Nigerian singer Harrysong has welcomed a daughter with his wife, Alexer Gopa.

In a video shared via his Instagram page on Thursday, December 9, 2021, the music star is seen in a video call with his wife as she holds their newborn baby.

"And just this morning in the very cold winter season in Malta

Suleiman was arraigned before Justice Inyang Ekwo alongside her company on a two-count charge.


She, however, pleaded not guilty to the counts.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while Suleiman is the 1st defendant, the firm is the 2nd defendant in the case.

After taking the plea, her counsel, Victor Giwa, informed the court that a bail application dated and filed on Nov. 1 was before the court.

He said the complainant had been served.

He said the application sought an order admitting her client to bail on self-recognisance or in such favourable and liberal terms as the court might in its discretion deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case, pending the final determination of the case.

Lawyer to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Moshood Adeyemi, who instituted the matter on behalf of the Federal Government, acknowledged receipt of the bail application.

He did not oppose the bail application.

Adeyemi, however, informed the court that the 1st defendant claimed that her travel documents were not in her custody.

He urged the court to give bail conditions that would make the defendant to stand her trial.

Giwa explained that the international passport of her client was with the Nigeria Police Force.

The AGF lawyer, however, said the development might, probably, be due to the number of people affected by the investment scheme, as the managing director was said to have been reported to different agencies of government.

Justice Ekwo, after perusing the application and averment attached, order Mrs Suleiman to deposit the original of the deed of assignment dated Jan. 4, 2020, attached to the affidavit in support of the application.

He ordered the registry of this court to verify documents and file affidavit of same.

Ekwo also ordered that the international passport of the 1st defendant be returned by the prosecution and deposited in the registry of the court forthwith.

“The 1st defendant should not travel out or leave the jurisdiction of this court without prior leave of court,” he ruled.

The judge, who ordered Suleiman to be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending compliance with the bail terms, adjourned the matter until March 1, March 3 and March 3, 2022, for trial.

20 police officers recently abducted by Boko Haram terrorists have been rescued by military troops, the Defense Headquarters (DHQ) said on Thursday, December 9, 2021.

The officers were kidnapped when the terrorists attacked Buni Yadi village in Gujba local government area of Yobe State over a week ago.

DHQ spokesperson, Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko, announced on Thursday that they were rescued by troops, while giving a summary of operations over the past two weeks.

The operations in Adamawa and Borno led to the killing of 62 terrorists by Hadin Kai troops, who also arrested 28.

54 assorted arms, 144 rounds of different calibre of ammunition, and 101 rustled livestock were also recovered from the terrorists.

"Regrettably, our gallant officers and soldiers paid the supreme price," Onyeuko said.

A total of 192 terrorists and their families also surrounded to troops over the past two weeks.

They were profiled and handed over to appropriate authorities, the military spokesperson said.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina on Wednesday in Abuja, the President congratulated the professor for scoring many firsts in his chosen profession, which he practiced for more than six decades.

He noted that the professor had taken up various responsibilities at both national and international levels to improve public health and education.

Buhari affirmed that the scholar dedicated his entire career to bringing values to the health system in the country, working as the first Head of Department of Community Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Shehu was also a one time Vice-Chancellor of University of Nigeria, Nsukka; former Sole Administrator of University of Maiduguri; former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of Bayero University Kano and University of Lagos.

The president prayed for continued good health and strength of the professor emeritus, who is also a former President of the Nigerian Academy of Science and former President, Medical Schools in Africa, as he marks another age.

Muhammad gave the warning on Wednesday at an event to mark the 2021 to 2022 legal year held at the Supreme Court.

“The silence of the judiciary should never be mistaken for stupidity or weakness.

“On a very sad note, I must say, we were jolted with the embarrassing news of the invasion of the official residence of one of our brother Justice, Mary Odili on Oct. 29 by men suspected to be security operatives, acting on a search warrant.

“The said warrant was purportedly obtained from an Abuja Magistrate court under questionable circumstances.

“I must make it known to all and sundry that we have had enough dosage of such embarrassment and harassment of our Judicial officers across the country, and we can no longer take any of such shenanigans,” he said.

He said that by the nature of their work, they are conservative but not conquered species and should not be pushed further than this by any individual, institution or agency of the government.

“With time, those taking the judiciary as a mere weakling will soon realise that it is from the calmest seas, we often experience the fiercest storms.

“The time to oppress, suppress and intimidate judicial officers is gone.

“No one, irrespective of his or her status or position in the country, should test our will because the consequences of such unwarranted provocation will be too dire to bear”.

He stressed that the judiciary would begin to resist any clandestine attempt to silence or ridicule them to oblivion.

“Nigeria, to the best of my knowledge is not a lawless society and we should begin to do things that will project us favourably and rightly too, to the international community.

“No law permits anyone to invade and subdue any Nigerian citizen of his or her residence with a flimsy, fraudulently obtained search warrant.

“We are making efforts now to ensure that henceforth, every search or arrest warrant must be issued with the knowledge and approval of the Chief Judge of the respective state or federal high court as the case may be”, the CJN said.

Some gunmen have shot dead a 27-year-old man, Olayiwola Adebari, and dispossessed his neighbours of their mobile phones in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Our correspondent gathered that the hoodlums invaded the victims’ residence on Tinubu Street, Oke-Sokori, Abeokuta, around 1.30am on Sunday.

An eyewitness, who asked not to be identified, told our correspondent that the four gunmen entered all the rooms in the house and dispossessed tenants of their phones.

“Until they finally entered Olayiwola Adebari’s room and shot him dead. I think they are cultists,” he added.

It was learnt that the assailants cut off Adebari’s left arm and took it away, an act many said was common among cultists.

The incident was reported to policemen at the Ibara divisional headquarters, who reportedly visited the scene and took the victim’s remains to a mortuary.

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident on Wednesday.

Oyeyemi said the killers were cultists, adding that the police were on their trail.

He said, “Yes, it was a cult-related issue. We are on it. Investigation has since commenced to fish out the criminals.”

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, on Thursday, became a father again, after his wife, Carrie, gave birth to a girl, Downing Street said.

The “healthy baby girl” was born at a London hospital in the early hours and “both mother and daughter are doing very well”, a spokeswoman for the couple said.

“The couple would like to thank the brilliant NHS (National Health Service) maternity team for all their care and support,” she added.

The announcement comes as Johnson was facing a backlash over the imposition of new coronavirus restrictions designed to curb the spread of the new Omicron variant.


He was also under pressure from the public after claims that Downing Street staff held a Christmas party last year in defiance of restrictions on social gatherings.

Thrice-married Johnson, 57, has four children from his second marriage to the lawyer Marina Wheeler, and now two with Carrie, 33, a former Conservative Party media adviser whom he wed in May.

The couple’s first child, Wilfred, was born in April last year, not long after Johnson was treated in hospital intensive care for COVID-19.

The prime minister has another child, a daughter, from an extra-marital affair.

In September, after years of speculation about how many children he had, he told NBC in an interview that he had six.

That is his choice of woman

he Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, made the disclosure in Benin-city, Edo State, yesterday at a press briefing which formed part of activities of the ongoing 10th National Water Conference.

Represented by the Director, River Basin Operations and Inspection, Mr. John Ochigbo, Adamu also noted that commercialising the basins would enable them generate more revenue for the government.

While noting that the 12 river basins were almost in comatose before 2016, he said they have been repositioned for greater efficiency by having professionals manage their affairs.

The minister noted that the huge infrastructure available in the basins would guarantee return on investment for investors.

According to him, “The federal government has approved the commercialisation of the 12 River Basin Development Authorities to ensure that they have sustainable operations and management of their infrastructure.

“The basins have huge infrastructures like water supply schemes, dams and irrigation that require good funding to be able to keep them running and to provide dividend for Nigerians.

“We are inviting the private sector to key into this window of opportunity that has been provided for them.”

He further stated that as part of effort to reposition the basins, its agriculture mandate has been returned.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the National Water Resources Institute (NWRI), Prof Emmanuel Adanu, has called for the strengthening of the basins for optimal performance.

Adanu who bemoaned lack of realistic

data on the availability, accessibility and affordability of water in the country, called for effort to ensure sustainable management of water resources in the country.

He noted that the passage of the Water Resources Bill before the National Assembly is crucial in turning around the water sector of the country.

Brazil great Pele was admitted to hospital for a scheduled procedure as part of his treatment for a colon tumour but he will be home in time to spend Christmas with his family, his daughter Kely Nascimento said.

Three-time World Cup winner Pele, who was admitted to Sao Paulo's Hospital Albert Einstein on Wednesday, underwent an operation to remove the tumour in September and spent nearly a month under care.

The hospital said at the time that the 81-year-old would need to undergo chemotherapy.

"In two or three days he will be back home to enjoy Christmas," his daughter said on Instagram. "This was not a surprise. It was already scheduled and is part of the treatment."

Widely considered to be one of the greatest footballers of all time, Pele has suffered from a series of health issues in recent years. Hip surgery left him with recurring pain and he cannot now walk unaided.

He appeared upbeat in videos taken during his recovery period in September and October and he said on Twitter last month that he was feeling better.

Pele won the 1958, 1962 and 1970 World Cups, and remains Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 77 goals in 92 matches.

RB Leipzig have appointed Domenico Tedesco as the club's new manager, four days after the departure of American Jesse Marsch.

The 36-year-old Tedesco, who previously coached Schalke and Spartak Moscow, has signed a contract to 2023 and will be on the bench for Saturday's league game at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach.

A former youth coach at Hoffenheim and Stuttgart, Italian-born Tedesco has limited Bundesliga experience, having spent less than two seasons at Schalke. He left Spartak earlier this year.

Marsch and Leipzig "mutually agreed to part ways" after the club suffered a 2-1 defeat at Union Berlin last week, a third consecutive league loss that left them 11th in the standings.

Leipzig, despite missing out on the Champions League knockout stage, earned a spot in the Europa League with a 2-1 win over Manchester City, with Marsch's assistant manager Achim Beierlorzer taking temporary charge.

Marsch took over at Leipzig four months ago after former head coach Julian Nagelsmann left to join Bayern Munich.

Under Nagelsmann, Leipzig were Champions League semifinalists in 2020 and Bundesliga runners-up last season, but lost six of their opening 14 league matches under the 48-year-old American.

Ralf Rangnick described Mason Greenwood as a "massive talent" after the young striker scored a spectacular goal during Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Young Boys in their Champions League group stage finale.

Greenwood, 20, found the net against the Swiss champions with an acrobatic volley from Luke Shaw's cross on his first start for more than a month after a bout of the coronavirus.

"I think today he also showed not only because of that beautiful goal but the way he set up the opportunity for Juan Mata, he's a massive talent," said Rangnick. "Left foot, right foot, good on the ball, also the way that he set up the goal for Fred on Sunday [against Crystal Palace].

"Technically, for his age, he is a great player. My job is to develop him, to make an athlete out of him, and if he manages to do that can be a regular player for this club."

Despite Greenwood's impressive performance and his fifth goal of the season, Rangnick urged the youngster to continue improving if he wants to fulfill his potential.

"Sometimes he looks a bit, not on an athletic level and I think we have to develop him there physically," added Rangnick. "But technically all the things he can do with the ball are outstanding.

"I am not worried about his technical level.We need to develop him physically and mentally and if we manage to do that he can become a regular player and an invaluable player for our club in the future."

Meanwhile, United are hopeful right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka will be available for the trip to Norwich City on Friday after he was stretchered off after the final whistle following a collision with the advertising boards.

"He had two knocks, one on wrist and on his knee," said Rangnick. "He's being treated in the locker room. We're positive he can train the day after tomorrow and be part of the team against Norwich."

American actor Jussie Smollett has been found guilty of staging his attack a few years ago.

The actor claimed to have been attacked by two men who beat him up, tied a noose around his neck, and poured bleach on him.

The actor was found guilty of five out of the six charges levelled against him.


The jury of six men and six women deliberated for more than nine hours on Wednesday, December 8 - December 9, 2021.

He was charged for disorderly conduct charge for a false crime report which is a Class 4 felony and punishable by up to three years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

It would be recalled that Smollett was hospitalised after he was reportedly injured by two men in what looks like a homophobic attack back in January 2019.

There were reportedly two men wearing ski masks that viciously attacked Jussie as he fought back.

He suffered a fractured rib, and the attackers put a rope around his neck and poured bleach on him as they yelled, “This is MAGA country.”

The Osundairo brothers were later named in the alleged attack on Smollett.

The United Nations Fund for Population Activities supported the treatment of 675 vesicovaginal fistula patients in Borno in the last four months, the Humanitarian Coordinator/Head of Maiduguri Office, Macauley Sabum, said.

Sabum made this known in Maiduguri on Thursday at the graduation and hand-over of start-up kits to 100 women who underwent fistula repair surgery in the state.

Represented by the UNFPA Programme Officer in the state, Midala Balami, the coordinator said UNFPA as an agency for reproductive health and a lead against Gender-Based Violence would continue to support vulnerable women and girls.

He said, “In UNFPA, our mission is to ensure the wellbeing of women and girls, and to ensure that all deliveries are safe and all pregnancies are wanted.”

He lauded stakeholders for the roles they played in ensuring the attainment of the goals of the Fund, “particularly the Borno Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for mobilising the beneficiaries.”

The wife of the Borno Governor, Falmata Zulum, who was represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Zuwaira Gambo, launded UNFPA and the Korea International Cooperation Agency for sustained support to Borno.

Zulum said that the gesture was in line with the state’s policy, aimed at empowering and providing equal opportunities for women and girls.

She said “I am happy to witness the graduation ceremony of 100 vulnerable women and girls who had been trained in various vocational skill acquisition programmes.

“They are also being provided with start-up kits and capital to commence their businesses to make them resilient and financially independent in the society.

“This group of women and girls have been registered into cooperative societies to ensure sustainability.”

While commending the implementing partner, Royal Heritage Health Foundation, for the quality training provided, Zulum urged beneficiaries to make maximum use of the opportunity to improve their lives.

The Chief Medical Director of Maiduguri Specialists Hospital, Laraba Bello, congratulated the VVF survivors and urged them not to disappoint those that made it possible for them to start a new life.

She said, “You are normal now and should feel free to mingle with other women in any gathering or event.

“Take what you learn serious and make us proud. Don’t hesitate to advise other women that face sexual violence or have fistula problem to come foward for attention.”

Real Madrid captain Marcelo is set to leave the club after 15 years.

The veteran left-back has established himself as a club legend at Los Blancos, with whom he has made 533 first-team appearances and won 22 trophies.

The Brazilian had been a key figure in Madrid’s first team for over a decade but had lost his starting berth in recent years following the arrival of Ferland Mendy from Lyon in 2019.

Now aged 33, Marcelo was limited to just 31 La Liga appearances across the past two full seasons while he has been beset by multiple leg muscular injuries in recent campaigns.

UK Mirror reports that Marcelo is out of contract at Real Madrid this coming summer and his deal at the club is not likely to be renewed, meaning that he will leave as a free agent at the end of the campaign.

The experienced player is not short of potential suitors but his intention is to return to Brazil and his former club Fluminense, whom he left to join Madrid in January 2007.

Marcelo made just 40 appearances for ‘Flu’ – one of the giants of Brazilian football – before his move to the Spanish capital, but during that short stint, he did score six goals for the club.

Upon his arrival, Marcelo was somewhat inevitably hailed as the next Roberto Carlos – his compatriot who had become a Real Madrid cult hero due to his goal threat from left-back.

In 2012, Roberto Carlos commented on the comparison, “Marcelo possesses a better technical ability than me.”

When Marcelo arrived at Real Madrid, then club president Ramon Calderon said, “He is an important signing for us.

“He is a young player who will inject some freshness into the side and is part of our plan to bring younger players into the squad.

“We’re very happy because he’s a pearl that half of Europe wanted.”

Marcelo would go on to win a grand total of 22 trophies at the club, including five La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns – including three in a row between 2016 and 2018.

A Civil Society Organisation, Center for Democracy and Development, has expressed concerns over the silence of the Federal Government on big corruption cases in the country.

The group cited the lack of action despite the revelations of the forensic report on the Niger Delta Development Commission, stressing that only an impartial attitude was needed to tackle corruption in the country.

This was contained in a statement on Thursday by its Director, Idayat Hassan, titled, ‘CDD wants Government, Citizens to unite in fighting corruption’.

The statement read in part, “More worrying was the federal government’s lack of response to suspected instances of monumental corruption. An example is the recent revelations involving the Niger Delta Development Commission and the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs.”

“We believe that without a firm and impartial attitude toward corruption, Nigerians will suffer even more from the consequences of corruption. With the Covid-19 pandemic still raging and recovery efforts being pieced together, addressing corruption will be key to the success of the recovery efforts.”

She also said corruption has attained a national emergency status that requires a collaborative strategy, involving the government and the citizens to combat.

The family of Pastor Babatunde Dada, who was stabbed to death in a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in FESTAC Town, Lagos State, has called on the police to carry out a thorough investigation to unravel the motive behind the killing.

Reports had it that two people attended the church on the Sunday before the attack.

The two youths were said to have come out during an altar call and surrendered their lives to Jesus.

The church accommodated them on its premises after they claimed to be stranded.

They had barely spent a week in the church when they stabbed the cleric to death on Thursday, December 2, 2021.

A spokesman for the family, Mr Abolarinwa Olatunbosun, who spoke to our correspondent on Thursday, said the police had started well by arresting one of the suspects.

He said, “I discussed at length with members of the family and what everyone is saying is that they want justice to be served in the case.

“Pastor Dada was not just a cleric; he was also the accountant of the church so we want the investigation to be thorough. The police should unravel those behind the killing and their reason for killing him

“We don’t know whether his killers came from outside the church or they were members of the church; they could even be from anywhere, including the family.

“We want to know why he was killed. Maybe somebody invited the so-called converts to carry out the killing or they just came on their own to end his life.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, on Thursday, said the police were working on the case.

He, however, said he would not divulge the extent the police had gone in order not to jeopardise investigation.

“Some arrests have been made. We are making progress in the case,” he added.

Dada was said to have returned from a bank when the suspects stabbed him to death.

The Chairperson of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, Shirley Botchwey, has said the implementation of the Economic Community of West African States plan of action could combat the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria and terrorism in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

By working together on the various challenges facing the subregion, she said the prospects for success are significantly enhanced and would create the conditions for a thriving region.

Speaking at the 87th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Abuja on Thursday, Botchwey argued that the community needed to build resilience and advance regional integration.

According to her, driving the ongoing internal reforms would help with the new ECOWAS Vision 2050 which has been finalized and is ready for adoption.

The chairperson stated, “To advance our regional integration agenda and transform the lives of Community citizens, we need to continue to build resilience and enhance our integration programme.

“This is particularly necessary with respect to the following threats: the health crisis of the coronavirus which persists and has completely changed our way of life. With the new variant and the risk of a new wave and several countries closing their borders, we must rely more than ever on our regional solidarity.

“The recurrence of terrorist attacks in the frontline countries of the Sahel (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria) with its many victims and to which the response at this time is the diligent implementation of our plan of action against terrorism to support and complement national efforts.”

Botchwey noted that climate change is a constraint on the regional integration process against which it must undertake an ecological transition to renewable energies and an adapted agricultural policy.

With about two months to the February 12, 2022, Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory, the Independent National Electoral Commission has suspended the Continuous Voter Registration exercise in the FCT.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, announced this in a statement issued on Thursday night.

According to him, the temporary suspension of the exercise would take effect from Sunday December 12, 2021.

Okoye said INEC had also suspended services for all voter updates, transfers, and reviews in relation to the FCT.

He said, “By section 9(5) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), the registration of voters, updating and revision of the register of voters shall stop not later than 60 days before any election covered by the Act.

“Consequently, the commission will, in compliance, suspend further registration of voters in the FCT with effect from December 12, 2021.

“To contain the anticipated upsurge as the Continuous Voters’ Registration winds down in the FCT, the Commission has deployed additional INEC Voter Enrolment Devices to the registration centres.

“All appointments beyond December 12, 2021 have been rescheduled and notifications sent to the affected persons through email.

“The commission has also suspended services for all voter updates, transfers, and reviews in relation to the FCT.

“The Permanent Voters’ Cards of new registrants will be printed and made available for collection immediately after the required processes have been completed and well ahead of the election scheduled for Saturday February 12, 2021.

“The commission remains committed to the conduct of free, fair, and safe elections in Nigeria.”

We need to pray for this community