Court jails Senator Nwaoboshi for 7 years over money laundering (Guardian)
The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal today July 1, 2022, convicted and sentenced Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, senator representing Delta North Senatorial District at the National Assembly, to seven years imprisonment.
The court ordered that his two companies, Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd and Suiming Electrical Ltd, be wound up in line with the provisions of Section 22 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2021.
The Appellate Court’s ruling followed the success of the appeal by challenging the judgment of Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court which on June 18, 2021 2018 discharged and acquitted the defendants of a two count charge of fraud and money laundering.
EFCC had arraigned the three defendants over the acquisition of a property named Guinea House, Marine Road, in Apapa, Lagos, for N805 million. Read more
Lagos hotelier laments as EFCC’s raids ground business (Punch)
The Chief Executive Officer, Lakers Lounge Hotel and Bar, Ikorodu, Lagos State, Oladimeji Ogunfolaju, has lamented the loss of his business after several raids by security agencies, especially men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Speaking with our correspondent on Thursday, Ogunfolaju said customers had stopped visiting his business over fear of being harassed and arrested.
He said, “I have been operating this business since 2017 and since we started, we have encountered a lot of challenges from security operatives. In 2019, men of the anti-cultism unit of the state police command came here to harass customers. We reported at the Lagos Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja, and those involved were prosecuted.
“Fast forward to March 7, 2020, we had the EFCC raid and they arrested me and my customers. They also took customers’ cars. In fact, the raid was a disaster for the business. After being released, I managed to build up the business to normal capacity through promotion, brand activation and bank loans despite the serial losses incurred during the EFCC raid. Read more
Lagos to enhance retail trading to 60%, targets more infrastructures (Sun)
The Lagos state government says it is looking at increasing retail trading to over 60 per cent and making available more infrastructures in order to improve the ease of doing business in the state. The Lagos state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, stated this during the 8th edition of the EU-Nigeria Business Forum which was held in Lagos on Thursday.
While describing the forum’s theme tagged “Nigeria and the New Economy” as apt and appropriate, Sanwo-Olu noted that there is a need for serious engagement and discussions with policymakers to address the challenges that constitute barriers of investments in the country.
He stated that the state is looking at increasing its retail trade to over 60 per cent and build more infrastructures to ensure it leverages the Nigerian market demand even as the state is aiming to become the export hub for fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and exports into West Africa.
According to him, this will improve and enhance trade between Nigeria and other West African countries in an organic manner in the next 25 to 30 years. He said the state is on the verge of completing its 32 metric tonnes of rice mill infrastructure located in Imota and added that Lagos state is working with national bodies and French companies to develop the biggest food markets in the country. Read more
Bamise: Murder trial continues despite counsel’s absence, 3 witnesses testify (Punch)
Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the Lagos High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square on Thursday ordered the trial of Nice Omininikoron, the suspect in the murder of a 22-year old fashion designer, Oluwabamise Ayanwola, to continue despite the absence of the defense counsel, Abayomi Omotubora, for the third consecutive time.
Omininikoron was facing four counts of conspiracy, rape, and murder of Ayanwole contrary to and punishable under sections 411, 223, 260 and 165 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Omotubora had been absent on June 7 and 9 as the court adjourned the trial till June 30.
However, at the resumed trial, his representative, P.O Idogun, representative, P.O Idogun, informed the court that Omotubora recovered from his illness but had to travel for an interview in Abuja. Read more
2023: Lagos Chief Whip tasks constituents on PVC collection (Tribune)
The Chief Whip, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon (Mrs) Mosunmola Rotimi Sangodara has decried the poor response rate of collection of the permanent voters’ card (PVC) by the constituents.
The lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency 2, while speaking at the annual Lagos State House of Assembly Constituency stakeholders’ meeting held at the multipurpose hall of Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area secretariat, Airways Road Ijeshatedo, Lagos, expressed displeasure over 1 million PVCs in Lagos state which is left unclaimed by the constituents.
She said, “It is quite worrisome that over 1 million PVCs from Lagos State are yet to be claimed. This is according to a recent report from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This development is not healthy for progress, democracy and our dear state especially as we are approaching the election year.
The only weapon we have to sustain our party, the All Progressives Congress in power, is our PVCs. The continuation of the APC government in the state and the nation will bring about more Infrastructural development, a healthy environment and education for our dear state to grow from a megacity to a smart city.” Read more
Celebrities, media practitioners educate students on safe use of social media (Leadership)
Nigerian dancer and choreographer, Kaffy Shafau, award winning TikToker, Rodney Umeh, and communications manager, Meta West Africa, Sola Obagbemi joined media practitioner and writer, Tosin Ajibade-Oladeinde to educate Nigerian students on the safe use of social media.
The New Media Conference School Debate held at the Chalcedony School, in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, which had the theme “Does Social Media Enrich?” and started off with a debate amongst the students prior to the lecture.
In their argument, the students aged between nine and 11 years emphasised the importance of social media and listed ways to curb its excessive use. Some of the topics argued during the debate include; cyber bullying, adult content, fake news dissemination, plagiarism, and social media control mechanisms, among others.
Speaking at the event, Kaffy advised the students to make sure that they take advantage of the social media platforms positively. She added, “social media is a tool, and you’re the driver. The good and the bad will always exist but who is behind the keyboard is what matters.” Read more
We’ll vote massively for Tinubu – Igbo group in Lagos declares (Vanguard)
An Igbo group, under the auspices of Ndigbo in All Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos, have expressed assurance to vote en-bloc for the Presidential Candidate and National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential poll.
The leader of the group and Special Adviser to the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Drainage and Water Resources, Joe Igbokwe, declared this at a crucial and special meeting of the group, held in Ikeja, Lagos.
Those in attendance were: Group’s Executive Coordinator, Deputy Executive Coordinator, woman leader, deputy woman leader, vice chairman Ojo, Board of Trustees, Youth leader, Ndi Ezes, Senatorial and Conference 57 leaders.
Igbokwe stated; “We are Ndigbo in APC Lagos and we will remain bona-fide, patriotic and committed members of APC Nigeria, come what may. Read more
‘Assault’: Singer, Portable, honours police summons after 1 week (DailyTrust)
Controversial hip hop artiste, Habeeb Okikiola, a.k.a Portable, has finally honoured the police invite over an assault.
The police command in Ogun State had on June 20, ordered him to immediately report at the nearest police post or be arrested.
The summons followed an incident of “assault” on his former Disc Jockey (DJ), simply identified as DJ Chicken.
The singer and a group of boys were seen assaulting the DJ in a video posted on social media. Read more
Labour plans 1-day protest over state of the Nation (Leadership)
Following the unresolved industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday directed its members to brace up for possible nationwide protest.
The protest would be in solidarity with ASUU to consolidate the lecturers’ existing demands for transformation in Nigeria’s universities.
NLC national president, Comrade Ayuba Wabba who spoke at the national executive council meeting of the congress in Abuja also expressed dissatisfaction over the sack of teachers by the Kaduna State government and called for a commission of inquiry on the issue.
Comrade Ayuba also said Zamfara, Abia, Taraba and Cross River states are yet to commence the implementation of the N30,000 national minimum wage, adding that the congress would consider a review of workers’ salaries after every 14 years. Read more
Stop killings, withdraw soldiers from Nko, NBA tells Ayade (Guardian)
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has appealed to Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, to withdraw his directive to the Army in the Nko community to avoid more loss of innocent lives.
NBA, Calabar branch, made the call yesterday, in a statement signed and made available to newsmen by the Chairman, Attah Ochinke, and Secretary, Eno Edet.
They also called on President Muhammadu Buhari and Chief of Army Staff to order soldiers in the warring community to end what they described as reprisal attacks on Nko residents.
Following the recent alleged attack by Nko youths on soldiers deployed to restore peace and order to the warring communities, Ayade reportedly ordered an army operation in Nko. Read more
Lena Headey is being sued over her cut ‘Thor: Love And Thunder’ role (NME)
Game Of Thrones actor Lena Headey is reportedly being sued over her cut role in Thor: Love And Thunder.
Variety reports that the actor is being sued by her former UK agency Troika for $1.5million, related to unpaid commission fees across a number of projects.
According to Troika, the actor owes $500,000, roughly 7 % of her fee, for the commission fees on the Marvel movie.
Headey left Troika in May 2020 after it was acquired by a private equity firm and rebranded as YMU in 2018. However, despite leaving, the agency claims that Headey still owes the agency money under the terms of its agreement. Read more
Kanye West sued for alleged copyright infringement over use of sample in Flowers on Donda 2 album (DailyMail)
Kanye West has been sued for alleged copyright infringement over use of a sample on a track from his Donda 2 album.
Ye, 45, was accused in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in New York federal court of using a sample from the 1986 Marshall Jefferson house track Move Your Body, aka The House Music Anthem, without prior permission or paying compensation in his song Flowers, according to an article on Thursday by Billboard.
The sample is ‘repeated at least 22 times throughout’ the song, according to a complaint filed by Jefferson’s publisher Ultra International Music Publishing in US District Court in New York.
Jefferson, 62, wrote and performed Move Your Body that peaked at number 34 on Billboard’s Dance Singles Sales chart in August 1986. Read more
Bret Michaels hospitalised, Poison cancels Nashville concert (USAToday)
Minutes before Poison was expected to perform at Tennessee’s Nissan Stadium, the band announced lead singer Bret Michaels had been hospitalized
The rest of the hard rock group took the stage late Thursday afternoon to break the news and apologize, a Live Nation representative confirmed. No reason for Michaels’ hospitalization was given.
Poison is part of The Stadium Tour, a lineup that includes Motley Crue and Def Leppard with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.
Michaels, 59, has been a Type 1 diabetic since age 6. Read more
Efya teases new album set to drop (MyJoy)
Multiple award-winning musician Jane Awindor, better known by her stage name Efya, has announced her new album is in the works.
The ‘Little things’ hitmaker told JoyNews’ Becky “it’s going to drop like a bomb, I think that’s better.”
Efya, who remained tight-lipped, said it will be a positive the album will blow the minds of music lovers.
In 2016, Efya released her debut album titled ‘Janesis’ the twenty-one track album was released in April. Read more
Park Lafontaine’s Theatre de Verdure reopens after lengthy renovation (Global)
After being closed for eight years for renovations, Park Lafontaine’s outdoor theatre is reopening Thursday night.
Le Theatre de Verdure is kicking off nearly two months of free shows with a presentation from Les Ballets Jazz Montreal.
There are more than 30 different presentations lined up, including circus shows, movie screenings, a music show by Martha Wainwright, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and many more.
The theatre first opened in 1956. Read more
Hugh Jackman says Austin Butler ‘crushes’ it as Elvis Presley in 2022 biopic (People)
Hugh Jackman is “thrilled, thrilled, thrilled” about fellow Australian Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis movie.
The Greatest Showman star, 53, couldn’t contain his excitement as he urged his followers to see the Elvis Presley biopic starring Austin Butler. Jackman gushed over the film in its entirety after having seen the movie in theaters with his wife Deborra-Lee Furness in New York on Tuesday.
“You have done it again, Elvis is incredible,” he says in a video on Twitter, tagging Luhrmann, the movie’s director, in the caption.
“Everyone went crazy. The music, the visuals, the acting, the production design – everything about it is just so beautifully done. It is just so much fun and I highly, highly recommend you all go out to see it,” he says. Read more
US Marshals: Texas woman accused of killing elite bike race captured in Costa Rica (UPI)
Authorities said Thursday that a Texas woman accused of fatally shooting an elite mountain bike racer has been captured in Costa Rica, ending a 43-day manhunt for the U.S. fugitive.
The U.S. Marshals Service announced that Kaitlin Marie Armstrong, 35, was arrested at a Santa Teresa beach hotel after authorities had been searching for her since mid-May on suspicion of killing Anna Moriah Wilson, 25.
Wilson, a Vermont elite bike racer, was in Austin for a competition on May 11 when police said that they discovered her “bleeding and unconscious” at an east Austin residence. Despite efforts to resuscitate her, she was pronounced dead at the scene and authorities said she suffered “multiple gunshot wounds.”
An arrest affidavit filed in Travis County District Court identified Armstrong and Wilson as having both recently been involved with professional cyclist Colin Strickland. Read more
Oshoala launches football academy (Nation)
Spanish Femini Barcelona striker Asisat Oshoala has announced the launch of her football academy in Nigeria in partnership with Nike Football and International Women Win.
Oshoala had humble beginnings, starting her career at Mushin-based club Robo stars. However, she rose to recognition after her exploits at the 2014 Under-20 World Cup where she won the best player award.
She then moved abroad a year later, joining English side Liverpool. Since then, Oshoala has never looked back.
The Super Falcons star has made over 100 appearances for Barcelona. Two seasons ago, Oshoala became the first African woman to win the Champions League. Also, she was the highest goalscorer in the Laliga Femini last season. Read more
Why I am building sports academy in Anambra – Agba (Independent)
Business mogul and philanthropist, Chief Emeka Agba, the Odagbulu Ihe Dagbulu Ihe Dagbulu Enyi 1 of Igboland, has explained why he is building a sports academy in Anambra State where he hails from.
Speaking with Daily Independent in an interview at the weekend, he said that he wants to develop the sport’s potential for young people in the state.
He stated that many young people have potential, which is not developed because they did have the facilities and conducive environment to do so.
He stated that many young people have potential, which is not developed because they did have the facilities and conducive environment to do so.
He also disclosed that he wants to build a sports academy in order to take young people off the streets. Read more
PSG announce the signing of former Wolves flop Vitinha on a five-year contract after (DailyMail)
Paris Saint-Germain have signed midfielder Vitinha from Porto on a five-year contract, the Ligue 1 champions said on Thursday.
The 22-year-old, the first signing of the summer for PSG, has joined the French side for a fee of about €40million euros (£34.4m), local media reports said.
Vitinha made a total of 59 appearances and scored four goals for the Portuguese club since his professional debut in 2020.
He helped Porto win the league title last season as well as two domestic cups and has also been capped three times by Portugal. Read more
Forgotten Arsenal star Hector Bellerin back in training after loan spell at Real Betis (DailyStar)
Arsenal outcast Hector Bellerin is back in training with the Gunners following his successful loan stint with Real Betis.
There was a time when the Spanish right-back was a fan favourite and a certified shoe-in among the north London club’s starting XI, however under Mikel Arteta, the 27-year-old has experienced a fall from grace. Having been deemed surplus to requirements at the Emirates, Bellerin was shipped out on loan to La Liga side Real Betis last season.
And back in his homeland, the defender enjoyed quite the renaissance, helping the Seville-based side scoop a first Copa del Rey success since 2005 with a penalty shootout victory over Valencia. Bellerin, who was in floods of tears following an emotional farewell at the end of the campaign, has made no secret of desire to return to Betis, but for now, he’s back in Arsenal training.
The Spaniard was spotted at the Gunners’ London Colney training base on Thursday having returned to the club’s first-team fold following the expiry of his season-long loan. The defender was all smiles as he was put through his paces alongside a number of Arsenal’s up-and-coming stars as the club’s pre-season preparations continued. Read more
Nick Kyrgios reacts to destroying No. 26 seed at Wimbledon (TennisWorld)
Nick Kyrgios absolutely crushed 26th-seeded Filip Krajinovic at Wimbledon and afterward said his goal was to remind everyone that he’s “pretty good.” On Thursday, Kyrgios delivered a masterclass performance as he dismantled Krajinovic.
In the first set, Kyrgios didn’t lose a single point on his serve. Kyrgios went without allowing Krajinovic a single break point during the match. On the other side, Kyrgios was constantly clenching break points as he realized 6-of-15 of his break points.
“I want to remind people that I’m pretty good,” Kyrgios said after crushing Krajinovic, per the ATP website. “This is the tournament I circle on my calendar, which I look forward to all year. It’s the Grand Slam where I have the best opportunity.
In the first round, Kyrgios survived a scare as he needed five sets to beat British qualifier Paul Jubb. Two days later, Kyrgios performed much better and it is safe to say he has bounced back well after a not-so-great opener. Read more
Phoenix Suns, Devin Booker agree on 4-year, $224 million supermax extension (ABC)
Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker has agreed on a four-year, $224 million supermax extension, his agents, Jessica Holtz and Melvin Booker of CAA Basketball, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Booker’s deal begins in 2024-25 and brings his total contract value to six years and $295 million.
Booker, 25, has become the face of the Suns franchise since being drafted 13th overall by Phoenix in the summer of 2015, including leading the Suns — alongside future Hall of Famer Chris Paul — to the NBA finals in 2021.
Now, he is officially tethered to Phoenix through the 2027-28 season after agreeing to this four-year extension, which won’t even begin until after his current contract expires following the 2023-24 season. Read more
JT Poston takes two-shot lead at John Deere Classic (BelfastTelegraph)
JT Poston took a two-stroke lead with a 9-under 62 in round one of the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois, on Thursday.
The 29-year-old American eagled the par-5 second and had seven birdies in a bogey-free run after tying in second-place at the Traveller’s Championship in Connecticut last week.
With his 9-under 62 on Thursday, Poston became the first player on record (since 1983) to open consecutive PGA Tour events with a 62 or better.
“Couldn’t have asked for a better start,” Poston wrote on Twitter, sharing footage from the start of the round. Read more