France-bound ‘‘businessman’’ excretes 93 heroin wraps at Abuja airport (Punch)
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a 40-year-old ‘‘businessman’’, Sherif Egbo, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja while attempting to board an Air France flight to Paris, France, after the anti-narcotics agents discovered he ingested illicit drugs.
The spokesperson for the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi noted that the Spain-based Egbo was arrested on Saturday, October 14 after a body scanner revealed that he had wraps of illicit drugs in his stomach.
“He was subsequently placed under observation at the agency’s exhibit recovery room where he excreted 93 pellets of heroin weighing 2.222 kilogrammes. In his statement, the suspect claimed he works at a chicken hatchery farm in Madrid, Spain, and also in the drug trafficking business,” Babafemi revealed in a weekly communique released on Sunday. Read more
Apapa-Oshodi Expressway: Anarchy returns (Sun)
Worried by the intractable gridlock on the Oshodi-Apapa road that had made transactions in the maritime industry difficult because of the difficulties encountered in accessing the Apapa and Tin-Can Inland ports, former Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, in 2017, took an aerial trip to assess the situation and consequently find a lasting solution.
After his assessment, Osinbajo announced that the Federal Government would be working with private sector players to resolve the perennial traffic gridlock on the route.
He consequently ordered the then Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to work out clear cut objectives to end the gridlock on the Oshodi-Apapa road corridor. Read more
Lagos shuts ASPAMDA, BBA, other markets in Trade Fair (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Government, on Sunday, shut down the Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association, ASPAMDA, BBA and other markets within the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, in Ojo Local Government Area of the state, over alleged environmental infractions.
Officials of Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA) in partnership with the Lagos Task Force on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offenses and Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps, LAGESC, carried out the enforcement as part of the ongoing clampdown on Environmental nuisance. Read more
3 Police Inspectors to face trial over alleged extortion in Ogun (Channels)
The Ogun State Police Command will try three police inspectors serving in the state for their alleged involvement in extorting motorcyclists around the Maawu bus stop, Agbado in the Ifo Local Government Area of the state.
This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, identifying the officers as Ikhanorba Lucky, Paul Sunday and Edwin Ekeogu.
She said they were caught on camera while the video capturing their unprofessional conduct had gone viral, adding that the illegal act was allegedly committed on October 19. Read more
Sokoto security panel chair resigns over alleged link to banditry (Leadership)
Hours after his inauguration as chairman of a 25-member committee for the establishment of Sokoto State Community Guards, aimed at strengthening support for conventional security agencies against the backdrop of insecurity in the State, Colonel Garba Moyi Isa (Rtd) has resigned his appointment.
His resignation, according to LEADERSHIP findings, may not be unconnected to a video footage in circulation, linking the retired senior Army officer to banditry in the Eastern flank of the State.
Moyi, a three-time Commissioner in the State, while addressing journalists at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Sokoto, said he resigned his chairmanship of the Committee on Sokoto Community Guards to save his hard-earned reputation. Read more
Supreme Court judges drop to 10 as Justice Dattijo bows out (DailyTrust)
Judges of the Supreme Court have now been reduced to 10 as Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad has bowed out of service.
A statement by the Director of Information of the Supreme Court, Dr Festus Akande, on Sunday said the valedictory court session to mark the retirement of Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad will be held on Friday, October, 27 at the main courtroom of the Supreme Court of Nigeria at 10.00am.
“The special court session is to be presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who will customarily, pay tribute to Justice Musa Dattijo alongside other major stakeholders in the nation’s justice sector. Read more
Israel and Palestine war: I didn’t support Israel – Wike (Nation)
Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has provided clarifications on his October 3 meeting with the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria.
Wike described as baseless and untrue, insinuations that he expressed support for Israel against Palestine.
The minister, at a recent meeting with the leadership of the Abuja National Mosque Management Board, said he had no constitutional powers to determine Nigeria’s diplomatic relations with other countries, as such powers lies absolutely with the President and Commander-in-Chief. Read more
Unemployment: NGO trains youths on technology, agriculture, entrepreneurial skills in Enugu (Guardian)
A Non-Governmental Organisation(NGO), Ophel Consult and Enterprise, on Sunday in Enugu, trained youths on technology, agriculture and entrepreneurial skills that would make them self-reliant and reduce unemployment.
The training was tagged, “Strategic Shift Conference’’ with the theme, “The Language of the Future.”
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of the NGO, Obinna Enoch, said the training would expose Nigerian youths to various skills that would help them in life. Read more
Brandy to celebrate ‘joy, family & love’ with her first-ever holiday album (HipHopDX)
Brandy will be ringing in the Christmas season by releasing her first-ever holiday album to the delight of her fans.
According to ThisisRnB, the Grammy Award-winning singer will release Christmas With Brandy. The singer announced the project on Instagram recently.
“For all my beautiful fans, my new album ‘Christmas With Brandy’ comes our November 10,” she said. “I feel so blessed to be able to create an album surrounding joy, Family, love and quality divine time with the ones you love.” Read more
Zimbabwe struggles to contain spread of cholera outbreak (AlJazeera)
Zimbabwe has been struggling to contain spread of cholera outbreak, with the government announcing measures amid fears of a repeat of its 2008 outbreak that sparked a “national emergency”.
Cholera cases span all 10 of Zimbabwe’s provinces, with the most alarming spikes in the south-eastern provinces of Masvingo and Manicaland, the epicentre of the crisis.
Cholera outbreak has killed more than 100 people and infected 5,000 since February, according to government estimates. Read more
Salman Rushdie receives prestigious German Peace Prize (DW)
British-Indian writer Salman Rushdie was on Sunday presented with the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade in Frankfurt’s historic St Paul’s Church.
The German Peace Prize comes with a €25,000 ($27,300) payment and is one of the most prestigious awards in Germany. It was first awarded in 1950.
Praising Rushdie in a speech, his friend and fellow writer Daniel Kehlmann described the author as “possibly the most important defender of freedom of art and speech of our time” Read more
Senegal halts French auction of Senghor’s jewellery (BBC)
An auction in France of items belonging to the first Senegalese president has been delayed, as the government in Dakar negotiates to buy them directly.
Léopold Sédar Senghor’s possessions – including military medals and jewellery – were to be sold in the city of Caen.
The current president of Senegal, Macky Sall, urged the culture minister and the embassy in Paris to hold discussions with the auctioneers. Read more
Green Day to release new single Oct. 24, announce 2024 tour (UPI)
Green Day will release a new single next week.
The rock band will release the song “The American Dream is Killing Me” on Oct. 24.
Green Day shared the news Thursday at their show in Las Vegas, where they also debuted the new single. The band also confirmed the release date on Instagram.
“The American Dream is Killing Me” will be the first song to debut from Green Day’s forthcoming 14th studio album. Read more
Judi Dench says she saw a ghost at London’s Haymarket Theatre (People)
Judi Dench is telling ghost stories.
In a new interview with the Sunday Times, the Oscar-winning actress, 88, revealed that she once saw a ghost at London’s historic Haymarket Theatre while attending a memorial service for actor Michael Denison, who died in 1998.
“It was in the afternoon! I saw somebody wearing a top hat and tails running down the stairs and I thought, ‘What a funny getup!’ ” she recalled the apparent sighting. Read more
Actors’ union to re-open negotiations with Hollywood studios (NME)
SAG-AFTRA, the American actors’ union, will resume negotiations with Hollywood studios on Tuesday (October 24).
The announcement comes nearly two weeks after the studios chose to walk away from talks, citing that the dialogue was “no longer moving us in a positive direction”.
“As we mark the 100th day of our strike, we are pleased to confirm the company executives have asked us to return to the table. Official Negotiations will resume,” read a social media post from SAG-AFTRA to its members. Read more
Ola Aina: I’m enjoying my stay in Nottingham Forest (Nation)
Nigerian star player Ola Aina has made a great impression since returning to England to play for Nottingham Forest in July.
Less than three months after completing a one-year deal to join the Premier League side following his release from Torino and making his debut for the club on 12 August in a 2–1 loss against Arsenal in the Premier League, Aina has done well to be voted as Forest’s Player of the Month for September.
This is after featuring five times in the current Premier League campaign. Read more
Joshua reveals punch he’ll never forget (Punch)
Former two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has revealed the punch that he won’t forget among some of the big hits he has received in his boxing career.
From the beating he sustained at the hands of Andy Ruiz Jr, the 24 rounds he shared with world champion Oleksandr Usyk, the war against Wladimir Klitschko where he was hurt on numerous occasions and getting clipped by Russian dynamo Alexander Povetkin, Joshua had been on the receiving end of some heavy leather.
However, in a recent feature with Men’s Health when asked the most pain he ever felt in the ring, none of those names came up. He revealed it was a punch he took in his amateur days which was one he will never forget.
“I remember a tough fight in 2011, the final of the World Championships against a fighter from Azerbaijan. He had knocked out everyone to get to the final, we had a real fucking tear-up, he was so strong. Read more
Baba-Ahmed wins 2023 IBB Ladies Close Championship (DailyTrust)
Zulaiha Baba-Ahmed, an architect, has emerged as the overall winner of the 2023 IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, Ladies Close Golf Championship.
The event which started on Thursday came to a climax on Saturday with the Governor of Osun State, Sen Ademola Adeleke, closing the event.
Baba-Ahmed rounded off the two-day competition having scored 236 gross and netted 148 to outplay others to emerge the 2023 Ladies Close champions.
Baba-Ahmed described her success as surprising, saying she only participated to enjoy herself.
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“I started playing two years ago. This championship, my intention was just to play the game and enjoy myself but when the game started, on the first day, I saw myself among the leaders. Read more
Mohamed Salah’s double helps Liverpool to another derby success over 10-man Everton (IrishTimes)
Mohamed Salah became the first Liverpool player since Peter Beardsley 32 years ago to score in Anfield’s opening four league matches with both goals in a 2-0 victory over 10-man Everton in the 243rd Merseyside derby.
Ashley Young, who has played in some of the world’s biggest cross-city clashes in Manchester, Milan and Birmingham, was sent off for a second bookable offence shortly before half-time to make the Toffees’ task of ending their woeful record across Stanley Park even more difficult.
Salah converted a 75th-minute penalty after a Michael Keane handball and then converted a counterattack in added time which meant the Everton fans present were still to see a ‘live’ victory at Anfield since 1999 as their only win in 2021 came behind closed doors during the Covid era. Read more
Aston Villa 2-4 Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs go top of Women’s Super League thanks to Thomas hat-trick (BBC)
Women’s Super League top scorer Martha Thomas scored an exquisite hat-trick as Tottenham moved top of the table and condemned Aston Villa to four league defeats out of four this season.
England forward Rachel Daly netted a fifth-minute penalty to put the hosts ahead but Thomas drew Spurs level in sensational style when she won possession from Scotland team-mate Rachel Corsie and angled a long-range chip over goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer.
Ashleigh Neville then headed the visitors in front at Bescot Stadium on the stroke of half-time from Jessica Naz’s arrowed cross. Read more
Jurgen Klopp confirms long lay-off for Andy Robertson (RTE)
Liverpool defender Andy Robertson is set for a long spell on the sidelines as he is to have surgery on a shoulder injury.
The Scotland captain sustained the problem on international duty but having been assessed on his return to Merseyside the club have decided an operation is the best solution.
“There is a little bit there, I think the decision is we go towards surgery,” said manager Jurgen Klopp. Read more