Good morning! In today’s trending news stories:
1. On Thursday, the Labour Party (LP) staged a protest at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters, demanding the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the results of the Imo state governorship election. The LP’s governorship candidate, Athan Achonu, claimed victory by a wide margin and accused INEC of manipulating the election results. The party expressed concern over the swift announcement of results in Imo compared to Bayelsa and accused INEC of bias. The LP had written to INEC requesting access to the election results but received no response. During the protest, LP leaders confronted INEC officials, demanding the CTC of the election results. INEC’s chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, represented by national commissioners, addressed the protesters, urging calmness.
2. The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the victory of Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, who was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission. The state election petition tribunal had initially ruled in favor of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, David Ombugadu, citing evidence from various polling units. However, Governor Sule appealed the decision, and the Court of Appeal, in its judgment, expunged certain evidence relied upon by the tribunal. The court held that the statements of certain witnesses were not filed within the required time frame. In addition, the court criticized the tribunal for deducting votes from the governor based on over-voting allegations without proper evidence and faulted the dismissal of evidence presented by the governor. Consequently, the Court of Appeal allowed the appeal, dismissed the tribunal’s judgment, and set aside the declaration of the PDP candidate as the winner of the election.
3. There is increasing crisis in the recently established Enugu International Building Materials Market (New Kenyatta, Ugwuaji), Enugu State, due to alleged brutality and humiliation of traders by soldiers deployed to guard the market. Stakeholders in the market have appealed to the General Officer Commanding the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army for intervention, warning that the situation may lead to protests and confrontation. Traders complain of soldiers overstepping their authority, brutalizing and humiliating them, including instances of public humiliation for minor infractions.
3. The four-day pause in the fighting between Israel and Hamas has begun, mediated by Qatar. The temporary ceasefire involves the release of 13 Israeli hostages and 150 Palestinian prisoners. Small arms fire, mortar fire, and an airstrike were reported near Gaza right before the ceasefire. Trucks carrying medical supplies, fuel, and food have entered Gaza from Egypt. The UK Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, is also set to meet Palestinian leaders to discuss providing support to Gaza. The recent conflict initiated by Hamas on October 7 resulted in 1,200 deaths and around 240 hostages taken by the group. While Israel’s retaliatory campaign has led to over 14,000 casualties, as reported by Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
4, On Thursday, turhe International Air Transport Association (IATA) revealed that, as of September, $1.68 billion of airlines’ funds are locked in Africa out of a global total of $2.36 billion. The Regional Vice-President for Africa and the Middle East highlighted the impact of blocked funds on aviation connectivity, raising concerns about the sector’s sustainability. While efforts have been made to repatriate funds from some African countries, $1.68 billion remains blocked across the continent. In Nigeria alone, as of August 2023, $783 million of airlines’ blocked funds persisted, with only a fraction accessible despite recent efforts. As a result, the IATA emphasized the need to liberate these funds and advised governments on best practices to clear backlogs, noting that the repercussions extend beyond airlines to adversely affect the economies involved.
5. Chelsea has secured their first win in this season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League by defeating Paris FC 4-1 at Stamford Bridge on November 23, 2023. Sam Kerr scored a hat-trick for Chelsea, with goals in the 32nd, 49th, and 56th minutes. The French side equalized with a goal from Thea Greboval in the first half. Sophie Ingle added a fourth goal for Chelsea in stoppage time. The victory puts Chelsea in a good position in Group D, and Sam Kerr was named the Player of the Match, having scored eight hat-tricks in her Chelsea career.
6. Nigerian chef Damilola Adeparusi, also known as Chef Dammy, was arrested and granted bail by the police in Ondo state. Chef Dammy had raised concerns about threats and intimidation from individuals, including her pastor, Billionaire Dollar Prophet. The arrest has sparked discussions on social media. Chef Dammy gained attention for her cook-a-thon, but the conflict with her pastor remains unclear. She promised to reveal details soon. Social media commentator Oluyemi Fash reported the arrest, alleging a petition by the pastor, and later confirmed her release on bail. Presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore criticized the police, calling for Chef Dammy’s immediate release and questioning the detention of a student challenging a pastor.
7. Hollywood star Jamie Foxx has denied allegations of sexual assault filed against him in a lawsuit at the New York supreme court. The lawsuit claims that in summer 2015, Foxx made inappropriate comments and engaged in “heinous touching and sexual assault” at a rooftop bar. Foxx, whose real name is Eric Bishop, rejects the accusations, and a spokesperson states that a similar lawsuit filed in 2020 was dismissed. Foxx intends to pursue a claim for malicious prosecution after the current allegations are expected to be dismissed. The lawsuit also targets the rooftop bar, Catch NYC & Roof, and its owner, Mark Birnbaum, for negligence.
