Ibadan The place of my dreams The beautiful wife I keep fantasising her welcome. The reality of imaginations in pandemic world. A shore of possibility amidst impossibilities.
Ibadan The thirst that itches the throat to the coolness of your well water The parade of chocolate micras from Challenge to Mokola. The wall of Jericho around Bodija. The carpet of tar from Ashi to Adamasingba.
Ibadan My soul is calm to breathe your air Like the reincarnation of an Abiku that is un relentlessly your heir Even if it is for the ridiculousness of your fare I’m glad to tell you I’ll die here.
Bayern Munich forward, Robert Lewandowski, has won the award for The Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year for 2020.
The Polish national team captain was named ahead of Barcelona and Juventus stars – Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo – to win the coveted prize.
He emerged the winner of the prize after he helped Bayern to win a treble – the Bundesliga league, Champions League, and the DFB-Pokal trophies.
Lewandowski, who finished as the top scorer in all three competitions, scored his 250th goal in the Bundesliga to help Bayern seal an important win over Wolfsburg in a match that ended 2-1 on Wednesday.
“He deserved it more than anyone else. He played the season of his life,” said Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge after Lewandowski’s 55 goals in 2019/20 were a key factor in Bayern winning the treble.
Nicknamed ‘The Body’ and dubbed a ‘machine’ by his wife, the Poland forward has already scored 18 goals in 17 games this season.
The fact Lewandowski has had to wait until he is 32 to be crowned at FIFA’s ‘The Best’ awards is down to the way he proved himself in the knock-out stages of the Champions League last season. Despite having been the Bundesliga’s top-scorer for five of the last seven seasons, Lewandowski was getting a reputation for struggling to find the net in key Champions League games.
Lewandowski receiving his award.
Up until February, he had failed to score in his previous seven matches in the knock-out stages.
His four goals for ex-club Dortmund in the 2013 semi-final, first-leg, against Real Madrid seemed a faded memory.
All that changed in February’s last-16 win over Chelsea, when Lewandowski scored at Stamford Bridge, then set up Serge Gnarby’s two goals in a 3-0 away win.
Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring during the Bundesliga football match against Hertha Berlin on October 4, 2020, in Munich, southern Germany. CHRISTOF STACHE.
When the return leg was played nearly six months later, Lewandowski had a hand in all four goals — scoring twice and creating two more — in the 4-1 win at the Allianz Arena.
Lewandowski followed that up by scoring in the historic 8-2 quarter-final rout of Messi’s Barcelona and netted again in the 3-0 semi-final win over Lyon.
He finished as the Champions League’s top-scorer with 15 goals, two short of Ronaldo’s record for a single season and was dubbed ‘LewanGOALski’ by Bayern team-mate Thomas Mueller.
His three goals in this season’s group stages puts him level with Real Madrid legend Raul on 71 Champions League goals, short of Messi’s 118 and Ronaldo, who has scored 134 times.
In October, Lewandowski was named UEFA’s Player of the Year after Bayern added the UEFA Super Cup to their Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League titles.
He could complete the set in February if Bayern win the Club World Cup in Qatar.
Lewandowski was spotted as a raw 21-year-old playing Polish league club for Lech Poznan, where he scored 41 goals in 82 games and joined Dortmund in 2010.
He made his breakthrough under Jurgen Klopp, helping Dortmund win back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2010/11 and 2011/12.
He hit a hat-trick in the 5-2 drubbing of Bayern in the 2012 German Cup final, joining the Munich giants two years later having scored 103 goals in 187 games for Dortmund.
His goals on Wednesday mean Lewandowski has now scored 264 times in 306 games for the European champions.
Nicknamed ‘The Body’ by his team-mates, Lewandowski is known for his disciplined approach to nutrition and training, resulting in his honed physique.
“My husband is a machine,” admits wife Anna, a former Polish karate international who serves as his personal trainer.
Lewandowski is rarely injured and former Bayern captain Oliver Kahn sees the striker as “an absolute model of professionalism, a condition for staying at the highest level for a very long time.”
Manchester United came from behind to win 3-2 at winless Sheffield United in the English Premier League (EPL) on Thursday night, thanks to a brace from Marcus Rashford.
Rashford scored one goal in each half as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men maintained their perfect away record in the season.
United have also won their past 10 matches away from home, recording comeback wins in all games of the season.
The Old Trafford giants went behind five minutes into the match when Dean Henderson, the club’s second-choice goalkeeper who had a two-year loan stint at Sheffield United, was robbed of the ball and David McGoldrick tapped into an empty net.
Rashford equalised after 26 minutes when he took Victor Lindelof’s pass in his stride and hit a powerful shot that left Aaron Ramsdale, Sheffield United goalkeeper, sprawling in futility.
The 23-year-old made it 3-1 early in the second half after Anthony Martial had broken his 491-minute goal drought to put United in the lead on 33 minutes.
Although McGoldrick completed his brace with a fluke goal in the 87th minute, Henderson produced a world-class save in added time to preserve the points for Man United.
The Blades stay rooted to the bottom of the league without a win and just a point from 13 matches, while Man United climbed to sixth on the log with 23 points, five more points away from Liverpool in first position.
Following Omah Lay’s release from Ugandan police custody, he is back in Nigeria and has released the following statements via his Twitter page;
The past few days have been some of the toughest of my life that I wouldn’t wish them on anyone. Out in a new country with some beautiful people, the next thing I’m being treated like a common thief ??♂️
First off I want to thank all the amazing fans that came out to see me in Uganda, the smiles on your happy faces that evening would be one of my happiest memories ?
Also I wanna clarify that putting you in harms way was never my intentions! Before we came out to Uganda, the show promoters confirmed and proved to us they’d secured all the clearances which of course included Covid 19 compliance….
At that point, my sole obligation became to make myself available to be taken to the venue and entertain, which I did in the full glance and protection of the Ugandan police.
Omah Lay
Secondly, to my mom, my family, my team, my fans, friends that I caused sleepless nights waiting and praying for me, I apologize for putting you through all that;
…on the other hand I can’t thank you enough, I damned near lost my mind but your prayers and messages kept me going! Thank you so much!
Finally, big THANK YOU to everyone for your efforts, prayers, messages, tweets (Damn! Y’all went hard!).
Big shout out to the musicians, the celebrities, fans (Again and again??), my family, my friends, my Label, The Nigerian Mission in Uganda, The Presidency, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Madam Abike. Thank you all so much!
I have put this behind me and back to what I know how to do best. One Africa ✊?Omah is home! ??
Successful filmmaker Tyler Perry took to Instagram to reveal that he’s going through midlife crisis.
The father-of-one pointed out that he’s 51, single, and unsure what the next chapter in his life will look like.
He shared a photo of himself and wrote: “This is what a midlife crisis looks like. I’m 51, single and wondering what the next chapter in my life will look like.
“Whatever it looks like I’m going to walk with God, be the best father and man I can be, hold my head up high, and try to look my best doing it!! In a world with so much sadness, please try and stay in the good!
“Merry Christmas and let’s look forward to 2021 bringing us peace!”
Wizkid, a Nigerian Afrobeats singer, has recounted his experiences with police brutality, saying he was once arrested, harassed, and slapped by operatives in university before he became famous.
The 30-year-old music star brought the revelation to light during a recent interview with Naomi Campbell, an English model.
Wizkid said he was vocal about the recent #EndSARS protest because it was exciting that racism and police brutality gained a place in social discourse.
“I’m so happy that racism and police brutality has become part of our conversations. I felt great seeing what was happening. I’ve been harassed by the police countless times before I could get away from it for being me,” he said.
WIZKID
“I was in uni. I was harassed; arrested. Of course, I was dealt with, like, slapped by the police so many times. It was normal when that’s not supposed to be normal. For me, the fact that it (EndSARS) happened, I was so overjoyed.
“That’s why I was so vocal about it. It’s something that needs to stop. The kids are already here. We’re already dealing with no electricity, bad roads, bad governance, no jobs, terrible schools.”
According to him, police brutality shouldn’t compound existing problems plaguing the youth in Nigeria.
“When you get out of school and graduate, there’s still no job. The youth are dealing with these things daily. Going outside and getting arrested or being profiled shouldn’t be added to it,” the Afrobeats star added.
“That can be controlled so we need to fix that. It’s a terrible thing, man. People have lost their lives for the most ridiculous things. It was sad. That was just the right time for us to speak up. I will always speak my mind.”
Court records show Nygard was arrested under the Extradition Act and is to appear in a Winnipeg courtroom this afternoon.
The designer is facing a class-action lawsuit in the United States alleging the sexual assault of dozens of women.
Fifty-seven women — including 18 Canadians — have joined the lawsuit, which alleges that Nygard used violence, intimidation, bribery and company employees to lure victims and avoid accountability for decades.
Nygard has denied all allegations and blames a conspiracy caused by a feud with his billionaire neighbour in the Bahamas.
That suit was put on pause in the summer by a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Reasons for the stay in the suit were sealed, however, the court docket at the time said the stay resulted from a government motion that named three federal prosecutors.
The Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York did not respond to a request for comment at the time.
Nygard stepped down as chairman of his company after the FBI and police in New York City raided his offices in February.
Actor Doyin Hassan, who is well known for his role in the popular gospel movies by Mount Zion, has lost his wife of 10-years Bolanle to the cold hands of death. One of the most popular roles he played was the role of “Iguanna” in the movie titled CAPTIVES OF THE MIGHTY.
Bolanle who is an evangelist, died at the age of 57
The cause of death has not been made public, and the late Bolanle will be buried on Friday, December 18.
Hassan and his wife met at Mount Zion Drama Ministries where the actor played in several roles. Bolanle also acted in several Christian movies, especially in Mount Zion movies.
Nigerian singers, Omah Lay and Tems have been arraigned before the Makindye Division court in Kampala for flouting COVID-19 guidelines in Uganda.
The fast-rising stars were on Sunday December 13, arrested together with their managers for holding an illegal concert at Ddungu resort in Munyonyo where they gathered big crowds, contrary to President Museveni’s directives on the prevention of the spread of Covid-19.
It was gathered that the organizers of the event disguised the show as a lunch and dinner event but it turned out to be a concert with large crowd in attendance.
Omah Lay, Tems, and the others were arrested and charged with doing “acts that are likely to cause the spread of infectious disease, Covid-19,” according to him Assistant Superintendent of Police and Deputy Police Spokesperson, Luk Owoyesigyire, Kampala Metropolitan Police. Earlier in March, Museveni banned all music concerts, closed down bars, banned fans at all sporting events, and reduced the numbers of people who could attend church services.
Uganda’s Ministry of Health on Sunday reported 461 new confirmed coronavirus cases, taking the total number of cases in the country to 27,532.
Omah Lay via his tweets disclosed the following;
Yes I’m with the Ugandan police… something about the show from last night. Everything would be fine…
Omah ?
I’m in cuffs in Uganda right now with Tems.
I’m just a singer trying to entertain, why am I being set up in Uganda?
I didn’t organize a show, I came on stage and saw teeming fans and sang to them…
Why am I being detained? Why am I not been given a right to a fair hearing?
Why is Uganda not letting @NigeriaMFA step into this? They have been trying to secure our release to no avail.
Is there something bigger at play in Uganda? Why do I have to take the fall for it???
Ajax football star, Quincy Promnes has been arrested on suspicion of stabbing a relative during a family party in the Netherlands.
According to De Telegraaf, the 28-year-old Dutch footballer was arrested by police on Sunday over the incident which occurred in late July.
The report said the family member was left with serious injuries after a fierce argument during a family party at a warehouse in Abcoude, just outside Amsterdam.
The relative is believed to have pressed charges last month and police spokesperson Jelmer Geerds confirmed a 28-year-old man had been arrested on Sunday.
“We only heard about the incident a month ago,” Geerds added. “An investigation was then started and this morning led to an arrest.”
The arrest occurred the day after Promes, who has made 49 appearances for the Netherlands, scored in Ajax’s 4-0 Eredivisie win over PEC Zwolle on Saturday.
The Dutch report adds the alleged crime of “assault resulting in serious physical injury” carries a maximum jail sentence of four years if the defendant is found guilty.
Promes, who previously played for Twente, Go Ahead Eagles, and Spartak Moscow, joined Ajax from Sevilla last year in a £14million deal.
Following hours of pressure from several Ugandan entertainers, Katwe Police has arrested Nigerian artiste Omah Lay for charges related to violating Covid-19 guidelines on entertainment.
Also in custody is Ivan Dungu, the manager of the venue which hosted Omah Lay’s concert that has since raised dissatisfaction from several Ugandans.
This was confirmed by Assistance Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire on his Twitter account, saying, ” Nigerian artiste Omah has been arrested by Katwe Police. The manager of the venue, Dungu Ivan and event promoter, Prima Kasana, are also in custody,” confirmed Owoyesigyire on Twitter.
Here is the full statement from the Uganda Police Force
Three people have been arrested in connection to the unauthorised concert that was held last night in Ddungu Resort in Munyonyo, Kampala City.
Those arrested are Ivan Ddungu, the manager of the place where the concert was held, Omah Lay the musician and Prim Kasana, Events Manager, who contracted Omah Lay to sing.
Police is also looking for the area Officer in Charge of Police Station for failure to detect the criminal acts that took place in his area of jurisdiction.
It is alleged that the organizers of the show disguised it as a lunch and dinner event, but later on at night they started inviting artistes to perform.
The suspects are detained at Katwe Police Station and are being charged with doing acts that are likely to cause the spread of infectious disease, which is corona virus.
On the onset of the COVID19 pandemic, the president directed that music concerts should be stopped and the directives still stands.
We condemn the act of some selfish individuals, who are bent on violating the directives on CONVID-19 to make money and risks the lives of many Ugandans.
We appeal to members of the public to adhere to the Ministry of Health guidelines on COVID-19 and follow all the SOPs.
WBC champion, Tyson Fury is eager to fight British boxer, Anthony Joshua and believes he can win him in three rounds.
“Well there you go everyone,” Fury began in a video posted on his Twitter handle a few hours after Joshua knocked out his mandatory challenger, Kubrat Pulev, in round nine on Saturday night.
“Anthony Joshua just s*** himself live on television. He got asked if he wants the fight and he went around the bushes and put his a* in the hedge. “I want the fight, I want the fight next. I’ll knock him out inside three rounds. He’s a big, bum dosser, I can’t wait to knock him out.”
In front of 1,000 fans with attendance limited due to coronavirus restrictions, Joshua ensured there was no repeat of a shock defeat in his first clash with Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019 as the 39-year-old Pulev was swotted aside.
Attention will now turn to the possibility of a much-anticipated clash with WBC champion Fury in 2021.
“I’m up for anything. Who wants to see Anthony Joshua box Tyson Fury in 2021?” Joshua asked the crowd to a chorus of cheers.
“I started this game in 2013 and I’ve been chasing the belts ever since.
“Whoever has got the belt, I would love to compete with them. If that is Tyson Fury then let it be Tyson Fury.”
Pulev had lost just once previously in his career to Wladimir Klitschko in 2014, but was outclassed by Joshua, who could have had victory wrapped up within three rounds. Anthony Joshua (R) lands a punch on Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev (L) during their heavyweight world title boxing match at Wembley Arena in north west London on December 12, 2020. ANDREW COULDRIDGE / POOL / AFP
Twice Pulev was given a count by the referee in round three after he was left flailing on the ropes by an explosive burst of punches from Joshua.
The IBF, WBA and WBO world champion then surprisingly took his foot off the accelerator to allow Pulev to hang in the fight.
But in round nine three uppercuts in quick succession put Pulev back on the canvas and this time he did not get back up in time as Joshua took his career record to 24-1.
An agreement in principle for Joshua and WBC champion Fury to finally go head-to-head has been in place since earlier this year.
“Starting from tomorrow, we make the Tyson Fury fight straight away. It’s the only fight to be made in boxing. It is the biggest fight in British boxing history,” said Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn.
“I know he (Joshua) wants it. He is the best heavyweight in the world, I promise you. He’ll break him down, he’ll knock him out.”
President Muhammadu Buhari celebrates the decisive victory of Nigerian-born boxer, Anthony Joshua, over Kubrat Pulev Saturday night.
The President says by retaining his IBF, WBA, and WBO titles, Joshua has given boxing lovers round the world, and particularly in Nigeria, something to cheer.
He recalls his meeting with the heavyweight champion in London earlier in the year, describing Anthony Joshua as a humble, well brought up young man, “who will still go places.”President Buhari wishes Joshua all the best in his dream fight against Tyson Fury, saying he has the prayers and goodwill of Nigerians going with him.
Nigeria Musician Seun Kuti was alleged to have pulled a gun on civilians over a street parking matter in Ikeja.
According to eyewitness, the youngest son of late afro beat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti also use his thugs to harrass and intimidate his victim.
The eyewitness further give an account of what went down below:
“It was abt 7pm when I decided to stroll out of the Lagos Facebook Hangout party held at 16, Akin Osinyemi Street, off Allen Ave, Ikeja. Outside the building where I stood, I couldn’t help but shift attention to the man in an armless top & slightly over the knee trouser, raging.
He was mad that the party attendees littered the street where he obviously lives with their cars – a genuine concern (his gate was affected). There was a resident stranded in his car trying to access his compound but couldn’t.
Kuti’s fury leaped & began to ridicule the guy who block the access. Whether the guy knew or not that it was Kuti, he screamed back, asking him to take things easy before he leaves.
Next thing: Some three guys left Kuti’s side and rushed the guy with slaps and blows, while Kuti also landed him a heavy strike on his head amid screaming. This guy retreated, almost crying. He moved his car. But it wasn’t enough.
Kuti continued to rage at other car owners until one of the organisers, MM, showed up. In the middle of the effort to pacify, one of the bouncers told Kuti to calm down…
Next thing again, Kuti’s thugs rushed at the bouncer for such effontery. That’s where the party scattered.
This time around Kuti went into his compound and brought out a SHORT BLACK GUN! He was attempting to cork it but paused again… I called my friend that we needed to leave immediately.
I knew trouble was looming on a large scale when the guy who was earlier assaulted returned to the scene. Barely 30 minutes after we left, I got feedback from people at the party that there had been a gunshot, forcing everyone to scamper.
I’m shocked that Kuti will rather make his point with a gun than engage the organisers…seeing him in the movie ‘Citation’ & how he found his voice during #EndSars Protests reinforces the feeling that things aren’t what they seem. KUTI was a thug to behold.”
American rapper, Lil Wayne pleaded guilty on Friday to a federal charge that he possessed a weapon despite being a convicted felon, and faces up to 10 years in prison.
The rapper, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter, admitted possessing the .45 calibre gun and six rounds of ammunition after his private plane was searched on arriving in Miami from California on 23 December 2019.
A search warrant said the father-of-four told investigators the gun was a Father’s Day gift.
He entered the plea during a hearing held remotely before U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams.
“Your honor, I plead guilty to the charge,” Carter told the judge.
The federal charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, but likely Carter will get far less time than that, according to reports. He is free on $250,000 bail but had to surrender his passport.
The charge stems from a weapons conviction for Carter in New York more than a decade ago, for which he was sentenced to eight months in prison as convicted felons are barred under federal law from possessing firearms.
Carter’s lawyer, Howard Srebnick, said he considered a motion to suppress the search of the plane as a violation of the rapper’s constitutional rights.
“I must say I thought it was a very viable motion. He has decided not to pursue a motion to suppress,” Srebnick said.
The Miami U.S. attorney’s office also said in the news release that investigators found small amounts of cocaine, ecstasy, and oxycodone in a bag belonging to Carter, but he was not charged with any drug crime.
Marvel Studios President, Kevin Feige has announced that Chadwick Boseman’s character of Black Panther will not be recast after the actor’s death following a long battle with cancer.
King T’Challa’s story on the dystopian sci-fi blockbuster is coming to an end along with that of Boseman, the man who brought him to life onscreen.
Ryan Coogler has manned the director’s chair for a sequel which is set to move forward with focus on the other characters introduced in the 2018 films.
That sequel is due in July 8, 2022, according to Feige’s remarks at Disney’s Investor Day conference.
“I want to acknowledge the devastating loss of a dear friend and a member of our Marvel Studios family. Chadwick Boseman was an immensely talented actor and inspirational individual who affected all of our lives both personally and professionally,” Feige said.
“His portrayal of T’Challa, the Black Panther, is iconic, and transcends any iteration of the character from any other medium in Marvel’s past. It is for that reason that we will not recast the character.”
“To honor the legacy that Chad helped us build with his portrayal of the King of Wakanda, we wanted to continue exploring that world and all the rich and varied characters introduced in the first film,” Feige added.
Headies is a popular Nigerian music award show which has been on for several years. With the lockdown earlier this year and initial intensity of coronavirus spread, one would have thought headies won’t hold this year. However, since the relaxation of the lockdown and as activities are getting back to normal in Nigeria, headies is finally taking place live. Here are the Headies award nominations for 2020;
Popular Nigerian blogger Linda Ikeji has sent out a reminder that she is searching for a husband.
Taking to her social media page, the billionaire single mum revealed that she is looking for a husband even though she has everything she needs.
She made this known as she posed with two of her expensive vehicles – Range Rover and Bentley.
“Living the life of my dreams… on my own terms! #RR2020 #BentleyMulsanne. #womanlikelinda. Selfmade. Strong. Independent. But I’m still looking for husband sha,” she wrote.
Empire Star Taraji P. Henson will host the American Music Awards on Sunday.
But what’s the Hollywood actor bringing on board?
“I’m trying to bring a bit of my musical theater training, my comedic chops, just a hodgepodge of my talent. You know, I sing, I dance, I did study musical theater at Howard University. So whenever I have shows like this, I like to remind people that I’m more than just ‘Cookie’ or a dramatic actress”, she said.
Several artists are billed to perform, including Megan Thee Stallion.
“Well, you know, I love my Megan Thee Stallion, I am so proud of her tenacity and I’m so proud of her vulnerability because that’s where her strength lies, in her vulnerability and not being afraid to be vulnerable and be fierce and all of that. I’m looking forward to Post Malone, she added.
Hosting the awards show is next on Henson’s agenda. But she says she’s looking forward to directing, producing and working on exciting upcoming projects.
Speaking via Zoom call from Los Angeles where the show is set to be held, Henson said its time to begin to discover new talents like was done for her.
Known as ‘’Cookie Lyon’’ on Fox’s Empire, the actor said she’s looking forward to rap with Megan Thee Stallion.
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