A Nigerian Now The Top Scorer In England

Odion Ighalo who is currently the top scorer in England as a whole has expressed his gratitude to both his fans and his club for a great football year in 2015.

The Watford striker has scored 14 goals in the Premier League this term, and scored 16 for the Hornets in the Championship between January and May 2015, making him the top scorer across England’s football leagues.

Speaking on his achievement, the 26-year old thanked his family, teammates and Watford fans for their support in what has been a great year for him.

In a recent interview the Watford striker expressed his appreciation saying “I thank God for everything; it has been a successful year. I thank my family, my teammates, most especially Troy Deeney who has assisted me for the most of the goals I have scored this year and it is a great pleasure playing with him, and I want to keep going like that. Continue...

Appeal Court Sacks Abia Governor, Declares Alex Otti Winner

Following the sitting of the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri, Imo state today the election of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu as governor of eastern Nigerian state of Abia has being nullified.

The court has however ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to swear in Dr Alex Otti, a former banker and candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The state election tribunal had upheld Ikpeazu’s election in a ruling on 4 November. Ikpeazu will also likely challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court.

South African King Who Doubles As Mandela’s Nephew Begins 12 Years Jail Term

A South African king who is a nephew of the late Nelson Mandela has begun a 12-year prison sentence for kidnapping, assault and arson. King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, 51, reported to prison after his legal attempts to overturn his conviction failed.

The case against King Dalindyebo was related to a dispute he had with some of his subjects about two decades ago.

He comes from the Thembu clan, to which Mr Mandela, South Africa's first black president, belonged. He is the first monarch to be jailed in South Africa since minority rule ended in 1994.

Fire Rips Through Dubai Hotel Close To Where The City Is About To Hold New Year Celebrations

A fire has engulfed a Dubai hotel close to where the city is about to hold its New Year celebrations. The Address Downtown is on fire, with the flames reaching from the ground floor up another 40 storeys of the 63 floor building.

It is not clear what caused the fire at the five star hotel, which is near the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skyscraper at 828 metres.

The emergency services are currently evacuating the building. 

Photo: Ice Prince Shows Us A Glimpse Of His New House

Yay he did it! The singer posted a photo of work going on at his site, almost a proper house now. He captioned it;

2015 Been Blessed Mama I did it😬! Greatest Accomplishment yet!! Thank You God... 2016, New Location #Site #TeamTalkLess

Big congrats Ice!

New York: Police Foil ISIS Plan To 'Kill Diners On New Year's Eve'

Police have foiled an alleged ISIS attack to kill diners with a machete at a restaurant in New York on New Year's Eve.

Emanuel Lutchman, 25, had plotted to kill innocent civilians on behalf of the terrorist organisation in the Rochester area of the city tonight, federal prosecutors said.

Authorities say he has now being charged with attempting to provide material support to ISIS ahead of plans to join the organisation overseas.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Nigeria’s Challenges Temporary! President Buhari's New Year Message To The Nation

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said the challenges facing the nation are temporary and will soon come to an end. The President made the remark in his New Year message to the nation. He also assured that he will not fail to keep the promises he has made to Nigerians. Read his full statement.

“Fellow citizens,

“Welcome to the beginning of a New Year of the continuation of CHANGE in our beloved nation.

“I am aware that Nigerians have experienced a number of significant hardships over the past months. Living in the State House has not alienated me from your daily sufferings. I am aware of the lengthy queues at fuel stations and of the difficulties businesses have faced in acquiring foreign exchange. These challenges are only temporary; we are working to make things better. Continue below,,,

Air India Flight Turns Back After Rat Spotted On Board

A plane travelling from Mumbai to London was forced to turn back mid-flight after a rat was spotted on board. Flight AI 131 travelling to London on Wednesday was flying over Iran when someone on board said they spotted the rodent, reports said.

Passengers continued their journey on a replacement aircraft some time later.

Air India has said that the plane will be fumigated and the presence of a rodent was being investigated. Rats occasionally get on board aircraft along with catering and other supplies but can pose a serious technical as well as a health hazard if they chew through wires.

The airline said that "though the presence of the rodent was not confirmed," the decision to abort the flight was precautionary and in the interests of passenger safety.

Photos: Travellers Stranded In Benin/Asaba Express Way Gridlock

It’s the last day of the year and a lot of people are travelling back home so that they can spend the first day of the new year with their families. Some people who are trapped at the moment in this grid lock shared some photos. It almost looks unbelievable. Someone wrote;

‘Thinking of going through Benin/Asaba express..think again’.

But then what do you do when your whole family is expecting you at home? See tweets from someone trapped in it after the cut. I really feel for them.

Doctors Discover Large Hairball In Girl's Stomach

An 11-year-old girl who was so ill she could barely swallow was found to have a giant hairball weighing more than a kilo in her stomach. The unnamed girl arrived at a hospital in Taraz, in southern Kazakhstan's Jambyl region, suffering from such a severe stomach ache she was unable to eat or drink.

Surgeons decided to operate on her immediately to find out what was wrong, and were shocked when they discovered the huge ball of hair in her digestive system.

They found 17cm  (6.7in) of hairball filling her stomach and 35cm (13.8 inches) protruding into her bowel.

Photos Speak: How A Space Bus Completely Got Burnt This Morning On 3rd Mainland Bridge

This morning a space bus caught fire on 3^rd mainland bridge and completely got burnt. The driver who first noticed the fire quickly parked at the side of the bridge as other drivers’ parked miles away, rushed back to help, but alas, the fire razed the bus completely. Atleast no life was lost. Continue...

2016: Man In Search Of Wife

Lol, the guy isn’t fake, we just can’t tell if he’s serious or not. But Alibaba helped him re-broadcast it. A quick look at his page shows he is handsome, loaded and hard working. In fact, we said to ourselves that something must be wrong with this dude if he truly can’t find a woman physically. Like my uncle will say, if a man is above 35 and successful and says he has not found the right woman, Ladun, it is the man that something is wrong with, not the women around him. LOL.

Anyways, bobo says he is looking for a woman who is hawt, hate Telemundo and African Magic and who has just one free Saturday in September so they can tie the knot. Lol. Are you game? If you are, you already have his handle. Goodluck ladies!

Kanu Never Apologised To President Buhari —Father, IPOB

Father of detained Biafran activist, Nnamdi Kanu, His Royal Majesty, Eze Israel Kanu, has denied reports that his detained son has apologised to President Mohammadu Buhari for allegedly referring to him as a terrorist.

Also, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, dismissed the same report, saying that their leader had at no time apologised to President Buhari.

Similarly,  Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has described as completely false, the calculated and systematic attempt by agents of Federal Government to discredit IPOB and MASSOB with the claim that Kanu has apologised over his comments against some Nigerians.

Femi Adebayo Releases News Pictures To Celebrate 43rd Birthday

The Trophy Beer ambassador who was born on December, 31^st 1972, which makes him 43 today, has released new photos to celebrate his special day. See two more after the cut. We say a big happy birthday to him! This is a man that had it GOOD with a popular actress for a very looong time. As in, they were so deep in their dating that, they cared less who was watching. This uncle Femi sef don enjoy in the past o.

Video: Malivelihood Delivers $110k Gold Chain To Obafemi Martins

CEO Malivelihood last night delivered a N23m ($110k) specially made gold kilos chain to footballer Obafemi Martins at a Lagos night club. He is also set to make him a special golden boot on order. Indeed, his clients keep increasing. See the video of the luxury designer delivering the chain to Femi Martins right after the cut.

Take A Trip To Boko Haram Zones, Lai Mohammed Dares Fayose

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed yesterday during an interactive session with journalists in Ikeja, Lagos State, indirectly dared Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose to take a trip to Boko Haram zones if he can, instead of sitting in the comfort of his living room and releasing statements that gives succour to the sect. Mohammed who answered questions from the journalists insisted the Army had reduced the sect to a “fleeing, bomb-throwing, cowardly and disorganised army’’.

“The armchair critics, who dispute these facts from the comfort of their living rooms, are free to take a trip to the theatre of war to see things for themselves. Perhaps then, they will be more circumspect in issuing reckless statements that give nothing but succour to Boko Haram.

“I have gone to the theatre of war to see things for myself. I did not just stop in Maiduguri; I went all the way to Konduga, Kaure and Bama which, as I said, was once the headquarters of the Boko Haram caliphate,” he said.

Fayose in a statement had earlier said, Nigerians will only take the minister serious if he relocates to either Sambisa in Borno State or to Yobe State and stay there till the end of March, next year, without heavy military security.”

Photos: Miss Tourism Nigeria Globe, Departs For Malaysia

Miss Tourism Nigeria Globe, Chinonso Opara yesterday night departed the shores of Nigeria to Malaysia where she will be representing Nigeria at the 2015 Miss Tourism World Pageant. Nearly 70 countries from around the world will be participating in the pageant.

It will be recalled that less than a month ago, Miss Tourism Nigeria 2014, Collete Nwadike became the first black girl to win the Miss Face Of The Universe in São Tomé and we brought you the photos.

We hope Chinonso can follow in her steps to become the first black girl to bring home the Miss Tourism World crown to Africa and to Nigeria. Wish her well.

MTN Foundation Partners Kakadu, Wakaa To Boost Musical Theatre

As part of its efforts in contributing to the advancement of theatre and performing arts in Nigeria, MTN Foundation is sponsoring two notable stage plays – ‘Kakadu and Wakaa, The Musical,’ from the stables of Playhouse Initiative and Bolanle Austen-Peters Production respectively.

note that some of the beneficiaries of the MTNF-sponsored Muson Scholar programme who have excelled in their chosen careers are part of the two plays. For instance, two of the beneficiaries - Ayo Ajayi & Lawal Seyi who graduated in 2008 & 2014 respectively are part of the cast & crew for ‘Wakaa, The Musical.’ While the former is the play’s Music Director, the latter is the Tenor Sax.

Executive Secretary for the MTN Foundation, Ms Nonny Ugboma said the foundation is excited to see a crop of beneficiaries of its music scholarship programme in partnership with Muson School of Music distinguishing themselves in their chosen careers, applying what they have learnt in the course of their programme. She also said the foundation will not relent in its commitment to grooming the next generation of music scholars in support of the performing arts industry in Nigeria.

Drama As Suspect Escapes With Handcuffs On Way To Court, As No Lagosian Helped

There was confusion yesterday at Tinubu, Lagos Island, after a suspected vandal, Johnson Ede, jumped from a car conveying him and five others to a magistrates’ court in the area.

Ede and other suspects ─ Emmanuel Peters, 29; Idris Adamu, 27; Mohammed Ahmed, 37; Salisu Adamu, 33; and 23-year-old Odichi Ochechi ─ were arrested for allegedly vandalising water pipes on Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island and for stealing 350 metres of 12mm cables owned by Hitec Construction Company Limited on December 28, 2015.

It was gathered that 32-year-old Ede escaped through the window of the moving car with a pair of handcuffs in his hand.

Abduction Saga: Davido & Sophia’s Baby Had Traces Of Marijuana In Her Blood + All The Messy Details

For those who were up last night on instagram, you would have witnessed the drama that ensued between Davido and that of Dele Momodu's family. According to Davido, his babymama, Sophia Momodu is a runs girl, a woman who is much older than him and not ready to take care of their child. Davido says, she wants him to wife him, but she is far too little to occupy that position and asked that he be left alone and her uncle, Dele Momodu let his family be as well.

Chief Momodu who read all Davido wrote on instagram deemed it fit to reply him. Now before Davido went on instagram to rant, Davido’s sister, coco, davido and his dad had tried to smuggle out his 7 months old baby, whom they had seized many months ago from her mother. On getting a tip off that the Adeleke’s family (Davido’s family) where about to ‘abduct’ his niece to Dubai, Chief Dele Momodu rushed to Lagos international airport to alert immigration officers who then stopped the Adelekes as they arrived. Hell was however let loose as the two families exchange words when the Adeleke’s arrived, and Coco’s passport and that of the baby seized.

Anyways, they were unable to travel as planned and escaped back home with the baby. Momodu who didn’t like how his family name was dragged in the mud, had to shed light on what has been happening and took it right back to day one. It’s a long read, but extremely important for all young women and young men to read. A baby is more than S3X, this proves it. In it, you will see how richer families molest the less privileged ones. In it, you will see why no one should be a babymama. In it you will see, why every woman should have dignity and wait to be wedded before begging to move into her baby daddy’s home. It’s really really messy! Continue…

Photo: Nollywood Actor, Okey Jazzy Is Now A Dad

Nollywood actor, Okey Jazzy who recently tied the knot with his heartthrob, Annie Anaedum Ogochukwu has just welcomed a baby boy. The actor announced the good news on his Facebook page saying; “She made me a father. The King is here!”. We say big congrats to them. The photo of the new baby and dad on the right.

Photo: Jude Okoye Acquires Mercedes Benz CLS

The father of one shared the good news on instagram saying another one is on its way.

"Got myself 1st new year goodies. 2nd one in a bit. #cls #mercedes #blessed," Jude wrote. We say big congrats to him. Hard work really pays!

Actress Ronke Odusanya Releases New Photos

At the end of the photos she wrote;

 "So I decided to switch sides in this photo shoot. Don't get it twisted, it's simple but I know you would all still ask questions. Lol.. Just don't look at the pictures... See the MESSAGE... "Switch". More photos below...

Bill Cosby Charged In Sexual Assault Case

Prosecutors in the US have charged comedian Bill Cosby with aggravated indecent assault over an alleged incident in 2004.

It is the first time Mr Cosby, 78, has been charged with any offence after months of accusations.

Andrea Constand says she was drugged then assaulted at the Philadelphia home of the former US television star.

Dozens of women have accused him of sexual assault, dating back to the 1970s, but he has denied wrongdoing.

It Is Very Irresponsible Of You To Make A N250m Christmas Trip To Dubai, Ekiti APC Tells Fayose

The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has accused the Governor of the State, Ayodele Fayose of stashing away money belonging to the state in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The Publicity Secretary of the party, Taiwo Olatunbosun, in a statement, described Fayose’s Sunday trip to Dubai as the height of insensitivity and wickedness by a governor who always called himself the “people’s governor.”

“It is more worrisome that the governor prepared and collected travelling allowances for 10 aides who he claimed were to travel with him to Dubai, but only one eventually made the trip while money running into millions for the remaining nine was pocketed by the governor.

“The Dubai trip confirmed our earlier alarm that Fayose is taking Ekiti money out to the Middle-East country whenever he receives allocation from the Federal Government. Continue...

Mimi Orjiekwe, Linda Ejiofor, Ogeh Peters’ At The Beach (Photos)

To enable them override the stress of the ending year’s busy stays on movie locations, Nollywood actresses, Mimi Orjiekwe, Linda Ejiofor, Ogechi Peters alongside Peggy Ovire spent little of their Christmas holidays partying at Ilashe Beach. The Nollywood queens all had fun as seen from the photos sent in. More below…

Photos From 20-Year Old Super Eagles Player's Wedding

20-year old, Super Eagles player Moses Simon tied the knot with his heartthrob, Ibukun Sarah Adenuga yesterday. The couple had their engagement in the morning at the bride's home in Ibadan, Oyo State, before heading to the Civic Centre where they held their wedding reception. Few of his colleagues were also there to grace the occasion. Moses only became a regular player for Super Eagles under the leadership of Sunday Oliseh. We say congrats to him. See more photos below.

Is Synagogue Church Now A Shadow Of Itself? READ

It has not been business as usual in Ikotun-Egbe, Lagos, since the tragedy that befell the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN). It would be recalled that on September 12, 2014, a guesthouse collapsed in the church’s premises in Lagos, killing at least 115 people, 84 of them South Africans.

As a result of the legal battles that ensued after the tragic event, life has not remained the same for the pastor.

Many observers were of the view that his absence was not unconnected with the devastating effect and mudslinging that has been associated with the church since September 12, last year.

Ikotun-Egbe, which used to be famous for T.B Joshua’s church has presently witnessed low movement of people to the area. Virtually every activity around the area has reduced.

16-Year-Old Commits Suicide After Being Gang Raped

A 16-year-old girl has taken her own life after allegedly being gang-raped as punishment for her mother winning a local election in India.

The teenager was found hanging on Christmas Day after reportedly being kidnapped and sexually assaulted by two relatives of a losing candidate.

She went to police with her mother and other relatives, claiming that she had been snatched while she was asleep at home and attacked in a field on December 23.

But the girl was sent home with only verbal reassurances from officers who reportedly refused to file an official report.

Let’s Join Cool FM To Take This Poll

I don’t know why they are putting 'pressure' on these guys lol (yimu) but then let’s also join the poll and see the person that will get married first among them. Is it D’banj, Don Jazzy, Banky W or Iyanya? Who do you think will get married first.

When Melaye Publicly Tore PDP Constitution At APC Rally

The Chairman of the Senate ad hoc Committee on Publicity, Senator Dino Melaye, on Tuesday, publicly tore the Peoples Democratic Party membership card of the immediate past commissioner representing Cross River State on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Mr. Paul Adah. Melaye also tore the party’s constitution as Adah joined the ranks of eminent PDP stalwarts that have defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.

  

At the rally which held at the APC ward secretariat in Ohong-Begiadang community, Melaye, boasted there was no doubt that the party would take over power from the PDP in the state.

Funmi Iyanda Hosts Lai Mohammed, Ibukun Awosika On New Year Show

Change-A-Life Nigeria Foundation will on Friday, January 1 kick off the New Year with its special annual talk show hosted by Funmi Iyanda on NTA with Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and Chairman, Board of Directors, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Mrs Ibukun Awosika, as Special Guests.

Through segmented spotlights on peculiar human stories and hard talk bordering on security, poverty, education, governance and empowerment, Change-A-Life addresses matters at the core of human behaviours in Nigeria and the world in general.

As is tradition since the first edition in 2002, Change-A-Life continues to foster hope on the nation through moments of opportunities and good cheer evoked on the show, as well as the continuous celebration of heroes who inspire others.

The show will be broadcast live on NTA Network and DSTV channel 251 from 9am to 10am on New Year Day. Members of the public interested in joining the studio audience are invited to send an email to abiodun@changealifenigeria.org.

Fake Colonel Arrested Over N40m Fraud (Pictured)

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested 62-year-old Babatunde Idris for parading himself as a colonel in the Nigerian Army and using a fake identity to defraud one Yinusa Mustapha of the sum of N40m.

The state Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade, said Idris was arrested after a petition was filed against him.

He said, “Following a petition received alleging the fraudulent activities of Idris, the command’s Anti-kidnapping Squad swung into action and arrested the suspect, who until his arrest had fraudulently obtained various sums of money from his victims.”

Oyebade added that the suspect promised his last victim, Mustapha, that he would help him to get a certificate for oil importation since 2012, but failed to complete the deal after the money was paid into his account.

Gunmen Kidnap Mother Of Lagos Assistant Commissioner Of Police

A woman believed to be the mother of Mr Batram Igbe, an Assistant Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, has been kidnapped. Madam Rebecca Igbe was said to have been kidnapped from her community in Omuse, Elele Alimini, in the Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Monday night.

According to reports, the unidentified gunmen stormed the community around 9pm and shot sporadically in the air to scare people away before abducting Madam Rebecca Igbe who was in a shop opposite her house. The 80-year old begged not to be taken away, but they ignored her and whisked her away. Residents say it’s the second time this year that kidnappers will be visiting the elderly woman. According to them, she was also kidnapped earlier this year.

Lai Mohammed Explains How Boko Haram Carry Out Their Explosions Using Young Girls

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who visited the headquarters of The Punch yesterday in Magboro, Ogun State, gave details of how Boko Haram men usually use young girls to carry out their violence activities without them really knowing. Hear him;

“Suicide bombers usually walk in threes. There is the man who leads. The leader will ensure that the small girl who is strapped with the bomb knows the road. The small girl never knows what she is carrying.

“She is simply told to go and deliver a parcel at a market. That leader would have taken her to the market days before to show her the direction of the market. On the day she is to deliver the package, the man will lead and by then she is strapped.

“Then there is another person that tails her from behind who will make sure that she doesn’t change her mind or turns in another direction. These bombs are detonated remotely. This is how cowardly these people are. These girls are not indoctrinated. Most of them don’t know what they are carrying. Some of them do it for as little as N5, 000 which is given to their parents.”

He however maintained that the Federal Government had largely won the war against insurgency.

Biafra: Kanu Apologises To Buhari, Jonathan, Igbo Elders

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra and founder of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has expressed regret for referring to President Muhammadu Buhari as a terrorist, evil and a paedophile in his radio broadcasts.

Kanu, who has been charged along with two others by the Federal Government before a Federal High Court in Abuja on six counts of treason and other ancillary offences, said he intended to write a private letter to Buhari to express his apology to the President.

He also apologised to former President Goodluck Jonathan and Igbo elders for “some uncomplimentary things” he said about them.

German Court Sentences Former Rwandan Mayor To Life In Prison Over Role In Genocide

A German court on Tuesday sentenced a former Rwandan mayor to life in prison, convicting him after a second trial of participating in genocide for helping organize the killing of some 400 members of the Tutsi minority in 1994.

Onesphore Rwabukombe, 58, was convicted in 2014 of being an accessory to genocide and sentenced to 14 years in prison. Both sides appealed that ruling, and a federal court found that evidence heard at the original three-year trial suggested there was sufficient evidence for a tougher conviction.

It ordered the Frankfurt state court to reconsider the case, and judges ruled Tuesday after a five-day trial. Their finding of aggravated circumstances means that early release, which is common in Germany, is less likely.

Turkish Football Federation Fined For Sacking Gay Referee

An Istanbul court has ordered the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) to pay compensation for sacking a referee on the grounds of his homosexuality.

The TFF was fined 23,000 lira ($7,900; £5,300) for dismissing Halil Ibrahim Dincdag, 38, in 2009.

The federation claimed Mr Dincdag was "unfit" for military service and thus unable to work as a referee.