Footballer Chuba Akpom Banned From Driving In UK After Crashing His £60,000 Range Rover

Arsenal striker and Nigerian footballer, Chuba Akpom has been banned from driving after leaving a trail of wreckage when he crashed his £60k Range Rover while boozed up on vodka cranberry juices.

The star, 22, was behind the wheel at 4.50am in the morning on December 17 near his home in Barnet, North London, when he lost control.

$860m raised as emergency aid for Northeast Nigeria, says Norwegian Ambassador

Donor countries who met in Oslo raised 869 million dollars (634 million euros) in emergency aid to address the humanitarian woes caused by Boko Haram terrorists in Northeast Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin.

The UN says the eight-year conflict between the Nigerian army and Boko Haram militants has devastated the region.

Police arrest woman hiding two babies in freezer

A 46-year-old woman was taken into custody in Germany on Wednesday after the police found bodies of two babies in a freezer in an apartment in the town of Benndorf.

However, police would not comment on where the infants were discovered.

Donald Trump blasts ex-aide Steve Bannon

Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on former chief strategist Steve Bannon, ahead of the release of an unflattering book.

The US President distanced himself and his administration from Mr Bannon in a statement, saying: “Steve Bannon has nothing to do with me or my Presidency. When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind.”

Al Shabaab kills 5 policemen on patrol

Five Kenyan policemen were killed in an attack on their vehicle in the northeast county of Mandera near the border with Somalia, a government official in the area said on Wednesday.

Dozens of Kenyan security personnel have been killed in recent months in the remote lands near the border with Somalia, in raids by the al Shabaab Islamist militants from Somalia.

Ernesto Valverde dismisses Philippe Coutinho’s Barca speculation

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde shrugged off speculation over an imminent swoop for Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho on Wednesday by insisting: “I prefer the players I currently have in the team.”

Brazilian international forward Coutinho has been linked with a 150 million euro (£134 million; $180 million) switch to the Spanish giants in the current transfer window just as he was when the English side thwarted a series of approaches from Barca last summer.

Federal govt agrees $550 million satellite deal with China

Nigeria has agreed a $550-million deal to buy two Chinese communications satellites and hopes to sign the contract before the end of the month, the communication minister said on Wednesday.

Adebayo Shittu said China Exim Bank and the manufacturer, China Great Wall, have agreed to pay for the new satellites after Nigeria renegotiated an earlier deal that had required it to cover 15 percent of the cost.

Never again shall Igbo fight war – Ohanaeze

An Igbo apex sociocultural organization, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has said that the Igbo would never again go to war to resolve conflicts in the country.

It said the Igbo would rather use diplomacy as a tool for conflict resolution.

The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, stated this  at the 2018 Igbo International Leadership and Good Governance Retreat held at Abagana, Anambra State.

Ethiopia announces plan to release ‘all’ political prisoners

The Ethiopian government has announced plans to pardon and release all political prisoners in the country.

The announcement was made by Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn after days of consultations within the ruling EPRDF coalition. He has also said that the notorious Maekelawi Prison will be closed and turned into a museum.

Ex-Barcelona and Man.U keeper, Victor Valdes, announces retirement from football

Former Barcelona and Manchester United goalkeeper, Victor Valdes has announced his retirement from football after failing to find a club. He also deleted all of his social media accounts

The goal stopper who enjoyed a successful career with Barcelona and the Spanish national team has not been able to find a club since leaving Middlesbrough in May last year.

Man shuns pastors, pays his tithe to beggars on the streets of Benin city (Photos)

A certain Benin based Facebook user, Cypher Nnamani, has chosen to pay his tithes on the streets of Benin city rather than giving it to Pastors.

He shared photos of himself giving to some poor and disabled people in his environment in Benin city, Edo state yesterday January 2nd which happened to be his birthday.

2019: PDP is dead, can’t win Lagos – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday described the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as “a dead party, not capable of capturing Lagos in 2019.”

The Assistant Publicity Secretary of the APC in the state, Mr Abiodun Salami made the remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.

39 ‘strange men’ arrested in Taraba

The Taraba state police command has arrested 39 “strange men” in Nguroje, Sardauna local government area of the state.

David Missal, spokesman of the command, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing reporters in Jalingo, the state capital.

‘Anything can happen’ in January transfer window – Zinedine Zidane

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane says he held talks with club president Florentino Perez regarding the possibility of making new signings in the January transfer window, although he does not want any players to depart.

Madrid are reportedly close to sealing a €20 million move for Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, while for months now there have been calls for more experienced cover in the squad at centre-forward and centre-back.

Crocodile Kills Tourist In Zimbabwe

One tourist died and another was seriously injured after they were attacked by crocodiles while canoeing in the Matopos National Park, about 40 km south of Bulawayo in southern Zimbabwe, hours before New Year.

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Tinashe Farawo today said  the pair was using an air-pumped boat which was not allowed in the crocodile infested dam.

Former Speaker Dumps PDP For APC In Ekiti

A prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart in Ekiti State, Chief Femi Akinyemi, has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Akinyemi, former Speaker of House of Assembly in old Ondo State, joined the APC in his Unit 001, Aafin Compound, Usi Ward, Usi-Ekiti in Ido/Osi local government area alongside scores of his supporters.

I want to win Ballon d’Or – Emmanuel Adebayor

Emmanuel Adebayor has tinges of regret over his time in football, but he is still eyeing the Ballon d’Or.

Adebayor has played for Arsenal, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Tottenham, though his sole major trophy came at the Santiago Bernabeu, where a six-month loan took in a Copa del Rey triumph for Los Blancos.

Chelsea’s Antonio Conte turns to Yoga to curb touchline exuberance

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has turned to yoga in a bid to curb his hyperactive touchline antics.

Conte is tapping into an expert member of Chelsea’s training staff and the ancient exercise regime geared towards physical and mental wellbeing.

Mo Salah favourite to complete awards hat-trick

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah hopes to add the African Player of the Year award in Ghana Thursday to his rapidly expanding collection of individual honours.

The Egyptian, scorer of 23 goals in all competitions midway through his first season at Anfield, has been voted BBC African Footballer of the Year and Arab Player of the Year.

Salah, Liverpool team-mate Sadio Mane of Senegal and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Borussia Dortmund and Gabon are the contenders for the highest African individual football honour.

Why first fruit offering is a fraud – Daddy Freeze

Controversial media personality, Daddy Freeze has kicked against first fruit offering practiced in Nigerian churches.

OAP Freeze in reaction to the annual offering said collection of January salary from Christians as first fruit is a ‘Fraud from the pits of hell’ which should be stopped.

According to him, first fruit is the Holy spirit received by Christians when they surrender to God.

‘Masquerades don’t drive cars’ — Yahaya Bello replies Faleke

Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi state, says masquerades are extra-terrestrial beings and as such, do not drive cars.

James Faleke, running mate to the late Abubakar Audu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 21 election in Kogi state, had accused Bello of donating six Toyota Venza cars and cash gifts of N2m each to masquerades.

N279m Scam: EFCC Grills Agency's Chief, Others

Detectives have uncovered the alleged award of N279,675,796 phony contracts at a Federal Government agency.

 

Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) Director-General Moses Oluwatoyin Beckley and seven others have been interrogated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

11 feared killed in mosque blast near Maiduguri

Reports reaching Maiduguri, Borno State Capital, indicate that eleven people may have been killed by suicide bombers in a mosque in Gamboru Ngala about a hundred and forty kilometres from the capital.

The victims reportedly died in the mosque while observing their morning prayers in the boundary town with Cameroon.

We Are Going To Kill All EPL Players - Guardiola

Pep Guardiola saw Manchester City return to winning ways at the end of the Premier League’s exhausting holiday schedule, but warned the English game is in danger of destroying its top stars.

City beat Watford 3-1 on Tuesday, 48 hours after the leaders saw their 18-game winning streak come to an end in a draw at Crystal Palace.

A Day After Notorious Kidnapper Was Arrested In Jigawa, Police Arrest Another In Zamfara

A day after an alleged notorious kidnapper was arrested in Jigawa State, a similar arrest has been announced in neighbouring Zamfara State.

Both states are in the North-west of Nigeria.

The Police in Zamfara said they have arrested a suspected kidnapper and cattle rustler, Musa Abdullahi a.k.a Gaugai.