2023: Shun purported report on plans to replace Sanwo-Olu — Governance Council (Vanguard)
The Governance Advisory Council (GAC), highest decision making organ of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lagos chapter, has dismissed a purported report on plans to replace the incumbent Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu with another candidate for the 2023 governorship poll in the state.
GAC, which consists of party leaders and chieftains, therefore, urged citizens to disregard the report posted and circulating on WhatsApp platform at the weekend, purporting that the GAC, party leaders and stakeholders have settled for a replacement for Sanwo-Olu.
According to a statement by the organ, led by its revered leader, Tajudeen Olusi, the administration of Governor Sanwo-Olu is currently working daily on making the state a 21st century economy on the global stage.
The statement read in part: “The attention of the Governance Advisory Council has been drawn to a vexatious post circulating on WhatsApp purporting that the GAC, party leaders and stakeholders have settled for a replacement for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Read more
Motorist seeks Lagos task force officers’ prosecution for perjury (Punch)
A motorist, Adeolu Oyinlola, whose driver, Emem Sunday, was prosecuted by the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, aka task force, for allegedly passing a uni-directional road (one way), has urged the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, to prosecute the agency’s witnesses for perjury.
PUNCH Metro had reported that Oyinlola’s driver, while driving him on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway on August 14, 2021, was accosted by one of four policemen around the BOC Gases area, Oshodi, for allegedly passing one way.
According to Oyinlola, there was no indication on the road that it was one way and efforts to explain to the policemen that there was no such indication proved abortive.
Oyinlola, who is the Executive Director of the Advocacy for Societal Rights Advancement and Development Initiative, alleged that his vehicle was impounded after he refused to part with the money demanded by the officers.
Sunday was later charged before a mobile court on one count bordering on driving against traffic before Magistrate L.K.J. Layeni. Read more
Lagos Police Command begins screening exercise for applicants (Guardian)
The Lagos State Police Command has announced that physical and credential screening exercises will hold at the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos from February 1 to February 20, 2022 for applicants of Lagos State origin who applied for the ongoing recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force.
The exercise will be conducted according to Local Government Areas.
The Command spokesman, Adekunle Ajisebutu said applicants who successfully completed the 2021 online recruitment registration are to report for the exercise by 8. a.m. daily for the day scheduled for their Local Government.
“Applicants are to report at the venue of the screening exercise in a clean white T-shirt and a pair of shorts. They are also to come along with two white flat files, two passport-size photographs and National Identity Number (NIN), Original copies and duplicates of O’ Level result(s), certificate of origin, birth certificate or affidavit of declaration of age, print-out of application submission confirmation/profile page, duly completed guarantor’s form.
“Any candidate who fails to present on demand any of the requirements will not be considered for screening.
Lagos, firm partner on waste recycling (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has said it will partner with Nondunna Limited to reduce the waste generated by the state through waste recycling.
The Chief Resilience Officer, Lagos State Resilience Office, Dr Folayinka Dania, said this on Friday during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Alausa, Ikeja.
The event themed, ‘Facilitating the transition into circular economy and the building of an environmentally resilient Lagos State,’ was organised by LASRO in collaboration with the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency and Nondunna Limited.
Dania said, “Circular economy is about reducing waste to the barest minimum. Lagos State currently generates about 13,0000 metric tonnes of waste per day and what we are propagating is how to ensure we turn this around in ways that are good for the climate, good for health and good for the people. Read more
Defamation: JAMB PRO files N6bn suit against Ahmed Isah, Human Rights Radio (DailyTrust)
The Head, Media and Public Relations at Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB), Dr. Fabian Benjamin, has dragged Mr Ahmed Isah of Human Rights Radio to court over injurious broadcast, “false allegations and innuendos which amounted to defamation of the Claimant’s character”.
Also joined in the suit as 1st Defendant is Premier Broadcasting Ltd (owners of Human Rights Radio) of Plot 1184, Kaura District, besides Games Village, Abuja.
In SUIT NO. CV/3211/2021 filed by the Claimant’s lawyer, Chris Alashi, before an FCT High Court, sitting at Gwagwalada and presided over by Justice A.O. Ebong, Dr. Benjamin demanded N6 billion as compensation for general damages for the deliberate, libellous and malicious public broadcast by the 1st Defendant and anchored by the 2nd Defendant, Mr Ahmed Isah.
The claimant averred that on 16th April, 2021, between 7:30 am and 10am, the 2nd Defendant, while on air on Human Rights Radio and Television (Brekete Programme), put a call to him, during which the latter maliciously defamed the claimant by impugning, maligning and discrediting his integrity and reputation as the PRO of JAMB and an academic. Read more
N788b Earned Profit: Dangote, 4 other firms to watch this year (DailyTrust)
Dangote Cement, Nestle, MTN Nigeria, BUA Cement and Airtel Africa are the top five firms to watch in Nigeria this year as they made N788billion as combined Profit After Tax (PAT) last year.
The companies also paid N386bn in total taxes and employed over 250,000 people during the period, according to an analysis by the chief executive officer of Financial Derivatives Company Ltd, Bismarck Rewane.
The financial analyst disclosed this in a presentation at a First Bank economic outlook webinar last week, where he outlined key opportunities for Nigeria, especially from the top five companies.
The webinar was on the backdrop of an earlier projection of 2.7 per cent growth for Nigeria this year from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) based on an expected recovery in crude oil prices and production.
Nigeria will see economic activities normalising. Key economic activities to watch out for in 2022 include global market trends, removal of subsidies, and floatation of the naira. However, recoveries in the oil sector and maximisation of the e-naira could help keep the parallel market in check. Read more
Passport backlogs will end by March ― Immigration boss (Tribune)
The Assistant Controller General of Immigration Service in charge of passport and other travel directorates, Modupe Anyalechi, has promised Nigerians that all efforts are being made to ensure that the March deadline for clearing backlogs of passports for Nigerian applicants is met.
Stating this in Oyo Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service in Ibadan, Anyalechi, who spoke on behalf of the acting Controller General of Immigration, Isah Jere Idris, said that she and officers from Abuja came with about 30,000 passport booklets to clear the backlog, with a view of meeting the target set by the acting CGIS.
“By the end of March, the issues of backlog would have been a thing of the past,” she stated.
According to the Assistant Controller, “I’m here on the directive of the Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola through the acting CGIS, to see what is happening on the ground after the launch of the enhanced e-passport on December 20, 2021, and to come and clear the backlog. Read more
Bandits invade Niger community, kill 12 Special Task Force personnel (ThisDay)
No fewer than 12 members of the Special Task Force deployed to keep at bay insurgents in Galadima Kogo town in the Shiroro Local Government of Niger State have been killed by bandits that invaded the village last Saturday.
More than a dozen of the Special Task Force personnel also suffered varying degrees of injuries following the attack.
According to reports from the area, which was confirmed by the Co-Convener of the Concerned Shiroro Youths, Mr. Yussuf Abubakar Kokki, several villagers were either seriously injured or killed by the rampaging bandits, while herds of cattle earlier recovered from rustlers were again rustled by the invaders.
It was gathered that the bandits stormed the community in broad daylight with over 50 of them riding on motorcycles and each carrying AK47 rifles. Read more
Cititrust Holdings to go public, plans NGX listing (Punch)
Cititrust Holdings Plc, a pan-African financial and investment conglomerate, has disclosed its decision to go public by listing on the Nigerian Exchange by the end of the first quarter of this year.
In a statement signed by its Group Executive Director, Mr Afolabi Martins, the company explained the implications of its 100 per cent divestment from its former subsidiary, Cititrust Financial Services Plc Nigeria, in 2021.
According to the company, its transition into a listed publicly owned company is part of ongoing efforts to realign its operational model with the strategic visions of its shareholders and the long-term sustainability of its businesses.
“These decisions culminated in what we termed ‘Cititrust Holdings Plc 2022 sustainability goals’. The overriding objective is to create a roadmap for a sustainable organisation, while adopting best-in-class corporate governance,” Martins said. Read more
Spider-Man: No Way Home continues box office reign in January’s last weekend (EW)
Peter Parker is web-slinging out of January strong.
Spider-Man: No Way Home once again continued its box office reign for the final weekend of the month, earning $735.8 million in domestic box offices. The third installment of the Tom Holland starrer debuted in theaters in December and became the first film to cross the $1 billion mark worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic — all within a week after release.
The film remained perched on the No. 1 spot for all of January with the exception of Jan. 14 weekend, when the new Scream installment momentarily stole the top spot with a killer $30.6 million debut. Ultimately, Ghostface was no match for Spider-Man, as the juggernaut reclaimed its No. 1 spot last weekend, becoming the sixth-highest grossing film of all time globally.
Scream, though, will not be silenced. The horror film debuted at No. 2 this weekend with $7.3 million, bringing the total to $62.1 million. Universal continued its top five streak with Sing 2 and Redeeming Love at No. 3 and No. 4, bringing in $4.8 million and $1.8 million, respectively. The King’s Man rounded out the top five, bringing in $1.7 million this weekend. Read more
Jared Leto says it’s ‘OK’ not to like his acting in House of Gucci (Metro)
Jared Leto has insisted it is ‘OK’ if people didn’t like his performance in House of Gucci.
The 50-year-old actor has received a mixed reaction to his bold portrayal of Paolo Gucci in the film but admitted he never reads reviews so the only thing that matters is he ‘had a blast’ making the movie and is happy just to have sparked a reaction.
He told Screen International: ‘I can imagine [the reaction] because it’s a big swing. I don’t look at reviews, I don’t look at critics or read comments, but I tried my very best. Paolo is the best I can do. If you don’t like the work, that’s OK.
‘I had a blast playing it, I dug in as deep as I could. It’s also that thing of if you’re not p***ing people off then you’re doing something wrong. As an actor, if you want to put a dent in things you got to break things a bit, and not everyone’s going to understand that. So if that’s happening, then great.’
While Oscar-winner Jared likes to immerse himself into his roles, he thinks people misunderstand his process and it is just ‘practical’ to be as prepared for his work as possible. Read more
Howard Hesseman, Dr. Johnny Fever on ‘WKRP in Cincinnati,’ dies at 81 (USAToday)
Howard Hesseman, enshrined in pop culture history for his role as radio disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever on CBS sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati,” has died at 81.
The actor scored two Emmy nominations as best supporting actor in a comedy for his role on the show, which ran from 1978 to 1982. He also played architect Sam Royer, Ann Romano’s second husband and Barbara’s father-in-law, on “One Day at a Time,” and went on to star in “Head of the Class” as history and social studies teacher Charlie Moore in the ’80s.
His manager Robbie Kass confirmed Sunday to USA TODAY that Hesseman died on Saturday in Los Angeles from complications of colon surgery, calling him a “groundbreaking talent” and lifelong friend, “whose kindness and generosity was equaled by his influence and admiration to generations of actors and improvisational comedy throughout the world.”
Hesseman, who in real life worked as a DJ in the 1960s and frequently ad-libbed Fever’s on-air banter, became a counterculture icon for the role at a time when few hippie characters made it onto network television. Read more
Cheslie Kryst: Former Miss USA, 30, allegedly jumps to her death from Manhattan skyscraper (Independent)
A woman who jumped to her death from a New York City high rise apartment building has been identified as former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst.
The 2019 pageant winner who had a ninth floor apartment in Manhattan’s 60-storey Orion Building was found dead in the street below on Sunday morning.
The 30-year-old was last seen on a terrace on the building’s 29th floor shortly after 7am, sources told The New York Post.
“In devastation and great sorrow, we share the passing of our beloved Cheslie,” her family said in a statement. Read more
Ugandan woman detained for strangling employer’s neighbour (Star)
A Ugandan woman charged with strangling her employer’s neighbour and beating her up after a short argument has been locked up in police cells.
Candiru Shifa will remain in police custody pending trial for allegedly assaulting Saadia Mohamed occasioning her bodily harm on January 14 in South C, Nairobi.
She had pleaded guilty to assault before Kibera senior resident magistrate Renee Kitagwa but disputed some of the court facts, prompting the magistrate to enter a plea of not guilty against her.
She told the court that some of the facts read by the prosecution were true but others were false. Read more
UN says over 100 former Afghan, International forces killed (VOA)
The United Nations has received “credible allegations” that more than 100 former members of the Afghan government, its security forces and those who worked with international troops have been killed since the Taliban took over the country Aug. 15, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says.
In a report obtained Sunday by The Associated Press, Guterres said that “more than two-thirds” of the victims were alleged to result from extrajudicial killings by the Taliban or its affiliates, despite the Taliban’s announcement of “general amnesties” for those affiliated with the former government and U.S.-led coalition forces.
The U.N. political mission in Afghanistan also received “credible allegations of extrajudicial killings of at least 50 individuals suspected of affiliation with ISIL-KP,” the Islamic State extremist group operating in Afghanistan, Guterres said in the report to the U.N. Security Council.
He added that despite Taliban assurances, the U.N. political mission has also received credible allegations “of enforced disappearances and other violations impacting the right to life and physical integrity” of former government and coalition members.
UAE shoots down missile fired by Yemen’s Houthis as Israeli president visits (TheHill)
The United Arab Emirates said on Monday that it shot down a missile fired by Yemen’s Houthis, which occurred as Israeli President Isaac Herzog was visiting the country.
The UAE’s defense ministry said it intercepted and destroyed the projectile, pieces of which fell in unpopulated areas, according to Reuters. Authorities did not, however, say specifically where the missile was heading.
The Houthis said they executed “a large-scale military operation deep inside the U.A.E.,” according to The Wall Street Journal, adding that they would reveal additional details at a later time.
The Emirati civil aviation authority said air traffic in the country was functioning normally and all flights were operating as usual despite the missile interception, Reuters reported, citing state news agency WAM. Read more
Novak Djokovic congratulates Rafael Nadal on record-breaking Australian Open win (Metro)
Novak Djokovic has congratulated Rafael Nadal on his stunning and record-breaking Australian Open victory.
Nadal won a record 21st Grand Slam men’s title and moved one ahead of great rivals Djokovic and Roger Federer with an incredible comeback win over Daniil Medvedev.
The Spaniard was two sets down against US Open champion Medvedev but rallied superbly to win 2-6 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-4 7-5 on Rod Laver Arena.
Nadal lifted his second Australian Open – and first since 2009 – in the absence of Djokovic, who was deported from Melbourne earlier in the month, and Federer, who is struggling with a knee injury.
Djokovic arrived in Australia on January 6 hoping to defend his Australian Open title and enter a league of his own in regards to Grand Slam wins. Read more
AFCON: Egypt edge out Morocco, face Cameroon in semi-final (Leadership)
Liverpool forward, Mohamed Salah, scored a brilliant equaliser and created the winner as Egypt came from behind to beat Morocco 2-1 after extra-time in their Africa Cup of Nations quarter final at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Cameroon on Sunday.
The seven-time African champions will now meet hosts, Cameroon, in the semi-final in Yaounde on Thursday.
Morocco went ahead in the seventh minute from a penalty converted by Sofiane Boufal but Egypt came storming back as they dominated the game with Salah scoring in the 53rd minute.
The Liverpool forward then turned provider to set up Mahmoud Trezeguet for the winner 10 minutes into extra time. Read more
Former Israel, Chelsea soccer coach Avram Grant accused of sexual harassment (TimesOfIsrael)
Avram Grant, the former soccer coach of the Israel national team and the English club Chelsea, was accused of sexually harassing multiple women in a TV investigation broadcast Sunday.
In Channel 12’s investigative show “Exposure,” journalist Haim Etgar presented almost an hour of testimonies from several women who accused Grant of using his prominent position to try and coerce them into sexual relations.
Repeated women told a similar story of an influential man who offered to advance the careers of young women in exchange for sex, pressuring them until they gave in.
One woman said that as recently as June 2020, Grant, now 67, invited her to his apartment in Tel Aviv with an offer to help her find work. Read more
Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood arrested on suspicion of rape and assault of woman
(Independent)
Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood has been arrested on suspicion of rape and assault after allegations were posted on social media.
Photographs and recordings uploaded to the alleged victim’s Instagram account early yesterday morning appeared to show her bleeding from the mouth and named the England international.
Within hours, officers had attended the woman’s family home in Manchester and she gave a statement about the alleged abuse.
Police later confirmed that a man, aged in his 20s, had been arrested. Read more
‘It even got a bit political’: Bottas reflects on Hamilton-Rosberg rivalry (Formula1News)
New Alfa Romeo signing Valtteri Bottas says he was initially surprised at Nico Rosberg’s decision to retire in 2016, but now appreciates his reasons for doing so.
Rosberg spent four years partnering Sir Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes after a three-year spell alongside another seven-time world champion – Michael Schumacher.
Three of those seasons featured successive painstaking championship battles at the beginning of the hybrid era, with the Briton winning in 2014 and 2015.
In 2016, the German claimed nine race wins en route to his maiden world championship, sealing the deal at the end of an enthralling season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in which Hamilton attempted to back his team-mate into Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen as he sought a sufficient points advantage to clinch what would have been his fourth F1 crown. Read more
Utah Jazz fear Joe Ingles suffered significant left knee injury; MRI set for Monday (ABC)
The Utah Jazz fear that forward Joe Ingles suffered a significant left knee injury during Sunday’s 126-106 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the team will await results of an MRI set for Monday to learn the full extent of the injury, sources told ESPN.
Ingles’ knee buckled on a drive to the basket, causing him to crumple to the court in the second quarter. Ingles needed help to get to the locker room, and sources tell ESPN that an initial examination fueled considerable concern of a serious knee injury.
Ingles has been a vital part of the Jazz for eight seasons, averaging 7.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists this season in 25.2 minutes per game. He was the runner-up to teammate Jordan Clarkson for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award last season.
Ingles is in the final year of a contract that pays $13 million in 2021-22. Read more
Lydia Ko wins 2022 Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio (LPGA)
Even though she didn’t become an LPGA Tour Member until 2014, Lydia Ko was winning events on Tour as early as 2012. On Sunday in the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio, Ko added win No. 17 to her mantel on the LPGA Tour. She became the first player to reach 17 wins before the age of 25 since Nancy Lopez captured her 17th title in 1979.
“I tried to stay really patient out there and not get carried away on what everybody else was doing and just focus on my game, trying to make the lowest score I could,” said Ko, who recorded four birdies for a 3-under 69 in the final round. “I think that helped me really dial it in and just kind of stay in the present, which I think is really important, especially when other players are playing well and I’m not making many birdies.”
The victory slid Ko into a tie for 32nd on the LPGA Tour Career Wins List to join Dottie Pepper, Ayako Okamoto and Beverly Hanson. And the $300,000 winner’s check moves her into ninth on the LPGA Tour All-Time Career Earnings List with $12,668,796, passing World Golf Hall of Fame and LPGA Hall of Fame member Se Ri Pak.
Ko pointed to her birdie down the stretch at the par-4 15th as an instrumental conversion to holding off a charging Danielle Kang (68). The New Zealand native would add one more circle on the scorecard at No. 16 before getting up and down out of the greenside bunker on No. 18 to seal the deal at -14 overall. Read more