Council of State backs new cashless policy (Vanguard)
The Council of State meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, gave their support to the naira redesign policy but with a caveat that the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele, should make new naira notes available or recirculate the old notes to ease the suffering of Nigerians.
The hybrid meeting which lasted for over four hours at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja, had in attendance former heads of state and president Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd), Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd) and Goodluck Jonathan, while former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, joined the meeting online.
Two former Chief Justice of the Federation, Alfa Belgore and Mahmud Muhammad, were also in attendance. Read more
How I found out my student was my nursery school teacher –Lecturer (Punch)
A lecturer at the Faculty of Education, Abia State University, Uturu, Anucha Wisdom, has reunited with his nursery school teacher, who he calls Aunty Ijeoma.
In a Facebook post that went viral on Friday, Wisdom narrated how he found out that his old teacher was now his student.
He wrote, “Early this week, I reconnected with Aunty Ijeoma, who was my Nursery 3 teacher at St. Joseph’s Development Nursery/Primary School Umuchichi Aba. Fortunately, she has been a student in my department and I knew not, not until they came to take my course. ‘Wisdom! Is that you?’, She shouted at me. Read more
Appeal Court sacks Abacha, restores Wali as PDP guber candidate in Kano (DailyTrust)
The Court of Appeal sitting in Kano has set aside the judgment of a High Court that recognised Muhammad Abacha as the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano state.
The appellate court consequentially ordered that Sadiq Wali, who was earlier recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), remain the valid gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in Kano.
In a consensus judgment of the three-man-panel read by Justice Usman Musale, the court held that the law is clear that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party can conduct the gubernatorial primary elections of a party and since Abacha did not participate at the primary election conducted by NEC that produced Wali and thus had no locus standi to challenge the said primary. Read more
Cargoes trapped at Lagos ports as banks suspend operations (Tribune)
Many cargoes were on Thursday trapped at the Lagos ports of Apapa and Tin-Can following the suspension of operations by all the commercial banks located around the port area due to scarcity of the new Naira notes.
Checks by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that many clearing agents couldn’t make duty payment for cargoes inside the Ports, thus leaving many of the cargoes unattended to inside the ports, and causing increased congestion woes for the nation’s busiest ports.
When the Nigerian Tribune visited the port town of Apapa and Tin-Can on Thursday, many of the commercial banks were closed and were fully manned by security operatives guiding them. Read more
APC woos voters, as campaign continues in Lagos (ThisDay)
In its bid to encourage the populace towards participating in the electioneering process, the Lagos state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has organised an outreach to new voters, the vulnerable and the senior citizens in the state.
The state Coordinator, Social and Humanitarian Directorate of the Presidential Campaign Council, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, made the disclosure to THISDAY during the event which was held in Lagos mainland.
The outreach, which is aimed at sensitising the public about the party’s presidential and gubernatorial candidates, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu respectively, also hopes to draw the public attention to other APC candidates ahead of the general elections. Read more
Kano joins suit against FG at apex court over naira swap (Independent)
The Kano State Government has filed a suit against the Federal Government of Nigeria at the Supreme Court in respect of the Naira redesign policy of the CBN.
In a Suit Number: SC/CS/200/2023, the Kano State Attorney General, through his Counsel, Sunusi Musa (SAN) is seeking the Apex court to declare that the President of Nigeria, cannot unilaterally direct the Central Bank of Nigeria to recall the now N200, N500 and N500 old Bank notes without recourse to the Federal Executive Council and National Economic Council, respectively.
The Supreme Court last Wednesday gave an interim order to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) not to end the use of old naira notes on 10 February in an ex parte application by the three applicant states include: Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara. Read more
Atiku’s Campaign DG in Rivers escapes assassination, fingers Wike (Leadership)
The Director-General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers State, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, on Thursday night escaped assassination by whiskers, while on transit in the Trans-Amadi area of Port Harcourt, the State capital.
Addressing journalists at his residence on Friday, Sekibo, who is also a former Minister of Transport, accused policemen attached to the Government House, Port Harcourt, of carrying out the attack.
He called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to call Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, and the policemen attached to the Government House, Port Harcourt, to order. Read more
Adesina: I have been spending N20k for 1 week (Channels)
Following the naira scarcity occasioned by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s currency redesign, the Special Adviser Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, has revealed he is affected by the policy.
In an article titled ‘Living on a shoestring budget,’ the presidential spokesman said he has been spending N20,000 for one week.
According to Adesina, he has been surviving despite the new naira scarcity affecting the country. Read more
90 UNICAL graduates inducted into teachers’ registration council (Guardian)
No fewer than 90 teachers trained by the Institute of Education, University of Calabar, have been certified as professional teachers by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
Inducting the teachers into the profession on Friday in Calabar, Prof. Josiah Olusegun, the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of TRCN, urged them to carry out their duties professionally.
The registrar, who was represented by the TCRN, Director of Operations, Dr Bimbo Okunola, urged them to change the narrative in the classrooms and impact the society positively. Read more
BRIT Awards announce Producer and Songwriter of the Year 2023 winners (NME)
The winners of the Producer of the Year and Songwriter of the Year categories at the 2023 BRIT Awards have been revealed.
The 2023 Producer of the Year Award goes to David Guetta, while the Songwriter of the Year Award winner is Kid Harpoon, co-writer and co-producer of Harry Styles‘ third album ‘‘Harry’s House’’.
Guetta, who will perform on the show alongside Becky Hill and Ella Henderson, is also nominated for International Song of the Year for his track with Bebe Rexha ‘‘I’m Good’’. Read more
Paramore releases new album This is Why (UPI)
Paramore is back. After a six-year hiatus, the emo rock band from Tennessee has returned with a brand-new release This is Why. Lead singer Hayley Williams says the title track was the last song written for the album, summing up the challenges she and her bandmates have gone through since the last release.
“It summarizes the plethora of ridiculous emotions, the rollercoaster of being alive in 2022, having survived even just the last three or four years,” Williams said. “You’d think after a global pandemic of [expletive] biblical proportions and the impending doom of a dying planet, that humans would have found it deep within themselves to be kinder or more empathetic or something.”
This is Why is the band’s first release since 2017’s After Laughter. One of the reasons for that is the trio’s solo projects. Williams did an album called Petals for Armor in 2020, with Paramore’s guitarist Taylor York, who is also her boyfriend. Drummer Zack Farro, released several albums under the name Halfnoise.’ Read more
Cocaine Bear director Elizabeth Banks says she would totally make “Cocaine Shark” (EW)
How do you follow a film called Cocaine Bear? How about with one named Cocaine Shark!
Director Elizabeth Banks’ new film Cocaine Bear is inspired by the true story of an actual bear that ingested millions of dollars’ worth of cocaine after a failed drug smuggling operation caused packages of it to crash-land into a Georgia forest in 1985. Coincidentally, this week, The Guardian and many other sources reported that New Zealand authorities have found 81 bales of the same drug floating in international waters, enough cocaine to apparently supply Kiwis for 30 years.
Inevitably, the phrase “cocaine shark” began trending on Twitter, with users suggesting that this might be a good idea for a sequel to Cocaine Bear. Read more
Salma Hayek recalls ‘‘hanging on for dear life’’ during Magic Mike dance rehearsal (Standard)
Actress Salma Hayek has described a near miss with Magic Mike co-star Channing Tatum while rehearsing a “precise” dance move which went wrong on the set of the much-anticipated sequel.
The 56-year-old confirmed she was almost accidentally exposed while the pair were practising for Magic Mike’s Last Dance, the third instalment of the hugely popular film series which sees Tatum, 42, reprise his role as stripper Michael “Magic Mike” Lane.
The original 2012 racy comedy-drama, which features muscular men performing steamy dance routines, inspired the sequel Magic Mike XXL in 2015 and live stage show adaptations across the world. Read more
Elvis Costello opens 10-night New York City residency (UCR)
Elvis Costello opened his 10-night residency at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City on Thursday.
“This is not the Bruce Springsteen show, by the way,” he quipped after performing the first two songs, “Welcome to the Working Week” and “Miracle Man,” both from his 1977 debut, My Aim Is True. Costello’s set, performed entirely solo, included early classics like “(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes,” “Mystery Dance” and “Alison.”
Costello also performed a handful of covers, including Van Morrison’s “Domino.” He added that he enjoyed Morrison’s music when he was younger, “before he went totally mad,” noting that Morrison is now “a comedian.” He also performed a cover of Grateful Dead’s “Dupree Diamond Blues.” Read more
Jane Fonda, 85, on why workouts matter: ‘‘You have to be able to make love’’ (PageSix)
Jane Fonda’s still got it.
At 85 years old, the Barbarella beauty has a new movie out 80 for Brady, co-starring Sally Field, Lily Tomlin and Rita Moreno), is moving full steam ahead with her Fire Drill Fridays — and, after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in September, recently announced her cancer is in remission.
“I won,” Fonda quipped of the latter point at the launch of H&M Williamsburg’s Move Studio in New York Wednesday night, to cheers from the crowd.
Last year, the Book Club actress was named the face of the H&M Move campaign — a fitting gig considering her famous Jane Fonda’s Workout franchise, although during her Q&A, she admitted she wasn’t always big into breaking a sweat. Read more
2 dead, including child, in east Jerusalem car ramming (RFI)
Two people including a child were killed Friday in a car ramming attack on a bus stop in Israel-annexed east Jerusalem, Israeli authorities said.
The attack comes amid spiralling violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this year.
“As a result of the ramming, there are two dead and another five injured,” an Israeli police statement said.
“The suspect was neutralised on the spot” in Ramot, a Jewish settlement in Israel-annexed east Jerusalem, the Israeli police said, describing it as a “terror” attack. Read more
Bayelsa United confirm death of goalkeeper’s coach Ernest Teigbanyo (Punch)
Bayelsa United have announced the death of their goalkeeping coach, Ernest Teigbanyo.
The club, in a tweet on its official Twitter handle on Friday, said the late coach died after a brief illness on Thursday.
The tweet read, “Bayelsa United is extremely saddened by the report that our goalkeepers’ coach Ernest Teigbanyo has passed away after a brief illness yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this sad and difficult time.” Read more
MFM disbanded after 16 years in Nigerian football (DailyTrust)
Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM) Football Club of Lagos also known as ‘Ólukoya Boys’, have finally left the Nigerian football scene.
The club which was wholly owned by Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, a Pentecostal Christian Organization came into existence in 2007.
In 2013, MFM participated in the Nigeria National League after they took over Toyin Gafaar’s Bolowatan FC’s slot for free.
MFM then made their debut in the Nigeria Professional Football League in 2016 but narrowly escaped relegation. Read more
Pep Guardiola responds to questions on Man City charges and leaves no doubts where he stands (Mirror)
Pep Guardiola has hit back at the allegations facing Manchester City and declared he is prepared to stay and fight for the club.
Earlier this week the Premier League accused City of over 100 breaches of its financial fair play rules over a period of nine seasons. They are alleged to have provided inaccurate financial information, breached rules in relation to player and manager remuneration and hindered the Premier League’s investigation, which was launched four years ago.
City later issued their own statement which said the club would use “irrefutable evidence” to put the matter “to rest once and for all”. In 2020 the club were previously charged by UEFA for committing “serious breaches” of FFP regulations between 2012 and 2016 before seeing their two-year ban from European competitions overturned at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Read more
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has said ”Yes” to becoming the next Brazil manager (DailyMail)
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has reportedly agreed to become the next manager of Brazil.
ESPN Brazil have reported that the 63-year-old Italian has said ”yes” to taking up the job at the end of the season.
It’s said that it could be some time yet before a deal is publicly announced, with Ancelotti still contracted at the Santiago Bernabeu in June 2024, and with the final details still being discussed. Read more
Romain Grosjean speaks out on F1 return with Andretti (F1News)
Ex-Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean has refused to rule out a return to the pinnacle of motorsport with Andretti, with the Frenchman currently driving for the American team in IndyCar.
A return to F1 is certainly something Grosjean perhaps never considered, given the circumstances that ended his time at Haas.
Whilst he was going to be dropped at the end of the 2020 season regardless, Grosjean’s F1 career was cut a couple of rounds short following his terrifying fireball crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix, where his Haas speared through a metal barrier. Read more
Novak Djokovic makes last-ditch Indian Wells attempt by applying for ”special permit” (Express)
Novak Djokovic has reportedly applied to enter the USA next month in his bid to play the Indian Wells Masters despite unvaccinated travellers being banned from the country until May. The world No 1 is still on the entry list for the first Masters 1000 of the year and his brother has now told Serbian media that he has applied for a “special permit” to enter the country and compete in the sunshine doubles tournaments.
Last month, Djokovic learned that he would still be banned from entering the USA during Indian Wells after Joe Biden’s government extended their emergency Covid restrictions to May 11, with all rules set to be scrapped after this date. While it means the world No 1 can finally play the US Open at the end of summer it stops him from competing in the ‘sunshine double’ of Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami. Read more