Court orders Mompha’s arrest, revokes bail (Guardian)
A Special Offences Court, Ikeja, on Wednesday, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of suspected internet fraudster Ismaila Mustapha known as Mompha.
Justice Mojisola Dada ordered his arrest for failing to appear in court on two scheduled dates for his trial.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Mompha on an eight-count charge of conspiracy and money laundering of over N6 billion. He is being prosecuted alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited.
Mompha was arrested on January 10 by the EFCC but was arraigned and granted bail.
His matter could not proceed due to his absence at the last adjourned date.
The EFCC lead counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, asked the court for another stand down, but the judge returned the request. Read more
Naira appreciates at investors, exporters window by 0.25% (Independent)
The Naira on Tuesday appreciated at the Investors and Exporters window, exchanging at N420.27 to the dollar, a 0.25 per cent appreciation against N421.33 traded on Monday.
The open indicative rate closed at N420.71 to the dollar on Tuesday.
An exchange rate of N444.00 to the dollar was the highest rate recorded within the day’s trading before it settled at N420.27. Read more
Petrol price to remain at N165 per litre, NMDPRA Insists (ThisDay)
Despite the position of some oil marketers that the current pump price for petrol in the country was unsustainable following long queues that have surfaced in some cities across the country, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) yesterday maintained that the pump price for premium motor spirit (PMS) remains at N165 per litre.
This was just as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday assured Nigerians that it has over two billion litres of PMS that would last for the next 34 days in the country, adding that there was enough stock to meet the nation’s demand.
However, oil marketers under the aegis of Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) have empathised with their customers and the members of the public on the current distribution hiccups witnessed in the supply of petrol from the various petrol stations dispensing at N165 per litre, saying the price was unsustainable. Read more
Late singer Osinachi for burial June 25 (Nation)
The remains of late gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu, will be buried on Saturday, June 25, 2022, in Abia State.
The Nation confirmed this on an obituary poster of the late singer on Wednesday.
Osinachi, who sang the popular song ‘Ekwueme’, died on April 8, 2022.
The late singer’s children, family, and colleagues alleged that she suffered frequent domestic violence by her husband, Peter Nwachukwu, who is currently on trial. Read more
NASU, SSANU extend strike by two months (Punch)
The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and allied institutions has extended its ongoing strike by two months.
This was made known on Wednesday, in a statement signed by the National President, SSANU, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim, and General Secretary, Mr. Peter Adeyemi.
The statement partly read, ‘‘In view of the fact that government is still a long way from effectively resolving the issues in contention, it is only expedient that we allow the process to be fully concluded before directing the end of the strike. Consequently, you are hereby informed that the strike has been extended by two months, within which we are hoping that all the contentious issues would have been effectively laid to rest. The two-month extension is with effect from Friday, June 24, 2022.’’ Read more
Ekiti Gov-Elect, Oyebanji, receives certificate of return, pledges to deliver on agenda (Leadership)
The Ekiti State governor-elect, Biodun Oyebanji, and deputy governor-elect, Mrs Monisade Afuye, on Wednesday, received their certificates of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The INEC’s National Commissioner supervising Ekiti, Oyo and Lagos States, Mr. Sam Olumekun, presented the certificates to the duo at the state headquarters of the commission in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
Olumekun said INEC was able to surmount all the odds through proper planning to conduct a free, fair and credible governorship election in Ekiti state.
Speaking while receiving his certificate alongside Mrs Afuye, Oyebanji pledged to execute his six-point agenda zealously to usher a new dawn of progress and development in Ekiti. Read more
INEC agrees to extend voters registration by 60 days (Guardian)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has agreed to extend the ongoing continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise by 60 days.
INEC’s initial deadline for voters’ registration was at the end of June 2022.
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Aishatu Jibril Dukku disclosed this while briefing fellow lawmakers on the committee’s efforts to ensure the implementation of a House resolution reached last week.
“The Committee held a meeting with INEC yesterday (Tuesday) and they agreed to extend the CVR, all our resolutions were approved,” Dukku told members of the House at plenary on Wednesday.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday stopped INEC from ending voter registration on 30 June 2022. Read more
Over 2m Nigerian girls at risk of genital mutilation, says FG (Vanguard)
THE federal government has disclosed that over 2 million girls were at risk of genital mutilation in the country, tasking Nigerians to rose against the practice it described as criminal.
This came as the government said it saved over 3,700 girls from undergoing the practice in five states of Ebonyi,Imo,Oyo,Ekiti and Osun through vigorous awareness campaign it launched in partnership with the United Nations in the affected states.
The Director of Family Health at the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Salma Anas, who said these at a news briefing in Abuja, noted the the 2 million Nigerian girls were besides over 200 million women and girls affected and living with the harmful practices globally. Read more
Buhari sends name of new chairman of RMAFC to Senate (Tribune)
President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Alhaji Mohammed Shehu, as the Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and has asked the Senate to screen and confirm his nomination.
This is contained in a letter from Buhari read at plenary on Wednesday by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.
Also on the floor of the Senate, Senators Francis Ezenwa Onyewuchi (Imo East) and Haliru Dauda Jika (Bauchi Central) defected from their political parties.
President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Alhaji Mohammed Shehu, as the Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and has asked the Senate to screen and confirm his nomination. Read more
Polio alert as several cases of virus that causes disease are detected in London (Standard)
A polio alert has been issued after several cases of poliovirus – the virus that causes the disease – were detected in London.
It is the first time in almost 40 years that transmission of the virus has been detected in the UK.
No cases of polio have been reported, but health chiefs have launched a hunt for the infected people and are targeting six unnamed boroughs in north and east London.
The UK Health Security Agency said a “national incident”-level inquiry was underway following the discovery of the virus after the routine testing of faeces from the Beckton sewage works. Read more
Brad Pitt says he’s given up smoking and drinking since splitting from Angelina Jolie (DailyMail)
Brad Pitt has given a bleak assessment of the human condition as he moves on from the collapse of his five year marriage to actress Angelina Jolie.
The Hollywood star has embraced a life of abstinence that began shortly after their divorce was finalised in 2016, but his newfound positivity is tempered by the belief that all of us experience wrenching heartache at some point in our lives.
Speaking to the latest edition of British GQ, Pitt, 58, insisted emotional turmoil and deep sadness are an inevitable part of growth.
‘I think all our hearts are broken,’ he said. ‘I always felt very alone in my life, alone growing up as a kid, alone even out here, and it’s really not till recently that I have had a greater embrace of my friends and family.
‘What’s that line, it was either Rilke or Einstein, believe it or not, but it was something about when you can walk with the paradox, when you carry real pain and real joy simultaneously, this is maturity, this is growth.’
Despite the overriding sense of isolation, Pitt admits he’s found community and friendship through his decision to give up alcohol in 2016. Read more
Woman gets £120,000 payout from NHS after singer fiancé dies from Covid-19 jab (Mirror)
A woman whose fiancé died after getting the Covid-19 jab claims she has received the first Covid vaccine damage payment of £120,000.
Lord Zion, 48, died in May 2021 days after receiving the AstraZeneca jab.
Vikki Spit, from Alston, Cumbria, filed for the claim under the NHS Business Services Authority’s Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme.
The Covid-19 jab has been proved to be safe for the vast majority of those who get it. Read more
Obi-Wan Kenobi finale tore fans apart with heartbreak and pieced them back together (Metro)
It’s hard to believe that Obi-Wan Kenobi is actually over – but the fact that the six episodes have flown by so quickly is just a testament to how fantastic this series has been.
Almost two decades after Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen were last seen as Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, the episode 6 finale saw them face off once again… and their rematch was sensationally brutal, in both a physical and emotional sense.
As fans await any news (crossed fingers) of a possible season 2, they’ll be able to relish in the mastery of the final episode, which combined fan service with heartbreak, joy, loss and hope.
Basically, it blended everything that’s made Star Wars such a beloved franchise for 45 years, while also fuelling the feeling that there is so much more content that can be explored with these characters on screen in live-action. Read more
Stand on one leg test predicts longevity (NewsMax)
It sounds easy, but standing on one leg for 10 seconds can be harder than you think.
And your ability to do so — or not — may predict whether you are more likely to die within the next decade, a new study suggests. That’s why an international team of researchers says the 10-second test should be part of routine health checks for all middle-aged and older adults.
“[It] provides rapid and objective feedback for the patient and health professionals regarding static balance,” the researchers said, adding that the test adds useful information regarding a patient’s risk of premature death.
Dr. Claudio Araujo of the Exercise Medicine Clinic in Rio de Janeiro led the study.
Araujo’s team noted that balance, unlike aerobic fitness, muscle strength and flexibility, tends to be reasonably well preserved until a person’s sixth decade of life. It then wanes rapidly. Read more
Boris Johnson ‘hasn’t lifted a finger’ to solve rail strikes, says Keir Starmer (Guardian)
Keir Starmer has accused Boris Johnson of being more interested in “blaming everyone else” rather than expending any effort to resolve rail strikes, as the Labour leader repeatedly lambasted the prime minister for not doing his job.
Directly taking on government attempts to portray Labour as complicit in the rail stoppages because of the party’s union links, Starmer used prime minister’s questions to instead portray Johnson as self-interested and passive.
While Johnson repeatedly sought to condemn Starmer for not having “the gumption” to prevent Labour MPs supporting the RMT union and joining picket lines at the first of three scheduled rail strikes on Tuesday, Starmer said this was a clear attempt to deflect any responsibility.
“If he’s genuine about preventing strikes, could the prime minister tell this house how many meetings he or his transport secretary have had with rail workers this week to actually stop the strikes?” Starmer asked. Read more
Amber Heard to write ‘tell all book’ on Johnny Depp as she has ‘nothing to lose’ (Mirror)
Amber Heard is said to be writing a ‘tell all book’ about her ex-husband Johnny Depp, after being ordered to pay the actor $8.3million in damages following their blockbuster defamation trial.
The Aquaman actress, 36, is said to think her ‘career in Hollywood is over’ and is penning a memoir as she feels she has ‘nothing to lose’.
It could be a lucrative idea for Amber, whose lawyer Elaine Bredehoft said the Texan-born actress can “absolutely not’ afford to pay the damages to Depp, 59.
“Amber considers her career in Hollywood over. She’s already in talks and is excited about it. At this point, she has nothing to lose and wants to tell all,” an insider told OK! Magazine.
However according to a New York divorce lawyer, the actress could have everything to lose if she puts pen to paper. Read more
Oshoala predicts tough WAFCON for Falcons (Punch)
Nigeria forward Asisat Oshoala says the Super Falcons must not be complacent when they defend their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations crown in Morocco next month.
The West Africans have won the past three tournaments and have a record nine Women’s Nations Cup triumphs overall.
However, Barcelona star Oshoala believes the quality of other sides across the continent is improving quickly.
“I feel really confident about our team (but) we also know that right now it’s more competitive,” the 27-year-old told the BBC World Service. Read more
Team England names Commonwealth athletics squad (BBC)
Dina Asher-Smith and Katarina Johnson-Thompson will headline a 72-strong England athletics team at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
World 200m champion Asher-Smith will compete in the women’s 100m and 4x100m – the latter in which she won gold at the 2018 Games.
Heptathlon world champion Johnson-Thompson will also defend her title.
Tokyo Olympic medallists Keely Hodgkinson (800m) and Holly Bradshaw (pole vault) are also in the squad.
Other selected athletes hoping to repeat their gold medals from the Gold Coast in 2018 are hammer thrower Nick Miller along with Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Zharnel Hughes, Asha Philip and Lorraine Ugen, who won titles in the relays. Ugen will compete in her specialist long jump event in Birmingham. Read more
Qatar beaten by Northern Irish club Linfield just months before hosting World Cup (Mirror)
World Cup hosts Qatar suffered a defeat against Northern Ireland champions Linfield in a pre-season friendly, less than six months from the tournament getting underway in the Middle East.
Qatar, hosts of this year’s finals which are being held in November and December, had lost just one of their last nine internationals. That was a run of results which had seen them defeat Bulgaria, oust Egypt in a penalty shootout and hold Slovenia to a scoreless draw.
However, they were downed by the Blues in a pre-season clash in Marbella – where both sides have been based over the past week during their training schedules. Belfast-based side Linfield are preparing for their Champions League qualification match against Welsh champions The New Saints. Read more
Jurgen Klopp breaks silence on Sadio Mane’s decision to join Bayern Munich (Metro)
Jurgen Klopp insists Sadio Mane leaves Liverpool with no hard feelings and as one of the best footballers in the world.
The Senegal international helped kickstart Klopp’s Anfield revolution upon his arrival from Southampton six years ago and played a key role in the success the club have enjoyed in recent seasons.
Despite his importance to Klopp and Liverpool, the lure of a fresh challenge has been too much for Mane to resist and his move to Bayern Munich was officially confirmed on Wednesday.
Liverpool have already moved to offset Mane’s departure by spending a club-record fee on Darwin Nunez, but Klopp insists the departure of such a popular player will be felt on many levels. Read more
“I changed kids’ perspectives”: Muggsy Bogues, the 5ft 3in star who broke NBA norms (Guardian)
The NBA season only ended last week, but teams are already looking to the future. On Thursday night, college stars like Auburn’s Jabari Smith Jr and international prospects such as French phenom Ousmane Dieng will wait anxiously for NBA commissioner Adam Silver to call their names and, in the process, change their lives forever. It’s a ritual almost as old as the NBA itself – the first draft was held 75 years ago, ahead of the NBA’s second season.
And this year marks the 35th anniversary of one of the most striking picks in the NBA draft’s long history. In 1987, the Washington Bullets picked Muggsy Bogues – all 5ft 3in of him – with the 12th overall pick.
Bullets fans had reason to doubt their team’s pick. Bogues is still the shortest NBA player ever, a fact which caused many scouts to doubt Bogues’s ability to survive, let alone thrive, in the league. For context, the average height of an NBA player when Bogues was drafted was 6ft 7in. At 5ft 9in, Isaiah Thomas, the shortest player in the NBA last season, towers six inches over Bogues. Read more
Boehly named new Chelsea chairman, Granovskaia departs (Guardian)
Todd Boehly was Wednesday named as Chelsea’s new chairman to replace Bruce Buck and will act as interim sporting director after the club confirmed the departure of Marina Granovskaia.
Granovskaia is stepping down from her role as director as part of a shake-up at Stamford Bridge, leaving co-controlling owner Boehly to spearhead Chelsea’s negotiations in the transfer window.
All the top Boehly-Clearlake Capital consortium figureheads have been added to Chelsea’s new board following the purchase of the club from Roman Abramovich.
“As custodians of Chelsea FC, we now begin executing our long-term vision and plan for the club, creating an outstanding experience for its passionate, loyal fans, and continuing to challenge for top honours in line with Chelsea FC’s dedicated history,” said Boehly. Read more