Dismiss suit challenging old naira notes, FG tells Supreme Court (DailyTrust)
The Federal Government has asked the Supreme Court to dismiss a suit challenging the February 10 deadline for the circulation of old naira notes.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which redesigned the naira, had fixed January 31 as the deadline of the old notes to be legal tender.
But the deadline was extended to February 10 after intense pressure on the government and the apex bank.
Last week, Godwin Emefiele said the apex bank was not considering extending the deadline. Read more
I didn’t offer to buy kidney, Ekweremadu tells UK court (Punch)
Former deputy president of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has denied offering money to a prospective kidney donor to save his sick daughter, Sonia.
The lawmaker, his wife, Beatrice, and their 25-year-old daughter are on trial in London for allegedly trafficking a young man from Nigeria to serve as kidney donor.
The Ekweremadus were alleged to have offered £7,000 to the 21-year-old trader whom they flew to London and falsely presented as Sonia’s cousin so as to obtain his kidney. Read more
How petty traders survive naira crunch (Guardian)
These are not the best of times for traders in Lagos as they continue to battle the impact of naira scarcity on their daily business. The traders are appealing to the Federal Government to allow new and old naira notes co-exist for a long time before the old notes fade out. They observed that business has not been booming since the introduction of the policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as customers complain of lack of cash for transactions.
Despite extension of deadline, scarcity of both new and old notes persist, as Nigerians are unable to get cash at banks, POS points and Automated Teller Machines (ATM).
While petty traders play a major role in daily economy, selling basic ingredients and contributing to the nation’s nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP), estimated at $510 billion, operators fear that the naira crisis may collapse businesses, if the Federal Government does not soften its position on the policy. Read more
Elections: Court dismisses PDP’s suit against Sanwo-Olu, others (Channels)
The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has dismissed a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the candidates for the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Justice Peter Lifu dismissed the suit after the PDP moved to withdraw the suit. The court also agreed with the defendants’ counsel that the plaintiffs failed to prosecute same diligently, after issues had been joined.
In the suit which was filed on October 17, 2022, the PDP who also sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) asked the court to among other things declare that by the proper construction and interpretation of the combined provisions of sections 29 and 30(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, it is mandatory for a political party such as the APC to submit the Nomination Forms of candidates it proposes to sponsor for elections to the 1st Defendant, INEC no later than 180 days to the conduct of such elections. Read more
UNILAG undergraduate dies in Lagos hospital, family kicks (Punch)
The family of an undergraduate of the University of Lagos, Samuel Omolaye, has accused the management of the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, Lagos, of negligence resulting in his death at the facility in Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Samuel complained that he was feeling unwell and his family members rushed him to the medical facility for urgent treatment on February 1, 2023.
On getting to the premises, it was learnt that workers in the hospital refused to commence treatment on the 25-year-old due to a lack of bed space in the hospital. Read more
Sanwo-Olu increases Lagos sanitation workers’ salaries (Leadership)
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, has announced that the salaries of sanitation workers in the State have been increased by 20%, as promised by the Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at a recent rally organised by the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN) in support of the presidential bid of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Mr. Odumboni made the announcement during a meeting with the sweepers at LAWMA’s headquarters, Ijora-Olopa, where he also revealed that they would be provided with new work tools such as overalls, boots, personal protective equipment (PPE), etc., which would enable them to discharge their duties effectively.
He added that the government was committed to providing the necessary support for the sweepers to carry out their roles efficiently. Read more
Fuel tanker explodes on Ore-Benin Expressway in Ondo State (Guardian)
A fuel-laden tanker exploded on Wednesday on the Ore-Benin Expressway at Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
It was the second of such explosions in the area in nine days as a kerosene tanker also burst into flames there on Jan. 31 roasting its driver.
Mr Sikiru Alonge, Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ore who confirmed the two explosions said Wednesday’s tanker driver escaped unhurt and no life was lost in the incident. Read more
Abia cancels proposed installation of Emir of Aba (Nation)
The Abia State Government has announced the cancellation of the planned installation of one Sarki Shehu Bello 11 as the Emir of Aba Emirate Council.
In a statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Barr. Chris Ezem, the Government directs security agencies to ensure that no such event capable of breaching the existing peace in the State takes place in Aba or any part.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Government of Abia State has been drawn to a proposed coronation of one Sarki Shehu Bello 11 as the Emir of Aba Emirate Council without recourse to Government. Read more
Salma Hayek Pinault says From Dusk Till Dawn striptease scene “changed” her career (People)
Salma Hayek Pinault is looking back on her iconic striptease scene.
The actress stars opposite Channing Tatum in Magic Mike’s Last Dance, her first entry and his third in the big-screen stripper franchise. Speaking with PEOPLE, Hayek Pinault, 56, points out that she and Tatum, 42, both had career-defining moments involving provocative dancing.
“Channing and I share one experience: We both did a dance that we didn’t think was going to be much — me From Dusk Till Dawn and him in Magic Mike — and it’s something that really changed our careers,” she says.
In 1996’s From Dusk Till Dawn, directed by Robert Rodriguez and written by Quentin Tarantino, the actress played Santanico Pandemonium, a dancer described in the vampire film as the “most sinister woman to ever dance on the face of this earth.” Read more
Google AI chatbot Bard sends shares plummeting after it gives wrong answer (Guardian)
Google’s debut of a new AI-powered search bot got off to a bumpy start after it shared inaccurate information in a promotional video, wobbling investors’ confidence.
Google parent Alphabet lost $100bn in market value on Wednesday, feeding worries that it is losing ground to rival Microsoft. Alphabet shares, which slid as much as 9% during regular trading, were flat after hours. Microsoft shares rose about 3% before paring gains. They were also flat in post-market trading.
Google’s woes began after Reuters reported an error in its advertisement for chatbot Bard, which debuted on Monday. Read more
Rufus Sewell and Gillian Anderson to star in film about Prince Andrew’s Newsnight interview (Guardian)
Rufus Sewell is to star in the eagerly awaited drama fictionalising Prince Andrew’s infamous interview on the BBC’s flagship current affairs show, Newsnight.
The film, which starts shooting in London this month, will also feature Gillian Anderson as Emily Maitlis, the then-lead presenter on the show, who conducted the interview, widely perceived to be a remarkable coup for the programme and an ill-advised move by the prince.
Billie Piper will star as Sam McAlister, the producer who secured and oversaw the interview, and who wrote the book – Scoops: Behind the Scenes of the BBC’s Most Shocking Interviews – on which the film is based. Meanwhile, Keeley Hawes will play Amanda Thirsk, former private secretary to Prince Andrew. Read more
Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin to co-host 16th annual Women In Film event (Standard)
Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin will co-host the 16th annual Women In Film event, it has been announced.
The star of Coda, will be joined by fellow Oscar-winner, screenwriter Sian Heder as co-host at the ceremony next month.
WIF is the only event celebrating all the women nominated for Academy Awards, and will take place just two days before the 95th Oscars on March 12. Read more
Radiohead drummer Philip Selway shares title track to new solo album Strange Dance (NME)
Philip Selway – best known as the drummer and co-founder of Radiohead – has released the title track to his forthcoming third solo album, ‘‘Strange Dance’’.
‘‘Strange Dance’’, released today (February 9), follows on from lead single ‘‘Check For Signs Of Life’’ in October 2022, and follow-up ‘‚Picking Up Pieces’’ last month. Per a press statement from Selway, the song “had a very long gestation” period, dating back to when Radiohead were recording and touring albums such as ‘‘Kid A’’ and ‘‘Amnesiac’’.
“In its original form, it was the first piece from the album to be written, over 20 years ago,” he says. “It was also the last song to be completed on the album, with the lyric taking shape in the final recording session.” Read more
Roger Waters has re-recorded Dark Side without Pink Floyd (ClassicRock)
Roger Waters has re-recorded The Dark Side of the Moon without the rest of his former Pink Floyd bandmates.
“I wrote The Dark Side of the Moon. Let’s get rid of all this ‘we’ crap!” Waters declared during an interview with The Telegraph. “Of course we were a band, there were four of us, we all contributed – but it’s my project and I wrote it. So… blah!”
Officially, Waters is credited with writing the 1973 album’s lyrics, composing three of its tracks, and co-writing two others.
The rocker was far from complimentary when discussing his former bandmates’ songwriting contributions, insisting the other members of Pink Floyd couldn’t craft quality material. “Well, Nick [Mason] never pretended. But [David] Gilmour and Rick [Wright]? They can’t write songs, they’ve nothing to say. They are not artists!” Read more
Malaysian Airlines shootdown probe finds ”strong indications” Putin approved missiles (NPR)
An international team of investigators said Wednesday it found “strong indications” that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the supply of heavy anti-aircraft weapons to Ukrainian separatists who shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014 with a Russian missile.
However, members of the Joint Investigation Team said they had insufficient evidence to prosecute Putin or any other suspects and they suspended their 8½-year inquiry into the shooting down that killed all 298 people on board the Boeing 777 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.
Russia has always denied any involvement in the downing of the flight over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, and refused to cooperate with the international investigation. Read more
Balogun may miss AFCON qualifiers as injury woes linger (DailyTrust)
These are not good times for Super Eagles defender, Leon Balogun, as he faces a race against time to be fit for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifying games in March.
The 34-year-old, who plays for Queens Park Rangers in the English Championship, has been out since November 8 after suffering an injury against Huddersfield.
According to reports, his three-month absence might be prolonged well beyond March, when Nigeria plays Guinea-Bissau in a double-header AFCON qualifier. Read more
Sancho salvages Man Utd draw with managerless Leeds (Guardian)
Jadon Sancho’s first goal since September denied managerless Leeds a famous win at Old Trafford as Manchester United came from 2-0 down to salvage a 2-2 draw on Wednesday.
Sancho has been sidelined for much of the season by fitness issues, but came off the bench to rescue a point and stretch United’s unbeaten run at home to 16 games.
Leeds sacked Jesse Marsch on Monday following a run of seven league games without a win. Read more
Fulham end Sunderland’s run to set up Leeds tie (BBC)
Fulham saw off Championship play-off hopefuls Sunderland to set up an FA Cup fifth-round tie against Leeds United.
Harry Wilson’s early goal put a much-changed Fulham side in control of the fourth-round replay, with the winger slotting his effort into the bottom corner with the outside of his boot after he was teed up by Carlos Vinícius.
Aleksandar Mitrovic and Andreas Pereira combined for Fulham’s second goal just before the hour mark, when the Serbian striker did well to keep the ball in on the byline and touch it back for his fellow substitute to tap in. Read more
Malinovskyi fires Marseille to 1st home win over PSG in 12 years (RFI)
Ruslan Malinovskyi scored an excellent second-half winner as Marseille beat rivals Paris Saint-Germain at home for the first time since 2011 on Wednesday, winning 2-1 to reach the French Cup quarter-finals.
Alexis Sanchez gave Marseille the lead just after the half-hour mark from the penalty spot, before Sergio Ramos equalised on the stroke of half-time.
But Ukraine international Malinovskyi blasted the hosts back in front and they held onto end their long wait for a victory over PSG at Stade Velodrome. Read more
French tennis star retires in tears after injury from horror fall in front of home crowd (Express)
Ugo Humbert was forced to retire in tears after a horror fall at one of his home tournaments in Montpellier. The wildcard had raced to take the first set 6-1 against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina before being dragged into a second set tiebreak where he fell at the side of the court and needed medical attention. After losing the set he forfeited the match injured.
Humbert was mid-way through his second set tiebreak against world No 32 Davidovich Fokina when he suffered a dramatic fall at the back of the court. The Spaniard was already 4-1 up in the tiebreak when the Frenchman chased down a ball before falling when he ran for the ball a second time, while his opponent rushed over to make sure he was alright.
The wildcard needed immediate treatment after going down on the court and opted to continue despite appearing distressed from the injury he picked up from the fall. Humbert managed to win just one more point before losing the tiebreak 7-2 and opted to retire from the match, shaking Davidovich Fokina’s hand. Read more
Bills’ Damar Hamlin makes appearance to receive NFLPA award (ESPN)
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin was named the NFLPA Alan Page Community Award winner Wednesday for his work raising more than $9 million for his Chasing M’s Foundation in the days after he collapsed on the field during a Jan. 2 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Hamlin took the stage with his parents during a news conference at the Phoenix Convention Center to accept the trophy that accompanied the award.
“Giving back to my community has always been a big part of who I am,” Hamlin said. “I’m thankful to my father, who’s right here behind me. Growing up, just watching him do community days in our community, and I just always was waiting for my time when it came.” Read more