Woman lures 4-year-old to kidnappers, Rivers police arrest suspects (Punch)
The Rivers State Police Command said its operatives busted a kidnap syndicate, comprising four women for allegedly kidnapping and trafficking a four-year-old in Afam, Oyigbo Local Government Area of the state.
The spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Iringe-Koko said one of the suspects known by the victim had lured the infant to her accomplices.
She said the four female suspects aged between 19 and 26 were arrested while trying to transport the infant to Aba in Abia State. Read more
2023: Obi becomes President of Nigeria from next Sunday, says DG, LP campaign committee in Anambra (Sun)
The Director General of Labour Party Campaign Committee in Anambra State, Chief Geomartin Uzodike has advised Anambra electorate to, not only vote Mr Peter Obi for President but to also vote all candidates for the National Assembly under the party’s platform.
He advised the party’s faithful at Igbo-Ukwu in Aguata Local Governement Area of the State while the electorate were being given the last minute voter education.
Chief Uzodike said that all Christians and other religious leaders had decided that Mr Peter Obi should be voted in as Nigeria’s next President having been rated the most qualified among all the contestants. He noted that even some Nothern elders had told the Igbo that the ball was in their court.
He affirmed that Obi must become the President of Nigeria through the ballots with effect from next Sunday. Read more
Lagos Boot Party guber candidate, Wale Oluwo steps down for LP (Tribune)
The Boot Party Gubernatorial Candidate in Lagos State, Mr Wale Oluwo has stepped down for the Labour Party Candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour to form an alliance in the upcoming gubernatorial elections in the state.
This alliance took place at Pa. Ayo Adebanjo’s residence on Tuesday in Lagos.
Speaking at the alliance ceremony, Mr Gbadebo said the state assemblies of both parties will be harmonized consequent upon the alliance. Read more
JAMB closes 2023 UTME registration (Vanguard)
The registration for the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) has ended after a one-week extension announced by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The Head, Public Affairs and Protocol of the board, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
It would be recalled that the board had granted the extension to accommodate candidates who could not register for the 2023 UTME within the allowable window of Jan. 14 to Feb. 14, due to recent developments in the country.
Benjamin said that at the close of the registration, about 1.6 million candidates had successfully registered for the 2023 UTME. Read more
Court seizes multibillion Lagos, Abuja, Dubai properties linked to Kogi govt (Nation)
The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has granted an order of interim forfeiture of 14 properties and firms in Lagos, Abuja, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) allegedly linked to fraud by some Kogi State government officials.
Justice Nicholas Oweibo granted the order sequel to an ex parte motion filed and argued by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.
Justice Oweibo also authorised the EFCC to confiscate N400 million recovered from one Aminu Falala in connection with the alleged fraud. Read more
2023 Elections: INEC begins movement of sensitive materials to LGAs nationwide (Channels)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun the movement of sensitive materials from the branches of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the local government area offices across the country ahead of the presidential and national assembly election on Saturday.
In Lagos State, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos, Mr Segun Agbaje, who is overseeing the process in the state said the INEC is ready for Saturday’s presidential and national assembly elections.
The INEC REC also said the materials are secure and intact. Read more
Explosion rocks Pro-Atiku lawmaker’s media house in Rivers (Leadership)
Explosion suspected to be dynamite, on Tuesday night, rocked a facility housing the Wish FM and Atlantic Television in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
This is as unknown gunmen same Tuesday night attacked the residence of the House of Representatives candidate on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), King Tony Gboms, in the State.
LEADERSHIP observed that both Wish FM and Atlantic Television are owned by Hon. Chinyere Igwe, a member of the House of Representatives and staunch supporter of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Read more
EFCC moves against vote buyers, deploys operatives to states, FCT (Guardian)
Ahead of Saturday’s general elections, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has deployed its operatives to the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, to combat vote-buying.
Apart from the teams deployed across the country, the anti-graft agency has also released incidents reporting hotlines for the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT.
EFCC head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday said the move was part of efforts to ensure the integrity of the February 25, 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections. Read more
3,000-year-old olive tree on the Greek Island of Crete still produces olives today (OpenCulture)
On the island of Crete, in the village of Vouves, stands an olive tree estimated to be 3,000 years old. Hearty and resilient, “the Olive Tree of Vouves” still bears fruit today. Because, yes, olives are apparently considered a fruit.
Archaeologist Ticia Verveer posted a picture of the tree on Twitter and noted: It “stood here when Rome burned in AD64, and Pompeii was buried under a thick carpet of volcanic ash in AD79.” That all happened during the tree’s infancy alone.
An estimated 20,000 people now visit the tree each year. If you can’t swing a trip to Crete, you can take a closer look with the video below, right around the three minute mark.
Across the Mediterranean, you can still find six other olive trees believed to be 2,000-3,000 years old–some of our last living ties to an ancient world. And beautiful ones at that. Read more
Maggie Rogers notices more fans having panic attacks at gigs (NME)
Maggie Rogers has said she has noticed more people having panic attacks at her gigs since the pandemic.
The singer recently began her ‘Feral Joy’ tour of the United States in support of last year’s ‘Surrender’ LP, and took to TikTok this week to share her observations from looking out at the crowd during the shows.
“So something is happening on this tour that we have never ever experienced before,” she said in the video message, “which is that we’re seeing more people than ever either pass out or have panic attacks in the audience”. Read more
Man who created cover for Oasis’ debut album Definitely Maybe to open music art shop (MEN)
The man who created the cover for Oasis’ debut album Definitely Maybe is to open a music art shop in Manchester city centre.
Microdot has taken 375 sq ft of space in the iconic retail and leisure district of King Street.
The brand, which was launched in 1990 by Brian Cannon, created record sleeve artwork for everything released by Oasis and The Verve throughout the 1990’s and has created a selection of artwork for Suede, Cast, Ash and Super Furry Animals. Read more
Will Smith finally wins fans over by poking fun at himself in new Oscars slap TikTok (Standard)
Will Smith has won over fans by posting a self-depricating post poking fun at his Oscars slap fallout.
The actor, whose fall from grace followed his infamous assault of comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards, has been praised for his new TikTok video addressing the incident.
In the clip, Smith is seen watching a TikTok user who claims that life can be more “interesting and fun” if people ask inanimate objects how they feel about them. Read more
Broadway in Hollywood sets 2023-24 season at the Pantages (Deadline)
Broadway in Hollywood has tuned up the slate of musicals for its 2023-24 season. Headed to the Pantages Theatre stage starting late this year are the touring productions of MJ The Musical, The Wiz, Chicago The Musical, Girl from the North Country, Mrs. Doubtfire, Peter Pan and Company.
“We’re gonna be startin’ somethin’ exciting,” Broadway in Hollywood President Jeff Loeb said in a statement. “Our new seven-show season — featuring one pre-Broadway premiere, six Los Angeles Premieres and the long-awaited return of an American classic — is reason enough to ease on down the road to the glorious Hollywood Pantages Theatre.”
The season kicks off December 20 with MJ The Musical, based on the life and music of Michael Jackson. It continues with new productions of classics The Wiz and season-ender Peter Pan and includes the 25th anniversary production of Chicago, 2022 Best Musical Tony nominee Company, the screen-to-stage adaptation of Mrs. Doubtfire and Girl from the North Country, with music and lyrics by Bob Dylan. Read more
China pledges to deepen cooperation with Russia (RTE)
China has pledged to deepen cooperation with Russia on Wednesday as US President Joe Biden prepared to meet leaders of NATO’s eastern flank.
The move comes amid rising geopolitical tensions ahead of the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russia is due to begin military exercises with China in South Africa on Friday and has sent a flagship frigate equipped with new generation hypersonic cruise missiles. A Russian officer said on Wednesday that Russia would fire artillery, but not the missiles, whose speed makes them difficult to shoot down. Read more
Osimhen won’t rule out Napoli summer exit (Punch)
Manchester United target Victor Osimhen has refused to rule out leaving Napoli in the summer, giving Erik ten Hag a major boost on his quest for a No 9.
The £107m-rated striker has been in prolific form this season, racking up 19 goals and four assists in 23 appearances this season.
The Nigerian – along with Man United’s own striker Marcus Rashford – is one of the most promising forwards in world football at the moment, and Napoli will no doubt be attacked from all angles in the summer. Read more
Ten Hag reveals ‘‘massive’’ support from Fergie after Man Utd pair were spotted having dinner (Football365)
Erik ten Hag picked the brain of Sir Alex Ferguson ahead of the huge Europa League clash against Barcelona, when the Man Utd boss believes his team need to produce their best performance of the season.
A week on from the chaotic 2-2 draw in Catalunya, the European heavyweights go toe-to-toe in the return leg of the knockout round play-off at a packed, rocking Old Trafford on Thursday evening.
Ten Hag’s fingerprints were clear in United’s display at the Nou Camp, where the meticulous Dutchman bemoaned some of the officiating and his side’s lack of cutting edge immediately afterwards. Read more
Pep Guardiola knows RB Leipzig will offer Man City a sterner test than most (DailyMail)
If last year’s meetings with RB Leipzig are an indicator of what might follow over the coming weeks, then Manchester City are in for a game. They yielded 12 goals and Leipzig scored five of them.
City are attempting to reach a sixth consecutive Champions League quarter-final and will hope that this season is the one when they go on and lift the whole thing.
Yet while Leipzig might appear a gentler opponent than others in the draw – City could have been pitted with Paris Saint-Germain – this should represent a sterner examination than at the last-16 stage in the majority of previous campaigns. Read more
Jake Paul sets out three-fight plan including YouTube rival KSI and MMA debut (Mirror)
Jake Paul is eyeing fights with Nate Diaz and KSI once he settles his rivalry with Tommy Fury this weekend.
YouTube star Paul will step into the boxing ring for the seventh time as a professional this weekend when he takes on ex-Love Island star Fury in a huge test in Saudi Arabia. Paul has already beaten the likes of former UFC stars Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley, but believes he can conquer the sport in all aspects including as an influencer.
It is set to be a busy year for Paul who recently signed a new deal with MMA promotion PFL with one eye on making a debut in the cage in the future. There are likely to be several opponents on a fight list for Paul, if he is to progress beyond natural boxer Fury this weekend including veteran Diaz. Read more
Saudi Arabia want to buy F1 team, have Saudi driver (F1News)
While the growth of F1 in the USA is often talked about, the influence of the Middle East has somewhat flown under the radar in recent years.
The 2023 F1 calendar will see a Grand Prix take place in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, with the number of races in the Middle East increasing in the past few seasons.
Saudi Arabia also reportedly had a $20bn bid to purchase Formula One reject by current owners Liberty Media, showing the Kingdom’s intent to progress their F1 project. Read more
