Our bitter experiences in kidnappers’ den — Abuja music band (Tribune)
Friday, December 15, 2023, was a nightmare for Nigerian juju band, Adebukoye Sofumade Adewunmi (aka Omoba De Jumbo Beats), whose members were reportedly kidnapped along the Lokoja-Abuja highway, a few days before Christmas.
The band leader was abducted alongside his crew while returning from a show in Kogi.
How it happened
The band leader who spoke exclusively with TRIBUNE ONLINE, narrated how they walked a long distance for hours inside an unknown forest. Read more
Police probing suspected Lagos kidnap incident — PPRO (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command has said it is looking into the case of a suspected kidnap of a yet-to-be-identified female adult on Monday, January 1, on the Victoria Island area of the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, made this known while speaking to PUNCH Metro on Tuesday.
An X (formerly Twitter) user, Bishop Khale, had raised the alarm in a video he posted on the platform on the same day where he alleged that the woman was struggling to get out of a black Pathfinder on Ahmadu Bello Way. Read more
FUNAAB tops as best agriculture university in Africa (Leadership)
In the most recent Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings (WUR) for 2024, the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has emerged as the premier university in agriculture on the African continent and secured the 7th position globally.
The 2024 WUR employed a new 3.0 methodology, evaluating 2,671 entries from 1,906 universities across 108 countries and regions.
This method meticulously calibrated 18 performance indicators, evaluating institutions in five critical areas: Teaching, Research Environment, Research Quality, Industry, and International Outlook. Read more
Reps Speaker Abbas set to commission Femi Gbajabiamila Hall in UNILAG (Nation)
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, will on Wednesday, January 3, commission the Femi Gbajabiamila Hall of Residence at the University of Lagos, Akoka.
The Femi Gbajabiamila Hall of Residence which is expected to be commissioned by 10 am, is one of the many projects by the Chief of Staff to the president, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The Hall of Residence is situated on the main campus of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos. Read more
Magnus Abe returns to APC (Vanguard)
The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in the 2023 general elections, Senator Magnus Abe, has returned to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Abe, who left the party in the heat of 2023 politics, said he is back with the APC to enhance the good things President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing in the country.
The former senator promised to mobilize his teeming supporters for the party in the state. Read more
Crossover Service: Oba of Benin CPS clarifies Kano Emir’s son attendance (DailyTrust)
Osaigbovo Iguobaro, the Chief Press Secretary to Oba of Benin, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, has made clarification over the person of Prince Isah Ado-Bayero, who joined the Oba in the December 31 church crossover.
Iguobaro said Prince Isah is the son of the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, and not that of the current Emir, Alhaji Aminu Ado-Bayero, as earlier stated.
The CPS had in a statement on Monday said Oba of Benin observed the Gregorian Calendar year at the Holy Aruosa Cathedral in Benin City where he earlier celebrated the traditional Igue festival Thanksgiving service on Sunday December 31, 2023. Read more
Plateau Killings: Religious leaders cautioned against inciting statements (Vanguard)
A security expert and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), Abayomi Mumuni, has cautioned religious and ethnic leaders against inciting statements in the wake of the recent gunmen attacks in Plateau State.
He said the warning became necessary to avoid more needless crises in the state and other states across the federation.
Recall that no fever than 163 people have been reportedly killed in the last two weeks in the state. Read more
What my grandson told Tinubu — Osoba (Punch)
A former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba, has disclosed that his grandson engaged President Bola Tinubu in a discussion during the festive season.
Speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Tuesday, Osoba said he had an audience with the President during the holidays and bared his mind on situations of things in the country.
While acknowledging the hardship in the country, the former governor said he gave the President “counter-information” during his discussion with him, adding that his grandson also used the opportunity to inform him (Tinubu) about happenings in Nigeria. Read more
Martha Stewart’s fellow inmates and chefs talk about her rise, fall and comeback in new CNN miniseries (People)
After decades in the spotlight, fans are about to see Martha Stewart in a way they never have before.
On Jan. 28, new CNN miniseries “The Many Lives of Martha Stewart” will explore all the phases of the lifestyle expert’s life, from the highs to the lows, and PEOPLE has the exclusive first look at the full teaser.
In the four, hour-long episodes, the special will depict the cookbook author’s “explosive rise to success, her staggering fall from grace, and her momentous comeback to the limelight” via archival footage and interviews, per a release. Viewers will hear from Stewart’s past employees, former inmates, fellow chefs and loved ones along with never-before-seen images of the longtime celebrity chef. Read more
Forest Whitaker’s ex Keisha’s cause of death revealed as alcoholic liver disease (PageSix)
Keisha Whitaker’s cause of death has been confirmed.
The ex-wife of Forest Whitaker died of alcoholic liver failure, her Los Angeles County certificate of death reveals.
Per the documents obtained by TMZ, the actress suffered from alcoholism and liver disease for years before her death last month.
The certificate also reveals that acute renal failure — a symptom of anorexia — played a role in the mother of three’s death. Keisha passed away at Northridge Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles, Calif. She was 51. Read more
John Williams doubles down on not staying retired, says it’s ‘‘possible’’ he’d make another film score as he turns 92 (Variety)
John Williams recently told The Times UK that he’s not ruling “anything out” when it comes to staying retired from film scores. The five-time Oscar winner turns 92 years old on February 8. Back in June 2022, Williams teased his retirement by telling the Associated Press that his work on Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny would probably be his last.
“At the moment I’m working on ‘Indiana Jones 5,’ which Harrison Ford — who’s quite a bit younger than I am — I think has announced will be his last film. So, I thought: If Harrison can do it, then perhaps I can, also,” Williams said at the time. “At this point in life, [composing a film score is] a long commitment to me.” Read more
Mickey Cottrell, Hollywood publicist, Star Trek actor and producer, dead at 79 (NYPost)
Mickey Cottrell, a veteran Hollywood publicist, who championed independent films for decades and also dabbled in acting, has died. He was 79.
Cottrell died on New Year’s Day at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills in Los Angeles, California.
His sister Suzy Cottrell confirmed his death and posted a tribute to her late brother on Facebook. Read more
Selena Gomez hints at retiring from music as she admits she has “one more album in me’’ (MusicNews)
Selena Gomez has confessed she might only have “one more album in me”.
The Only Murders in the Building star has admitted she would choose acting over music if she had to choose as she pondered retiring from the latter art form.
Speaking on the SmartLess podcast, she began: “I started having a lot of fun with music and then touring was really fun. But I was doing my TV show at the same time [Wizards of Waverly Place] and I just found it really fun so I just kept going but the older I get, the more I’m kind of like, I would like to find something to just settle on.” Read more
Rescuers race against time in search for survivors in Japan after powerful quakes leave 73 dead (ABC)
Japanese rescue workers and canine units searched urgently through rubble Wednesday ahead of predicted bitter cold and heavy rain in what the prime minister called a race against time after powerful earthquakes killed at least 73 people in western Japan.
Ishikawa prefecture and nearby areas were shaken by a 4.9 magnitude aftershock on Wednesday — one of dozens that have followed Monday’s magnitude 7.6 temblor centered near Noto, about 300 kilometers (185 miles) from Tokyo on the opposite coast. The quake set off tsunami warnings, followed by waves measuring more than 1 meter (3 feet) in some places.
The first 72 hours are especially critical for rescues, experts say, because the prospects for survival greatly diminish after that. Read more
Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri killed in Beirut blast (BBC)
Israel has insisted the assassination of a Hamas leader in Beirut was not an attack on Lebanon, as its enemies warned of “punishment” for his death.
Mark Regev, an Israeli spokesman, said Saleh al-Arouri died in a “surgical strike against the Hamas leadership”.
Hamas condemned the death, while its ally Hezbollah said it was an assault on Lebanese sovereignty. Read more
Nigeria’s Quadri shocks World no.5 Calderano at WTT men’s finals (DailyTrust)
Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri on Wednesday rallied from two sets down to defeat World number 5, Hugo Calderano of Brazil 3-2 at the ongoing World Table-tennis (WTT) men’s finals in Doha.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Aruna, currently ranked 16th in the WTT rankings, came into the match as the underdog having lost to his Brazilian counterpart on two previous occasions.
As expected, Calderano started on the front foot as he raced onto the lead, taking the first two sets 11-7, 11-2 in quick succession. Read more
Former Golden Eaglets Coach, Sebastine Broderick dies at 85 (Vanguard)
Former Head Coach of Nigeria`s U-17 male national team, the Golden Eaglets, Sebastine Broderick, has died at age 85.
Broderick’s wife, Helen, broke the sad news to Vanguard on Wednesday.
He led the Eaglets to win the maiden edition of the FIFA/Kodak U-16 World Cup in China in 1985 and a silver medal in 1987 in Canada., which the World Cup governing body, FIFA, later upgraded to the Under-17 World Cup. Read more
Ajegunle to host Ogedegbe U-12 football tourney (Punch)
Ajegunle, a Lagos neighbourhood, will host the Ogedegbe U-12 football tournament January 6th, 7th, 13th and 14th at the Navy Barracks.
The tournament is sponsored by ex-international, Nathaniel Ogedegbe.
Ogedegbe said he would be bringing his wealth of experience as a footballer and youth coach to help identify and nurture young talents in Ajegunle, where the like of Emmanuel Amuneke, Odion Ighalo, Ifeanyi Udeze among others, who played for the Super Eagles, were discovered through talent scouting initiatives. Read more
Newcastle fans banned from public transport for Sunderland derby match (Standard)
Police have banned Newcastle United fans from using public transport to get to the FA Cup clash at the home of their bitter rivals Sunderland this weekend.
Following safety discussions between the authorities and the two clubs, 6,000 Black and Whites fans will be at the Stadium of Light on Saturday lunchtime for Newcastle’s first away derby match since October 2015.
All Newcastle United supporters must travel to the FA Cup third round game on designated coaches from St James’s Park and fans will not receive their match ticket until they get off at the Stadium of Light. Read more
Mason Greenwood team-mate makes odd offer to prove ref’s claim about Man Utd star (Express)
Mason Greenwood’s Getafe team-mate Juan Iglesias has implied that the referee who sent the Manchester United loanee off in their recent 2-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano was lying about the incident. The one-cap England man was given his marching orders for dissent, but Iglesias has promised a very enticing offer for anyone who has proof of Greenwood swearing at the official.
Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter) in the aftermath of Greenwood’s sending off, Iglesias wrote: “If someone finds a video of me that says f*** you, I’ll invite them to a seafood platter.”
The feisty match saw three players sent off as Juanmi Latasa was shown two yellows before half-time, before Damian Suarez was also given a red by referee Jorge Figueroa after being substituted by Getafe. Read more
IPL format for LIV Golf might get strongest critic McIlroy on board (France24)
Rory McIlroy says if LIV Golf was modelled like the Indian Premier League (IPL) and staged over two months then he would consider playing in it.
The 34-year-old Northern Irishman has been a vocal opponent of the Saudi Arabia-funded LIV Golf once saying he would retire rather than play in it “if it was the last place to play golf on earth”.
However, he has toned it down of late — especially after his friend, fellow Ryder Cup star and formerly a stringent critic of LIV Jon Rahm decamped and is reportedly set to earn upwards of $566.4 million. Read more