an ice pack was not visible.
Representatives for Lionsgate and Reeves did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Monday. Read more
South Africa: Ruling ANC suspends Jacob Zuma’s membership (AfricaNews)
In South Africa, the national executive committee of the ruling ANC announced Monday (Jan.29) it had decided to “summarily suspend Jacob Zuma as a member”.
Citing the committee’s sources local media report that the former president will be hauled before the party’s disciplinary committee.
Last December, Zuma publicly announced he will campaign and vote for the newly establish MK party. Read more
Netflix’s Griselda: Which characters are based on real people and which are not? (BBC)
The Netflix release of Griselda, a fictionalised rendition of the life story of Griselda Blanco, features an unusual character – a ruthless Colombian female drug lord who leveraged her invisibility as an ordinary housewife to command the streets of Miami.
The show opens with a quote that lets us know that Blanco was even feared by the likes of Pablo Escobar.
Kristen Maldonado, the TV and film critic behind Pop Culture Planet, tells BBC Culture that “what makes Griselda Blanco’s story so interesting is that she’s someone who was very prominent in the drug trade industry of the ’70s and ’80s, but isn’t as well-known as her male counterparts – because she was a woman”. Read more
Late Sam Okwaraji, reason Super Eagles must beat Angola — Etim Esin (Leadership)
Former Super Eagles midfielder, Etim Esin, has encouraged the Nigerian national football team to secure a victory against Angola in the upcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-final match in Ivory Coast.
Esin said the match is of particular significance as it serves as a tribute to the late Sam Okwaraji, who tragically passed away during a match against Angola in 1990.
Okwaraji, then 25, collapsed and died while playing in a World Cup qualifier at the National Stadium, Lagos, on August 12. The match against Angola, which ended in a 1-0 win for Nigeria, was marred by the untimely death of the talented midfielder. Read more
Okpala Tanya: Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development intervenes (CompleteSports)
Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has reached out to the father of Okpala Tanya, Nigeria’s former tennis sensation whose video went viral recently revealing the lamentable state of the one-time tennis champion.
The minister contacted Tanya’s father who briefed him on her current condition and the genesis of her problem. He also confirmed to the Sports minister that the Nigerian Tennis Federation paid for Tanya’s first rehabilitation many years ago when her condition became public knowledge but sadly the former tennis star relapsed after a short while.
Okpala Tanya was once a tennis player of repute who has played in a lot of tennis tournaments. She represented Nigeria and the African continent and won laurels. She was a tennis junior’s champion who played at the highest level and was ranked number one at the time. Read more
AFCON 2023: Ivory Coast knockout holders Senegal after 5-4 penalty shootout win (Sky)
Franck Kessie stepped up from the penalty spot to send defending champions Senegal tumbling out of the Africa Cup of Nations and spark wild celebrations in Yamoussoukro.
Kessie had given hosts Ivory Coast hope when he coolly dispatched an 86th-minute spot-kick past Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to send the tie into extra-time.
The 27-year-old delivered once again with the crucial kick to seal a 5-4 win in the shoot-out after Moussa Niakhate had missed his earlier effort for the favourites. Read more
‘They love him there’: Rio Ferdinand thinks 41-year-old could replace Klopp at Liverpool (HitC)
Rio Ferdinand believes that Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso is the clear favourite to replace Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager this summer.
Jurgen Klopp stunned Liverpool fans on Friday, announcing that he is leaving Anfield at the end of the season.
The German has decided to take a break from football after spending more than eight years in the Anfield dugout. Read more
IRONMAN announce who will be taking over from Andrew Messick as CEO (Tri247)
The IRONMAN Group have announced the appointment of Scott DeRue as its Chief Executive Officer.
DeRue joins from Equinox, a global lifestyle brand and health and wellness business, where he served as President.
He succeeds Andrew Messick, who revealed last July that he was stepping down after 12 years as CEO, though he will remain a stakeholder and member of the Board of Directors alongside DeRue. Read more
Andy Murray beaten in Montpellier but Katie Boulter wins to reach Linz Open 2nd round (BBC)
Andy Murray suffered a first-round exit at the Open Sud de France in Montpellier, but Katie Boulter won to reach the Linz Open second round.
Murray was beaten 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 by France’s Benoit Paire.
The 36-year-old, who was also beaten in the first round at the Australian Open, has now won only one of his last eight matches. Read more