Maria Sharapova returns, to play Madrid Open

Former world tennis women’s number one Maria Sharapova has been invited to play at the Madrid Open in May, tournament organisers said on Wednesday.

The event takes place less than two weeks after her 15-month doping ban expires.

The five-time Grand Slam winner has been given a wildcard for the event, which begins on May 5.

It is scheduled to be her second comeback tournament after her suspension for doping, with the Russian set to return to action at the Stuttgart Grand Prix in April.

Gernot Rohr: Super Eagles focused on South Africa, not Cameroon

Head coach of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr, has insisted that they are thinking about the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against South Africa and not the 2018 World Cup qualifying double header against Cameroon.

Rohr says that the game against Bafana Bafana is more pressing, as Nigeria will not play the newly-crowned African champions (http://dailypost.ng/2017/02/06/cameroon-defeat-egypt-win-afcon-2017/) until August.

PDP will return to power like tsunami – Makarfi boasts

National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi has boasted that the party would reclaim power in 2019.

The party chieftain said the PDP would return to power like tsunami.

Makarfi, however, called on members of the party to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari so that he will recover and return office soon.

He made this statement in Abuja yesterday at the public presentation of the report of the party’s Strategy Review and Inter-party Committee.

Chris Giwa says Pinnick behind his FIFA ban

Factional President of the Nigeria Football Federation Chris Giwa has protested against the five-year worldwide ban placed on him by FIFA on Tuesday due to the leadership tussle in the NFF.

The world football body extended the national ban imposed by the NFF Disciplinary Committee on Giwa on May 12, 2016 to have “worldwide effect” on him. The Amaju Pinnick-led NFF board banned Giwa and four others for five years for impersonation and taking football matters to a civil court.

The four other officials are Muazu Suleyman, Yahaya Adama, Sani Fema and Johnson Effiong.

PDP condemns police bribery allegation against Wike

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has condemned a police report alleging the involvement of Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers in bribing officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The chairman, PDP National Caretaker Committee, Ahmed Makarfi, said the alleged recovered money displayed by the police reminded him of the actions of magicians.

Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja at the submission of the report of Jerry Gana-led PDP Strategy Review and Inter-Party Affairs Committee, Mr. Makarfi said there was no evidence to prove that the money was from Mr. Wike.

Rihanna dazzles on the cover of Harper's Bazaar Magazine March Issue

Award-winning Singer, Rihanna covers the March issue of Harper Bazaar Magazine in all flight fashion outfits.

The star singer discussed how special it is for women who has dominated in a man's world making reference to Amelia Earhart. Earhart was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She received the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross for this accomplishment.

Rihanna said:

PHOTONEWS: NLC protest in Abuja

The Nigerian Labour Congress NLC has begun its protest in Abuja and Lagos.

The NLC is protesting against the alleged anti-people policies of the government, shabby anti-corruption campaign and poor treatment of workers among other things. More photos after the cut:

Most Corpers posted to North applied for redeployment – NYSC, DG

Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Brigadier-General Suleiman Kazure, has assured corps members posted to northern parts of the country of their safety.

The NYSC boss spoke yesterday while addressing 2016 Batch B corps members posted to Niger State, at the orientation camp in Paiko Local Government Area of the state.

He disclosed that 90 per cent of corps members posted to the north had applied for redeployment.

He, however, assured that “the north is no longer volatile.”

Nigeria to acquire 3 Super Tucano Aircraft from Brazil to fight insurgency (Photos)

The Brazil Embraer Defence and Security Limited disclosed that the Brazilian Government has given approval for the sale of its three serviceable pre-owned Super Tucano A-29 attack aircraft to Nigeria. The acquisition of this aircraft by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is expected to boost its operational capabilities in tackling insurgence and militancy in the country.

Aside its deployment for Surveillance, Reconnaissance and counter-insurgency missions, the aircraft could also carry a wide array of armaments, including precision guided monitors, advance avionic, communications and sensors. Additionally, the aircraft can also operate in remote and un-paved airfield while the maximum speed of the aircraft is approximately 590 kilometres per hour.

EFCC interrogates Arik chairman, Arumemi-Ikhide

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday visited Arik Air’s head office and quizzed its Chairman, Sir Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide.

UK Police declares Nigerian woman and her 7-year-old daughter missing (Photos)

Police in Greenwich is appealing to the public, to help find a missing Nigerian woman and her daughter.

Folashade Fashinas, 34, has been missing from her home in Woolwich since Friday, 20 January. Also missing is her seven-year-old-daughter, Precious Sebastian.

#IDontBilivit😧! Woman breastfeeds pig on live interview (Photos)

A woman breastfed a pig on live television in a bizarre attempt to explain how floods have hit her farm in Peru.

She was being interviewed by a reporter on a farm in Peru and being questioned about the heavy rain and floods and its effect on local business.

The woman, holding a piglet, pauses mid questions and to everyone's surprise, whips out her boobs.

Woman brutalised by her husband but can't leave because of this... (Graphic Photo)

A woman who was brutalised and left bloodied by her husband. According to Due Process Advocate, Emeka Ugwuonye who shared the photo, the unfortunate incident happened last night and she hasn't left the house because she has no place to go.

More photos below:

Remains of inspector attacked by Herdsmen recovered in Delta

The remains of a policeman reported missing, following a clash with herdsmen dressed in police uniform on Sunday at Ohoror community, Delta State, was, Tuesday, discovered by locals in the community.

The Sunday clash between the police team and herdsmen was the second in two weeks following an earlier clash, which occurred on January 23.

Wonders of Makeup! See this beautiful transformation

Amazing!

Man missing since 2012 found in Brazil after traveling largely by foot

A Canadian man missing for nearly five years has been found alive, wandering in a Brazilian Amazon city thousands of miles away from where he was last seen.

Anton Pilipa was last seen in 2012, and flew back to his home country this week after being treated at a hospital in Manaus, Brazil, which he reached while traveling and eating out of trash cans.

Stefan Pilipa told the CBC that his 39-year-old brother, who he called an anti-poverty activist, likely got to South America through a combination of walking and hitchhiking.

Brazilian federal police said last month that the itinerant Pilipa had been seen once in the city of Porto Velho in November, agitated, swearing and unable to speak Portuguese.

Unknown gunmen kill three security officers, abduct Isheri North Estate Secretary

Eleven gunmen in the early hours of today, abducted the Secretary of the Isheri North Estate, GRA, Lagos State, Dayo Adekoya, at his residence in the estate. 

Nigerian Army says it has arrested soldiers who brutalised crippled man in Onitsha!

Yesterday we reported the incident where two soldiers were seen brutalizing a crippled man. Nigerian Army has now responded to the viral video, saying it has identified and arrested the two soldiers who allegedly brutalised a crippled man in New Market Road, Onitsha, in Anambra State.

A video showing the officers dragging and beating a crippled man for wearing a military camouflage went viral on Wednesday.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.Gen. Sani Usman, said in the statement released late last night that the soldiers had been apprehended.

DSS interrogates CAN leaders over Boko Haram video

The Department of State Services have quizzed the members of the Board of Trustees of the Christian Association of Nigeria over a video some Christian leaders have been using to mobilise funds for the rebuilding of churches destroyed by Boko Haram.

Their invitation came eight days after the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman, was quizzed by the DSS over his directive to his church members that Fulani herdsmen found on the church premises should be killed.

The PUNCH learnt that four key members of the organisation’s BoT, who are also leaders of National Christian Elders Forum, were quizzed for four hours on Tuesday evening at the DSS headquarters in Abuja, following a video by CAN Trust Fund soliciting funds for CAN to rebuild churches destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East.

Lagos State | Woman stripped naked for stealing clothes at store

A 36-year old single woman, Jane Okeke has been stripped naked and arrested after she was caught stealing some clothes at PEP Super Store in Isolo, Lagos.

According to P.M.EXPRESS, the suspect went to an inner room provided to customers to test their selected clothes by the management before they make payment. However, Okeke reportedly selected 11 different wears and went inside the changing room with her handbag, pretended to be trying on those clothes before she could make payment.

Oh mine! From being a beautiful bride, woman transforms into ripped transgender man (Photos)

A married woman who is now proudly living as a transgender man has revealed how he overcame his fears and transitioned to a chiseled transgender bodybuilder.

Seven years ago, Cody Harman, 30, walked down the aisle in a wedding dress. According to him, he had always felt like a boy when he was a young girl and knew he shouldn't be getting married but he was filled with fear of what other people would think if they knew he was transgender.

Cody, a chef from California, said:

No Stopping Her! Toke Makinwa takes her book tour to Kenya, despite threats from estranged husband

Toke Makinwa has shown no signs of stopping her 'On Becoming' book sales/ African international tour, despite her estranged husband Maje Ayida's threat to sue.

After her book reading and signing in Ghana, which went hitch-free with Ghanaian celebrities - Jackie Appiah, Ama Abebrese, Victoria Lebene, Ahuofe Patri, Vanessa Gyan - in attendance, Toke Makinwa now has Kenya as her next stop in the African International Tour.

Apostle Suleiman Invited To The US White House; Thank People, Celebrates Wife

The act of gratitude is not only beneficial to someone receiving the praise but even more so, to the one who shows gratitude. On this score, the president and founder of Omega Fire Ministry worldwide, Apostle Johnson Suleiman, has sent his warm appreciation to Nigerians, Africans and the world in general for their exceptional show of love during his recent encounter with the Department of the State Security (DSS).

Suleiman, who is regarded as one of Africa’s most popular pastors at the moment in his thank you message during the kick-off of this year’s edition of the annual ‘The Ebenezer’ programme to mark the ministry’s 13thanniversary, said: 

Photo: Man issues public notice denying he got ex-girlfriend pregnant

A Kenyan man named Junior George Siambe Opiyo, went on Facebook to shame a lady he was one time involved with romantically.

Evelyn is pregnant and says Junior George is the daddy. But according to Junior, he and Evelyn Awuor shared nights together well over 13 months ago, so there's no way he could be responsible for her pregnancy. He wants her to leave him in peace so he can focus on what he's doing.

Photos: Monks Arrested With 4million Meth Pills, A Grenade And Ammo In Their Monastery

Three Buddhist monks have been arrested in Burma after authorities found more than 4million methamphetamine pills in one of their cars and in their monastery, police said on Tuesday. One of the monks, named Arsara, was stopped on Sunday as he drove in northern Rakhine state, which borders Bangladesh, Officer Maung Maung Yin said. Authorities had been tipped off that the monk was carrying an illegal haul.

OMG! Woman bites off boyfriend's testicles after argument

A man had to have his testicles reattached after his girlfriend bit them off his body after an argument when she returned late home from church.

The eye-watering attack happened in Botswana, where the victim, 33, required emergency services to sew his privates back on.

Civilian JTF in Cameroon captures 9 Boko Haram Commanders fleeing from Borno State (Photos)

Nigerian Facebook user Waziri Shettima posted photos of 9 Boko Haram Commanders, (all Nigerians), who were captured by Civilian Joint Task Force in Cameroun while fleeing from the Nigerian Army in Borno State. 

His post below:

One officer killed as Policemen engage in gun battle with AK-47-wielding Fulani herdsmen in Delta State

Herdsmen in police uniforms, armed with AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons, engaged a team of policemen in a fierce gun duel in Warri, Delta State on February 6th, leaving a number of officers including an Area Commander, wounded while some are missing.

However, Delta State Police Commissioner, Zanna Ibrahim, who confirmed the incident told Vanguard that there was no injury, but the Area Commander, who led the team and one other person were 'exhausted'

See WHY rogue filmmaker Seun Egbegbe didn’t appear in court today

Nollywood filmmaker and suspected thief, Seun Egbegbe was supposed to appear in court today, February 8, 2017 for the iPhone theft case he was charged with back in November 2016. LIB was at the Magistrate court in Ikeja this morning and Seun didn’t show up.

Runtown cruises on Rolls Royce as he heads to airport for his UK tour

Rave of the moment singer, Runtown is on his way to UK for the first leg of his 2017 UK tour. 

The Eric Many frontline act, Runtown will be in UK for the next two weeks performing his monster hit song 'Mad Over You' during his tour that will see him perform at major cities including Portsmouth, Birmingham, London and other more.

Watch the video below: