Nigerian woman makes history, emerges first African Lord Mayor of Leeds (Punch)
A Nigerian woman, Abigail Katung, has been announced as the 130th Lord Mayor of Leeds City in England, becoming the first person of African descent to hold the position.
The announcement was made following the Leeds City Council’s annual general meeting on Thursday night, as confirmed by a statement on the website of the council.
The statement read, “Taking over the role from Al Garthwaite, Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung becomes the city’s 130th Lord Mayor and the first person of African descent to hold the position. Read more
Nigeria was bleeding when I took over – Tinubu (DailyTrust)
President Bola Tinubu on Friday promised the Yoruba Leaders of Thought that his administration will live up to the expectations of Nigerians, declaring that the country is no bleeding.
The President who lamented the state of Local government administration in the country called for a more effective local government system that fosters community development and delivers the essentials of governance within a federal structure.
Speaking when he received a delegation of the Yoruba Leaders of Thought at the State House on Friday, Tinubu emphasized that governance must be transformative and must address the critical needs of the people. Read more
UI’s Ex-VC, Emeritus Prof. Ayo Banjo dies at 90 (Nation)
Former vice-chancellor, University of Ibadan, Emeritus Prof. Ayo Banjo, is dead, The Nation has learnt.
He was aged 90.
A source in the university confirmed his demise to The Nation.
The don died early morning, Friday, May 24. Read more
Abducted Anambra Catholic Priest, Fr. Gbuzue regains freedom (Sun)
A Catholic Priest of Onitsha Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Basil Gbuzue has regained freedom after spending nine days in captivity.
The Priest was kidnapped on Wednesday 15th May 20254 along Nkpor – Obosi /Umuoji Road, Anambra State.
Confirming his release in a statement signed by Christian Aburime, Press Secretary to Governor Soludo said the cleric regained freedom through the onerous efforts of the joint security task team of Anambra State Government and well meaning citizens. Read more
4 ex-soldiers in custody for culpable homicide in Niger (Tribune)
The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the arrest and detention of four suspected ex-soldiers by the State Command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency in Minna, the state capital, over allegations of culpable homicide.
The confirmation was made in a press statement issued and made available to journalists on Friday in Minna by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun.
According to the statement, “On 09/03/2024 at about 1820hrs, a team of NDLEA officers were on stop and search duty at Ramat Junction, Bida, in the Bida local government area of the state, when two suspected soldiers, who were not in uniform, arrived on a motorcycle and were intercepted by the NDLEA team.” Read more
Kano State not bound by court order seeking to stop reinstatement of Sanusi — Gov Yusuf (Vanguard)
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf said Kano State is not bound by court order seeking to stop the reinstatement of a former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.
Sanusi Bature, the Director-General, Media and Publicity of Governor Yusuf made this known in an interview on Arise Television on Friday.
Bature said, “This is an ex parte order, and it’s given largely probably for the protection of the human rights of the subjects involved in this case. Read more
How I ‘‘outsmarted’’ Adamu to deliver Tinubu as APC candidate – Omisore (Channels)
Two years after the intrigue-filled June 2022 presidential primary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that produced ex-Lagos governor Bola Tinubu as the party’s flagbearer, the party’s National Secretary at the time, Iyiola Omisore, has made some revelations on how he delivered his “mission” for a South-Westerner to secure the much-coveted ticket of the party.
Omisore was a guest on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television on Friday.
The mathematician and former Osun State deputy governor confirmed that the then APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, wanted the North to retain the Presidency after the eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari who is from the North-West geopolitical zone but he (Omisore) had a mandate to deliver a South-West person as the party’s flag bearer. Read more
455 Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters, families surrender in Borno (Nation)
Atotal of 550 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters and their family members have surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Borno State.
The number comprised 47 males, 180 females and 323 children, according to Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.
The defence spokesperson said the terrorists and members of their families surrendered during an operation conducted in Mafa, Dikwa, Gwoza, Bama, Kukawa and Mobbar Local Government Areas of the state, from May 15 to 21. Read more
Millie Bobby Brown, 20, and Jon Bon Jovi’s son, 22, ‘marry in secret ceremony’ (Mirror)
Stranger Things actress Millie Bobby Brown has reportedly secretly tied the knot with rockstar Jon Bon Jovi’s model son
Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi have secretly wed, according to insiders.
The Stranger Things actress and Jon Bon Jovi’s son reportedly tied the knot last weekend in the US after getting engaged 14 months ago. Jake’s famous rockstar father Jon and Millie’s parents were at the ceremony, according to reports. Read more
South Sudanese refugees in Uganda yearn to go home and vote (AfricaNews)
This is Bidibidi refugee settlement in West Nile, Uganda, where thousands of South Sudanese refugees have made a home.
Since their government last month announced plans to begin voter registration in June, many are now yearning to go back home and vote in December.
If in luck, 18-year-old Noel Amba will be a first-time voter. He arrived at the camp a child in 2016 in the heat of civil war. Read more
Death of ex-Royal Marine charged with spying for China not suspicious, police say (Independent)
The death of Matthew Trickett, an immigration enforcement officer who was accused of assisting the Hong Kong intelligence service, is not being treated as suspicious police said.
The former royal marine, 37, was found dead in a park after being bailed from Westminster Magistrates’ Court last week, alongside Chi Leung (Peter) Wai, 38, and Chung Biu Yuen, 63.
His body was discovered in Grenfell Park, Maidenhead, at around 5.15pm on Sunday after a report from a member of the public, Thames Valley Police said on Tuesday evening. Read more
Caleb Carr, military historian and author of bestselling novel ‘The Alienist,’ dies at 68 (NBC)
Caleb Carr, the scarred and gifted son of Beat poet Lucien Carr who endured a traumatizing childhood and became a bestselling novelist, accomplished military historian and late-life memoirist of his devoted cat, Masha, has died at 68.
Carr died of cancer Thursday, according to an announcement from his publisher, Little, Brown and Company.
“Caleb lived his writing life valiantly, with works of politics, history and sociology, but most astonishingly for this historian, with wildly entertaining works of fiction,” Carr’s editor, Joshua Kendall, said in a statement. Read more
Diddy’s sons King Combs & Quincy preview new collab amid father’s legal drama (HipHopDx)
Diddy‘s sons, King Combs and Quincy Brown, have given their father’s fans a preview of some new music they’ve been working on in the studio — but fans aren’t feeling what they have to offer.
The Shade Room previewed the new track from the pair on Thursday (May 23). Quincy — whose biological father is singer Al B. Sure! but who was raised by Combs — brought some R&B flavor, while the Bad Boy mogul’s son dropped bars.
The comments, however, were unforgiving to the duo. “At first I was gonna say it’s trash but then I listened to it a little longer and it’s actually garbage,” wrote one fan, while another remarked, “this song won’t even go copper.” Read more
US calls for swift police deployment to Haiti after missionaries killed (AlJazeera)
The administration of United States President Joe Biden has called for the rapid deployment of a Kenyan-led security force to Haiti following the killing of three missionaries working with a US group in the violence-hit Caribbean country.
The appeal on Friday came shortly after the non-profit Missions in Haiti Inc announced that three of its missionaries were fatally shot by armed gunmen on Thursday night in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince.
The deaths are the latest in months of spiralling violence in Port-au-Prince, which remains largely under the control of powerful armed groups that have unleashed a wave of deadly attacks across the city. Read more
Michael Jackson’s son engages in unusual balcony behaviour 22 years after he was dangled from window (Metro)
Bigi ‘Blanket’ Jackson rocked up on set for the highly-anticipated biopic Michael where he was seen throwing pillowcases down to fans below.
Bigi, 22, was born Prince Michael Jackson II and is the youngest of Michael Jackson’s three children. He has stayed out of the spotlight for most of his life but recently celebrated his directorial debut with short film, Rochelles.
The Thriller hitmaker’s son excited fans after reuniting with his siblings Paris, 26, and Prince, 27, while attending the preview for the London premier of MJ: The Musical in March. Read more
FIFA WCQ: Finidi unveils Lookman, Osimhen, 21 others to battle Bafana, Cheetahs (Leadership)
Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Finidi George has listed Ademola Lookman, African Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali among 23 players who will battle South Africa’s Bafana Bafana and the Cheetahs of Benin Republic for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
George also selected goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, England-based defenders Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi; midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi and Alhassan Yusuf as well as forwards Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface and Terem Moffi.
Remo Stars’ hard-as-nails defender, Sadiq Ismael is called for the first time, with Turkey-based midfielder Fisayo Bashiru, Bayer Leverkusen of Germany’s Nathan Tella and lanky forward Paul Onuachu also making the list. Read more
Perez: Ferrari ‘just not reachable’ for Red Bull in Monaco (F1i)
Sergio Perez felt that F1 rival Ferrari was “just not reachable” for Red Bull based on the opening day of running at the Monaco Grand Prix and Charles Leclerc’s leading pace.
The local hero topped Friday’s second practice with almost a 0.2s margin over Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilto, while championship leader Max Verstappen was fourth in the pecking order, 0.535s adrift from Leclerc, while Perez was P8.
Perez had previously suggested that the Principality’s unique characteristics might pose a challenge for Red Bull’s car. Unfortunately, this concern materialized throughout Friday practice. Read more
Bulls’ Lonzo Ball underwent meniscus transplant during NBA injury absence (UPI)
Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball, who hasn’t played in the NBA since 2022 because of knee issues, received a new meniscus from a donor during his time off the court, he said on his podcast.
Ball spoke about his journey back to the court in an episode of “What An Experience,” which was published Friday on YouTube, Apple and Spotify.
Ball, 26, entered the league as the No. 2 overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2017 NBA Draft. The 2017-2018 All-Rookie selection joined the New Orleans Pelicans in a 2019 trade. The Pelicans traded ball to the Bulls in 2021. Read more
Nigerian striker close to joining Chelsea (CompleteSports)
Young Nigerian striker Ibrahim Umar is on the verge of joining Chelsea after very positive trial with the Academy.
This was revealed by Italian journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on his X handle on Friday.
According to Romano, Chelsea are closing in on deal with Ojodu City Academy in Nigeria to decide whether they want to loan Umar to Strasbourg or sign him for Chelsea. Read more
Taylor and Catterall ready for long-awaited rematch (BBC)
Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall collide in one of the biggest grudge matches in recent British boxing history when they meet in Leeds on Saturday.
The rematch has been over two years in the making following a controversial first fight in Glasgow in February 2022.
That night Catterall appeared to most observers to have outboxed Taylor and done enough to dethrone the undisputed light-welterweight champion, only for the judges to award victory to the Scot. Read more
Rangers boss dismisses claims of financially motivating Kwara players (Punch)
Enugu Rangers General Manager, Amobi Ezeaku, has laughed off a claim by former Warri Wolves chairman Moses Etu that he masterminded their ouster from the President Federation Cup by motivating Kwara United with cash ahead of Wednesday’s round-of-32 encounter at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Akwa, The PUNCH reports.
Kwara edged NNL side Wolves 1-0 in Enugu on Wednesday to reach the last 16 of the competition
Ezeaku shared his displeasure with our correspondent in reaction to reports and a Facebook post by Etu, who is currently a Senior Special Assistant on Sports to the Delta State Governor. Read more