Pastor nabbed for raping pregnant woman (Sun)
The Police in Ondo State have arrested a popular broadcaster and pastor of Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) (names withheld) for allegedly raping a five-month pregnant lady inside the premises of his church.
Sources said the suspect was arrested after the victim who was simply identified as Bukola made the allegation public.
It was alleged that the 19-year-old lady was raped when she went for a deliverance programme at the church.
Narrating her ordeal to reporters at the police headquarters in Akure, yesterday, the victim who was accompanied by her mother said the popular pastor used anointing oil to rub her private part and later had canal knowledge of her inside the church. She said the radio presenter, a pastor with the church, inserted his middle finger in her private part several times especially when she was being prayed for in the church premises. Read more
Lagos court summons army over alleged property invasion (Punch)
The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the Nigerian Army to appear before it over alleged illegal invasion of certain property on Anna Mbachu Street, Oke Arin Village, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Justice Peter Lifu made the order following an ex parte application by a businessman, Alhaji Yunus Adedokun, who told the court that the property belongs to him.
Adedokun said he purchased the land sometime in 2004, adding that on starting construction work on the land in November this year, heavily-armed soldiers from 65 Battalion Bonny Camp Lagos suddenly invaded the site and chased him and his workers away with gunshots.
He alleged that the soldiers threatened to kill anybody found on the land. Read more
Tension in Edo as butchers clash, wants police, government intervention (Vanguard)
The crisis in the Edo State Practicing Butchers Association, yesterday, degenerated to shooting between rival factions of the association with the President of National Butchers Association, Chief Osamede Adun calling on the state Commissioner of Police and the government to invite the parties before things get out of hand.
Rival groups have accused each other of being sponsored by politicians pointing accusing fingers at officials of the state government including Governor Godwin Obaseki, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last governorship election in the state, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the immediate past National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Adun of funding the rival groups.
Narrating how the shooting occurred, Mr. Sunny Omokaro, a private abattoir operator who claimed to be a member of Edo State Vigilante, said he was returning from work when he saw some young men sent by Akhere Odigie, Chairman of the Practicing Butchers Association alleged to be in the good books of the government to invade his abattoir amid shooting into the air.
He said they were all invited to the New Benin Police Station and that while the others were released, he was still being held by the police. Read more
IbakaTV, Globacom to drive market penetration of Nollywood content (ThisDay)
In a bid to expand revenue generation for the Nigerian film industry, indigenous streaming platform IbakaTV, in collaboration with Nigerian owned telecommunications company Globacom, recently announced a series of unrestricted data bundle packages that will enable consumers to maximize subscription plans of the video-on-demand over the top (OTT) service.
The new bundle service, which is launched today, December 10, 2021, is exclusively available to Globacom subscribers. Some of its packages detailed during its launch include a flagship offering of 119 gigabytes of data for a yearly fee of N24, 000.
Going by content volume, Nollywood is the second biggest film industry globally. Unfortunately, its revenue generation hasn’t matched this figure it boasts. According to the MD of IbakaTV, Blessed Idornigie, the limiting factor against the full commercialisation of Nollywood contents is market penetration.
“Despite all the promises and projections, the industry has not been able to convert all of its potentials into a meaningful revenue generation,” Idornigie noted at the launch which had Nollywood heavyweights like Segun Arinze, Saheed Balogun, prolific filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, and singer Jaywon. Read more
Auditor General queries Amnesty Office N176m for consultancy, stationery (Nation)
The Auditor General of the Federation, Adolphus Aghughu, has queried the Presidential Amnesty Programme Office for illegally paying N187million for the supply of stationeries, consultancy service and vocational training without due process.
The AuGF query is contained in the 2016 and 2017 Reports of the AuGF being considered by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts chaired by Senator Matthew Urhoghide.
It was learnt that a series of invitations extended to the Presidential Amnesty Office by the panel were yet to be honoured.
It was further learnt that the Presidential Amnesty Office is expected to appear before Senate panel next week Wednesday barring any last minute changes. Read more
Africaine Sets Mark with ‘One Chance’ (ThisDay)
With musical influences from the likes of Alicia Keys, Burna Boy, Teni, and to the more recent, The Cavemen, fast rising Nigerian singer, Chinanu Onuoha who goes by the prodigious stage name, Africaine is stepping into the chunk of the new generation of young female artistes to reckon with. She has released her song titled ‘One Chance’ as well as the acoustic version, as the lead. The two-pack single was released on November 26, 2021. The song is a prequel to Africaine’s first project which will be released early next year.
Africaine hopes to make her mark in the music industry with this new single and the subsequent full project in the works. She chose her name after discovering that it signified “African Woman” in French, a perfect description for a singer who is constantly inspired by and pulls influence from Africa. She admires artistes with a different approach to music, who truly work on their craft and treat music as an art, as that is how she herself envisions the music process.
The 21-year-old independent artiste residing in Massachusetts, USA draws her bigger inspiration from the more established acts. Although she was raised in a Christian conservative background which saw her primarily listening to gospel music in her early years, her discovery of artistes such as Wizkid, Wande Coal, and the legendary Fela awakened her romance with Afrobeats.
Her choir background resulted in her being compelled to learning the piano, which educated her on musical structure, while also giving her a profound understanding of composure, patterns, and lyricism. While working as a backup singer for a gospel artiste, Africaine crossed paths with a producer who encouraged her out of her shell, launching her career as a solo artiste. In 2019, Africaine, who went by the name ‘Chi’ at that time, released her debut single, ‘Love for Free’; an RnB track which saw the singer experiment with her vocals. Read more
N69b Debt: AMCON secures appeal court victory over Jimoh Ibrahim (Leadership)
The Court of Appeal Lagos Division has dismissed an appeal by the Chairman of Global Fleet Group, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, challenging the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON)’s seizure of his 12 assets and freezing of all his accounts over his alleged N69.4billion debt.
A press release issued immediately after the appellate court’s decision by Head Corporate Communications Department of AMCON, Jude Nwauzor, described the ruling as ‘good news’ to the recovery drive of the government recovery agency.
Recall that the appellate court had upheld the November 18, 2020, order of Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, which authorized AMCON to take over Barrister Ibrahim’s assets over his huge debt to AMCON, which the businessman has been contesting in court. Following AMCON enforcement of Ibrahim’s assets and businesses, the embattled businessman has been fighting AMCON in court and claiming in the contrary in the media.
Rising from the court yesterday, the Justices upheld the arguments of AMCON’s lead counsel, Dr Kemi Pinheiro SAN, who prayed the court to dismiss Ibrahim’s application. Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN, is the counsel to the 1st defendant Jimoh Ibrahim while chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN is for second Defendant, Global Fleet Group. Read more
Consider safety when developing vaccine says Adegbola (Guardian)
Prof. Richard Adegbola, a Research Professor at the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Lagos, on Friday advised the country to consider safety as a key element in vaccine production.
Adegbola gave the advice during the implementation strategy meeting on COVID-19 vaccine development held at NIMR in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the initiative, funded by the Federal Government through TETFund, is engaging both health and educational institutions to fast-track COVID-19 vaccine development in Nigeria.
The institutions involved are: Usman DanFodiyo University, Sokoto, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom near Jos and the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos. Read more
Dowen College Mgt Complicit in Sylvester’s death – NANS (Independent)
The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has insisted that the insistence of the management of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos, that Sylvester Oromoni only sustained a leg injury from football was an indication of the complicity of the management in the death of the students.
NANS insisted that his independent investigation has revealed that the deceased Sylvester was indeed tutored and bullied which is key to his death.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Chairman of NANS Investigative Committee, Oladimeji Uthman, a copy of which was made available to Independent.
The President of NANS, Sunday Asefon, had set up the committee earlier this week. Read more
Taylor Swift to face plagiarism trial over “Shake It Off” lyrics (Guardian)
Taylor Swift will face a jury trial over accusations that she plagiarised lyrics for her 2014 hit “Shake It Off” from another song.
A US judge refused Swift’s request for the case to be dismissed on the grounds that a jury could find that the song copied Playas Gon’ Play, a song released by girl group 3LW in 2001. Both songs feature variations on the lines “players gonna play” and “haters gonna hate”.
The Guardian has contacted representatives for the pop star for comment.
District Judge Michael W Fitzgerald had originally dismissed the lawsuit in 2018, saying that the lyrics were too “banal” to be copyrighted, citing 13 songs – by the likes of Fleetwood Mac and the Notorious BIG – that featured similar phrasing. Read more
Chicago hip-hop pioneer Parker Lee Williams, aka DJ P-Lee Fresh, dies at 54 (ChicagoSunTimes)
Chicago hip–hop pioneer Parker Lee Williams, who went by the name DJ P-Lee Fresh, died Wednesday of a heart attack at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, his music licensing company announced on Instagram.
His business partner, Dave Herrero, confirmed his death at 54.
The New York City native, who also went by the name Parker Lee, started out as the founder of a Chicago crew of graffiti artists known as the X-Men, Herrero said. They were an offshoot of a storied New York crew. He was still a teenager when he helped open the hip–hop club STEPPS. It operated in the mid-1980s at 6459 N. Sheridan.
In 1990, he graduated from Columbia College Chicago and became an intern for the Oprah Winfrey Show. Read more
“Clerk” Director Malcolm Ingram explains how he tried to stay objective in Kevin Smith documentary (ComicBook)
Malcolm Ingram, director and producer with years of ties to geek icon Kevin Smith, finally decided to make a documentary about Smith, telling his story in a deeper way than you could get in a DVD featurette or magazine profile. The end result, Clerk, is available, and the movie benefits from Ingram’s relationship to Smith. He has access to interviews with Smith’s family and footage from his early life that few others could have acquired — or had even seen prior to Clerk. But making a thoughtful, objective documentary film about an individual who is still alive is always going to be fraught. So how did Ingram balance that, given that Smith is a friend of his, too?
Well, a bit part of it was trying to relax a little bit. Ingram has made other films that are a lot more controversial, such as the documentary Small Town Gay Bar, and he had to realize that the two aren’t, and don’t need to be, taken equally seriously in some respects.
“I went into this ultra-serious, and me and Kevin had some fights and stuff, but ultimately, I realized this isn’t a movie about queer rights in the American South,” Ingram explained. “This is a documentary of Kevin Smith, and Kevin’s kind of a P.T. Barnum kind of figure. And I think that Kevin’s story allows for some kind of colorful…you could have more fun with a Kevin Smith documentary than any of my other documentaries. So it took me a while to kind of figure that out for myself. Whereas I was really kind of worried about a lot of things, I began to realize that they were less and less important.” Read more
Sauti Sol singer Chimano hailed in Kenya for coming out as gay (BBC)
One of the stars of top Kenyan band Sauti Sol, Willis Austin Chimano, has come out as gay, telling a local outlet that he no longer wants to live a lie.
Sauti Sol is one of Africa’s biggest male bands and won the 2016 MTV Africa Music Awards.
Chimano’s opening up about his sexuality is being hailed as a boost to the LGBT community.
Gay sex in Kenya is punishable by up to 14 years in prison – a challenge to this law was rejected in 2019. Read more
“Umkhokha”: Hope Mbhele discusses MaBusi and Sphamandla’s love story (TheSouthAfrican)
Rising star Hope Mbhele, who appears in Mzansi Magic’s Sunday night thriller, Umkhokha has finally launched her film and TV.
The 25-year-old actress told Sowetan that she’s still finding it hard to believe that her dreams are finally unfolding.
Hope Mbhele got her big break this year as MaBusi in Mzansi Magic’s faith-based telenovela, Umkhokha, and credits this to her patience and drive.
Mbhele tells the publication that quitting was never an option and adds that she focused on her Gagasi FM presenting job, started a sports podcast on YouTube and an online magazine when the roles were not coming. Read more
Cambodian PM orders destroying of US weapons after arms embargo (StraitsTimes)
Cambodian leader Hun Sen ordered the country’s military to destroy any US weaponry or dump it in warehouses on Friday (Dec 10), after Washington imposed an arms embargo over human rights concerns and Phnom Penh’s close ties with China.
The US on Wednesday imposed an arms embargo on Cambodia, citing concerns about human rights and corruption in the South-east Asian nation as well as China’s activities there.
The actions taken by the US State and Commerce departments aimed to restrict access to “defence articles and defence services” by Cambodia’s military and intelligence agencies, according to a statement.
But Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen downplayed the quality of US weapons and equipment on Friday. Read more
Robbie Shakespeare, one half of Sly and Robbie, has died, aged 68 (NME)
Robbie Shakespeare, one half of duo Sly and Robbie, has passed away. He was 68 years old.
It’s been reported by The Jamaica Gleaner that Shakespeare had recently undergone surgery related to his kidneys. The Jamaican artist was hospitalised in Florida.
Shakespeare, an iconic bassist, formed Sly and Robbie with drummer Sly Dunbar in the mid-70s after having both worked separately in other bands. After bonding over an affinity for reggae production, they went to work producing for other artists, with their breakout credit being Mighty Diamonds’ 1976 album ‘Right Time’.
Their production work led them to work with a myriad of acts throughout the decades, including multiple albums for Bob Dylan and Grace Jones. They also helped produce and remix tracks by Bob Marley, Madonna, Britney Spears and Mick Jagger, while also helming production on No Doubt‘s 2001 smash hit ‘Hey Baby’. Read more
Ralph Hasenhuttl fires challenge to Southampton star Ibrahima Diallo ahead of Arsenal clash (HampshireLive)
Ralph Hasenhuttl says he is “never scared” to play Ibrahima Diallo but he does need to work on his consistency levels.
The 22-year-old has started just three of 15 Premier League games so far this season and has not featured in any of Saints’ last three matches in the top-flight.
The Frenchman has had to make do with starts in the Carabao Cup, a competition they are now out of, and, on the whole, cameo roles off the bench in the league.
It appears the midfielder is behind Oriol Romeu and captain James Ward-Prowse in the pecking order, but when they are unavailable he is the first port of call. Read more
Billie Jean King calls on ATP to take bigger stand against China in Peng Shuai case (TennisWorld)
Former world No. 1 Billie Jean King has called on the ATP to take a bigger stand in the Peng Shuai case. Peng went missing in China over a month ago and since then the tennis world has been calling for answers. Last week, the WTA took a major stand against China as they suspended all tournaments scheduled to take place in China and Hong Kong next year.
The WTA failed to get a verifiable proof that Peng was safe so they decided to take action. “That would be nice, I think we would like more support from the men,” King said at the Sports Illustrated awards when asked if she would like to see more from the men’s Tour, per Tennishead.
“I’ve always wanted men and women to be together in one association. That’s really my dream for us, it always has been. “We should all work together to help our sport, also off the court, in a more powerful way, more meaningful way.”
The day after the WTA announced suspension of tournaments in China, the ATP released a statement but there was no mentioning of suspending ATP tournaments in China. The situation involving Peng Shuai continues to raise serious concerns within and beyond our sport. Read more
Team DSM swap Bioracer for Nalini as they develop in-house clothing brand (CyclingNews)
Team DSM have announced a partnership with Nalini clothing as they look to accelerate the development of their own in-house clothing line.
The in-house brand, which is named after the team’s ethos of ‘Keep Challenging’, is yet to be launched to the public but was announced at the start of the 2021 season when Team DSM’s title sponsor Royal DSM partnered with longtime cycling clothing manufacturer Bioracer.
At that time, a spokesperson for the team told Cyclingnews that the goal was to integrate new technologies into clothing in order to produce racewear that increased safety and performance, with the aim to inspire other teams, kit manufacturers and ultimately the UCI that the technology can improve the safety of riders in the peloton.
The team say that throughout 2021, it successfully integrated two technologies into its kit. Firstly, DSM’s Arnitel material was integrated into rain clothing, with the claim of increased breathability at higher intensities. Read more
Abu Dhabi GP: Lewis Hamilton storms clear in Practice 2 with rival Max Verstappen only fourth (Sky)
Lewis Hamilton landed the first significant blow of F1’s Decider in the Desert by comfortably topping the timesheets in Abu Dhabi GP Practice Two, with championship rival Max Verstappen well adrift back in fourth.
Hamilton, who was behind the pace-setting Verstappen in first practice, found form in Friday’s more representative evening session, finishing his soft-tyre qualifying simulations with a 0.3s advantage over the field.
Surprisingly Esteban Ocon led the chasing pack in the Alpine, with Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas third.
But more significant was the fact Verstappen ended the opening day of F1’s deciding round with a big six-tenths deficit to Hamilton, the man he is tied on points with heading into a winner-takes-all finale this Sunday. Read more
Chelsea ‘reach agreement with Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo’ (SportsMole)
Chelsea have reportedly reached an agreement to sign Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo during one of the upcoming transfer windows.
The 22-year-old has established himself as a regular at Camp Nou this season, making 10 starts and six substitute appearances in all competitions.
However, with just 19 months remaining on his contract and Barcelona open to player sales, speculation persists that the Uruguay international could soon move to the Premier League.
According to El Nacional, Chelsea have signalled their intent to sign the centre-back, viewing him as a potential replacement for Antonio Rudiger. Read more
UCI announces teams for the 2022 WorldTour with six new women’s teams joining the top tier (CyclingWeekly)
The UCI has unveiled the names of the teams which will make up the 2022 WorldTour, with six new women’s teams stepping up to the top tier of racing.
Five of the women’s teams are moving up to the World Tour from second division ranks, with the UAE team taking on the licence from Alé-BTC-Ljubljana, who were already a WorldTour squad.
This means that there will be 14 teams in the women’s WorldTour for 2022. The other new teams are Team Jumbo-Visma, EF Education-Tibco-SVB, Uno-X Pro Cycling, Human Powered Health (formally Rally) and Roland-Cogeas-Edelweiss Squad.
In the men’s WorldTour there are 18 teams confirmed to be in the top division of the sport with just the one team from the 2021 season not gaining a place. Read more
Former world number one takes over as Roland Garros tournament director (TennisHead)
After Guy Forget resigned from the position at Roland Garros, another French star and two-time Slam champion has been appointed in his place.
Forget took charge of the Paris Slam in 2016, but has now stepped down after not renewing his contract, which expires on 31st December 2021.
Now, his replacement has been appointed as 2006 Australian Open and Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo.
“I am very proud to join the Roland Garros team,” Mauresmo said of the news. Read more
