Man City pound sorry Newcastle with Marmoush’s quickfire treble
New star on the block, Omar Marmoush introduced himself as Manchester City’s own ‘Egyptian king’ with a superb 14-minute hat-trick against Newcastle to send Pep Guardiola’s side fourth in the Premier League. Marmoush, who joined City for £59m from Eintracht Frankfurt last month, clearly has a long way to go before he can get close to the authentic Liverpool version – but broke his scoring duck in style after four matches without a goal. Just 13 minutes and 54 seconds separated the forward’s opener – taking advantage of Kieran Trippier’s failure to read a long ball from City goalkeeper Ederson – and his third when he swept home first time from 10 yards. In between, Marmoush applied a neat finish to Ilkay Gundogan’s defence-splitting pass into the penalty area. This was the fourth-quickest Premier League hat-trick by a City player – Sergio Aguero netted the fastest with a nine-minute treble in 2015. After Marmoush’s first-half fireworks, substitute James McAtee scored City’s fourth in the 84th minute following a flick-on from stand-in skipper Erling Haaland. Even with a side shorn of defensive trio Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake, it was a throwback to the ‘old’ City of recent years and the perfect warm-up to Wednesday’s do-or-die Champions League return with Real Madrid. Guardiola will hope the knock Haaland sustained four minutes from time which triggered his early exit from the game does not prove to be too serious. For Newcastle, defeat at Etihad Stadium was a familiar experience – they have now lost 16 successive matches at this ground and failed to score on their past six visits. City fans had waited a long time to see the kind of flowing football their side produced in the first half. While Marmoush grabbed the headlines – and the match ball at the end of the game – the presence of fellow new arrival Nico Gonzalez in a midfield holding role helped City. Further forward, much of the credit went to Brazilian winger Savinho. The 20-year-old has been cited by Guardiola as a major reason why Jack Grealish, who was ruled out through injury, has struggled to claim a regular starting spot this term. From the first whistle, he attacked Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall with intent. Although his manager repeatedly had to tell him to drop deeper when Ederson was preparing to play out of his six-yard box, once Savinho had the ball at his feet he repeatedly ran at Hall at pace and, at times, slalomed his way down the pitch to incisive effect. His movement unhinged the visitors and created the space the likes of Phil Foden and Gundogan craved. It was one of those direct runs and a cutback that allowed Marmoush to complete his hat-trick. City have now collected 16 points from their past seven games, which is as good a return as they have managed all season – handy given Liverpool are the next visitors to this stadium on 23 February.
Elon Musk is father of my five-mth-old child – MAGA influencer
Make America Great Again (MAGA) influencer, Ashley St Clair, has claimed that she has a child with billionaire entrepreneur, Elon Musk. In a statement posted on X on Saturday, Ms St Clair revealed that she gave birth to the child five months ago but had chosen to keep the news private to protect their family’s privacy. She added that she intends to raise her child in a safe and normal environment, urging the media to respect her child’s privacy. She tweeted, “Five months ago, I welcomed a new baby into the world. Elon Musk is the father. I have not previously disclosed this to protect our child’s privacy and safety, but in recent days it has become clear that tabloid media intends to do so, regardless of the harm it will cause. “I intend to allow our child to grow in a normal and safe environment. For that reason, I ask that the media honor our child’s privacy, and refrain from invasive reporting.” Ms St Clair, 26, is a columnist known for her work with right-wing media and her vocal stance on political and cultural issues within circles supporting the MAGA movement. She is also the author of Elephants Are Not Birds. The head of Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), who is known for openly expressing his views on social media, has yet to publicly comment on the matter. The billionaire, who has not confirmed Ms St Clair’s claim, already has 12 children with three women. He shares six children with his first wife, Justine Wilson; three with musician, Claire Boucher (Grimes); and three with former Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis.
ISWAP kill 3 soldiers, steal gun trucks in Borno Army base
Terrorists from Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists have killed three Nigerian Army personnel following an attack on a military base in Borno State. The insurgents also made away with two gun trucks in the process. According to SaharaReporters, the terrorists attacked the military facility in Isige town, Gwoza Local Government Area of the state. A source said that the terror group razed many buildings and took away two gun trucks during the attack. The names of the army personnel killed is being withholding as their families are yet to be informed. “There was an attack recently in Borno, one Staff Sergeant with two private soldiers were killed. However, the army authorities are silent over the attack which happened at a base in Isige Town, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State. “They burnt one military vehicle while they went away with two gun trucks, later reforcement came from nearby unit but by then the Boko Haram fighters have left.” This is coming a few weeks after the terror group launched a brutal attack on the military’s Forward Operating Base in the Damboa Local Government Area of same Borno State, killing a yet-to-be confirmed number of soldiers, with many still missing. “25 Taskforce Bde was attacked during the weekend with so many casualties, so far we have recovered over seven bodies,” the source had told newsmen. “The terror group invaded the camp FOB Sabon Gari around 4am on Saturday, using various weapons,” it added. ISWAP subsequently claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement. Also attached to the statement were pictures of members shooting sporadically towards the military facility. Since the death of JAS leader, Abubakar Shekau, ISWAP has been consolidating its grip in locations around Lake Chad. The sect’s membership has swollen with the defection of hundreds of Boko Haram fighters under Shekau. The Nigerian Army has repeatedly claimed that insurgency had been largely defeated and frequently underplays any losses. The terror group has caused over 100,000 deaths and displaced millions of people mainly in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.
Armed robbers raid UI hostel, cart away phones, valuables
Armed robbers attacked Obafemi Awolowo Hall of Residence in the University of Ibadan in Oyo State on Saturday morning, dispossessing students of their valuables worth thousands of naira during the raid. FIJ quoted sources as saying that the assailants gained access into the hall between 4 am and 5 am, targeting at least two rooms on the ground floor of C Block, which houses returning students. The robbers first disabled security measures by removing corridor and bathroom light bulbs before forcing their way into the rooms. A student resident, who asked not to be named, described the chaotic scene thus: “They didn’t get to my block, but I heard people saying one of them had a gun. What I know for sure is that they stole phones and accessories from some students. The school management and members of Abefele (the university security team) came here earlier. Our security men are not exactly agile, so it’s easy to imagine how the thieves got in.” Another student recounted how the thieves were spotted: “They were two men. They entered through the gate facing Awo Mount Zion. I don’t know how they left, but an Awoite screamed when she saw them, and that’s how people woke up and came out. I heard they stole six phones.” In a statement released by hall management, officials confirmed the robbery, stating: “At about 4 am, two thieves broke into the hall and robbed some residents of Block C. The thieves were reportedly armed and mostly stole mobile phones. There was no record of physical assault on any of the victims.” The statement added that investigations were underway in collaboration with Abefele and the police. Some students, however, noted that while the robbers did not appear visibly armed, they issued threats, warning female occupants that they would be hit if they did not cooperate. Similarly, the university’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident, saying, “I called the warden, and the warden said it really happened. It was a single person who had two of the ropes and had their phones, and one of the phones was being tracked.” The PRO added that discussions were ongoing with police authorities regarding the investigation. This is not the first time Obafemi Awolowo Hall has been targeted. In 2019, armed robbers raided the hostel, shooting sporadically before stealing valuables, including phones and cash. At least two students were injured in that attack. The hall, popularly known as Awo Hall, is the closest hostel to The Polytechnic, Ibadan. That same year, Abdulsalami Abubakar Hall — home to postgraduate students — was also attacked. Around 2 am, about 15 armed robbers invaded the female wing and stole valuables. Two male students were injured as the intruders attempted to flee after being spotted.
Djiboutian, Mahamoud Youssouf elected new AU commission chairman
Djibouti’s foreign minister, Mahamoud Youssouf, has been elected as the new chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission. In the election that took place on Saturday, Youssouf won after seven rounds of voting by the union’s 49 member states. He won the election with 33 votes in the final round, constituting the required two-thirds. Kenya’s former prime minister, Raila Odinga, and Richard Randriamandrato, Madagascar’s ex-economy and finance and foreign affairs minister vied for the AU top position in the tightly contested race, however, Youssouf secured a win in the final voting round. The multilingual politician who speaks Arabic, English, and French was perceived as an outside shot compared to fellow contenders from larger African nations. The Djiboutian replaces Moussa Faki of Chad, who has held the AU chairperson position for eight years. He is expected to steer the AU through complex issues around peace and security, trade, and institutional reforms while advocating for Africa’s position on the global stage.
USAID funded ISIS, Boko Haram – US lawmaker, Scott Perry
The agency that has been in the crosshair of the duo of President Donald Trump and tech billionaire, Elon Musk for almost a month now, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has gotten itself in another seemingly intractable mess as it has been accused of funding terrorist organisations, including Boko Haram, ISIS, and Al-Qaeda. A United States lawmaker, Scott Perry, has made the accusations during the first hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE), The Economist reported. The session, titled, “The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud,” focused on allegations of misappropriations of taxpayer funds. Perry, a Republican from Pennsylvania said, “Who gets some of that money? Does that name ring a bell to anybody in the room? Because your money, your money, $697 million annually, plus the shipments of cash funds in Madrasas, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, ISIS Khorasan, terrorist training camps. That’s what it’s funding.” He said the USAID’s reported funding of $136 million for building 120 schools in Pakistan had “zero evidence” of the schools’ construction. “You are funding terrorism, and it’s coming through USAID. And it’s not just Afghanistan, because Pakistan’s right next door. “USAID spent $840 million in the last year, the last 20 years, on Pakistan’s education-related programme. “It includes $136 million to build 120 schools, of which there is zero evidence that any of them were built. Why would there be any evidence? The Inspector General can’t get in to see them. “But you know what? We doubled down and spent $20 million from USAID to create educational television programmess for children unable to attend physical school. “Yeah, they can’t attend it, because it doesn’t exist. You paid for it. “Somebody else got the money. You are paying for terrorism. This has got to end.” USAID is one of the agencies of United States government that had been hardest hit by Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Musk’s supervision, and it has been practically shut down by President Trump since his presidential comeback on January 20. Only on Thursday, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to reinstate funding for foreign aid contracts and other awards to USAID while litigation moves forward, delivering yet another setback for the president as he seeks to make sweeping changes to the federal government. U.S. District Judge Amir Ali partially granted a request for a temporary restraining order from a group of organizations that receive funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, and other agencies, but have since been cut off from federal dollars or had to suspend their work in the wake of Trump’s executive action ordering a 90-day pause on foreign development aid. The nonprofit organizations argued that Trump’s directive and a subsequent memorandum from Secretary of State, Marco Rubio issued late last month, which temporarily stopped new obligations of funding for foreign assistance programmes and called for stop-work orders, was an unlawful and unconstitutional exercise of executive power. They warned that the directive has “created chaos in the funding and administration” of USAID and other foreign assistance programmes. “One cannot overstate the impact of that unlawful course of conduct: on businesses large and small forced to shut down their programs and let employees go; on hungry children across the globe who will go without; on populations around the world facing deadly disease; and on our constitutional order,” lawyers for one group of challengers, led by the Global Health Council, wrote in a court filing.
Binance: Nigerian lawmakers, Gambaryan fight dirty over $150m bribe
By Alade Adisa The last has not been heard about the face-off between three Nigerian lawmakers and some executives of Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange that allows users to buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies, as allegations and counter-allegations between the parties continued at the weekend.Tigran Gambaryan, an executive of Binance, who was detained in the country last year before being released, had accused some members of the House of Representatives of demanding $150 million bribe from him to secure his release.He alleged that the lawmakers demanded that the money be paid in form of cryptocurrency and initially did not mention the names of the bribe demanding federal legislators.At the weekend, he went on his social media handle, X, formerly Twitter, to list the alleged bribe seekers.However, on Saturday, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes, Mr. Ginger Obinna Onwusibe,one of the people mentioned by Gambaryan, issued a statement denying any culpability in the matter.In a statement titled ‘Limited Reaction to False, Malicious, and Defamatory Publications Against Me by Tigran Gambaryan of Binance,’ Onwusibe refuted any claims of coordination between his committee and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), or the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).The lawmaker said that the allegations originated from Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s Head of Financial Crime Compliance, who shared these claims on social media and with international media outlets such as NPR and WIRED.Onwusibe explained that his committee’s investigation into Binance was prompted by a petition from a civil society organisation alleging financial and economic crimes. He outlined the timeline of events, stating that Binance had requested a pre-hearing meeting prior to the official public hearing.This meeting was held on 8 January 2024 in his absence, as he was on official duty elsewhere. The official hearing was scheduled for 10 January 2024, but Binance’s CEO, Richard Teng, failed to attend, leading to multiple rescheduled dates, which were also disregarded. Following Binance’s continued non-compliance, Onwusibe filed a defamation lawsuit against the company and its CEO, seeking $3 billion in damages. This case, filed in September 2024, is currently pending before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja. The statement also referenced Binance’s history of legal issues, including fines and convictions in the U.S., Canada, India, and Uzbekistan for violations related to money laundering and unlicensed operations. Onwusibe alleged that Binance had resorted to blackmail and misinformation to evade accountability in Nigeria. He reaffirmed his commitment to clearing his name through legal means, insisting that neither he nor his committee solicited bribes at any point during the investigation. “My attention has been drawn to the publication by Mr. Tigran Gambaryan, Head of Financial Crime Compliance at Binance, on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday, 14 February 2025. “I have been inundated with thousands of phone calls, WhatsApp messages, SMS texts, and visits from colleagues and others at the National Assembly. “I initially chose not to respond because the issues raised are subjudice, being the subject of a pending court action I initiated against Binance and its CEO, Mr. Richard Teng. “I categorically deny any coordination between our Congressional investigation and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), or the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). “No one in the ONSA, including the NSA, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, directed us to demand bribes from Binance, and no such bribes were ever demanded. “It is regrettable that some Nigerians are quick to believe the worst about their country and its institutions without carefully examining the allegations. “I have been unfairly maligned, and my party and its presidential candidate have been mocked over issues they have no involvement in. “On 18 September 2024, my counsel filed a lawsuit at the High Court of the FCT, Abuja, seeking an apology, retraction, and damages of three billion dollars ($3,000,000,000.00) against Binance and Mr. Teng. “The House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes scheduled a public hearing after receiving petitions alleging Binance’s violations of Nigerian laws. “Binance refused to attend the public hearing on 10 January 2024 and subsequent adjourned dates, despite being given every opportunity for a fair hearing. “Now, Binance and its executives have resorted to blackmail and false accusations to deflect attention from the real issues,” he said. Binance was founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao. It was originally based in China, then moved to Japan, and finally to Malta. Binance has no official company headquarters. Binance Coin (BNB) is a cryptocurrency that can be used to trade and pay fees on the Binance exchange. Users of BNB receive a discount on transaction fees.
LOST AND FOUND? 2Baba spotted shopping with Natasha amid missing claims
Legendary musician, Innocent ‘2Baba’ Idibia and his new love interest, Edo State lawmaker, Natasha Osawaru have been spotted in a video doing some shopping at a hair shop, amid missing claims by his family. It would be recalled that in a video that recently surfaced online, 2Face’s mother had expressed her disapproval of his current relationship, especially since his divorce process with his estranged wife, Annie had not been finalized. Additionally, the family had petitioned the Directorate of State Services (DSS), claiming that the singer had gone missing. However, a video that popped up online on Saturday showed the ‘African Queen’ crooner and the Edo State House of Assembly member at a hair shop doing some shopping. Expectedly, the video has sparked mixed reactions from social media users. Read some reactions below … nickey_pearls said: “lol when I tell you, if he wanted to he will, this is he!!!!” sleem_porshe asked: “How many faces this Natasha get ?” postsofmich queried; “Missing person dey shop ???” glitz_farms stated: “When he fades away for people eye, huh he go rest…” jaycee_talks remarked: “Mummy mummy, come and see him here” bigbims22 said: “Oga, your mama dey find you o” sisi_thebigtycoon wrote: “Allegedly them dey find you for house o, go meet your mama 😂” originalweightlossdietcoffee said: “How many face this Natasha woman get abeg? I don see over 20 different faces. Which face make we hold say na she? 😂😂😂” royals_garden__ remarked: “Nor be this boy him mama say he lost?😂💀” The founding member of a trio that formed the famous Plantation Boys group, which included Blackface and Face, had been in constant news since the news of his split from wife, Anne Macaulay broke weeks back and the man attracted more attention by announcing his love and engagement to the lawmaker, who is from the famous Igbimedion Family. The lawmaker is even reported to be pregnant for the singer who has not less than three other baby mamas.
Kenya’s Kibet wins Lagos City Marathon $50,000 prize money
Edwin Kibet, a Kenyan athlete has emerged as the winner of the men’s category at the 2025 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, held on Saturday. In what was his second victory in the prestigious race, Kibet clocked an impressive time of 2 hours, 14 minutes, and 19 seconds, earning him the $50,000 first-place prize. The Kenyan runner previously won the marathon in 2023 with a time of 2:14:06. In last year’s edition, Kibet finished third behind fellow Kenyan, Bernard Sang, who won with a time of 2:16:49, and Cheprot, who placed second. This year, he dominantly reclaimed his title. Kenya continued its dominance in the men’s race as Kipygon Hehemiah finished second with a time of 2:16:37, while Sang Benard Cheruiyot secured third place in 2:17:17. The 10th edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon saw over 37,000 athletes compete in both the 10km and 42km races. The race started at Western Avenue, National Stadium Surulere, and finished at Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island. Ethiopia’s Guta Meseret Hirpa Wins Women’s Race In the women’s category, Ethiopia’s Guta Meseret Hirpa claimed victory with a time of 2:37:04, marking her first win in the competition. She was followed by compatriot, Aleminesh Herpha, who finished second in 2:38:01, while Kenya’s Jerono Peris secured third place with the same time of 2:38:01. Nigerian winners In the Nigerian category, Nyango Gyang Boyi emerged as the men’s winner, finishing in 2:25:41:58. Apart from winning ₦2 million as the first Nigerian to cross the finish line, Boyi also received $4,000 for finishing 8th overall. In the women’s Nigerian category, Blessing Shambor Solomon secured first place, with Elizabeth Nuhu Power and Patience Dalyop Mwanvwang finishing second and third, respectively. Like Boyi, Solomon won ₦2 million for her achievement. Meanwhile, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the 2025 marathon, promising that the state would provide more support to make the 2026 edition even bigger and better. This year’s marathon featured seven Gold Label runners in the men’s category, including two Platinum-level athletes, while the women’s race saw five Gold Label runners and one Platinum competitor among the over 30,000 participants. The Lagos City Marathon, which was upgraded to Gold Label status by World Athletics in 2023, continues to attract elite athletes worldwide, solidifying its reputation as one of Africa’s premier road races.
Poly students kick against converting Yaba Tech to university
The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has kicked against the plans of the government to convert Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos, into a university. Recall that the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, on Friday announced that President Bola Tinubu has approved the conversion of YABATECH into a university.NNPC debunks viral video, reveals Dangote refinery as main fuel supplier He noted that because the polytechnic has over 200 doctorate-holding staff, it is well-equipped for the transition. However, the Association of Polytechnic Students disagreed with the government. It rejected the proposed conversion of Yabatech, arguing that the move would undermine the essence of polytechnic education. NAPS President, Eshiofune Oghayan, in a statement released in Kaduna on Saturday, criticised the decision. He also emphasized that converting polytechnics into universities would erode their core mission of providing hands-on, industrial-based training. The statement reads in part, “We reject the proposed conversion of YABATECH into a university. Polytechnic institutions like YABATECH play a crucial role in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and industrial application. They emphasise hands-on experience, problem-solving, and innovation, which are essential for Nigeria’s industrialization and economic diversification.” He further proposed that the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), be elevated into a Polytechnic Education Commission. He stated that this would strengthen polytechnic education by ensuring better funding, policy implementation and clear career progression pathways for graduates.
