Signed sneakers Michael Jordan wore during NBA championship games sold for a whopping $8 million at an auction in New York City.

Sotheby’s announced Friday that a set of six individual sneakers worn by the basketball legend broke the record for the most expensive game-worn sneakers ever sold.

Dubbed “The Dynasty Collection,” the Nike-crafted footwear were each worn during Jordan’s championship-winning games in 1991, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’97 and ’98.

The beloved basketball player, who retired in 2003, was famously photographed by Bill Smith wearing only one shoe while celebrating his wins. Limited images signed by the shutterbug were also included in the sale.

The auction house did not identify the buyer who ponied up $8,032,800 for the winning bid.

“Today’s record-breaking price is a testament to the GOAT,” Sotheby’s chief Brahm Wachter said in a statement.”Serving as both a reminder of Michael Jordan’s lasting impact on the world and a tangible expression of his recognized legendary status, its significance is further validated by this monumental result.”

The six sneakers stand out as the second-highest total amassed for Jordan swag at the auction house. A jersey worn by the Chicago Bulls icon in Game 1 of the 1998 “Last Dance” finals fetched $10.1 million in September 2022.

Seven months later, a pair of Air Jordans 13 worn in the 1998 NBA Finals Game 2 were sold for $2,238,000 — the most ever paid for a pair of sneakers at that time.

Wachter, who oversees Sotheby’s modern collectibles, described the hefty haul as “a truly unparalleled moment and milestone in auction history.”

Daredevil Gunmen Thursday night invaded the palace of Olukoro of Koro in Ekiti local government area of Kwara State and killed the traditional ruler of the community, General Segun Aremu (rtd).


The state government has confirmed the killing of the monarch and the abduction of three others including his wife.

“Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has condemned the killing of Olukoro of Koro in Ekiti Local Government, HRH retd General Segun Aremu.

“The monarch was reportedly shot dead in his palace on Thursday night by some unknown gunmen, who also whisked away his wife and two others.

” The governor condemned the development, which he said was reckless, shocking, and abominable.

“He charged the security agencies not to spare any resources to track down the perpetrators, free the spouse and others taken away, and bring them to book.

“We will certainly get the perpetrators and ensure that this is their last crime against humanity. My profound condolences go to the people of Koro. Our hearts are broken, and we stand by them at this time and always,” the governor said in a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye.

Jovi10:
They won't dare strike Iran directly. It will be by proxy.

Afterall USA has been using proxies on their enemies, now Iran has done it back to them.first to do no dey pain.

And if Iran is attacked directly, the middle East will burn because all their bases will be targeted, places where they have oil wells especially Saudi self go collect.

Interesting days ahead,let's see what USA's move will be.

Besides what where American Base and soldiers doing in Syria in the first place?

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The killing of three U.S. troops and wounding of dozens more on Sunday by Iran-backed militants is piling political pressure on President Joe Biden to deal a blow directly against Iran, a move he's been reluctant to do out of fear of igniting a broader war.

Biden's response options could range anywhere from targeting Iranian forces outside to even inside Iran, or opting for a more cautious retaliatory attack solely against the Iran-backed militants responsible, experts say.

American forces in the Middle East have been attacked more than 150 times by Iran-backed forces in Iraq, Syria, Jordan and off the coast of Yemen since the Israel-Hamas war erupted in October.

But until Sunday's attack on a remote outpost known as Tower 22 near Jordan's northeastern border with Syria, the strikes had not killed U.S. troops nor wounded so many. That allowed Biden the political space to mete out U.S. retaliation, inflicting costs on Iran-backed forces without risking a direct war with Tehran.

Biden said the United States would respond, without giving any more details.

Republicans accused Biden of letting American forces become sitting ducks, waiting for the day when a drone or missile would evade base defenses. They say that day came on Sunday, when a single one-way attack drone struck near base barracks early in the morning.

In response, they say Biden must strike Iran.

"He left our troops as sitting ducks," said Republican U.S. Senator Tom Cotton. "The only answer to these attacks must be devastating military retaliation against Iran's terrorist forces, both in Iran and across the Middle East."

The Republican who leads the U.S. military oversight committee in the House of Representatives, Representative Mike Rogers, also called for action against Tehran.

"It's long past time for President Biden to finally hold the terrorist Iranian regime and their extremist proxies accountable for the attacks they've carried out," Rogers said.

Former President Donald Trump, who hopes to face off against Biden in this year's presidential election, portrayed the attack as a "consequence of Joe Biden's weakness and surrender."

The Biden administration has said that it goes to great lengths to protect U.S. troops around the world.

One Democrat openly voiced concern that Biden's strategy of containing the Israel-Hamas conflict to Gaza was failing.

"As we see now, it is spiraling out of control. It's beginning to emerge as a regional war, and unfortunately the United States and our troops are in harms way," Democratic Representative Barbara Lee said, renewing calls for a ceasefire in the Israel-Palestinian war.

NOT SO SIMPLE

Democratic Representative Seth Moulton, who served four tours in Iraq as a Marine, urged against Republican calls for war, saying "deterrence is hard; war is worse.”

"To the chicken hawks calling for war with Iran, you're playing into the enemy's hands—and I’d like to see you send your sons and daughters to fight," Moulton said. "We must have an effective, strategic response on our terms and our timeline."

Experts caution that any strikes against Iranian forces inside Iran could force Tehran to respond forcefully, escalating the situation in a way that could drag the United States into a major Middle East war.

Jonathan Lord, director of the Middle East security program at the Center for a New American Security, said striking directly inside Iran would raise questions for Tehran about regime survival.

"When you do things overtly you represent a major escalation for the Iranians," Lord said.

Charles Lister of the Washington-based Middle East Institute said a likely response would be to go after a significant target or high-value militant from Iran-backed groups in Iraq or Syria.

"What happened this morning, was on a totally different level than anything these proxies have done in the past two to three months... (but) despite all of the calls to do something in Iran, I don't see this administration taking that bait," Lister said.

A U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said it was unclear what the second and third order effects would be in going after Iran.

"Unless the U.S. prepared for an all out war, what does attacking Iran get us," the official said.

Still, Lord and other experts acknowledge that Israel had hit Iranian targets in Syria for years, without dissuading Iran, including four Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps officials in Damascus on Jan. 20.

The United States has also struck Iranian-linked targets outside of Iran in recent months. In November, the U.S. military said it struck a facility used not only by Iran-backed group but also by the Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps.

But Lister said the U.S. had gone after Iranians outside of Iran in the past, like the 2020 strike against top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, and only yielded a response during a limited period of time.

"So to an extent, if you go hard enough and high enough, we have a track record of showing that Iran can blink first," Lister said.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees; additional reporting by Simon Lewis; editing by Paul Thomasch and Diane Craft)

Cheniron:
Cohabiting better marriage is wrong biblically but then we need to do it for some reason even though you can't totally know someone

lolu2019:
I am not forcing anyone.that's my one cent.i don't just type shit.i am talking from experience.what if,the girl is rich and the guy is poor.Men always acting too proud when they have small change.just let it go and marry her.

lolu2019:
What if,she is ur sister.past is past, present is present.

Innobee99:
And Barb yourself?

fergie001:
Are you sure this is not old price list?

N700 for adult haircut, where abeg?

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has explained why it moved its corporate headquarters from Abuja to Lagos, pinning it on saving cost and several other factors.

A Thursday statement from FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection Obiageli Orah said the relocation also followed wide consultations.

“Those affected by the decision to move the headquarters to Abuja have since returned to Lagos as there is no office space for them in Abuja. It was ill-advised in the first place to move the headquarters to Abuja when there was no single FAAN building in Abuja to accommodate all of them at once,” the statement read.

“Having returned to Lagos, the Authority would be liable to pay them DTA (DUTY TOUR ALLOWANCE) because technically they are working OUT OF STATION as their official posting is to ABUJA. The Minister has decided to stop this waste of public resources and rip-off on the public purse.

“The other option open to the Authority was abandon the old FAAN building in Lagos to rot away and to use its scarce resources to rent an office space in Abuja for Millions of Naira of public money when in actual fact more than sixty percent of its activities are in Lagos given the huge passenger volume of the Lagos airports. The stakeholders and the Minister decided against that and to save the country from this waste.

“The Minister has rolled out plans to get concessionaires to build befitting offices for the Authority in Lagos and Abuja and until that is done, the Authority will continue to manage its old building in Lagos that can accommodate all its Directors and senior officials for now.

“⁠Abuja continues to have full operational offices and the Authority has not scaled down operations in Abuja one bit. It is just the technical decision of where the Authority has its ‘corporate headquarters’ that has been taken without affecting the structure of operations as they are for now in both cities.

“In the near future, when befitting corporate buildings have been built for the Authority in both Lagos and Abuja, a final decision will be taken as to the location of the permanent headquarters, depending on the exigencies of the time.

“The Authority wishes to assure members of the public that it will continue to act in the best interest of the public and the country.

“The Honourable Minister is committed to taking decisions that are in the best interest of the country, especially as it concerns public funds, and will not yield to ethnic or sectional sentiments that will derail this commitment.”

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, disclosed on Tuesday that the explosion that rocked Ibadan metropolis was as a result of the activities of illegal miners occupying one of the buildings in the Bodija area of the state capital.

Recall Vanguard had earlier published a series of reports about the explosion, which had caused panic among residents of Ibadan, affected areas surrounding the Bodija axis of the city, with several buildings damaged as a result of the impact.

Addressing journalists moments after having an onsite inspection of the explosion site, Makinde stated that the miners had stored explosive devices in the building, which caused the blast.

In a statement posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, the governor said the state government is providing temporary accommodation for those whose houses were affected as a result of the blast.

“We visited the scene of the explosion that occurred at about 7.44 pm yesterday, 16 January 2024, in Bodija, Ibadan. This unfortunate incident resulted in death and injury to residents in the vicinity and also affected properties. We have already deployed first responders and all relevant agencies within Oyo State to carry out comprehensive search and rescue operations. These operations will continue throughout the night.” the statement partly reads.

He added “Earth-moving equipment, ambulances, emergency lights, and security were deployed to the scene of the incident. The wounded and injured are being treated and moved to public and private hospitals within Ibadan. Medical personnel are on standby at these hospitals to provide all-needed assistance to the injured. We have visited ,UCH to see some of those injured during the incident.

“In total, we have 77 injured victims so far, most of whom were treated and discharged and 2 fatalities. May their souls rest in peace and may God give their loved ones the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

I have directed that the medical bills of all victims be covered by the government. We will also be providing temporary accommodation for those whose houses were affected and ensuring that they are supported to rebuild their lives.

“Preliminary investigations by the security agencies revealed that illegal miners occupying one of the houses in Bodija had stored explosive devices there which caused the blast. The investigations are ongoing. All those found culpable for this will be brought to book.

“I urge all residents to please call 615 for any emergencies they may be experiencing at this time and to remain calm and stay away from the immediate scene of the incident to allow rescue operations to be carried out without interference.

“We are grateful to the first responders, security personnel and all those who are at the scene to assist with the rescue operations as well as the medical personnel taking care of the injured.

“Please say a prayer for those who have been affected by this disaster as we continue with the rescue operations.” the governor concluded.

Akwamkpuruamu:
Abeg I need links or online institutions I can learn and perfect AWS cloud computing. That's my target for this year.

If there's an offline training centre in Enugu, I will gladly appreciate.

I am delving into Tech this year. God motivated by the guy who started career on tech at 40. We are almost age mates.

I can do it like him too

The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has declared the prolonged detention of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, without trial as a flagrant violation of his fundamental rights.

The court slammed a total of N100m fine against the Federal Government and the Economic Financial Crime Commission and barred them from rearresting or detaining the ex-CBN governor afresh without a valid court order.

But the EFCC expressed its dissatisfaction with the judgment, vowing to go on appeal.

The judgment was given in a fundamental human rights suit filed by the former CBN governor following his prolonged detention in the custody of the Department of State Services.

The PUNCH reports that the ex-CBN chairman was arrested on June 10 shortly after his suspension by President Bola Tinubu.

Though he was taken before the Federal High Court in Lagos on July 25, 2023, arraigned on illegal firearms charges and granted bail, the DSS re-arrested him on the court premises amid a clash with warders from the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.

The embattled ex-CBN gov was not released by the secret police until October 26, 2023, after nearly five months in custody.

Upon his release by the DSS on October 26, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission immediately picked him up and took him into custody.

He further remained in the EFCC custody until November 8 when he was taken to court for arraignment on procurement fraud charges.

In the suit, Emefile also asked the court to order the respondents to pay him N1bn damages and to restrain them from further arresting and or detaining him.

Listed as defendants in the suit were the Federal Government, the Attorney General of the Federation; the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and its chairman, Ola Olukoyede.

Delivering judgment in the case on Monday, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi said, “It is hereby declared that the actions of the first and fourth respondents and its agents incarcerating the applicants from June 13, 2023, to October 26, 2023, when he was transferred to the custody of the fourth respondent and his further detention by the third and fourth respondents without arraignment in the court of law for the commission of any offence up until November 8, 2023, when by the order of this court, the applicant was released on bail to his senior learned counsel, constitutes a flagrant violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights to personal liberty preserved by the provision of Section 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1979 and Article 6 of the African charter on human and peoples right.

“Also, a sum of N100m only is herby awarded in favour of the applicant against the first and fourth respondents jointly as damages for the unlawful violation of his fundamental right to his personal liberty.

“Without prejudice to the powers of the court with respect to the criminal trial, the applicant is currently facing at the High Court of the FCT, the respondents are hereby restrained either by themselves, their officers, agents, or any person acting on their behalf from further re-arresting or detaining the applicants without an order of a court of competent jurisdiction.”

During his ruling, Adeniyi said he found the remand warrant obtained by the third and fourth respondents were questionable.

“The third and fourth respondents referred to remand warrants obtained from the chief magistrate of the FCT in Wuse. I examined the said orders from the two magistrate courts and my finding is that the credibility is questionable, “ he said.

He noted that the practice of arresting suspects before investigation by security agencies must stop.

Adeniyi said, “Time has come to put an end to the unwholesome culture and practices of arresting and keeping a suspect in detention before the investigation of the suspect alleged of an offence.

A suspect must be allowed to have his day in court if indeed there is evidence of a commission of the crime against him.”

Reacting to the development in a statement on Monday, the EFCC said it would approach the Court of Appeal to set the judgement aside.

The anti-graft agency said, “The decision failed to take cognizance of the fact that the former CBN boss was held with a valid order of court. Consequently, the commission will approach the Court of Appeal to set it aside.”

The suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, who was suspended from office by President Bola Tinubu is yet to be summoned and questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Vanguard learnt on Monday.

The development is at variance with claims by some reports that Edu, who was suspended on Monday morning by the President had already landed at the EFCC Headquarters in Abuja for interrogation.


But findings by Vanguard indicate that although she had been suspended EFCC was yet to invite her for probe as directed by the Presidency over the alleged N585 million cash meant for payment to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom State and others.

A competent source told Vanguard that they were in the process of inviting Edu to the EFCC to answer questions on the alleged scam.

“We are in the process of inviting the suspended minister to answer questions on the cash. It is not true that she is already in our custody,” a competent EFCC source told Vanguard on Monday.

But the Spokesman for the anti-graft agency, Dele Oyewale, could not be reached for confirmation of the development.

It will be recalled that early on Monday morning, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, had announced Edu’s suspension by the president.

Ngalele said, “In line with his avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu suspends the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, from office with immediate effect,” the statement read.

President Tinubu had earlier on Sunday ordered a comprehensive probe into the alleged N585m scandal in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and promised to “decisively punish” those involved in any breaches and infractions unravelled during the investigations.

The minister has however denied any wrongdoing, saying that the N585m payment was meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states and defended the action, saying that it was legal within the civil service for such payments to be made into private accounts of staff members, especially project accountants.

VaginaAcademic:
bros na true you talk o i no fit laff dem go arrest innocent people 🤣🤣🤣

VaginaAcademic:
gistlover no be one man business na organization

Seun:
I thought they said inflation in Nigeria was caused by expensive food? Now they are saying our food is cheap? Both cannot be true, can they?

Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials have arrested three notorious ‘one chance’ robbers at abule-egba.
This was disclosed on the official LASTMA’s X page on Thursday, January 4.

The Director of LASTMA’s Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed in a press release that LASTMA personnel apprehended the suspects along with their operational vehicle, a ‘T4’ commercial bus (APP 406 YE), at the U-turn area of Abule-Egba.

It was gathered that the robbers were being chased by members of the public after they pushed a passenger who had just been robbed off their bus.

During the chase, they drove recklessly in order to escape arrest before they were eventually caught by LASTMA officials controlling and managing traffic around the Abule-Egba axis.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Bakare Oki Olalekan however appealed to the public particularly commuters to be very vigilant and stop boarding commercial buses by the road side popularly called ‘So-le’.

skultrick:
I so much love this, after all he's a black man and must always have a taste of something different. Pathetic racists.

Go to all the prisons in US, black men and women dominate.

LAS VEGAS -- A Nevada judge was attacked Wednesday by a defendant in a felony battery case who leaped over a defense table and the judge's bench, landing atop her and sparking a bloody brawl involving court officials and attorneys, officials and witnesses said.

In a violent scene captured by courtroom video, Clark County District Judge Mary Kay Holthus fell back from her seat against a wall and suffered some injuries but was not hospitalized, courthouse officials said.

A courtroom marshal was also injured as he came to the judge’s aid and was hospitalized for treatment of a bleeding gash on his forehead and a dislocated shoulder, according to the officials and witnesses.

The attack occurred about 11 a.m. at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas.

The defendant, Deobra Delone Redden, 30, was wrestled to the floor behind the judge's bench by several court and jail officers and courtroom staff members — including some who are seen throwing punches.

He was arrested and jailed at the Clark County Detention Center, where records showed he faces multiple new felony charges including battery on a protected person — referring to the judge and court officers.

“It happened so fast it was hard to know what to do,” said Richard Scow, the chief county district attorney who prosecuted Redden on a case that stemmed from an arrest last year on allegations that Redden attacked a person with a baseball bat.

Redden’s defense attorney, Caesar Almase, did not respond to later telephone and email messages seeking comment.

Redden was not in custody when he arrived at court Wednesday. He wore a white shirt and dark pants as he stood next to Almase, asking the judge for leniency while describing himself as "a person who never stops trying to do the right thing no matter how hard it is.“

“I'm not a rebellious person,” he told the judge, later adding that he doesn't think he should be sent to prison. "But if it's appropriate for you then you have to do what you have to do.”

As the judge made it clear she intended to put him behind bars, and the court marshal moved to handcuff him, Redden yelled expletives and charged forward — amid screams from people who had been sitting with Redden in the courtroom audience.

Records showed that Redden, a Las Vegas resident, was evaluated and found mentally competent to stand trial before pleading guilty in November to a reduced charge of attempted battery causing substantial bodily harm. He previously served prison time in Nevada on a domestic battery conviction, state records show.

Holthus, a career prosecutor with more than 27 years of courthouse experience, was elected to the state court bench in 2018 and again in 2022.

In a statement, court spokesperson Mary Ann Price said officials were “reviewing all our protocols and will do whatever is necessary to protect the judiciary, the public and our employees.”

Major earthquakes have hit Japan, leaving at least 48 people dead and emergency services facing a "battle against time" to rescue those who could be trapped under rubble. All tsunami warnings have been downgraded as of this morning but there are warnings of possible further tremors.