Police invade hostel, brutalise UNIZIK female student while naked (Punch)
Some policemen attached to the Special Anti-Cult Unit of the Anambra State Police Command have been accused of breaking into a private hostel housing students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, in a bid to arrest suspected fraudsters in Ifite, in the Awka South Local Government Area of the state.
PUNCH Metro gathered that during the invasion, which happened around 4am on Sunday, the policemen, who were said to be heavily armed, allegedly beat up an unclad female student.
A resident, who gave his name only as Benneth for security reasons, said the policemen brutalised some of the students when they denied knowing any fraudster.
Benneth said, “The hostel is called Prince Godwin Lodge, and it is outside the school. What we gathered was that there had been robbery operations in the area. So, on Sunday, the students started to hear bangs on the gate and doors of the hostel. Read more
Police commend female inspector who dresses Lagos school pupils for professionalism (Guardian)
Nigeria female police officer, Inspector Justina Rita Omogbai, making adjustment to dressing of school children in Sabo area of Yaba, Lagos.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has commended a Lagos state female Police Officer, Inspector Justina Rita Omogbai, for her commitment and acts of professionalism displayed in the course of her duties.
The commendation was contained in a statement by the police spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Tuesday.
Adejobi said Omogbai is positively representing the police in the community, particularly to school children by taking personal steps to ensure they are properly dressed and safe while heading to and from school in the Sabo Divisional Headquarters in Lagos State.
According to him, Omogbai’s gesture aligns with the community policing tenets and the concept of “Catching Them Young”, as the formative age adding that it is very vital to training children to be law-abiding and compliant with regulations. Read more
Lagos PDP decries incessant attacks on campaign train (ThisDay)
Following attacks on its campaign train, The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State has declared that the constant attacks on its campaign train would not be good for the country.
The PDP’s Governorship Candidate for Lagos State, Dr. Olajide Adediran (aka Jandor) stated this during a meeting with the Council of Chief Imams at the Ketu Central Mosque in Kosofe Local Government Area during his campaign tour of the council.
Earlier yesterday, the Jandor campaign train experienced a severe attack in the local government that led to the stabbing of a member of his security team. Read more
Shettima visits ex-Ekiti gov Fayose in Lagos, seeks support (Punch)
The vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Kashim Shertima, on Tuesday, visited the former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, in his Lagos residence to seek support ahead of the forthcoming February 25 presidential election in the country.
Shettima made his visitation known through a post he made on his Facebook wall adding pictures of Fayose and himself in his house.
He wrote, “I paid my brother, the former governor of Ekiti State, H.E Ayodele Peter Fayose a visit. Read more
Lekki Port, CMA CGM group to facilitate trade growth, increase GDP (Sun)
The Managing Director of Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited (LPLEL), promoter of the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Mr. Du Ruogang, has said that Lekki Port will facilitate trade volume growth for Nigeria and increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as part of the macro-economic benefits of the Port to the economy.
Ruogang stated this while addressing the media during the official commissioning of Lekki Port by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, at the Lagos Free Zone, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.
He noted that Lekki Port remains a game-changer that would redefine maritime activities in Nigeria and the entire West African sub-region and it is scheduled to commence operations by the end of Q1 2023. Read more
Troops kill 3 bandits, rescue 16 kidnap victims in Kaduna (Channels)
Troops of Operation Forest Sanity of the Nigerian Army have rescued 16 people who were kidnapped by bandits during operations spanning Birnin Gwari-Kaduna Road in Birnin Gwari and Igabi Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.
The State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying the troops responded to a distress call along the Udawa-Manini axis of the Birnin Gwari-Kaduna Road, during which they foiled the attack and rescued 16 persons in the process.
He explained that some of the rescued persons who sustained injuries were rushed to hospital for treatment. Read more
Ex-Adamawa governor, Bindow, supporters dump APC (Guardian)
The immediate past governor of Adamawa State, Senator Muhammad Umar Jibrilla Bindow, has quit the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Bindow officially resigned his membership of the party via a letter addressed to the APC chairman of Kolere Ward, Mubi North local government area of Adamawa State, dated January 20, 2023, and sighted by The Guardian yesterday.
Bindow, who did not mention his next political party, however, added that his ‘faithful supporters’ across the state will be joining him in leaving the APC so as to champion the cause of building a harmonious Adamawa. Read more
Games of Thrones actor Esmé Bianco and Marilyn Manson reach settlement in sexual assault lawsuit (NME)
Marilyn Manson and Esmé Bianco have reached a settlement in the sexual assault lawsuit that the latter filed against Manson in 2021.
Bianco, who portrayed Ros in the television series Games of Thrones, went public with her accusations against Manson in February 2021, claiming that the singer’s alleged abuse (occurring between 2009 and 2011) had made her “[feel] like a prisoner”. Months later, the actress formally filed a lawsuit against both Manson – real name Brian Warner – and his business, Marilyn Manson Records, Inc. The lawsuit alleged sexual assault, physical abuse and human trafficking.
That lawsuit has since been dropped, with both parties reaching a settlement out of court. The exact terms of the agreement are unknown, however in a statement provided to NME, Bianco’s lawyer, Jay Ellwanger, confirmed that Bianco has “agreed to resolve her claims against Brian Warner and Marilyn Manson Records, Inc. in order to move on with her life and career.” Read more
Justin Bieber sells rights to songs for $200m (BBC)
Justin Bieber has sold his share of the rights to his music to Hipgnosis Songs Capital for a reported $200m.
The firm now owns the pop star’s stake in some of the biggest hits of recent years – including “Baby” and “Sorry”.
Bieber, one of the best-selling artists of the 21st Century, joins a growing group of artists who have cashed out on their catalogues. Read more
Paris Hilton and husband Carter Reum welcome baby boy (Hello!)
Paris Hilton has become a mom for the first time, welcoming a baby boy with her husband Carter Reum.
The 41-year-old shared the news on Twitter and Instagram, posting a picture of her hand cradling a newborn baby. Paris’ nails were painted baby blue and her caption read: “You are already loved beyond words.”
No further details have been released. HELLO! has contacted reps for Paris for comment. Read more
Sundance: Sony Pictures Classics buys A Little Prayer as market heats up (Variety)
Sony Pictures Classics has nabbed worldwide rights to A Little Prayer following its premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. The exact sales price isn’t clear, but sources state the film fetched a figure in the low seven-figure range.
The deal reunites Sony Pictures Classics with Angus MacLachlan, who wrote the screenplay for Junebug, which the indie label released. MacLachlan directs this film, in addition to writing the script. WME Independent brokered the sale.
A Little Prayer follows Tammy (Jane Levy) and David (Will Pullen), a married couple in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, who share a home with David’s parents, Bill (David Strathairn) and Venida (Celia Weston). Things grow complicated after Bill starts to think that David is cheating on Tammy. Read more
France repatriates more women, children from Syrian jihadist camp (RFI)
France has repatriated 15 women and 32 children held in a prison camp for suspected jihadists in Syria, the foreign ministry said Tuesday, in the third major return of French citizens from the country.
Rights groups have been pressing for years for France to take back the wives and children of alleged Islamic State group fighters held in the camps, since the jihadist movement was ousted from its self-declared “caliphate” in 2019.
But the government refused a blanket repatriation, saying the return of potentially radicalised IS family members would pose security risks in France, which has seen a wave of jihadist attacks since 2015. Read more
Netflix announces Jill Dando documentary 20 years after tragic shooting (Mirror)
Netflix has announced an upcoming documentary on BBC presenter Jill Dando is in the works – 20 years after she was tragically shot dead.
The Crimewatch star was murdered outside her home in London in 1999, aged 37, in news that sent shockwaves through the UK.
A multi-part series chronicling Jill’s life is now in production, with Netflix saying new interviews and research will be included.
The Jill Dando documentary will air later this year and will explore: “Dando’s life, career, legacy and what would become one of the most notorious unsolved murders of the 20th century”. Read more
Finland’s top diplomat hints at joining NATO without Sweden (VOA)
Finland’s foreign minister suggested Tuesday that the country may consider joining NATO without neighboring Sweden if Turkey continues to block their joint bid to enter the military alliance.
Pekka Haavisto later backpedaled, but his comments were the first time a leading government official in either Nordic country appeared to raise doubts about becoming NATO members together at a time when the alliance is seeking to present a united front in the face of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Sweden and Finland rushed to apply for NATO membership following Moscow’s invasion, abandoning their long-standing non-alignment policy. Their accession needs the approval of all existing NATO members, including Turkey, which has so far blocked the expansion, saying Sweden in particular needs to crack down on exiled Kurdish militants and their sympathizers. Read more
Olympic Eagles prospect, Lawal, dazzles for Al-Mostaqbal (Sun)
Nigerian youngster, Olamilekan Lawal continues with head-raising performances for Al Mostaqbal Watan Club of Egypt in his quest to be in the mix when the national U-23, the Olympic Eagles regroup in March.
The impressive striker, who has now scored three goals and credited with four assists in the ongoing campaign, said his desire among other things was to play for the national Under-23 team that is currently bidding for one of the continental slots for the Paris 2024 Olympic Football Tournament.
The coach Salisu Yusuf-led team thrashed Tanzania on a 3-1 aggregate over two legs last October to qualify for the final round eliminator towards a ticket for 2023 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations to be held in Morocco where the continental flag bearers for Paris 2024 will be decided. Read more
Antonio Conte issues Harry Kane warning as £61m decision made (Mirror)
Manchester United have less than a week to go to add to their squad with the end of the January transfer window rapidly closing in.
The Red Devils have already been hard at work during the winter window with the loan additions of Jack Butland and Wout Weghorst. With his side firmly embroiled in the battle to finish in the top four, there could yet be further additions.
A number of players continue to be linked with a switch to Old Trafford ahead of next week’s deadline although whether the Red Devils can seal swoops for those, it remains to be seen. With that being said, take a look at the latest rumours coming out of Old Trafford over the last 24 hours. Read more
Lazio thrash AC Milan as Bayern Munich stumble (RTE)
Lazio humbled AC Milan with a superb 4-0 home victory in Serie A on Tuesday, extending the champions’ winless run to five games in all competitions.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Mattia Zaccagni, Luis Alberto and Felipe Anderson were all on target to send Maurizio Sarri’s side into the third place, one point behind Milan and 13 off the leaders Napoli.
Milan continued their recent poor form after they were hammered 3-0 by rivals Inter Milan to lose the Italian Supercup last Wednesday, and crashed out of the Coppa Italia in the last 16 against 10-man Torino the week before. Read more
Victoria Azarenka defends Novak Djokovic over ”fake injury” claims at Australian Open (TennisWorld)
Victoria Azarenka says she “can resonate with Novak Djokovic” as she admits it took her 10 years to get over the cheating claims that were made against her following her 2013 Australian Open semifinal win over Sloane Stephens.
After missing out on five match points against Stephens, Azarenka took a medical timeout and left the court for nine minutes just as Stephens was preparing to serve. When Azarenka returned, she closed out the match but afterward was accused of “gamesmanship” and “cheating.” At this year’s Australian Open, Djokovic has been dealing with a hamstring injury.
But after Djokovic’s 6-2 6-1 6-2 win over de Minaur, some have been questioning the legitimacy of Djokovic’s injury. Read more
Bam Adebayo has 30 points, Heat rallies past Celtics 98-95 (Fox)
Bam Adebayo had 30 points and 15 rebounds, including the jump shot that put Miami ahead to stay with 20.4 seconds remaining, and the Heat rallied from 14 down to beat the Boston Celtics 98-95 on Tuesday night.
Haywood Highsmith had 15 points and 10 rebounds, Max Strus scored 13 points and Victor Oladipo had 12 for the Heat.
A 15-0 run in the fourth quarter lifted the Heat, who split the regular-season series with the Celtics 2-2. Read more
F1 issues explosive warning to FIA over ”inflated valuation” comments (RN365)
Tensions between Formula 1 and the FIA have increased following the comments made regarding the rumours of Saudi Arabia’s interest in the commercial rights.
A letter was reportedly sent to all teams from Sacha Woodward, General Counsel and member of the board of directors at F1, and Renee Wild, chief legal and administrative officer of Liberty Media Corporation, following the comments made by President Mohammed Ben Sulayem on social media.
It stated that the FIA President “interfered with our [commercial] rights in an unacceptable manner” when he referred to an “alleged inflated price tag of $20 billion” reported.
F1 believes President Ben Sulayem “overstep[ped] the bounds of the FIA’s remit” by publishing his comments on social media, in which he requested potential buyers “apply common sense” rather than “lots of money”. Read more