Police clear actress Lizzy Anjorin of gold theft allegation (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command, on Friday, confirmed that no case of stealing was established against Nollywood actress, Lizzy Anjorin-Lawal, who was accused of stealing gold at the Oba Akintoye Market in the Lagos Island area of the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development to our correspondent, who requested an update on the case.
He said during the command’s investigation, it was established that the video showing people, including traders, accusing Anjorin-Lawal of stealing was a mistake of fact. Read more
Anambra evacuates residents from flood-prone areas (DailyTrust)
The Anambra State government has commenced the immediate evacuation of those living in riverine areas due to a rapid rise in water levels in the Niger and Benue rivers over the past few days.
The Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Chief Paul Odenigbo, disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Awka, the Anambra state capital.
On Thursday, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) issued a fresh alert urging communities along coastal lines to relocate without further delay. Read more
Alleged false claims: DSS slams N5.5b suit against SERAP (Vanguard)
The Department of State Services, DSS, has filed a N5.5billion defamation suit against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, for allegedly making a false claim against it.
The security agency, in the legal action it instituted before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, alleged that SERAP falsely alleged that its Abuja office was invaded by DSS operatives.
It told the court that the false claim negatively impacted on both its corporate reputation and that of two of its officials- Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele- who were listed as claimants in the matter. Read more
Police arrest minors for phones theft in Bauchi (Leadership)
Operatives of the Bauchi State Police Command have arrested Hamza Sadiq and Adamu Ahmadu, both 15 years old, for allegedly stealing mobile phones from a shop in Wunti Market in Bauchi City Centre.
The teenagers were both students at Bakari-Dukku Comprehensive Secondary School, Bauchi.
Prior to their arrest, a shop owner from Wunti Market had filed a complaint with the police over the disappearance of about 100 mobile phones, 75 MP4 players, 30 cell phone batteries, 50 external memory cards and a Bluetooth headset. Read more
Mob kills motorcycle thief in Ogun (Punch)
The Ogun State Police Command on Friday confirmed the mob killing of a motorcycle thief, John Udoh, in the early hours of Friday at Atoyo Okeigbo community, Aruba Sagamu, while his partner, Peter Ubong, was critically injured.
Udoh and Ubong, members of a five-man gang, reportedly invaded the community at about 2:am and attacked one Emeka Ruben stealing his motorcycle valued at N1.2m
The command spokesperson, SP Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a statement sent to journalists on Friday. Read more
FG to create joint military centre in North-West against banditry – Defence minister (Channels)
The Ministry of Defence will soon establish a Joint Military Command Centre in the North West code-named ‘Operation Fansan Yamma’, as part of ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to address the security challenges confronting the region.
The Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, disclosed this on Thursday when he visited the Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House as part of his working tour of the North-West Zone.
The visit was aimed at finalising preparations for the official launch of ‘Operation Fansan Yamma ‘, a joint military theatre Command established by the Defence Headquarters to tackle insecurity in the zone. Read more
1st Igbo Professor of Arabic becomes National Mosque Imam, holds inaugural sermons today (Independent)
The management board of the National Mosque Abuja has approved the appointment of Prof. Ilyas Usman as Imam.
Prof. Usman, an Igbo academic and Muslim scholar, joins the ranks of the three existing Imams of the National Mosque.
He is billed to deliver his inaugural khutbah at the National Mosque today, Friday, October 18, 2024, and will make history as the first Igbo to be appointed to the exalted position. Read more
Buhari hails Gowon on 90th birthday (Nation)
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has paid glowing tribute to General Yakubu Gowon, retired Military Head of State, as he marks his 90th birthday, praising his visionary leadership and unwavering dedication to Nigeria’s unity and progress.
Describing General Gowon as a distinguished statesman and soldier with exceptional leadership qualities, Buhari acknowledged his invaluable contributions to Nigeria’s continued existence as a unified nation.
In a statement issued by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, the former President commended Gowon’s far-sighted leadership and commitment to the nation’s unity and future development, noting that his legacy will continue to inspire younger generations. Read more
Sharon Osbourne believes Liam Payne was “let down” by music industry (MusicNews)
Sharon Osbourne believes that Liam Payne was “let down” by the music industry.
The former X Factor judge took to Instagram on Thursday night to pay tribute to the One Direction star following his shock death on Wednesday.
In her emotional post, Sharon said the music industry had failed Liam, who shot to fame as a teenager on the talent show.
“Liam, my heart aches. We all let you down. Where was this industry when you needed them?” she wrote alongside a black and white photo of the singer. “You were just a kid when you entered one of the toughest industries in the world. Who was in your corner?” Read more
How Russell Crowe helped Anna Kendrick land the perfect serial killer for “Woman of the Hour” (EW)
Anna Kendrick owes Russell Crowe a fruit basket.
The Pitch Perfect star makes her directorial debut this weekend with Netflix’s “Woman of the Hour”, a based-on-a-true-story thriller about a serial killer who appeared on a 1978 episode of The Dating Game. While the film puts more of a spotlight on the victims than their killer, Kendrick says the movie wouldn’t have worked if she hadn’t found the right actor to play the murderous Rodney Alcala.
Fortunately, she knew who she wanted for the role: Station Eleven star Daniel Zovatto. “I felt like, if Danny’s not available, I don’t think I have a movie,” Kendrick tells Entertainment Weekly. “Even though in many ways he’s not the center of the film, the performance has to be beyond perfect. One misstep and the whole thing is blown.” Read more
Schoolboy sentenced to life for attacking sleeping pupils and teacher with hammers (Metro)
A public schoolboy who attacked two sleeping students and a teacher with hammers at a boarding school has been detained for life with a minimum term of 12 years after being found guilty of attempted murder.
The 16-year-old was wearing just his boxer shorts and used weapons he had collected to ‘prepare for a zombie apocalypse’.
The teenager admitted assaulting the two boys and the housemaster at Blundell’s School in Tiverton, Devon, but claimed he was sleepwalking. Read more
Polish zoo celebrates the birth of 4 Sumatran tigers, a critically endangered species (ABC)
A Polish zoo is celebrating the arrival of four Sumatran tiger cubs, announcing their birth Friday after keeping it a closely-guarded secret for weeks due to fears they may not survive.
Officials at the Wrocław Zoo in the southwestern Polish city of Wroclaw said the tigers — a critically endangered species whose numbers have dwindled to around 400 in the wild — were born on July 22. But the zoo chose not to go public with the news until they could grow a bit, gain some strength and be vaccinated, zoo spokesperson Weronika Łysek said.
Each cub is now about double the size of a domestic cat, at over 8 kilograms (about 18 pounds) each. Read more
Texas attorney general sues doctor for violating ban on gender-affirming care for minors (UPI)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Thursday that he has filed a lawsuit against a Dallas physician for providing gender transition care to almost two dozen minors against a controversial state law.
Paxton charged that Dr. May Chi Lau, who specializes in adolescent medicine, provided hormone replacement therapy to 21 minors in a period stretching from last October to this August, in violation of Senate Bill 14, which bans the practice and other gender-affirming care to minors.
“Texas passed a law to protect children from these dangerous unscientific medical interventions that have irreversible and damaging effects,” Paxton said in a statement. “Doctors who continue to provide these harmful ‘gender transition’ drugs and treatments will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.” Read more
Woman who ordered huge Rottweiler to kill helpless girl, 9, now facing death penalty (Mirror)
Shocking video footage shows 35-year-old Tyshael Martin restraining the 50kg rottweiler which she is said to have encouraged to kill eight-year-old Jamaria Sessions
A woman accused of closing out a horrific campaign of abuse against a helpless child by ordering her huge rottweiler to kill her now faces the death penalty.
Shock video footage shows the moment Tyshael Martin, 35, can be seen restraining the 50kg beast on a leash at her family home in Montverde, Florida, on June 16, standing over eight-year-old Jamaria Sessions. She is said to have urged the dog to savage and bite the terrified youngster, and can be heard saying: “I’m fixin’ to kill her.” Read more
Ex-Indian government agent plotted assassination on US soil, DOJ says (NBC)
A former employee of the Indian government has been indicted in the US on charges of directing the assassination attempt of a Sikh separatist leader in New York City.
The Justice Department, in an 18-page indictment Thursday, charged Vikash Yadav, 39, with three counts of murder-for-hire and money laundering. Federal prosecutors said Yadav was a “senior field officer” for New Delhi.
Yadav, they say, orchestrated the plot from India and hired Nikhil Gupta, another Indian national who is himself accused of trying to hire a hit man. Their New York target was an attorney and political activist who is a U.S. citizen of Indian origin, prosecutors said. Read more
Aluo predicts better future for NNL ahead of new season (Nation)
Nigeria National League (NNL) Chairman, George Aluo, has affirmed his board’s determination to consolidate on the gains of last season to ensure improvement in the forthcoming 2024-25 season.
Speaking with NationSport, Aluo said it was a general consensus that the 2023-24 season was the best season in the annals of the domestic second-tier league, adding the NNL board has put several things in place to ensure that this coming could be refreshingly better.
Further explained that the NNL board was working round the clock to ensure the season produces a worthy winner as well as formidable representatives of the league after gaining promotion to the elite Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). Read more
Arteta provides injury update on Saka (CompleteSports)
Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Bukayo Saka did not suffer a serious injury during the international break.
The Arsenal winger missed England’s victory over Finland after he was substituted in Three Lions’ loss to Greece and quickly returned to his side.
The Gunners were worried about Saka’s fitness and feared that he might have sustained a long-term injury. Read more
Erik ten Hag future: Manchester United boss hits back at critics over ‘lies and fairytales’ about his future (SkySports)
Erik ten Hag has hit back over the speculation surrounding his job as Manchester United boss, implying his critics are creating “lies and fairytales”.
United have won just two of their first seven league games, and sit 14th in the Premier League table, closer to the relegation zone than fourth.
There were suggestions that Ten Hag’s future was one of many topics up for discussion during a meeting involving Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Joel Glazer and United’s leadership group, but Ten Hag remains in the job for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Brentford and insists everyone at the club is on “one page”. Read more
Francis Ngannou returns to the cage, haunted by tragedy (Independent)
You would be brave to agree to share a cage with Francis Ngannou. No matter who you are, that is not a fair fight. But you would be braver still, perhaps, to try to convince him that life is a fair fight.
What is fair about a 10-year-old being put to work in a sand mine? What is fair about a child struggling to attain a proper education? What is fair about having to do either while your parents leave each other in the past?
And what of doomed journeys through dark deserts, with coarse sand shredding nerves and spirit, in a young man’s bid to escape Cameroon and reach the refuge of Europe? What of the cruel twist that finally, when one of those journeys did succeed, Ngannou was met with incarceration? Read more
Rwanda dismisses ‘Sportswashing’ claims, focuses on winning development strategy (AfricaNews)
Paul Kagame, president of Rwanda, may govern a small, landlocked nation in central Africa, but his ambitions are large.
Recently, he embarked on a significant mission: bringing a Formula 1 Grand Prix to Rwanda.
This effort reflects his broader strategy of positioning the country, once devastated by genocide, as a continental leader in Africa. Despite Rwanda’s geographic limitations, Kagame has consistently pursued political, diplomatic, and economic plans to boost the nation’s prominence. Read more
Ex-Fulham Ladies captain ‘groped’ by Al Fayed (BBC)
Former Fulham Ladies captain Ronnie Gibbons alleges she was “groped” on two occasions by the football club’s late owner Mohamed Al Fayed.
The former Harrods boss tried to “forcefully” kiss her at his department store in 2000, when she was 20, she told The Athletic website.”Speaking my truth and finally telling my story will hopefully help me heal and be rid of the shame, embarrassment and pain I have carried for years,” she said. Read more