Unai Emery Wins Premier League Manager Of The Month After Aston Villa’s Five-Win December

Unai Emery has been named Premier League Manager of the Month for December after masterminding a stunning finish to the year for Aston Villa. Under his guidance, Villa won five of their last six league games in 2025, defeating top teams including Brighton, Arsenal, West Ham, Manchester United, and Chelsea. The impressive form lifted Villa to third place in the league as the new year began. This is the third time Emery has claimed the Premier League Manager of the Month award, having previously won it in April and December 2023. He topped a competitive shortlist that included Mikel Arteta, Daniel Farke, and Pep Guardiola.

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Plateau Imam Who Saved 262 Christians During 2018 Clashes Dies At 90

Abubakar Abdullahi, the Imam of Nghar village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State who protected hundreds of Christians during violent communal unrest, has passed away. The death of the cleric was confirmed on Friday by his son, Salah Abubakar, who said his father died on Thursday night at the Plateau Specialist Hospital in Jos. According to him, the Imam had been hospitalised for days after battling health challenges related to a heart condition. “He died ten days after he was admitted. He was initially diagnosed with a heart problem. He’d go for check-ups and return. His health hadn’t been stable since the heart disease diagnosis.” The late Imam reportedly died at the age of 90 and is survived by 19 children, comprising 12 boys and seven girls. Imam Abdullahi gained widespread recognition in June 2018 when religious violence engulfed 10 villages in Barkin Ladi. During the attacks, he sheltered 262 Christians inside a mosque and his private residence, keeping them hidden until the crisis subsided and their lives were spared. His actions attracted local and international praise, earning him several honours, including the International Religious Freedom Award from the United States Department of State in 2019.

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Hellen Ati Appeals To Davido To Adopt Anu Amid DNA Controversy

Hellen Ati, the woman linked to nightlife figure Cubana Chief Priest, has appealed to Afrobeats star Davido to show kindness to Anu, the 11-year-old girl at the centre of the ongoing paternity controversy. Reacting to the DNA dispute involving the singer and the child who claims to be his daughter, the Kenyan woman said Davido is known for his love for children and should consider supporting the girl regardless of the DNA outcome. She suggested adoption as an option, stressing that it would not diminish the singer in any way. “Please just help her. You can still adopt her, it doesn’t mean anything. I know you love children a lot, not like Pascal Okechukwu, big belle for no reason.”

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Panic as Part of Public School Collapses in Ikorodu, Lagos

Residents of Odo-Kekere Community in Ikorodu, Lagos State, were thrown into alarm on Thursday evening after part of a building at a local public school suddenly collapsed. The incident occurred after school hours, and many have described the outcome as a narrow escape. According to sources, a section of the school structure gave way with a loud crash, drawing neighbours to the scene. Emergency responders from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) arrived quickly, cordoning off the area to prevent further accidents. Preliminary reports indicate that no students were in the classrooms at the time of the collapse. Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident and the extent of the damage, while search and rescue teams continue to ensure no staff or security personnel were trapped under the debris. Mrs. Boluwaji Aderinto, a resident whose home is adjacent to the school, expressed concern over the state of local school buildings. “We heard a loud crack and then dust everywhere. We thank God it didn’t happen in the morning when the children were in their desks. This is a wake-up call for the government,” she said. A high-level delegation from the Lagos State Ministry of Education visited the site to assess the situation. A senior ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed, “We have officers on site, including the Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, Education District II, already assessing the situation for further action.” The collapse has intensified calls for urgent inspection, renovation, and overhaul of public and private school buildings across Lagos to ensure the safety of students and staff.

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Ugandan Opposition Leader, Bobi Wine Placed Under House Arrest as Museveni Leads Uganda Election

Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine was placed under house arrest on Friday, following elections that showed President Yoweri Museveni holding a commanding lead as he seeks to extend his 40-year rule. Museveni, who has governed Uganda since 1986, has faced widespread criticism for repressing opposition ahead of the vote, and his government imposed an internet blackout earlier this week. With roughly a quarter of votes counted, the Electoral Commission reported Museveni at 76.25 per cent and Wine at 19.85 per cent. Thursday’s voting was disrupted by technical problems, including malfunctioning biometric machines and delayed ballot deliveries in several areas. Final results for both presidential and parliamentary elections are expected by 0200 GMT on Saturday. Analysts say the outcome was largely predictable, given Museveni’s tight control over the state and security forces. The 81-year-old former guerrilla has routinely sidelined challengers during his four decades in power. Wine, 43, born Robert Kyagulanyi, has become Museveni’s most prominent opponent. The former singer, who grew up in Kampala’s slums, calls himself the “ghetto president.” “The military and police have surrounded the residence of President Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert, effectively placing him and his wife under house arrest,” his party, the National Unity Platform, said on X late Thursday. “Security officers have unlawfully jumped over the perimeter fence and are now erecting tents within his compound.” AFP journalists visiting Wine’s home on Friday described the scene as calm, though a military vehicle and several police officers were stationed outside. A heavy security presence was reported across Uganda on election day. The United Nations had warned that the elections were taking place in an environment of “widespread repression and intimidation” against opposition figures. Wine also alleged “massive ballot stuffing” and attacks on his party officials during the internet blackout, though these claims could not be independently verified.

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Rivers Assembly Reaffirms Impeachment Bid Against Governor Fubara and Deputy

The Rivers State House of Assembly on Friday confirmed it would continue with the impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu. At a live press conference in Port Harcourt, the lawmakers accused Fubara of blackmail and said he had lost the trust necessary to tackle the ongoing crisis in the oil-rich state. They also alleged the governor had violated the 1999 Constitution, leaving the Assembly with no alternative but to use its legislative powers to remove him from office. The Assembly members further claimed that Fubara and his deputy had tried to intimidate parliament. They thanked President Bola Tinubu for intervening in the situation and called on Speaker Martin Amaewhule to reconvene the House. Four lawmakers who had earlier advocated for a political solution recanted their position and pledged support for the impeachment process. The group then moved to the chambers to begin a parliamentary session.

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Phyna Clashes With Police Officer Over Alleged Illegal Road Stop

Phyna, the reality TV star, confronted a police officer after being stopped on a Nigerian road, questioning the legality of the stop. She argued that officers should not block vehicles randomly and stressed that proper procedures must be followed, including parking before conducting checks. As a public figure, Phyna directly challenged the officer, describing the stop as “wrong and unacceptable” and warning she would report the incident to senior authorities. She instructed her driver to remain calm and avoid any physical confrontation, focusing solely on highlighting what she saw as unprofessional conduct. Phyna said: “Oga, I am a celebrity, how dare you stop me and say what you said? In the middle of the road, Nigeria police will now stop and just select a random car and stop the car just like that. I’ve never heard about it in my life. You need police to park on the road and stop. You’re not allowed to stop like this.” Between Phyna and a Nigerian police as she was stopped on the road🙆‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/MCXCOquP56 — Man of the world (@Grey37631292) January 15, 2026

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EU Removes Nigeria From High-Risk Financial List

Nigeria has been officially removed from the European Union’s list of high-risk jurisdictions, a development expected to ease trade relations, simplify financial transactions and improve investment flows between the country and Europe. According to Business Insider, the European Commission confirmed on Wednesday that Nigeria, along with South Africa, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique and Tanzania, had made significant progress in strengthening their anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) frameworks. The commission said the countries no longer exhibited “strategic deficiencies” under EU assessment criteria. It noted that the reforms implemented had aligned their financial systems with international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Reacting to the decision, the Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, described Nigeria’s delisting as a major confidence booster for investors. In a post on X on Thursday, she wrote, “Big win for Nigeria! Removed from EU’s financial ‘high-risk’ list! Congrats to President @officialABAT on this achievement. As Minister of State for Finance, I’m proud of this boost to trade and investor confidence.” Nigeria’s inclusion on the EU high-risk list previously meant that transactions involving European partners were subjected to enhanced due diligence, tighter documentation requirements and increased regulatory oversight. These measures placed additional pressure on Nigerian banks and businesses, often slowing cross-border trade and complicating investment processes. The country’s removal from the list is expected to reduce these hurdles and strengthen economic engagement with European partners.

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