Certificate Racketeering Scandal: LASU removes Olumoko as DSA (Vanguard)
Following the outcry that greeted the allegation of certificate racketeering against some academic and non-academic staff of the Lagos State University (LASU), the management of the institution has removed Prof. Tajudeen Olumoko as the Dean of Students Affairs and replaced him with a senior lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Dr Abiodun Fatai-Abatan.
The development, it was gathered, followed the story by an online medium which indicted some staff of the university in the illegal act.
The sting operation that was carried out to nail those involved in the act was carried out in 2020 following the report by the then Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, SAN, that some persons were selling degree certificates of the university for millions of naira. Read more
Omah Lay announces new single “Holy Ghost”
Nigerian singer-songwriter Omah Lay has announced the release of his new single, “Holy Ghost,” which is set to drop on Friday. The song is the first single from Lay’s upcoming album, which is expected to be released later this year.
The announcement was made on Omah Lay’s Instagram account on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. In a post, Omah Lay shared a snippet of the song and wrote, “New single ‘Holy Ghost’ out Friday 10th November”.
The singer has been teasing the new single on social media for the past few weeks, and fans are eagerly awaiting its release. “Holy Ghost” is sure to be another hit for Lay, who has been one of the most successful Nigerian artists of the past few years. Read more
Gas scarcity persists in Lagos, Kano, others as price remains unstable (DailyTrust)
Nigerians have continued to experience scarcity of Liquefied Natural Gas or cooking gas, shooting up prices across the country, findings by Daily Trust have shown.
The scarcity and the high cost of the product have been reported in Lagos, Kano, Maiduguri, among others.
Gas dealers have, however, assured that the scarcity is temporary as it was triggered by the faulty vessel that was supposed to supply the product to Lagos terminals. Read more
Military arrest man linked to Plateau killing in Lagos (Punch)
Troops of Operation Safe Haven Tactical Team of the Nigerian Army have arrested the alleged killer of the Ardo of Panyam in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Adamu Gabdo, in Lagos State.
This was disclosed in a post on the official X handle of the Nigerian Army on Wednesday.
According to the Army, Philip Gokas, also known as Jaykimo, was tracked and arrested in the Ogba area of Lagos State, where he was found having fun at a football viewing centre. Read more
FG evacuates 161 Nigerian migrants stranded in Libya (Guardian)
The Federal Government, in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), evacuated 161 Nigerian migrants stranded in Libya on Tuesday.
Amb. Kabiru Musa, Chargé D’Affaires En Titre of the Nigerian Mission in Libya stated in Abuja that the Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation (VHR) exercise was to ensure that migrating Nigerians were not stranded abroad.
“The evacuees departed the Mitiga International Airport, Tripoli aboard a chartered flight on Tuesday and are expected to arrive at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos later in the day. Read more
Tinubu launches digital census gathering portal (Independent)
President Bola Tinubu has unveiled a digital platform to facilitate easy census collation processes in Nigeria.
He assured that funds would be made available for the National Population Commission (NPC) to carry out the suspended census in the country.
The President gave the assurance on Wednesday, at the launch of the National Geospatial Data Repository, Digital CRVS System, and Inauguration of the National Coordination Committee for CRVS at the Presidential Villa Abuja. Read more
EFCC bows to order, produces Emefiele in court (Channels)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has bowed to the order of the court by producing the former Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, in court for the hearing of his bail application.
Emefiele who has been in the custody of Security agencies for over 149 days, was ordered by Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, to be released unconditionally or be brought to hear his application for bail.
Dressed in a yellow Kaftan and a cap and flanked by operatives of the EFCC, the former CBN Governor arrived at the courtroom at about 12:30 pm. Read more
Patrick Dempsey “Sexiest Man Alive” win sparks backlash (Newsweek)
Patrick Dempsey has been crowned 2023’s “Sexiest Man Alive,” but many disagree with him topping the list of candidates.
Since 1985, People magazine has created a list of Hollywood’s leading men, with one declared “Sexiest Man Alive.” Mel Gibson was the first to be announced and grace the magazine cover.
Dempsey has been named People’s winner this year, with his announcement coming late Tuesday night while appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Read more
“Mean Girls’’ Movie Musical Trailer: Reneé Rapp revives Regina George (Variety)
Will 2024 finally be the year that fetch catches on?
Paramount has released the first trailer for “Mean Girls,” adapted from the 2018 Tony-nominated musical based on the 2004 comedy.
Reneé Rapp (The Sex Lives of College Girls) will play the infamous Regina George, reprising her role on Broadway. Joining the cast are Auli’i Cravalho (Moana), Angourie Rice (Mare of Easttown), Christopher Briney (The Summer I Turned Pretty) and Jaquel Spivey (A Strange Loop). Read more
AURORA shares blissful new single ‘‘Your Blood’’ (NME)
AURORA has shared a new blissful single titled ‘‘Your Blood’’.
Shared today (November 8), the track is the Norwegian alt-pop singer’s first new music since she released her chart-topping third album ‘‘The Gods We Can Touch’’, and sees her deliver some cathartic vocals alongside some synth-infused instrumentals.
‘‘Your Blood’’, co-written, produced and recorded by Chris Greatti (Lady Gaga, Willow, Yungblud, Grimes), finds AURORA shedding light on the beauty of the human soul in all its forms – celebrating it for its vulnerability, emotions and flaws. It also is described in a press release as a track that “marks a new era” for the singer and opens her up to “another chapter in her ever-evolving” discography. Read more
Marika Hackman releases new single ‘‘Slime’’ (FarOut)
Marika Hackman has released her latest single, ‘‘Slime’’, which marks the third offering from her upcoming fifth album, “Big Sigh”.
Opening with soft strums and intimate vocals, ‘Slime’ finds Hackman in the infancy of love. “Stranger, I wanna rearrange you, climb your spine and shake your mind,” she sings tentatively.
Eventually, the understated opening gives way to a pulsing beat and intense lyrical longing as Hackman asks, “Do you want to? I want to.” The gentle chorus contains all the hesitant excitement of early love, soft and sensual both in lyrics and instrumentation. Read more
Donald Trump ‘pissed’ daughter Ivanka must testify in fraud trial (PageSix)
She’s still daddy’s little girl.
Donald Trump may have exploded at his Manhattan civil fraud trial this week, but he’s really “pissed” that daughter Ivanka Trump is next to be dragged in to testify in the case.
Ivanka, 42, is slated to take the stand on Wednesday as the state’s final witness after legal attempts by the mother-of-three and her dad to keep her out of the courtroom failed. Read more
Baltimore Archdiocese shuts down Mass at city parish after priest abuse scandal (CNA)
The Archdiocese of Baltimore said last week that Masses and sacraments at a Baltimore parish would be discontinued after its pastor was removed there last month following a scandal over sex abuse accusations and hush money.
Baltimore priest Father Paschal Morlino, OSB, the former pastor of St. Benedict Parish, was suspended from priestly duties last month after an investigation from the archdiocese.
The priest told a local media outlet earlier in October that years ago he had entered a confidential $200,000 settlement to quiet allegations of sexual assault and financial fraud. The archdiocese said in a statement last month that after being made aware of the report, it immediately began an investigation and decided within 24 hours, along with Morlino’s Benedictine order, to remove Morlino as pastor of St. Benedict and suspend his priestly faculties. Read more
G7 Summit: Bloc insists support for Ukraine ‘‘will never waver’’ (BBC)
Leaders of the G7 group of countries have insisted that their support for Ukraine “will never waver”, even amid growing tensions in the Middle East.
At a G7 meeting in Japan, the bloc’s foreign ministers said they recognised that Russia is prepared for a long war.
They reiterated that they would continue to support Kyiv economically and militarily.
The group of rich countries has been at the forefront of sanctions on Moscow since last year’s invasion. Read more
Basketball: Rivers Hoopers extend winning streak to 6 (Nation)
Rivers Hoopers dismantled arch rivals Kwara Falcons 83-56 in their second game of the Atlantic Conference 8 of the Nigeria Premier Basketball League on Tuesday in Akure.
Michael Oriakhi shot (14), Abel Offia (14) and Michael Daramola (12) all from the bench.
For a second consecutive game, Offia scored four 3s out of 13 made by Hoopers in the game. Read more
NPFL: Bendel Insurance coach asks for support, says the club lack structure (Leadership)
Bendel Insurance head coach, Monday Odigie, says the club lacks a proper structure despite their status, assuring that the technical crew will continue to do their best for the Benin Arsenals to remain competitive.
He also sought support and patience towards the rebuilding process currently going on in the team.
“Football has gone scientific, Bendel Insurance a big name but structures are not in place,” he stated in a post-match interview after the game against Remo Stars on Sunday. Read more
Sevilla manager eyes Arsenal Champions League revenge after “unfair” defeat in group stage clash (FootballLondon)
Sevilla boss Diego Alonso has thrown down the gauntlet to Arsenal by claiming his side were on the end of an “unfair result” in their previous clash and will look to turn around that defeat as the two sides prepare to face off in the Champions League once again on Wednesday night. It comes as the Gunners are in the box seat to progress to the knockout stages.
At the halfway stage in the groups, the north London outfit have topped the group with six points, followed by RC Lens on five, Sevilla on two and PSV Eindhoven also on two. With Sevilla their next opponents, Arsenal could push themselves towards the knockout rounds with a win, but defeat would leave the group wide open. Read more
Rangers manager Philippe Clement wants to create winning “machine” (Sky)
Philippe Clement wants to create a relentless ‘machine’ at Rangers as he revealed Scott Wright is a major doubt for Thursday night’s Europa League game with Sparta Prague.
Wright came off the bench at Hampden Park on Sunday to help Rangers to victory over Hearts to reach this season’s Viaplay Cup final, but suffered an injury late on.
Nicolas Raskin and John Souttar are both ruled out while striker Kemar Roofe is in the squad and could feature for a brief period. Read more
Oleksandr Usyk expecting February date to face Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia (National)
Oleksandr Usyk is hoping his undisputed heavyweight world title fight with Tyson Fury can take place in Saudi Arabia in February once the Briton has recovered from a bruising 10 rounds with boxing novice Francis Ngannou.
Contracts were signed in September but a proposed December 23 date in Riyadh looks sure to slide since WBC champion Fury’s near-defeat to former UFC champion Ngannou in a non-title bout on October 28.
Ukrainian Usyk holds the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts and both he and Fury are unbeaten. Speaking to Reuters from his training camp in Valencia, Spain, Usyk said the date should be decided next week. Read more
Caster Semenya: Double Olympic champion ‘‘not ashamed of being different’’ (BBC)
Two-time Olympic champion Caster Semenya says she is “not going to be ashamed” of being “different”, and will “fight for what is right” amid her ongoing dispute with athletics authorities.
Semenya, 32, was born with differences of sexual development (DSD) which mean she has an elevated level of testosterone – a hormone that increases muscle mass and strength.
The South African cannot compete in female track events without taking testosterone-reducing drugs. Read more
