Woman sets self ablaze in Ogun over N70k loan (DailyTrust)
A middle-aged woman based in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has committed suicide after setting herself on fire over a N70,000 debt.
The woman popularly known as Mama Dada also reportedly set a rented apartment she lived in on fire.
The incident occurred at Oke-Keesi, Itoko area of Abeokuta, on Saturday.
Witnesses said the deceased was burnt beyond recognition as the entire building was also razed down. Read more
New Naira: How my pregnant wife died in Kano hospital – Husband (Punch)
A 32-year-old woman, Shema’u Labaran, died along with her nine-month pregnancy at the Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital, Kano, reportedly due to the inability of her husband to pay medical bills in the new naira notes in time.
Labaran was allegedly left in pain for more than eight hours without attention from the medical personnel on duty.
Narrating the unfortunate incident that led to his wife’s death, the 42-year-old husband of the deceased, Bello Baffa, told an online newspaper on Saturday that his wife (Shema’u) bled to death while he was struggling to settle medical bills at the pharmacy through transfer. Read more
Pastor Enenche endorses LP Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi (Tribune)
The founder and General Overseer of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Pastor Paul Enenche, has described the presidential candidates of the two major political parties in the country as being part and parcel of the many challenges facing the country today, adding that they can’t be part of the solution.
The cleric disclosed this during his Sunday sermon at the Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Abuja.
According to him, the two major political parties’ collective actions in ensuring the current administration’s emergence played a huge role in the many challenges the country is facing today, saying that Nigerians should reject their candidates at the poll next week. Read more
NDLEA arrests 64 suspects, seizes 517kg illicit drugs in Sokoto (Guardian)
The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested no fewer than 64 suspects, including seven drug dealers after raid of some hotels in Sokoto.
Mr Muhammad Iro, the NDLEA Commandant, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday that more than 517 kilogrammes of illicit drugs were seized from the suspects.
According to Iro, the raid is part of efforts to tackle criminal elements before the general election.
“Our operatives in the first raid seized 473 Kilogrammes of Cannabis sativa, 4.3 Kilogrammes Cordine, 10 grams of Rafinole and seven grams of methamphetamine. Read more
Election: We’ll beat Sanwo-Olu with our strategies – AA Lagos chairman (Punch)
The Lagos State chapter of the Action Alliance has hinted that its party will defeat the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, with the action plans and strategies put in place for the March 11 governorship election.
The state party chairman, Nureni Ayinla-Oniru, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Lagos.
“Noises and dances on the streets in the name of campaign do not translate into votes. The voters are indoors and those are our target. Read more
EFCC speaks on alleged N400b “recovered from Tinubu’s house” (DailyTrust)
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has debunked reports circulating social media that its operatives raided the home of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and recovered N400billion.
This was contained in a statement on Sunday by Wilson Uwujaren, Head, Media and Publicity of the commission.
According to online reports, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered EFCC to raid Tinubu’s house and N400billion of the new naira notes were recovered in his underground house.
But the anti-corruption agency in the statement titled ‘EFCC Did Not Raid Tinubu’s Home’, said no such operation was carried out by its operatives. Read more
NDLEA intercepts Europe-bound 58kg cocaine, meth at Lagos, Abuja airports (Channels)
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have intercepted consignments of illicit drugs including cocaine, methamphetamine and its precursor chemical, ephedrine going to the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand and Cyprus.
The interceptions were made at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and at the offices of some courier companies.
At least three traders at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo area of Lagos: Nwudele Basil Christopher; Chiedu Ezenwani Francis and Donatus Nwojiji were arrested in connection with attempts to export the 52.10 kilograms of ephedrine, a precursor chemical and active ingredient for the production of methamphetamine. Read more
Immigration redeploys 11 ACG, 30 Comptrollers (Nation)
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has effected a major shake up in its top echelon by redeploying 11 Assistant Comptroller-Generals (ACG) and 30 Comptrollers.
The Comptroller General of Immigration, Isah Jere Idris, who approved the immediate redeployment of the 41 senior officers, admitted that it was done ahead of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly polls.
In a statement by the NIS Public Relations officer, Tony Akuneme, ( a Comptroller of Immigration), the Service explained that the redeployment affected eleven Assistant Comptrollers General in charge of the various zones across the country. Read more
Judd Apatow mocks Tom Cruise’s height, Scientology relationship in DGA Awards monologue (THR)
Judd Apatow let loose on Tom Cruise during his DGA Awards monologue on Saturday night, roasting the superstar on everything from his height to his commitment to Scientology.
Apatow, hosting the award show for the fourth time, started off the bit by teasing that the “visual effects in [Top Gun:] Maverick were so top-notch I couldn’t even see the stack of phone books Tom Cruise sat on to reach the flight controls.” He continued, “That’s why he’s always jumping out of tall buildings because you can’t tell how short he is from a 100-story building. That’s why when he’s standing on the wing of an airplane he’s always alone, he doesn’t want anyone there next to him for scale.”
The director noted how when Cruise jumped up and down on the couch while on the Oprah Winfrey Show in 2005, everyone thought, “‘What a lunatic.’ Now he drives a motorcycle off a cliff and then BASE jumps, and we’re all like, ‘Tom’s fine.” Read more
Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell fatally shot in Hacienda Heights (CBS)
A high-ranking local Catholic church official was fatally shot on Saturday in Hacienda Heights.
According to a statement from Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the shooting happened at around 1 p.m. in the 1500 block of Janlu Avenue.
When deputies arrived to the scene, they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Deputies identified the victim has been identified as David O’Connell, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. An Ireland-native, O’Connell was 69-years-old. He was named to the position by Pope Francis in 2015. Read more
Richard Gere hospitalised with pneumonia in Mexico (FarOut)
Actor Richard Gere has been hospitalised with pneumonia while on holiday with his family in Mexico.
Gere had travelled to the country to celebrate his wife Alejandra Silva’s 40th birthday. The couple have been married since 2018, and share two children together, who are also on the trip. According to TMZ, the actor was diagnosed with the infection after visiting a hospital near their residence in Nuevo Vallarta as a precautionary measure.
The facility decided to keep Gere in care overnight, but he’s since been discharged from the hospital and his health is reportedly on an upwards trajectory. According to the aforementioned publication, Gere has been given antibiotics to help with his recovery after leaving the hospital. Read more
S Club 7 tease new music and share their love of Wet Leg (NME)
S Club 7 have discussed the possibility of returning to the studio after announcing a reunion tour in celebration of their 25th anniversary.
The pop group have reunited once before, for a UK arena tour in 2015, but haven’t released any new music since their 2003 farewell single ‘‘Love Ain’t Gonna Wait For You’ / ‘Say Goodbye’’.
At a press conference in London earlier this week (February 14), band member Jon Lee described the prospect of adding to their discography as “exciting”. Read more
Andrew Lloyd Webber has composed new music for King Charles’ coronation (MusicNews)
Andrew Lloyd Webber has composed new music for King Charles’ coronation.
The 74-year-old composer revealed he is thrilled to have been asked to create new music for the “joyful occasion” and he has incorporated words adapted from Psalm 98 into the anthem.
He tweeted: “I am incredibly honoured to have been asked to compose a new anthem for The Coronation. My anthem includes words adapted from Psalm 98. I have scored it for the Westminster Abbey choir and organ, the ceremonial brass and orchestra. I hope my anthem reflects this joyful occasion.” Read more
Russia condemns Israeli strike on Syria as flagrant violation of international law (TimesOfIsrael)
Russia condemns a strike blamed on Israel that killed five people and injured 15 in Syria’s capital, Damascus.
Moscow, a key backer of the Syrian regime in the over decade-long civil war, calls the attack a “flagrant violation” of international law.
Israel’s need to coordinate with Russia — which controls Syrian airspace — to carry out strikes has been cited as a chief reason for Jerusalem’s reluctance to supply Kyiv with weaponry amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Read more
U-20 AFCON: Flying Eagles begin quest for eighth title against Senegal (Punch)
Nigeria will begin their quest for an eight continental title when they take on Senegal at the Cairo International Stadium in Egypt on Sunday (today), Sunday PUNCH reports.
Ladan Bosso’s side qualified for the U-20 AFCON in Egypt by virtue of emerging Champions at WAFU B U-20 regional tournament in May 2022 in Niger.
In the process of team’s qualification, Bosso’s team defeated 2021 AFCON cup holders, Ghana 2-0, Ivory Coast 2-1 in the semi-final and Benin Republic 3-1 on final day to be crowned WAFU B regional champions. Read more
Paris Saint-Germain 4-3 Lille: Lionel Messi snatches an injury time winner (DailyMail)
Lionel Messi broke Lille hearts on Sunday after the visitors almost pulled off a stunning comeback win on Sunday as the game finished 4-3 to Paris Saint-Germain after Lille initially recovered from 2-0 down to lead 3-2.
Despite a bright start from the visitors, they found themselves 2-0 down after 20 minutes following goals from Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, who later had to be stretchered off after picking up an injury.
Bafode Diakite pulled one back soon afterwards, before goals from Jonathan David and Jonathan Bamba put Lille in front. Read more
Manchester United Sale: Bids from Ineos and Qataris raises questions (BBC)
The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust says the two bids made for the club have raised questions about sporting integrity, debt levels and inclusivity.
British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his petrochemicals firm Ineos have bid for “majority ownership”.
Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, chairman of one of Qatar’s biggest banks, has also tabled a bid. Read more
Boris Becker blasted as a ”devil” by ex-wife as she claims prison ”hasn’t changed him” (Express)
Boris Becker’s ex-wife Sharlely ‘Lilly’ Kerssenberg has hit out at the tennis legend following his release from prison, branding him a “devil” who “lives in his world in which everything revolves around Boris Becker”
The 55-year-old was found guilty of four charges under the Insolvency Act after being accused of hiding £2.5m worth of assets and loans when he declared bankruptcy in 2017. Becker was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail last April, but was released in December after serving eight months.
Kerssenberg and Becker announced they had divorced in May 2018, 11 months after the six-time Grand Slam winner was declared bankrupt. The pair were married for nine years and Kerssenberg says Becker has now stopped paying child support for their son Amadeus. Read more
Tiger Woods tampon scandal ”non-apology” slammed by Olympic icon Michael Johnson (DailyStar)
Tiger Woods was blasted by Olympic legend Michael Johnson for his ‘non-apology’ in response to fierce backlash for his bizarre tampon prank.
Golf icon Woods came under fire for discreetly handing a tampon to playing partner Justin Thomas on his return to PGA Tour action at the Genesis Invitational.
The 15-time major champion shared the joke with close friend Thomas during Thursday’s opening round after outdriving him. Read more