Plateau: Women burn down Bokkos traditional ruler’s house (DailyTrust)
Protesting women on Friday afternoon burned down the house of the District Head of Bokkos town in Bokkos Local Government Area of the state, Michal Monday Adanchi.
According to a source from the area, the incident occurred around 12:30 am.
The source said the women burned the house following the arrest of some members of the community for their alleged involvement in the recent killings in the area, adding that the traditional ruler’s residence and his administrative office were burned down. Read more
Tinubu congratulates Funke Akindele on historic box office record (Nation)
President Bola Tinubu has celebrated the creativity and sheer artistic talents driving Nigeria’s entertainment industry, following the success just recorded by ace Nigerian artist, Funke Akindele, with her movie, A Tribe Called Judah.
The movie, produced and co-directed by Akindele, was released in cinemas in Nigeria in mid-December last year, and after two weeks, it was reported to have grossed over N1 billion, becoming the highest-earning Nigerian movie ever.
In a statement issued by his special adviser on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu celebrated the ingenuity, creativity, and immense artistic talents of Nigeria’s thriving entertainment industry. Read more
Prison Fellowship Nigeria graduates 34 Kirikiri inmates (ThisDay)
The Prison Fellowship Nigeria has awarded certificates to 34 inmates of the Kirikiri Maximum and Correctional facility, Lagos, in its Sycamore Tree Project.
The event was hosted by Prison Fellowship Nigeria’s member Church, Christ Livingspring Apostolic Ministry (CLAM).
Speaking after the programme the Chairman of the Lagos state chapter of Prison Fellowship Nigeria, Chaplain Michael Adeyemo expressed appreciation to CLAM for organising the 8- week training leading to the award of certificate. Read more
Lagos warns against patronage of unlicensed popular housing company (Guardian)
Lagos State Government has warned prospective home buyers against patronising a real estate developer, House Height Limited.
The Lagos State Ministry of Housing said that HHL is not an agent of the State Government as earlier claimed by the company.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Engr. Abdulhafis Toriola issued the warning after a recent meeting with stakeholders.Read more
Osun gets new Commissioner of Police (Channels)
A new Commissioner of Police, Bzigu Dali Kwazhi, has been posted to Osun State, replacing CP Isyaku Mohammed, who assumed office in the state on November 10, 2023.
In a statement made available to journalists by the Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Police Command, SP Yemisi Opalola, the new CP reported at the state police command in Osogbo on Thursday, January 4, 2024.
The statement reads: “The deployment is sequel to the recent redeployment of former Commissioner of Police, CP Isyaku Mohammed. Read more
Boko Haram allegedly kills Yobe pastor, others (Punch)
Suspected members of the terrorist group, Boko Haram, have allegedly executed its first major attack in 2024 killing a popular pastor of the Church of Christ in Nations, Luka Levong, in Geidam, Yobe State, in the early hours of Friday, January 5, 2023.
Residents who spoke to Channels TV on Friday stated that the terrorists launched their attack on the area around 2 am on Friday. The attack was also said to have led to the death of the church’s treasurer, Maina Abdullahi.
According to residents, the invaders also burnt down several houses and a church during their attack. However, corpses have been evacuated to the Specialist Hospital, Geidam. Read more
Tinubu urged to warn Gbajabiamila over alleged move to impose Laguda as Surulere Reps (Guardian)
Ahead of the February 3 House of Representatives bye-election for the Surulere 1 federal constituency seat, President Bola Tinubu has been called upon to prevail on his Chief of staff, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila to steer clear of alleged moves to impose his preferred choice, Mr Faud Laguda on the All progressives Congress (APC).
A group, the Progressives for Surulere (P4S), warned that the party risks losing the seat to opposition political parties if Gbajabiamila is allowed to have his way at the party primaries scheduled to take place at the weekend.
P4S in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Mr. Akin Jones Oladimeji also frowned at the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abass for allegedly working in cahoots with Gbajabiamila to impose a candidate on the party. Read more
Commission decries apathy to Braille literacy (Punch)
The Director General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, John Asein, has decried the decline in the Braille literacy system among the visually impaired in Nigeria.
Asein called on the stakeholders to intensify efforts to encourage the visually impaired to embrace Braille.
The NCC DG spoke on Thursday in Lagos at a digital training programme to celebrate World Braille Day 2024, in memory of the founder of the Braille system, Louis Braille. Read more
Dog eats $4,000 in cash off the counter. The unpleasant way his owners got it back (NBC)
The dog eating your homework is a story as old as time. But for one Pennsylvania couple, the adage somehow came true and briefly cost them thousands of dollars.
Clayton and Carrie Law had taken cash out to do a home improvement project and left the envelope of money on the countertop when their dog, Cecil, decided it was time for a very expensive snack.
“I just walked around the house just doing stuff and came back and then all of a sudden, I walked in on Cecil just standing over a pile of mutilated cash, essentially,” Clayton Law said with a laugh. Read more
Lenny Kravitz feels ‘Blessed’ about daughter Zoë’s engagement to channing tatum (ET)
Zoë Kravitz’s dad Lenny Kravitz is excited to welcome Channing Tatum to the family!
Speaking with ET’s Denny Directo on the carpet of the 2024 Palm Springs International Film Festival, the legendary rocker said he is over the moon when it comes to his daughter’s engagement to the 21 Jump Street actor.
“Hey man, that’s life,” the 59-year-old said. “When your family is happy, when your child is happy, that’s it — I’ve done well. Blessed.” Read more
Yung Miami hits back at critics comparing ‘Caresha Please’ to ‘Club Shay Shay’: ‘STFU’ (HipHopDx)
Yung Miami once again has words for critics of her podcast Caresha Please after a new meme compared it to Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay.
The topic started circulating on Twitter/X on Thursday (January 4) following comedian Katt Williams’ explosive appearance on Club Shay Shay where he took a number of shots at Diddy and many other public figures.
“Club Shay Shay ain’t nothing but Caresha Please for n-ggas,” someone wrote in a now-viral tweet that opened the door for vitriol in Miami’s direction. Read more
Iran’s Raisi promises retaliation at funeral for victims of twin bombings (Aljazeera)
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has promised to retaliate after twin bombings in the city of Kerman this week killed and wounded many people attending a memorial for top General Qassem Soleimani.
On Friday, Raisi addressed thousands of mourners who had gathered in Kerman, about 820km (510 miles) southeast of the capital, Tehran.
He said Tehran’s enemies could see “Iran’s power and the whole world knows its strength and capabilities”, adding that “our forces will decide on the place and time to take action”. Read more
Emma Stone on the ‘total garbage’ advice she got from a sexist studio exec early in her career (People)
Emma Stone is speaking out about the power of women in Hollywood.
On Thursday, the Poor Things star received the 2024 Palm Springs International Film Awards’ Desert Palm Achievement Award for an actress, for her performance in the Yorgos Lanthimos-directed film.
During her acceptance speech, Stone, 35, recalled some advice she got from a sexist studio executive early in her career, in which he said, in so many words, that women only had a limited time to have a career in the industry. Read more
Bernice King urges adoption of MLK’s philosophy to prevent global self-destruction (AfricaNews)
Citing gun violence in the U.S., the deaths of families in Ukraine and Gaza from war, and threats from artificial intelligence, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s daughter said Thursday the world urgently needs to study and adopt her father’s philosophy of nonviolence to avoid self-destruction.
The Rev. Bernice King used an address to announce events for the upcoming holiday, January 15, in honour of her father to warn that humanity was at a critical juncture.
“We are witnessing unprecedented loss of human life and especially among the Black, brown and indigenous people throughout the world,” she said. Read more
Russia used North Korean missiles in Ukraine, US says (AlJazeera)
The United States has said that Russia is using ballistic missiles from North Korea and is seeking close-range ballistic missiles from Iran.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday that recently declassified intelligence found that North Korea had provided Moscow with the weapons, at least one of which was fired into Ukraine on December 30, landing in an open field in the Zaporizhia region.
Russia also launched “multiple” of the North Korean missiles on Tuesday during an overnight attack, he added. Read more
Aruna Quadri loses to Fan, out of WTT finals (Leadership)
Nigeria’s highest ranked table tennis player, Quadri Aruna, has exited the World Table Tennis Men’s finals in Doha following a 0-3 (6-11 9-11 4-11) defeat to World number one, Zhendong Fan.
The quarterfinals game at the Lusail Sports Arena on Thursday saw the Chinese dominate the game.
Aruna, the World number 16, came close in the second set but Fan showed class and claimed victory.
The Nigerian had earlier defeated World number five, Brazil’s Hugo Calderano 3-2 in the Round of 16 before facing Fan in the Quarter finals. Read more
Turkish side Galatasaray bid €15m for Onyedika (CompleteSports)
Belgian Pro League outfit, Club Brugge have turned down a €15m bid for Raphael Onyedika from Turkish Super Lig giants Galatasaray.
According to Turkish news hub, Cim Bom Bom, Galatasaray want to sign the midfielder on loan for €3m after which they will pay another €12 for a permanent switch.
Club Brugge are however not willing to sell Onyedika during the present window. Read more
Sani Lulu’s FOSLA Football Academy shortlists 26 players for scholarships (Leadership)
FOSLA Football Academy Abuja, owned by the former president of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Abdullahi Sani-Lulu, has shortlisted no fewer than 26 players for scholarship awards.
The players, who were selected at the end of the 2023 edition of FOSLA Academy screening programme held in the ancient town of Idah, Kogi State, comprising 22 boys and four girls.
The thrilling tournament which featured 10 local governments from Kogi State was won by the Lokoja local government team after a 4-0 thrashing of host, Idah LGA in the final. Read more
Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace eye ‘amazing’ Championship midfielder (HitC)
Premier League trio Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and Fulham are watching Pierre Ekwah closely with the former West Ham United youngster thriving at Sunderland.
Earlier this week, HITC Football reported that Birmingham City were in talks to hire Tony Mowbray as their new manager following the sacking of Wayne Rooney.
St Andrews is home to a host of exciting up-and-comers, and Jordan James and co will be enthused by Mowbray’s superb track record when it comes to coaxing career-best performances out of promising but previously unproven talent, including Pierre Ekwah. Read more
Germany faces Australia in United Cup semifinals after beating Greece 2-1 (USAToday)
Alexander Zverev won both his singles and mixed doubles matches against Greece on Friday to lead Germany into the United Cup semifinals against Australia.
Zverev and Laura Siegemund beat Maria Sakkari and Petros Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-3 in the deciding mixed doubles to clinch Germany’s 2-1 victory after Zverev beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4 in singles. Sakkari beat former Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber 6-0, 6-3 to give Greece the early lead.
France will play Poland in the other semifinal match on Saturday. The final is set for Sunday, also at Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena. Read more
Rikke Sevecke: Former Everton defender forced to retire because of heart issue (BBC)
Former Everton defender Rikke Sevecke has been forced to retire from playing because of a heart condition.
The 27-year-old Denmark international joined the Toffees in 2020 before leaving last summer and then joining American side Portland Thorns.
In November, the Thorns said Sevecke would not be returning to the National Women’s Soccer League club in 2024. Read more