Banks reconfigure ATMs, new naira enters circulation today (Punch)
The newly redesigned naira notes will go into circulation on Thursday (today) with Deposit Money Banks releasing the bills to their customers via over-the-counter payments.
This came about three weeks after President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled the new bills at a weekly Federal Executive Council meeting in Aso Rock Villa.
The President unveiled the redesigned notes across the N200, N500 and N1,000 denominations.
The Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, had in October announced that apex bank would release re-designed naira notes by December 15, 2022. Read more
EFCC auctions over 190 vehicles in Abuja, Ibadan, others (Guardian)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday conducted a public auction of over 190 vehicles and electronic devices at its Zonal Offices in Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt, Kano, Ibadan and Uyo.
The exercise was preceded by a public inspection of the displayed photographs of the assets on Monday, December 12, 2022, where potential bidders viewed and identified the vehicles of their choice.
The auction proper commenced in the early hours of Tuesday, with various licensed auctioneers taking charge of the exercise at the designated centres.
EFCC Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
According to him, at Paragon Demonstration School, Limit Road, Benin City, scores of potential buyers bid competitively for the 20 vehicles slated for auction. Read more
Wike: I’d have won PDP primary if it weren’t manipulated (ThisDay)
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, yesterday, said he would have won the May 28 presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if the process had not been manipulated. Wike said this when his political associates and Rivers elders, led by the chairman, Rivers Elders Council, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, visited to felicitate with him on his 55th birthday.
The governor said he was proud of the impact Rivers State was able to make during the presidential primary in Abuja. But he insisted that there was no rift between him and the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Notwithstanding, Atiku, his running mate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, and PDP governors congratulated Wike on his 55th birthday.
The Rivers State governor reiterated that the crisis in PDP had to do with the demand from the southern stakeholders that the national chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, who hails from Benue State in the North-central, should relinquish his position, since the presidential candidate was from the same region. He maintained that the demand that the north should relinquish the position of national chairman to the south remained a panacea to the problems rocking the party. Read more
Choose right leaders, Lagos Catholic Archbishop urges citizens (Punch)
The Catholic Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, Most Rev. (Dr) Alfred Martins, has called on Nigerians to pray and discern to choose the right leaders in the forthcoming elections.
The Archbishop made the call, according to a statement on Wednesday, during the 2022 Christmas concert held at the Catholic Church of the Assumption, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Martins, at the concert held to mark a triple celebration of 10 years of his Martins’ 10 years of Episcopal enthronement, 10 years of Anthony Cardinal Okogie as Emeritus Archbishop, and 60+2 Years of the Catholic Church of the Assumption, Falomo Parish, advised Christians to listen to politicians keenly with a critical mind.
He said, “We are here today to celebrate a Christmas concert, the 62nd anniversary of the parish, and the 10th anniversary of my predecessor’s retirement and of my assumption of office, so this makes this celebration unique. Read more
4th Mainland Bridge: Lagos assures affected landowners of compensation (Independent)
The Lagos State government allayed the fears of land owners on compensation over the proposed construction of the Fourth Mainland Bridge.
The government gave the assurance at the Panel Review Meeting on the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) of the proposed Fourth Mainland Bridge project in Lagos and Ogun states by the Lagos State Government Ministry of Works and Infrastructure held in Lagos on Wednesday.
Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Aramide Adeyoye, at the stakeholders’ forum, said adequate compensation is in line with international best practices.
Represented by the Project Director, Tokunbo Ajanaku, Adeyoye said the panel review for the ESIA report on the Lagos Fourth Mainland Bridge Project is the final review before the project is approved at ESIA level. Read more
US grants asylum to 12-year-old Nigerian chess prodigy, family (Vanguard)
The 12-year-old boy chess prodigy, Tanitoluwa Adewumi and his parents who fled Nigeria over terrorism launched by Boko Haram fighters have been granted asylum in the United States, Washington Post reports.
Tanitoluwa Adewumi popularly known as Tani rose to stardom at age 8 for unprecedented chess skills and defeated 73 opponents to clinch the New York state chess championship for his division.
His family moved to New York in 2017, seeking religious asylum and was residing in a homeless shelter in 2019.
Having come to the limelight for breaking into the championship and being named a National Master with the current title of FIDE Master, a prestigious designation awarded by the international chess governing body, he emerged as a global chess idol. Read more
12-year-old Almajiri’s eye plucked out in Bauchi (DailyTrust)
The right eye of a 12-year-old almajiri, Najib Hussaini, has been plucked out by suspected ritualists at Kafin Madaki in Ganjuwa LGA of Bauchi State.
Spokesman of the police in the state, SP Ahmed Wakil, who disclosed the incident to newsmen yesterday, said, “Najib Hussaini, an indigene of Kano State, who is attending Quranic education in Kafin-Madaki was barely a year in the state when the incident occurred on 9th of December, 2022, at about 0200 hours at Unguwar Yamma, not far from the Tsangaya school.”
Wakil said that preliminary investigation revealed that two people who came on a motorcycle lured the victim to a house to assist them to call a lady.
He explained that, “They took the victim on their bike straight to an isolated area near Hanyar Gonar Wakili of the same village where they stopped the motorcycle near a bushy area and forcefully plucked out the right eye of the victim and abandoned him in his pool of blood.” Read more
Adeleke suspends mining licences for operators in Osun (ThisDay)
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, yesterday directed the immediate suspension of all licences of mining firms operating in the state mining sector.
Adeleke gave the directive in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, and made available to THISDAY in Osogbo yesterday.
According to the statement, the governor ordered all operators to report to the Committee on Assets Verification and Recovery chaired by Dr. B.T Salami with copies of their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which governs their relationship with the state government.
He said: “In furtherance of his bid to reform the state solid mineral sector, Adeleke has directed the immediate suspension of all mining firms operating the state mining licences. Read more
Tom Hanks was on Pelosi attack suspect hit list, court hears (BBC)
The man accused of a hammer attack on the husband of House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi also wanted to target other public figures, including actor Tom Hanks, a court has heard.
A police officer who interviewed David DePape told the hearing that President Joe Biden’s son Hunter and Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom were also on the suspect’s “hit list”.
Mr DePape is facing six charges, including attempted murder, for the 28 October incident. He pleaded not guilty to all counts last month.
At the end of Wednesday’s nearly four-hour hearing, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Stephen Murphy ruled there was enough evidence for the trial to proceed.
Officers testified about how they responded to the attack on Paul Pelosi at the family home in the California city. Read more
Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off copyright lawsuit finally dropped after five years (Metro)
Taylor Swift’s copyright lawsuit that alleged she had plagiarised her hit song Shake It Off has been dropped.
The singer, 33, faced accusations from songwriters Sean Hall and Nathan Butler, who claimed she had copied lyrics from their 2000 song Playas Gon’ Play, which features the verse ‘players they gonna play, and haters they gonna hate.’
Their song was performed by R&B group 3LW and appeared on their album released in the millennium.
Meanwhile, Swift’s 2016 track Shake It Off features the lyrics: ‘The players gonna play, play, play, play, play and the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate.’ Read more
John Cena, Jason Momoa teaming for rowdy action comedy Killer Vacation at Warner Bros (Variety)
Pack your protein powder — John Cena and Jason Momoa are attached to star in the rowdy new action comedy “Killer Vacation.”
Warner Bros. has recruited the muscle bound actors for the feature project, plot details for which are currently under wraps (though we imagine it involves a holiday gone wrong). The pair met on the set of the upcoming conclusions to the “Fast and the Furious” franchise and were looking to take their natural chemistry to another film, sources say.
Those familiar with the project compared it to fun, splashy adventures like “True Lies.” The “Killer” script was written by Mark and Brian Gunn, and the project will be produced by John Rickard and Peter Safran. The film was packaged and set up at the studio before Safran took the reins with James Gunn at WB’s DC Films Unit.
Momoa, of course, is a major ingredient in all things DC, having appeared as Aquaman in several films. He is set to reprise his role as the King of Atlantis in “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.” Momoa also recently starred in another Warner Bros. release, “Dune.” Safran is a producer on “Aquaman.” Read more
Henry Cavill confirms he will not return as World of DC’s Superman (DigitalSpy)
Henry Cavill has announced that he will not be continuing as the World of DC’s Superman, after all.
The actor shared the news himself in an Instagram post on Wednesday (December 14), where he confirmed he’d been told during a meeting with DC that the studio’s new bosses James Gunn and Peter Safran are working on a new movie about a younger Clark Kent.
This situation is likely to come as a huge surprise to fans since Cavill only recently returned to the role for a cameo in Black Adam after years of uncertainty over his DC future.
“The changing of the guard is something that happens. I respect that,” Cavill wrote on Instagram. “James and Peter have a universe to build. I wish them, and all involved with the new universe, best of luck, and the happiest of fortunes.” Read more
Stephen ”tWitch” Boss: Ellen DeGeneres ‘heartbroken’ over death of DJ and co-host as celebrities pay tribute (Sky)
Ellen DeGeneres, Jennifer Lopez and Michelle Obama are among the famous faces remembering US dancer and DJ Stephen “tWitch” Boss, following his death at the age of 40.
The news was confirmed by his wife, Allison Holker Boss, on Wednesday.
Los Angeles County Coroner’s office said the entertainer had died in a hotel from “suicide”.
The dancer-DJ started his tenure at The Ellen Show in 2014 before being promoted to co-executive producer in 2020. Read more
Sting, Stevie Wonder added to Paul Simon Tribute Concert (AS)
Additional performers have been announced for the Paul Simon tribute concert.
Sting, Stevie Wonder and the Jonas Brothers are among the wide-ranging artists who have signed on to pay tribute to the songwriting legend on the upcoming special, Homeward Bound: A Grammy Salute to the Songs of Paul Simon. Country music will also be well-represented, with Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood and Eric Church performing, in addition to The Bangles co-founder Susanna Hoffs.
Previously announced performers include Dave Matthews, Brandi Carlile, actor and singer Billy Porter, Trombone Shorty, Brad Paisley, Little Big Town, Carolina Chocolate Drops frontwoman Rhiannon Giddens, Ledisi and Shaggy featuring musician Jimmy Cliff. Beninese singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo, a cappella gospel group Take 6, and soul singer Irma Thomas also will perform. Elton John, Oprah Winfrey and Sofia Carson are part of the star-studded list of presenters and special guests.
Among the revered songs Simon has penned are Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “The Boxer” and “Mrs. Robinson,” in addition to solo hits “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” and many others. Read more
Erdogan rival sentenced to jail for ”insulting” officials (DW)
A Turkish court sentenced the mayor of Istanbul, a key opponent of President Erdogan, to two years and seven months in jail and barred him from politics. Erdogan is renowned for liberal use of laws against “insults.”
A Turkish court on Wednesday sentenced Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu to two years and seven months in prison for allegedly insulting members of Turkey’s Supreme Electoral Council.
Imamoglu is a key opponent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who recently hinted that he would run for reelection next year for the last time.
The court also imposed a political ban on Imamoglu that could lead to his removal from office and would be even more likely to rule him out from standing in next year’s presidential election. Read more
Ndanusa battles to unseat Gumel as NOC elections hold today in Jalingo (Guardian)
Former Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) President, Sani Ndanusa, is among candidates vying for various positions in the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) elections holding in Jalingo, Taraba State, today.
Ndanusa wants to unseat incumbent NOC President, Habu Gumel, who is seeking election for another term. Former Athletics Federation of Nigeria President, Ibrahim Gusau, who earlier indicated interest in the presidency, is not on the ballot.
Forty-two delegates are expected to determine the fate of aspirants.
Apart from those jostling for the presidency, two candidates, Solomon Ogba of the Bobsled and Skeleton Federation and Francis Orbih from the Badminton Federation, are vying for the first Vice President post currently being occupied by Ogba.
Ishaku Tikon of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation is running unopposed for the second Vice Presidency position, but the contest for the third vice president post has four candidates, including Daniel Igali of Wrestling Federation, Bamidele Ayoade from Shooting Federation, Olumide Oyedeji, who is the Athletes Representative on the Committee and Mrs. Maria Wophill of Athletics Federation. Read more
Rufai, Sodje, Obodo laud NDDC U-17 Peace Cup (ThisDay)
The trio of former Nigerian Internationals-Peter Rufai, Sam Sodje and Christian Ogbodo have lauded the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs for sponsoring the ongoing U-17 Peace football tournament in Asaba, Delta State.
They described the move as highly commendable, as it would go a long way in motivating the youths of the Niger Delta region, and helping them believe that their future is bright, playing football.
Speaking moments after the opening ceremony of the tournament, Rufai commended the efforts of the organisers, the Grassroot Sports Federation of Nigeria, GRASOF, led by its President, John Ekpenyong.
He said as a player who was discovered at a young age, his core passion is youth development, insisting there was a need to look back and discover talents from the grassroots and ensure they are groomed to play at the bigger stage. Read more
No regrets for Morocco coach Walid Regragui after semi-final defeat to France (IrishIndependent)
Morocco coach Walid Regragui insists he had no regrets after his decision to name captain Romain Saiss and Nayef Aguerd in his starting line-up for their World Cup semi-final loss to France.
Theo Hernandez struck early on but Morocco – the first African semi-finalists in history – more than matched their illustrious opponents before substitute Randal Kolo Muani’s first France goal secured a 2-0 win in the closing stages.
There will be subplots aplenty on Sunday as France face Argentina, Lionel Messi up against club-mate Kylian Mbappe at the forefront, but this was a night where Morocco proved their shock progression into the last four was no fluke, going toe-to-toe with the reigning champions as well as having a strong penalty claimed turned down.
For the Morocco players and their energetic coach, this turned out to be one dream too far having already beaten Belgium, Spain and Portugal – ending the hopes of Eden Hazard, Sergio Busquets and Cristiano Ronaldo en route to a historic semi-final. Read more
Alexis Mac Allister linked with switching Premier League clubs after sparkling World Cup (Mirror)
Tottenham are among a clutch of teams considering a move for Brighton and Argentina playmaker Alexis Mac Allister, according to reporters.
The midfielder caught the eye for the Seagulls in the first half of the Premier League campaign as his impressive form earned him a spot in his country’s squad for the World Cup in Qatar. The 23-year-old’s displays have carried over into the tournament.
He has started five of Argentina’s six matches in Qatar – the only match he missed out on being their group opener against Saudi Arabia, a game which the South American side lost. Mac Allister also managed to get on the scoresheet in their final Group C clash with Poland.
His displays have been enough to attract admiring glances from top-flight rivals. According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Tottenham are among the clubs to have been keeping an eye on his performances, with manager Antonio Conte keen to add a more creative midfielder to his squad. Read more
Warriors’ Stephen Curry (left shoulder) exits early at Pacers (ABC)
Stephen Curry was ruled out of the Golden State Warriors’ 125-119 loss at the Indiana Pacers in the fourth quarter because of a left shoulder injury Wednesday.
Curry sustained the injury with 2:04 left in the third quarter after attempting to strip Indiana’s Jalen Smith of the ball as Smith drove to the hoop.
Curry immediately grabbed his left shoulder and continued to hold it as he ran down the court. The Warriors subsequently called a timeout, and Curry was looked at by two trainers on the bench.
A few minutes later, Curry went back to the locker room with Golden State head trainer Rick Celebrini. Read more
Ferrari star Carlos Sainz makes Fred Vasseur plea after phone call with new boss (Express)
Carlos Sainz has pleaded with Fred Vasseur to ensure Ferrari have more highs than lows next year. Vasseur has replaced Mattia Binotto as Ferrari’s Formula One team principal ahead of the 2023 season, and Sainz revealed he has already spoken to his new boss.
The Italian team endured an underwhelming 2022. Charles Leclerc initially challenged Max Verstappen for the world drivers’ championship but very quickly fell away amid a string of personal and team mistakes.
Binotto will officially depart on December 31. Ferrari announced on Tuesday that Vasseur will replace the 53-year-old ahead of next season.
Driver Sainz has urged Vasseur to help Ferrari find some consistency in their battle with Red Bull and Mercedes. “I have already spoken with Vasseur. I knew him for a long time, when we negotiated to go to Renault. You have to give him time,” the Spaniard is reported as saying by journalist Albert Fabrega. Read more