3 men arraigned for allegedly stealing 10 AirPods, 15 iPhones (Punch)
Three men were on Wednesday arraigned in an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing 10 earbuds, 10 Bluetooth speakers and 15 iPhone 12 ProMax.
The police charged Oluwafemi Adeniji, 22; Olatunji Adeoshun, 27; and Peter Oladipupo, 24, with conspiracy, theft and falsification.
However, they pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Prosecution Counsel, ASP Victor Eruada, told the court that the defendants and other persons at large committed the offence on September 11, 2021, at 1:50 pm at the Computer Village, Ikeja. Read more
Alleged money laundering: Court imposes N200k fine on Fani-Kayode over non-appearance (Vanguard)
Justice Daniel Osaigor of a Federal High Court in Lagos State, on Wednesday, ordered a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, to pay N200,000 for not making himself available for re-arraignment for alleged money laundering.
Osaigor said that he had gone through the court’s file and noted five different letters by Fani-Kayode seeking adjournment on the same medical grounds.
The court, consequently, ordered that he should pay the sum or risk revocation of his bail.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had charged Fani-Kayode alongside a former Minister of State for Finance, Nenandi Usman. Read more
Lagos CBD reads riot act to miscreants terrorising business owners (Tribune)
The Lagos Central Business Districts (CBD) has again warned miscreants and commercial motorcycle operators operating illegally within the CBD to desist or be prosecuted.
Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Central Business Districts, Mr Gbenga Oyerinde gave the warning on Wednesday in his office following the increasing reports of the activities of miscreants.
The miscreants according to him are terrorizing business owners, shoppers and visitors. They are also aiding okada and tricycles, commercial motorcycles operating illegally on restricted routes within the Ikeja and Lagos Island business districts.
He noted that as the yuletide season approaches, business districts usually witness a large influx of shoppers into the districts and miscreants and hoodlums take advantage of the opportunity to commit all sorts of criminalities.Read more
Uzo Aduba set to host Netflix’s upcoming book club series (Punch)
American-Nigerian actress, Uzoamaka [Uzo] Aduba, has been announced at the host of the new Netflix Book Club’s upcoming series, But Have You Read the Book.
According to the announcement made via Netflix Book Club official site on Wednesday, the series will entail conversations with authors of books adapted to movies by Netflix, as well as cast and crew members behind the film making process.
A book selection will be announced each month, to coincide with the release of the movie adaptation of the book.
Aduba who won an Emmy for her role in Netflix’s book-to-screen adaptation, Orange is the New Black, said she was excited about the series which will enable viewers “explore the literature” behind movies. Read more
Lagos International Trade Fair to hold between November 5, November 14 (Tribune)
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has scheduled the 2021 Lagos International Trade Fair (LITF) for between November 5 and November 14 at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS).
LCCI Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, Mr Gabriel Idahosa, disclosed at a press conference, on Wednesday, in Lagos.
The LITF organised by the LCCI is the biggest trade fair in Nigeria and in the West and Central Africa sub-regions.
This year’s fair, which is the 35th edition since inception, has the theme “Connecting Businesses, Creating Value”. Read more
Police arrest 14 suspected cultists over possession of pistols in A’Ibom (Nation)
The Police in Akwa Ibom have confirmed the arrest of 14 suspected members of cultist group, Debam confraternity, over the possession of pistols in Ukanafun Local Government Area of the state.
SP Odiko Macdon, the State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the arrest to newsmen in Uyo on Wednesday.
Macdon explained that the suspects were arrested while unlawfully in possession of pistols.
He said that the suspects confessed to have owned the pistols and also confessed to be members of Debam confraternity.
He said that the Command had completed arrangements to arraign the 14 suspected cultists in court. Read more
Trader gets 80 strokes of cane for denying paternity of 6th son (Vanguard)
A Sharia Court sitting in Magajin Gari, Kaduna State, on Wednesday ordered that a trader, Abdulhamid Yakubu, of Bakin Dogo, be given 80 strokes of cane for denying his sixth child’s paternity.
The Judge, Murtala Nasir, affirmed that the child belonged to Yakubu.
Nasir also ordered him to take responsibility and provide for all his children.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Yakubu, had in September, dragged his wife, Maryam Muhammad to the court, alleging that she was an adulterer and he was not the father of his pregnant wife.
NAN also reports that the plaintiff, had earlier been given an option to swear an oath or provide proof regarding the paternity of his affirmation of the pregnancy not being his, but he refused.
Obiano’s Deputy Dumps APGA For APC, Meets Buhari (DailyTrust)
The Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Nkem Okeke, has dumped the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for All Progressives Congress (APC).
Until his defection, Okeke worked with Governor Willie Obiano.
Okeke was presented to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, by the APC caretaker chairman and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, and Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, on Wednesday.
Okeke dumped APGA less than a month to the gubernatorial election in the state. Read more
Billboard Hot 100: Wizkid’s ‘Essence’ In Top 10 (Leadership)
Nigerian’s original ‘Starboy’, Wizkid has achieved yet another milestone as his song, ‘Essence’, considered by many as the “song of the summer” lands on the top 10 spot on the Billboard Hot 100.
The news was shared via Instagram on Monday, and this achievement makes it the the first time a song by an African artiste will break into the Top 10 of the Billboard chart.
The Grammy Award winning singer, who is currently on a US tour, released ‘Essence’ as part of his ‘Made In Lagos’ album last year.
The song, which features Tems, as well gained ground towards the end of last year and picked up again this year with an amazing run which saw it break into the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 82. Read more
Namibia court grants citizenship to gay couple’s son (Guardian)
A Namibian court Wednesday granted citizenship to a gay couple’s two-year-old son, ending a legal battle over surrogacy and same-sex parent.
The interior ministry had denied citizenship to the boy because he was born through surrogacy in South Africa.
Yona’s South African birth certificate listed Namibian Phillip Luehl and Mexican partner Guillermo Delgado as his parents — which Namibian authorities refused to accept.
In a brief ruling, High Court Judge Thomas Masuku granted Namibian citizenship to Yona, overturning the decision of the interior ministry. Read more
Rolling Stones drop Brown Sugar from US tour set list (BBC)
The Rolling Stones have dropped Brown Sugar, one of their biggest hits, from their US tour.
It follows unease with the depictions of black women and references to slavery in the song, which reached number one in the US in 1971.
The band’s veteran guitarist Keith Richards confirmed the decision to the LA Times but said he was confused by people who wanted to “bury” the track.
“Didn’t they understand this was a song about the horrors of slavery?” he said. Read more
Macaulay Culkin addresses “Home Alone” appearance rumours (Metro)
Macaulay Culkin has addressed his rumoured involvement in upcoming Home Alone reboot, Home Sweet Home Alone.
Yesterday the trailer dropped for the upcoming Disney Plus revival of the iconic 1990 Christmas classic, which, this time around, stars Aisling Bea and Jojo Rabbit star Archie Yates.
But while punters were dissecting Irish comedian Aisling’s English accent, others were wondering whether we’d be seeing OG star of the franchise Macaulay pop up somewhere.
Fans’ hopes aren’t too misplaced after earlier speculation claimed Macaulay, now 41, would be making a cameo as his character Kevin McCallister – with some reports alleging he’d be paid £2.5million for the honour. Read more
Mexico celebrates November US Border Opening (Independent)
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Wednesday cheered a U.S decision to open their shared border in November after more than a year of pandemic restrictions, but added that the precise date was still being worked out.
“The opening of the northern border has been achieved, we are going to have normality in our northern border,” Lopez Obrador said in his daily morning press conference.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas earlier said U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico would reopen in November for fully vaccinated travelers after being closed to non-essential crossings since March 2020 due to the pandemic.
Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said the border reopening will coincide with a push to reactivate economic activities in the frontier region, where Mexico has made a vast effort to bring vaccination rates in line with the United States. Read more
Blue Origin blasts ‘Star Trek’ star William Shatner to space (NYPost)
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin successfully blasted William Shatner — the Canadian actor who famously played Captain Kirk in the original “Star Trek” TV series — to the edge of space Wednesday morning.
The sci-fi actor, 90, is now officially the oldest person to have ever traveled to space — even topping the record set by Wally Funk, 82, earlier this year on Blue Origin’s first crewed flight.
“Everybody in the world. Everybody needs to see,” Shatner said through tears to Bezos after returning to the Earth.
“It’s just — there is Mother Earth, life and comfort down there and up there,” he said pointing up, “is it just death? I don’t know.” Read more
Coachella to no longer require COVID vax for entry (NYPost)
Concertgoers will be able to show proof of a negative COVID test within 72 hours of attending Coachella in April 2022.
Coachella attendees will no longer be required to be vaccinated against the coronavirus to gain entry to the popular California music festival.
The festival announced the change of policy on its website, noting that instead of the jab, attendees can enter with proof of a negative COVID test within 72 hours of arrival.
“After seeing first-hand the low transmission data and successful implementation of safety protocols at our festivals recently … we feel confident that we can safely update our policy for Coachella,” the post read.
The move is a reversal from an August announcement by AEG Presents, the live events company behind Coachella, that said beginning Oct. 1 all ticket holders to their events must be vaccinated.Read more
Husband a “suspect” as Kenyan athlete Tirop found dead (BBC)
Kenyan world record holder Agnes Tirop has been found stabbed to death at her home in the western town of Iten, with police treating her husband as a suspect.
The two-time World Athletics Championships bronze medallist, who finished fourth in the Olympic 5,000m final two months ago, was 25.
A criminal investigation is now underway into her death, with police saying her husband has gone missing.
On Wednesday, crime scene investigators were at the house of Tirop, who police say was reported missing by her father on Tuesday night.
“When [police] got in the house, they found Tirop on the bed and there was a pool of blood on the floor,” Tom Makori, head of police for the area, said. Read more
Infantino raises hope of Israeli World Cup bid (Punch)
FIFA has raised the prospect of Israel co-hosting a future World Cup, with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s office mentioning the possibility of bidding for the men’s 2030 tournament.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino completed a two-day visit to Israel on Tuesday by meeting Bennett and President Isaac Herzog.
The head of world football’s governing body was asked during his Israel trip about the possibility for the country to host a major FIFA event.
“You need to have vision, dreams and ambitions,” Infantino said, according to a FIFA statement. Read more
Trent Alexander-Arnold Set To Return From Injury For Liverpool’s Trip To Watford (Independent)
Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to return from injury this weekend when Liverpool travel to take on Watford in the Premier League.
The 23-year-old has been out with a groin injury, missing the 5-1 Champions League demolition of Porto and the thrilling 2-2 Premier League draw with Manchester City.
The Reds travel to Vicarage Road in the early kick-off on Saturday knowing that a victory will take them to the top of the Premier League table and manager Jurgen Klopp will be glad to have his first choice right-back available again.
James Milner filled in for Alexander-Arnold in his absence, but struggled during the clash with City, as the Premier League champions unleashed their array of attacking options. Read more
AWCON: Waldrum drops Okobi, invites Oshoala, 22 others for Ghana clash (Punch)
Midfielder Ngozi Okobi is the notable absentee as captain Asisat Oshoala and Desire Oparanozie top a list of 23-woman squad invited by Super Falcons coach Randy Waldrum for Morocco 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against the Black Queens of Ghana on October 20 and 24.
The Nigerian squad will arrive camp in Lagos on Sunday.
Nine-time African champions Falcons host the Ghanaians at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos on October 20, before the trip to Accra four days later for the reverse fixture.
The winners over two legs will join hosts Morocco and 10 other countries for the 12th Women Africa Cup of Nations next year summer.Read more
Harry Maguire provides injury update ahead of Man Utd’s match against Leicester City (Metro)
Harry Maguire has effectively ruled himself out of Manchester United’s Premier League match against Leicester City this weekend after revealing he is yet to return to full first team training following a calf injury.
The club captain hasn’t featured since he was forced off during September’s 1-0 defeat against Aston Villa at Old Trafford and missed the subsequent matches against Villrreal and Everton.
Maguire has stepped up his rehabilitation during the international break but appears unlikely to make his comeback against his former club at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.
‘Yeah it’s getting there,’ Maguire told United’s official website. Read more
Deontay Wilder to undergo surgery after being given six-month suspension following Tyson Fury loss (Metro)
Deontay Wilder will undergo surgery on a broken hand and has been given a six-month medical suspension following his defeat to Tyson Fury.
Wilder was knocked out by Fury in the 11th round of their thrilling trilogy fight in Las Vegas on Saturday evening.
The Bronze Bomber put Fury down on the canvas twice in the fourth but was unable to capitalise as the Gypsy King went on to retain his WBC heavyweight title.
Wilder will now be unable to fight until next April unless he is given clearance by a doctor after the Nevada State Athletic Commission handed him a six-month medical suspension due to his injuries. Read more