27-year-old pregnant woman found dead in Enogie’s car in Edo (Tribune)
It was a gory sight on Thursday evening at the premises of the Edo State Specialist Hospital, Benin, when the body of a pregnant woman was discovered in a vehicle belonging to a traditional chief known in Benin as Enogie.
The deceased, aged 27, identified as Faith Aigbe, was found locked up in the Toyota Lexus SUV of the Enogie of Uroho, Iguodala Ogieriakhi.
Sources claimed that the corpse was allegedly brought to the hospital by the suspect, who locked up the vehicle, abandoned the corpse and fled the scene when he discovered that the woman was dead.
It was wailing and lamentation as the huge crowd, which gathered a the hospital premises, broke the glasses of the SUV to take a glance at the dead pregnant woman. Read more
#EndSARS: Bullets fired at Lekki Tollgate were from Nigerian Army — Forensic expert (Vanguard)
Following the controversy surrounding the loss of lives at Lekki Tollgate during the EndSARS protest on Friday, October 20, 2020, a forensic company, Sentinel Forensic Limited, has testified before the Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution set up to unravel details of the shooting that took place during the protest.
The company’s representative, Joseph Kayode Funsho, while testifying before the panel said the live ammunition were discovered to have been registered to the Nigerian Army.
Vanguard reports that the company’s representative, Joseph Kayode Funsho, while testifying before the panel said the live ammunition (bullets) were discovered to have been registered to the Nigerian Army. He, however, said the blanks didn’t match the records from the Nigerian Army’s inventory. Read more
Sanwo-Olu signs VAT Bill into law
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has signed into law the State VAT Bill as passed by the House of Assembly.
The Governor signed the “bill for a law to impose and charge VAT on certain goods and services” at about 11.45am today, after returning from an official trip to Abuja. Read more
BBNaija: My brain capacity is dropping —White Money (Vanguard)
Big Brother Naija season 6 housemate, Hazel Oyeze Onou, popularly known as White Money, has said his brain capacity is reducing drastically.
White Money disclosed this in his diary session with Biggie on Friday.
According to him, he finds it difficult to comprehend especially when given task.
His words; “I don’t understand when I read these days. I find it difficult to interpret script whenever we’re given task to do in the house.
“I think my brain capacity is dropping.” Read more
Lagos DPO who lost gun after alleged office sex redeployed (Punch)
Denton Divisional Police Officer in the Ebute Metta area of Lagos State, CSP Adegoke Atilade, has been redeployed by the Lagos State Police Command.
Atilade’s redeployment followed a PUNCH Metro story about his alleged office escapade with a 29-year-old woman, Jennifer Madueke, which led to his missing service pistol.
The incident had happened on Friday, August 27, 2021.
In a statement on Friday, the Command’s spokesman, Adekunle Ajisebutu, said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered a thorough probe into the case. Read more
WORD FOR WORD: Sheik Gumi’s Reply To Femi Adesina On Banditry (DailyTrust)
The discussions about the ongoing military operation in Zamfara State took a different dimension on Friday when Sheik Ahmad Gumi responded to an article written by Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman.
In his weekly article, the presidential spokesman had taken an indirect jab at Gumi, whom he alluded to as a bandit-lover.
But in his response, the cleric defended his position on the Federal Government granting amnesty to bandits.
He said war has never been a solution to the kind of security crisis being witnessed in the North West. Read more
Fabulous Icekid Serves Vibrant Vibes With “Bad Man Luv” (Guardian)
When it comes to making love songs, Boluwatife Olabode, also known as Fabulous Icekid, unlocks a different experience entirely.
Stretching his discography with his love anthem, “Bad Man Luv“, the young lad sits among the new school acts evolving the Afro-pop scene with catchy romantic records.
Listening to Icekid reminds you of the evergreen catalyst for the growth of Nigerian music, which is the pure yearning for artistic expression. On BadManLuv, Icekid paints an imagery hinged upon the familiar theme of a man professing his affections to his lover. With his soothing vocals and groovy melodies, he unearths the euphoria in his rhythms.
“I go be your Daniel, if you go be my Daniella/ Whine that booty go down, and yeah she looks like Rihanna,” the sensual lyrics stand out in the song, showcasing Icekid’s preference of self-expression over self-censorship. While sensual love narratives are not strange to the Nigerian music audience, the pothole with this is it becomes a tiring narrative over time. Read more
VAT: Court asks all parties to maintain status quo (Punch)
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has adjourned to September 16 to hear the application by Lagos State to be joined as a respondent alongside Rivers State in the appeal filed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service challenging the judgment of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt regarding the issue of Value Added Tax collection.
The court also ordered that the status quo ante bellum be maintained.
Justice Haruna Tsammani held that parties should refrain from taking any step regarding the Federal High Court judgment pending the determination of the application on stay of execution filed by FIRS.
The Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, had on Aug. 9 declared that it was the Rivers government and not FIRS that should collect VAT and Personal Income Tax in that state. Read more
Buhari To Doctors: Strike not best action to take now (DailyTrust)
President Muhammadu Buhari has told the striking medical doctors that embarking on industrial action is not the best action to have been considered at a time when they are mostly needed by Nigerians.
President Buhari spoke on Friday at the State House, Abuja, while receiving members of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).
The President, who called on health workers to return to their duty posts, urged others contemplating strikes to opt for settlement of issues by negotiation, no matter how long it takes.
“The lives of citizens that could be lost or damaged when doctors withdraw services, are precious enough to be worth opting for peaceful resolution of differences,’’ the President also said. Read more
Zendaya hopes to become a director (People)
After spending a decade in front of the camera, Zendaya is ready to move to the director’s chair.
The actress, 25, told British Vogue in a cover story for the magazine’s October issue that she’s hoping to expand her career in the film industry and move into directing next.
Calling art “a huge catalyst for change,” Zendaya said she hopes to champion diversity in Hollywood.
“If I ever do become a filmmaker, I know that the leads of my films will always be Black women,” she said. Read more
How Colin Firth became British cinema’s greatest asset (FarOut)
At the turn of the new millennium, the British film industry was adopting a devious plan to market the country to the rest of the world. Led by the whimsical joys of Richard Curtis, this vision of Great Britain was one that existed only in the fantasies of fictional texts, depicting an overwhelmingly homogeneous country populated by upper-class posh people living in either exclusive London flats or quaint country homes (situated just outside of London). The figurehead for such a cultural charge was so often a tussle between Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, a feud that even comes to a physical head in Bridget Jones’ Diary.
Living in the background of the perfectly imperfect society of Blair’s Britain, films such as the Bridget Jones series, Love Actually and About a Boy presented an idealistic fictional portrait of the country, complete with awkward humour and bumbling stereotypes. There was truly none better to lead the industry in such a time of British marketing as the well-groomed looks of the smart Colin Firth and the scruffy charm magnet Hugh Grant. Read more
“Jungle Cruise” to release in India after “Shang Chi” (RWorld)
The Indian film industry has been seeking to bounce back from the COVID-19 setback and the release of BellBottom and Thalaivii have been a positive step for the exhibitors. Not just the Bollywood releases, even the Hollywood makers are trying to cash in on the resumption of theatres in parts of the country. After Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, it is Dwayne Johnson’s Jungle Cruise that is set to hit Indian screens.
The Dwayne Johnson-Emily Blunt starrer is set to release in India on September 24.
The news of Jungle Cruise’s India release as shared by trade analyst Taran Adarsh on Twitter. He also shared an animated poster of the movie of the action movie. The former could be seen holding a torch, while the latter was seen with a lantern as they set off for the ‘Jungle Cruise.’ Read more
Canada’s Trudeau tries to boost reelection campaign after inconclusive debate (USNews)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday entered the crucial last stage of his reelection campaign after an inconclusive leaders’ debate in which he failed to land many blows on his main rival.
Trudeau, who heads a minority government that depends on the opposition to pass legislation, called the Sept. 20 election, two years early, in an effort to capitalize on his Liberal government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But the 49-year-old leader, who has been in power for six years, has struggled to make a mark on the campaign trail amid voter fatigue and the public’s unhappiness with the early election call. Read more
Afghanistan: UN condemns Taliban’s brutal crackdown on protests (BBC)
The UN has condemned the Taliban for what it called an “increasingly violent response” to dissent, weeks after the group’s rapid takeover of Afghanistan.
The body said Taliban fighters killed four people during recent protests.
Demonstrations have taken place across Afghanistan since the fall of Kabul on 15 August, demanding respect for women’s rights and greater freedoms.
Taliban fighters have used batons, whips, and live ammunition against protesters, the UN said in its report. Read more
The new “Matrix Resurrections” trailer reclaims the red pill narrative (WIRED)
The choice has always been, relatively speaking, simple: red pill or blue pill. Swallow the red and it’s like eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil—suddenly all the universe’s dark secrets are revealed. Take the blue, remain in blissful ignorance. In 1999, Laurence Fishburne’s Morpheus presented this option to Keanu Reeves’ Neo, who gulped down the red one with only the slightest trepidation. His narrative arc was changed, and a meme was born.
In the two decades since, the sociopolitical meaning of red pill vs. blue pill has evolved quite a bit. Most recently, the idea of “red-pilling” has become a metaphor for a certain kind of political awakening, an adoption of far-right, and often misogynistic, views. The phrase perhaps reached its nadir last year when Elon Musk sent a tweet encouraging his followers to “take the red pill,” to which then-presidential adviser Ivanka Trump responded “Taken!” Not one to let her work be misconstrued, Lilly Wachowski—who, along with her sister Lana, created the Matrix franchise—quickly responded “fuck both of you.” It was one of the first, if not the first, times the movie’s creators expressed discontent at the way their creation had been co-opted by the darker corners of the internet. Read more
Lionel Messi surpasses Pele on record-breaking night as Argentina, Brazil close in on Qatar World Cup (ESPN)
It is often the case that Brazil — or more frequently, of late, Argentina — have to dig themselves out of problems in South America’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Not this time. With the competition at the halfway stage, the big two have already almost accumulated enough points to book their place in Qatar — despite playing a game less than everyone else.
Brazil have a 100% record against eight opponents. Lionel Messi and Argentina have five wins and three draws. All that is missing is their meeting. It is indeed a shame that their match last Sunday ended up being interrupted and then suspended after Brazilian health officials objected to the participation of four Argentine players they say broke quarantine rules. We would have been able to learn much more about them than anything that happened in their routine home wins on Thursday. Read more
‘They don’t care about the players’ – Klopp rejects World Cup plans (Football365)
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp claims it’s “not right” to make players play a World Cup every two years amid FIFA plans.
European Leagues, a group which includes the Premier League and the EFL, said its members “firmly and unanimously” opposed the plans brought forward by FIFA’s head of global development Arsene Wenger, the former Arsenal manager.
UEFA has gone even further, with its president Aleksander Ceferin telling The Times that European countries could boycott the tournament if the plans were approved. Read more
LeBron James impressed by Tom Brady’s hot start to the NFL season (FanSided)
On Twitter, the NBA titan and pop culture icon had nothing but respect for Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady’s first touchdown drive in 2021.
“Greatness recognizes greatness, and is shadowed by it.”
The famous quote by literary critic Harold Bloom encapsulates LeBron James’ reaction to Tom Brady’s second drive of the season: a nine-play, 94-yard attack that resulted in the first NFL touchdown of 2021.
Brady’s surgical precision cut through the Dallas Cowboys defensive coverage with passes to Mike Evans, Rob Gronkowski, Antonio Brown and Chris Godwin. Key plays included two connections to Brown that advanced the offense 44 yards, as well as clutch passes to Godwin in the red zone that brought the team their first score since February.
The touchdown drive, which last a little over four minutes, got the attention of the sports world — and notably, of one of its greatest players of all time. Read more
The many flaws with FIFA’s Biennial World Cup plan (SI)
There is, officially, a consultation process currently being conducted by FIFA into the feasibility of staging a men’s World Cup every two years. But FIFA’s chief of global development, Arsène Wenger, has been outspoken in favor, while the sport’s governing body has wheeled out an array of former stars—Didier Drogba, Jürgen Klinsmann, Marco Materazzi, Lothar Matthäus, Michael Owen, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo, Peter Schmeichel, John Terry and Yaya Touré among them—to issue similarly worded statements expressing their support. A previous report concluded a biennial World Cup was a bad idea, yet who could possibly predict how this story will end?
Why FIFA is in favor of it is clear: money. About 95% of its income in a four-year cycle comes from World Cups. Doubling the number of tournaments probably won’t quite double its revenues, but it could come close. This is also about power and the ongoing struggle between FIFA and UEFA for control of the game. More meaningful matches should enhance FIFA’s status. Read more
Emma Raducanu reaches US Open final in New York (BBC)
British teenager Emma Raducanu reached the US Open final as her meteoric rise continued with a stunning straight-set win over Greek 17th seed Maria Sakkari in New York.
Raducanu, 18, extended her dream run with a 6-1 6-4 victory in which her dominance again almost defied belief.
She is the first qualifier to reach a Grand Slam final and will play another teenager Leylah Fernandez on Saturday.
Raducanu is the first British woman in a major singles final in 44 years. Read more
Canada off to strong start on road to 2022 World Cup in Qatar (TorontoSun)
Canada head coach John Herdman was eyeing seven points from the first three games of the 2022 FIFA World Cup final qualifying round, but had to settle for five.
Considering the circumstances, a win and two draws is a good start for a team who has not qualified for a men’s World Cup since its only appearance in 1986 in Mexico, and not competed in the final round of Concacaf World Cup qualifying since 1998.
“There has been growth,” Herdman said following the 3-0 victory against El Salvador at BMO Field on Wednesday. “If we get into the first day of training and you bring in guys that haven’t played together, some of them for eight or nine weeks, and you only have two sessions to bring them together; one thing that’s clear is that the foundation of trust and the culture is strong and we will bounce back from tough moments. Read more