Edo Guber: Golden Opportunity For INEC to redeem image, EDOCSO tells Yakubu (NewTelegraph)
A group, Edo State Civil Society Organizations (EDOCSO), on Friday, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to use the September 21 Edo State governorship election to write the name of the commission in gold by conducting a free, fair and credible poll in the state.
The group, through its Coordinator General, Comrade Omobude Agho, disclosed this while addressing Journalists on “Edo State 2024 governorship election and matters arising in Benin City.
He said anything that falls short of a free, fair and credible election would further discourage people from exercising their franchise in the near future. Read more
Police arrest 2 for allegedly selling newborn twins in Lagos (Vanguard)
The Police Command in Lagos State says it has arrested two women, Ujunwa Una and Chinelo Igbechionwu over alleged sales of newborn twins.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this in a post he shared on his X handle @benHundeyin on Friday.
He said that the police apprehended the suspects based on a tip-off by a concerned citizen. Read more
Lekki Coastal Zone: Indigenes demand immediate distribution of resettlement lands (ThisDay)
Concerned indigenes of affected villages and communities within the Lekki Coastal Zone at Ibeju-Lekki in Lagos State have demanded from the state government the immediate distribution of their allocated lands for resettlement.
Mr Oluwaremilekun Lasisi, leader of the group, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos, made the request on behalf of the 12 affected communities.
NAN reports that the 12 affected communities are: Okunraiye, Olomowewe, Idotun, Alasia, Itonke,Tiye, Idasho, Ilege, Lekuru, Magbon Segun, Oke Segun, and Imobido. Read more
Controversy as NASS moves to rush new body to conduct LGA elections (Tribune)
There are indications of a spirited move by the National Assembly to fast track the necessary legislative process that would end the power of state independent national electoral commissions to handle local government elections.
Tribune Online gathered that the brains behind the process hope to expeditiously work on the project as soon as members of the 10th Assembly currently on recess, reconvenes.
The bill, initiated by Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, wants a new body to be called the Independent Local Government Electoral Commission (NILGEC) to take over the power currently exercised by individual state electoral commissions in conducting election for local government chairmen and councilors. Read more
Edo Guber: Tinubu asks politicians to respect will of voters (DailyTrust)
President Bola Tinubu has urged all stakeholders in the Edo state governorship elections to respect the will of the people in their ability to choose their leaders.
Tinubu gave the charge in a statement on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
“President Tinubu urges the governorship candidates, political parties, and supporters to respect the democratic process and the people’s will. He believes in the voters’ ability to make informed decisions about their future leaders,” the statement said. Read more
Police bust 7-man gang of notorious armed robbers in Katsina (Channels)
At least fifteen suspects have been arrested by the Katsina State Police Command for allegedly committing various crimes in the State.
Among the suspects, were a seven-man syndicate of suspected armed robbers responsible for robbing a motorist en route to deliver wrappers and materials valued at about ₦4m.
In a statement signed by the Police Spokesman ASP Abubakar Sadiq on Friday, members of the syndicate were arrested on September 8th, 2024, at about 0200 hrs, when operatives attached to the Funtua Area Command acted on intelligence. Read more
REA, nine universities sign agreements for cheaper, sustainable electricity (Nation)
For access to cheaper electricity, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and nine universities yesterday signed
Energizing Education Programme (EEP) Stakeholders’ Engagement Forum (SEF) Collaborative Agreements.
The institutions which signed the agreements in Abuja are Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University
and Teaching Hospital, Bauchi State signed for a 1.1MW solar hybrid, 1.1MW solar hybrid in Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun, Delta State, Obafemi Awolowo University and Teaching Hospital Ile-Ife, Osun State signed for a gas powered 8.4MW. Read more
Flood: Borno loses N27b in 9 days (Leadership)
Leadership Friday can report that the nine-day flood that ravaged Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, caused a loss of about N27 billion.
It was gathered that Maiduguri, a centre for trading and agricultural products, traded over 3.2 billion daily. The submersion of over 70 per cent of Maiduguri city caused it to lose over N3 billion daily for nine days.
According to the president of the Borno Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (BOCCIMA), Alhaji Ahmed Ashemi, apart from Lagos State, no other border city is used for trading on the African Continent like Maiduguri, bringing high income to the state and the zone. Read more
Serena Williams says daughter is more into Taylor Swift than princesses (People)
Serena Williams’ eldest daughter may not be a fan of fairy tales and princesses, but she certainly thinks Taylor Swift is “Enchanted.”
On Thursday, Sept. 19, the tennis champion, 42, spoke with INBOUND podcast host and editor Kara Swisher about venture capitals at HubSpot’s annual gathering in Boston.
During the conversation, the mother of two revealed that her first born isn’t into the typical kids’ entertainment. Read more
Squid Game season 2 teaser trailer sees Seong Gi-hun looking for revenge (Deadline)
Netflix dropped a new teaser tonight for Season 2 of Squid Game. The streamer released the clip as part of its Geeked Week event in Atlanta.
The clip opens with a clearly tense Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) holding a gun on an approaching masked figure. It quickly shifts to the new participants preparing to begin a new life-or-death game. A voiceover saying “We’re ready to start the game” in Korean are the only words spoken.
Season 2 takes place three years after Gi-hun won Squid Game, giving up on going to the states and coming back with a new resolution in his mind. He once again dives into the mysterious survival game, starting another life-or-death game with new participants gathered to win the prize of 45.6 billion won. Read more
Zack Snyder reveals 1st look at Netflix’s Rebel Moon video game ‘‘Blood Line’’ (Variety)
Zack Snyder revealed a first look at Netflix‘s upcoming video game set in the world of his Rebel Moon film franchise during the streamer’s “Geeked Week” event in Atlanta Thursday.
Titled “Blood Line: A Rebel Moon Game,” the upcoming mobile offering is described as an “online co-operative action game that takes on the role of a rebel, picking between a variety of classes to join a covert rebellion that’s fighting to take back their planet from the tyrannical Motherworld.
Developed by gaming studio Super Evil Megacorp (“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate,” “Catalyst Black,” “Vainglory”), the game will launch in 2025 and be available only to Netflix subscribers. Read more
Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman on Paramount Global bid: “We wanted IP” (ScreenDaily)
Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman and CEO Tony Vinciquerra has told a media conference how the company bid for Paramount Global to grow its stable of content as a “strategic supplier” to Hollywood.
“We wanted IP [intellectual property],” Vinciquerra said during a fireside chat at Thursday’s Financial Times Business of Entertainment Summit in Los Angeles. “We’d had loved to have found out more about the IP Paramount has.”
Sony and bid partner Apollo Global Management withdrew from the chase for Paramount Global in August when it looked increasingly likely that the Skydance Media merger proposal would eventually won out. Read more
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs placed on suicide watch ahead of trial (FarOut)
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has reportedly been placed on suicide watch as he awaits trial at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC).
Combs was arrested in New York on federal charges on the evening of September 16th. He was apprehended at Park Hyatt on 57th Street at 8:30pm local time. It followed the raid of multiple properties owned by the rapper and media mogul in Los Angeles and Miami following a series of warrants being issued.
Combs pled not guilty to the charges of racketeering and sex trafficking that were brought against him the following day. If he is found guilty, he could be imprisoned for life. Read more
Previously unknown Mozart composition discovered in German library (NME)
A previously unknown composition by 18th-century composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has been unearthed at a library in Germany.
Mozart – who was born in 1756 – was a child prodigy and began composing musical work at a young age with the help and guidance of his father. According to The Guardian, the unknown piece of music was probably created when the music virtuoso was only in his teens.
Researchers who are working on compiling the newest edition of the Köchel catalogue – the definitive archive of Mozart’s musical works – came across the previously unknown piece at one of Leipzig’s municipal libraries. Read more
Israeli strike on densely-packed Beirut suburb targets Hezbollah’s Ibrahim Aqil (NewArab)
An Israeli air strike on a southern Beirut suburb on Friday targeted and reportedly killed Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Aqil, in another escalation in the war on Lebanon.
A missile struck an apartment block in a heavily populated residential area of southern Beirut killing at least eight people, including children, with media believing the death toll is likely to rise. At least 59 people have been injured according to reports so far.
Aqil is the head of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan unit, which has been at the forefront of clashes between Israel and the Lebanese group, and his death would mark another blow for the group. Read more
Adesanya bets $10k on Joshua to beat Dubois (Leadership)
Former Nigerian UFC champion, Israel Adesanya has placed a bet of $10,000 on Anthony Joshua to defeat Daniel Dubois in Saturday’s IBF world heavyweight title.
Dubois was initially the interim IBF champion but was promoted to full champion in June 2024 after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt.
The bout will be Joshua’s thirteenth world title fight and there is already a score to settle between the two fighters. Read more
NPFL stars anticipate Super Eagles B call-up (Punch)
Players in the Nigeria Premier Football League say they are looking forward to being invited to the Super Eagles B ahead of the African Nations Championship (CHAN 2024) qualifiers, which begin next month, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Confederation of African Football on Tuesday announced a new date for the 2024 tournament, fixing February 1 to 25, 2025, for the championship meant for African footballers based in their countries.
Even though the Nigeria Football Federation has yet to confirm the country’s participation amid the absence of a substantive coach for the Super Eagles B, the players are fancying donning the colours of the country. Read more
Boniface recalls paying N30 to watch Champions League matches (Punch)
Super Eagles and Bayer Leverkusen striker, Victor Boniface, has expressed his delight at playing in his first Champions League match during his team’s 4-0 victory against Feyenoord on Thursday.
In a post obtained from Fabrizio Romano’s X handle on Friday, Boniface reflected on his journey, recalling how, as a young footballer, he used to pay N30 to watch Champions League matches and is now living his dream by playing in the same competition.
He said: “From paying 30 naira to watch the Champions League… to playing my first Champions League game. Proud of this moment.” Read more
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson’s hamstring injury to be assessed (DailyMail)
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has a nagging hamstring injury and could miss Saturday’s game against Bournemouth at Anfield.
Alisson this week had amplified concerns about congested schedules before playing in Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over AC Milan in the Champions League.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot said Friday that his No. 1 goalkeeper played through the problem at San Siro.
“I think he didn´t (get injured in) the Milan game, it happened a bit before, but after the Milan game he felt (it) more and more,” Slot said at a news conference. “Now we have to wait to see if he is ready to be in goal tomorrow, or we have to wait a few more extra days.” Read more
Frank backs Schade to shine for Brentford after Wissa injury blow (Standard)
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank believes Kevin Schade is well placed to fill the void left by injury to Yoane Wissa.
Wissa has been sidelined until November with an ankle problem sustained in last weekend’s defeat to Manchester City – the eighth player now unavailable.
Schade has been restricted to just 18 appearances since his £22million summer 2023 move after an adductor injury forced him to miss seven months of last season, but he has started four of their six fixtures in the current campaign. Read more
Aaron Rodgers’ exchange with New York Jets head coach raises eyebrows after touchdown (Mirror)
Aaron Rodgers appeared to be visibly frustrated with head coach Robert Saleh, despite the New York Jets taking a bigger lead against the New England Patriots during Thursday Night Football.
Energised by an enthusiastic MetLife Stadium crowd, Rodgers and the Jets’ offence started strong. By halftime, Rodgers had clocked up over 150 yards and one touchdown, which included a precise 10-yard throw to Allen Lazard and a determined sprint from Breece Hall into the endzone, pushing the Jets ahead with a 14-3 score.
The moment Hall made his touchdown leap past the goal line, Rodgers moved towards the sideline where an excited Saleh was waiting. The coach seemed keen to embrace Rodgers to celebrate, but the 40-year-old quarterback wasn’t in the mood for festivities. Read more