Happy new year! In today’s trending news stories;
- Johann Rupert and his family have overtaken Aliko Dangote as Africa’s richest, ending Dangote’s 12-year reign. Forbes ranks Rupert 201st globally, while Dangote now holds 219th position. The shift is attributed to the Nigerian naira’s 40% devaluation last June, affecting Dangote’s wealth tied to local businesses. Rupert, chairing Compagnie Financiere Richemont, saw his wealth rise from $7.1 billion in 2021 to $11.1 billion in 2023.
2. Renowned Yoruba filmmaker and actor Chief Adedeji Aderemi, popularly known as Olofa Ina, has passed away at the age of 73. The news was shared by fellow actor Saidi Balogun on Instagram, marking the end of a distinguished career in the contemporary Yoruba theatre industry. Olofa Ina was known for his contributions to Yoruba cinema, rich proverbs, and idioms in his performances.
3. Nigerian Businessman Dozy Mmobuosi, ex-CEO of Tingo Group, has denied US fraud charges and is preparing a legal defense against accusations by the US Department of Justice. He faces allegations of securities fraud, false SEC filings, and conspiracy, potentially leading to a 45-year prison term. In a statement, he disputed the claims and vowed to contest them, emphasizing cooperation with legal authorities for a fair examination, aiming for exoneration.
4. Barcelona secured a late victory against Las Palmas in La Liga, with Ilkay Gundogan scoring an injury-time penalty. Despite a challenging first half, Barcelona fought back, and Ferran Torres’ equalizer, followed by Gundogan’s penalty, sealed the win. The result reduces the point gap with leaders Real Madrid to seven. The victory marks Barcelona’s return to La Liga action.
5. Juventus overcame an early deficit to secure an impressive 6-1 victory over Salernitana in the Coppa Italia Round of 16. After conceding an early goal, Juventus found their rhythm with goals from Fabio Miretti, Andrea Cambiaso, Rugani, Dylan Bronn, Kenan Yildiz, and Timothy Weah. The win sets up a quarter-final clash against Frosinone. In a separate announcement, Juventus signed Super Falcons midfielder Jennifer Onyi Echegini, who excelled in the NCAA and featured in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup for Nigeria. Echegini, born in the Netherlands and raised in England, joins Juventus on a contract until June 30, 2026, after concluding her collegiate career at Florida State Seminoles.
6. Akindele’s film, “A Tribe Called Judah,” has achieved a historic milestone by grossing 1 billion Naira at the Nigerian box office within just three weeks of its release. The movie, directed and co-produced by Akindele, narrates a comedic drama about a single mother and her five sons attempting a mall robbery. Akindele now holds the title of the highest-grossing Nollywood director.
