3 die in Ekiti crash (Punch)
Three persons were, on Friday, crushed to death in an accident that occurred along Ilupeju – Itapa Road in Oye Local Government area.
The accident involved a truck and a motorbike conveying the three persons along the road.
A source said, “The bike was heading towards Ilupeju when the accident happened, killing the three men on it.” The Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Ekiti State Sector, Olusola Joseph, confirmed the death of the three persons. Read more
Mohbad: More celebrities speak up as Nigerians sign petitions to ban Marlian Music label (Leadership)
Following the death of the Nigerian music artiste Mohbad (nee Ifeoluwa Oladimeji Aloba) Nigerians have begun to sign a petition calling for the ban of the Naira Marley-owned record label, Marlian Music.
The petition launched on change.org by Mohbad’s fans had garnered over 50,000 signatures.
It will be recalled that before his death, singer Mohbad had alleged threats to his life, as well as malicious damage of property and oppression by Marlian Music record label owner, Naira Marley and his friend Sam Larry, post his controversial split from the label about a year ago. Read more
Nigeria gradually losing respect for rule of law, says Peter Obi (Channels)
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, says Nigeria is “gradually losing one of the biggest intangible assets that make a nation strong, which is respect for the rule of law”.
In a statement he posted on his X handle in celebration of International Democracy Day on Friday, Obi said “our dear nation has continued to swing dangerously away from the boundaries of true democracy”.
He said that Nigerians must “remind ourselves of the need to work together to build and deepen our nation’s democracy”. Read more
Hell Within: Hurdles of renewing /obtaining International Passports (Vanguard)
Sheila Edwards got an offer for a sponsored trip to China. The Embassy of China was ready and those that would make the trip with her were also ready. It was going to be an all-expense paid trip and she looked forward to it.
But she had to get a valid international Passport as her old one had expired.
That was when her ordeal started.
After applying for the Passport renewal, the date she was given for capture was to be after the trip had taken off. Read more
Motorist accuses Lagos council workers of N10k extortion (Punch)
A motorist, Bakare Abdusalam, has accused officials reportedly working with the Itire Ikate Local Council Development Area, Mushin, Lagos, of extorting him of the sum of N10,000.
Bakare said the incident happened on Tuesday around the Cele area of Mushin while he was on his way to the area office for capturing so that he could get his driver’s licence from the Federal Road Safety Corps which also has an office in the building. Read more
I will not resign as Ondo deputy governor, says Aiyedatiwa (ThisDay)
Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, yesterday debunked rumour that he has resigned from office, declaring that his tenure will end on February 23, 2025.
This comes three days after his boss and Ondo State Governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) disbanded the media crew attached to the Office, amidst allegation of rift between the deputy governor and his boss, Akeredolu who just returned from Germany where he went for medical leave.
However, the Deputy Governor in a statement he personally signed and made available to Journalists in Akure, dispelled the resignation letter, noting that he would finish the tenure with Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. Read more
Tinubu heads to New York Sunday for UN General Assembly (Nation)
President Bola Tinubu will on Sunday depart Abuja to attend the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States of America (USA).
Disclosing this to journalists during a briefing at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, also declared an elaborate itinerary for President Tinubu’s outing in New York.
According to Ngelale, alongside the General Assembly proceedings, the President has a series of key meetings with multinational executives to discuss digital transformation, innovation, and investment in Nigeria. Read more
Reactions as Wike gifts Abuja traditional rulers cars to fight insecurity (DailyTrust)
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has donated brand new cars to some traditional rulers in Abuja.
The minister said the gesture would help improve security in the territory.
While describing traditional rulers as critical partners in curbing criminality, he said his administration would work closely with them.
Wike explained while handing over the Nissan Semi SUV keys to the traditional rulers in Abuja that the gesture was part of government efforts to ease the mobility of the traditional leaders. Read more
Drew Barrymore cries as she breaks silence over talk show controversy (Hello!)
Drew Barrymore has issued a public apology to unions, writers and anyone who was left hurt by her decision to resume filming on The Drew Barrymore Show during the ongoing strike.
Sharing a video on Instagram, Drew did not caption the post but left comments open for followers to share their thoughts; and Will & Grace star Debra Messing was among those to ask Drew to reconsider.
“You can choose now to halt production. You can choose to pay your employees like other talk show hosts who have stood in solidarity with the writers. There are thousands of union members’ jobs and livelihoods that are at stake (exponential more than those who work on your show) and the future of our beloved industry. I hope you will reconsider,” wrote Debra. Read more
Fuel prices hit all-time high in Kenya (AfricaNews)
The cost of fuel in Kenya hit a record high on Friday (Sep. 15) after the energy regulator revised pump prices, adding to the economic hardship facing millions of people.
The announcement by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority has brought the retail price of a litre of petrol to an unprecedented more than 200 Kenyan shillings ($1.36).
Kenyans already face a harsh cost of living crisis with rising prices for many staple goods, a raft of new taxes and a plunging shilling. Read more
Dolly Parton stopped Elvis from recording ‘‘I Will Always Love You’’ for 1 reason (Fox)
Dolly Parton will always love Elvis Presley.
In a recent interview with BBC Radio 1, Parton revealed she would have loved for Presley to have recorded her song, “I Will Always Love You.” However, his manager Colonel Tom Parker’s request made it impossible.
She explained everything was prepared to have Presley record the song, but the night before, Parker told Parton he doesn’t allow Presley to record anything without “at least half the publishing [rights].”
“This is the most important copyright in my whole publishing company, and I can’t do that,” Parton told Parker. Read more
Ethiopian migrants stuck in Yemen as repatriation pauses (VOA)
Hundreds of Ethiopian migrants are stranded in conflict-torn Yemen, unable to work for better wages and without the means to get back to their home.
Tens of thousands of Ethiopians head to Arabian Peninsula countries each year, seeking better work opportunities. Often, they undertake a perilous journey, and end up being trafficked and stranded along the way.
Roman, who first went to Saudi Arabia at 18, said that despite getting gainful employment, working conditions were extremely challenging. Read more
Chechen leader and staunch Putin ally Ramzan Kadyrov reportedly in critical condition (NYPost)
Ruthless Chechnya warlord — and staunch ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin — Ramzan Kadyrov is reportedly hospitalized in critical condition, according to Ukrainian intelligence.
“There is information that the war criminal Kadyrov is in a serious condition — existing illnesses have worsened and caused such a serious condition,” Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukraine’s military intelligence branch, told Ukrainian outlet Obozrevatel Friday.
Kadyrov’s condition has been confirmed by multiple sources, Yusov said, and the cause of the illness is not the result of any injury. Read more
Fight Club author reveals what he didn’t like about the film (NME)
Fight Club author Chuck Palahnuik has revealed what he didn’t like about David Fincher’s 1999 film adaptation, starring Edward Norton and Brad Pitt.
In an interview with Variety about his new novel Not Forever, But For Now, Palahnuik explained how the inclusion of the ticking bomb in Fight Club‘s closing scenes was not to his liking.
“I wasn’t a big fan of the ticking bomb, that counting down clock near the end. And [screenwriter] Jim Uhls stuck it in because there’s obviously such a trope, and I’ve grown to accept that it is a trope.” Read more
Biden admin imposes new sanctions on Iran for anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death (CNN)
The Biden administration on Friday imposed sanctions on more than two dozen Iranian individuals and entities tied to the violent suppression of protests following the death of Mahsa Amini one year ago.
The new sanctions are the latest tranche in response to Tehran’s brutal crackdown on the protestors who took to the streets in the wake of Amini’s death in the custody of Iran’s so-called morality police. The 22-year-old was allegedly arrested by the morality police – on whom the US imposed sanctions last year – for improperly wearing her hijab.
According to a news release from the US Treasury Department, Friday’s sanctions target “18 key members of the regime’s security forces, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Law Enforcement Forces (LEF); the head of Iran’s Prisons Organization; three individuals and one company in connection with the regime’s systematic censorship and blocking of access to the internet; and three IRGC and regime-controlled media outlets—-Fars News, Tasnim News and Press TV—-and three senior officials.” Read more
Amusan drops eight places in WA rankings (Punch)
World 100m hurdles record holder, Tobi Amusan, has dropped eight places from 25th to 33rd in the women’s overall weekly rankings released by World Athletics ahead of this weekend’s Diamond League final in Eugene, Oregon, USA.
The Nigerian ranked the fifth best in the world at the start of the year and number one in her event following her triumph at the World Athletics Championships last year has also slipped from second to third in the hurdles.
The 26-year-old who lost her world title last month in Budapest, Hungary and will be seeking a historic title defence this weekend in the Wanda Diamond League. Read more
Morocco 2024: Nnadozie, Oshoala, Ajibade, 21 others to face Sao Tome (Vanguard)
Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, midfielder Rasheedat Ajibade and forward Asisat Oshoala are among 24 players invited to the Super Falcons’ camp for next week’s 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations first round, first-leg qualifying match against Sao Tome and Principe.
Also on the roster are captain Onome Ebi, defenders Oluwatosin Demehin, Michelle Alozie and Rofiat Imuran, midfielders Rasheedat Ajibade and Toni Payne, and forwards Ifeoma Onumonu, Vivian Ikechukwu and Gift Monday.
Nine-time African champions Nigeria will host the Sao Tome and Principe girls at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Friday, 22nd September, with the return leg scheduled for Tuesday, 26th September. Read more
Saudi Arabia friendly is good test for Eagles — Adepoju (Guardian)
Former Super Eagles player, Mutiu Adepoju, has charged the Super Eagles handler, Jose Peseiro, to use the international friendly game against Saudi Arabia slated for October 13 to blend the team ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in November.
Adepoju, who applauded the Nigeria Football Federation for organising the international friendly for the Eagles ahead of the World Cup qualifier, declared that the team can get the World Cup ticket if the right measures are taken by assembling the best players for the qualifiers.
“The Super Eagles friendly game against Saudi Arabia is good for the team,” Adepoju said. “The Super Eagles need to be in the right condition to play the World Cup qualifiers. Read more
Ex-Premier League star names Sergio Busquets as key to Lionel Messi’s MLS impact (Mirror)
Former Premier League stalwart Ashley Westwood believes Sergio Busquets has been crucial to Lionel Messi taking to life in MLS so quickly following his summer move.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has already scored 11 goals in as many games for Inter Miami, while delivering silverware with the Leagues Cup. His introduction to the Herons line-up has seen the team’s fortunes transformed, with his performances galvanising his colleagues.
One direct witness to the team’s whirlwind rise to form is former Aston Villa and Burnley ace Westwood, who faced Messi and his team in August. The midfielder departed Turf Moor for a new chapter at Charlotte FC in January and came up against the resurgent Miami in the Leagues Cup. Read more
Real Madrid youth players arrested over private WhatsApp video (ESPN)
Spanish police arrested three Real Madrid youth players Thursday for allegedly distributing a sexual video featuring a minor, at a time of heightened tension around sexist behaviour in Spanish soccer.
The players, who are not minors, were later released after a court decision and after the data on their mobile phones was seized, police said in a statement.
Earlier Thursday, the club confirmed a player for their reserve team, Castilla, and three players for the club’s third team, Real Madrid C, gave evidence to Spanish police over “the sharing of a private video on WhatsApp.” Read more
Wimbledon residents plan showdown over ‘‘massive’’ show court proposal (National)
Wimbledon residents say the All England Lawn Tennis Club has double-faulted with its plans to significantly expand the site in south-west London by building on protected land without getting locals on board.
The community in the affluent village recently held a standing-room-only meeting to discuss the proposals, which if realised, will lead to the construction of 38 new tennis courts and an 8,000-seat show court on the former Wimbledon Park Golf Club site.
“It was a very big turn-out, much bigger than we expected,” said Iain Simpson, a member of the community group opposed to the plans. Read more