EFCC re-arrests Mompha for alleged N32.9b money laundering (Punch)
THE Lagos Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has re-arrested a suspected internet fraudster, Ismailia Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, for laundering funds obtained through unlawful activities and retention of alleged proceeds of crime.
Mompha, who was arrested on Monday, is currently standing trial alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, on an amended 22-count charge bordering on cyber fraud and money laundering to the tune of N32.9 bn brought against him by the EFCC.
The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed this in a statement, titled, ‘EFCC re-arrests Mompha for alleged money laundering.’
Mompha had earlier been arrested by the Nigeria Immigration Service at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on October 18, 2019, while boarding an Emirates Airline flight to Dubai, following a watchlist by the EFCC. Read more
41-year-old man bags 30 months for drug peddling (Guardian)
Justice Ayokunle Faji of a Federal High Court, Lagos, yesterday, sentenced a 41-year -old man, Wasiu Kareem to two and half years Imprisonment for unlawful dealing in 25 grammes of cocaine.
Justice Faji convicted and sentenced Kareem after he was found guilty of the offence brought against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The judge held that the prosecutor, Mr. Jeremiah Aernan had successfully proved the charge of unlawful dealing in hard drugs against the convict.
Before the judgment, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the charge against the convict, where in he called one witness and tendered his confessional statement and the seized drugs, which were admitted as exhibits by the court.
The judge, after listening to the review, admitted the exhibits tendered and pronounced the man “convicted as charged”. Read more
2 die as Lagos hoodlums clash, loot shops (Punch)
Two people have been reportedly killed in a clash between two cults on Iya Agan Street, in the Ebute Metta area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the cultists, who engaged one another in a free-for-all with different weapons, including guns, also looted shops in the community.
Our correspondent learnt that the fight, which happened on Sunday, created tension in the area.
The Chief Security Officer, Lagos Mainland Local Government Area, Ishola Agbodemu, said one of the cultists, whose stomach was torn with a knife by a member of the rival group, later died in a hospital. Read more
Panic as 33,000-litre-diesel laden tanker spills content in Lagos (Guardian)
Disaster was yesterday averted when a tanker laden with 33,000 liters of Automative Gas Oil (AGO) known as diesel spilled its content on Apongbon bridge, near CMS, Lagos Island, Lagos.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Monday caused panic and pandemonium in the area as commuters tried to avoid any disaster in the event of an explosion.
The truck was said to be moving from Mainland, towards Island, before the steering wheel removed in motion leading to its fall.The incident caused halted vehicular movement in Apongbon and environs as hoodlums scooped the leaking diesel.
An eyewitness, Akeem, said: “It happened about 7:00a.m. We were at the bus stop when we noticed the truck. We didn’t really know what happened, but when we got there we noticed that it was a tanker that fell on the bridge. The bridge was filled with diesel. It was removed at around 9:00a.m. by traffic officers.” Read more
89% of schools complied with Jan 4 resumption – Lagos (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has said about 89 per cent of schools in the state complied with the directive to resume on January 4, 2022.
The Director-General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Mrs Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, said this in a statement on Monday.
She said, “640 out of the 720 schools visited by the OEQA complied with January 4, 2022, resumption date set by the Lagos State Government, signifying a compliance rate of about 89 per cent.
“While it is commendable that the schools adhered to the state’s resumption date, it is unfortunate that about 80 schools failed to comply. We have issued letters and placed stickers of non-compliance on the gates of these schools that disobeyed the directive” Read more
‘Govt never told states to enforce compulsory vaccination of workers’ (Nation)
The Federal Government yesterday said it never urged governors to enforce compulsory COVID-19 vaccination for workers at the local and state government levels.
But it promised to continually encourage Nigerians to get vaccinated against the disease, especially with the increasing infections and deaths from the Omicron variant.
It also stressed that getting vaccinated not only protects a person but also ensures that their loved ones are shielded from the disease.
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, stated this while speaking with The Nation yesterday in Abuja in reaction to a publication that the government urged governors to “enforce” COVID-19 vaccination in their states.
2023: Nothing Stops A Kingmaker From Becoming King, Says Tinubu (DailyTrust)
National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, says nothing stops a kingmaker from becoming a king.
He said this in an interactive session with State House reporters after meeting the president at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.
When the former governor of Lagos State was asked whether he had informed the President who recently said he did not want to divulge his favorite for the APC 2023 presidential ticket about his ambition as some Nigerians had continued to urge him to come out and contest, he replied: “I answer that with categorical yes. I have informed the President of my intention but I have not informed Nigerians yet. I’m still consulting. And I have no problem consulting.
“And I have not set a parameter of limitation to the extent of how many people will I consult. You will soon hear, all you want to hear is the categorical declaration. You have gotten that truth from me that I have informed Mr President of my ambition, and you don’t expect more answers than that.” Read more
Passengers stranded as tricycle operators strike hits Kano (Punch)
Passengers were stranded in Kano on Monday following a one week strike embarked on by tricycle operators.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the development reduced traffic gridlock normally being experienced in the city as a result of the high number of tricycles.
Most of the passengers were left with no option other than to either suspend their local travels within the metropolis or trek.
A passenger, Malam Abdullahi Ali, lamented on the strike, saying it will affect many people because tricycles remained the major means of transport within the metropolis. Read more
Petition calling for probe into soot pollution, illegal refineries in Rivers gathers 9,095 signatories (Guardian)
File Image: In Bolo creek, villagers are illegally taking oil from Shell facilities and refining it to sell it on the black market. Around 30 to 40 illegal refineries can be found all over the creek. (Photo: Veronique de Viguerie via News24)
Again, residents of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital have called on governments to investigate and put an end to the deadly black soot caused by activities of illegal refiners and bunkerers.
Port Harcourt residents wake up every morning to breathe air polluted by soot emitted from illegal refineries in the state. These artisanal refineries locally referred to as ’kpo-fire’ have been operating with impunity, and their activities are making the city uninhabitable for residents.
According to a report, in Rivers, 22,077 people received care for soot related conditions in five years, while many children were hospitalised for difficulties in breathing.
Also, cough, catarrh, sore throat, asthma, heart disease, appear to be common among them as well. Though the state Governor, Nyesome Wike has ordered the shutdown of illegal refineries and called for the arrest of those involved in the illegal bunkering, the petitioner claimed the governor’s call is not enough. Read more
Betty White’s cause of death confirmed as stroke which she suffered six days before ‘dying peacefully in sleep’ (Metro)
Betty White’s cause of death has been confirmed as a stroke that took place six days before she died, according to reports.
Golden Girls actress White died on New Year’s Eve aged 99, just weeks before her 100th birthday and the news sent shockwaves around the globe.
TMZ claims her cause of death has been listed as a cerebrovascular accident, the official term for a stroke. She later died peacefully in her sleep at her home.
A stroke is a serious life-threatening medical condition that happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. Read more
Man gets genetically-modified pig heart in world-first transplant (BBC)
A US man has become the first person in the world to get a heart transplant from a genetically-modified pig.
David Bennett, 57, is doing well three days after the experimental seven-hour procedure in Baltimore, doctors say.
The transplant was considered the last hope of saving Mr Bennett’s life, though it is not yet clear what his long-term chances of survival are.
“It was either die or do this transplant,” Mr Bennett explained a day before the surgery.
“I know it’s a shot in the dark, but it’s my last choice,” he said.
Doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center were granted a special dispensation by the US medical regulator to carry out the procedure, on the basis that Mr Bennett would otherwise have died. Read more
Squid Game‘s O Yeong-su wins his first Golden Globe at age 77 (DailyMail)
Squid Game star O Yeong-su has won Best Supporting Actor in Television at this year’s Golden Globe for his role in the hit Netflix drama.
The 77-year-old South Korean actor, who has never won a Golden Globe before, earned the top prize for his portrayal of Oh II-nam, also referred to as The Host or Player 001.
O Yeong-su is the first Korean actor in Golden Globes history to win an award, and beat out the likes of Billy Crudup (The Morning Show), Kieran Culkin (Succession), Mark Duplass (The Morning Show) and Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso).
The Golden Globes is generally regarded as a good indicator of who will take home gold at the Academy Awards later in the year.
O Yeong-su began his acting career on the stage, appearing in over 200 theatre productions from 1967 before moving to film and television.
Since its release in September, Squid Game has become Netflix’s most watched series in 94 countries, with 142million households tuning in to watch the dystopian South Korean drama.
In October, O Yeong-su revealed just how much his life has changed since Squid Game’s release.
‘I feel like I’m floating on air. It makes me think, “I need to calm down, organize my thoughts, and hold myself back right now’, he told MBC’s How Do You Play? according to Soompi.
‘So many people have been contacting me, and because I don’t have a manager to help me, it’s hard for me to handle the volume of calls and messages I’ve been receiving. So my daughter has been helping me.’ Read more
Taylor Hawkins, Ringo Starr to feature on tribute album ‘Brother Johnny’ (NME)
ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Foo Fighter’s Taylor Hawkins, The Beatles‘ Ringo Starr and a host of other big names have contributed to ‘Brother Johnny’, a 17-track record celebrating the career of legendary blues musician Johnny Winter.
Winter produced three Grammy Award winning albums for blues singer and guitarist Muddy Winter before recording a string of his own Grammy nominated records and in 1988, he was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame. Winter died in 2014, aged 70.
‘Brother Johnny’ has been curated by Winter’s brother Edgar and sees appearances from Taylor
Hawkins, Ringo Starr, Billy Gibbons and Jon Bonamassa.
To go alongside the announcement of ‘Brother Johnny’, Edgar has released a cover of Chuck Berry’s iconic rock anthem ‘Johnny B Goode’ with Eagles’ vocalist Joe Walsh.
“To this day, when I think of rock ‘n’ roll, I think of Chuck Berry and ‘Johnny B. Goode’. It’s not only Johnny’s story, but also every kid’s story who ever picked up a guitar, coming from humble beginnings with the idea of making it big someday. So of course, it has to be on this album,” explained Edgar.
“I am honoured to have contributed to this wonderful album, Brother Johnny, which will be out 4/15 honouring the late great Johnny Winter. It was organised by his brother Edgar, who asked me to join him on 2 of the 17 tracks,” added Walsh. Read more
James Mtume, jazz and funk musician, dies aged 75 (Guardian)
James Mtume, the jazz and funk musician who fronted the group Mtume and produced a number of US chart hits for other artists, has died aged 75.
His family confirmed the news to music website Pitchfork. Lisa Lucas, the daughter of one of Mtume’s collaborators, said: “So much loss. So much grief. Rest in power to Uncle Mtume.”
James Mtume was born James Forman in Philadelphia in 1946, and changed his name – Mtume means messenger in Swahili – after spending time with the black nationalist group US Organization in the mid to late 1960s, while studying in Pasadena in California.
A pianist and percussionist since his teens, Mtume was soon drawn into the orbit of major mid-century jazz players, beginning with his uncle Albert “Tootie” Heath’s album Kawaida in 1969, which featured Mtume compositions played by a group including Herbie Hancock, Don Cherry and Mtume’s father Jimmy Heath. Read more
Jennifer Lopez film The Mother shuts down production due to Covid cases among crew (Metro)
Jennifer Lopez’s latest film The Mother has halted production after a spike in Covid cases on set.
The action movie, which stars the 52-year-old pop icon as an assassin who comes out of hiding to protect her daughter, was forced to temporarily shut down when several crew members on the set tested positive for coronavirus, People magazine reports.
The outlet claimed that while the ‘majority’ of shooting had been completed in Canada with J-Lo prior to the New Year, further filming was being carried out in Spain when the Maid in Manhattan star, who is still enjoying the honeymoon phase of Bennifer 2.0, was forced to fly home as the production shut down. Read more
Uganda schools reopen after almost two years of Covid closure (BBC)
Children in Uganda have expressed their joy at finally returning to school nearly two years after they were closed because of Covid.
“I am really excited because it’s been a long time without seeing our teachers. And we have missed out a lot,” Joel Tumusiime told the BBC.
“I am glad to be back at school,” echoed another, Mercy Angel Kebirungi.
But after one of the world’s longest school closures, authorities warned at least 30% of students may never return. Read more
Nigeria on the march again, battles Egypt in Group D opener (Guardian)
Who rules Group D in the ongoing Cameroun 2021 Africa Cup of Nations? That question will be partially answered today when Nigeria’s Super Eagles engage Pharaohs of Egypt in what has been termed the toughest match of the group. It is generally assumed that the victor in the clash at the Roumde Adjia Stadium will go on to win the group.
Nigeria and Egypt are old customers in the competition, having met several times at different stages of the Nations Cup, but today’s meeting means more to the Super Eagles, who have vowed to avenge the defeat that cost them the ticket to the 2017 edition of the competition.
With Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah at the peak of his powers, most pundits believe that the Egyptian magician will lead his troops to a narrow win, but Nigeria’s coach, Austin Eguavoen, will have none of that.
Among those, who believe Egypt will have the upper hand today is Sudan’s
General Manager, Mohsen Sayed, whose team is in the same Group D with Nigeria and Egypt. Read more
Boufal goal hands Morocco narrow win over Ghana (BBC)
Sofiane Boufal’s 82nd-minute strike handed Morocco a narrow win over Group C rivals Ghana in their Africa Cup of Nations opener.
The former Southampton winger pounced on to a loose ball before hammering his effort into the far corner.
It was a rare moment of quality in an otherwise uneventful game in Yaounde as four-time winners Ghana frustrated their opponents.
Morocco were untroubled in the closing stages, cantering to their win. Read more
Sierra Leone set for AFCON return after 25-year absence (Punch)
Sierra Leone could not have asked for a tougher start to their first Africa Cup of Nations in a quarter of a century than a match against holders Algeria on Tuesday, but coach John Keister says simply being in Cameroon is a step on the way to making the country competitive again.
“It is very important for the people of Sierra Leone that we come here and represent the country,” Keister said in Douala on Monday as the West African nation appear at the continental tournament for the first time since 1996.
“As a nation, if we want to be coming to this competition every two years we have to come here and play against the better teams in Africa.
“It helps our development but we are looking forward to it and we are going to be competitive, that’s for sure.” Read more
David de Gea and Scott McTominay shine in Man Utd’s FA Cup win over Aston Villa as two players flop (Metro)
Manchester United booked their spot in the fourth round of the FA Cup with a narrow 1-0 win over Aston Villa.
The Red Devils will now face Middlesbrough at home in the next round as Scott McTominay’s strike proved decisive in a lively affair at Old Trafford.
Ralf Rangnick had called for a response from his side following his first defeat to Wolves last time out but United were fortunate to progress given Villa’s several squandered chances.
Danny Ings also saw a goal disallowed after Jacob Ramsey was judged to have blocked Edinson Cavani from a set-piece. Read more
Gabon spoil Cup of Nations debut for Comoros (Guardian)
Aaron Boupendza stepped up in the absence of Covid-stricken Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to earn Gabon a 1-0 victory over Africa Cup of Nations debutants Comoros on Monday.
Arsenal star Aubameyang and midfielder Mario Lemina missed their team’s opening Group C fixture in Yaounde after testing positive for the coronavirus last week.
Qatar-based Boupendza struck the lone goal on 16 minutes, smashing the ball high past Comoros goalkeeper Ali Ahamada from a tight angle after being played in by Louis Ameka Autchanga.
Comoros forward Moussa Djoumoi nearly equalised in the second half with a fierce long-range shot that Gabon goalkeeper Jean-Noel Amonome shovelled wide.
The Indian Ocean islanders are one of two teams appearing at the continental tournament for the first time, along with Gambia. Read more
Novak Djokovic’s visa controversy ‘damaging on all fronts’ – ATP (BBC)
The controversy over Novak Djokovic’s Australian visa application has been “damaging on all fronts”, the men’s professional tennis tour has said.
The ATP also called for more clarity of the rules to enter Australia and urged players to get vaccinated.
Djokovic left an immigration detention hotel on Monday after his visa cancellation was overturned in court.
But Australia’s immigration minister still has powers to re-cancel the visa and deport the unvaccinated player.
“Complications in recent days related to player entry into Australia have… highlighted the need for clearer understanding, communication and application of the rules,” said an ATP statement. Read more
Steiner admits Haas didn’t expect 2021 to ‘get so bad’ (Planet F1)
Guenther Steiner has admitted that he and Haas didn’t expect their 2021 campaign to get quite as bad as it did.
The American team spent the season firmly at the back of the field and ended it at the bottom of the standings without a single point to their name.
That was widely expected by most given that they had endured a poor 2020 campaign and had opted not to develop their car from that point, instead focusing all of their efforts on their 2022 challenger.
However, while the team too knew things were going to be difficult, Steiner says it got worse than they had expected. Read more