Court orders DSS to grant Emefiele access to lawyers, family members (Vanguard)
An Abuja High Court sitting at Maitama, on Friday, ordered the Department of State Services, DSS, and its Director General, to grant the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, who has been in detention since last Saturday, immediate access to his lawyers and family members.
Justice Hamza Muazu issued the order, following a fundamental right enforcement suit that was filed by Emefiele’s team of lawyers, led by a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN.
Daudu, SAN, told the court that he wrote letters to the DSS, seeking access to his client to enable the legal team to take necessary instructions from him. Read more
Name military officers involved in oil theft, navy dares Asari Dokubo (DailyTrust)
The Nigerian Navy has challenged Niger Delta leader and former agitator, Mujahid Asari Dokubo, to produce the names of officers involved in crude oil theft.
Dokubo, had on Friday, alleged that the bulk cases of oil theft recorded in the oil-rich region were traceable to the Nigerian Army and Navy.
He said this while briefing State House reporters after meeting President Bola Tinubu behind closed-doors at the Aso Rock Villa. Read more
Sanwo-Olu swears in SSG, aides, promises better performance (Punch)
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has sworn in the first set of key members of the state cabinet and inaugurated the newly appointed Secretary to the State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin.
During the swearing-in which was held on Friday at the Banquet Hall of the Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja, the appointed Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Tayo Ayinde, and the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Gboyega Soyannwo, were also sworn in.
In his address, Sanwo-Olu urged the appointees to exhibit positive attributes and recommit their efforts towards bringing about improved governance and purposeful leadership to the state’s citizens. Read more
Nigeria Info clinches broadcasters merit award (Nation)
Nigeria’s leading talk station, Nigeria Info, has emerged as the radio station of the year at the maiden edition of the recently concluded Nigeria Broadcasting Awards in Lagos.
The awards ceremony, organised by the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) at Eko Hotels and Suites in Victoria Island, was designed to celebrate the remarkable contributions of Nigerian broadcasters towards the advancement of radio journalism across the country. It is against this backdrop that Nigeria Info (Lagos) defeated other media houses to clinch the awards for Best Radio Production in Documentary and Feature while Nigeria Info (Port Harcourt) emerged as the Best Station in News.
Speaking shortly after receiving the award, the Programmes Manager for Nigeria Info, Sheriff Quadry, stated that the award reiterates the station’s long-standing commitment towards providing Nigerians with unbiased news content that captures national and international issues. Read more
ISWAP’s high-speed internet access, experiment with drones worrisome – Bukarti (Channels)
A Senior Fellow, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Bulama Bukarti, has raised the alarm over the acquisition of high-speed Internet access by the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) and its drone experiments for intelligence-gathering and possible combat.
Bukarti made the disturbing revelations during a live appearance on the Friday edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today.
“There are very worrying developments in Africa, including in the Lake Chad region, where we have the IS affiliate, ISWAP — that is, Islamic State’s West Africa Province — upping its capacity,” he said. Read more
Tinubu, others pay last respect to Nnamani’s wife (Leadership)
President Bola Tinubu’s and other dignitaries yesterday paid last respects to the late Lady Jane Nnamani, wife of a former senate president, Chief Ken Nnamani.
The funeral rites which took place at Amechi in Enugu South local government area of Enugu State attracted a delegation from the federal government and members of the National Assembly led by the senate president, Senator Godswill Akpabio as well as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
Speaking on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, Akpabio said the president was saddened by the demise of Lady Nnamani, which he described as a monumental loss. Read more
Police arrest social media user who tweeted ‘‘Let’s kill all the Igbos’’ (Tribune)
In a recent development, the Osun State Police Command has apprehended a 28-year-old man, Kehinde Adekusibe, for his use of hateful language on the microblogging site, Twitter.
The arrest was announced by the Public Relations Officer of the Force Headquarters in Abuja, Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi, via his verified Twitter handle, @Princemoye1, on Thursday.
According to a statement titled “Osun Police Arrests Social Media User Who Tweeted ‘Let’s Kill All The Igbos’,” Adekusibe violated the social media policy on hate speech. Read more
Blessing Agbebaku emerges 8th Edo Assembly Speaker (Sun)
Blessing Agbebaku, lawmaker representing Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, has emerged Speaker of the 8th House of Assembly of the state.
Agbebaku, one-time member of the assembly and erstwhile chief of Staff to the immediate Speaker of the House, was nominated Speaker by Natasha Osawaru, member, Egor Constituency and seconded by Addeh Isibor of Esan North East I during the inauguration of the 8th Assembly on Friday in Benin City.
Similarly, Maria Edeko, member representing Esan North East II, was nominated as the deputy speaker of the 24-member legislative house. Read more
Kylie joins with Cher, Lulu and Diana Ross to secure UK Top 10 singles across 5 consecutive decades (MusicNews)
The Padamic continues as Kylie Minogue celebrates her first Top 10 single in 12 years, with “Padam Padam” jumping two (9).
“Padam Padam” is Kylie’s first track to reach the Top 10 since 2011 Taio Cruz and Travie McCoy collaboration Higher (8), and her first solo song to do so since 2010’s All The Lovers (3).
This means Kylie now ties with Cher, Lulu and Diana Ross as one of only four female solo artists to have achieved UK Top 10 singles across five consecutive decades. Read more
Lady Gaga reveals concert film for The Chromatica Ball tour is in edit process (BelfastTelegraph)
Lady Gaga has revealed that the concert film for her Chromatica Ball tour is in the process of being edited.
The award-winning US singer and actress said she “could not wait” for fans to experience the film.
On Friday Gaga shared a lengthy insight into her “artistic process” and her recent projects on Instagram.
“I wanted to share a more personal moment with you today, I know I haven’t been doing a lot of that lately and some of you are really longing for me to share more of my artistic process,” she said. Read more
Carrie Fisher gets witchy in trailer for her final film “Wonderwell” (EW)
Carrie Fisher is trading the Force for a more earthbound type of magic.
The late actress and writer’s final film, “Wonderwell,” officially has a trailer, seven years after her passing. The movie, which was shot only weeks before Fisher’s death in 2016, follows Violet (Kiera Milward), a curious American girl living in Italy. When her family travels to a medieval village for a photo shoot featuring Violet’s older sister, Savannah (Nell Tiger Free), Violet wanders into the forest, which contains unexpected magic.
In the forest, Violet meets the witch Hazel (Fisher), who shows her a mysterious portal that sends Violet on an adventure where she must face off against world-renowned designer Yana (Rita Ora), who is hiding magical secrets of her own. Read more
American woman who scuba dived more than 500 times loses leg to shark in the Bahamas (Metro)
An American woman who was vacationing in the Bahamas was attacked by a shark while climbing back on a boat after a scuba diving session.
Heidi Ernst, 73, was diving south of Taino Beach ‘when she was attacked by a shark while on the ladder of a 32 ft vessel’, states a GoFundMe page set up by her friend Kim Barnes.
A man on the vessel provided first aid to Ernst, which prevented her from bleeding to death, according to Barnes. Ernst was treated at Rand Memorial Hospital in Freeport and then airlifted to the Jackson Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, Florida. Read more
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse abruptly removed from cinema listings in more than a dozen Muslim-majority countries (Sky)
The new Spider-Man film has been abruptly removed from cinema listings in more than a dozen Muslim-majority countries.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse was removed without explanation, apparently over the inclusion of a blink-and-you-miss-it transgender poster in the background of one frame.
It was listed in cinema programmes as recently as last week in countries such as Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon, and Egypt, but was abruptly and quietly pulled. Read more
Daniel Ellsberg: Pentagon Papers whistleblower dies aged 92 (BBC)
Daniel Ellsberg, the whistleblower who exposed the extent of US involvement in the Vietnam War, has died, aged 92.
He died at his home in Kensington, California, of pancreatic cancer, his family said.
The former US military analyst’s 1971 Pentagon Papers leak led to him being dubbed “the most dangerous man in America”. Read more
At least 4 dead as Texas and Florida are hit by tornados (IrishExaminer)
Clean-up efforts were beginning on Friday morning after severe storms spawned tornadoes that left at least four dead, three in the Texas Panhandle and one in the Florida Panhandle as another series of fierce storms carved its way through Southern states.
In Perryton, Texas, Ochiltree County sheriff Terry Bouchard said three people were killed when the tornado struck on Thursday afternoon and rescue efforts continued.
Another person died on Thursday night in the Florida Panhandle when at least one confirmed tornado cut through Escambia County, toppling a tree onto a home, county spokesperson Andie Gibson told the Pensacola News Journal. Read more
Coaches, players recount travails of NPFL abridged season (DailyTrust)
The 2023 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season ended last Sunday at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Lagos where former African Champions, Enyimba of Aba, edged out five other clubs in the Championship Play-Off to win their 9th NPFL title.
Although the season has come and gone, all the clubs that featured in it are still reeling in pain following the congested fixtures they faced in the regular and the just Championship Play-Off.
It will be recalled that the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the NPFL had opted for an abridged format for the 2023 season to conform with the CAF and FIFA calendars. Read more
Omeruo expects tough clash in Monrovia (Punch)
Nigeria defender Kenneth Omeruo is expecting a tough clash when the Super Eagles face Sierra Leone in their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia on Sunday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Winning the match would see the Eagles book their spot in next year’s finals in Ivory Coast.
The Leone Stars could however keep their qualification hopes alive if they defeat Nigeria, reversing the 2-1 loss they suffered at the Abuja National Stadium last June. Read more
FIFA: Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr to lead anti-racism committee made up of players (BBC)
Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr will lead a special Fifa anti-racism committee made up of players, says the world governing body’s president Gianni Infantino.
Infantino asked Vinicius to lead the committee, which will suggest stricter punishments for discriminatory behaviour in football.
The Brazil forward, 22, was racially abused several times last season.
“Enough is enough. There will be no more football with racism in it,” Infantino said. Read more
England, France ease to Euro qualifying wins as Wales stunned (France24)
Gareth Southgate’s England scored twice from the penalty spot as they eased to a 4-0 win away to a Malta side ranked 172nd in the world and kept up their perfect record in Group C.
Malta defender Ferdinando Apap turned Bukayo Saka’s cross into his own net to give England an early lead, and Trent Alexander-Arnold made it 2-0 with a superb strike.
Harry Kane, who became England’s all-time top scorer during the last international window in March, made it three goals in three games in this campaign with a penalty to make it 3-0. Read more
PGA Tour, LIV Golf file motions to drop lawsuits after whirlwind week (USAToday)
Both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf have officially motioned to drop their respective legal cases against each other, signaling what may be the beginning to the end of a lengthy battle in court that lasted nearly a year.
On Friday both parties voluntarily dismissed all claims against each other, with prejudice, meaning the claims previously made in the two lawsuits can’t be refiled or pursued. According to Friday’s filing, “all parties bear their own fees and costs.”
Last week’s news of the partnership between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund noted that all pending litigation between the Tour and LIV would be dismissed as the two sides worked to create a new, for profit global golf entity. Read more
NBA suspends Ja Morant 25 games for waving a gun on Instagram Live (NBC)
Memphis Grizzlies star point guard Ja Morant was suspended for 25 games without pay, his second significant suspension in less than two months, after he was again seen waving a gun on Instagram Live, the NBA announced Friday.
Morant posed with a gun in a car during a May 13 livestream after leaving a social gathering in Memphis, the league said in a statement. He was previously suspended eight games without pay for waving a gun March 4 while intoxicated during a livestream at a Denver area club, the league said.
Morant’s suspension begins immediately and will remain in effect through the first 25 games of the 2023-24 NBA regular season. The league said he will also be required to meet certain conditions before he returns to the hardwood and will be ineligible to participate in any public league or team activities, including preseason games, during the suspension. Read more