Daily Planet

       BY OYEKAN OLUWATOBI North Korea on Sunday tested its most powerful missile ramping up the firepower for its record-breaking seventh launch this month as Seoul warned nuclear and long-range tests could be next.  Pyongyang has never test-fired this many missiles in a calendar month before and last week threatened to abandon a nearly five-year-long self-imposed moratorium on testing long-range and nuclear weapons. With peace talks with the US stalled, North Korea has doubled-down on leader Kim Jong Un’s vow to modernize the regime’s armed forces, flexing Pyongyang’s military muscles despite biting international sanctions. South Korea said that North Korea appeared to be following a “similar pattern” to 2017 when tensions were last at breaking-point on the peninsula warning Pyongyang could soon restart nuclear and intercontinental missile tests. North Korea “has come close to destroying the moratorium declaration”, South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in said in ...

By Abdulrasaq kehinde Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has reported 75 additional lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in nine states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The NCDC announced on Saturday morning, through its verified website, that with the new statistics, the country's caseload reached 252,912 on Friday, and the death toll remained at 3,134 since the pandemic began. In addition, the country had 228 recoveries within the same time period, according to the agency. According to daily planet, 228,632 Nigerians have been successfully treated and released across the country. The following is a breakdown of the current COVID-19 data by state: Lagos-22, FCT-13, Rivers-8, Oyo-7, Yobe-7, Osun-6, Delta-3, Kaduna-3, Nasarawa-2, and Kano-1, according to the NCDC.

 By Tosin Ajayi Popular Nollywood actress and mother of two, Iyabo Ojo, went down memory lane, revealing her experience especially her anxiety as a single mother after her divorce with her ex-husband. Posted on her Instagram page, was an old picture of her kids and herself which was taken years back. The actress stated this on her Instagram page that she had no direction and was confused at first on how to start the journey alone. The popular actress was once married to Mr. Ojo before their divorce three years after marriage. She has been faced with responsibilities of taking care of her children since then. She wrote, “This year, I began my journey as a single mum with no direction. I was afraid, sometimes depressed, confused, and I always had a lot of anxiety. I felt like a failure, a loser. I felt I wasn’t good enough, I felt little, I didn’t really know how to fit in or even start. How was I even going to pull through? I never thought of making it in life. I just wanted my ...

United States of America  By Morawo Zainab Ramon Abass Olorunwa, aka Hushpuppi, will be sentenced on February 14, 2022, Valentine's Day, according to the United State Department of Justice. According to an online medium, Neusroom, the 37 year old Nigerian social media influencer will know his fate come February 14, Valentine's Day, after almost spending two years in detention in Dubai.   Hushpuppi  was arrested in the United Arab Emirates in June last year after local police raided his Dubai apartment. According to the Dubai police, nearly $41 million in cash, 13 luxury cars valued at around $6.8 million, and phones and computer evidence containing more than 100,000 fraud files and the addresses of nearly two millions possible victim were found during the raid. The FBI's investigation postulated that Hushpuppi finances his wealthy lifestyles through crime such as transnational network that facilitates computer intrusions, money laundering, fraudulent schemes and targ...

 Bayelsa  By Abdulrasaq kehinde  A 38- year old man, Baridap Needman, replaced his deceased wife with his daughter on his matrimonial bed and impregnated his daughter in Bayelsa State at the Yenizue- Gene Suburb of Yenagoa.  Baridap Needman was arrested by police operatives in Bayelsa State, the state capital, following a formal complaint from the State Gender Advocacy Group, Gender Response Initiative Team GRIT led by Dise ogbise.  According to Dise Ogbise and Mrs. Mary Accrah Pekeowei, the government was tipped off by a concerned neighbor, who noticed that the victim was five months pregnant and the father was responsible for the pregnancy.  It was learned that the arrested man started violating his daughter when she was seven years by fingering her.  It was further gathered that while the 14- year - old girl was sleeping with her father on the bed, the two younger brothers were made to sleep on the floor.  The 14- year - old girl, a junior seco...

Tolulope Olatunji     Giannis Infantino   President of the Federation International of Football Association (FIFA), Giannis Infantino has revealed the rationale behind organising FIFA World Cup every two years. Infantino gave the clarification at an 'extraordinary' session of the Council of Europe - a trans-national body dedicated to the support of human rights. He explained the countries outside Europe needed greater access to national football competitions to prevent drastic consequences. “If we think about rest of world, and the vast majority of Europe, then we have to think about what football brings. Football is about opportunity, about hope, about the national teams. We cannot say to the rest of world give us your money, but watch us on TV. We need to include them." Infantino stated The 51-year-old Swiss  laid emphasis on how the two-year World Cup plan will benefit Africa, as it could stop African migrants from finding “death in the sea”. “We need to find ways...

Vatican City  By Adeolu Adegbaju Pope Francis has admonished parents of gay children not condemn them but offer them support. He spoke in an unplanned comments at his weekly audience in reference to difficulties that parents can face in raising offspring on Wednesday. Those issues included “parents who see different sexual orientations in their children and how to handle this, how to accompany their children, and not hide behind an attitude of condemnation,” Francis said. He had previously said that gays have a right to be accepted by their families as children and siblings. He has also said that while the Church cannot accept same-sex marriage it can support civil union laws aimed at giving gay partners joint rights in areas of pensions and health care and inheritance issues. Last year, the Vatican’s doctrinal office issued a document saying that Catholic priests cannot bless same-sex unions, a ruling that greatly disappointed gay Catholics. In some countries, such as the United S...

Nigeria By Abdulrasaaq Kehinde The House Representatives , during a meeting, declared the statistics of W.H.O. on the mental state of Nigerians. According to the statistics, over 20,000,000 Nigerians are currently suffering from various degrees of mental illness without the availability of enough psychiatric health care. The statistics shows that 3 out of every 10 Nigerians have a mental illness, and presently, there is no mental health legislation in Nigeria. However, the Nigerian mental health policy is the only framework with access to mental health care, dealing with mental and neurological disorders in Nigeria, and has standardized standards for psychiatric practice.  The house, however, made it mandatory for the committee on health institutions and health care services to cooperate with the Federal Ministry of Health towards the improvement of the mental health facilities around the country. To this end, the house also informed the committee on health institutions to explore ...

By Alao Abiodun Controversial aphrodisiac seller, Hauwa Saidu Mohammed, popularly known as Jaruma, has been remanded in prison custody after attacking business tycoon, Ned Nwoko, on social media. The police charged Jaruma with false news publication, intimidation and defamation of character. The Area court judge, Ismailia Abdullahi, adjourned until Friday for the ruling. He also fixed Feb. 23 for trial. In his submission, the Prosecution Counsel, Mr E. A Inegbenoise and Chinedu Ogada told the court that the complainant, Nwoko reported the matter through a written petition from his Lawyer to FCT Police Command for proper investigation on Jan. 20. Inegbenoise said that the defendant, used various social media platforms, particularly through her Instagram handle to publish falsehood against Nwoko and his wife, Princess Regina to members of the public. He told the court the defendant gave the false news in order to incite public hatred against Nwoko and his wife to damage their r...

By Alao Abiodun The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has been named the richest man in Africa for the 11th year in a row by Forbes. According to Forbes, Dangote is worth an estimated $13.9 billion, which is up from $12.1 billion last year after a 30% increase in the stock price of his most valuable asset, Dangote Cement. Also, Nigerian business tycoon and founder of the BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu, came in fifth with around $7 billion in net worth. Read Also:  Idumota Unrest: RRS arrests Kunle Poly, Sego The Forbes report stated that Rabiu became $1.5 billion richer after listing his sugar and food firm BUA Foods on the Nigerian Exchange Limited in early January 2022. “He and his son retained a 96% stake in the company, which recently had a market capitalization of nearly $2.8 billion. BUA Cement, in which he and his son have a 96% stake, listed in January 2020,” Forbes stated. The Founder and CEO of Globacom, Mike Adenuga, comes in a ...

By Lawal Kudirat Popular gospel artiste, Sammie Okposo, on Tuesday tendered a public apology to his wife, Ozioma, and his fans after he confessed to cheating on his wife.   The Wellu Wellu master, as he is fondly called, took to his Instagram account to reveal that when he travelled to the United States, he was involved in an intimate relationship with another woman.   This comes barely 24 hours after an American-based woman, identified as African Doll, accused the singer of impregnating her.   The woman revealed this on Monday while talking to a YouTuber on Obodo Oyibo TV, stating that Okposo abandoned her after she told him about the pregnancy.   Okposo in his apology said  " On my recent trip to the USA ( late 2021), I got intimately involved with a lady, knowing that this was not appropriate as a married man and a minister of the gospel. I am ashamed and regret my actions as it has caused a lot of pain to my dear wife, Ozioma, my family and I".

The production and registration of alcohol in PET bottles and sachet across the country has been banned by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC).  This was disclosed in a statement issued by the agency through its Director General, Prof. Mojisola Ayeye on Monday, January 24.  In the statement, NAFDAC banned the registration of new alcoholic drinks containing over 30% of alcohol, produced in sachet and small volume PET and glass bottles.  This is due to a recommendation by a high powered committee within the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and Industry, and NAFDAC in December 2018. It said: “Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria was also given a matching order to embark on intensive nationwide sensitisation campaigns against underage consumption of alcohol by adolescents below the age of 18 years in the bid to stem the tide of alcohol abuse in the country.  “Producers of al...

    Prior to the unveiling of her new lover, Mercy Aigbe on her Instagram  page  always had most of her captions as "Agbeke aya D owner", which made people suspicious that she was seeing a new man after her divorce with her former husband Lanre Gentry.   Actress Mercy Aigbe had on Sunday unveiled Kazim Adeoti as her lover ahead of his birthday on Monday. Kazim Adeoti popularly known as Adekaz is a movie producer and the CEO of Ìbàká TV, he is also said to be a friend to the actress’ ex husband.   Reactions have trailed the revelation as Kazim Adeoti was a married man with four kids.   The actress seem unbothered as she shared new loved up picture of her lover with the caption "Alhaji & Hajia Kazim Adeoti...”

  BY OYEKAN OLUWATOBI US administration says direct talks are ‘urgently needed’ to facilitate communication to restore Iran nuclear deal Tehran is willing to engage in direct talks with Washington if negotiations to revive the Iranian nuclear deal reach an advanced stage that requires such dialogue, Iran’s foreign minister has said. Hossein Amirabdollahians’s remarks on Monday came as United States officials have been urging direct negotiations to restore the 2015 accord, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). “Reports saying the Iran and the US are directly negotiating with one another are untrue,” Amirabdollahian said during a news conference in the Iranian capital, Tehran. “However, if we get to a stage where reaching a good deal with strong guarantees necessitates direct talks with the US, we will consider it. Iran had previously ruled out direct meetings with the US. Instead, the two sides have been negotiating indirectly in Vienna to revive the deal...

  BY Oyekan Oluwatobi, Burkina Faso Burkina Faso’s army said it has deposed President Roch Kabore, suspended the constitution, dissolved the government and the national assembly, and closed the borders. The announcement, signed on Monday by Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba and read by another officer on state television, said that the takeover had been carried out without violence and those detained were in a secure location. The statement was made in the name of a previously unheard of entity, the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration or MPSR, its French language acronym. “MPSR, which includes all sections of the army, has decided to end President Kabore’s post today,” it said. It cited the deterioration of the security situation and what it described as Kabore’s inability to unite the nation and effectively respond to the challenges it faces. The statement said said the MPSR would re-establish “constitutional order” within a “reasonable time”, adding that ...

 Germany By Adeolu Adegbaju More than 100 Catholic church officials in Germany came out as LGBT, queer or non binary on Monday, adding to calls for reform within the crisis-hit church. Demands for a more liberal attitude to homosexuality within the German church have coincided with uproar over reports of widespread child sex abuse by Catholic clergymen in the country, including allegations of cases where former pope Benedict XVI failed to act. The 125-strong group, which includes priests and workers in education and administration published a statement demanding an end to the “discrimination and exclusion” they had experienced. Uwe Grau, a priest in the diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, was quoted on the group’s website as saying, “I don’t want to hide my sexual identity anymore,”  “We are part of the church,” added Raphaela Soden, who works in pastoral care for young adults and identifies as queer and non binary. “We always have been. It’s time to finally make it clear that we...

Lagos.  By Alao Abiodun Rapid Response Squad (RRS), led by its Commander, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi on Monday evening arrested the two principal suspects in the constant clashes in Idumota and its environs. According to RRS on its official Twitter handle, the arrest was effected at a meeting where the two NURTW members along with some other stakeholders converged. Daily planet last week reported how the leadership tussle among factional members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) reportedly sparked the clash. Many residents ran helter and skelter, while traders deserted their shops and ran for their lives. This clash affected trading and other commercial activities on the Island. The hoodlums were seen brandishing dangerous weapons, such as cutlasses, guns, fighting one another. Kunle Poly and Sego are presently being transferred to Zone II, Onikan, Lagos.

  Tolulope Olatunji The 35th edition of Africa's biggest football event, Africa Cup of Nation. (AFCON) which is hosted by Cameroon had a staggering start, but in the latter moment becomes more interesting to see, as there were surprises and more upsets that unfolded as its 2021 edition progresses to the knockout stages. Unfortunately, Algeria and Ghana, who are heavyweights in the tourney's history had to step aside, as the teams that football-loving fans tagged minions quickly fast became the underdogs, for example, Comoros-who are AFCON debutants, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea of Malabo, The Gambia among others who have already sealed their Round of 16 berths. Fortunately, The Super Eagles of Nigeria pulled a sterling (100%) performance in carting away nine solid points- the third time since 1992 (2006,2021), ahead of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and Ivory Coast who have also done well in this tournament . The Super Eagles before now came to the tournament with a lot of...

By Adeolu Adegbaju United States The United States State Department has ordered families of U.S embassy employees in Kiev, Ukraine, to leave and authorized some U.S. government employees to depart due to the threat of Russian military action. Russian military action anywhere in Ukraine would severely impact the embassy’s ability to provide consular services, including assistance to U.S. citizens in departing Ukraine, a State Department official told reporters on Sunday night. The State Department is urging those who can depart to do so on commercially-available flights. The State Department does not have a “solid number” of how many Americans are in Ukraine, according to the official, because no one is required to register with the embassy while there. Russia has amassed over 100,000 troops on Ukraine’s border, and although the U.S. does not know if Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a decision to invade or if a decision is imminent, he has built the military capacity to inv...

By Adeolu Adegbaju Istanbul, Turkey  A Turkish journalist has been sent to prison for "insulting" the nation's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Sedef Kabas was arrested in Istanbul on Saturday following a live interview on the opposition TV channel Tele1 last Friday, according to Turkey's state broadcaster Turkish Radio and Television, TRT Haber. Right- President Tayyip Erdogan Kabas used traditional Turkish proverbs to make references to Erdogan without actually giving the President's name. “A crowned head gets wiser, but we see that it is not true," she said in reference to Erdogan's nearly 20 years in power since becoming prime minister then president. She then said: "When a cattle enters a palace, he will not be a king, but that palace becomes a barn." According to TRT Haber, the Istanbul chief public prosecutor's office made a decision to send Kabas to prison after an investigation, following her comments. Kabas was detained at a hotel w...

 By Adeolu Adegbaju  Benin, Edo State. Photos speak: Oba Of Benin, Wife With Quadruplets The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, and his wife, Aisosa, have been pictured with their quadruplets. The quadruplets, who were born in August 2021 include three princes and a princess. Oba of Benin, Ewuare II Credit: Twitter | OloriSupergal

  By Lawal Kudirat A video of Wizkid and Davido jamming and hugging each other in a club on Friday has gone viral.   Lots of reactions have been flowing in as people believe the longtime rivalry has eventually come to an end.    Popular artiste CDQ reacted to this video on his Instagram page. He disclosed how he had suffered for years trying to balance the relationship between the two artiste, and now that the two artiste are finally cool they should give the world a collaboration in 2022 and make Nigeria number 1

By Alao Abiodun Two persons met with untimely death, while many persons were injured on Friday when rival gangsters clashed in the Idumota area of Lagos State. Daily planet  learnt that a leadership tussle among factional members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) reportedly sparked the clash. Many residents ran helter and skelter, while traders deserted their shops and ran for their lives. Read Also:  Lagos gets new police commissioner, Alabi This clash affected trading and other commercial activities on the Island. The hoodlums were seen brandishing dangerous weapons, such as cutlasses, guns, fighting themselves. Daily planet  correspondent further gathered that the clash, which started on Thursday evening, was between hoodlums from Idumota, Balogun, Martins and Oluwole areas of Lagos Island. It took the combined efforts of security operatives including the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and Task Force to restore normalcy in the area.

By Alao Abiodun The Inspector-General of Police Usman Baba has directed the deployment of Abiodun Alabi as the new commissioner of police in Lagos. Alabi will take over from AIG Hakeem Odumosu as the new police boss in Lagos next week.  Read Also:  Lagos hawker gets N100,000 monthly salary, receives scholarship letter from Obi Cubana Odumosu, was recently promoted to Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG). Prior to the development, Alabi worked at the force criminal investigation department (FCID) in Abuja; he was also the immediate past Benue commissioner of police. He is also an alumnus of the University of Lagos where he studied sociology and he holds a master’s degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state.  

By Alao Abiodun  Viral Lagos hawker, who was caught on camera in the Ajah area of Lagos, Ekuma Jeremiah has received his letter of scholarship from businessman and socialite, Obi Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana. Also, Cubana, on his Instagram page, disclosed that one Mr & Mrs Afuah, based in Canada, has placed Ekuma on a N100,000 monthly salary till he finishes his education. Last week, Jeremiah, was caught on camera in the Ajah area of Lagos last week giving money to persons being transported to prison in a Nigerian Correctional Service van.   In the 7-second video, the hawker is seen carrying a crate of bottled water on his head while giving out some of the money he had made. Read Also:  Police nab school owner for abduction and murder of pupil His gesture earned widespread commendation from many Nigerians. They applauded him for his love and generosity. Obi Cubana on his Instagram page on Saturday, said: “And God has remembered Jerry!! @jerryluck_ G...

Kano State, Nigeria By Chukwu Emeyazia Mallam Abdumalik Tanko, the proprietor of Noble Kids School in Nassarawa LGA, Kano State, has been arrested for masterminding the abduction and eventual death of a five Year old pupil, Miss Hanifa Abubakar, at his school. The incident was reported to have occurred at 8:30pm on 4th December, 2021. Miss Hanifa Abubakar who had gone to school was expected to return home after school, but didn’t make it back even an hour after her usual return time. “Later in the evening of the same day, her parents received a call from an unknown number demanding the sum of six million naira for her return”, the police said in a statement according to their spokesperson, SP Abdumalik Kiyawa. According to Suraj Suleiman, a relative of the family, Mallam Abdumalik Tanko was the first person to visit the family to condole with them. The case was brought to the notice of the Kano State Police Commissioner, Commander CP Samaila Shuaibu Dikko, who quickly swung into ...

 by Yetunde Olugbenga  Lagos. An unidentified man was paraded before Ikeja High Court on the 21st of January, 2022, for alleged car hijack. The car hijack attempt took place on the 18th December, when the alleged criminal was said to have attacked one Mr. Micheal at Amadiya area, along Ijaya road around 11 am. The car owner, Mr. Michele Ayeni, narrated his ordeal while speaking with Daily Planet. According to him, the incident happened around 11am when he was on a call in his car, and two hefty men entered his car without consent. One sat in the back seat and the second in the front seat, but before he could inquire what they wanted, he was hit. He explained that before passersby could render any help, he was thrown out of the car and one of the hijackers sped off through Abule Egba road, heading towards Ilepo Market. “ I tried fighting back, and this made the one sitting at the back seat scamper for safety. Thank God for an onlooker who saw what was happening in the car and...

  Celebrity barman, Pascal Okechukwu popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest has gifted his wife a Benz ahead of her birthday. Cubana on his Instagram page said he asked his wife what she wanted for her birthday and she said a Benz. He shared photos of the whip with the caption, "Asked my woman what she wants for her birthday, she said 'Get me a Benz.' It’s few days to her birthday🎂. "Congrats🎈Baby. It's a f**king G-Class of the 63’s. Above all, it’s a freaky AMG, now you can roar like a lioness🦁 that you are. I hope she likes it because e no easy to impress  rich aunty." Credit: Instagram |cubana_chiefpriest

  The Imo State-born movie star has just unfollowed everyone on her Instagram account. VETERAN actress Genevieve Nnaji was believed to have followed the footsteps of her foreign colleague; American singer, Beyonce. The actress who has over 8.4 million followers recently unfollowed the over 500 people she was following, including other Nigerian celebrities.  Netizens  are reacting to this differently as they are still trying to find out the reason she made that decision. Genevieve Nnaji is one of the few Nollywood stars who are private about their lifestyle and rarely share some of their life moments despite having huge followers and fans.

  Still in awe of his latest film Christmas in Miami, racing to N100.7 million in its opening weekend at the box office, Congratulatory messages have been swimming in for the popular Comedian Ayo Makun and his beautiful wife Mabel Makun as they welcome their second child after 13years. The excited father announced the good news on his Instagram page on Tuesday.   Ayo Makun revealed in his post that they have been praying for a second child for the past 13years and God has finally answered their prayers. The couple, who tied the knot in November 2008 have a 13-year-old daughter, Michelle, as their first child. Announcing the good news, AY said, “Our prayers in the last 13 years have been answered. Ayomide, thank you for making @realmabelmakun and I, Mummy and Daddy again. “Thank you for making Michelle a big sister. Thanks to everyone who kept us in their prayers and never stopped feeding us with positive vibes.