Tinubu slashes travel convoy expenditure by 60% (Tribune)
President Bola Tinubu has implemented a significant 60 per cent reduction in the travel expenditure of government officials within his administration, as confirmed by Presidential Spokesman Ajuri Ngelale during an address to State House Correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday.
Ngelale explained that this decision forms part of the Presidency’s cost-cutting measures aimed at streamlining expenditure.
He emphasised that the directive will impact the travel budgets of the President, Vice President, First Lady, ministers, and heads of various government agencies. Read more
Alleged N438m consultancy fee: ‘It’s all good’, says Tunji-Ojo as he walks out of Presidential Villa (Nation)
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, January 9, summoned the minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo to the Presidential Villa over a link to Betta Edu.
This is coming barely 24 hours after the suspension of his counterpart in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu.
Tunji-Ojo was summoned to Aso Rock for overpayment of N438m as a consultancy fee to a company linked to the suspended minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu. Read more
EFCC grills Betta Edu over “N585m disbursement fraud” (Channels)
Anti-graft investigators on Tuesday have started grilling suspended minister Betta Edu over alleged N585m disbursement fraud, Channels Television has learnt.
Edu arrived at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Jabi, Abuja, at 11am, a top source in the commission told Channels Television.
The embattled minister came alongside her aides and lawyer and is currently facing EFCC investigators.
Edu’s appearance at the EFCC office came barely a day after she was suspended by President Bola Tinubu. Read more
Sego: How Sanwo-Olu prevented Lagos transporters’ war (Punch)
The recent resignation of Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, from his position as Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, has brought to light a power struggle that had the potential to escalate into a full-fledged conflict among transport unions in Lagos.
In a strategic move to prevent this brewing conflict, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu brokered a resolution between key stakeholders, leading to significant changes in the union’s leadership.
The decisive intervention of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu played a crucial role in diffusing the tension within the NURTW in Lagos. Read more
Truck explodes at Nigeria/Benin border area while discharging diesel (Vanguard)
A tanker loaded with 25,000 litres of diesel exploded on Monday at Seme, a border community between Nigeria and Benin Republic.
The explosion occurred as the tanker was discharging its content into a reservoir.
An eyewitness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Badagry on Tuesday that the explosion threw people in surrounding communities on the Nigeria and Benin Republic sides of the border into panic mode. Read more
Supreme Court reserves judgement on Plateau governorship election dispute (Guardian)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved judgment on an appeal filed by Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State seeking to set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal which nullified his election.
A five-member panel headed by Justice John Okoro upon hearing the arguments of parties in the matter stated that the date for judgment will be communicated to parties on or before 16 January when the matter will lapse.
At the hearing of the appeal on Tuesday, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court led by John Okoro, took arguments from lawyers to parties in the case. Read more
APC drags Aregbesola to court over division in party (Leadership)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has sued former Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola before a Federal High Court in Osogbo for allegedly causing a faction within the party.
The APC, through its counsel Ayodele Kusamotu, Yemi Akingbade, R.I.O Oloyede and B.J Nwayen, asked the court to declare that the former minister of Interior cannot validly lead suspended party members and other persons associating with them to launch a political, factional and parallel group named Omoluabi Progressives within the party.
APC contended that the said launching of a factional political group or party within the party with the use of the party’s logo, symbol and slogan is considered to have contravened the constitution of Nigeria and party’s constitution. Read more
Supreme Court victory will motivate my administration to work — Benue gov (Punch)
The Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has expressed excitement over the victory at the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court victory, he said, will motivate his administration to do more to develop Benue State.
The apex court had dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate in the governorship election, Titus Uba. Read more
Nicole Kidman ate alone in her hotel room the night she won an Oscar (Outlook)
Actress Nicole Kidman ate alone in her hotel room the night she won an Oscar in 2002 as she recalled “struggling” with her personal life despite the professional high.
The 56-year-old actress won an Academy Award for her role in drama film The Hours in 2002 but had not long split from Tom Cruise – with whom she has Isabelle, 30, as well as 28-year-old Connor – and recalled “struggling” with her personal life despite the professional high as she opted to just go back to her hotel after her victory at the ceremony. Read more
Gerard Butler reprising How to Train Your Dragon role for live-action remake (THR)
Gerard Butler is returning to the How to Train Your Dragon fold, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. The actor will reprise the father role of Stoick the Vast in the live-action remake that hails from original co-director Dean DeBlois.
The Black Phone‘s Mason Thames and The Last of Us‘ Nico Parker are leading the project, playing Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel in the original) and Astrid (America Ferrera), respectively. Universal has set a June 13, 2025 date for the project.
The original DreamWorks Animation trilogy was based on the books by Cressida Cowell, and told the story of a viking boy and his dragon, Toothless. The trilogy was released from 2010-19 and grossed more than $1.6 billion globally. Read more
Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore respond to Vili Fualaau’s criticism of May December (FilmNews)
Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore have defended their movie May December following criticism from its inspiration Vili Fualaau.
Todd Haynes’ new movie was influenced by the scandal surrounding sex offender Mary Kay Letourneau, who started a sexual relationship with Fualaau in 1996 when he was 12 and she was 34.
Fualaau, who was married to Letourneau between 2005 and 2019, told The Hollywood Reporter last week that he was “offended” by the film for allegedly ripping off his story. Read more
Willem Dafoe reacts to Pedro Pascal’s Walk of Fame ceremony tribute (People)
Willem Dafoe is grateful to have inspired others throughout his career, even if it makes him feel a bit up in age.
On Monday, the Spider-Man actor, 68, spoke exclusively with PEOPLE about his impact on his industry peers as he received his Hollywood Walk of Fame star.
At the ceremony, Dafoe’s The Great Wall costar Pedro Pascal praised Dafoe for his many contributions, stating that he watched the Oscar-nominated Platoon actor as a kid. Read more
Shane MacGowan and Sinéad O’Connor tribute show announced (BBC)
A tribute concert for Sinéad O’Connor and The Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan is set to take place in New York City’s Carnegie Hall in March.
The one-night-only show called Sinéad & Shane at Carnegie Hall will be a celebration of both their lives.
Artists such as Mountain Goats, Cat Power, and Dropkick Murphys are set to cover a number of O’Connor and MacGowan’s songs. Read more
Gabriel Attal set to become youngest and first openly gay prime minister of France (ABC)
French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Gabriel Attal as the country’s new prime minister, as he seeks to boost his political fortunes ahead of European parliamentary elections.
The 34-year-old education minister will become France’s youngest ever and first openly gay prime minister.
Mr Macron, who is serving his second term as France’s president, announced Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne was resigning earlier this week. Read more
IDF: Al Jazeera journalists were killed in car with drone-operating terror operative (TimesOfIsrael)
The Israel Defense Forces responded late Sunday to reports of the deaths of two Palestinian journalists working for Al Jazeera in an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip earlier in the day, saying the pair were traveling in a vehicle with a terror operative who was operating a drone.
In Sunday’s strike in Rafah, Hamza Wael Dahdouh, the son of Al Jazeera’s Gaza correspondent Wael Al-Dahdouh, and Mustafa Thuria, a video stringer for AFP who was also working for the Qatar-based TV outlet, were both killed. A third journalist, Hazem Rajab, was seriously wounded, Al Jazeera said.
In response to a query on the matter, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit told The Times of Israel that a military aircraft “identified and struck a terrorist who operated an aircraft in a way that put IDF forces at risk.” Read more
Cricket: Akpata optimistic of medal at African Games (Vanguard)
The president of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), Uyi Akpata, says he is optimistic that the sport will get a medal for the country at the upcoming 13th African Games in Ghana.
Akpata told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja that he has no doubt the sport will make a podium finish in March.
NAN reports that while cricket will be featured for the first time at the Games, the country’s male and female teams gained automatic qualification based on rankings. Read more
Osimhen eyes AFCON glory to soothe Nigerians’ pain (Leadership)
Victor Osimhen, the newly crowned African Player of the Year, carries the weight of Nigerian hopes on his shoulders. His dream: to convert their suffering into joy with an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.
The Napoli striker’s triumph comes after leading his club to their first Italian title in 33 years and consistently firing for the Super Eagles. Yet, personal success is tinged with the memory of March 29, 2022, a date etched in his mind.
That day, at Abuja’s Moshood Abiola Stadium, a roaring home crowd witnessed their dreams of World Cup qualification vanish as Ghana secured a crucial away-goal draw. Read more
Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold hit by knee injury (France24)
Liverpool have suffered a blow after England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold was ruled out for several weeks with a knee injury suffered in last weekend’s FA Cup win at Arsenal.
Reds assistant manager Pep Lijnders confirmed Alexander-Arnold’s injury when he spoke to the media on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday’s League Cup semi-final first leg against Fulham.
Alexander-Arnold was able to finish Sunday’s 2-0 third round victory over the Gunners, but the knee tear means he will spend an extended period on the sidelines. Read more
Luke Cundle: Stoke sign Wolves midfielder on loan after Plymouth recall (BBC)
Championship side Stoke City have signed Wolves midfielder Luke Cundle on loan for the rest of the season.
The 21-year-old played for Potters boss Steven Schumacher at former club Plymouth earlier this season.
He made 27 appearances on loan at Argyle, and scored five goals – the last in Saturday’s 3-1 FA Cup win against Sutton United.
“Stoke City is a massive club, it’s a new chapter for me and I’m delighted to be here,” Cundle said. Read more
Osaka just wants to have fun on Grand Slam return (StraitsTimes)
Naomi Osaka says she has returned to tennis from maternity leave with a more positive outlook and all the signs are that she will soon be back at a level where she can take on and beat the best in the world.
It might be too early for a tilt at a fifth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open this month but, with a good draw, a run deep into the second week at Melbourne Park cannot be counted out.
The 26-year-old, who pulled out of last year’s Australian Open with the announcement that she was pregnant with her daughter Shai, showed in Brisbane last week that she still has the weapons to overpower many players in the women’s game. Read more
Rumoured Arsenal target Ivan Toney vows to repay Brentford support with goals (IrishExaminer)
Ivan Toney says he lost his love for football during an eight-month betting ban but is ready to return and repay Brentford’s support during his lengthy lay-off.
The 27-year-old England striker has not played since last May, when he was found guilty of 232 breaches of the Football Association’s gambling rules, but is set to make his Premier League comeback against Nottingham Forest on January 20.
He has spent his time away from the game working hard on his own, in extra sessions at the club and on solo trips to Nashville, and admits struggling to come to terms with his punishment. Read more