Falana, Falz give Bobrisky 12-hour ultimatum to apologise, retract defamatory claims (Punch)
Human rights activist and lawyer, Femi Falana, and his son, Folarin, popularly known as Falz, have demanded a public apology and retraction of defamatory statements made by the popular crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, in audio recordings circulating online.
In one of the audios shared by controversial media critic Martin Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky claimed that he had spoken with Falz, requesting his assistance in persuading his father (Falana) to help secure a presidential pardon, which allegedly cost N10 million.
The crossdresser also alleged that he asked Falz for N3 million to secure special treatment at Kirikiri Correctional Centre. Read more
Tinubu mourns Jigawa tanker explosion victims, pledges support (Channels)
Following a tanker explosion in Jigawa State with over 100 lives lost, President Bola Tinubu has called for a comprehensive review of fuel transportation safety protocols across Nigeria.
In a statement on Wednesday, Vice President Kashim Shettima on behalf of President Tinubu, sympathised with the families who lost loved ones in the tragic incident and prayed that God grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.
The statement signed by presidential aide Stanley Nkwocha also announced immediate federal government intervention for the victims of the tragedy. Read more
World Bank lists Naira among Africa’s worst performing currencies (DailyTrust)
The Nigerian Naira is among the worst-performing currencies in sub-Sahara Africa in 2024.
This is according to the World Bank in its latest edition of Africa’s Pulse report.
It showed that the Naira is at par with the Ethiopian Birr, and South Sudanese Pound in terms of decline in the region. Read more
Lokpobiri directs NMDPRA to investigate petrol tanker explosion in Jigawa (Nation)
The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, has directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to investigate the tragic petrol tanker explosion that occurred in Majiya town, taura local government area, jigawa state.
His special adviser, media and communications, Nneamaka Okafor, made this known in a press statement yesterday.
The statement said: “The Minister has directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to immediately commence a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate incident.” Read more
SSANU, NASU describe inauguration of Renegotiation Committee as charade (Vanguard)
The Joint Action Committee, JAC, of the Non-academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, has described as a charade the inauguration of the Renegotiation Committee.
Recall that the Renegotiation Committee was inaugurated on Tuesday at the Ministry of Education headquarters, Abuja.
Although the two non teaching staff unions that made up JAC were present at the ceremony, their presence was said to be insignificant as there was no formal role assigned to them. Read more
2025 Budget: Reps urge FG to transmit MTEF for timely passage of 2025 budget (Independent)
The Nigerian House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to urgently transmit the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) to the National Assembly, stressing the need to provide lawmakers with sufficient time to thoroughly examine and pass the 2025 Appropriation Bill once it is submitted.
The appeal was made during the plenary session on Wednesday, where members of the House emphasized the importance of ensuring a smooth and efficient budgetary process.
The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance, moved by the member representing Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom State, Mr Clement Jimbo. Read more
Akpabio debunks impeachment plot rumour, orders Senate probe (Leadership)
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has debunked reports of impeachment plot against him by unknown ‘aggrieved Senators’, describing the rumour as a ‘mischief’ and ‘fake news’.
Akpabio reacted to the development at Senate plenary on Wednesday afternoon even as he directed the Senate Committee on Special Duties to investigate the source and promoters of the rumour and report back to the Red Chamber within 24 hours for further action.
“We are here sitting down and doing our work very peacefully oblivious of the mischief that is going on behind us, I think we should refer it to the Police Affairs. The fake news is hereby referred to the Committee of Special Duties to report back to the Senate in 24 hours. Read more
Drug War: NDLEA tightening the noose on drug barons, cartels, says Marwa (Leadership)
Chairman/chief executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), has said that the bolstered capacity of the anti-narcotic body within the maritime space will further tighten the noose on drug barons and cartels with the volume of recent arrests and seizures of illicit substances on the waterways and seaports.
Marwa stated this in Lagos on Wednesday at the commissioning of NDLEA Marine Command Headquarters, a facility built and donated by the British Government. Read more
Alana Haim lands two new movie roles with Zendaya and Josh O’Connor (NME)
Alana Haim has landed two new movie roles.
The Haim singer, who previously made her acting debut in Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2021 film Licorice Pizza, has started production on “The Mastermind”, an art heist drama starring Josh O’Connor and “The Drama”, which also stars Zendaya and Robert Pattinson.
The former is set during the Vietnam War and the beginning of the women’s liberation movement in America, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Read more
Boy, 7, dies after homes obliterated in ‘explosion’ (Metro)
A seven-year-old boy has died after a huge explosion ‘decimated’ several homes on a residential street in Newcastle.
Shocking drone pictures from above the street in the Benwell and Elswick area of the city showed firefighters sifting through the smouldering rubble of what appears to be up to three obliterated homes.
In an update this afternoon, police superintendent Darren Adams said at the scene: ‘It is with great sadness that I stand in front of you today following the tragic death of a young child. Read more
Kenya’s deputy president pleads not guilty in impeachment process (ABC)
Kenya’s deputy president, who faces impeachment, pleaded not guilty in a senate hearing Wednesday to all allegations including corruption, inciting ethnic divisions and support for anti-government protests that saw demonstrators storm the country’s parliament.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who has called the allegations politically motivated, could be the first sitting deputy president impeached in Kenya.
The case highlights the friction between him and President William Ruto — something that Ruto once vowed to avoid after his past troubled relationship as deputy to Kenya’s previous president, Uhuru Kenyatta. Read more
Texas man faces execution in shaken baby syndrome case (UPI)
A Texas man could become the first person executed over a conviction case based on shaken baby syndrome even though a detective who helped set those wheels in motion now says he is innocent.
The Anderson County District Court on Tuesday denied Robert Roberson’s motion to stop his execution warrant for the 2002 death of his 2-year-old daughter, allowing his planned Thursday execution in Huntsville, Texas to move forward.
A special meeting of the Texas House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee in Austin Wednesday stands as possibly Roberson’s last chance to avoid the execution. Read more
Trump says Black and Latino voters who back Harris need their ‘head examined,’ echoing an increasingly frequent barb (NBC)
Former President Donald Trump’s closing message to a number of different groups increasingly includes this harsh line: Members of the group not voting for him need to have their “head examined.”
“Any African American or Hispanic that votes for Kamala … you got to have your head examined,” Trump said during a rally in Atlanta on Tuesday night. “They are screwing you.”
It’s part of an ongoing trend of the former president telling specific demographic groups that they deserve ridicule or have something wrong with their mental state if they’re not voting for him. Read more
Haitian prime minister urges Kenyan president to reinforce security mission (AfricaNews)
Prime Minister Gary Conille made an urgent appeal to Kenyan President William Ruto, requesting the immediate deployment of 600 additional police officers. Conille emphasized the need for reinforced support during his trip to the United Arab Emirates and Kenya, where he discussed the challenges faced by the Haitian National Police in dealing with powerful gangs.
This request for additional officers comes in light of the 400 Kenyan officers already committed to a U.N.-backed Multinational Security Mission, aimed at stabilizing Haiti. The mission, which started earlier this year, has been a critical part of Haiti’s efforts to restore law and order in areas dominated by criminal organizations. Read more
James Gunn reveals Krypto will be in “Superman’’ (THR)
James Gunn revealed that the Man of Steel’s trusty, four-legged sidekick will be making his way to the big screen in “Superman”.
While Krypto the Superdog wasn’t originally set to be in the film, Gunn explained that he adopted a pup named Ozu shortly after he began writing the script, and it inspired Krypton’s inclusion in the upcoming project starring David Corenswet.
“Ozu, who came from a hoarding situation in a backyard with 60 other dogs & never knew human beings, was problematic to say the least,” the writer-director wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “He immediately came in & destroyed our home, our shoes, our furniture – he even ate my laptop. It took a long time before he would even let us touch him.” Read more
Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois: IBF sets April 2025 rematch deadline date for any second heavyweight championship bout (SkySports)
The IBF will permit their heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois to rematch Anthony Joshua. But there is a deadline on it.
A Dubois vs Joshua would have to happen before a date in April of next year.
Dubois knocked out Joshua last month at Wembley Stadium in sensational style to defend the title. Read more
Tinubu: Oshodi’s ATTF election ‘‘proud moment for Nigeria’’ (Punch)
President Bola Tinubu has described Wahid Oshodi’s election as President of the African Table Tennis Federation as a proud moment for Nigeria.
Oshodi was unanimously elected as the President of the body at its 2024 Annual General Meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Tuesday.
The newly-elected president, a former Commissioner for Youth, Sports, and Social Development in Lagos State, succeeds Egypt’s Khaled El-Salhy, who has led the Federation since 2010. Read more
AFCON 2025: Gusau lauds Tinubu, Enoh,Tuggar after Libya fiasco (Nation)
The President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has expressed the deep appreciation of the NFF and the Nigeria Football family for the warm words of encouragement from the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR following the Super Eagles’ return from a better-forgotten Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match adventure in Libya.
On Monday, President Tinubu put out a statement warmly welcoming the team back to home, and asking for prompt justice from the Confederation of African Football following the inhumane treatment of the Nigerian contingent.
He also commended the proactive coordination between the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Sports Development in addressing the unfortunate episode and ensuring the safe return of the players. Read more
Sir Alex Ferguson ‘BANNED from Man Utd dressing room’ in 2nd bombshell decision (Mirror)
Sir Alex Ferguson has seen his global ambassador role with Manchester United controversially scrapped by Sir Jim Ratcliffe – and the legendary Scot has now been hit with a second blow
Sir Alex Ferguson has been BANNED from the Manchester United dressing room in a second Sir Jim Ratcliffe bombshell decision.
The INEOS owner has been making drastic changes at Old Trafford since his arrival as he attempts to get the Red Devils back on track both on and off the pitch. That has included axing Ferguson’s role as a global ambassador. Read more
Rivers United will be ready for shooting stars — Finidi (CompleteSports)
Rivers United head coach, Finidi George says his side will be ready for Thursday’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) matchday seven encounter against Shooting Stars.
The Port Harcourt club made a long trip to Katsina United where they played a 0-0 draw last weekend.
Finidi acknowledged the importance of managing his players to avoid burnouts. Read more
Scotland earn a victory at last – they made Cristiano Ronaldo crack (Independent)
Scotland remain without a win but the losing run is over and there was the sight of another victory against Portugal, as Cristiano Ronaldo applauded sarcastically and stormed down the tunnel at the end of this goalless draw at Hampden. Ronaldo’s frustration at being denied by a goalkeeper older than him, in the 41-year-old Craig Gordon, spilled over when Portugal were prevented from taking an injury-time corner, with referee Lawrence Visser blowing his full-time whistle as Bernando Silva and Bruno Fernandes jogged to the byline. As Ronaldo had been in Visser’s ear all night, the Belgian had presumably endured enough and wanted it over. Read more