Alleged N6b Money Laundering: Absence of defence counsel stalls Mompha’s trial (Vanguard)
The absence of the defence counsel to Ismaila Mustapha (alias Mompha), on Wednesday stalled the trial in the alleged six billion Naira money laundering against him.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Mojisola Dada of an Ikeja Special Offences Court adjourned the case until Dec. 16 for trial, following the absence of the defence counsel, Mr Gboyega Oyewole (SAN).
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Mr Suleiman Suleiman had earlier informed the court that the prosecution was in court with two witnesses as the court had fixed the date for commencement of trial.
Suleiman, however, informed the court of the absence of the lead defence counsel.
“There is no representation for the defence and I tried reaching the junior counsel who said that the SAN ought to be here,” he said. Read more
Lagos police arrest 11 suspected cultists (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command on Wednesday arrested 11 suspected cultists at a hotel in the Agege area of the state.
The arrest was carried out by men of the Rapid Response Squad, who were on patrol in the early hours of the morning.
According to the statement on the RRS Twitter page, the arrested suspects were members of rival cult groups involved in a violent clash at the hotel.
It was gathered that four suspected cultists were “viciously injured” with broken bottles during the clash. Read more
Alleged Drug Trafficking: Court allows NDLEA to remand Adekaz for another 15 days (Channels)
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos today granted permission to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to further detain the owner of Adekaz Hotels & alleged drug lord, Alhaji Abdallah Kazeem Muhammad also known as Alhaji Ademola Afolabi Kazeem Afolabi or Adekaz, in its custody, for another period of 15 days.
The court presided over by Justice Daniel Osiagor, extended the remand order, while granting an exparte motion filed and argued by the NDLEA’s lawyer, Mr. Abu Ibrahim.
In urging court to extend the remand order, Mr. Abu said that the request was made pursuant to sections 35(1)(c), (4), (5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended); Section 3 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; Order 26 Rule 6 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 and under the court’s inherent Jurisdiction. Read more
FG To ASUU: You won’t be paid for work not done (DailyTrust)
The Federal Government has insisted that lecturers will not be paid for work not done in line with the ‘No work no pay’ policy.
Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, said this while commenting on the protest of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over pro-rata October salary payment.
ASUU, which embarked on strike in February, called it off in October following the intervention of Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
However, the union members got half salaries at the end of October, a move which did not go down well with the lecturers.
On Wednesday, State House reporters took up the minister after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Read more
Scores of APC members reportedly join PDP in Lagos (Tribune)
Scores of members of the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have reportedly defected to the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing a lack of internal democracy in the ruling party as part of the reasons for their defection.
The members, from Ward J, Iwaya Area of Lagos Mainland Local Government Area (LGA), were on Tuesday evening received into the party at the PDP LGA Secretariat in Alagomeji area of the state by Dr Adetokunbo Pearse, a PDP stalwart and member of the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Council(PCC).
Leader of the defectors, Mr Nurudeen Daud, a former aide to a member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Olanrewaju Oshun, representing Lagos Mainland II, said that more APC loyalists would join them in PDP in batches, declaring that enough of what he termed slavery which the ruling party had subjected people of the state for the past 23 years.
Daud, who expressed appreciation to PDP leaders in the council area for the warm reception, said that so many ambitions and aspirations had been allegedly buried in APC due to a lack of internal democracy and jettisoning of competence for loyalty, adding that they had come to contribute their own quota to the growth of PDP, which he described as a truly democratic party.
Senate backs CBN on naira redesign (Nation)
The Senate on Wednesday resolved to provide legislative support for the policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to redesign the naira.
The resolution of the Red Chamber followed a motion on the policy by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, Senator Sani Uba.
While the lawmakers supported the move to redesign the naira, they however said the deadline of January 31st, 2023 to pay all cash in circulation into banks was too short.
They called for aggressive enlightenment on the part of the CBN, especially in the rural areas to ensure that all Nigerians are made aware of the new policy. Read more
Panic, as policemen take over Ekiti Assembly (Vanguard)
Ekiti State House of Assembly has been shut over a rumoured planned invasion by some unidentified thugs.
Armed policemen were stationed at strategic locations in the House to prevent the purported invasion and break down of law and order.
Staff of the Assembly were also sighted trooping out of their offices to their respective homes.
Some of the workers, who spoke with newsmen but wished to be kept anonymous, explained that there was an order from the State Police Headquarters that workers should vacate the assembly in the interest of peace. Read more
Buhari approves N134.7b for military veterans (DailyTrust)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday announced the approval of N134.7 billion for the payment of Security Debarment Allowance (SDA) to all veterans.
The President spoke at the launch of the 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem and Appeal fund in the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He also announced the donation of N10 million to the Nigerian Legion, on behalf of the Federal Government.
President Buhari promised the Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare of veterans by ensuring prompt payment of their pension and other entitlements, which had been demonstrated by his approval of the payment of SDA to veterans with effect from 2017. Read more
Taylor Swift fans make Ticketmaster history after ‘millions’ queue to grab Eras tour tickets (Metro)
Ticketmaster has confirmed that Taylor Swift fans made history after millions attempted to buy presale tickets for the singer’s first tour in five years.
The website experienced a huge amount of traffic after the Blank Space artist shared news of her upcoming Eras tour that will kick off in the new year.
Explaining they saw ‘historically unprecedented demand’ for tickets to the North American leg of Taylor’s tour, the site also received complaints about wait times and backlog during their purchase attempts.
Going on presale on Tuesday, the 52-date tour will be the performer’s first in five years following the release of her new album Midnights, that became the biggest of this year after just one week. Read more
Mariah Carey is officially not the ‘Queen of Christmas’ (BBC)
Mariah Carey’s application to trademark the moniker “Queen of Christmas” has been denied by the US Patent and Trademark Office.
The American star’s application was denied after her company did not respond to another singer’s opposition.
The trademark would have given her the legal right to stop others from using the title on music and merchandise.
Carey also failed in attempts to trademark the abbreviation “QOC ” and “Princess Christmas”.
The star has become synonymous with the festive period since the release of her 1994 track, All I Want for Christmas Is You. Read more
Kevin Spacey to be charged with 7 more sexual offences in UK (Guardian)
Kevin Spacey is to be charged with seven additional sexual offences against one man, prosecutors in the UK have announced.
The new charges against the actor, 63, consist of three of indecent assault, three of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.
Spacey appeared at the central criminal court in London, known as the Old Bailey, in July to deny five allegations relating to three men who are now in their 30s and 40s.
The two-time Oscar-winner had previously indicated he “strenuously denies” the allegations made by the three men. A judge set a trial of three to four weeks for the former artistic director of the Old Vic theatre in London, beginning on 6 June next year. Read more
Magic Mike 3 trailer: Channing Tatum’s final outing heads to London with Salma Hayek (Standard)
The magic of Mike and Channing Tatum will be delighting fans one last time.
The new trailer has been released for Magic Mike 3 and it certainly doesn’t disappoint.
The trailer for the third instalment shows Tatum’s character once again struggling after a business deal goes sour.
The sequel begins with him bartending in Miami, Florida to help pay the bills. Read more
Fat Joe reveals how 50 Cent beef cost him $20m (HipHopDX)
Fat Joe’s beef with 50 Cent in the mid 2000s may have coincided with his commercial peak as an artist, but the feud also came at a hefty cost.
In an excerpt from his newly-released memoir, The Book of Jose, the Bronx, New York native recalled how his fierce rivalry with the G-Unit general resulted in him losing a $20 million deal with Jordan Brand.
Joe pinpointed the collapse of the deal to the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, where he and 50 Cent exchanged shots in full view of the audience. Joe threw the first jab by thanking G-Unit for the heavy “police protection” inside Miami’s American Airlines Arena while presenting Missy Elliott with the award for Best Hip Hop Video. Read more
Harry Styles fan ”could have blinded” singer after hitting him in eye during Love on Tour (Mirror)
Harry Styles ‘could have been blinded’ after a fan launched something into his eye during his first week back on his Love on Tour.
The Watermelon Sugar chart-topper, 28, appeared in agony after one gig-goer threw a ‘solid object’ directly at his face mid-performance.
He had only just returned on his 167-date world tour after being forced to reschedule three November dates due to illness.
Harry was back on Wednesday (November 10), but not even a week back into his shows he appeared unwell again following the incident.
Russia bans Taoiseach over support for Ukraine (BelfastTelegraph)
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has been banned from entering Russia by Vladimir Putin’s government over Ireland’s support for Ukraine and Western sanctions.
RTÉ is reporting that Mr Martin is among more than 50 top Irish officials on a blacklist of people not allowed to enter the country.
They include Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe, as well as a number of other key officials and politicians.
“Acting under orders from Brussels, Ireland is conducting an aggressive anti-Russian propaganda campaign,” said a Russian foreign ministry statement. Read more
Joshua gets title chance, Usyk to vacate belt (Punch)
Former two-time heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua could be in line to face Filip Hrgovic for a world title next, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Joshua will get this chance if IBF champion Oleksandr Usyk decides to vacate his belt to pursue a fight with Tyson Fury for the WBC title.
Joshua lost his IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO titles to Usyk and then failed in his bid to reclaim them in their rematch in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia back in August.
The British-Nigerian is now weighing up his options following his third defeat in his last four bouts after a proposed bout with Fury broke down after talks were in advanced stages. Read more
Int/friendly: Full House as Super Eagles dare Portugal (Sun)
Head coach José Santos Peseiro has the full complement of invited players as three-time African champions Nigeria get set for what could be a fiery international friendly with Portugal in Lisbon on Thursday.
In camp are goalkeepers Francis Uzoho, Maduka Okoye and Adebayo Adeleye, defenders William Ekong, Chidozie Awaziem, Kevin Akpoguma, Calvin Bassey, Tyronne Ebuehi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Ebube Duru, as well as midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi and Joseph Ayodele-Aribo.
There are also forwards Moses Simon, Cyriel Dessers, Terem Moffi, Paul Onuachu, Emmanuel Dennis and Ademola Lookman. Forward Samuel Chukwueze was being expected last night. Read more
Euro 2028: UK & Ireland bid reveals full shortlist of potential host stadiums (ITV)
The UK and Ireland bid for Euro 2028 has been submitted, revealing the 14 potential host stadiums.
The shortlisted stadiums are across five countries, with nine in England, two in the Republic of Ireland, and one each in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The FA submitted a preliminary bid dossier to tournament organisers UEFA on Wednesday.
The UK-Ireland bid faces competition from Turkey, with UEFA’s executive committee set to make a decision on hosting for Euro 2028 and Euro 2032 in September next year. Read more
Bristol City: Players to wear red shorts with home kit due over period concerns (BBC)
Bristol City players will wear red shorts with their home kit because of concerns about wearing white when on their period.
The change will start from their home match against Birmingham City at Ashton Gate on Saturday,
The club’s Academy players will also be implementing the change of colour.
“We’re going to play our best football when we’re in the best mindset and that’s the main reason for the change,” said Bristol City captain Aimee Palmer. Read more
Perez sets focus on 2023 title (F1i)
Twenty-one races down and one more to go. But Red Bull’s Sergio Perez has already declared his ambitions for 2023: the word title!
Perez heads into F1’s finale in Abu Dhabi tied with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc for the runner-up spot in the Drivers’ standings.
And the Mexican will give his all, with or without the help of his teammate Max Verstappen, to deliver to Red Bull’s its first 1-2 in the championship in its history.
After his triumph at Monaco where he beat his rivals, including Verstappen, fair and square, Perez was a legitimate contender for the title.
Serena and Venus Williams get paintings of them in National Portrait Gallery (TennisWorld)
Serena and Venus Williams got the honour of getting their own portraits in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. “To have a picture in the National Portrait Gallery alongside so many historical icons? Mind officially blown.
But to be inducted with your sister? Best feeling ever. Thanks Toyin Ojih Odutola for your vision of having a treasure smile. We need to see more of that. And Robert Pruitt what a sensational vision you had of Venus Williams,” Williams wrote on Instagram.
“I literally only know one way to hold a trophy… UP! Here to being in the @smithsoniannpg,” Serena also wrote on Instagram.
Reilly Opelka, fellow pro tennis player who is good friends with the iconic sisters, reacted to one of Serena Williams’ latest posts. Read more