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N180m NGO’s money not missing -VDM

Social media critic Vincent Martins Otse, aka Verydarkman, has taunted Online personalities who fell for his claim that N180 million was hacked from his non-governmental organisation account. He said he shared the news to check how dumb the Nigerian media and some Nigerians are. VDM berated those who insulted him and his mother, describing her as a thief. He pretended to be crying and said those who dragged him would learn the hard way. He also tackled media practitioners for not confirming information before sharing. According to VDM, his money is safe with Zenith Bank, and they are doing a good job. The media personality tackled some netizens, including human rights activist Omotayo Williams and investigative journalist David Hundeyin, for their takes on the issue. Omotayo had said that the officer VDM involved in the case, Officer Sam, was a cab driver in Jos, Plateau state. VDM lambasted Omotayo and noted that he never claimed Officer Sam was a police officer but just an officer. VDM also knocked David Hundeyin for asking Nigerians to focus on the claim by Niger Republic’s military ruler, General Abdulrahman Tchiani, that France was setting up a military base in the northeast region of Nigeria. The social critic said that Hundeyin didn’t have proof of what he was saying, and it was one of the reasons he claimed many Nigerians are dumb. VDM stated that if his money was truly missing, he would have contacted the Abuja Police Command. However, he never reported to any police, and those who believed he would take his case from Abuja to Jos were dumb. He also tackled the police in Abuja and Plateau for debunking any missing money when he did not report any case to them. VDM said that the police should start reacting to every news since they have started it with him, without him coming to make any statement to them.

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Super Eagles, Fulham celebrate Calvin Bassey at 25

Former African champions, Super Eagles and Premier League side, Fulham have celebrated Nigerian defender Calvin Bassey on his 25th birthday. Bassey, who was eligible to play for Italy, Nigeria or England at international level, turned 25 years old on Tuesday. “Happy birthday to our solid in defence Calvin Bassey. “We wish you many succeses, trophies and blessings in good health,” @NGSuperEagles wished the player on X formerly Twitter. Bassey’s club Fulham FC also took to their X handle to congratulate him, “Sending birthday wishes to Calvin Bassey.” Bassey committed his international future to Nigeria when he accepted a call-up for their 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. He debuted with Nigeria in a 0–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification tie with Ghana on 25 March 2022.

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Championship strugglers fire Wayne Rooney

Former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney stepped down as Plymouth manager on Tuesday after just seven months in charge of the Championship strugglers. Rooney leaves with Plymouth rooted to the bottom of the second tier following Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at relegation rivals Oxford. Plymouth sit four points from safety after winning just four times and losing 13 of their 23 league games following Rooney’s appointment in May. Plymouth have been thrashed 6-1 by Norwich and lost 4-0 against both Bristol City and Coventry in recent weeks to heap the pressure on the former England captain. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the board of Plymouth,” said Rooney. “Thanks also to all the staff who made me feel welcome and who make the club such a special place, the players and fans for their efforts and support during my time as head coach and I wish them all the best for the future. “To the Green Army thanks for making the games at Home Park so special, they are memories that we will share forever. “Plymouth Argyle will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will continue to look out for and take interest in their results.” A statement on the club website added: “Plymouth Argyle can confirm that the club and head coach Wayne Rooney have mutually agreed to part ways with immediate effect. “We would like to thank Wayne and his team for all their efforts and wish them well for the future.” It is 39-year-old Rooney’s latest managerial flop. He was sacked by Birmingham after only 15 games in charge last season. Birmingham were eventually relegated from the Championship after Rooney’s exit. Rooney was also unable to keep Derby in the Championship after the club were hit with hefty points deductions when they went into administration and breached Football League accounting rules. He earned plaudits at Derby for keeping them in the survival battle until the end of the season but quit the Rams in the aftermath of their relegation in 2022. Rooney also had a spell as DC United manager in the United States before returning to England. Feted as one of the greatest players of his generation, Rooney is Manchester United’s all-time leading goalscorer and also held that record with England for eight years before it was broken by Harry Kane in 2023. He won five Premier League titles, the Champions League, Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup in a glittering 13-year spell with United that ended in 2017.

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Ondo Resident doctors begin indefinite strike

Members of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH), Ondo town, have begun an indefinite strike over alleged poor condition of service. The striking resident doctors were said to have protested on Monday after management of the hospital refused to heed to their demands. They demanded a stop to illegal deductions from their salaries, check on huge payment of taxes, non-payment of hazard allowance amongst others. President of the UNIMEDTH ARD, Dr Olaogbe Kehinde, said the workload was too much for doctors in the hospital. He said many doctors have resigned while others left without prior notification due to poor conditions of service. Dr. Olaogbe stated that the hospital management refused to heed to their request for a review of their working conditions. Olaogbe said the strike action was a difficult decision due to failure to address critical issues affecting its members, infrastructure, and the delivery of quality healthcare services. He said doctors could no longer work under conditions that undermine their well-being and compromise patient care. He urged the state government to expedite payment of all outstanding salaries and allowances, improve working conditions in the three centres across the state, and ensure prompt implementation of their demands. “We demand the correction of irregularities and discrepancies in salary payments, the implementation of the new minimum wage scale, and parity in salary payments with other tertiary hospitals as stipulated in the teaching hospital constitution, among other issues. “We deeply regret any inconvenience this strike may cause to patients and the public.” Immediate past President of the striking doctors, Dr. John Matthew, said the disparity between the salary of doctors in Ondo State and other states I’m were huge due to illegal deductions and taxes. Dr. Matthew said many doctors in the state have taken up appointments in other states. “We will not return to work until our demands are met. Money is the core issue because that is what is driving doctors away. There is a huge disparity in payment between Ondo and Ogun States. Doctors will go to states that are giving doctors good welfare packages but they are worsening the terrible welfare here. “The issues are Illegal deductions from our salary and the humugous taxes we are paying. It is killing the system and driving doctors away. “The hospital was disconnected from the national grid and we were sleeping and working in the dark.” Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Gbala Micheal, pleaded with the striking doctors for more time to enable management address their grievances.

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Gov. Okpebholo renames Edo State University

The Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has renamed Edo State University. This is contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor o9n Monday. The statement reads; “It is hereby announced for the information of the General Public that the Governor of Edo State, His Exeellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo has approved the change of the name of “Edo State University, Uzairue,” to now be known as “Edo University, Iyamho” with immediate effect. “Accordingly, all documentations in respect of the Institution henceforth shall reflect the above change.” Edo State University was founded in 2016. On 23 March 2016, the university was approved by the National Universities Commission as Nigeria’s 41st state university. The University offers undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes.

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Anthony Joshua visits Ogun State Governor

British-born Nigerian heavyweight boxer, Anthony Joshua has paid courtesy visit to the Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun. Joshua, an indigene of Ogun State is currently in Nigeria on holidays. In a video posted on X formerly Twitter, Joshua prostrated for the Ogun State helmsman, while both men exchanged pleasantries. “Today, we had the distinct honour of welcoming Anthony Joshua, the world-acclaimed boxing champion and a proud son of Ogun State, to our office during his courtesy visit. “Anthony Joshua’s remarkable achievements in the world of boxing continue to inspire not only the people of Ogun State but also millions across the globe. His dedication, discipline, and unwavering commitment to excellence are values we hold dear as a state. “This visit is a testament to the bond we share as a people and our collective pride in the success stories that emerge from Ogun State. We remain committed to supporting our talents and creating an environment that nurtures greatness in all spheres of life. “Together, we celebrate Anthony Joshua’s accomplishments and look forward to more victories as he continues to make Ogun State proud,” Governor Abiodun posted on his X handle. Meanwhile, Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn has revealed the boxer will fight twice in the coming year. Joshua’s last fight came in September when he faced rising prospect Daniel Dubois in a bid to become a three-time world heavyweight champion. The 35-year-old entered the clash off the back of four impressive victories, including a vicious second-round KO of former UFC heavyweight king Francis Ngannou in March. Ultimately though Dubois would hand AJ the fourth defeat of his professional career by stopping Joshua in the fifth round and defending his IBF title in the process. Joshua had been expected to rematch Dubois in early 2025 before he was convinced to recover from injuries and seek a return later in the year. Instead, Dubois will defend his title against perennial contender Joseph Parker in February on the undercard of the undisputed light heavyweight rematch between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev. Asked when fans can expect AJ’s return to the ring, Hearn revealed plans are tentatively in place. ‘In May or June,’ Hearn told iFL TV. ‘He’s not in full training yet. He’s probably ready to resume training in January.’ After Tyson Fury was defeated by Oleksandr Usyk for a second time earlier this month, Hearn championed the idea of a long-awaited showdown between the Gypsy King and Joshua. While he again hinted that the all-British showdown could finally take place in 2025, Hearn insisted that they would not rush into any future plans. He continued: ‘At the moment, you’ve got the Dubois fight on February 22nd. ‘And you’ve got to see what Fury wants to do. We’re not in a terrible rush. AJ will fight twice in 2025. Once in the summer and once in the winter. ‘If we can’t make the Dubois fight and if Fury doesn’t want to fight, then you have to make the decision to fight somebody, or do you wait for those fights? ‘I can’t speak on behalf of AJ, for who he’s prepared to fight. But what I know is the focus is Daniel Dubois or Tyson Fury. ‘Of course, Joshua’s done it all. If he gets Fury on his resume, he’s boxed virtually everybody of his era.’

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Jimmy Carter state funeral set for Jan. 9

The official state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter will be held Jan. 9 at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., the White House confirmed Monday. The Carter Center releases a statement saying the family has accepted an invitation from Congress for Carter, who died Sunday at 100, to lie in state at the Capitol Rotunda. Details on the events in Washington and in Georgia, including burial for Carter, have not been released. President Joe Biden declared Jan. 9 a National Day of Mourning and ordered U.S. flags to fly at half-staff for 30 days. In Plains on Monday, two National Park Service rangers hung wreaths marked with black ribbon on the doors of the building where Carter went to high school. The school is now the Plains High School Visitor’s Center and is dedicated to teaching people about Carter. Inside, Sandra Hicks, who lives down the road in Americus, Georgia, was touring the school with her grandsons. She wanted to teach the boys about Carter’s legacy “so they can learn more about where he actually came from, get a firsthand experience of what it looked like.” Hicks met the Carters while she was working at the photo center in the Walmart in Americus. “He was never a stranger, even with Secret Service and what have you,” Hicks said. One of her grandsons, Jaxson Hughes, 11, expressed his appreciation for having a president from near where he lives. He said Carter knew the struggle of the people in the area and was able to advocate for them. Hicks mentioned Carter’s long history on humanitarian work, particularly his time with Habitat for Humanity, when she said he did much good in Americus. On a broader scale, Hicks said Carter also helped change the culture of Americus into one that cared for all the people of the town. Dave and Nancy Shelbourne were also visiting the school Monday. The couple, from Indianapolis, was driving to Naples, Florida, for the winter. After Carter died, they stopped in Plains to learn about the president in honor of their grandson also named Carter. “It’s just nice to know there are still good people in the world still trying to do things for humanity,” Dave Shelbourne said about the president.

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Abiodun signs N1.054trn appropriation bill into law

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has signed the N1.054 trillion 2025 State Appropriation Bill into law. The signing, which took place at the Governor’s Office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, was witnessed by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, principal officers of the House, the Deputy Governor, and members of the State Executive Council. Speaking after receiving the clean copies of the Bill, Governor Abiodun announced that his administration would, in the coming month, sign the partnership agreement with potential partners for the development of the Olokola Sea Port. He said the government would also focus on the provision of more basic infrastructure with the signing of more Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with private corporate bodies in renewable energy, agriculture, and other sectors that would boost the State’s economy. He said: “It is my pleasure to announce to you that in the coming month, we will be signing the partnership agreement with potential partners in our port development. The Olokola Port is back on track. “In the coming year, you will see us signing more Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with private players in the areas of renewable energy, energy transition, and agriculture, particularly animal husbandry. We intend to join the league of those producing beef and pork, not just for domestic consumption, but for export. “We will continue to provide more infrastructure, particularly roads, in every local government in the State. We will continue in our stride to provide the right infrastructure and the right situation to ensure that students in Ogun State learn in a conducive environment. We will continue to pursue our healthcare program in primary health care, secondary, and tertiary, and of course, our policy on ‘grow what you eat and eat what you grow.’ We are going to be more aggressive in the area of agriculture.” While noting that his administration would be relentless in the pursuit of infrastructure that would engender more socio-economic development, Governor Abiodun revealed that emphasis on arterial roads like the Ijebu-Ode-Epe, Sagamu-Abeokuta, Atan-Lusada-Agbara, Ota-Abeokuta, and Ilaro-Owode roads had played important roles as they had helped to improve the State’s Internally Generated Revenue through the influx of more people and industries. He acknowledged the difficulties people are going through due to the bold policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to pull the country out of the woods but maintained that his administration had risen to the occasion by providing needed palliatives to cushion the effects and help the people navigate the period. “I want to assure you that we can only hope for more wins in the future. It has been a very difficult year for us all, not just as a state but as a country. Our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, started his tenure with very bold reforms that have resulted in some unintended consequences that we must all endure so that we can have a country that is solvent,” he added He appreciated members of the Assembly for the speedy passage of the Bill after due diligence and commended their high level of commitment to their constituents and the state, noting that their collaboration with the executive arm had led to the state growing in leaps and bounds. Speaking earlier, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, noted that the speedy passage of the Bill was in keeping with the promise made to the governor when he presented the Bill to the assembly on the 4th of December this year, adding that no budget bill had been passed before Christmas in the past. While appreciating the governor for the facelift given to the Assembly Complex, Rt. Hon. Elemide said his colleagues worked tirelessly to ensure that the budget was passed on time so as to keep the wheels of the state’s progress moving.

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