Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Denied Bail After Pleading Not Guilty to Sex Trafficking, Racketeering Charges
Hip-hop star Sean “Diddy” Combs was denied bail once again on Wednesday after his lawyers pleaded for his release from “horrific” jail conditions while awaiting trial in a sex trafficking case. On Tuesday, a federal judge in New York ordered the musician to remain in custody after prosecutors argued he was a “serious flight risk.” Mr. Combs was arrested earlier this week on charges of running a criminal organization since at least 2008, which allegedly used drugs and violence to coerce women to “fulfil his sexual desires,” according to authorities. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Mr. Combs’ lawyers proposed a bail package, which included a $50 million bond co-signed by Mr. Combs, his mother, and other family members. The proposal also included home detention, passport surrender, weekly drug tests, and a nightly visitor log submitted to pre-trial services. However, the judge did not agree to these terms during Wednesday’s hearing. “My bigger concern is the danger of obstruction of justice and the potential for witness tampering,” Judge Andrew Carter said. “That is a real concern that I have here.” After the ruling, Mr. Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, told reporters that the decision “did not go our way,” but added, “the fight continues.” A 14-page indictment charges Mr. Combs with racketeering, forced sex trafficking, and transporting individuals for prostitution. If convicted of all three counts, the rapper and record producer could face a sentence of 15 years to life in prison. On Tuesday, when U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky asked how he wished to plead, Mr. Combs stood and declared, “not guilty.” Mr. Agnifilo later revealed that the defense team had already filed an appeal against the judge’s bail decision. “We believe him wholeheartedly,” Mr. Agnifilo told reporters outside the Manhattan courthouse. “He didn’t do these things.”
Gov Lawal accuses Defence Minister of sponsoring bandits, money laundering
In a most shocking development, the governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal has asked the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle to resign his position and clear his name over allegations of sponsoring bandits, as well as money laundering while he served as governor.Matawalle is the immediate predecessor of Governor LawalSpeaking as a guest in an interview on Television Continental (TVC) on Wednesday, the governor said the right thing for Matawalle to do is to honorably resign his position and clear his name of the many allegations leveled against him if he has any integrity.Lawal said: “If I were him (Matawalle), I would resign and face all the allegations against me. Because from all the information we’re getting, my predecessor (Matawalle) was fully involved in some of this banditry issue.”Lawal had also accused Matawalle of looting the state and leaving behind an empty treasury.Similarly, while speaking in an interview earlier on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Lawal said he realized that over N250 billion was not accounted for under Matawalle when he assumed office.“EFCC made a pronouncement sometime around May 21, 2023, or thereabout that it was alleging that N70 billion was stolen. That means before I took over. By the time I took over, I realized that that N70 billion they mentioned was a child’s play.“So far based on available records, we realized over N250 billion was not accounted for. It is very funny. I inherited a very dysfunctional state. When I took over, there was no N4 million in Zamfara State government account. It was plain empty.“There was a backlog of salaries for four months. None of Zamfara’s indigenes wrote either WAEC or NECO for three years. I had to settle N1.3 billion for NECO and N1.6 billion for WAEC. Some of the students got their certificates after we settled WAEC and NECO,” the governor stated.
Man City Faces Grim Verdict in Ongoing Hearing
Premier League champions Manchester City stand accused of financial fair play rules violations in a landmark case. The hearing into the case, which is expected to go on for months, started on Monday. The club has denied all charges and continues to maintain it has irrefutable evidence to clear it of any wrongdoing.However, a lot is at stake in this epoch-making case. Among other penalties, City could be at risk of expulsion from domestic cup competitions, and their eligibility to continue playing in the Champions League or later at the Club World Cup is uncertain if they are found guilty.Premier League rivals of the club are reportedly in favour of the harshest punishments being meted out to them. A one-off points deduction is considered not sufficient for the gravity of the charges stacked up against City. Besides, if the club is stripped of the league titles won in the period under scrutiny, rival clubs like Liverpool stand to benefit.While there have been instances of clubs punished for running foul of the financial fair play rules, there hasn’t been a case of this magnitude. Italian club Juventus have had to serve a ban from European football and points deduction for related charges over the past year. However, City’s charges could prove far more consequential as details from the hearing start to emerge.City’s rise to dominance in the Premier League began with the takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008. The investment by the new owners began to bear fruit from the historic league triumph in 2012. Since then, City has gone on to win the title seven more times, including three straight championships from 2021-2024.
NECO Releases 2024 Results: Abia Leads with 83% Pass Rate in English, Math
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has officially released the 2024 results for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE). During a press conference at NECO’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State, on Thursday, the Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Professor Dantani Wushishi, announced the performance of students and revealed critical data on the examination results. Out of 1,376,423 registered candidates, 1,367,736 sat for the exam, with 828,284 students, representing 60.55%, achieving five credits or more, including in Mathematics and English Language. “This is a significant milestone for our education system,” Wushishi stated during the briefing. The Registrar also pointed out that the overall performance across all subjects showed that 1,147,597 students, 83.90%, attained five credits or more, irrespective of their performance in English and Math. This reflects a high level of success compared to prior years. Special Needs Candidates NECO also made accommodations for 2,267 candidates with special needs, demonstrating a commitment to inclusive education. The breakdown included 1,104 candidates with hearing impairments, 348 with visual impairments, 342 with albinism, 237 with autism, and 236 with low vision. Improvement in Examination Malpractice Reduction Professor Wushishi highlighted a notable reduction in cases of examination malpractice. In 2024, 8,437 candidates were involved in various forms of cheating, a sharp 30.1% decrease from the 12,030 cases recorded in 2023. Forty schools across 17 states were implicated in mass cheating, with one school in Ekiti State recommended for de-recognition due to widespread malpractice in core subjects. Additionally, 21 supervisors from 12 states were recommended for blacklisting due to issues such as poor supervision, aiding cheating, absconding from duties, extortion, and even drunkenness. Abia State Tops Performance Rankings Abia State emerged as the top-performing state, with 83.40% of its candidates scoring five credits, including in Mathematics and English Language. The state also led in the category of overall credits, with 95.84% of students earning five credits or more regardless of subject. In contrast, Katsina State recorded the lowest performance, with only 42% of candidates achieving five credits, including in Mathematics and English Language, closely followed by Kano State with 44.42%. The release of these results marks another milestone for NECO as students across Nigeria now have access to their performance and can plan for their next academic steps. How to check NECO 2024 results Below are the easy steps to check your NECO 2024 results online: 1. Visit NECO portal at https://www.neco.gov.ng. This is the only officialplatform for accessing your results. 2. Select ‘NECO Results’: On the homepage, pick the ‘NECO Results’ option. Clicking this will take you to the result-checking section. Click “Check “Results”. Alternatively, just go straight to the result portal at https://results.neco.gov.ng/.
Mpox Outbreak in Africa “Not Under Control,” Says Africa CDC
Mpox remains uncontrolled across Africa, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The agency reported nearly 3,000 new suspected cases of the disease in the past week, with 374 confirmed infections. The spread has now been documented in all four regions of the continent; Africa CDC confirmed Thursday. In his weekly briefing, Africa CDC Director Jean Kaseya announced that 14 more deaths were reported in connection with mpox, bringing the total number of cases in Africa since the start of the year to more than 29,000. A total of 738 deaths have been recorded across 15 countries. “We can say now: mpox is not under control in Africa,” Kaseya stressed, highlighting the rapid increase in cases. He attributed the gap between suspected and confirmed cases to limited testing and insufficient laboratory capacities across the continent. Compared to the same period last year, Africa has experienced a staggering 180% increase in mpox cases and a 39% rise in related deaths. “Enough is enough; we have to stop this,” Kaseya urged. While the arrival of vaccines has sparked some hope, vaccination campaigns have only begun in Rwanda, where around 500 people have been immunized so far. Despite Rwanda’s efforts, the country is not among the most severely affected. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Burundi—both neighbouring Rwanda—are facing much more critical outbreaks. An immunization plan for the DRC is still pending, Kaseya noted. The Congo, Africa’s second-largest country, continues to face major challenges in controlling the outbreak due to poor infrastructure and logistical difficulties, including maintaining cold chains for vaccines in rural areas. Kaseya also revealed that in some countries, such as Cameroon and the DRC, two strains of the disease are circulating. However, due to inadequate surveillance and testing systems, it remains unclear if this is the case in other regions as well. As Africa struggles to contain the ongoing outbreak, public health officials are calling for more robust testing, increased vaccination efforts, and stronger infrastructure to address the escalating crisis.
Lagos Orders Demolition Police Barracks Due to Structural Failure
The Lagos State Government has issued a warning about an imminent structural collapse at the Mopol 20 Barracks in Onigbongbo, Ikeja. This follows preparations by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) to begin the emergency evacuation and demolition of the old Block 3 section of the barracks. Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, stated in a press release on Wednesday that the agency’s response team had inspected various parts of the structure and found them to be in a precarious condition. “The agency dispatched a response team to the site, and the findings indicate that the building and adjacent structures must be evacuated immediately. We are implementing a response plan that includes assessment, safe and orderly evacuation, and controlled demolition,” Oke-Osanyintolu said. He further emphasised, “Under the vigilant watch of the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu administration, we will carry out this preemptive demolition due to the hazardous condition of the building and the potential secondary incidents that could arise if left unaddressed.” He also urged residents in the area to remain calm and refrain from spreading misinformation on social media, reassuring the public that the situation is being carefully monitored and managed.
Families of policemen killed by bandits get N3.5m in Katsina
Succour has come the way of the families of seven police officers who lost their lives while fighting against bandits in Katsina State.This was disclosed during a ceremony held at the Katsina Police Command Headquarters, where Deputy Commissioner of Police Administration, DCP Aminu Usman Gusau, presented cash gifts to the bereaved families on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa Thursday.Each of the families of the fallen officers received N500,000.Spokesperson of the Command, ASP Sadiq Abubakar, disclosed that the token was provided by the Katsina State Government as a mark of honour and appreciation of the sacrifices made by the stricken policemen.While conveying the Force’s condolences to the grieving families, DCP Gusau assured that the command will continue to stand in solidarity with them by acknowledging the selfless services rendered by the fallen officers.The Command also applauded the Dikko Radda-led administration for its commitment to the welfare of families of officers who have paid the supreme price in the ongoing fight against kidnapping and banditry in the state.The event was attended by officers of the command and family members of the fallen heroes.
Courtois echoes Rodri’s strike threat
Real Madrid and Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has seconded Manchester City midfielder Rodri’s warning about a players’ strike. Rodri voiced concerns over the number of games footballers now have to play during a press conference on Tuesday where he said, “there will be a moment where” players are left with no other option than to embark on strike action.Courtois’s endorsement came on Wednesday during a chat with popular Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos. He said, “Rodri is right. There are a lot of games. Fans want to see the best and we have to find a balance. There are too many games and there are more injuries.” The Belgian goalkeeper continued, “With the Nation’s League, the Club World Cup, games are added. People say we earn a lot of money, that we can’t complain, and that’s true. But we have to find a balance because the best players aren’t always going to be able to play.”Courtois and Rodrigo may play more than 70 games this season as both Madrid and City are part of the new expanded format of the Champions League and the new Club World Cup’s 32-team format starting in the US next summer.Players’ concerns over the increasing number of games on their schedules have been increasing over the past few months. Courtois joins a list of players, including City’s Manuel Akanji and Liverpool’s Alisson Becker, who have voiced these concerns over the past week. Carlo Ancelotti, who coaches Courtois at Madrid, also previously indicated that clubs are considering granting players holidays during the season to cope with the barrage of games they have to play.Real Madrid began their Champions League campaign on Tuesday with a hard-fought 3-1 win over VfB Stuttgart. However, the Los Blancos are still fighting to steady their form in La Liga after drawing two of their opening five games.
United’s New Stadium Plans Could Spell Demolition for Old Trafford
Manchester United’s plans to erect the “Wembley of the North” may eventually involve demolishing the Old Trafford, reports indicate. The initial plan was to use the monument as a replacement for the Leigh Sports Village for the use of the club’s women’s teams and its academy. This would follow a downsizing of the stadium from its current 74,000 capacity to about 30,000, according to the Manchester Evening News. The rationale was to keep the stadium as a piece of the club’s treasured history.Tearing down the stadium may be a cause of concern for many United fans. The club, showing it wishes to know what the fans think, will start a survey on Friday which would involve season ticket holders and members. However, with the survey only days away from holding, a Daily Mail report has revealed the club may be taking a U-turn on its initial plans after realizing the cost of preserving Old Trafford may run into an excess of £100 million. Even then, it is not guaranteed to work. Therefore, instead of the initial plan, an alternative that would see a 15,000-seater arena built in place of Old Trafford after the completion of the new stadium for the men’s team is now preferred.Notwithstanding, the new plan will incorporate the preservation of certain historical elements of the Old Trafford. These iconic elements include the Munich clock, the Sir Matt Busby statue, and the Munich Tunnel.Foster + Partners, a global architecture studio will reportedly be charged with overseeing the master plan for the whole new stadium project putting them in the position to include the historic icons in the new plan. However, nothing is exactly cast in stone yet with the option of renovating Old Trafford with £1 billion still a possibility in place of the present plan to build a new stadium with a £2 billion cost.
DJ Cuppy Unveils ‘Cuppy Fund’ to Support African Students at New York University
Nigerian disc jockey Florence Otedola, better known as DJ Cuppy, has recently launched an initiative to help African students study abroad. The ‘Cuppy Fund’ aims to provide financial assistance to African students at New York University (NYU). DJ Cuppy recently shared a video in which she expressed her excitement about launching the project. She explained that the fund aims to support African students at New York University (NYU), where she graduated. The billion heiress emphasised that this was her way of giving back to the institution that played a significant role in her educational journey. The fund will offer financial support to African students studying overseas, with a focus on alleviating some of their financial burdens. This initiative has been warmly received online, with many praising her generosity and commitment to education. Fans have commended her for using her influence and resources to give back and inspire African students, viewing it as a vital step towards creating opportunities for others.
