There’s no deportation order against me— Pastor Tobi Adegboyega (Channels)
Embattled Nigerian Pastor Tobi Adegboyega has dismissed claims that he was about to be deported from the UK, where his church is facing allegations of financial misconduct.
Pastor Adegboyega, leader of SPAC Nation (Salvation Proclaimer Ministries Limited), now known as Nation Family, told the BBC in an interview on Friday: “There is no deportation order. Let me make that clear.”
He said the court case was still an “ongoing issue.” Read more
Fire engulfs Christ Apostolic Church in Ibadan (Vanguard)
A fire broke out at the Christ Apostolic Church in Wisdom Estate, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Friday night, trapping several worshippers during a Friday vigil.
The incident, which occurred around 9:30 pm on Olohunda Road, Lagelu Local Government Area, was confirmed by sources on Saturday morning.
Eyewitnesses reported that some worshippers had fallen asleep in preparation for the vigil when the blaze erupted. One witness stated, “Some people had already slept off when the fire started.” Read more
Police nab Ogun truck driver, motor boy for beating man to death (Punch)
The Ogun State Police Command on Saturday said that its operatives have arrested a truck driver, Olalere Timileyin and his motor boy at Obada Oko, Abeokuta, the state capital, over the death of a man said to have been assaulted for allegedly stealing a tarpaulin.
The spokesperson for the state police command, SP Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a statement sent to journalists on Saturday.
Odutola stated that one Alao Fadipe of Iyana Ikereku at about 3 am on Friday, December 13, reported to the police how he saw some individuals fighting on the road in front of his house. Read more
Tinubu working to bring smiles to Nigerians, Obasa says (Independent)
Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has urged Nigerians not to despair as the administration of President Bola Tinubu is working to resolve the country’s challenges.
Speaking at the Lagos State House of Assembly’ 22nd Annual Thanksgiving Service and the End of the Year Party on Friday, Obasa praised the resolve of the president to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians.
“The outgoing year is indeed a challenging one, especially considering the economic situation of the country. Nevertheless, we have solace in the fact that the government of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not leaving any stone unturned to bring us to our promised land.
“Mr. President is busy doing everything possible to put smiles on our faces. Trust me, succour is coming. I urge us to keep hope alive,” Dr. Obasa said during the Assembly’s 22nd Annual Thanksgiving Service with the theme: ‘The Voice Of Mercy’. Read more
‘‘I’m alive’’, INEC Chairman shoots down death rumour (DailyTrust)
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, says he is alive.
Yakubu said this in a statement signed on his behalf by Rotimi Oyekanmi, his Chief Press Secretary.
Daily Trust reports that an online platform and some social media handles reported that the INEC chairman died at an undisclosed hospital in London, after an illness. Read more
APM Terminals Apapa hits new milestone for truck visits (ThisDay)
APM Terminals Apapa, Nigeria’s largest container terminal has said that it recorded a new milestone as regards servicing of trucks that visit the terminal.
In a statement signed by the Terminal Manager, Steen Knudsen, the terminal announced that it had handled an impressive 32,945 gate volumes through 20,856 truck visits, for the month of November. The truck visits include import deliveries, empties and export gate-in of containers.
Steen Knudsen said, “This is a new record achieved for gate volumes and truck visits since the inception of our operations in 2006. This achievement is a testament to the success of our recent transformation and optimization initiatives. Read more
PSC approves new CP for Ogun (Tribune)
Police Service Commission (PSC), has approved the posting of CP Olanrewaju Ogunlowo from Kwara as the new substantive Commissioner of Police for Ogun State Police Command.
This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen by the Spokesperson of the Commission, Mr Ikechukwu Ani.
According to the statement, CP Ogunlowo takes over from CP Abiodun Alamutu who has retired from the service of the Nigeria Police Force. Read more
Demolitions: Why we can’t stop Wike – Akpabio (DailyTrust)
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has explained why the red chamber cannot outrightly prevent the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, from demolishing structures in the nation’s capital.
Wike has been criticised for embarking on widespread demolition of houses in Abuja.
A construction company, Paullosa Nigeria Limited, had recently raised the alarm over a demolition notice issued by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to demolish its estate in the Lifecamp area of Abuja. Read more
Mandy Moore’s Disney classic is getting a live-action remake (DigitalSpy)
Disney has announced another live-action remake of one of its beloved animated films.
This time around, it’s 2010’s Tangled, which tells the story of Rapunzel. Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Hercules) was on music duty, while Mandy Moore (This Is Us) and Zachary Levi (Shazam!) voiced the main characters.
Deadline reports that The Greatest Showman director Michael Gracey is in negotiations to helm the project. Thor: Love and Thunder writer Jennifer Kaytin Robinson has penned the latest draft of the script. Read more
Millions affected by unprecedented flooding in Chad, says UNFPA (AfricaNews)
Since July 2024, catastrophic flooding in Chad has wreaked havoc on nearly two million people, marking it as one of the most severe disasters in recent memory.
Homes have been swept away, and lives have been shattered. As the floodwaters surged, countless families sought safety on higher ground, grabbing whatever belongings they could carry.
No region has been untouched by this disaster. Read more
South Korea’s president impeached after calling martial law (LeMonde)
South Korean lawmakers on Saturday, December 14, voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed martial law bid, with the opposition declaring a “victory of the people.” The vote took place as hundreds of thousands took to the streets of Seoul in rival rallies for and against Yoon, who launched a failed attempt to impose martial law on December 3.
Out of 300 lawmakers, 204 voted to impeach the president on allegations of insurrection. Eighty-five voted against. Three abstained, with eight votes nullified.
With the impeachment, Yoon has been suspended from office while South Korea’s Constitutional Court deliberates on the vote. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is now the nation’s interim leader. The court now has 180 days to rule on Yoon’s future. Read more
Paramount Pictures revives “Ugly Sonic” for ‘‘Sonic The Hedgehog 3’’ promo (Deadline)
Paramount Pictures brought back the original Sonic character design for a special Sonic the Hedgehog 3 promotion.
In 2019, the studio released the first trailer for the big-screen adaptation of the classic Sega video game. Backlash on social media over the character showing so many teeth quickly took over, which forced Paramount to redesign the character.
Ahead of the premiere of “Sonic 3” on December 20, the company revealed an “Ugly Sonic” Christmas sweater, part of a special giveaway to promote the new film. The ugly Christmas sweater is one of the prizes for the “12 Hours of Sonic” giveaway. Read more
Glen Powell at centre of bidding war over erotic thriller ‘‘Homewreckers’’ (THR)
It’s shaping up to be the last big bidding war of 2024. And it features Glen Powell.
The actor is attached to star and produce Homewreckers, an erotic thriller with a sci-fi twist. It’s a short story package that has several studios and companies hot and bothered.
Legendary, Lionsgate, New Regency, Sony and Warner Bros. are among the companies making offers and in the mix for the project, which was unveiled to the town early in the week. Read more
Liam Payne’s friend who saw him 1 hour before tragic death makes bombshell new claim (Mirror)
Liam Payne’s friend Roger Nores has made the bombshell claim that the One Direction star was “happy” and “perfectly balanced” an hour before his tragic death.
The chart-topping star fell to his death at the age of 31 from a third floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in October, and is widely reported to have been in a frenzied state. Businessman Roger, who is himself from Argentina, formed a friendship with Liam in 2020 after they met at an event hosted by Vogue in London – and he was with the star on the day he died.
It has previously been reported that Roger was with the singer soon before his fateful fall – and now Roger has claimed Liam was in “good spirits” the last time he saw him. Roger previously faced accusations of “abandonment” following Liam’s death – an accusation he has denied – and he has not been charged with abandonment. Read more
Prince Andrew says he “ceased all contact” with alleged Chinese spy (BBC)
Prince Andrew has said he “ceased all contact” with a businessman accused of being a Chinese spy after receiving advice from the government.
In a statement, his office said Prince Andrew had met the man “through official channels” and there was “nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed”.
The alleged spy, known only as H6, was described in court as having formed an “unusual degree of trust” with the duke and has since been banned from the UK following a judgement by the UK’s semi-secret national security court. Read more
Nigerian police woman Juliet Chukwu wins bantamweight championship in Johannesburg (Channels)
A female police officer, Corporal Juliet Chukwu has won the Bantamweight Championship in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The feat was announced in a statement by the Nigeria Police Force in a statement on Saturday.
According to the statement signed by the NPF’s Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumiyiwa Adejobi, her win highlights the growing prowess of Nigerian athletes on the global stage, and reinforces the Force’s commitment to excellence in all areas of sports. Read more
Tijani Babangida recalls fatal accident that claimed his son’s, younger brother’s lives (Nation)
Former Super Eagles winger and Ajax Amsterdam FC star, Tijani Babangida, has recalled with regrets a fatal accident he was involved in on the Kaduna-Zaria Road on May 9.
The deadly accident claimed the lives of his son, Fadil, and his younger brother, Ibrahim while he, his wife and maid sustained serious injuries.
Recalling the incident in a 14-minute video documentary shared on the website of Ajax International on Thursday, the Super Eagles
legend described the incident as a nightmare. Read more
Celtic vs Rangers cup final to have no-fly zone imposed over Hampden during showpiece (DailyRecord)
A no-fly zone has been imposed over Hampden Park for Celtic and Rangers Premier Sports Cup final clash tomorrow afternoon.
Police Scotland imposed the restriction which bans any unmanned aircraft such as drones from flying within one nautical mile of the national stadium between 1pm and 7pm on Sunday, December 15.
The Old Firm clubs will meet for the 17th time in a League Cup final when they kick off at 3.30pm. The winners on Sunday will lift the 50th League Cup won by one of Glasgow’s Old Firm clubs, with Rangers having won nine of the 16 Old Firm finals. The competition has been contested 79 times since 1946, reports Glasgow Live. Read more
Maldini rejected Milan invitation to attend 125th anniversary celebrations (FootballItalia)
Milan legend Paolo Maldini reportedly turned down an invitation to attend the club’s upcoming 125th anniversary celebrations ahead of Sunday’s Serie A match against Genoa.
The Rossoneri are celebrating their 125th anniversary this week. The club was officially founded on December 13, 1899.
Milan have several events and tributes planned, including a special one-off retro shirt that the players will wear on Sunday. The game will also be attended by a long list of former greats, including Alessandro Costacurta, Roberto Donadoni, Frank Rijkaard, Clarence Seedorf and several others. Read more
Ex-Bills star sued by woman for “knowingly giving her herpes”… after his pregnant fiancee warned her (DailyMail)
Former Buffalo Bills star Eric Moulds is being sued by a Western New York woman after she alleges he ‘knowingly gave her herpes’.
The woman, who is named in the lawsuit but not publicly, claims that Moulds ‘knew, or should have known he had a sexually transmitted disease’ before they started a sexual relationship, and he did not disclose such information.
The Western New York woman also makes the bombshell claim in the lawsuit that it was Moulds’ own pregnant fiancee who contacted her and told her to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases, including herpes. Read more
18 years after saying Duke Lacrosse players raped her, accuser now admits it was lie (UPI)
Eighteen years after she said Duke LaCrosse players raped her, Crystal Mangum admitted she lied and asked the men to forgive her. Mangum is serving time in prison for murdering her then-boyfriend in 2013.
She falsely accused David Evans, Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann of raping her in 2006. The men were exonerated.”I testified falsely against them by saying that they raped me when they didn’t, and that was wrong, and I betrayed the trust of a lot of other people who believed in me,” Mangum said in an interview published on the “Let’s Talk with Kat” podcast. Read more