‘Nigerians, help me!’ wife of Rivers ex-HoS raises alarm about his whereabouts after resignation (Channels)
The political situation in Rivers State led to more drama and twists on Friday, peaking with a cry for help from Florence Nwaeke, the wife of former Head of Service of the state, George Nwaeke.
Late on Friday, Mr George Nwaeke’s distraught wife told journalists she was afraid for her husband’s life and had no idea where he was.
Battling with emotions and concern, she called on Nigerians, others for help. Read more
Socialite Aisha Achimugu’s probe not connected to ex-VP Atiku, Sanwo-Olu — EFCC (Leadership)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said that the investigation and declaration of popular socialite, Ms. Aisha Achimugu, wanted, has nothing to do with her political connections but a case of fraud against her.
EFCC stated this while reacting to media reports linking its investigations of Ms. Achimugu with political undercurrents involving former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, and Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
According to EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, on Friday night, “We wish to state unequivocally that the investigations of Achimugu have no correlation of any kind with the two political actors. She is being investigated for alleged criminal conspiracy and money laundering and has since been declared wanted by the commission. Read more
19 suspects arrested as Military, Shi’ites clash in Abuja (DailyTrust)
No fewer than 19 suspects have been arrested by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) command of the Nigeria Police Force following a clash between members of the proscribed Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) and the military.
The force also said it has launched a thorough probe into the incident, vowing to crack down on the perpetrators of the attack on the security operatives.
Daily Trust reports that a yet-to-be-ascertained number of military personnel and civilians lost their lives during the clash that happened in the Banex Area of Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, on Friday. Read more
Edo killings: Police arrest 14 suspects as Tinubu orders manhunt for killers of itinerant hunters (Nation)
The Edo State Police Command last night confirmed the arrest of 14 suspects in connection with the Thursday attack on a travelling party of hunters at Udune Efandion,an Uromi community in the Esan North Local Government of the state.
Sixteen of the hunters said to be from the North on a hunting expedition to Rivers state were allegedly killed by members of a vigilance group during the attack which President Bola Tinubu yesterday condemned as jungle justice.
The vigilance members claimed they suspected the victims to be kidnappers on account of dane guns found in their possession. Read more
Natasha recall: Senator petitions IG, Kogi CP as kinsmen tackle INEC (Punch)
The Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, over alleged forgery of signatures.
Saturday PUNCH gathered that the petitions were submitted to the IG and the police commissioner on Friday afternoon.
Some members of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituents, led by one Charity Ijese, had submitted over 250,000 signatures at the Independent National Electoral Commission headquarters in Abuja with a petition seeking the embattled senator’s recall. Read more
NIMASA moves to end $1.5b war risk insurance on Nigeria-bound cargo (Guardian)
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has launched a campaign to eliminate war risk insurance (WRI) premiums imposed on Nigeria-bound cargoes, a financial burden that has cost the country over $1.5 billion in payments to international insurers over the past three years.
NIMASA’s Head of Public Relations, Osagie Edward, announced this in a statement on Friday, noting the agency’s efforts to address the economic impact of these surcharges.
War risk insurance, which covers losses from acts of war such as invasion, insurrection, rebellion, and hijacking, is commonly applied in shipping and aviation industries for high-risk environments. Read more
State of Emergency: Tinubu saved Rivers – Ex-Head of Service (Sun)
Immediate past Head of Service in Rivers State, Dr George Nweke, has said that President Bola Tinubu should be commended for saving the state with the imposition of a state of emergency. Nweke, who resigned from office within the week, said that with the “loads of misinformation in print and electronic media, I have chosen to put the record straight.”
He clarified that he was neither sacked nor put under pressure to resign, but resigned “willingly from the depth of my heart.”
The former Head of Service said that as an insider and a key player who worked closely with Siminilayi Fubara, “it will be unfair for me to keep silent or not to address some key factors that has affected or will affect our state if we continue on this trajectory.” He said that President Tinubu’s swift intervention in Rivers State came at the right time and should be commended. Read more
He is trying to kill me’: Woman says doctor husband hit her 10 times with a rock on Hawaii hiking trail (ABC)
A doctor accused of trying to kill his wife on a Hawaii hiking trail allegedly hit her in the head with a rock about 10 times and tried to inject her with syringes before a witness intervened, according to court documents.
Arielle Konig said she was on the Pali Puka Trail in Honolulu with her husband, Gerhardt Konig, on Monday when he stood near the edge and asked her to take a selfie with him, according to court documents filed Thursday.
She said she didn’t feel comfortable being that close to the edge, “so she declined and began to walk back,” the documents said. Read more
Earthquake death toll in Myanmar, Thailand surpasses 150 (AlJazeera)
A powerful earthquake has hit Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand, destroying buildings, damaging infrastructure and killing more than 150 people.
The head of Myanmar’s military government, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, said that at least 144 people were killed and 730 others were injured in his country. The quake also hit Thailand, where at least 10 people were killed in the capital, Bangkok, according to city authorities.
A magnitude 7.7 quake struck just outside Myanmar’s ancient capital Mandalay at 12.50pm (06:20 GMT). The initial tremor was followed minutes later by a magnitude 6.4 aftershock, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Read more
Sean Kingston Convicted Of Luxury Scam In Federal Court (AllHipHop)
Sean Kingston and his mother Janice Turner were convicted in Florida for wire fraud after scamming vendors out of luxury items using fake payments.
Sean Kingston was found guilty Friday in Fort Lauderdale federal court alongside his mother Janice Turner for orchestrating a $1 million fraud scheme involving luxury goods and fake wire transfers.
The jury returned a unanimous verdict after five days of testimony, convicting both on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud. Read more
Carney calls 1st official call with Trump ‘cordial’ and ‘positive,’ but tariffs still expected next week (CBC)
Prime Minister Mark Carney says US President Donald Trump respected Canada’s sovereignty when the two leaders spoke on the phone Friday, marking a shift in the relationship — at least for now.
“Perhaps there was a different impression before about how strong Canada really is,” he said during a news conference in Montreal.
Carney, who was sworn in as prime minister nine days before triggering an election, said the call was “cordial” and “positive.” While the men’s paths had crossed before, it was the first time they spoke as leaders of the neighbouring countries. Read more
Columbia University president steps down amid Trump’s crackdown (BBC)
Columbia University’s interim president has resigned her role just one week after the Ivy League university agreed to change several policies to satisfy demands from the Trump administration.
Katrina Armstrong had led the university since August, after the previous president resigned over her handling of protests against Israel’s military operation in Gaza.
Columbia has drawn ire from Donald Trump, who claims that it and other schools have tolerated antisemitism and the harassment of Jewish students. Read more
Israeli officials furious that Signal group chat exposed intelligence, sources say (CBS)
Israeli officials are furious over the Signal chat leak involving senior Trump administration officials because it included sensitive intelligence Israel provided to the U.S. from a human intelligence source in Yemen, CBS News has learned.
While the Signal chat messages published by Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic this week may not have compromised the effectiveness of the airstrike, given the publication’s restraint on releasing the information, it did compromise a human source who provided the intelligence to the Israelis, who then provided it to the US for targeting, a senior American intelligence official and a source with knowledge of the Israelis’ ire told CBS News. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive national security matters.
The Wall Street Journal on Thursday first reported about the Israelis complaining to U.S. officials about Mike Waltz, President Trump’s national security adviser, who set up the group chat and apparently added Goldberg by mistake. Read more
ICC U19 World Cup Qualifiers: Namibia edges Nigeria in hard-fought victory (Sun)
Namibia secured a crucial 10-run victory over Nigeria in a tense encounter at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Africa Qualifiers on Friday at the TBS Cricket Oval in Lagos. The win, achieved after a dramatic comeback, helped restore the shaken confidence of the top-ranked Namibian side.
Nigeria appeared poised for a comfortable chase after restricting Namibia to 133 runs in 47.5 overs. The Junior Yellow Greens’ disciplined bowling effort had Namibia struggling at 93-9, before a resilient last-wicket stand between Junior Taanyada and Max Heingo added 40 crucial runs to their total.
In response, Nigeria looked in control, with Ali Rahmon leading the charge. His explosive knock of 53 runs off 46 balls put his team within striking distance. However, Namibia captain Francois Du Plessis turned the game around with a decisive bowling performance, dismissing Rahmon and triggering a Nigerian collapse. The hosts were bowled out for 123 in 40.2 overs, falling just short of victory. Read more
Forest, Fulham’s Nigerian duos resume FA Cup chase in q’finals (Punch)
Nigeria’s national team exploits cast a shadow over the FA Cup quarter-finals as Ola Aina, Taiwo Awoniyi, Alex Iwobi, and Calvin Bassey prepare for crucial matches on Saturday (today) after a mixed international break marred by a disappointing World Cup qualifying draw against Zimbabwe.
London rivals Fulham and Crystal Palace will battle for a coveted FA Cup semi-final place in a tense quarter-final showdown at Craven Cottage.
The match carries significant weight for both teams, who are yet to lift the prestigious trophy in their histories. Read more
Manchester City star Erling Haaland reported to police after ‘leaving mascot with suspected whiplash’ (Metro)
Manchester City were forced to open an investigation after Erling Haaland allegedly left the club’s mascot with suspected whiplash following a ‘playful knock to the back of her head’.
According to The Sun, the woman was working inside cuddly alien mascot ‘Moonbeam’ before City’s 1-0 victory over Southampton last October when the incident occurred.
It’s claimed the City employee initially assumed she had been hit by a football while posing for a photograph before learning that Haaland had ‘playfully’ struck her twice from behind at the Etihad. Read more
Brazil sack boss Dorival after Argentina defeat (BBC)
Brazil have sacked manager Dorival Junior after losing 4-1 to arch-rivals Argentina in World Cup qualifying.
They sit fourth in the South American group, having lost five of 14 games, although are still well placed to qualify for the 2026 finals.
The 62-year-old, who has managed a host of Brazilian clubs, had been in charge of the national team since January 2024. Read more
With Messi watching at Miami Open, Djokovic reaches 100th final (AlJazeera)
Novak Djokovic had some company for another Miami Open victory.
With Lionel Messi watching from a suite, Djokovic cruised into the Miami Open final by routing 14th-seeded Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-3 on Friday at the Hard Rock Stadium.The fourth-seeded Djokovic is trying for his seventh Miami Open title in his first appearance in the event since 2019. The 37-year-old Djokovic, who won six times at the tournament’s previous venue at Key Biscayne, also is going for his 100th professional title. Read more