How policemen rejected N.5m bribe offered by cultists -Lagos PPRO (Punch)
The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, has narrated how men of the Command rejected a N500,000 bribe allegedly offered by suspected cultists.
This was contained in a statement on Thursday titled, ‘Armed Robbery Suspect, Cultist Nabbed; Arms, Ammunition Recovered’.
The PPRO said an anti-crime patrol team of the Area ‘J’ Command, Elemoro arrested an armed robbery suspect and a suspected cultist with a locally-made double barrel gun and three cartridges.
“The armed robbery suspect, Alabi Timothy ‘m’ aged 23, resident of 9, Baale street, Majek, Ajah, was arrested at about 0030hrs of 4/9/2021 at General Paint, Garden area, Lekki during a routine stop and search by the police. Read more
Fani-Kayode In Aso Rock As Buhari Welcomes Him To APC (DailyTrust)
A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has returned to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Fani-Kayode was presented to President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, by the Chairman of APC National Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, on Thursday.
Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State was also in attendance.
While speaking, Fani-Kayode said he was instrumental to the defection of three Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors to APC. Read more
VAT War: Appeal Court reserves Ruling On Lagos Plea To Join Case (Leadership)
The Court of Appeal in Abuja, has reserved its ruling on the application filed by Lagos State government to join in an appeal by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), challenging the judgement of a Federal High Court, Port-Harcourt, which delivered a judgement in favour of Rivers State government to collect the Value Added Tax (VAT).
Justice Haruna Tsanammi, presiding over the 3-man panel of the appellate court, reserved ruling on Thursday after parties had argued the joinder application filed by the Attorney General of Lagos State.
Moyosore Onigbanjo, the Attorney General of Lagos State, told the court that the application was essentially seeking leave for Lagos State to be joined as respondent in the appeal.
He adopted all his processes and urged the court to allow the applicant to be joined.
He argued that the principle of joinder application is that the party seeking to be joined is a necessary party, and the party’s interest will be legally or financially affected by the outcome of the legal action. Read more
Bawa has received medical attention, back at his desk —EFCC (Punch)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says its Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has received medical attention after he broke down while presenting a brief address and was rushed out of the banquet hall at the presidential villa on Thursday.
EFCC Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, made this known in a statement titled, “Bawa Is Hale and Hearty – EFCC”.
He said, “The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Commission, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa is hale and hearty. This clarification became necessary following an incident today September 16, 2021 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja where he was giving a goodwill message to the National Identity Day celebration, felt unwell and had to return to his seat.
“He has since received medical attention and is due back at his desk.” Read more
FG to spend N56b on reconstruction of Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta highway (Tribune)
The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, on Wednesday, disclosed that the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta highway will gulp N56 billion.
He stated this while on an inspection tour of the ongoing construction of a toll gate plaza at Lotto area on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The minister was in the company of the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, to assess the level of work done.
He lamented paucity of funds as a major obstacle that could hinder the reconstruction work. Read more
Buhari receives FIFA president, promises to use football for national development (DailyTrust)
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his administration’s commitment to use football for the development of the girl-child, and inspire young people to have rewarding careers in the game.
The President spoke Thursday while receiving the FIFA delegation led by its president, Gianni Infantino, and the president of Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, at State House, Abuja.
He called on the top echelon of football’s world governing body to see Nigeria as one of its greatest assets when it comes to the development of football.
On women’s football, the President expressed delight that Nigeria has produced excellent role models to inspire the next generation of stars to take up the sport. Read more
NAF institutes panel to investigate Buhari village bombing in Yobe (Punch)
The Nigerian Air Force said it has set up a board of enquiry to probe the alleged bombing of civilians in Yobe
The Director of Public Relations and Information,Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
He said that an aircraft was deployed to observe virtual activities of the area following intelligence report.
The statement was titled, ‘Investigation commences on alleged aircraft firing of civilian settlement’. Read more
Southern governors meet in Enugu (Tribune)
The governors of the southern states of Nigeria under the aegis of the Conference of Governors of Southern Nigeria are currently in a closed-door meeting now at the Government House, Enugu.
The meeting which began at 12 noon is the third in the series held by the group. The first and second meetings were held in Asaba, Delta State and Lagos State respectively.
At the previous meetings, the forum had deliberated and resolved among other issues, the much-awaited anti-open grazing law in the light of the menace associated with open grazing in the area.
It will also be recalled that September 1, 2021, was slated as the deadline for the enactment of the law. While some states including Enugu, the current host had signed the bills into law, others are yet to do so. Read more
Aukus: China denounces irresponsible US-UK-Australia pact (BBC)
China has denounced a historic security pact between the US, UK and Australia, describing the alliance as “extremely irresponsible” and “narrow minded”.
The pact, announced on Wednesday, will see the US and UK provide Australia with the technology to build nuclear-powered submarines for the first time.
It is being widely viewed as an effort to counter China’s influence in the contested South China Sea.
The region has been a flashpoint for years and tensions there remain high. Read more
Hezbollah-brokered Iranian fuel arrives in crisis-hit Lebanon (AlJazeera)
The first of several truck convoys carrying Iranian fuel has arrived in Lebanon from Syria, a Hezbollah spokesperson told Al Jazeera – a shipment intended to help ease crippling fuel shortages amid a dire economic crisis.
The first shipments of the fuel, carried by two convoys totalling 40 trucks according to Hezbollah’s Al Manar television channel, arrived in Lebanon on Thursday.
The fuel delivery has been portrayed by the Iran-linked Lebanese group as a huge boost to the cash-strapped country. However, the shipments violate United States sanctions imposed on Iranian oil sales and have gotten a mixed response in Lebanon.
The first of four Iranian fuel tankers docked in Syria’s Baniyas port earlier this week. Read more
NYC’s newest exclusive club, Chapel Bar, is in a 19th-century church (NYPost)
On Saturday, after posing for photos with nearly a dozen fans on Park Avenue South, Evan Mock — the 24-year-old actor who stars in the “Gossip Girl” reboot — walked through the small arched doorway of a Gramercy chapel that many passersby could easily ignore.
Mock didn’t come to attend a weekend church service. Instead, he was joining co-stars Thomas Doherty and Eli Brown for a private party at the most exclusive new bar in New York City. Tucked in between the New York branch of Swedish photography museum Fotografiska and a 19th-century Episcopal church, Chapel Bar — which briefly opened as a speakeasy under different management — is now a members-only hideaway for the artsy set.
The unassuming exterior of Chapel Bar, which drew a line on Saturday for the “Gossip Girl” event, leads to the intimate interior. Read more
US general defends ‘secret’ phone calls with China (BBC)
Top US General Mark Milley has defended himself after a book reported he had “secret” phone calls with China amid concerns about then-President Donald Trump.
The calls last October and January were to reassure the Chinese military, Gen Milley said on Wednesday.
Mr Trump said the claims were fabricated and Republicans have called for the general to be fired.
President Joe Biden said he has “great confidence” in Gen Milley. Read more
Nicki Minaj: Trinidad minister criticises rapper’s vaccine tweet (BBC)
Rapper Nicki Minaj has been criticised by Trinidad and Tobago’s health minister over a tweet in which she said her cousin’s friend in the country had been made impotent by a Covid vaccine.
Terrence Dyalsingh said on Wednesday that the “false” post had wasted his department’s time.
The tweet also claimed the friend had swollen testicles.
It has caused backlash from health experts around the world who are concerned about vaccine disinformation. Read more
England leapfrog France into third in FIFA standings (Metro)
England leapfrogged cross-Channel rivals France into third place of FIFA standings published Thursday.
Belgium and Brazil retain first and second spots respectively, while England make their first appearance on the podium in nine years on the back of two wins and a draw in recent 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
France paid the price for two draws and a win to go fourth.
European champions Italy and Copa America winners Argentina sit in fifth and sixth places. Read more
Nottingham Forest sack coach Chris Hughton (Punch)
English Championship club Nottingham Forest on Thursday announced they had sacked manager Chris Hughton after a dismal start to the season.
Forest are bottom of the second tier and Wednesday’s home defeat by Middlesbrough left them without a win from any of their first seven league matches.
“Nottingham Forest can confirm that Chris Hughton has been relieved of his duties as first team manager,” the club said in a statement.
“The club would like to place on record its appreciation for Chris’ efforts. Chris joined the club in a difficult period for everyone in football and around the world and we thank him for the way he has conducted himself during his tenure. Read more
Champions League: Liverpool and Man City thrill, PSG draws in Messi debut (France24)
Lionel Messi made his first Paris Saint-Germain start in a 1-1 draw at Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday, while last season’s runners-up Manchester City and Liverpool won high-scoring thrillers.
Real Madrid, the record 13-time European champions, left it late to beat Inter Milan at the San Siro in a section topped by Moldovan debutants Sheriff Tiraspol after the first round of group stage matches.
Argentine star Messi lined up with both Neymar and Kylian Mbappe for the first time, after being limited to just 24 minutes in a PSG shirt since his shock exit from Barcelona.
Ander Herrera, who scored twice in the weekend win over Clermont, gave PSG the lead by steering in Mbappe’s cross on 15 minutes, but Brugge soon levelled through Hans Vanaken. Read more
Manchester City: Pep Guardiola’s call for more home fans ‘uncalled for’, says supporters group (BBC)
A leading Manchester City supporters group says manager Pep Guardiola’s call for more fans to attend their Premier League game with Southampton is “disappointing and uncalled for”.
After Wednesday’s Champions League win over RB Leipzig, Guardiola said he “would like more people” on Saturday.
Kevin Parker, general secretary of City’s official supporters’ club, said the comments were “frustrating”.
“It’s not factual, our attendances are generally excellent,” he added. Read more
Umpire ejects entire grounds crew during Yankees-Orioles game in bizarre scene (NYPost)
Well, that escalated quickly.
In a bizarre scene during Wednesday night’s Yankees-Orioles game in Baltimore, umpire Tim Timmons ejected the entire grounds crew from the field during the ninth inning.
Amid a light rain, the crew was posted up behind the tarp, ready to roll it out after the game was over to protect the field. But Timmons was having none of it, as he pointed at the crew and tossed them from the game.
The Orioles grounds crew got ejected from the game 👀pic.twitter.com/mWjL8TVwqo
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 16, 2021
After a brief confusion, the crew seemed to understand the order, and they jogged off in an orderly fashion. Read more