Retired head teacher disappears visiting Lagos daughter, family panics (Punch)
The family of a retired head teacher, Rachael Afolabi, has been thrown into panic after she disappeared while visiting her daughter in the Ajegunle area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Afolabi on December 18, 2021, left the Orodu area of Ajegunle to visit one of her daughters staying in the Oluwa end of the community.
Our correspondent learnt that the 65-year-old woman went on the journey with another daughter.
They were said to have taken separate motorcycles.
However, when the motorcycle riders got to the Tolu Medical Junction, they took different paths and the sexagenarian could not be found. Read more
Marriage Proposal: COAS Applauded Over Release Of Female Soldier (DailyTrust)
Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) has commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, over the release of the female soldier detained for accepting the proposal of a corps member at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Yikpata, Kwara State.
The centre in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Joyce Ogwu, said it is excited by the release of the soldier, noting that the COAS had proven to be a listening leader with the interest of his troops and nation at heart.
Nigerian Army is peopled by highly disciplined personnel and its hierarchy must do things within the law to maintain discipline and professionalism within its set up,” it said.
Hannah Sofiat had earlier been detained for violating military rules and regulations by getting involved in a public display of an “amorous relationship” with a paramilitary trainee – a corps member.
Having taken an oath under the Armed Forces Act, it was expected that the female soldier would be aware of such as an act of indiscipline, negligence of duty and others capable of dragging the image of the Nigerian Army in the mud. Read more
Yahoo boy on the run after allegedly killing girlfriend for money ritual (Tribune)
Tragedy struck in Benin City on Christmas Eve as a suspected ‘Yahoo boy’, simply identified as Osas, allegedly murdered his girlfriend, Elohor Oniorosa, for money ritual purposes.
The suspect, Nigerian Tribune gathered, reportedly took to flight after committing the crime.
Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Kontongs Bello, while confirming the incident, disclosed that the father of the deceased, William Oniorosa, reported the case to the police, adding that investigation was on to arrest the fleeing suspect.
“The suspect’s name is Osas and his surname is unknown. He is the boyfriend of Elohor Oniorosa, daughter of one William Oniorosa, who also reported the incident to the police.
“Investigation is on while the suspect is on the run. The incident happened on 24/12/2021,” the PPRO added. Read more
Del York, Story Land Studios USA to develop ultra-modern film city in Lagos (Sun)
The African entertainment industry is about to receive a significant facelift in its fortunes and outlook, a signal that the great cultural renaissance that has long been the promise of the continent is finally about to be realised.
The Del York International Group has signed on with one of the biggest movie studios and theme park design developers in the world to partner it to develop a major film city project in Lagos.
According to reports from several international news outlets including Forbes, CNN, MSNBCTV, Del York and Storyland Studios signed the deal to develop the project in a location called Epe in partnership with the Lagos State Government.
Lagos is undisputedly Africa’s business capital with an estimated 20 million people living in the city, the siting of the new film city will most likely dramatically improve the economic potential of the state if not tourism throughout the region. Read more
Experts Worry Over Nigeria’s N3.8trn Debt Servicing In 2022 (Leadership)
With the federal government planning to spend N3.8 trillion of the N16 trillion 2022 budget on servicing its debt obligations, analysts have expressed worry that the country may soon run out of room to finance its debts.
This is as they called for a review of government spending and a reduction in the country’s borrowing, saying there is need for government to look into other sources of funding asides borrowing.
According to the 2022 Appropriation Bill, the federal government is looking at increasing its debt portfolio by N6 trillion next year to finance the 2022 budget, of which it hopes to spend N3.9 trillion in servicing its outstanding obligations both locally and externally from the N16 trillion budget.
Over the past five years, the country has spent $5.2 billion to service its external debt and N8.6 trillion in servicing its domestic debt. But analysts say this trend is worrisome. Data show that while domestic debt servicing amount has been slowly rising, external debt servicing took a leap in 2018 as the federal government stepped up its activities in the Eurobond market. Read more
Yuletide: NGO feeds suspects, policemen in Lagos (Punch)
A non-governmental organisation, First British Charity Home Foundation, on Monday, reportedly fed over 100 suspects and policemen in Lagos State to celebrate the Yuletide.
The owner of the foundation, Mr Evans Uchendu, who led his team to various police formations, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the gesture was aimed at putting smiles on people’s faces.
He said, “We visited Ijesha and Itire police stations, alongside the State Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon Close, in Ikoyi.
“We provided good water, soft drinks and food to over 100 policemen and suspects in custody. Read more
Fulani group to establish football association for nomadic children —Chairman (Vanguard)
Kautal Hore, a Fulani socio-cultural group, says it would establish a football association for nomadic children in Jigawa State.
The State Chairman of the association, Alhaji Umar Dubantu, stated this in an interview with Newsmen in Dutse on Monday.
According to him, the establishment of the association for the nomads will motivate and encourage the youth among them to actively partake in sporting activities, particularly at the grassroots.
Dubantu, who noted that the gesture would pave way for the discovery of talents, added that it would also enhance the development of football in the state. Read more
Ortom Celebrates Driver Who Gave Him Opportunity To Be A Bus Conductor (DailyTrust)
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, on Monday, celebrated his former boss, Mnenge Mtemave, and other contemporaries of Gboko Motor Park for marking a positive impact in his life when he worked as a conductor.
Ortom, in the spirit of the 2021 yuletide, also celebrated the driver’s colleagues at his residence in Ipav, Mbadim in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State.
The governor had worked as a motor conductor to Mtemave, who was a driver at the Gboko Motor Park in the late 1970s, and early 1980s while growing up in Gboko town after dropping out of primary school.
He recalled during the celebration, attended by his contemporaries, his former boss and their family members, that Mtemave invited him to work as a conductor and later taught him how to drive.
Ortom further noted that Mtemave later made him cashier and treasurer of all the monies they made weekly and gave him a blank cheque to spend at will, an opportunity he never took for granted but still went back to him to approve spending on his needs. Read more
Thugs disrupt Zamfara PDP congress (Vanguard)
Thugs invaded the venue of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, congress in Zamfara State and disrupted the proceedings.
The thugs, who looked fierce and dangerous, damaged canopies and plastic chairs, causing party members to run.
The congress, which started peacefully at the Samaru area of Gusau, ended up in commotion as the thugs chased party stalwarts and vehicles were vandalised.
Congress in hotel
An eyewitness said the PDP members had to relocate to an Army hotel in the state capital to hastily conduct the congress. Read more
COVID virus can spread to heart, brain days after infection, study says (NYPost)
The virus that causes COVID-19 can spread to a patient’s heart and brain days after infection — and survive for months in organs, according to a new study that may shed light on the so-called “long COVID.”
Scientists at the US National Institutes of Health in Maryland studied tissues taken from 44 people who had died after contracting the illness during the first year of the pandemic in the US, Bloomberg News reported.
They discovered SARS-CoV-2 RNA in various parts of the body — including the heart and brain — for as long as 230 days after the onset of symptoms, according to the news outlet. Read more
Drake surprised Toronto residents with stacks of cash for Christmas(NME)
Drake found himself in a generous mood this Christmas, handing out stacks of cash to random people in his hometown of Toronto, Canada.
One lucky recipient shared their encounter with the rapper in an Instagram Story, showing Drake sitting the back in the back of a Maybach as the poster flaunted a thick stack of $20 bills. “Oh my God, this is crazy,” they could be heard saying as Drake flashed a peace sign to the camera.
A caption for the post reads: “[Drake] giving away racks for Christmas. Life’s fucking unreal man. Legend of the city.”
It comes days after Drake emerged victorious from a $4billion (£3.02billion) lawsuit. The case was launched this past summer, with plaintiff Mesha Collins claiming that Drake defamed her publicly through posts made on Instagram. As for why he would do such a thing, it’s alleged that Collins broke into the rapper’s LA home in April of 2017. Read more
Covid: France tightens restrictions amid Omicron surge (BBC)
France has announced tighter Covid restrictions amid concerns over the Omicron variant.
From 3 January, remote working will become compulsory for those who can and public gatherings will be limited to 2,000 people for indoor events.
The news comes as France recorded more than 100,000 new infections on Saturday – the highest number reported in the country since the pandemic began.
But the prime minister stopped short of implementing a New Year’s Eve curfew. Read more
‘Holiday tree catches fire on Christmas and kills father, two sons and their dogs’ (Metro)
A family’s holiday tree reportedly caught fire on Christmas morning and resulted in the deaths of a father, two children and their two dogs.
Eric King, 40, his sons Liam, 11, and Patrick, 8, and their dogs died in the house fire in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Quakertown Police Chief Scott McElree told ABC 6.
‘Three family members are deceased as a result of the fire,’ McElree said. ‘We are looking at the Christmas tree that may have ignited as a result of Christmas lights on that Christmas tree.’
The fire at the two-story home started around 1.30 am on Saturday. Firefighters quickly arrived at the scene and worked to extinguish the flames. They tried to enter the home and made a few attempts to rescue family members, unsuccessfully. It took an hour for firefighters to get the blaze under control. Read more
Nicole Kidman struggled with depression while playing Virginia Woolf after Tom Cruise divorce (Independent)
Nicole Kidman has said that she suffered with depression while playing Virginia Woolf in the wake of her divorce from Tom Cruise.
The Australian actor won an Oscar for her portrayal of the author – who died by suicide – in the 2002 film The Hours, which also starred Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore.
Woolf’s mental health problems while writing Mrs Dalloway and her death were both shown on screen, with Kidman admitting that she became an “open vessel” for the writer’s struggles after insisting on filming the suicide scene without the use of a stunt double.
Appearing on BBC Radio 4’s This Cultural Life on New Year’s Day, Kidman said: “I don’t know if I ever thought of the danger, I think I was so in her.”
The Hours was shot one year after Kidman announced her divorce from Cruise, who she had met in 1989. Read more
Ghislaine Maxwell jury fails to reach verdict after third day of deliberations (NYPost)
The jury deliberating in the Ghislaine Maxwell trial failed to reach a verdict Monday — the third full day of their discussions — as they weighed legal nuances and pored over witness testimony from the trial.
The 12-person panel sent a note to Judge Alison Nathan around 10:30 a.m., requesting different coloured Post-it notes, white board paper and highlighters.
The 12-person panel sent a note to Judge Alison Nathan, requesting Post-it notes, white board paper and highlighters.
Elizabeth Williams via AP
The jury deliberating in the Ghislaine Maxwell trial failed to reach a verdict Monday — the third full day of their discussions — as they weighed legal nuances and pored over witness testimony from the trial.
The 12-person panel sent Judge Alison Nathan several notes Monday, asking for clarification on what evidence they could take into account for one of the charges. They also requested additional transcripts from the trial.
The jury also asked for a number of office supplies to aid in their deliberations, including Post-it notes, highlighters and white board paper. Read more
Amber Heard names new dog after Australian minister embroiled in feud (BBC)
Australian Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce says he has a “real sense of accomplishment” after learning that US actress Amber Heard named her new dog after him.
She did so in reference to a 2015 feud over a quarantine breach involving two other dogs.
That year, she brought them to Queensland to visit her then husband Johnny Depp, who was filming one of the Pirates of the Caribbean films there.
The couple were given days to remove the dogs or they would be put down. Read more
I had sleepless nights over Eagles AFCON selection – Eguavoen (Punch)
Super Eagles interim coach, Austin Eguavoen, has admitted that he had sleepless night making his 298-man list for the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
The Eagles will face Egypt, Sudan and Guinea Bissau in Group D.
The 2021 AFCON will hiold from January 9 to February 6, 2022, across five cities in Cameroon.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Eguavoen said he was aware of the threats posed by the seven-time champions.
“Egypt are seven times winner and they are a team I have played against and coach against at the junior level. I know what they can bring to the table,” Eguavoen told the Nigerian Football Federation TV. Read more
Joshua preparing for war, murder during rematch with Usyk (Guardian)
Anthony Joshua already looks ripped and fully prepared for his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, tentatively planned for April 2022, reports talksport.com.
The Brit relinquished his WBA, WBO and IBF world heavyweight titles at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September as he failed to get to grips with the former cruiserweight king.
Usyk, a fellow Olympic Gold medallist, was too elusive and too sharp for Joshua, who failed to make his vastly superior physical advantages count.
Despite being three inches taller, nearly 20 pounds heavier and possessing a four inch reach advantage, Joshua was left flummoxed and almost finished in the capital. Read more
Callum Hudson-Odoi overtakes Arjen Robben to set new Chelsea assists record (Metro)
Callum Hudson-Odoi has overtaken Arjen Robben to become the youngest Chelsea player to register 10 assists in the Premier League.
The 21-year-old won a penalty in the first half of Chelsea’s 3-1 victory over Aston Villa on Boxing Day, which made it his 10th Premier League assist since his debut in January 2018.
Robben, meanwhile, joined Chelsea at the age of 20 and registered nine assists in his first Premier League season before getting his 10th at the start of the 2005/06 campaign.
After initially struggling to secure a place in Chelsea’s attack following Thomas Tuchel’s arrival in January, Hudson-Odoi has thrived over the last few months. Read more
Amy Pieters: Dutch cyclist to remain in induced coma for at least three more days after fall (BBC)
Dutch cyclist Amy Pieters will remain in an induced coma for at least three more days following a fall during training, her SD Worx team has said.
The incident happened in Alicante during a Dutch training camp.
The 30-year-old was taken to hospital by air ambulance and had surgery to relieve pressure on her brain.
“The doctors emphasise that extra rest at this stage gives a better chance of recovery,” said an SD Worx statement. Read more
Australia retain the Ashes as England slump to humiliating defeat (Metro)
Australia have retained the Ashes after England slumped to a humiliating defeat by an innings and 14 runs on the third morning of the third Test in Melbourne.
The tourists began the day 31/4 and retained some hope of overhauling Australia’s modest first innings score of 267 and at least setting their hosts a target.
Instead, England were blown away by Test debutant Scott Boland who finished with scarcely comprehensible figures of six wickets for seven runs in just four overs. Read more
Sheldon Rankins wants Jets to treat Tom Brady like any other player (NYPost)
Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins has seen the look in teammates’ eyes before. When they line up against Tom Brady, suddenly the young player realizes … that’s really Tom Brady.
“You’ve been a fan of football for so long and you’ve seen guys play at the highest level,” Rankins said Monday. “Tom Brady has won what, seven Super Bowls? To be able to witness that as you’re growing up, him win no matter the circumstance or situation and then to line up across from him, that’s something a lot of people dream about. Then, to be able to do it, for a split second guys can really sit there and be like, ‘Wait a minute, that’s Tom Brady.’ It’ll happen to somebody but when the bullets start flying, it’s football. It’s time to go win a game.” Read more
Cavani rescues Man Utd in Newcastle draw (Guardian)
Ralf Rangnick accused his Manchester United stars of lacking aggression after Edinson Cavani rescued a 1-1 draw at struggling Newcastle on Monday.
Rangnick’s side trailed to Allan Saint-Maximin’s eye-catching early goal and were out-played for long periods at St James’ Park.
Cavani came off the bench to bag his first goal since October in the second half, ensuring Rangnick avoided a first defeat in four games as United’s interim manager.
But United remain in seventh place in the Premier League, seven points behind fourth placed Arsenal with two games in hand. Read more