2023 election: INEC to end voter registration July 31, extends for 2 weeks (Guardian)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday said it will end Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) for the 2023 election on July 31.
INEC national commissioner Festus Okoye in a statement said the commission’s extension of voter registration to mid-July has been extended till the end of July for all voter registration in the country.
Okoye explained that INEC “met in an extraordinary session today, Friday 15th July 2022, and discussed among other things, the suspension of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).
“This followed the judgement delivered by the Federal High Court on Wednesday 13th July 2022 in which it dismissed the suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) which is seeking an extension of the exercise beyond 30th June 2022. Read more
Report robbery in stations, not Twitter – Lagos police (Punch)
Following an alleged incessant robbery at Aguda, Surulere area of Lagos State, the state’s Police Command has called on residents to ensure incidents are adequately reported at designated police stations in their area.
A resident, Kelechi Bernard, on Thursday took to his Twitter handle to lament the repeated armed robbery along Adetola street, in Aguda.
“Robbers are having a field day in Aguda Surulere Lagos. These dangerous individuals raid homes from 2am, traumatizing Innocent citizens.
“Streets affected are the ones branching off Adetola Street, heading towards Cele Bus Stop. Reports about the raids have been consistent over the past few days,” he wrote. Read more
Peter Obi supporters launch #DignityInLabour campaign after Tinubu’s ‘Labour to death’ comment (DailyTrust)
Supporters of Peter Obi have launched #DignityInLabour campaign following a critical comment by the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
During the mega rally of the ruling party in Osun on Tuesday, Tinubu had described Labour Party and others as mushroom parties, saying “they would labour till they die”.
“Think about your children and vote accordingly, so you can see the future. Come out en masse. Don’t mind PDP and other mushroom parties – parties like Labour; they will labour till they die. God will not make you labourers,” Tinubu had said.
The comment has sparked outrage, especially on Twitter. Read more
Lagos to provide financial access to citizens – Sanwo-Olu (Independent)
Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor, has said that the state is working to ensure its citizens have financial access to enable them pursue their dreams, ideas, and innovations that are investable, future thinking and solution providing.
He stated this while speaking at the 4th year anniversary of the Emerging Africa Group and the grand opening of the Emerging Africa Campus in Lagos in Ikoyi.
The Governor, who was represented by Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, his Deputy, commended the group chairman, Emerging Africa, Dr. Onikepo Akande, and the management of the group for not only noticing the challenge in Africa’s huge financial access gap, but for rising up to the challenge of addressing the gap by providing a workable solution through the platform of the Emerging Africa Group.
He said it was pleasing to note that through the group, up to $1billion has been raised for governments and companies represented by the group. Read more
UNILAG makes history, signs training agreement with Nord (Vanguard)
History was made yesterday, at the University of Lagos as the university signed a Memorandum of Agreement with an indigenous auto company, Nord Motors, for practical training of willing and qualified students of the school in the act of assembling cars, repair, service and maintenance of automobiles.
Speaking at the MOA signing ceremony, UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, said it was the first time such a collaboration between the university and an automobile company in Nigeria would be sealed.
He described it as a Triple Elite Model by bringing the government, the industry and university together.
“What we are doing today is the Triple Elite Model in which we are bringing the industry to the campus. This should be the first time this type of thing will be happening in a university in Africa. This will be a great opportunity for our students in different departments to contribute to the development of automobiles in Nigeria.” Read more
Bandits, Ansaru terrorists clash in Kaduna (DailyTrust)
Bandits have attacked members of Ansaru terrorist sect in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Daily Trust gathered that the sect members were “preaching” to locals when bandits opened fire, killing two villagers in the process.
The bandits were said to have stormed Damari village under Kazage Ward in Eastern part of the local government in an attempt to dislodge the terrorists from the village.
Daily Trust had reported how the terrorists have taken over communities in Eastern part of the LGA, guiding villagers against attacks by bandits.
Ishaq Usman Kafai Chairman, Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressive Union (BEPU), who confirmed the incident said the clash between the two groups lasted for an hour. Read more
Alao-Akala’s son, wife welcome twins after 14 IVFs, miscarriages (Nation)
After eight years of waiting, Juwon, the son of former Oyo Governor late Adebayo Alao-Akala, and his wife Hadiza have welcomed a set of twins- a boy and a girl.
The duo tied the knot at an Islamic and white wedding in Okoya’s estate in Lekki, Lagos in 2014.
He said: ”It’s time to tell my story. …..It started in November 2014, Innocent naive and very hopeful. Little did I know what was in front of me.
“God all I can say is thank you, After 14 IVFs, multiple miscarriages including 24 weekers, boy/girl twins and 17 weekers identical triplet girls. Read more
Gombe pilgrim dies in Saudi Arabia (DailyTrust)
Another pilgrim from Gombe and lecturer at the state university, Dr Abdulrahaman Mai Gona, died on Thursday in Saudi Arabia.
Announcing the pilgrim’s demise in a statement issued by the State Muslim Pilgrims Board Head of Media, Hauwa Muhammad, said the pilgrim died after brief illness.
Mai Gona, a lecturer in the Department of Islamic Studies, was one of the board members appointed by Governor Muhammadu Yahaya to airlift pilgrims to the holy land.
He revealed that the deceased died after a brief ailment, and would be buried based on Islamic tenets. Read more
Akwa Ibom Senator, Bassey Akpan, dumps PDP (Leadership)
Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East senatorial district of Akwa Ibom State, Albert Bassey Akpan, has resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a letter to his ward chairman in Ibiono Ibom Eastern Ward 1 of Ibiono Ibom local government area of the state, seen by Leadership, the federal lawmaker explained that he intends to contest for the Akwa-Ibom State governorship office on the platform of another unnamed political party.
Leadership reports that Pastor Umo Eno was elected the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP during the primaries in the state.
The letter reads; “It is with the greatest sense of responsibility, purpose, and love for my people that I make bold this communication. Read more
Julia Roberts to receive Icon Award from Academy Museum (Variety)
Julia Roberts will receive an Academy Museum Gala Icon Award from the Academy this fall. The Oscar-winning actor will receive her award at the Museum’s second annual gala on Oct. 15.
Roberts joins three previously announced honorees at the gala: Miky Lee, who will receive the Pillar Award; Tilda Swinton, who will receive the Visionary Award; and Steve McQueen, who will receive the Vantage Award. The event, sponsored by Rolex, will be co-chaired by Halle Berry, Jason Bloom, Lupita Nyong’o and Ryan Murphy.
“Over the course of her career, Julia has embodied iconic characters and memorable roles,” Academy president and director Jacqueline Stewart said in a statement. “We are thrilled to continue honoring her excellence in the industry and contribution to the arts. We are deeply grateful to Julia, Miky, Steve and Tilda, to Rolex, and to our co-chairs and committees for making our second annual gala an evening to remember.”
In addition, the Academy Museum announced the members of the 2022 gala host committee, which includes notable names such as Adrien Brody, Amanda Seyfried, Ariana DeBose, Awkwafina, Billie Lourd, Bryce Dallas Howard, Chloë Sevigny, Colman Domingo, Cynthia Erivo, Dakota Johnson, Darren Criss, Eddie Redmayne, Eiza González, Elle Fanning, Emma Roberts, George C. Wolfe, Glenn Close, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jennifer Garner, Jessica Alba, Joe Jonas, Sophie Turner, Thomas Sadoski, Jon Hamm, Jonathan Majors, Judd Apatow, Leslie Mann, Kate Hudson, Kathryn Hahn, Keke Palmer, Kid Cudi, Kirsten Dunst, Leonardo DiCaprio, Letitia Wright, Lily Collins, Lucy Liu, Natasha Lyonne, Orlando Bloom, Regina Hall, Renée Zellweger, Riley Keough, Robert Duvall, Ron Howard, Ruth Negga, Selma Blair and others. Read more
Constance Wu says she tried to kill herself after tweets backlash (BBC)
Constance Wu has said she tried to kill herself after facing a backlash over comments she made about the renewal of her TV series Fresh Off The Boat.
The US actress made the revelation in a statement marking her return to Twitter after almost three years.
She added she was “afraid of coming back on social media because I almost lost my life from it”.
The Crazy Rich Asians star explained she experienced “internet shaming” following her “careless tweets”.
“Three years ago, when I made careless tweets about the renewal of my TV show, it ignited outrage and internet shaming that got pretty severe,” she wrote on Thursday. Read more
Billy Eichner’s LGBTQ comedy ‘Bros’ to world premiere at Toronto Film Festival (THR)
The Toronto Film Festival is set to give Nicholas Stoller’s romantic comedy Bros, starring Billy Eichner, a world premiere in September.
Universal Pictures’ Bros is billed as the first major studio film with an all-openly LGBTQ principal cast and will have a high-profile red carpet launch at TIFF. Eichner and Stoller co-wrote Bros, which is produced by Judd Apatow.
The ensemble cast includes Luke Macfarlane, Amanda Bearse, Guy Branum, Guillermo Díaz, Dot-Marie Jones, Miss Lawrence, Eve Lindley, Ts Madison, Jim Rash and Monica Raymund. All of the principal heterosexual roles will be played by openly LGBTQ performers.
Bros is also produced by Stoller and Josh Church and is executive produced by Eichner and Karl Frankenfield. Read more
Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Chelsea Peretti to direct and star in new movie (DigitalSpy)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine favourite Chelsea Peretti has landed her first directing gig.
According to Deadline, the actress recently wrapped up as First Time Female Director. Peretti, who also wrote and produced the film, plays a newly-minted theatre director who struggles to fill the shoes of her male predecessor.
Parks and Recreation Amy Poehler, Megan Mullally, New Girl’s Max Greenfield, and Xosha Roquemore are among the cast, alongside Blake Anderson, Big Mouth’s Jak Knight, Kate Berlant, Ant-Man and the Wasp’s Tim Heidecker, Hacks’ Megan Stalter.
Commenting on her change of creative scenery, Peretti shared: “This is the project of a lifetime for me – a chance to have my voice embodied by a truly brilliant ensemble of comedic actors.
Woman who gave birth at Metallica gig honours James Hetfield with baby’s middle name (NME)
A woman who gave birth at a Metallica show in Brazil has given her baby a middle name in honour of the band.
Brazilian tattoo artist Joice Figueiró went into labour during the metal icons’ concert at the Estádio Couto Pereira stadium in Curitiba this May. Figueiró, who was 39 weeks pregnant, had started having contractions shortly after Metallica took to the stage.
Her water then broke on the way to the venue’s outpatient clinic, and there wasn’t enough time to make it to a hospital maternity ward. Her son Luan was born at 11:15pm, as Figueiró later revealed on Instagram, “to the sound of ‘Enter Sandman’”.
Metallica subsequently shared Figueiró’s news on their Instagram Stories feed, with frontman James Hetfield also calling the new mother and her husband Jaime to congratulate them. Read more
William Hart, lead singer of The Delfonics dies aged 77 (Independent)
William “Poogie” Hart, the lead singer of R&B band The Delfonics, has died at the age of 77.
After experiencing trouble breathing, Hart was admitted to hospital in Philadelphia. He died from complications during surgery on Thursday (14 July).
His son, Hadi, confirmed the news to TMZ.
William formed The Delfonics around 1964 alongside Randy Cain, Ritchie Daniels, Thom Bell, and his brother, Wilbert. Read more
British aid worker held by pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine dies (CBS)
A British aid worker detained by pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine has died in captivity, a separatist official and a U.K. charity involved with his case said Friday. The Presidium Network aid charity said Paul Urey’s family had been notified of his death by British officials.
The U.K. Foreign Office has not publicly confirmed the death but said it was “urgently seeking clarification from the Russian government.”
Daria Morozova, the human rights ombudswoman for the Moscow-backed separatist leadership in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, said a British “mercenary,” whom she named as Urey, died in captivity on Sunday. She said he had died of chronic illnesses and stress.
Urey, 45, was detained in April at a checkpoint near Zaporizhzhia, some 290 miles southeast of Kyiv, along with another British man, Dylan Healy. The two men had been operating on their own in the war zone, helping to evacuate civilians. Read more
Africa Track Cycling Championship flags off in Abuja (Independent)
The Africa Track Cycling Championship was flagged off at the Moshood Abiola Stadium Velodrome, Abuja on Thursday, July 14, 2022 after the pre-race meeting on Wednesday, July 13, 2022.
According to the Secretary General of Confederation of Africa Cycling (CAC) Bashiru Mohammed over 15 countries are participating at the championship.
The Cycling technocrat gave the names of some of the counties that have arrived as Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, Burundi, Ghana, Guinue, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Benin, Togo, Côte d’iVoire, Tunisia and host country Nigeria.
Mohammed who is also the Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN) Technical Director said the Velodrome of Abuja Stadium is filled to capacity, with a beehive of activities at the opening ceremony of the championship. Read more
Buhari hails Falcons’ after World Cup qualification (Punch)
President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Super Falcons after they qualified for the 2023 Women’s World Cup with a victory over Cameroon at the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Casablanca, Morocco.
The record nine-time title winners defeated Cameroon 1-0 on Thursday night and are now set to face hosts, Morocco, in the semi-finals.
In a statement signed by Special Adviser on Media to the President, Femi Adesina, Buhari lauded the spirited performance of the team, for maintaining their standing as defending champions and the most successful women’s football team in Africa.
Having won the tournament twice in 2016 and 2018, under his administration, Buhari assured the players and their handlers that the whole nation was strongly standing with them and would continue to cheer them on until the final whistle in Morocco. Read more
Christian Eriksen: Man Utd sign Denmark midfielder on three-year contract (BBC)
Manchester United have completed the signing of Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen on a free transfer.
The former Ajax, Tottenham, Inter Milan and Brentford player has signed a three-year contract at Old Trafford.
“I still have major ambitions in the game. There is a huge amount that I know I can achieve, and this is the perfect place to continue my journey,” Eriksen, 30, said.
“Manchester United is a special club, and I cannot wait to get started.” Read more
Remo Stars, Kwara United in titanic race for third spot (Nation)
The curtain will fall on the 2021-22 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season on Sunday with the final fixtures.
Unlike the previous seasons in which the three representatives of the country in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Inter-Club competitions are known until the final day of the season, this season Rivers United won the league title with three games to spare to pick the automatic CAF Champions League slot as well as set a new record for the point haul by a club in a season.
Plateau United also claimed the second spot with two games to go after a home win over Lobi Stars on Matchday 36 and they will also compete in the CAF Champions League as Nigeria’s second flagbearer.
Robber handed 30-year jail term for ‘terrifying’ raid on home of Ashley Cole (Standard)
A“chillingly ruthless” robber who was part of a gang who tied up former England footballer Ashley Cole in front of his children and threatened to cut off his fingers has been jailed for 30 years.
Kurtis Dilks, 35, was also ordered to serve an extended licence period of five years by a judge at Nottingham Crown Court who said the former Chelsea and Arsenal defender and his partner Sharon Canu had suffered psychological impacts that “cannot be overstated”.
The judge said the attack on the footballer’s Surrey home was “extremely terrifying”, and he described the gang as “intelligent, violent and chillingly ruthless men”.
Dilks’s trial heard Cole had told police he thought “now I am going to die” as he recalled how the masked raiders tied his hands behind his back despite him holding his young daughter.
Tearful Woods set to miss British Open cut (France24)
Tiger Woods is set to miss the cut on his return to the British Open after a round of 75 on Friday left the 15-time major winner languishing at nine over par for his two rounds.
An emotional Woods looked to be wiping tears from his face as he saluted the crowds walking up the 18th.
Woods had battled back from major surgery on his right leg after a car crash last year to make it to St Andrews, where he won two of his three British Opens.
However, the physical toll of the crash was still clear to see as the 46-year-old hobbled around the Old Course in what could be his farewell appearance at the home of golf. Read more
Russian driver finds loophole to FIA ban and set to feature in F1 practice session (Express)
Russian driver Robert Shwartzman has tested under an Israeli flag to avoid an FIA ban ahead of a possible F1 appearance this season. Rules state that Russian drivers can compete in top-level motorsport but cannot use Russian and Belarusian flags or anthems.
The 22-year-old was born in Tel Aviv but has dual nationality after he was raised in St Petersburg. He opted to compete under the Russian flag in last season’s Formula 2 championship but switched for his first Ferrari test since January.
The Scuderia made a point of confirming that Shwartzman “wore the colours of that country for the first time” in the test. The FIA refused to completely ban Russian or Belarusian drivers as long as they competed under another licence.
However, Motorsport UK has stopped all drivers from these nationalities from competing in events across the country. It means Russian or Belarusian drivers would be prevented from taking part in any events at the British Grand Prix weekend. Read more