Baba Ijesha convicted for assaulting minor, gets 16 years jail term (Guardian)
Nollywood actor Olarenwaju James known as Baba Ijesha has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a minor.
Baba Ijesha has been in a protracted legal battle after he was said to have sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl.
The actor was arraigned on June 24, 2021. During the trial, six prosecution witnesses testified against him.
They are comedienne Princess, the 14-year-old minor, Olabisi Ajayi-Kayode, a child expert; Aniekan Makanjuola, a medical doctor; Wahab Kareem, the investigating police officer; and Abigail Omane, a policewoman. Read more
Lagos-Ibadan gridlock worsens, commuters knock govt, contractor (Punch)
Commuters, motorists and residents have expressed frustration after enduring gruelling traffic on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The traffic, which started last week, heightened on Monday and Tuesday, as travellers coming home from the Sallah holiday got trapped in the gridlock.
The situation, however, became worse on Wednesday following the end of the holidays and the return of workers to offices, leading to a high volume of vehicles moving inward Lagos.
PUNCH Metro noted that the stretch of Arepo towards Berger inward Lagos was totally blocked, as motorists negotiated potholes through the axis. Read more
NNPP announces Archbishop Idahosa as Kwankwaso’s running mate (Vanguard)
The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has announced Archbishop Isaac Idahosa as his running mate in the 2023 general elections.
The party announced the Lagos cleric in a short statement via its Twitter handle on Thursday.
The tweet read: “Our VP Pastor Bishop Isaac Idahosa from Edo State.”
Idahosa, a native of Edo state is the presiding Bishop and the senior pastor of God First Ministry, popularly known as Illumination Assembly, Lekki Light Centre (LLC), Ajah, Lagos. Read more
Evans absence stalls £223,000 suit (Punch)
The absence of the convicted kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, on Wednesday stalled the hearing of a suit filed against him by a kidnap victim, Donatus Duru, before the Lagos High Court, sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square.
Duru, in the suit filed in 2018, is demanding the return of the £223,000 he paid as ransom while in the custody of the kidnap kingpin.
The claimant is also demanding the sum of N50m as damages.
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Wednesday, the defendant’s counsel, Mr Amobi Nzelu, told the court that at the last proceeding, on June 29, the court granted his application to become the counsel for the defendant. Read more
FRSC to prosecute drivers, impound vehicles with hanging passengers in Lagos (Independent)
In its continuous campaigns to make Lagos State roads safer for all users and members of the public, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Lagos State Sector Command is set to commence arrests and prosecution of drivers that allow hanging passengers at the tailboard of their vehicles, especially commercial buses.
This was disclosed by Corps Commander Olusegun Ogungbemide, Lagos Sector Commander, FRSC, in a press release he personally signed and circulated to newsmen in the state.
According to him, reports of passengers in the state hanging at the tailboard of moving vehicles from where they fall and lose their lives are not only disturbing but scary, stating such inhuman practice would not be allowed to continue in the state.
He further noted that the practice whereby some drivers would be so callous and safety unconscious as to allow some passengers to hang at the tailboard of moving vehicles from where they could fall while the vehicle is in motion is totally unacceptable and violators would henceforth be booked for dangerous driving. Read more
Police arraign man for alleged N8.5m land fraud (Punch)
A 50-year-old man, Tunde Alabi, was on Wednesday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Olatunbosun Adeola of the Yaba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos over an alleged land fraud of N8.5m.
Alabi is facing four counts bordering on conspiracy, obtaining under false pretences, entry by violence and stealing.
The offences contravened sections 411, 314 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised) and Section 3 of the Property Protection Law of Lagos State, 2016.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges. Read more
APC postpones official presentation of Shettima as Tinubu running mate (Guardian)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has postponed the official unveiling of former Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, as the running mate to its presidential candidate Bola Tinubu.
Shetima was meant to have been presented to party members at the APC national Secretariat on Thursday, but the Chairman of the APC Press Corp told reporters the event has been moved forward.
No reason has been given for the decision which comes amid controversy over the choice of a Muslim-Muslim ticket by the party.
He said a new date will be announced in due time and that the date would probably be sometime next week. Read more
Rema: I switch my style when I am depressed (DailyTrust)
Nigerian artiste and Afro-rave sensation Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, says he switches his game when he is depressed.
The Mavin Records signee stated this in a recent interview with Korty EO.
He said whenever the feeling of depression sets in, it means his mindset and entire being is craving for a change as it is no longer comfortable with its current state.
“Depression! There are sometimes things you just like…in a week, everything is the same. It’s the same routine. It’s the same mood. So, that’s when you know that there’s an ish. Read more
Gunmen kill ex-PDP national chairman’s nephew, abduct 3 family members (Leadership)
Unknown gunmen have invaded the family residence of a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu, in his native Boto hometown of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, killing his 25-year-old nephew, Mu’azu Danladi, and kidnapping three other family members.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the gunmen killed Danladi after they attacked the family residence of the former governor of Bauchi State, targeting his children and grandchildren, who were on a visit to the community for Sallah celebrations, but could find any.
An eyewitness said the gunmen thereafter kidnapped a sister to the former PDP national chairman, Hajiya Asma’u Adamu, Malama Halima Abdullahi and one Nura.
A resident of Boto, Hashimu Abubakar, said that at the moment, the gunmen have not contacted the family to negotiate a ransom for the release of the abductees, adding that all the phones of the three kidnap victims were switched off. Read more
Regina Carter, Kenny Garrett and Louis Hayes named 2023 NEA Jazz Masters (NPR)
Three exemplary musicians born and raised in Detroit — drummer Louis Hayes, saxophonist Kenny Garrett and violinist Regina Carter — will soon be recognised as NEA Jazz Masters. According to an announcement this morning by the National Endowment for the Arts, they are among the 2023 class of inductees, along with producer and author Sue Mingus.
The NEA Jazz Masters fellowship, often described as the nation’s highest honour for jazz, brings with it a $25,000 award and a prestigious title. According to longstanding custom, the new class will be honoured in a gala NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert, to be held on April 1, 2023. The concert, presented in collaboration with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, will be free to attend with a reservation, and webcast live at NPR.org and arts.gov.
Detroit has produced its share of previous NEA Jazz Masters, but never in a sweep like this. “It represents the profound legacy and lineage of jazz from Detroit,” critic Mark Stryker tells NPR Music, “and the influence that this city has had on this music over the last 75 years.” Stryker’s 2019 book, Jazz From Detroit, includes chapters devoted to each of the three new musician honourees.
As for Sue Mingus, recipient of the 2023 A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship for Jazz Advocacy, she originally hails from Milwaukee, though she’s a quintessential New Yorker. Known for her tireless efforts on behalf of Charles Mingus — her late husband, the brilliant bassist and composer whose centennial was commemorated this year — Sue drove the creation of both the Charles Mingus Collection at the Library of Congress and a Mingus High School Festival and Competition. She has kept several legacy bands in circulation; one of them, the Mingus Big Band, won her a Grammy as producer in 2011. Read more
Michael B Jordan fans in hysterics over actor’s ‘crazy’ wax figurine (TheWrap)
Michael B Jordan’s wax figure has fans in hysterics.
An image of a fan together with a new wax figure of the Black Panther star has gone viral with many people commenting how “strange” the actor looks.
The wax figure, who bears little resemblance to the real-life Jordan, is wearing a black t-shirt, black jeans and black trainers.
In one post that has gone viral on Twitter, a person shared the photo accompanied by the caption: “Y’all look at this. It’s supposed to be Michael B Jordan.” Read more
Grammy Awards announce key dates for 2023 race (Variety)
The 2023 Grammy Awards will be held at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 5, the Recording Academy has announced.
In addition to revealing the date of the event dubbed “music’s biggest night,” the Academy also detailed its key voting and nomination deadlines. Nominees will be announced this year on Nov. 15, with the first round of voting set from Oct. 13 to Oct. 23 and a final round on Dec. 14 to Jan. 4, 2023. The 65th Grammy Awards will broadcast live on the CBS Television Network and stream live and on-demand on Paramount+.
The product eligibility period for the Grammys process started on Oct. 1, 2021 and will close on Sept. 30 of this year. The online entry period will start on July 18 and close on Aug. 31.
This year’s Grammy Awards were held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, due to the fast-spreading omicron variant, marking it the first time the telecast was held anywhere but L.A. or New York since 1973, when it was held in Nashville. The new location drew mixed reviews and complaints of chaotic crowds and transportation difficulties. Read more
Prince Andrew’s disastrous Newsnight interview is officially being adapted for the big screen (HuffPost)
The story behind Prince Andrew’s infamous Newsnight interview is being adapted for the big screen, it has been revealed.
Back in 2019, the Duke of York sat down with Newsnight’s Emily Maitlis to discuss his prior relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as well as allegations of sexual misconduct that had been levelled against the royal.
The interview was immediately branded a “car crash” after it aired, and it’s now been reported by Deadline that it has served as the inspiration for a new film.
Based on former Newsnight producer Sam McAlister’s new book Scoops – which explores the back stories of some of the BBC’s most high-profile interviews ever – the new movie will dive into how the Prince Andrew Newsnight special came to be. Read more
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame curator arrested, charged with conspiracy to sell $1m of stolen Eagles lyrics and notes (Loudwire)
Craig Inciardi, a curator for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is one of three men being charged with a conspiracy to allegedly sell more than $1 million worth of stolen lyrics and handwritten notes by Eagles drummer and co-vocalist Don Henley.
Glenn Horowitz and Edward Kosinski are also accused, per a report by Rolling Stone. Attorneys Antonia Apps, Jonathan Bach and Stacey Richman said (via SF Gate), “The DA’s office alleges criminality where none exists and unfairly tarnishes the reputations of well-respected professionals,” and that they will “fight these unjustified charges vigorously.”In the 1970s, a trove of documents belonging to Henley are said to have been stolen by a biographer, who then made a deal in 2005 which resulted in Horowitz taking possession of them. Among the roughly 100 pages of material are handwritten notes and lyrics to “Hotel California,” “Life in the Fast Lane” and “New Kid in Town,” which the trio are accused of attempting to find buyers for.
Once Horowitz allegedly obtained these documents, he is said to have then welcomed Inciardi and Kosinski as potential dealers as they collectively sought to sell the documents to auction houses such as Sotheby’s and Christie’s. The former previously employed Inciardi prior to him joining the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame staff, as noted by UCR. Read more
Kevin Hart says Will Smith is apologetic, ‘in a better place,’ after Oscars slap (ET)
It’s been nearly four months since the 2022 Oscars and the slap heard ’round the world. Now, Kevin Hart, a close friend to Will Smith, is opening up about how the movie star is doing and how his life has changed.
Hart spoke with ET’s Rachel Smith at the premiere of his new animated movie DC League of Super-Pets in Los Angeles on Wednesday, and the comedian addressed the altercation between Smith and Chris Rock — which he’s also joked about as part of his stand-up set amid his ongoing Reality Check Tour.
“Will is apologetic, you know, he’s in a better space, of course, than what he was after,” Hart shared. “People are human and as humans sometimes we make mistakes. So it’s not about talking about the past, it’s about acknowledging the present and doing your best to move forward.”
“I can only hope that the two of them find a way to find some solace in that and move past it,” continued Hart. “I just like good energy. I love to see people be the best.” Read more
Diplomacy won’t stop Iran from going nuclear, Lapid tells Biden in press conference (TimesOfIsrael)
In their joint comments Thursday on Iran’s nuclear program, visiting US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Yair Lapid expressed a public disagreement over the best way to tackle the threat, with Lapid telling the American leader that “words will not stop them, Mr. President,” and urging him to “put a credible military threat on the table.”
The two leader’s interaction at the Jerusalem press conference was warm, and Lapid made clear that there was no daylight between the two countries regarding the ultimate goal of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
But the two did air their differences before the cameras as to the best way to handle Tehran.
“Words will not stop them, Mr. President,” said Lapid. “Diplomacy will not stop them. The only thing that will stop Iran is knowing that if they continue to develop their nuclear program the free world will use force. The only way to stop them is to put a credible military threat on the table.” Read more
WAFCON 2022 Cracker: Ex Falcons goalkeeper dismisses Cameroon (Nation)
Former Nigeria International, Rachael Ayegba believes that the Indomitable Lionesses do not have the ability to dethrone the Super Falcons of Nigeria as the champions of Africa.
Apart from their perennial rivalry, the two giants of women’s football on the African continent will clash tonight at Casablanca’s Mohammed V Stadium with the added incentive of the winner getting an automatic FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying spot, and the ex goalkeeper says once the Falcons reaches the quarterfinals of any WAFCON, they become more focused on winning the tournament.
“It represents so much. We have two great nations of African women’s football set to again compete against each other,” a thrilled Ayegba told Cafonline.com
“I remember meeting them at the previous African Cup of Nations and we often beat them, if not always. Read more
UK police open investigation after Farah trafficking revelations (Guardian)
London’s Metropolitan Police have opened an investigation after British Olympic great Mo Farah made stunning revelations he was illegally trafficked into Britain as a child.
The 39-year-old Somalia-born athlete — who won double Olympic gold (5,000m and 10,000m) for his adopted country at both the 2012 and 2016 Games — revealed in a BBC documentary this week his real name is Hussein Abdi Kahin.
He said he was forced to work in domestic servitude after entering the country aged eight or nine.
“We are aware of reports in the media concerning Sir Mo Farah,” said the Metropolitan Police in a statement on Thursday.
“No reports have been made to the MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) at this time. Specialist officers have opened an investigation and are currently assessing the available information.” Read more
Dembele expresses his delight after signing new contract at Barcelona (FootballEspana)
Barcelona have officially announced that Ousmane Dembele has signed a new contract with the club that will make him their player until at least the summer of 2024. The 24-year-old Frenchman signed the deal alongside Joan Laporta this afternoon.
Xavi Hernandez wanted to sign both Dembele and Brazilian international Raphinha – and he’s gotten both of them. Raphinha joined the club from Leeds United yesterday afternoon and now Dembele’s signature has also been confirmed. Both players add a real dynamism to Barcelona’s frontline and are exciting arrivals.
Dembele’s future has been up in the air for months. His previous deal expired at the end of June and his representatives had been shopping him around to the rest of the European elite – but the 24-year-old wanted to stay at Barcelona and work with Xavi.
Barcelona finished 13 points behind Real Madrid last season and failed to win any silverware – that’s unacceptable at Camp Nou. Laporta has been working hard all summer to give Xavi the tools to cut that gap next season and return Barcelona to their rightful place – competing for major honours in Spain and Europe. Read more
“World-class” Takumi Minamino backed by Jurgen Klopp to succeed in Ligue 1 (ESPN)
A dream move to Liverpool may ultimately not have quite panned out completely as Takumi Minamino might have liked.
After rising to prominence as part of a formidable Red Bull Salzburg attack — also boasting Erling Haaland and Hwang Hee-chan — that took that season’s Champions League by storm, the Japanese attacker would go on to earn a move to the Premier League giants at the start of 2020.
Nonetheless, with illustrious names such as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino ahead of him in the pecking order, and further competition from the likes of Divock Origi, Diogo Jota and — most recently — Luis Diaz, Minamino decided to leave the Reds earlier this summer and join Ligue 1 outfit Monaco on a four-year deal.
Although he was never quite able to force his way into manager Jurgen Klopp’s first-choice XI, the German insists the fact that Minamino was able to be a role player for such a formidable outfit highlights his quality. Read more
Mickelson ‘ecstatic’ with LIV decision despite champions dinner snub (France24)
Six-time major winner Phil Mickelson insisted he “couldn’t be happier” with his decision to join the Saudi-backed rebel LIV golf tour despite facing a wave of criticism.
Detractors of the rebel tour claim the circuit is being bankrolled as part of Saud Arabia’s effort to “sportswash” its reputation amid criticism of the kingdom’s human rights record.
Mickelson himself even described the Saudi regime as “scary” with a “horrible record on human rights” during an interview last year.
Tiger Woods joined those bashing the breakaway group this week, accusing them of “turning their back” on the tours that made them household names. Read more
Disgraced F1 champion Nelson Piquet punched and kicked driver he mentored after crash (DailyStar)
Nelson Piquet has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons recently for aiming racial and homophobic slurs at Lewis Hamilton during an interview in Brazil.
The three-time F1 champion attempted to backtrack by apologising and insisting his language had been taken out of context. But he has been widely condemned across the sport while a Brazilian judge ordered an investigation into the matter.
Over the years, he has made a habit of making outrageous remarks, insulting former teammate Nigel Mansell and even Mansell’s wife. When asked in one interview who was the better driver between him and compatriot Ayrton Senna, Piquet callously quipped: “Well, I’m still alive.”
Senna’s death following a crash at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix caused shockwaves across the sport. He was such an icon in Brazil that he was given a state funeral. Read more
Lleyton Hewitt hails Nick Kyrgios after Australian’s magical Wimbledon run (DailyMail)
Australia’s Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt said he told Nick Kyrgios he should be proud of his runner-up finish at Wimbledon and hopes he will play for the national team.
Kyrgios, who fell to Novak Djokovic in an engrossing final on Sunday, was asked by Hewitt to join the Australian squad for the men’s team competition earlier this year but he declined.
“We’d absolutely love to have him playing for us,” Hewitt, a two-time major champion who will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday, told Reuters.
“’We’re a much stronger side if he’s available and can play for us. And he’s an option for singles and doubles matches, which is important in this format.” Read more