Court remands teenagers over murder of RCCG pastor (Punch)
A Lagos High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square on Thursday remanded two boys, Farouk Mohammed, 16, and Kasali Jamiu, 19, at the Special Correctional Centre for Boys, Oregun, and the Ikoyi Custodial Centre, respectively.
Justice Sherifat Sonaike remanded them after they were charged with the murder of a Redeemed Christian Church of God pastor, Babatunde Dada, 46.
The duo were first charged on January 12, 2022, before a Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court alongside two others, Mumuni Toheeb, 21, and Mubarak Soliu, 20, for allegedly receiving a Spark S Techno phone valued at N60,000, property of the deceased.
On February 14, when the case came up, Chief Magistrate Olatunbosun Adeola said a prema facie case had been established against Mohammed and Jamiu. Read more
Man arrested selling fake dollars in Lagos (DailyTrust)
A 38-year-old bureau de change operator, Haruna Garba, has admitted to helping a syndicate involved in the minting of fake currencies to sell fake dollar bills.
The suspect was arrested on Wednesday by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) unit of the Lagos State Police Command.
The suspect was arrested in the Ikeja area of Lagos after he sold some fake dollars to an unsuspecting buyer.
In his confessional statement, the suspect said: “I bought the fake dollars from some of my friends who are into the printing of fake currencies. Read more
Lagos Commissioner, stakeholders grace unveiling of Code4teen Lab (ThisDay)
Code 4teen, one of Nigeria’s leading education technology research labs, with focus on providing solutions to technology literacy for the next generation, has recently partnered with Grandmates School.
This partnership has resulted in the development of a computer laboratory centered on aiding the complete integration of computer language into the educational eco-system by providing both content and infrastructure products leveraging research and automation.
At the unveiling of the lab, the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo; owner of Greensprings School, Mrs. Lai Koiki, and Senior Special Assistant on Education to the state governor, Miss Adetola Salau, graced the occasion as well as other educational stakeholders in the state, representatives of schools using the products; business executives among others.
At the occasion, the commissioner said: “Since we came onboard, we have been looking at the curriculum, and we have been able to integrate some subjects into our schools’ in a bid to build skills of the students. We ensure that these skills are unconsciously adopted. Coding is part of what we are excited about, as it is the future of education. I have a peripheral knowledge of coding and I know it is the future. Lagos State is excited to invest in it.” Read more
# EndSARS memorial: We didn’t fire life bullet to disperse protesters -Police (Sun)
Many people were injured on Thursday day when the police fired teargas canisters at people who converged to commemorate the second anniversary of #EndSARS protest.
Outside the teargas canisters, popularly known as smoke, the police were also accused of firing gunshots to disperse the mammoth crowd that converged at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos.
But, in a reaction, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said nobody was injured and no gunshot was fired by the police.
A victim, Ifeanyi Iwekasi, told Daily Sun that the youths were at the tollgate to mourn those who were killed, maimed or detained by the police during the #EndSARS protests two years ago, and to remind the government that it has not fulfilled its promises. Read more
Energy firm lifts UNILAG with N70m digital laboratory (Guardian)
To make the 21st century compliant and globally competitive, Siemens Energy has donated a digital engineering laboratory worth N70 million to the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
The laboratory is equipped with computer sets for students to learn, interact and refresh themselves.
Speaking at the inauguration, Siemens Managing Director, Mr Seun Suleiman, said the provision of the facilities was borne out of the firm’s desire to boost learning and equip students with needed skills.
According to him, education is key to the firm, because, with it, you cannot get it wrong. “It will fix the society, take many off the streets and people will be able to gain employment,” Suleiman said. Read more
Lagos to back Gambia in e-procurement (Nation)
Lagos State has said it will assist Gambia to migrate to the e-procurement system.
Finance Commissioner Dr. Rabiu Olowo spoke Thursday while addressing a delegation of the Gambian Fiscal Management Development Project, which visited the Public Procurement Agency.
Olowo, chairman of the governing board, hailed the delegation for visiting Lagos to exchange ideas on how it could enhance the public procurement system using technology.
Science and Technology Commissioner Mr. Hakeem Fahm advised the delegation to choose the technology to suit Gambia. Read more
Immigration job scam: 3 civil servants, 1 businessman bag 2 year jail term (Independent)
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of three civil servants and a businessman for defrauding one Alhaji Bala Rabiu of N900,000 for fake Immigration jobs purportedly secured for six of his children.
The convicts, Jibrin Babagana, a businessman, Mohammed Rabiu Isa, a civil servant with the State Ministry of Education, Sabo Abdullahi and Ado Abdul of the State Ministry of Justice, according to ICPC Spokesperson, Mrs. Azuka Ogugua, were sentenced to two years imprisonment each by Justice Nasiru Saminu of the Kano State High Court 13, sitting at Bompai, Kano, Kano State, on each of the 4-count charge preferred against them. Read more
Chacha Eke: You’ve mental illness if… (Nation)
Popular actress Chacha Eke has highlighted some symptoms and causes of mental illness.
The actress has given herself to champion the cause of mental illness after being diagnosed with it some years ago.
She recently admitted to battling with mental health issues noting she never imagined such a time would come.
While she joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Mental Health Day, the movie star explained the fact that she’s a beautiful, extremely talented and brilliant personality made her never envisage she’d have to be contending with issues relating to mental health. Read more
Sabinus splashes millions on black benz (Independent)
Nigerian skit maker, Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Ejekwu, popularly known as Oga Sabinus, purchased another Mercedez Benz weeks after his new Benz was damaged.
It would be recalled that the internet sensation was involved in an accident after holding a secret engagement in the Ojo area of Lagos state.
Although the comedian survived the incident unscathed, his Benz was badly damaged. Read more
Kevin Spacey ‘deeply grateful’ after jury rules he didn’t molest actor Anthony Rapp (Mirror)
After a jury during a civil trial concluded that Kevin Spacey was not liable for molesting Anthony Rapp, the actor has now shared a statement.
The verdict came after jurors in Manhattan found the accuser didn’t prove that Spacey made any unwanted sexual advances towards him when he was 14.
Rapp, 50, claimed Kevin had climbed on top of him while on a bed and pressed his groin into his hip until he managed to get free, in 1986.
Kevin, 63, had continually denied the allegations and insisted that he hadn’t been alone with Rapp at any point. Read more
Jane Fonda says she will return to D.C. for climate rally and protest (Deadline)
Jane Fonda said that she is returning to Washington, D.C. in December for a return of Fire Drill Fridays, the protests she and other activists staged to call attention to the climate crisis.
Fonda wrote on Twitter, “BIG news! On Fri 12/2, I’ll be back in DC with @FireDrillFriday & @GreenpeaceUSA for our first in-person rally in 3 years! Join us to sound the alarm on the climate emergency.”
Fonda was arrested five times during protests in Washington, D.C. in 2019 and early 2020, including one night that she spent in jail. She often brought guests, including co-stars like Lily Tomlin, Sam Waterston and Martin Sheen, to take part. The protests continued in Los Angeles and in other cities and in online presentations.
Fonda, 84, announced in September that she had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and was going through six months of chemo treatment. She wrote in a post that she was “handling the treatments quite well and, believe me, I will not let any of this interfere with my climate activism.” Read more
Jennifer Coolidge teases ”Legally Blonde 3” with Reese Witherspoon (ET)
Jennifer Coolidge is ready to bend and snap right back into the world of Legally Blonde. ET’s Denny Directo spoke to Coolidge at The White Lotus premiere Thursday night where she teased what fans can expect from the franchise’s third film.
Legally Blonde 3 was officially given the green light in May 2020, with Reese Witherspoon returning as the powerful in pink attorney, Elle Woods, and Coolidge set to reprise the role of Paulette, Elle’s manicurist and confidante. Also attached to the film is Mindy Kaling, who is writing the new script alongside Dan Goor.
“I know nothing, I mean I don’t know if they wanted to surprise me or something, ’cause I hear about it a lot,” Coolidge said of the highly anticipated third installment. “I heard that Mindy has this amazing version of our next round, but I haven’t seen it. I don’t have the call yet.”
When asked if she was looking forward to it Coolidge said, “Of course. Of course.” Read more
Boris Johnson expected to make sensational bid to return as PM 2 months after ousting (Mirror)
Shamed Boris Johnson is being tipped to make a sensational bid to return as Prime Minister – supposedly in the “national interest”.
The former premier has missed the collapse of his successor Liz Truss after just 44 days because he is on holiday in the Caribbean.
Now he is said to be preparing a bid to run for a return to Downing Street less than two months after he was ousted over a string of scandals, from Partygate to sleaze.
The Daily Telegraph, who Mr Johnson once described as his “real boss” and where he worked as a columnist, has reported that he is expected to stand. The Times has reported the same fact. Read more
Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige and Chris Brown among Soul Train Awards 2022 nominees (HipHopDX)
Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige and Chris Brown are among the artists to earn the most nominations at next month’s 2022 Soul Train Awards.
Queen Bey and Mary J are leading the charge with seven nominations each as the Soul Train Awards prepare to take over Las Vegas for a November 13 taping.
Highlighting the best in Hip Hop, R&B and soul music, the awards show will be hosted by comedian Deon Cole and is set to air on BET November 27 at 8 p.m. ET.
“Hosting the Soul Train Awards is a dream come true. I grew up watching Soul Train and ‘till this day, I’ve never met a Soul Train Line I didn’t bless with my skilled two steps,” Cole said in a statement. “It is truly a privilege to be given this opportunity to celebrate Don Cornelius’ legacy, all of the amazing Black talent that illuminated our screens on the iconic TV show, and my favorite genres of music: Soul, R&B and Hip Hop.” Read more
Taylor Swift reveals 1st look at ‘Midnights’ music videos featuring Haim, Laura Dern and more (Variety)
Taylor Swift gave fans an early glimpse at the music videos for her 10th album, “Midnights,” in a teaser trailer during “Thursday Night Football.”
“I just wanted to first of all say thank you so much to Amazon for giving me an opportunity to show you guys a first look teaser trailer of the secret projects that I’ve been working on for a really long time,” Swift said in a message at the start of the teaser.
“Those projects are the ‘Midnights’ music movies, the music videos that I’ve made for this album to sort of explore visually the world of this record. And I love storytelling, I love songwriting, I love writing videos, I love directing them. And this was a really fun opportunity to work again with the cinematographer Rina Yang, who was my collaborator on the ‘All Too Well’ 10-minute short film. So we really wanted to challenge ourselves to do different things this time around and stretch and I’m really proud of what we made and I really hope you like them. We worked with some amazing actors, which you’ll find out more about at the end of the teaser trailer.”
Said actors include Alana Haim, Danielle Haim and Este Haim of the band Haim; album producer Jack Antonoff; model Laith Ashley; comedian Mike Birbiglia; Oscar winner Laura Dern; comedian John Early; “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” actor Mary Elizabeth Ellis; makeup mogul Pat McGrath and burlesque icon Dita Von Teese. However, the teaser itself mainly featured Swift, sporting a plethora of colorful looks ranging from a ’20s-inspired flapper dress to a sparkling cape to a Marie Antoinette-esque outfit. Read more
Ukraine war: Iranian drone experts ‘on the ground’ in Crimea – US (BBC)
Iran has deployed military experts in Russian-occupied Crimea to help launch drone attacks on Ukraine, the White House says.
The Iranians are trainers and tech support workers, a US spokesman said.
The Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, was struck by so-called “kamikaze” drones on Monday, deployed by Russia but believed to be Iranian-made.
The UK has announced sanctions on Iranian businesses and individuals responsible for supplying the drones. Read more
Arsenal’s Xhaka ‘deserves’ renewed success at club – Arteta (ESPN)
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has said Granit Xhaka deserves to relish in his turnaround in fortunes at the Emirates — almost three years to the day since he was infamously booed off by the club’s fans — adding that he’s unlocked something in his play and it’s paying dividends on the field.
Xhaka scored a well-taken half volley to help Arsenal to a 1-0 win over PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League on Thursday and put them on the cusp of winning Group B.
“I think he has faced adversity, and in difficult moments he has put his arm up when he had something different to do,” Arteta said in a postmatch news conference. “His worth ethic, the way he is as a person, the way he treats everybody around the club, and the love for this football club and the profession is unquestionable, and I think he fully deserves that.
“I’m really happy to see him enjoying his career.” Read more
Gerrard’s Villa reign ends as Rodgers gives Leicester hope (DailyMail)
Steven Gerrard had only just finished telling interviewers he would fight on at Aston Villa when the announcement came.
“Aston Villa Football Club can confirm that head coach Steven Gerrard has left the club with immediate effect,” the club said in a statement Thursday. “We would like to thank Steven for his hard work and commitment and wish him well for the future.”
It felt particularly cruel that Gerrard would be thrust in front of the cameras to defend his position if, as appears, his fate had already been sealed by a 3-0 loss to Fulham minutes earlier.
Villa fans had called for him to be fired after a result that left his team just above the relegation zone. Read more
Lewandowski passes 600-goal mark in Barcelona win (BBC)
Robert Lewandowski scored the 600th and 601st goals of his career as Barcelona enjoyed a routine win over Villarreal.
Barca, who lost 3-1 at Real Madrid on Sunday, hit three goals in seven minutes at the end of the first half.
Lewandowski grabbed his first when he collected Jordi Alba’s cross, spun and shot past Geronimo Rulli and added another soon after from Gavi’s pass.
Ansu Fati made it 3-0 in the 38th minute to leave Barca second in La Liga, three points behind Real Madrid. Read more
LeBron James reacts to death of longtime NBA referee Tony Brown (SI)
Longtime NBA referee Tony Brown has died at 55 from pancreatic cancer, the league announced Thursday.
Lakers star LeBron James shared a few little memories about his time interacting with the referee throughout Brown’s 20-year career in the league.
Brown even worked during the 2020 NBA Finals when James’ Lakers took down the Heat 4–2 to win the title.
“R.I.P. Tony man!!” James tweeted. “Great ref but greater dude! Loved when I ran on the court for warmups and he would be on the game that night! Your smile & laugh will be missed tremendously here in our sport!” Read more
Roger Federer set to travel to Japan next month (TennisWorld)
Roger Federer will travel to Japan next month for a Uniqlo event.
In 2018, Federer signed a 10-year, $300 million sponsorship deal with Uniqlo.
At the time, some were surprised by Federer’s decision to ditch Nike and sign a sponsorship with another clothing brand. When Federer signed that deal with Uniqlo, it was clear that he would be well-retired when his deal expires.
Federer, who retired from professional tennis at the Laver Cup in late September, still has his commitments to Uniqlo and Japanese tennis fans will have a chance to see him at a Uniqlo event next month. Read more
Hamilton: Red Bull breach ‘brings up emotion’ of last year (Sky)
Lewis Hamilton says Red Bull being found to have breached Formula 1’s cost cap has brought up “emotion” from agonisingly losing out in his 2021 world championship battle with Max Verstappen.
Mercedes driver Hamilton was denied an eighth world championship in controversial circumstances as an unprecedented call by race director Michael Masi afforded Verstappen the chance to take the lead on the final lap, before winning the race and title.
Hamilton considered walking away from the sport before returning for 2022 and “moving on” from the incident, but admits old wounds have been opened up with the Dutchman’s team now having been found to have breached the sport’s budget cap in its first season in operation.
“I don’t necessarily have much of an opinion because I’m not really focused on it,” Hamilton said on Thursday ahead of this weekend’s United States Grand Prix. Read more