Dismissed DPO, wanted kingpin top list of arrests as NDLEA seizes Codeine, others in Lagos (Guardian)
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized over 22,160 kilogramms of Codeine syrup, Methamphetamine and Skunk at Apapa seaport, while a notorious drug dens in Akala, Mushin, Lagos were raided by the agency in two major operations.
A total of 14,080kg codeine syrup (8,080 litres) and 4,352.43kg cold caps used to conceal the former in a 40 feet container imported from India, were intercepted on February 2, 2022, at the Apapa port, Cannabis/Loud/Skunk imported from Ghana and Methamphetamine weighing 3,727.72kg were seized in an early morning raid at Akala, Mushin, where 17 suspects including five females were arrested on February 3, 2022.
The seizure at the Lagos seaport followed intelligence from foreign partners and the cooperation of other port stakeholders.
At Akala, NDLEA Strike Force operatives in their numbers with support from the military stormed fortified warehouses in the drug den and evacuated bags and bottles of cannabis, loud, skunk, skuchies and methamphetamine as well as 17 suspects for further investigation.
Meanwhile, a female drug kingpin, Jemilat Seriki, who is one of the owners of the 12,385 pellets of Loud imported from Ghana and intercepted at Eko Atlantic Beach, Victoria Island Lagos on November 27, 2021, has been arrested by narcotics officers, after weeks of manhunt. Read more
Iru Royal Tussle: Aggrieved family reconciles with Oniru, Lawal (Vanguard)
Barely two years after the Oniru of Iru Kingdom, Oba Gbolahan Lawal ascended the throne of his forefathers, a faction of the aggrieved families from the Abisogun ruling houses, Omowunmi, yesterday, reconciled with Oniru.
Meanwhile, speaking at a reconciliation meeting held at the Oniru Palace, Victoria Island, on Sunday, the counsel to the Omowunmi-Abisogun Family, Mr Monsur Babatunde-Dauda, announced that the family has resolved to withdraw all the cases challenging the legality of the monarch in the court.
Recall that following Oba Lawal’s emergence as the 16th Oniru on June 20, 2020, Omowunmi Family of Abisogun ruling house had challenged Oba Lawal who is from Ewunmi faction of the family in court, saying that their faction was more suitable for the Iru stool.
Babatunde-Dauda, said that the family had come together to reconcile with the monarch, having observed the all-inclusive leadership style of Oba Lawal. Read more
LCCI supports efforts to boost investment in free zone (Punch)
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has pledged its support to drive investments into the Lagos Free Zone.
A statement said the President, LCCI, Dr Michael Olawale-Cole, made the pledge during a visit by LCCI executive members to Lagos Free Zone in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.
Olawale-Cole commended the management of the Lagos Free Zone and the promoters, Tolaram, for the sustainable business model, which he said had earned it a strong social licence and reputation within the business community in Nigeria and globally.
He said, “LCCI is Nigeria’s foremost business organisation, operating for over 130 years and with more than 60% of Nigeria’s commercial sector being members of the organisation. Read more
Osinbajo to flag off bridge project in Bayelsa (Sun)
As part of activities marking his second year in office, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former President Goodluck Jonathan, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors and the party’s national chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, are expected to flag off and inaugurated different projects in the state.
Also expected to be in Yenagoa for the ceremony are former governor of the state, Senator Seriake Dickson, members of the National Assembly, religious and traditional leaders.
The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Hon. Ayibaina Duba, who is also chairman of the Media/Publicity Committee in a statement said a two-week programme of activities for the second year anniversary involves inauguration of projects by Dr. Jonathan, Oyo State Governor, Oluseyi Makinde, his counterparts, namely Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Chief Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Senator Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) and chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto).
Others on the line-up are Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, immediate Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson and Dr. Ayu.
Minister slams N100b defamation suit against online publisher (Nation)
Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed has sued an online publisher, Jackson Ude, for N100 billion over alleged defamatory publication on his news platform, Pointblanknews.
In a suit filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja, Mohammed accused Ude and Pointblanknews Editor Uduma Mba (sued as second defendant) for allegedly portraying him in bad light in a report that allegedly linked him with a purported N10 billon fraud.
In a supporting affidavit, he averred that the defendants allegedly claimed that he was involved in a N10 billion fraud and that the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) is reportedly investigating him.
The minister said the report, headlined: “Lai Mohamed in N10b fraud scandal as ICPC swoops in on NBC,” was published on August 3, 2021 in Pointbalnknews.com and circulated worldwide. Read more
Bauchi longest serving traditional ruler dies at 95, Buhari mourns (Punch)
Bauchi State’s longest serving traditional ruler, the Emir of Jama’are, Ahmad Wabi III, is dead.
He died on Sunday at the age of 95 after ruling for 50 years.
He has since been buried according to Islamic rites.
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has said the death of the Emir, who he described as one of the longest-reigning traditional rulers in Africa, “is the end of an era.” Read more
Frank Edoho recalled for ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ rebirth (Independent)
Celebrated show host, Frank Edoho, has made a return on the much-anticipated questionnaire-based reality game show, ‘Who wants to be a millionaire: The Rebirth Season 2’.
Edoho was unveiled at a special event earlier this evening where it was revealed that the new series of the show will run for 52 weeks with a N20m cash prize, N10m higher than the now rested first season.
Sponsored by Unified Payments (UP) and packaged by BLKHut Media, the show, according to Frank Edoho, promises to keep Nigerians on the edge of their seats.
Speaking after his unveiling, he said, “I am glad to be back. I am grateful to have been recalled and the new show promises to be very exciting as well as a great learning process. This is one show no one will want to miss”. Read more
‘Bandit’ gunned down in attack on Kogi Police station (DailyTrust)
Gunmen suspected to be bandits attacked the Okene Area Command of the Nigerian Police Force in Kogi State in the late hours of Sunday.
The armed men, who were over 30, according to Kingsley Fanwo, Commissioner of Information in the state, bowed to superior fire power of security operatives.
According to Fanwo, one of the attackers was shot dead while others escaped with gunshot wounds.
“The Kogi State Government wishes to report that the Okene Area Command of the Nigerian Police Force was attacked by gunmen numbering over 30 in the late hours of Sunday February 6, 2020.” Read more
Christiana Boluwade to premiere Alantakun (Nation)
American-based film producer and actress, Christiana Boluwade, is set to premiere her latest movie ‘Alantakun (Spider).
The movie according to the actress will premiere on Friday, February 11, 2022.
The actress, who has been in the make-believe industry for over two decades with ground-breaking productions, is showing no signs of stopping as she is ready to return to the scene with another film.
Boluwade has produced flicks like ‘Taloloko’, ‘The Fight’ ‘Okun-ebi’, ‘Retribution the series’ amongst others. Read more
Diane Kruger on reprioritising her work projects after becoming a mother (BelfastTelegraph)
Actress Diane Kruger has said she now considers if work projects are “worthwhile” rather than what they will do for her career since becoming a mother.
The 45-year-old star welcomed her first child, a daughter, in late 2018 with fellow actor Norman Reedus and said her perspective on life and work changed after that.
She started training for her new spy film The 355 six months after giving birth and admitted it was “daunting”, but felt she was ready to get back to focusing on her body and work for a few hours a day.
She told Women’s Health UK magazine: “Everything changed with motherhood – it’s such a cliche, but it’s true. Read more
Original Fight Club ending restored in China after censorship backlash (THR)
David Fincher’s 1999 cult classic Fight Club has been restored to its original state in China — almost.
After widespread online backlash to clumsy censorship of the film’s ending, Chinese streaming service Tencent Video backtracked in recent days and restored most of the cuts it had made. Crucially, Fight Club’s complete ending is now viewable in full in China.
Fincher’s original film, which stars Brad Pitt, Edward Norton and Helena Bonham Carter, ends with the narrator (Norton) killing off his imaginary alter ego, Tyler Durden (Pitt), and then watching as buildings explode across a city skyline, suggesting that his anarchist crusade to take down consumerist society has begun.
A key tenet of China’s usual film censorship system is that criminals must always be punished for their crimes onscreen and societal harmony restored — especially in local Chinese movies. So, before the 20th Century Fox film began airing in the country, Tencent dramatically altered Fight Club’s ending. The climactic scene was excised and replaced with a blank screen showing the message: “The police rapidly figured out the whole plan and arrested all criminals, successfully preventing the bomb from exploding. After the trial, Tyler was sent to a lunatic asylum receiving psychological treatment.” Read more
Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog named best film of 2021 by London Critics’ Circle (Collider)
The Critics’ Circle, the longest-standing critics association in the UK, has announced the London Critics’ Circle Film Awards for 2021. Taking home the top prize of Film of the Year is The Power of the Dog, by the New Zealand director Jane Campion. The Power of the Dog also took home Director of the Year, Actor of the Year, and Supporting Actor of the Year for Campion, Benedict Cumberbatch and Kodi Smit-McPhee, respectively. The Western drama, based on a novel by the same name, also stars Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons. It has been an awards darling this past year, garnering accolades at the Venice Film Festival, the Golden Globes, and nominations at the BAFTAs.
Campion was the second woman ever nominated for Best Director at the Academy Awards for 1993’s The Piano. Now, with The Power of the Dog, Campion has a chance to become the third woman to win Best Director, following last year’s Chloe Zhao for Nomadland. Cumberbatch, Smit-McPhee, and Dunst are all considered to be locked for Oscar nominations, which are set to be announced Tuesday, February 8th by Leslie Jordan and Traci Ellis Ross. The film’s accolades from Critics’ Circle further position it to win big at the Oscars.
Other big winners at the Critics’ Circle were the Japanese drama Drive My Car and Andrew Garfield. Drive My Car not only won Foreign Language Film of the Year but also won Screenwriter of the Year for Ryûsuke Hamaguchi and Takamasa Oe. After being snubbed by the BAFTAs for his Golden Globe winning performance in Tick, Tick… Boom!Andrew Garfield won British/Irish Actor of the Year for his body of work in 2021. Garfield certainly had a landmark year, with Tick, Tick… Boom!, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, and of course reprising his role as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Tilda Swinton won British/Irish Actress of the Year, and Olivia Coleman and Ruth Negga took home Actress and Supporting Actress, respectively.
The London Critics’ Circle Film Awards further prove that The Power of the Dog is one to watch this awards season. However, it also demonstrates that Drive My Car should not be counted out of major categories. Read more
Sir Rod Stewart, 77, reunites with glamorous ex-wife Alana, 76, to celebrate daughter Kimberly’s engagement to Jesse Shapira – 38 years after their divorce (DailyMail)
And Rod Stewart was every inch the friendly ex as he reunited with his ex-wife Alana to celebrate their daughter Kimberly’s engagement to Jesse Shapiro on Saturday.
The veteran star, 77, got together with his glamorous former wife, 76, to rejoice at the happy news at Craig’s restaurant in West Hollywood.
Joining them were Kimberly, 42, and her brother Sean, 41, Jesse, and Renee, 29, who is Rod’s daughter from his second marriage to Rachel Hunter.
Alana shared a couple of snaps to commemorate the get together, with the caption: ‘Family celebration at @craigsla.’ Read more
Country singer Olivia Douglas on Philomena Begley, Glór Tíre and Derek Ryan (IrishNews)
FROM her toe-tapping accordion playing to her captivating voice, Co Offlay singer Olivia Douglas has become a firm favourite on the Irish country music circuit with her hits such as Leaving Tipperary and Don’t Think Twice.
Currently touring across Ireland with Derek Ryan, Olivia has also had a busy start to the year as a mentor on TG4s popular music show Glór Tíre.
Although she launched her first album, Another Heartache, in 2015, it was as a contestant on Glór Tíre the following year that brought her to wider attention.
But Olivia’s musical journey began much earlier, at the age of just five, when she discovered the tin whistle. However, it was on the button accordion that her talent shined, winning numerous Fleadh Cheoil around Ireland and placing second at the All-Ireland Fleadh in 2005. Read more
Syl Johnson, Grammy-nominated Chicago blues artist, dies at 85 (CST)
Chicago blues artist Syl Johnson has died at 85, less than a week after the death of his brother, fellow blues powerhouse Jimmy Johnson.
“The world has lost two musical giants,” his family said in a statement Sunday.
The Grammy-nominated singer made his name in the 1960s with hits including “Come On Sock It To Me” and “Is It Because I’m Black.” Decades after its 1967 release, Johnson’s song “Different Strokes” became a favorite of dance DJs and was sampled by rap artists including Run-DMC, Public Enemy, NWA, the Beastie Boys, the Wu-Tang Clan, and Jay Z and Kanye West.
He was born Sylvester Thompson in Holly Springs, Mississippi. After his arrival in Chicago at 16, he recorded for the Twilight/Twinight label.
With Hi Records in Memphis, he had his biggest hit in 1975 with a cover of “Take Me to the River,” co-written and first recorded by Al Green. (The song was again a hit four years later for Talking Heads). Read more
Janet Jackson explains why she needed Questlove in documentary about her life (AllHipHop)
Janet Jackson has hinted she may be about to release new music. Janet dropped her eleventh studio album, Unbreakable, all the way back in October 2015.
During an appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” Jimmy asked Janet Jackson whether she was considering releasing “Luv I Luv” – which appears in the credits at the end of her self-titled four-part documentary – as a single.
“It’s so funny because that’s a song I recorded three years ago, and then with the documentary, we thought, ‘Oh this would be cool to put this song here at this moment, this piece in the documentary.’ And everyone started reacting to it,” she explained. “So, I don’t know, we’ll just have to see. Maybe it will be a single, we’ll see… I’ve recorded so many songs that I’ve never released.”
Elsewhere in the chat, Jimmy joked that Questlove, who plays in his talk show’s house band, must have begged her to appear in the documentary. Read more
Leaders Remo beat 3SC, maintain 11-game unbeaten run (Punch)
Remo Stars returned to the top of the Nigeria Professional Football League table after a 1-0 win over South West rivals 3SC in Ikenne, thus remaining the only unbeaten side in the league after 11 games.
Junior Nduka scored the only goal of the encounter in the 62nd minute as the newcomers returned to the summit of the league, taking a one-point advantage over Rivers United, who lost their first game of the season courtesy of a 1-0 loss away to Plateau United, with former MFM man Jessi Akila grabbing the winner in the 32nd minute.
In Akure, Enyimba recorded the only away win of match-day 11, piping hosts Sunshine Stars 1-0, with Victor Mbaoma scoring the only goal in the 47th minute. The result moves the People’s Elephant to fourth position on the table, with 19 points from 11 games.
Enyimba have been on a resurgence, winning three of their last four league games. Read more
Iheanacho’s strike not enough as holders Leicester are knocked out (ThisDay)
Kelechi Iheanacho’s lone strike was not enough as FA Cup holders Leicester City suffered a shock 4-1 fourth-round loss to east Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest in a pulsating game at the City Ground yesterday.
Forest, eighth in the Championship, took the lead with a well-worked goal that saw Keinan Davis head down Brennan Johnson’s cross and Philip Zinckernagel poking the ball past Danny Ward.
Within 30 seconds, the hosts had doubled their advantage, Johnson finishing after a terrible back pass from James Justin. It became 3-0 when returning captain Joe Worrall powered in a header at the back post from James Garner’s corner.
Premier League Leicester were handed a lifeline when home goalkeeper Brice Samba made an error and that enabled Iheanacho to roll the ball into an unguarded net, but they were not able to fight back. Read more
Senegal wins 1st-ever AFCON Title (Leadership)
Sadio Mane’s Senegal have won their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title after beating Mohamed Salah’s Egypt on penalties in a thrilling encounter in Yaounde, Cameroon on Sunday night.
Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations 2021 edition following a dramatic penalty shootout victory against Egypt.
The game remained goalless after 120 minutes of play before Sadio Mane scored the winning spot kick, with Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah not taking a penalty.
Egyptian stars Mohamed Abdel Monem and Mohanad Lasheen missed from 12 yards, while Senegal’s Bouna Sarr also failed to convert his effort. Read more
Messi scores as leader PSG wins at defending champ Lille (TSN)
Lionel Messi had one of his best games for Paris Saint-Germain as the runaway leader profited from bad goalkeeping to win 5-1 at defending champion Lille and move 13 points clear in the French league on Sunday.
The first two goals were gifted while the third was well taken by the record seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi in the 37th minute for only his second league goal since joining from Barcelona. Lille caused PSG problems but defended poorly.
PSG drew and lost to Lille last season without scoring a goal. Lille conceded only 23 goals during that victorious campaign, but standout goalkeeper Mike Maignan’s departure to AC Milan has proved costly and Lille has already allowed 35.
The difference was evident when Lille goalkeeper Ivo Grbic made an awful blunder in the 10th, spilling a routine cross from the left into the path of Danilo Pereira for a tap-in. Read more
NASCAR, Joey Logano score wins with successful exhibition race inside LA Coliseum (USAToday)
Joey Logano won the Busch Light Clash on a temporary quarter-mile track built inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for a made-for-TV spectacle intended to hype NASCAR’s upcoming season.
NASCAR moved the Clash to Los Angeles from Daytona International Speedway, it’s only home since its 1979 inception, as part of a focused effort to break from its dated traditions via innovative big ideas.
The Clash was a success before a single race car drove through the Southern California football team’s tunnel and onto the smooth, black asphalt that covered the Trojans’ field. Ice Cube performed a six-minute set from the Peristyle during a brief “halftime,” and Pitbull with backup dancers outfitted in a checkered-flag theme used the same stage for his pre-race concert.
A handful of Los Angeles sporting greats served as the grand marshals, and Jeff Gordon lit the cauldron built for the 1932 Summer Olympics before the race began. Celebrities walked a red carpet, the USC student section filled in early, and the crowd booed pole-sitter Kyle Busch like a bunch of old pro’s during driver introductions. Read more
Tom Hoge sees off Jordan Spieth to win AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-AM (SportsMole)
Tom Hoge birdied four of his final eight holes to win the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-AM, edging out Jordan Spieth in the process.
Sunday’s final round saw several players hold the lead at various stages, but Hoge’s late surge came at a time when his more illustrious compatriot started to fade.
A three-shot swing occurred on holes 16 and 17, Hoge making two birdies in comparison to Spieth’s bogey at the latter, and a par on the last secured a two-shot victory.
Hoge now has three top fours in his last five starts, a run of form which will see him move into the top 50 of the world rankings on Monday. Read more
Manager: Oscar Valdez has signed, just waiting on Stevenson to do his part (BoxingScene)
Oscar Valdez is ready to move forward with the biggest fight of his career.
The reigning WBC junior lightweight titlist is signed and sealed for his anticipated title unification bout with current WBO 130-pound champ Shakur Stevenson. The showdown of unbeaten two-division titlists is targeted to take place April 30 on ESPN from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, pending Stevenson and his side following suit and putting ink to paper.
“Oscar Valdez has signed the fight for Shakur Stevenson,” Frank Espinoza, Valdez’s manager confirmed over the weekend. “Just waiting on Stevenson to do his part and sign off.”
Stevenson (17-0, 9KOs) is expected to sign the contract in the coming days. The 24-year-old Newark-bred southpaw—a 2016 Olympic Silver medalist for the U.S. and former WBO featherweight titlist—will make the first defense of the WBO title he claimed in a tenth-round stoppage of Jamel Herring last October. Valdez will make the second defense of his WBC junior lightweight, following a WBO featherweight title reign spanning three years and six title defenses before moving up in weight. Read more
