RCCG pastor arraigned for allegedly raping daughter (Punch)
A Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Emmanuel Orekoya, was on Tuesday arraigned before the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court for allegedly raping and impregnating his 17- year-old daughter.
The defendant is facing two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse and sexual assault preferred against him by the Lagos State Government.
It was also gathered that the defendant in the process of having sexual intercourse with his daughter, allegedly impregnated her. Read more
LASU admits 12,873 out of over 50,000 applicants (Nation)
The Lagos State University (LASU) has granted admission to 12,873 students out of over 50,000 applicants for its 2023/2024 session.
This was made known by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello at the institution’s matriculation ceremony which was held Wednesday, February 28, on its main campus in Ojo, Lagos.
The VC, who told the students to count themselves lucky to be in the university, noted their welfare is a priority and that the school will not relent in its efforts to ensure that the learning environment remains conducive and competitive for learning. Read more
Shaibu visits PDP HQ, demands certificate of return for Edo primary (Channels)
Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu has stormed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s national headquarters in Abuja, demanding the party’s certificate of return for the governorship election.
Shaibu was declared the winner of a parallel PDP governorship candidate for the state while Asue Ighodalo won the main election.
Although the PDP had presented a certificate of return to Ighodalo, Shaibu was at the party’s secretariat on Wednesday to ask for the same thing. He insists he won the primary election and should be formally recognised as such. Read more
Zamfara: Troops kill scores of bandits, rescue 8 kidnap victims (Tribune)
The troops of the Joint Task Force North West Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) have killed a number of armed bandits, destroyed their enclaves and rescued 8 kidnap victims at Bayan Ruwa axis in Zamfara state.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Gusau, the information officer Operation Hadarin Daji lieutenant Suleiman Omale disclosed that the troops have again recorded another success against the terrorists in continuation with the dry season clearance operations in Zamfara state.
“In the recent success, the troops rescued 8 kidnap victims unhurt in an ambush operation conducted in the state. Read more
Man kills father in Abia, attempts plucking eye for money ritual (Sun)
An Abia man is reported to have murdered his father, Maduka Ogbonna, 57, and attempted to pluck out his eyes for ritual purposes.
According to a statement by the Abia State Police Command spokesperson, Maureen Chinaka, the incident occurred at Umueze road, opposite Junior Girls Secondary School, Amuzukwu, Ibeku in Umuahia North Local Government Area.
Chinaka said that at about 8am Tuesday, police at CPS Umuahia received a report of case involving Maduka Ogbonna, a 57 year-old man, allegedly killed by his 27-year-old son, identified as Chinalu Ogbonna. Read more
FG enrolled 750k Nigerians into health insurance scheme (Punch)
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, on Wednesday, disclosed that the Federal Government had enrolled about 750,000 Nigerians into the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Pate stated this at the third edition of the ministerial press briefing series initiated by the Ministry of Information in Abuja, noting that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration will unveil a comprehensive programme to digitise the nation’s healthcare system in the next two weeks.
The briefing series was initiated to provide a platform for public officials to reel out their achievements and apprise Nigerians of the challenges of governance. Read more
Police, hunters rescue 49 kidnap victims in Taraba (Channels)
Forty-nine kidnap victims have been rescued from the kidnappers’ enclave in Gongomaliki Mountain in Yorro Local Government Area of Taraba State.
Their rescue is a sequel to joint efforts between the police, professional hunters, and vigilante groups who acted on intelligence gathering.
“In a bid to assuage the Command from the menace of Crimes and Criminalities, more especially heinous Crimes like Kidnapping, Rubbery, Banditry, and Cattle Rustling that have bedeviled the State,” the Taraba State Police Commissioner David Iloyonomon said. Read more
3 killed in Osun fatal accident (Vanguard)
Three persons were reportedly killed in a road accident involving two vehicles along the Ikirun-Osogbo express road.
The incident, which involved a Lexus 350 cat registered with Lagos number, SMK 17 JK and an unregistered truck, occurred on Tuesday afternoon.
According to sources at the scene of the incident, the Lexus car was heading to Osogbo at high speed when the driver lost control of the vehicle before hitting the truck, which was also accused of driving recklessly. Read more
Taylor Swift thanks ‘louder than humanly possible’ crowds in Sydney after 4 Eras Tour shows (People)
Taylor Swift is feeling the rush after a record-breaking weekend in Sydney, Australia.
The singer, 34, reflected on her four Eras Tour shows in the city on Instagram Wednesday, writing, “Sydney, Sydney, Sydney, Sydney… what a whirlwind of endless magical moments with you. I’m so grateful that we got to be the first tour to play Accor Stadium 4 times.”
She continued of the memorable moments from her latest stop on the worldwide tour, “I’ll never forget singing with Sabrina, the chaotic acoustic mashups, and the crowds that were louder (singing AND screaming) than I thought humanly possible. I want to thank all of the Aussie fans for being so positive and passionate, so funny and wild and FUN. Love you forever.” Read more
Chad announces several deaths after foiled intelligence office attack (AlJazeera)
An overnight attack on the offices of Chad’s internal security agency in the capital, N’Djamena, has killed several people, the government said on Wednesday, accusing “elements” of an opposition party.
While blaming the assault on the agency, also known by its initials ANSE, on activists from the opposition Socialist Party Without Borders (PSF) headed by Yaya Dillo, the government said “the situation is now completely under control” and “the perpetrators of this act have been arrested or are being sought and will be prosecuted”.
The number of deaths was not given in the statement. Read more
San Francisco apologises to Black residents for decades of racist policies (NBC)
Supervisors in San Francisco formally apologised Tuesday to African Americans and their descendants for the city’s role in perpetuating racism and discrimination, with several stating that this was just the start of reparations for Black residents and not the end.
The vote was unanimous with all 11 board members signed on as sponsors of the resolution.
“This historic resolution apologises on behalf of San Francisco to the African American community and their descendants for decades of systemic and structural discrimination, targeted acts of violence, atrocities,” said Supervisor Shamann Walton, “as well as committing to the rectification and redress of past policies and misdeeds.” Read more
Man retches as he’s jailed for up to 100 years for torturing autistic brother to death (Metro)
An ‘evil’ older brother who tortured his younger brother alongside their mum has been sentenced to up to 100 years in prison.
Paul Ferguson, who had his head bowed in the court, retched as the judge told him he would spend a minimum of 30 years behind bars.
The 21-year-old was described as being ‘one step away from becoming a psychopath’ by Judge Matthew Kacel, who defied sentencing guidelines suggesting he should receive nine to 15 years in jail. Read more
Hitmaka details Diddy’s ‘diabolical’ efforts to sabotage him after ‘The Love Album’ snub (HipHopDx)
Hitmaka has accused Diddy of trying to sabotage his career and poach talent from him, describing the Bad Boy boss as “diabolical.”
Speaking on The Joe Budden Podcast, the producer detailed his experiences with Puff over the years and suggested the embattled record executive has a vendetta against him.
Hitmaka (who previously went by Yung Berg) began by saying Diddy asked him to work on his star-studded R&B project The Love Album: Off the Grid, but things quickly soured when the Harlem-bred mogul took issue with the beats he submitted. Read more
Guinea names former opposition leader Mamadou Oury Bah as prime minister (AfricaNews)
Former Guinean opposition leader Mamadou Oury Bah has been appointed prime minister by the country’s military junta, according to a decree read on national television on Tuesday.
This appointment follows a week after it abruptly dissolved the government.
The political veteran faces a challenging task of setting up a government amid an indefinite general strike launched this week over deep economic hardships and the military authorities’ allegedly repressive policies. Read more
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro under investigation for allegedly harassing a humpback whale (Fox)
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is under investigation for having allegedly “harassed” a humpback whale while riding a personal watercraft off Sao Paulo’s coast last year.
Bolsonaro appeared at the federal police in Sao Paulo on Tuesday to meet with officers, along with his lawyer and former adviser who was also present at the time of the alleged incident.
The investigation is just one of the many legal headaches the former far-right leader is facing. Since leaving office a year ago, Bolsonaro has been banned from running for office until 2030, investigated for plotting a coup to remove his successor from power and stripped of his passport. Read more
Osimhen gifts young Ivorian fan N2.5m (DailyTrust)
Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, has gifted N2.5 million to a young boy for emulating his skills and appearance.
The fan, who donned a mask reminiscent of Osimhen’s, became an internet sensation after a video showcasing his football talents went viral.
On Tuesday, popular Instagram blogger, Tunde Ednut, initially shared the clip, which featured the boy skillfully mimicking Osimhen’s football prowess. Read more
Musa part ways with Turkish club Sivasspor (CompleteSports)
Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has terminated his contract with Turkish Super Lig club Sivasspor, according to reports.
Musa reportedly informed Sivasspor of his decision to quit the club last December.
Both parties have now agreed to terminate his contract. Read more
Hamilton thinks incoming Horner verdict can be ‘‘important moment’’ for F1 (IrishExaminer)
Lewis Hamilton has called the imminent verdict on Christian Horner’s Formula One future an “important moment for the sport to make sure that we stand true to our values”.
Red Bull Racing’s parent company Red Bull GmbH announced on February 5 that Horner is being investigated following an accusation of “inappropriate behaviour” by a female colleague. Horner denies the claim.
The embattled Red Bull team principal is due to arrive in Bahrain for the first race of the season on Wednesday. Read more
I’m ready for return to Super Eagles – Maduka Okoye (Vanguard)
Super Eagles of Nigeria goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye has disclosed his readiness to return to the national team set-up after a self-imposed exile.
Okoye has been away from the team after facing social media attacks following his performance at the Africa Cup of Nations 2021 in Cameroon. A second-half error by the goalie condemned Nigeria to a 1-0 loss to Tunisia in the second round.
Now with Udinese in the Serie A and a return to form, Okoye believes it is time to resume representing the green and white of Nigeria. Read more
Everton and Nottingham Forest eye £13m-plus midfielder who idolises Paul Pogba (HitC)
Everton, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace are among the Premier League clubs keeping tabs on Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika with the Nigeria international potentially on his way to England.
HITC Football understands that the 22-year-old enforcer, who was part of Nigeria’s squad at the 2024 African Cup of Nations, could be the latest big-money departure from Belgian giants Club Brugge.
The Jupiler League outfit have sold the likes of Charles de Ketelaere, Lois Openda, Sofyan Amrabat and Arnaut Danjuma in recent transfer windows. Striker Igor Thiago, meanwhile, will join Brentford for around £30 million in the summer. Read more
Christopher Morales Williams 400m indoor world record cannot be ratified (BBC)
Christopher Morales Williams’ 400m indoor world record cannot be ratified because of “an issue with the starting blocks”.
The 19-year-old Canadian ran 44.49 seconds at the SEC Indoor Championships in Arkansas on Saturday.
Reports, external said the blocks did not comply with World Athletics regulations. Read more