Police probe Abuja pastor who brandished AK-47 on altar (Vanguard)
The Police have launched an investigation into the matter of an Abuja presiding pastor of the House on the Rock Church, Uche Aigbe, who mounted the altar with an AK-47 rifle on Sunday.
Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, made this known via his Twitter handle on Monday.
Vanguard reported yesterday of the incident that took place during the second service, where Aigbe brandished the gun, to the utter dismay of the congregation. Read more
Naira deadline: Banks, fuel stations reject old notes, ignore S’Court order (Punch)
Some commercial banks and filling stations have stopped collecting the old naira notes from customers, contrary to the ruling of the Supreme Court restraining the Federal Government from enforcing the February 10 time limit earlier fixed by the apex bank for the currency swap.
Findings by The PUNCH on Monday indicated that the banks refused to accept the old N1,000, N500 and N200 notes from depositors and point-of-service agents who flooded the bank to lodge their cash.
Point of service operators and other bank customers whose old naira notes were rejected, panicked as bank officials, who said they were acting on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s directive, remained adamant. Read more
Registry allegedly rejects old naira notes for filing of court processes (Guardian)
Lawyers and litigants were shocked, yesterday, when court officials refused them filling processes with old naira notes.
They were turned back by officials in the registry, saying their banks were no longer accepting the old currency as lLawyers and litigants were shocked, yesterday, when court officials refused them filling processes with old currency as legal tender.
Specifically, the account officials said efforts to pay in old notes was rejected by a certain new generation bank. Read more
APC woos women for Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu, others (Nation)
The Director of Women Affairs of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Independent Campaign Council (ICC), Mrs Omobolanle Akinyemi-Obe, has urged women and all eligible voters to cast their votes for the ruling party’s candidates.
The ICC, she said, was to mobilise voters for the party’s Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Lagos state Governor, Mr. Babjide Sanwo-Olu and other candidates.
Mrs Akinyemi-Obe, a former Chairman of Coker-Aguda Local Council Development Area of Lagos, at a stakeholders’ meeting, said the strategy ‘operation win your polling unit’ given to them by the party could be realised through concerted effort. Read more
Man to die by hanging for armed robbery (Punch)
Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Ikeja Special Offences Court on Monday sentenced a 20-year-old man, Nojeem Badmos, to death by hanging for armed robbery.
Badmos was arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit robbery and armed robbery, preferred against him by the Lagos State Government.
According to the prosecution, the offence of conspiracy and armed robbery contravened the provisions of Sections 299 and 297 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015. Read more
Fulani Group endorses Abiola, boasts of 7m votes (DailyTrust)
A Fulani pressure group, Nigeria Fulani Political Forum (NFPF) has endorsed the presidential candidate of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Mr. Kola Abiola ahead of the February 25 presidential election.
Leader of the NFPF, Dr Ibrahim Abdullahi, who made this known in Abuja yesterday, boasted that nomadic Fulanis have 7 million votes, which they will give to Abiola.
Abdullahi, who berated the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for turning a blind eye to the plight of pastoralists Fulani in Nigeria, stressed that the nomads will vote in block for any candidate that cares about their predicaments. Read more
OAU enhances vision for glass innovation (ThisDay)
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and an environmental outfit, Arcline Beehive Design Foundation (ABDF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance the awareness and education about glass innovation while celebrating its contribution, especially towards the attainment of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Osun State, “The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on 18th May 2021 declaring 2022 as the International Year of Glass to ‘shine a light on the role of glass in our societies’ and show how glass can contribute to sustainable development. This has drawn attention to its importance in various sectors, from aerospace, automobile and construction industries to healthcare. Glass has always been with us and was recognized and celebrated during the United Nations International Year of Glass (IYOG) 2022.”
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and Arcline Beehive Design Foundation (ABDF) continue the celebration of the essential role of Glass through the ages from Mesopotamia to Rome, Europe, the near and far East, Africa and the rest of the world. Read more
Barney the purple dinosaur is back and he has a new look (CNN)
Barney is back, and while Mattel has not yet officially confirmed it, we’re guessing he still loves you.
Toy giant Mattel (MAT) announced Monday that Barney, the friendly (and, let’s be honest, cringe-worthy to a large group of Millennials who watched him as pre-schoolers, and to their parents) purple dinosaur is making a triumphant return to TVs and toy shelves next year. Thanks to the switch from live-action to animation, he’s now also got great big eyes.
The “Barney & Friends” show, featuring the titular violet-hued T-Rex, aired on PBS in the United States from 1992 until 2010. Mattel said Monday that the new show, unlike the original, will be animated. So no beleaguered actor dressed up in a dinosaur costume marching around and singing to young kids. Read more
S Club 7 announce reunion tour to celebrate 25th anniversary (ITV)
S Club 7 have announced they are reuniting for a UK tour later this year in celebration of their 25th anniversary.
The seven-piece pop group were originally created by former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller in 1998 and produced hits including “Reach,” “Don’t Stop Movin’’ and their debut “Bring It All Back”.
In 2003 they disbanded but briefly came back together in 2014 to perform a medley of their best-known songs for the BBC Children In Need appeal. Read more
Paramore on track for 1st UK number 1 album in almost a decade (Standard)
Paramore are on track to secure their first UK number one album in almost a decade with This Is Why, according to the Official Charts Company.
The American pop-punk band, consisting of Hayley Williams, Taylor York and Zac Farro, have twice previously reached the top spot on the official album chart with Brand New Eyes in 2009 and Paramore in 2013.
Ahead of the official album charts announcement on Friday, Paramore are currently out selling their competition, You Me At Six, by more than 2:1, according to the Official Charts Company. Read more
Robert Downey Jr. hilariously supports Jon Favreau at his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony (ET)
Robert Downey Jr. is honoring Jon Favreau in a hilarious fashion. The 57-year-old actor was on hand to celebrate his Marvel co-star on Monday, as the Iron Man director received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“Sixteen years ago this week, Jon and I were in pre-production on what felt like a high-concept indie. We were fueled by this infectious yet unfounded confidence,” Downey said of Iron Man. “I was beyond grateful for the power of second chances. Strangely, Kevin Feige trusted us, he and I trusted Jon, and for no good reason, Jon and Kevin trusted me.”
“Iron Man was a second-tier superhero property that had no shot at affording Kevin Feige the opportunity to launch a cinematic universe, because there was no such thing as a cinematic universe,” he continued, before joking, “I would never insinuate that it was me who made Jon a multi-hyphenate international sensation ’cause I have to leave something for his speech.” Read more
Paddington filmmaker Paul King to direct Tom Holland’s “Fred Astaire” movie for Sony (THR)
Paul King, the director of the Paddington movies, is putting on his dancing shoes.
King has come aboard to direct Sony Pictures’ untitled Fred Astaire drama that has Tom Holland attached to star as the golden age film and dance star.
Amy Pascal, Rachael O’Conner, Ben Holden and Josh Hyams are producing. Read more
Moldovan leader outlines Russian ”plan” to topple government (VOA)
Moldova’s president outlined Monday what she described as a plot by Moscow to overthrow her country’s government using external saboteurs, put the nation “at the disposal of Russia” and derail its aspirations to one day join the European Union.
President Maia Sandu’s briefing comes a week after neighboring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country had intercepted plans by Russian secret services to destroy Moldova, claims that were later confirmed by Moldovan intelligence officials.
“The plan for the next period involves actions with the involvement of diversionists with military training, camouflaged in civilian clothes, who will undertake violent actions, attack some state buildings, and even take hostages,” Sandu told reporters at a briefing. Read more
AFCON Qualifiers: Balogun resumes training (Leadership)
Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun looks set to resume group training at Queens Park Rangers next week.
This has come as good news for both the English Championship club and Super Eagles who will be in action in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers next month.
Balogun has not featured for QPR since he was substituted at half-time against Huddersfield on 8 November 2022. Read more
Everton boss Sean Dyche points finger at Jordan Pickford following error in Liverpool loss (Express)
Everton boss Sean Dyche laid the blame at Jordan Pickford’s feet for the error that helped Liverpool claim victory in the Merseyside derby at Anfield. The goalkeeper was at fault for Mohamed Salah’s opening goal and it proved to be crucial as the Reds ran out deserved winners after a 2-0 win at Anfield, condemning Dyche to his first defeat since taking charge.
Everton came into the game with some confidence off the back of their 1-0 win over Arsenal last time out, but Dyche’s men looked ill-equipped to match a resurgent Liverpool side at Anfield. And the Toffees did themselves no favours whatsoever by leaving the door open for Liverpool to score twice from counter-attacks, with Pickford the man to blame for the opener.
The England stopper had little to do in the opening period of the game but was far too eager to rush off his line and intervene when Darwin Nunez crossed for Salah, who ended up stroking the ball home into the empty net with Pickford caught in no man’s land. Read more
Spurs players need to be more resilient – Conte (BBC)
Tottenham manager Antonio Conte is working on making his players “more resilient under pressure” as he prepares them to face AC Milan in the San Siro on the back of a 4-1 defeat at Leicester.
The Spurs boss, who returned to the dugout on Saturday after gallbladder surgery, is missing three key midfielders and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris for the first leg of Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 tie.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is suspended, while Rodrigo Bentancur is out for the season with a knee injury and Yves Bissouma needs an operation to repair a stress fracture to his left ankle. Read more
Kyrie Irving asks media to keep focus on present with Mavs (ABC)
Kyrie Irving made a polite request during a news conference Monday evening to introduce him to the Dallas media: Please do not ask him about his future beyond this season.
The Dallas Mavericks traded for Irving last week despite not having any assurances he would remain with the franchise after his contract expires at the end of the season. Irving and the Mavs agreed to not discuss a potential contract extension until after the playoffs, and Irving made it clear Monday that he does not intend to talk about the subject publicly for the remainder of the season.
“It puts unwarranted distractions on us and our team,” Irving said before making his home debut for the Mavericks against the Minnesota Timberwolves. “I’ve dealt with it before, and it’s very emotionally draining to ask questions like, ‘What’s the long term? What’s the long term?'” Read more
Simona Halep reportedly set to have doping ban hearing this month (TennisWorld)
Coach Darren Cahill remains fully confident that Simona Halep is fully innocent in her doping case and revealed the Romanian has a hearing scheduled for this month. In October, the ITIA provisionally suspended Halep after the Romanian tested positive for the anti-anemia drug Roxadustat.
“I think a lot about Simona and I feel bad every time I think about the experiences she goes through. I made a statement about Simona Halep’s case and I’m willing to die next to those words because of her integrity and her DNA.
There’s no way she’s cheating. She is a great woman and a great person. There’s no way she could have done the wrong thing. I wish her good luck,” Cahill said on The Big Deal podcast, as quoted on Tennishead. This month, Halep will reportedly have a chance to prove her innocence. Read more