Ataga’s Murder: Court hears audio conversation between Chidinma, security guard (Channels)
The Lagos High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos Island on Tuesday listened to the audio recording of a phone conversation between Chidinma Ojukwu and a security guard Abubakar Mohammed at the rented short-let service apartment where Michael Usifo Ataga, the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV was allegedly murdered.
Ojukwu is standing trial for alleged murder, stealing, and forgery alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri.
In the audio recording that was played, Ojukwu was heard saying “hello” while Mohammed also responded by saying “Hello, who is this?”
The first defendant replied, “It’s me” and then she asked the security guard about Ataga’s car. She said, “Is the car around?” “Which car?” Mohammed responded she said: “The Range Rover; that my oga car, the black Range Rover”. Read more
Man slumps, dies playing football in Lagos (Vanguard)
An unidentified man reportedly slumped and died while playing at the Green Field Football Ground, in the Lekki area of Lagos State.
SP Benjamin Hundeyin, Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO) of the state command, who confirmed the incident on his verified Twitter handle on Monday, said that officers from the Maroko police division brought in the information on Friday.
He added that the 31-year-old relatively unknown footballer died at about 6.30 p.m. on Friday.
The PPRO said he was rushed to Ever Care Hospital, Lekki, for treatment where he was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty. Read more
Tackle insecurity, Lagos Assembly urges FG (Punch)
The Lagos State House of Assembly has called on the Federal Government to tackle security challenges currently facing the nation.
According to the statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Eromosele Ebhomele, the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, made the call while he presided over the plenary on Tuesday.
The House also urged the National Assembly to look again at the calls for fiscal federalism and devolution of power.
Obasa said, “We call on the Federal Government to work on eradicating poverty and insecurity and do what would make the people live happily. Nigeria had enjoyed relative unity since its independence. It is lamentable that the peace and unity in the country had, over time, been affected by different challenges. Read more
Forgery: YABATECH disowns Surulere APC candidate’s HND certificate (NewTelegraph)
A Deputy Registrar at Yaba College of Technology, Mr. Olufunmi Dada, Tuesday told Justice Nicholas Oweibo of a Federal High Court in Lagos that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Surulere Constituency II in next year’s general election, Mrs. Mosunmola Sangodara, forged her Higher National Diploma (HND) certificate.
Dada, while testifying in a suit filed by one, Olasunkanmi Kazeem Shittu, to challenge Sangodara’s candidature, said the APC candidate did not graduate from the school as an HND holder.
Led in evidence by Dr. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) with Adebowale Kamoru, the witness tendered the school’s convocation graduating list for the period between the 1992-1997 sessions where the name of the defendant was not featured.
Dada also alleged that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption letter was forged and non-existent in the NYSC list within that period.
Suspended Ogun legislator reinstated (DailyTrust)
The Ogun State House of Assembly has recalled Solomon Osho, one of the two members it recently suspended.
Osho, representing Remo North, was suspended recently along with the former Deputy Speaker of the assembly, Dare Kadiri, over a “breach of the assembly rights and privileges.”
Kadiri had written a petition which led to the ongoing trial of the Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, by the EFCC over an alleged N2.5 billion fraud.
At the plenary on September 13, Oluomo
announced the suspension of the two lawmakers. Read more
Environmentalists raise awareness of value of wetlands (ThisDay)
Environmental Advocacy groups including the Lekki Bird Club, Green Action, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation and Green Fingers Wildlife Initiative have raised awareness of the value of wetlands to Lagos State and Nigeria.
This was the highlight of the Photography Exhibition themed, “Wetlands for Man and Biodiversity”, hosted by the Deputy British High Commissioner in Lagos, Ben Llewellyn-Jones.
Foremost Environmentalist, Mr Desmond Majekodunmi of Lufasi Conservation Park spoke on the importance of bringing “Our collective attention and awareness to the ongoing deforestation of the Lagos wetlands and the important role they play in our environmental and economic progress in Lagos”.
He said: “What people see as swampy, stagnant water is key to many facets of our city life such as being a natural, low-cost wastewater treatment, flood mitigation, climate control and even providing a natural breeding ground that supports our fishing populations.” Read more
No single vote buyer in SDP, says presidential candidate Adebayo (Vanguard)
Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo has said there is not a single vote buyer in his party.
Adebayo, who made this assertion on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, described vote-buying as a critical issue plaguing the country’s democracy.
He said, “In the Social Democratic Party, there is not a single vote buyer there. if there is a single vote buyer, let us know we will expel them from our party.”
Meanwhile, the SDP presidential candidate claimed that the majority of the members of the 9th National Assembly are guilty of vote buying. Read more
I’ve been through a lot but standing strong – Adekunle Gold (Nation)
Popular highlife singer Adekunle Gold aka AG baby has revealed he’s had to contend with many uphill battles.
But AG baby noted he’s still standing strong nonetheless.
“Been through a lot but I’m standing strong,” he wrote.
In July, the “Sinner” singer recounted his battle with sickle cell anemia.
Born Adekunle Almoruf Kosoko, the 35-year-old entertainer in a lengthy letter to his fans revealed he was born with sickle cell disease. Read more
Synox releases new earbuds for music lovers (Independent)
Gone are the days when earbud consumers would sacrifice quality for affordability. With the launch of the new Synox earbuds, you can now have both boxes ticked with one buy.
Synox focuses on delivering the highest quality electronic devices, especially phone accessories and other gadgets, to consumers around West Africa and beyond. They also offer customers product customization services to suit their tastes and preferences.
The earbud market in the West African region seems to be dominated by expensive brands, which can only be afforded by an estimated 20 – 30 percent of the total earbud consumer population. Hence, the recently launched earbuds weremade explicitlyfor consumers with low spending power. Read more
Why short-sightedness is on the rise (BBC)
Soaring rates of short-sightedness in children are alarming parents and doctors around the world. Can we turn the tide?
In the late 1980s and 1990s, parents in Singapore began noticing a worrying change in their children. On the whole, people’s lives in the small, tropical nation were improving hugely at the time. Access to education, in particular, was transforming a generation and opening the gates to prosperity. But there was a less positive trend, too: more and more children were becoming short-sighted.
Nobody was able to stop this national eyesight crisis. Rates of short-sightedness – also known as near-sightedness or myopia – continued to rise and rise. Today, Singapore has a myopia rate of around 80% in young adults, and has been called “the myopia capital of the world”.
“We’ve been dealing with [this] issue for 20 years, so we’re almost numb to it,” says Audrey Chia, an associate professor and senior consultant at the Singapore National Eye Center (SNEC). “Almost everybody in Singapore is myopic now.”
What happened in Singapore now appears to be happening all over the world. Countries with seemingly completely different lifestyles are unified by a startling phenomenon: rocketing rates of short-sightedness. Read more
“Blonde” starring Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe finishes in 2nd on Netflix’s Global Top 10 chart (DailyMail)
The Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde starring Ana de Armas took the second spot on the Netflix charts after premiering last week on the streaming service.
The 34-year-old actress portrays Marilyn in the film directed by Andrew Dominik and according to Netflix’s Global Top 10 chart it was watched for 37,340,000 hours, according to an article on Tuesday by Deadline.
Blonde received a 14-minute standing ovation when it premiered last month at the 79th Venice International Film Festival.
The NC-17 film started a limited release in theaters on September 16, before it started streaming on September 28 on Netflix. Read more
Douglas Kirkland, Hollywood Photographer, dies at 88 (Deadline)
Douglas Kirkland, the celebrity photographer known for his photos of Marilyn Monroe and numerous other stars, died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 88.
His 1961 Monroe portraits showed the superstar reclining on a bed surrounded by white satin sheets.
In addition to his portraits of Hollywood notables including he was a special photographer for films including “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “The Sound of Music,” “Sophie’s Choice,” “The Great Gatsby,” “Out of Africa,” “Titanic” and “Moulin Rouge!”
His photos appeared in hundreds of magazines, and among the celebrities he photographed were Brigitte Bardot, Coco Chanel, Audrey Hepburn, Marlene Dietrich, Katharine Hepburn, Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, Ann-Margret, Natalie Wood, Catherine Deneuve, Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, Charlie Chaplin, Peter O’Toole, Paul Newman, Marcello Mastroianni, Michael Caine, Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Frank Sinatra, Mick Jagger, Bjork and Michael Jackson. Read more
Life and work of Hans Zimmer to be celebrated in new BBC documentary (BelfastTelegraph)
The life and work of Hans Zimmer will be celebrated in a new 60-minute BBC documentary, looking back on the composer’s four-decade career.
The programme will give an in-depth profile of the multi-award winning German composer, who has scored multiple Hollywood blockbusters including James Bond, The Lion King and Dune.
The documentary, titled Hans Zimmer – Hollywood Rebel, promises to provide “unprecedented access” to Zimmer and showcase the man who introduced new generations to the drama of orchestral music.
It will chart Zimmer’s 40-year journey from post-war Germany to Hollywood, revealing the musical secrets behind his innumerable world-famous scores. Read more
Loretta Lynn remembered fondly as a ‘‘cantankerous little pistol’’ following death (Standard)
Carrie Underwood has fondly remembered Loretta Lynn as a “cantankerous little pistol” and an “irreplaceable” talent, following the singer’s death aged 90.
The US country singer said she was “truly grateful” to have known Lynn as she shared memories of their performances together.
Heavyweights from across the industry including Dolly Parton, Pat Boone, and Billy Ray Cyrus were among others paying tribute to one of the “first ladies of country music”, who died on Tuesday.
Lynn was known for her songwriting about sex and love, cheating husbands, divorce and birth control and some of her biggest hit songs included Coal Miner’s Daughter, You Ain’t Woman Enough and The Pill. Read more
Vogue stands by fashion editor ‘personally targeted and bullied’ by Kanye West (PageSix)
Vogue is standing by its global fashion editor at large, Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, after Kanye West’s online attacks.
“Vogue stands with Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, our global fashion editor at large and longtime contributor. She was personally targeted and bullied. It is unacceptable,” the magazine wrote in a Tuesday Instagram post.
“Now more than ever, voices like hers are needed and in a private meeting with Ye today she once again spoke her truth in a way she felt best, on her terms.”
The rapper, 45, cruelly mocked Karefa-Johnson’s style choices for not approving of his widely-condemned “White Lives Matter” shirts. Read more
Former Biden adviser Max Rose says he doesn’t want President to run again (Newsweek)
Democratic congressional candidate Max Rose, who was a senior COVID adviser to the Pentagon in the Biden administration last year, told reporters on Tuesday that he does not want the president to run for reelection in 2024.
In an interview with Fox 5 New York, Rose, who lost New York City’s 11th Congressional District to Nicole Malliotakis in 2020, was discussing his bid to regain the House seat. He was then asked if he would support President Joe Biden, following a report that the president supposedly told civil rights activist Al Sharpton that he plans to run for a second term.
“I’ve said this before, I’ll say this again,” Rose said to Fox 5’s Tina Cervasio. “I do not think that Donald Trump should run in 2024. I do not think that Joe Biden should run in 2024.” Read more
Close Macron aide Alexis Kohler investigated over conflict of interest (BBC)
The French president’s chief of staff has been placed under judicial investigation relating to a potential conflict of interest.
France’s financial crimes prosecutor says Alexis Kohler, one of Emmanuel Macron’s closest aides, is being investigated over links to Swiss-Italian shipping company MSC.
Mr Kohler has denied wrongdoing and remains in his post.
He runs Mr Macron’s office and is often described as his right-hand man. Read more
Women’s champions league: Oshoala’s Barcelona face Bayern Munich, Benfica in group D (DailyTrust)
Asisat Oshoala’s Barcelona will tackle Bayern Munich, Benfica and Rosengard of Sweden in the women’s Champions League.
Oshoala was phenomenal for Barcelona last season, helping the Spanish side to the final of the competition.
Unlike Barca who benefited from a more lenient draw in Group D, holders, Lyon were given a tough draw on Monday in a group which includes Arsenal and Juventus.
Lyon beat 2021 champions, Barcelona 3-1 in May, and are in Group C with former winners Arsenal, powered by star Dutch striker Vivianne Miedema, Juve and Swiss side Zurich.
“We can’t wait to get started in a competition that’s important to us,” said Lyon coach Sonia Bompastor.
“We’ve won the trophy eight times and we’ll again be the team to beat. We’re used to this position and we know our opponents won’t do us any favours.” Read more
Portland, Chicago owners step away after NWSL abuse report; USWNT player calls out execs (USAToday)
Portland Thorns owner Merritt Paulson and Chicago Red Stars owner Arnim Whisler have temporarily stepped aside from decision-making duties at their clubs. The announcements come one day after the release of an investigative report into the abuse and misconduct in the National Women’s Soccer League.
In a statement shared Tuesday, Paulson said he will relinquish active control of the team until the conclusion of a separate joint investigation by the league and NWSL Players Association. Gavin Wilkinson, the Thorns president of soccer, and Mike Golub, the club’s president of business operations, will also step back in their roles.
“I have told the NWSL that I will be removing myself effective today from all Thorns-related decision making until the joint investigation, which we are fully cooperating with, is released,” Paulson said in the release. “All Thorns related decisions until that time that any of us would have made will now be handled by Heather Davis, our General Counsel.” Read more
Jurgen Klopp heaps praise on his Liverpool side after an impressive 2-0 win over Rangers (DailyMail)
Jurgen Klopp wants Liverpool to push on from a controlled Champions League victory against Rangers that began with the widely scrutinised Trent Alexander-Arnold’s stunning free-kick.
Having been held to a frustrating 3-3 draw in the Premier League by Brighton on Saturday, the Reds returned to Anfield on Tuesday looking for a return to winning ways against Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men.
The gap would have been wider had it not been for Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor’s excellent performance on a night when the hosts successfully switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation.
‘Good game, actioned the game we wanted to play,’ Liverpool boss Klopp said. Read more
Xavi outraged at refereeing ‘injustice’ in Inter defeat (France24)
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said he was outraged at what he saw as blatant refereeing injustices which condemned his team to a 1-0 Champions League defeat at Inter Milan on Tuesday.
Barca sit third in Group C, six points behind leaders Bayern Munich, following their second loss in the competition which came after two key handball decisions went against his team.
Their second-half leveller was ruled out following a pitch review by referee Slavko Vincic for Ansu Fati’s handball just before the ball dropped to Pedri to tuck home.
And Barca were denied a stoppage time penalty after VAR officials ruled that Denzel Dumfries did not commit a handball offence despite touching the ball in a very similar way to Fati. Read more
David Haye cleared of assault after judge finds former boxer has no case to answer (Mirror)
Ex-boxer David Haye has been cleared of assault after a judge found he had no case to answer.
The former world heavyweight champion, 41, was on trial accused of assaulting Nickesh Jhala at a comedy show at the Hammersmith Apollo in October last year. Mr Jhala alleged at Westminster Magistrates’ Court that Haye “grabbed him round the throat” and said “Say one more word and I will kill you”.
But the trial collapsed after senior district judge Paul Goldspring, the Chief Magistrate for England and Wales, ruled there was no case to answer following the end of the prosecution case this afternoon.
In his ruling, Mr Goldspring said: “An unlawful assault is the unlawful application of force upon another. Not every touching of somebody is an unlawful application of force that is unlawful. Read more
Europe not underdogs in Rome, insists US captain Zach Johnson (IrishIndependent)
US Ryder Cup skipper Zach Johnson will have Tiger Woods in Rome “in some capacity” but he’s having none of Luke Donald’s claim that Europe will be underdogs next year.
While the USA crushed Pádraig Harrington’s Europe by a record margin at Whistling Straits and recently batted away a spirited International team in the Presidents Cup, Europe hasn’t lost a home Ryder Cup since 1993.
“I fully expect us to be underdogs despite that home percentage of wins over the last 30 years,” Donald said. “But again, my job is to try and get the team to a place that will give them the highest chance to succeed, and it’s nice to be a home captain.
“But no doubt we are going against a very, very strong opponent. I think the US Presidents Cup team was the strongest they have ever been on paper, World Rankings. They have some phenomenal teams that seem to be tough to beat.” Read more
Suns owner Robert Sarver hires investment bank to manage sale of team (SI)
On Tuesday, ESPN reported Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver had hired an investment bank to help with the sale of the team.
ESPN revealed the bank to be Moelis & Company.
“In recent days, Suns executive vice president and CFO Jim Pitman relayed to team employees that a fully executed sale of the team could take six to nine months, team sources said. That timeline would stretch through the 2022-23 season,” said Baxter Holmes, who said both the Suns and NBA declined to comment.
“Investment bank officials have been in contact with Sarver on behalf of potential bidders, team sources said, including reaching out on the day that Sarver announced his intent to sell. Read more