CBN releases $265m to foreign airlines (Punch)
The Central Bank of Nigeria on Friday, released $265m to airlines operating in the country, to settle outstanding ticket sales to check a brewing crisis in the country’s aviation sector.
There have been serious concerns and reactions over hundreds of millions of dollars earned by foreign airlines operating in the country which they could not repatriate due to foreign exchange scarcity problems.
International airlines operating in the country have been raising airfares and reducing flights over their inability to repatriate funds to their home countries.
Emirates Airlines had announced the suspension of its flight operations in Nigeria from September 1, 2022, while fears had increased that more airlines may follow the same step. Read more
2023: We met Tinubu, Atiku, Obi but consultation not over – Wike (DailyTrust)
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State said he and his team are still consulting widely with those who mean well for the country.
The governor spoke at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Ikwerre Local Government Area, shortly after his arrival from London, on Friday.
He was accompanied Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue and his Abia counterpart, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.
Wike, who confirmed their meetings with Peoples Democratic Party, presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, explained that top most on their agenda is how to make Nigeria better than what is it currently. Read more
Oil Theft: How security operatives, govt officials run bunkering cartel (Vanguard)
IT is not hidden information that a sophisticated mafia of powerful Nigerians and foreigners, including top military operators, government officials, highly-placed and retired oil industry personnel, politicians and businesspersons are the big-time oil thieves and financiers of oil bunkering syndicates, which over the years have to suck the life out of the country’s economy.
Their oil bunkering cartel working with insiders steal crude directly from major crude oil pipelines in the Niger Delta, while officials pump crude to the different Terminals. They know the time and duration of pumping and exact pipelines.
The damage inflicted by small-time oil bunkers in Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and other states, who illegitimately refine crude oil in the Niger-Delta region is a child’s play compared to the havoc the connected cartel that owns giant vessels and equipment wreak on the economy.
There are local thieves who also siphon from major pipelines and later sell their product to the big players, who use superior tubes and experts to drain off crude oil.
3 arraigned for selling twins N3m, killing mum (Punch)
The Enugu State Police Command has arraigned three women for an alleged conspiracy, trafficking of newborn twins and subsequent killing of their mother.
This was contained in a statement on Friday by the command’s spokesman Daniel Ndukwe.
The statement noted that the suspects; Ukorie Cynthia (25), Onyia Pauline (56) and Aroh Ijeoma (39) were remanded in the Enugu Maximum Correctional Centre on Friday.
The statement stated that the trio were first arrested by operatives of the command attached to the Central Police Station Enugu July 26, 2022 following complaints that the suspects had conspired and sold newborn twins of one 31-year-old Chinenye Odoh.
Tompolo: Tension in Niger Delta over surveillance contract (Sun)
The recent surveillance contract awarded to ex-leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo has continued to create tension across the Niger Delta.
The multi-million naira contract awarded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and targeted to curb the perennial oil theft is to cover the Niger Delta region.
While Tompolo’s two companies had contracts covering part of Bayelsa, Delta, Ondo Imo and Rivers States, three other companies were awarded the other contracts.
However Tompolo’s contract, believed to be the juiciest, has continued to court opposition from within and without. A group of ex-militants that described themselves as Creek Men in Bayelsa and Rivers have accused the Minister of State for Petroluem, Chief Timipre Sylva of trying to set confusion in the Ijaw land. Read more
Police arrest suspect for allegedly hijacking N4.7m rice (Guardian)
The Police Command in Oyo State said it had apprehended a suspect for allegedly hijacking and diverting 130 bags of rice worth N4.6 million.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Adewale Osifeso, disclosed this while parading the suspect and others terrorising the state, over various offences at command headquarters on Friday in Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 10 suspects were paraded by the command for offences such as armed robbery, car and motorcycle snatching, hijacking, and diversion of trailer-load of cooking oil.
Osifeso said the command Monitoring Unit arrested the hijacker of the truck of rice on Aug. 8 at about 8.30 p.m., upon receipt of credible information. Read more
NBC suspends shutdown of debtor broadcast stations (Leadership)
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has temporarily suspended the shutdown of debtor broadcast stations.
LEADERSHIP reported that the NBC had earlier on Friday, August 19, 2022, issued a shutdown notice to licensees that were indebted to the Commission to the tune of N2.6 billion.
Following the ultimatum, the director general of NBC, Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, this Friday in Abuja, said the Commission has received positive responses from the debtor Licensees, including big players in the broadcast industry.
Sequel to a follow-up meeting held with executives of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), and other critical stakeholders in the industry, Ilelah in a statement obtained by LEADERSHIP, said the Commission has decided to temporarily suspend the shutdown order against the indebted broadcast stations across the country. Read more
Education Minister Adamu jets out amid unresolved FG, ASUU strike (Vanguard)
Amid unresolved issues between the federal government and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Minister of education, Adamu Adamu has jetted out of Nigeria, Vanguard reliably gathered.
According to reports, Adamu is expected back on 2 September.
Adamu is said to have been mandated by President Muhammadu Buhari to lead talks with a view to resolving the long-running ASUU strike.
But, the minister’s trip has further dragged the reconciliation moves by the government without meaningful offers to resolve the strike. Read more
“Confess, Fletch” trailer shows Jon Hamm reviving infamous reporter (UPI)
Paramount Pictures and Miramax released the official trailer for Confess, Fletch, an upcoming comedy-mystery film that reboots the popular series from the 1980s.
Jon Hamm stars in the film as Irwin “Fletch” Fletcher, a retired and sarcastic investigative reporter who ends up on a quest to find a collection of stolen art.
Over the course of his investigation, though, Fletch becomes the prime suspect in a murder, and he must prove his innocence while also tracking down the multi-million art collection.
The film additionally stars Marcia Gay Harden, Kyle MacLachlan, Lorenza Izzo and Annie Mumolo. Read more
Raekwon and Ghostface Killah next to be called out for funk flex’s new music challenge (HipHopDX)
Raekwon and Ghostface Killah are the latest rappers to be called out by Funk Flex for not releasing much in the way of new music in a while.
After successfully calling out the likes of Busta Rhymes, Juelz Santana, Conway The Machine and Fabolous in recent weeks, the Hot 97 DJ has now challenged two of Wu-Tang Clan’s deadliest MCs to lay down a new track by next week.
“I challenge Raekwon and Ghostface to get me a joint,” Flex said last night (August 25) on his radio show. “They gotta be on the same song, no features.”
“I know you guys are rich, you’re doing a lot of shows,” Flex continued. “I look at your jewelry game, and car game and I understand; the Wu-Tang tour is going on. I think you should record it in Staten Island — just a request.” Read more
Danny DeVito shares how he really feels about Colin Farrell’s Penguin (E-news)
Danny DeVito, who played Penguin in 1992’s Batman Returns, was asked to compare his performance to Colin Farrell’s in 2022’s The Batman. Find out his honest answer here.
Danny DeVito dropped a brrrr-utally honest take on Colin Farrell’s Penguin performance.
When Vanity Fair hooked DeVito up to a lie detector and had his own daughter Lucy DeVito ask him some very pointed questions about the Batman cinematic universe, the legendary actor, who played Penguin in 1992’s Batman Returns, couldn’t help but speak his truth!
“What about this Penguin?” Lucy asked, while sliding over a photo of Farrell, who played Penguin in 2022’s The Batman. Read more
Kesha shows off her figure in a low-cut tank top and tight leather slacks (DailyMail)
Kesha was spotted in high spirits as she enjoyed dinner with a male friend earlier on Thursday evening in Los Angeles.
The two appeared to be having a blast and at one point, were pictured in a close embrace as they waited for the valet to retrieve their car.
The Die Young singer, 35, has kept most of her private life and relationships under wraps and out of the public eye.
The award-winning singer opted for a stylish and edgy look for her weeknight outing. Read more
Takeaways from the Mar-a-Lago search warrant affidavit (CNN)
The release of a redacted affidavit that the Justice Department used to obtain a search warrant for former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home shed new light on the federal investigation into the handling of documents from his White House.
The court filing unsealed Friday went into previously unknown detail about the classified information found in boxes retrieved from Trump’s Florida resort in January. It also firmed up aspects of the timeline about how the investigation unfolded.
The filing shows, among other things, that the documents that may have been illegally mishandled at Mar-a-Lago contained some of America’s most sensitive secrets. Read more
Country singer Johnny Dailey and wife Michelle expecting baby no. 3 (People)
Country singer Johnny Dailey’s family is getting a little bit bigger!
Dailey and wife Michelle are expecting their third baby together in December, a rep for the singer confirms to PEOPLE.
The singer reveals the exciting news in the music video for his new track “Got Married.” As he sings about his life’s unconventional path, the video ends with a scene where Dailey and wife Michelle sit on their porch with their two sons Cooper and Massey, one of whom holds out a sonogram photo.
“When I found out we were having a third baby, I was downstairs drinking coffee and Michelle came up and showed me a positive test,” Dailey tells PEOPLE of the moment they found out the joyful news. Read more
Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant partially reconnected to Ukraine grid (Guardian)
Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said the world narrowly avoided a “radiation disaster” on Thursday when electricity to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant was cut for hours after fires broke out around the plant.
Back-up diesel generators ensured power supply that was vital for cooling and safety systems at the plant, the Ukrainian president said, praising the Ukrainian technicians who operated the plant under the gaze of the Russian military.
Ukrainian authorities and international experts have warned of the potential for nuclear catastrophe because of fighting around the facility.
Problems with the electricity supply to the plant appeared to remain perilous on Friday morning. The plant was disconnected twice on Thursday when a blaze affected the fourth and last connection into its reactors. Three other lines had already been taken out during the war. Read more
Amusan loses race, finishes second in Lausanne Diamond League (Vanguard)
World and Commonwealth Games record holder, Tobi Amusan, has finished second in the women’s 100m Hurdles at the ongoing Diamond League in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The Nigerian star athlete who was all out to continue from where she left off in Birmingham lost to 2020 Tokyo Olympics winner, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico who came in first with a new meeting record of 12.34s (-0.9).
Amusan did 12.45s to place second with Tania Jones coming in third position with a personal best record of 12.47s.
Amusan, however, qualified for the next Diamond League in Zurich holding 7th and 8th of September, 2022.Amusan did 12.45s to place second with Tania Jones coming in third position with a personal best record of 12.47s. Read more
D’Tigers target Guinea scalp after Elephant defeat (Punch)
D’Tigers will be aiming to record their first win at the 2022 FIBA World Cup African Qualifiers when they face Guinea on Saturday in Abidjan, Saturday PUNCH reports.
The Nigerian team lost 66-78 to Ivory Coast on Friday night at the 3,500 capacity Palais des Sports Treichville putting their qualification hopes for next year’s FIBA Basketball World Cup in question.
Friday’s clash was the third between both teams in recent times with the Ivorians leading 2-1 in the head-to-head record.
D’Tigers continued their trend of poor starts as they have lost the opening game in each of the three last qualifying windows in the African qualifiers. Read more
Jurgen Klopp uncertain on Liverpool additions before transfer window shuts (RTE)
Jurgen Klopp is not sure if he will be able to further strengthen his Liverpool squad this summer.
Liverpool have signed Darwin Nunez, Fabio Carvalho and Calvin Ramsay since finishing runners-up to Manchester City in the Premier League last season and a lengthy injury list has left them short of midfielders.
The transfer window closes next Thursday and Klopp said: “We are working constantly on these types of things and we’ve spoken before about why sometimes it’s not happening.
“Sometimes it’s expensive, sometimes not the right player, but then situations change. It needs to be the right player and we’re working. If something will happen or not, I don’t know.
Emiliano Sala: Cardiff City lose appeal in payment dispute with Nantes (BBC)
Cardiff City have lost their appeal against a ruling by Fifa to pay the first instalment of Emiliano Sala’s £15m transfer fee to Nantes.
Argentine striker Sala died in a plane crash over the English channel in January 2019 while travelling from France to join his new club.
A three-man panel at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) heard the appeal in Lausanne earlier this year.
Cardiff must now pay the first instalment of £5.3m to Nantes. Read more
Ex-SA athlete appears in Stellenbosch court for assault after fleeing the country (IOL)
Cape Town – Former rower for the South African team, Daniel Watkins, has appeared in the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court after pleading guilty to assault.
Watkins, 25, was charged with assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm for knocking out his ex-girlfriend on August 25, 2017 following a brawl.
On Thursday, Magistrate Eric Khaketla postponed the matter to the end of September for sentencing proceedings to commence.
Watkins’s lawyer, Bruce Hendricks, said: “The accused is just as much a victim as the complainant in this matter, he has his right to have his day in court. Clearly, it’s been delayed. There is no fault on our side, the fault clearly lies at the feet of the State.” Read more
Belgian GP: Carlos Sainz tops FP1 (GMS)
Carlos Sainz took top spot in FP1 on Friday at Spa-Francorchamps, as a regular top three emerged at the end of the first session of practice.
The summer break has been and gone and now we can get back to racing, with Max Verstappen the man they all need to try and hunt down.
The Dutchman has an 80 point lead over Charles Leclerc in the current standings, and will be looking to maintain that gap between now and the end of the season.
The top three has regularly seen those two and Sainz in practice sessions and that was the case again in FP1 at Spa, as rain hit the circuit at points and we also had a red flag, with Kevin Magnussen having a technical fault. Read more
Scottie Scheffler details bizarre ‘butt crack’ injury after dominant Tour Championship start (NYPost)
Scottie Scheffler rebounded mightily this week in the first round of the Tour Championship in Atlanta after missing the cut earlier this month at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis. But when he spoke Thursday about his previous tumbles down the leaderboard, the world No. 1 veered into “TMI” territory.
“You know, I really wasn’t playing bad. I played well at the Open. I had kind of a weird little injury thing that prevented me from playing my best on Saturday and Sunday, and then I was — if not for that, I would have felt like I had a really good chance to win the tournament,” Scheffler said, per Golf.com, in which he referenced his time at St. Andrews in July.
Scheffler, who shot a 74 in the final round of the British Open, then elaborated on the injury and how it contributed to his struggles on the course.
“Probably TMI, but I had what’s called a pilonidal infection. It’s an infection at the top of your butt crack. You can look it up. It was really hard for me to bend down. It was really hard for me to swing on Sunday. Walking was actually extremely difficult,” he explained. Read more