ICPC arrests woman selling new Naira notes (Vanguard)
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has arrested a woman, Omoseyin Oluwadarasimi Esther, with Twitter handle @SimisolaofLala, for selling new naira notes on social media.
This was contained in a statement signed by ICPC’s spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua in Abuja on Wednesday night.
The statement said the arrest was as a result of intelligence received which led the ICPC operatives to seek out and promptly arrest the suspect.
According to the statement: “Oluwadarasimi Emma, a social media ‘serial entrepreneur’ who deals in skincare, sales of fuel, facilitation of foreign travels through visa acquisitions, and other businesses, seized the opportunity of the scarcity of the new naira notes to openly market the new notes. It is believed she is in collusion with key elements in the financial services sector diverting the newly released notes away from banking halls and payment channels into a ‘black market.’ Read more
Shot bizman tackles police for releasing Lagos hotelier (Punch)
A 35-year-old businessman, Kelvin Nwabuno, who was shot alongside his friend, Abdulahi Animashahun, 30, and a student, Charles Edet, 18, has faulted the reported release of the suspect, Kingsley Enageghe.
He also alleged that some persons who claimed to be acting for Enageghe threatened him over the matter.
PUNCH Metro had reported that Enageghe, who is the Director of Queens Victory Guest House, Ijeshatedo, Lagos State, allegedly shot the victims on Thursday, January 5, at the facility.
Nwabuno was said to have lodged in the guest house and complained about a faulty television in his room. Read more
Igangan tragedy: Makinde condemns attack on campaign trail (Guardian)
The Media Committee of Governor Seyi Makinde Campaign Council has condemned the attack on the governor’s campaign trail in Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Council, noting that suspected thugs of opposition parties perpetrated the violence.
It maintained that the attacks were premeditated and orchestrated by some opposition elements, who hired street urchins to waylay the convoy of the governor, to paint him in bad light.
The Special Assistant (Print Media) to the Governor, Moses Alao, in a statement on behalf of the committee, described the attacks as unwarranted, warning opposition elements to eschew politics of bitterness and violence. Read more
Raheem: I disarmed Vandi after shooting, says ASP (Punch)
A prosecution witness, Assistant Superintendent of Police Olorunshola Segun, on Wednesday, narrated how he disarmed ASP Drambi Vandi, the alleged killer of a Lagos-based lawyer, Mrs Omobolanle Raheem, on Christmas Day.
Segun, who testified before a Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square, said he disarmed Vandi shortly after the incident.
He said, “I am a police officer presently attached to the Ajah Police Station. On December 25, 2022, we were scheduled to go on patrol for 24 hours.
“I was at Ajah Police Station. I was one of the operational officers in charge of patrolling the neighborhood. We had the patrol team divided into various sections and areas of patrol. I was the patrol officer in charge of Ajah. Read more
Sanwo-Olu inaugurates 18.75km phase I Lekki-Epe Expressway (Tribune)
On Wednesday, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu inaugurated the 18.75km phase I Lekki-Epe Expressway and also flagged off its second phase.
The construction of the road is coming around the corridor at a time the activities of the Lekki Free Trade Zone are picking up gradually.
Phase I of the road commences from Eleko and terminates at Epe-Junction, while the second phase ends at Abraham Adesanya Roundabout, where the 4th Mainland Bridge will take off. Read more
Lagos TESCOM recruited 7,143 teachers in 4 years (Nation)
Lagos State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) has in the last four years recruited 7,143 teachers to boost the manpower needed in the state’s public post-primary schools.
Its Permanent Secretary, Olubusola Ajibola Abidakun, who stated this on Tuesday in Lagos, said after the inauguration of TESCOM in February 2019, “our first resolve was to address the acute shortage of teachers in the state’s Post-Primary Schools through the recruitment of academically and professionally qualified teachers into the teaching service.
“Not only the certification, but we sought out other competency frameworks in terms of the generic, technical, and attitudinal soft and hard skills that make the holistic teacher worth the pay. Read more
Pastor fakes own obituary to evade N3m debt payment (Vanguard)
A cleric, Paul Oyewole, has been arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ondo town, Ondo State, for allegedly publishing and posting his obituary on social media, in order to evade payment of N3 million owed his church member.
The 43-year-old pastor was dragged to court for fraudulently obtaining N3 million from one Boyede Emmanuel, under the pretence to pay back the money within seven days, which he reneged.
Police prosecutor, Akao Moremi, informed the court that “the defendant allegedly falsely published and posted his obituary on WhatsApp after he had sent a fake alert to a bank account, knowing fully that he did not have such an amount in his bank account. Read more
Supreme Court sacks Bwacha as Taraba APC guber candidate (Leadership)
The Supreme Court has nullified the election of Senator Emmanuel Bwacha as the gubernatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for Taraba State in the March 11, 2023 elections.
Delivering judgement, Justice Adamu Jauro, affirmed the decision of the Federal High Court, Jalingo, Taraba State capital, that nullified the election of Bwacha as the APC governorship candidate in the state. The apex court set aside the judgement of the Court of Appeal, Yola Division, which had on November 24, 2022, reinstated Emmanuel Bwacha as governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming general elections.
A five-man panel of the Supreme Court Justices upheld the judgement of the trial court which had ordered for a fresh primary election within 14 days. Read more
Beyonce finally confirms Renaissance world tour after months of teasing (Metro)
Beyonce has finally confirmed that she is heading on a world tour later this year, after releasing Renaissance last summer.
Taking to Instagram, the Cuff It singer shared a snap of herself decked out in a bejeweled outfit while straddling a giant silver horse, complete with a cowboy hat – similar to her album cover.
Alongside the post, she simply wrote: ‘RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR 2023.’
According to dates on her official website, Beyonce will be kicking the dates off in Stockholm in on May 10, before landing in the UK with a performance in Cardiff on May 17. Read more
Snoop Dogg celebrates Lakers win but blames team for bad nerves & high blood pressure (Allhiphop)
Snoop Dogg is celebrating after his beloved Los Angeles Lakers beat the New York Knicks 129-123 in overtime on Tuesday night (January 31).
The Los Angeles legend was all smiles as Lebron James recorded his first triple-double of the season to lead the Lakers to victory on his return to Madison Square Garden. Despite his criticism of the team’s performance in the 2022-23 NBA season, Snoop Dogg was a happy man following the win.
He took to Instagram after the game with a video congratulating the team, but also insisting they find a way to win.
“You know what that smile means,” the Doggfather said in the clip. “The Lakers Win! Yes! We find a way!”
Nonetheless, According to Snoop, the Lakers are affecting his health, and he urged them to up their game. Read more
Paul Rudd compares entrance into Marvel Cinematic Universe to doing Dancing with the Stars (DailyMail)
Paul Rudd said that joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe was a much different proposition in 2015 when he starred in the first Ant-Man film – comparing it to being on Dancing with the Stars.
The 53-year-old actor explained the course of events while speaking to Men’s Health in a new interview while on the promotional trail for the February 17 release of the next installment in the series, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
‘My agent set up a meeting with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige,’ Rudd told the outlet. ‘Marvel was pretty new. They weren’t even part of Disney. Read more
James Bond and Star Wars film posters among hundreds up for auction (Standard)
Original posters for James Bond and Star Wars films are going up for auction along with a selection of other similar lots.
Propstore is selling more than 570 posters and artworks, with an estimated combined value of more than £400,000.
The 007 film advertisements include one for Sir Sean Connery’s first appearance as Bond in Dr. No in 1962, which is listed for between £10,000 and £20,000. Read more
Lil Wayne, Jack Harlow and Lil Baby to headline Montreal’s Metro Metro Festival (HipHopDX)
Lil Wayne, Jack Harlow and Lil Baby have been tapped to headline Montreal’s 2023 Metro Metro Festival, which will also include The Kid Laroi as a special guest.
Taking place over the course of three days from May 19 to May 21, other names on the bill include Bia, Coi Leray, Cordae, Fivio Foreign, Lil Skies, Lil Tjay, Metro Boomin, Nav, Ski Mask The Slump God, Destroy Lonely and Yeat.
American Express cardholders can grab early tickets during a one-day pre-sale on Thursday (February 2). While general tickets for the festival go on sale on Friday (February 3). Read more
Kendrick Lamar’s ‘‘To Pimp A Butterfly’’ becomes highest-rated album of all time (Vibe)
Kendrick Lamar has made history again as the artist behind the highest-rated album of all time.
According to Rate Your Music, the Compton-based artist‘s To Pimp A Butterfly surpassed Radiohead’s Ok Computer to sit atop the throne of the list of best-reviewed albums in music history on Thursday (Jan. 31). The site — famous for allowing listeners to rate, review, and discover acclaimed work — shared the historical news on social media through their official accounts.
“To Pimp a Butterfly” just surpassed – OK Computer to become #1 in the top albums of all time,” the platform tweeted. “This is the first time in nearly a decade that Rate Your Music has had a new #1 album.” Read more
Tears and anger as US police beating victim Tyre Nichols laid to rest (France24)
Civil rights leaders, family and friends came together in a Memphis church Wednesday to bid farewell to Tyre Nichols, the 29-year-old African American whose fatal beating by police shocked the nation — and triggered urgent calls for reform.
“We mourn with you, and the people of our country mourn with you,” Vice President Kamala Harris told the young man’s family during a rousing service punctuated by gospel music and emotional speeches.
Anger is still simmering over Nichols’ death on January 10, three days after he was beaten and kicked in a traffic stop by five Black police officers — rekindling a national debate about brutality in law enforcement. Read more
Golden Eaglets draw Morocco, S’Africa, Zambia in U-17 AFCON (ThisDay)
Five-time world champions Nigeria must successfully navigate a tricky Group B that includes Morocco, South Africa and Zambia in order to be eligible for a spot at this year’s FIFA U17 World Cup finals in Peru.
At the draw ceremony conducted inside the Cercle Nationale d’Armee in Algiers yesterday, host nation Algeria birthed in Group A and must be in attrition with Senegal, Congo and Somalia. Cameroon, Mali, Burkina Faso and South Sudan make up Group C.
Nigeria, who are champions of WAFU B zone and are coached by former FIFA Under-16 World Cup winner Nduka Ugbade, will contest their games in the city of Constantine. Group A will make home in Algiers while Annaba welcomes the teams in Group C. Read more
Manchester United 2-0 Nottingham Forest (5-0 on agg): Final nothing without victory – Erik ten Hag (BBC)
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has told his players a Wembley appearance will mean nothing unless they beat Newcastle in the EFL Cup final on 26 February.
Second-half goals from Anthony Martial and Fred eased United to a 5-0 aggregate win over Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford.
It confirmed United’s first domestic final appearance since 2018 and puts them a win away from ending their six-year wait for a trophy. Read more
Women’s soccer World Cup hosts urge FIFA not to sign Saudi sponsor (TimesOfIsrael)
Women’s World Cup co-hosts Australia and New Zealand urged FIFA on Wednesday not to sign a sponsorship deal with the tourism authority of Saudi Arabia where “rights of women remain severely restricted.”
Leaders of the two national soccer federations warned in a letter to FIFA, including president Gianni Infantino, that unilaterally sealing the “Visit Saudi” sponsorship could “severely tarnish the reputation” of the 32-nation tournament that starts in July.
Such a confrontation between a World Cup host and FIFA is unprecedented in recent history and is likely to shine more attention on so-called “sportswashing” investments by Saudi Arabia. Read more
PSG’s Kylian Mbappe an injury concern to face Bayern Munich – sources (ESPN)
Kylian Mbappe is a doubt to face Bayern Munich in the Champions League this month after the Paris Saint-Germain striker came off injured against Montpellier on Wednesday.
Mbappe, who earlier missed a twice-taken penalty, picked up a knee and thigh injury after a tackle by Montpellier midfielder Leo Leroy and had to be substituted in the 21st minute of PSG’s 3-1 win.
His anguished face when he left the pitch and later the stadium showed the concern from the French World Cup winner. Read more
Suns’ Devin Booker could return as soon as Tuesday (ABC)
Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker, sidelined the past five weeks with a left groin strain, could return as soon as Tuesday against the Brooklyn Nets, sources told ESPN.
Booker has been ramping up his on-court work, and is expected to join the Suns at the start of a five-game road trip that begins Friday in Boston and continues Saturday at Detroit.
The Suns are 8-10 without Booker entering Wednesday night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks on ESPN. Read more
Novak Djokovic won Australian Open with hamstring tear (NYPost)
Novak Djokovic won his 10th career Australian Open in straight sets on Sunday, but it turns out it was one of the more difficult victories of his career.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) in the men’s singles final while dealing with a 3-centimeter — or a little more than an inch — tear in his left hamstring.
“He gets a bad rap, but at the end of the day, I don’t think anyone can question his athleticism,” Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley told SEN Sportsday on Wednesday. “This guy, I did see, he had a 3-centimeter tear in his hammy.” Read more