Trump impeachment: Senators clash over rules as trial opens

The US Senate has rejected repeated Democratic attempts to secure new evidence in President Donald Trump's impeachment as his trial began.

Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell meanwhile backed off on a plan to fast-track the hearings after coming under pressure from fellow Republicans.

Democrats said this would have been no less than a cover-up.

Mr Trump is charged with abuse of power and obstructing the congressional inquiry. He denies wrongdoing.

LASEMA rescues man who jumped into lagoon

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, on Tuesday, rescued a 36-year-old man, Ikechuckwu Ibeh, who jumped into the lagoon on the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge.

It was gathered that Ibeh jumped into the lagoon around 4.45pm and was rescued five minutes later by the LASEMA Marine Unit.

Punch Metro learnt that Ibeh took the action due to financial difficulties and depression among other reasons. The victim had been handed over to cops at the Maroko Police Station.

Confirming the incident, the LASEMA Public Affairs Officer, Nosa Okunbor, stated that the launch of the agency’s Marine Unit was timely as it helped to avert the suicide.

Hunter shot dead by colleague during hunting expedition

A hunter, identified as Kehinde Edward, was reportedly shot on the head by a colleague, Kehinde Adeleke, while on hunting expedition in a forest in Osun State.

It was also gathered that the hunters in the company of others went on hunting expedition in a forest in Ere Ijesa, a town in Oriade Local Government Area of the state, Saturday evening.

It was gathered that few minutes after the hunters started shooting at animals in the forest, the deceased voice was overheard by fellow hunters, who rushed towards his direction.

On getting to where he was, it was gathered, his lifeless body was found with gun injury on his head.

Mum strangles 9 year-old daughter then jumps out window after having 'cancer breakdown'

A mother has been accused of strangling her nine-year-old daughter to death then jumping out of an eighth-floor window after ‘having a mental breakdown’ in Russia.

Maria Russkikh , 29, survived the fall and was rushed to hospital in the city of Novosibirsk, southwestern Siberia.

According to local reports police suspect the mother, who had been diagnosed with cancer, bludgeoned and strangled her daughter to death before jumping out of the window in a suspected suicide bid.

She was found lying on the snow and moaning in pain by residents of her apartment block who called emergency services.

Ex- supreme court judge, Abubakar Bashir Wali is dead

A former Supreme Court judge, Justice Abubakar Bashir Wali, has died in his residence at Kano State. This was disclosed by a family source who said the late rist died at his residence in Kano after a protracted illness.

It would be recalled that Justice Wali was a pioneer legal practitioner in the north.

Justice Wali was also the first judge from the Shariah Court of Appeal to rise through the rank to become a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The family source also disclosed that the deceased would be buried Tuesday afternoon according to Islamic rites.

Court affirms Samuel Ortom’s election as Benue Governor

The Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Samuel Ortom as the Governor of Benue state.

The panel of seven Justices led by Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour dismissed the appeal filed by the APC and its governorship candidate, Emmanuel Jime, for lacking in merit.

Ortom polled a total of 434,473 votes to beat Mr Jime who got 345,155 votes during the March 2019 state governorship supplementary election.

We kidnapped woman’s son, attended her burial, man confesses

One of the 30 kidnappers arrested by operatives of Operation Puff Adder, launched by the Inspector General of Police, yesterday, in Kaduna revealed how they kidnapped the son of a woman living in their neighbourhood, who later died from a heart attack due to shock.

The suspect, Saidu, said after the gang collected N6million ransom for the boy’s release, he was part of those that attended the burial of the late woman.

He said he got N200,000 from the ransom and that the Police later arrested him and three members of the gang while two others are still at large.

Kim Kardashian shows off killer curves on Cabo holiday

Kim Kardashian isn't one to shy away from posting half-n.k.d.pictures of herself online.

And the Keeping Up With The Kardashian's star, 34, just reiterated that fact by sharing two more throwback bikini snaps of her luxurious Mexican getaway.

After returning home from her recent getaway in stunning Cabo San Lucas, the proud mother-of-four rolled out a series of sultry swimsuit photos from the trip last week.

But she didn't stop there, and instead, delighted fans with two more sultry snaps.

Imo Deputy Speaker, Okey Onyekanma resigns

The Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Okey Onyekanma, has resigned his position.

Onyekanma announced his resignation in a letter read by the Speaker of the House, Chiji Collins, during plenary on Tuesday at the legislative chamber of the Assembly Complex in Owerri, the state capital.

He informed his colleagues that he has also resigned as the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business.

In the letter, Onyekanma explained that he took the decision to resign due to the zoning arrangement in the state.

Killers of billionaire Ignatius Odunukwe explain how he was murdered and cut into pieces

Bob Ibeaji, 42, the kingpin of a four-man gang that killed Mr Ignatius Odunukwe said on Tuesday  that the lust for money led him to commit  the murder.

Ibeaji, who claimed to be a medical doctor, made this statement to newsmen during the parade of suspects at the Zone 2 Command, Onikan, in Lagos.

“Unnecessary lust for money and my greed for immaterial things clouded my judgement and made me commit the crime,” he said.

The suspect said that in 2019, he saw an advert for the sale of a property at Katampe, Abuja.

Cristiano Ronaldo is now the fifth highest goal scorer in the history of football

Cristiano Ronaldo is now the fifth highest goal scorer in the history of football.

Inter Milan’s 1-1 draw against Leece meant Juventus had the chance to further fortify their lead at the top of the table. And so they did.

Cristiano Ronaldo decided to take the matter in his own hands and struck twice in either half to collect all three points for the Bianconeri against Parma.

With 51 points, Juventus are now four points clear at the top of the Serie A table. But victory for Juve was not the only thing that Cristiano’s brace earned him.

Man plunges into Lagos Lagoon in suicide bid

A man has plunged into the Lagos Lagoon from Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge in a bid to commit suicide.

Ikechuwku Ibeh, 36, attempted to end his life by jumping off the Lekki Link Bridge on Admiralty way Lekki phase 1 today.

Ibeh, who plunged into the Lagoon at about 16:45hrs was promptly rescued by LASEMA’s Marine Unit.

A statement from LASEMA, issued by Nosa Okunbor, Public Affairs Officer, said “situation report on the attempted suicide Incident at 37 Admiralty Way Lekki Phase One revealed an adult male, Ikechuwku Ibeh aged 36 years who plunged into the lagoon around the Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge.

This man disguises as a female Muslim to constantly sneak into a married woman's house to sleep with her

Trolololo! E don happen, lol. So a man who disguise as a female Muslim -- wears a Niqab and sneaks into a married woman's apartment pretending he is female as been caught in the act.

A social media user, The_Seeker76, who made the news public backing it up with photos says he sneaks into the woman's apartment to sleep with her when her husband is not around and he has been doing it for  along time.

The Twitter user wrote: "So this daredevil dude has been “kpanshing” another man’s wife for a very long time, disguising as a female Muslim with full body veil to gain access once oga is not at home

  "Like they say: everyday for the thief, one day for the owner of the house…the rest is HISTORY"

Photos from Amotekun rally in Ojota, Lagos

Amotekun rally still held today. Photos from the rally shows Comrade George Akinola, Lagos State Coordinator of the rally, and others outside Gani Fawehinmi park, as Police officers barricaded the venue. More photos below...

Lecture hall almost burns down as tutor teaches freshers how to put out fire in emergencies

Lol. A man believed to be a student of University of Uyo, shared photos on twitter mocking the school while explaining how a lecture hall almost got burnt today.

According to the twitter user, the tutor was trying to teach freshers during their orientation program how to put out fire on their own, but unfortunately, the fire he was using for practical went out of control. According to the gist, it took the intervention of security officers and people around to stop the fire.

Dude now came online to share photos from the scene, while using a laughing emoji to crown it up, lol. More photos below...

Killer Chinese virus : America records first patient

An American in Washington state has been infected with the deadly coronavirus spreading from China, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sources told CNN. 

No details about the patient's identity, their recent travel history, whether anyone else may have been exposed or where they are being treated had been released at the time of publication. 

The deadly Chinese coronavirus has sickened more than 300 people and killed six.

With the addition of the US, the newly-identified coronavirus that emerged in Wuhan, China, has now spread to four countries.

Atiku reacts to killing of CAN Chairman by Boko haram

A former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the killing of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Chairman in Adamawa State.

Pastor Lawan Andimi, CAN Chairman, Michika Local Government Area, Adamawa State was killed by the insurgents on Monday. The Boko Haram insurgents had invaded Michika on January 2nd, and were quickly confronted by soldiers but succeeded in seizing Lawan Andimi as they fled.

Reacting to this development, Atiku said the killing was saddened, saying there was a compelling need to re-calibrate the nation’s security architecture.

“This development saddens me. There’s a compelling need to recalibrate our security architecture. I sympathise with the family of Pastor Lawan Andimi and the entire body of CAN in Nigeria. May the soul of the deceased Rest In Peace'', Atiku said.

Oxford Dictionary adds ‘Okada, ‘Danfo,’ ‘Mama Put,’ others to dictionary

Oxford English Dictionary has added 29 colloquial Nigerian expressions to its dictionary after a review carried out in January 2020.

Some of the words added are Okada, Danfo, Mama Put, Agric, Barbing Salon, Gist, Kannywood and others.

A statement from Oxford English Dictionary’s World English Editor, Danica Salazar said ”The majority of these new additions are either borrowings from Nigerian languages, or unique Nigerian coinages that have only begun to be used in English in the second half of the twentieth century, mostly in the 1970s and 1980s,”

Taylor Swift mum is diagnosed with brain tumour while also battling cancer

Taylor Swift has revealed her mother Andrea has been diagnosed with a brain tumour, as she is already battling cancer for the second time.

The singer, who is headlining Glastonbury next year, found out the terrifying news while filming for her upcoming Netflix documentary.

Andrea was undergoing chemotherapy, when doctors discovered she also had the tumour.

She was going through chemo, and that’s a hard enough thing for a person to go through," said Taylor.

China sentences ex-Interpol chief to 13 years in jail

A former Interpol chief accused of bribery was sentenced to 13-and-a-half years in jail by a Chinese court on Tuesday.

Meng Hongwei, who was the first Chinese head of Interpol, vanished on a trip back to the country from France in September 2018.

China later confirmed he had been detained as part of President Xi Jinping’s drive against corruption.

Meng has admitted to taking more than $2m (£1.6m) in bribes.

Jailed academic 'rejected Iran's offer to become spy'

A British-Australian woman jailed in Tehran has said she rejected an offer from Iran to become a spy.

Kylie Moore-Gilbert, a lecturer at Melbourne University, has been in jail since September 2018, serving 10 years for espionage.

In letters smuggled out of Tehran's Evin prison, she says has "never been a spy" and fears for her mental health.

She says she has been denied visits and phone calls and has been held in an "extremely restrictive detention ward".

Kenyan boy who wanted to sell his kidney for school fees joins dream school

Isaiah Wanjala, the 14-year-old boy who wanted to sell one of his kidneys to finance his high secondary education, has finally joined his dream school.

This follows intervention from the office of Trans Nzoia County MP Janet Nangabo through her foundation and other well-wishers.

Dressed in full school uniform of the Chewoiyet Boys’ High School, shortly after being admitted, Wanjala said that his dream of becoming an engineer is back on course.

“I’m very happy for this support. God has done me a favour. I didn’t expect this,” said Wanjala.

8-year old boy executes 'Nigerian Christian' in horrifying ISIS video purportedly recorded in Borno

A video has emerged purportedly showing the execution of a Nigerian Christian by a young boy from an ISIS-affiliated terror group.

The horrific footage, released by ISIS's Amaq 'news agency', shows a child of around eight years old carrying out the execution in an unidentified outdoor area of Borno, Nigeria.

The child in the video warns other Christians: 'We won't stop until we take revenge for all the blood that was spilled.'

An image taken from the distressing footage has been shared online by SITE Intelligence Group, an organisation which tracks the activity of jihadist groups.

Football fan filmed kissing his ‘side chic’ in viral video admits he cheated on partner

The football fan who was caught out looking very worried after pitch cameras filmed him kissing the woman next to him at a match has reportedly admitted he was cheating on his partner.

The public display of affection was captured by cameras at half-time of the friendly between Barcelona SC and Delfin in Ecuador on Saturday, and it didn’t take long for the video to make the rounds on social media.

The man, who The Metro identified as Deyvi Andrade, was seen cuddling close to his companion and kissing her before whipping his arm away and looking very guilty after realizing he was being filmed.

YouTube appoints Nigerian Alex Okosi as Managing Director of emerging markets, EMEA

YouTube has announced the hire of Alex Okosi as Managing Director of Emerging Markets for YouTube in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

Alex will be responsible for running YouTube’s business and partnership teams across emerging markets in EMEA including Russia, the Middle East, North and Sub Saharan Africa. 

He will report to the Head of YouTube EMEA, Cécile Frot-Coutaz. 

Based in the London office, Alex will start in April 2020.