Okuama President-General dies in military detention (Vanguard)
The President-General of Okuama Community of Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, Pa James Oghoroko, has reportedly died from torture and alleged inhumane treatment in military detention.
Oghoroko is one of the leaders arrested by the Nigerian military since August 2024.
Late Oghoroko, President-General of Okuama community was arrested alongside Prof Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Dennis Okugbaye, Pa Anthony Ahwemuria and Mrs Rita Akata between August 18 and 20, and had remained in detentions since. Read more
Court okays hearing of N5.2b suit against Chinese over alleged false claims (Nation)
The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has accepted to commence hearing on a N5.2billion suit brought against a Chinese, Li Xing, accused of making false claims against his former employer.
Justice F. A Aliyu, sitting in Court 53 of the High Court of the FCT in Apo has scheduled hearing for January 29 next year in the suit marked: CV/4554/2024 filed for the claimant by his lawyer, Eloka Okoye of the firm of Kehinde and Partners LP.
Xing, an ex-employee of Pure Biotech Company Ltd, is accused of making false claims of tax evasion, money laundering and forgery against a fellow Chinese, Mr. Liu Yangxi (the Managing Director of Pure Biotech), who recently fired him for alleged misconduct. Read more
Tax reform bills: We have not suspended or withdrawn deliberations – Akpabio (Sun)
The Senate has stated that deliberations on the tax reform bills have neither been suspended nor withdrawn, affirming its commitment to advancing them.
During plenary on Thursday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the upper chamber remains focused on its mandate to represent Nigerians’ interests.
Akpabio further reiterated that the Senate would not be intimidated by external pressure amid the furore surrounding the bills. Read more
ECOWAS court orders Nigeria to pay N5m to torture victim (Punch)
The ECOWAS Court of Justice has ordered the Federal Republic of Nigeria to compensate Oluwatimilehin Adebayo with ₦5 million for the violation of his right to freedom from torture.
The court also ordered Nigeria to conduct a prompt, impartial, and effective investigation into the torture and prosecute those responsible.
Adebayo, in a suit marked (ECW/CCJ/APP/47/23), accused some police officers from Ogun State of subjecting him to severe physical abuse, including beating him with the handle of an axe and tying his limbs with chains to a pole. Read more
4 LP Reps, Ibori’s daughter defect to APC (DailyTrust)
Four members of the Labour Party (LP) and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have dumped their parties for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, announced the defections of the lawmakers through letters he read upon resumption of plenary on Thursday.
The LP lawmakers that defected to APC include Tochukwu Chinedu Okere (Imo), Donatus Matthew (Kaduna), Akiba Bassey (Cross River) and Esosa Iyawe (Edo). Read more
SMEs workers stage peaceful protest over power blackout in Kano (ThisDay)
Thousands of workers from the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) yesterday staged a peaceful protest following a total blackout which has impacted their business activities in Kano State.
Speaking with Journalists shortly after the protest at Dakata cluster of the small scale industries, the leader of the protest, Surajo Musa, said the total blackout has disrupted their businesses and their livelihoods.
The protesters accused the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) of deliberately cutting off power supply to their cluster which has put over 10,000 members at risk of losing their businesses and livelihoods. Read more
Police begin probe as ex-Edo NLC Chair Eboigbodin allegedly dies after argument with officers (Channels)
The Edo State Police Command says it has directed investigation following the death of former chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Edo State chapter, Comrade Kaduna Eboigbodin.
According to a statement from the union through its acting Chairman, Comrade Joman Bernard, Comrade Eboigbodin died after an argument with police officers on Monday in Benin City.
The statement disclosed that during the argument with operatives of the Nigerian Police Force, Comrade Eboigbodin slumped and died on the way to the hospital. Read more
Chlola Drive-in Movie Theatre set to bring outdoor movie magic to Lagos (Leadership)
Cholla Media is set to transform outdoor entertainment in Lagos with the Chlola Drive-in Movie Theatre. This unique event promises an extraordinary blend of nostalgia and modernity, creating a memorable evening for families, friends, and movie lovers every weekend this December.
The grand launch is scheduled for Saturday, December 7, 2024, at The Moonlight Zone in Ikoyi, Lagos. The event kicks off at 4pm.
Guests can enjoy beloved classic movies screened under the stars from the comfort of their vehicles. The evening begins with pre-movie activities, including live music, interactive games, and exciting brand activations that add to the vibrant atmosphere. Read more
Samantha Lawrence death: Wee Papa Girl Rappers star dies aged 55 (Independent)
Singer Samantha Lawrence, who formed half of the UK hip-hop duo Wee Papa Girl Rappers, has died at the age of 55, her family has shared.
“It is with great sadness that we announce that our beloved sister and mother Samantha Lawrence passed away on Sunday,” a statement from her sister Sandra, with whom she founded the group, said.
“Samantha, aka TY Tim, was known for her chart success with Wee Papa Girl Rappers, a hip-hop pop duo that she founded with her older sister Sandra Lawrence, aka Total S.” Read more
South Sudan resumes Tumaini peace talks in Nairobi (AfricaNews)
South Sudan’s government and opposition groups who did not sign the 2018 Revitalised Agreement are among the negotiating parties attending the talks in Nairobi.
The 2018 agreement was introduced with the aim of bringing an end to the country’s five-year civil war, which killed more than 400,000 people.
The Tumaini talks first began in May, but stalled after South Sudanese President Salva Kiir sacked the previous government delegation of representatives. Although a new team was appointed to represent the government, it was unable to travel to Nairobi on two subsequent occasions. No reasons were given for the sackings and travel delays. Read more
Man charged with running cannabis farm at house explosion that killed boy, 7 (Metro)
A man has been charged with two counts of manslaughter after a seven-year-old boy and father were killed in a major house explosion inNewcastle.
Northumbria Police said Reece Galbraith, 33, of Gateshead, has been charged with two counts of manslaughter, one count of production of cannabis, and being concerned in the supply of cannabis after the deadly explosion in Violet Close last month.
He will appear at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court today. Read more
Special Kosovo court orders arrest of 3 war veterans (ABC)
Judges of a European Union-backed court on Thursday ordered the arrest of Kosovo’s three other war veterans on alleged offenses against the administration of justice.
A statement from the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, based in The Hague, Netherlands confirmed ongoing operations in Kosovo authorized by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and supported there by the EU’s Rule of Law Mission, or EULEX.
Kosovar media reported three arrests. Read more
Mexico seizes record 20m fentanyl pills in Sinaloa (UPI)
Authorities in Mexico have seized more than a ton of fentanyl pills in two operations, marking the country’s largest-ever seizure of the narcotic that has been fueling the ongoing opioid epidemic in the United States.
Omar Hamid Garcia Harfuch, Mexico’s public safety secretary, said in a statement that the seizures occurred in the state of Sinaloa, which is infamous for its connection to drugs and drug cartels.
Two people were arrested, and an undisclosed number of firearms were taken into police custody, he said. Read more
Ben Stiller’s cancer diagnosis he had ‘no idea’ about as one thing ‘saved his life’ (Mirror)
Ben Stiller was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 48 kept his battle private until 2016.
Ben Stiller is known for starring in Hollywood blockbusters such as Meet the Parents and Dodgeball, but the star secretly battled prostate cancer in 2014.
Diagnosed at the age of 48, the actor kept his battle with cancer private until 2016, crediting his survival to the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test which caught his tumour early. Read more
Syrian opposition forces capture key city of Hama in fresh blow to Assad (AlJazeera)
The Syrian army says that opposition forces have entered Hama city after intense fighting, prompting its units to redeploy outside the strategic city in another major blow to President Bashar al-Assad.
The army said in a statement on Thursday that it was redeploying its forces “to preserve civilian lives and prevent urban combat”, reversing an earlier claim that denied rebel fighters had entered the city.
Opposition commander Hassan Abdul Ghany posted on social media earlier on Thursday that his fighters had begun entering Hama, which they had been laying siege to since Tuesday amid heavy fighting overnight with the Syrian army, which was backed by intense Russian air attacks. Read more
‘Had an unbelievable game’ — Van Nistelrooy credits Ndidi for Leicester’s win over West Ham (CompleteSports)
Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy has kind words for Wilfred Ndidi following his side’s hard-fought home win against West Ham United on Tuesday.
The Dutchman enjoyed a perfect start to his managerial reign at the King Power Stadium following his side’s 3-1 thumping of the Hammers.
Ndidi put up a spectacular performance in the middle of the park. Read more
Utaka influenced my choice of Montpellier, says Akor (Nation)
Nigeria’s Montpelier attacker Jerome Akor Adams has stressed that the legacy former Super Eagles attacker, John Utaka laid at the French Ligue One club was among the reasons he accepted to join the club last season.
The ex-Eagles forward played an active role in Adam’s move to the French Ligue One side from Norwegian club Lillestrom SK.
While speaking to the Naija Footballers platform, the former Flying Eagles star said Utaka is a legend of the club. Read more
Excitement as 2024 National Polo Carnival Tourney gallops off in Abuja (Leadership)
The much awaited National Polo Carnival Tournament 2024 galloped off with much excitement yesterday at the foremost Guards Polo Resort in Asokoro, Abuja.
Revered for its pomp and cutting edge rivalry, no fewer than 28 polo teams are competing for a total five cups in different categories at this year’s edition, with Rubicon and Mangal Cement Polo Teams battling for the prestigious President Cup which is the event’s biggest prize.
Unlike previous editions of the tournament, the 2024 polo carnival extravaganza is exclusively Abuja based polo clubs affairs, no thanks to the dreaded African Horse Sickness (AHS) that has forced the cancellation of top polo tournaments this year including the Kaduna international polo festival. Read more
Lewis Hamilton opens up on underestimating ‘difficulties’ of final Mercedes season ahead of Abu Dhabi GP farewell (SkySports)
Lewis Hamilton admitted he “massively underestimated” what his final year at Mercedes would be like in the wake of announcing that he was joining Ferrari for 2025 and that he has not always handled his emotions in the best way.
Hamilton will race for the Silver Arrows for the 246th and final time at F1’s season finale in Abu Dhabi this weekend, the final chapter in a team-driver relationship that has rewritten the sport’s record books over the past 12 years.
But as the seven-time champion prepares to close a difficult season in which he is on course for his worst championship finish in F1, a reflective Hamilton opened up on the strains and emotions of the past 11 months since his bombshell Ferrari switch was made public. Read more
Charlotte Dujardin handed lengthy ban after horse whipping video (Independent)
Double Olympic dressage champion Charlotte Dujardin has been suspended from all competition for one year following a horse whipping controversy that led to her withdrawal from Paris 2024.
Dujardin was provisionally suspended by equestrian’s governing body, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports, on 23 July when it launched an investigation into a video from four years ago showing her making what she described as “an error of judgement” during a coaching session.
The video showed Dujardin repeatedly hitting a student’s horse with a whip from the ground. Her behaviour provoked widespread condemnation. Read more
Forest owner Marinakis has ‘no regrets’ in VAR fight (BBC)
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis says he has “no regrets” over his actions after calling out “big mistakes” made by the video assistant referee (VAR).
Marinakis was handed a five-game stadium ban in October for spitting on the floor as match officials walked past in the tunnel following Forest’s 1-0 Premier League defeat by Fulham at the City Ground on 28 September.
“We have seen things that are unbelievable and you need to have the courage and the power to stand by what you say and to be able to prove that what you say is correct,” Marinakis told Sky Sports News, external. Read more