IGP bans use of SPY police license plate numbers (Guardian)
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered a total ban on all use of Police SPY vehicle number plates by vehicle owners across the states ‘without exceptions’.
“This is irrespective of whether it is authorized, or not, as all authorizations are hereby revoked indefinitely,” police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said in a statement on Wednesday.
Adejobi stated that the order is to forestall the continuous disregard for traffic rules and regulations and other extant laws guiding road use by individuals hiding under the privileges of SPY police number plates.
“The IGP has therefore directed that police officers and officers of other security agencies attached to VIPs who use the SPY number plates should ensure prompt compliance with this directive or risk being arrested for violation of the order,” he said. Read more
How we buy goods with fake bank alerts – Suspect (DailyTrust)
A 45-year-old man, Adewale Adesanya, has been arrested by the police in Oyo State for generating fake bank alerts to defraud Point of Sale (POS) operators and business owners.
Adesanya, who was arrested with four bottles of a champagne brand, Dom Perignom, valued at N117,900 each, confirmed to Daily Trust that his colleague in the business trained him in the fraudulent act.
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He said they bought goods worth millions of naira with fake alerts they generated with an application on their phone.
The suspect said the last transaction he did which exposed him was about N185,000 for which he generated a fake alert for a POS operator in Ibadan.
He said, “I cannot lie again. It is true we are doing the business. We have an application we use to generate fake alerts for POS operators. I am not the only one doing it. My second person fled when he heard I was arrested. Read more
1 injured as building collapses in Lagos (Punch)
One person was injured and hospitalised after a two-storey building in the Onipanu area of Lagos State collapsed.
The affected building is said to be at Oke Arin street, off Shyllon, Ilupeju.
The building collapsed at about 12:45 am on Wednesday.
A source in the area who craves anonymity confirmed the incident, adding that the building is around the rail line in the area.
“Yes, a building collapsed at the Oju Irin (rail line) area during the early hours of today,” he said. Read more
Sola Sobowale lands first Bollywood role (Guardian)
Nollywood actress Sola Sobowale has landed her first Bollywood role.
The “Toyin Tomato” actress announced the big news in a post on her Instagram, revealing that she would be traveling to India to work on director Hamisha Daryani Ahuja’s upcoming project.
She wrote, “I am so excited to announce that I will be working with record breaking Director/Exec Producer @HamishaDaryaniAhuja on her upcoming project! And… get this….we will be going to India to film! I will be playing a very dynamic role in this project and cannot wait for you to watch it. Are you as excited as I am ???”
Sola Sobowale got her big break in the premiere of Nigeria’s popular television drama, Super Story: “Oh Father, Oh Daughter.” More recently, the actress has received accolades for her role as Eniola Salami “Oba” in Kemi Adetiba’s “King of Boys.” Read more
Former Lagos Speaker, Kinyomi dies at 82 (Tribune)
A former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Abayomi Kinyomi has passed away at age 82.
Rt. Hon Kinyomi, was Speaker of the State Assembly from January, 1992 to November 1993 during the tenure of the late Sir Micheal Otedola.
The Former Chairman of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, Comrade Ayodele Adewale, who broke the news on social media yesterday, claimed that Kinyomi reportedly died at a private hospital in Festac town after a brief illness.
The former lawmaker would be buried today in accordance with Islamic rites. Read more
Herbegbeyin set for The Thanksgiving (Nation)
Comedian and voice compere Adeniran Oyewole aka Herbegbeyin is set for the fourth edition of his annual show tagged Herbegbeyin Undiluted 4.0 (The Thanksgiving).
According to Herbigbeyin’s team, the show is set to hold on Sunday, July 17, 2022, at Terra Kulture on Victoria Island.
Other acts that will be joining Herbegbeyin include Asiri, Doctor Frique, Mr. Talk, MC Rhelax, Elijah Daniel, BBQ, Prince Da Psalmist, TMO, MC Bleach, HPrince, Okandeji, Adeola Testimony, MC Dee, MC Sege, Moskey, Akanlaff, Femi Praise, and Scriptural Tungba.
In a chat about the show, Herbegbeyin said the show is simply an expression of gratitude to his fans and family who have stood with him through the time and tides. Read more
Original Mummy GO, Adeboye hails wife at 74 (Punch)
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has felicitated his wife, Pastor Foluke on her 74th birthday, calling her “My Original Mummy GO”.
Adeboye shared his birthday message to his wife via his Twitter handle, stating that she originated the name, Mummy GO.
He went on to shower praises on Pastor Foluke and thanked her for being an example worthy of emulation.
He wrote, “There are so many names your Children call you, but my favourite School girl you remain My Original Mummy GO, the Pioneer of that name, Flag Bearer of the Title and an Emblem of all that it represents, thank you for setting an example that is worthy of emulation. Read more
Another Kuje escapee arrested in Ogun (Independent)
Another convict of Kuje Correctional Center who escaped from the facility after it came under attack from suspected terrorists, Yakubu AbdulMumuni has been arrested in Ogun State.
According to a statement by the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, the suspect was arrested in Sango Ota on Monday.
Oyeyemi said information was received by the policemen at the Divisional Police Headquarters that the 38-year-old was sighted at Sango Ota, adding that the DPO, Saleh Dahitu immediately apprehended the convict.
The PPRO said the convict, upon interrogation, confessed to having escaped from the facility when it was attacked. Read more
Let no Imam or Pastor tell you whom to vote for, Says Keyamo (Channels)
The Minister of State, Labour & Employment, Festus Keyamom, has asked Nigerians to steer clear of religious leaders asking them to consider religious sentiments when casting their votes come 2023.
This comes off reactions by certain quarters and some Christian political leaders within the All Progressives Congress (APC) rejecting the party’s decision to field Kashim Shettima as the running mate of the presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.
The duo Tinubu and Shettima are Muslims.
“No one should deceive us, as ordinary Nigerians, be it a pastor or Imam, to vote or not to vote for anyone based on the religious colouration of the ticket,” Keyamo detailed in a series of tweets on Wednesday. Read more
Mickey Rourke accuses Amber Heard of being a ‘gold digger’ after Verdict (Newsweek)
Mickey Rourke has accused Amber Heard of being a “gold digger,” following her high-profile defamation trial with ex-husband Johnny Depp.
Depp, 59, filed a $50 million lawsuit against Heard, 36, over a 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post, in which she said that she was a survivor of domestic abuse.
Following a six-week trial, the jury on June 1 awarded Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. The judge adjusted the punitive damages to $350,000, as Virginia law limits punitive damages.
Heard, who had countersued for $100 million, was awarded $2 million by the jury, which found that Depp’s former attorney, Adam Waldman, had made defamatory comments about the Aquaman star. Read more
Martin Scorsese to be honoured by Location Managers Guild (THR)
Martin Scorsese will receive the Location Managers Guild International’s Eva Monley Award for a filmmaker whose efforts have demonstrated “above and beyond” support of the work of location professionals.
The award – named in honour of the late location scout who worked with directors such as John Huston, Otto Preminger, and David Lean – will be presented at the 9th annual LMGI Awards on Aug. 27 at the Los Angeles Center Studios.
“We are so proud to be able to honor Martin Scorsese, a master of cinema whose work has inspired generations of filmmakers, delighted fans around the world and made the work of his location managers shine on the screen,” said John Rakich, LMGI president and committee chair of this year’s awards.
Scorsese, whose long list of classics include Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas and best picture and best director Oscar winner The Departed, is currently in post production on Killers of The Flower Moon and a documentary about New York Dolls singer David Johansen. Read more
Jordan Peele says Nope explores race through the lens of ‘Black people in a flying saucer film’ (EW)
Jordan Peele has revealed new details about his mysterious film Nope and what it might mean for audiences to see a predominantly Black cast navigate a “flying saucer movie” that “honors horror” in new ways.
Speaking to Today, the Oscar-winning Get Out and Us helmer said he considers the upcoming movie — starring Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, and Steven Yeun in a tale that seemingly revolves around UFOs terrorizing the population of a rural mountain town — to be part of the horror genre, but nothing is standard when it comes to the filmmaker’s oeuvre.
“It’s about a lot of things,” Peele said. “The first notion that I latched onto when I was writing this movie was the idea of making a spectacle. I wanted to make a flying saucer movie because I just felt like if we can feel like we’re in the presence of something ‘other,’ if we feel like that’s real, then that’s an immersive experience worthy of going to the movies.”
He later responded to a question about how Nope incorporates commentary about race into its plot. Read more
‘Stranger Things’ star Finn Wolfhard to co-direct and star in new horror film (Fox)
Finn Wolfhard, of “Stranger Things” fame, is set to co-direct a modern horror movie titled “Hell of a Summer” with “Wynonna Earp” star Billy Bryk.
Producers of the film announced on Tuesday the two young actors have signed on as co-directors and stars of the movie, as well as having written the movie.
This will be Wolfhard’s feature film directorial debut, however he has exercised his directing muscles in the past, having directed the music video for the song Sonora, as well as a short film entitled “Night Shifts” which he also wrote.
“I am so excited to be co-directing my first feature film,” Wolfhard said in a statement. “I get the chance to work with an incredible cast and crew, and to work with a company like 30West and Aggregate is a real dream.” Read more
Bangkok World Film Festival to be revived in December (Variety)
The World Film Festival of Bangkok, which was last held in 2017, is to be revived under new leadership. It will be held in the Thai capital Dec. 2-11, 2022, the Nation newspaper announced.
The Nation Group backed the organization of 14 previous editions of the festival. It said that it had appointed Donsaron Kovitvanitcha, better known as Don, as the festival director.
The first editions of the festival were led by Kriengsak Silakong, better known as Victor. Victor died of a heart attack in March this year.
Don, who is both an experienced festival selector and an independent film producer, said that details such as the scale of the event and programming sections have yet to be finalized. “It will definitely be an international event,” he told Variety. Previous editions ran to a selection of 70-80 film titles. Read more
Zelensky says Russia has no ‘iota of courage to admit defeat and withdraw’ (Newsweek)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia’s military is too cowardly to concede defeat, and touted his own country’s military prowess as a counter-offensive was launched in southern Ukraine.
Zelensky struck an assured tone in a national speech on Tuesday where he also highlighted Ukraine’s growing closeness with the Western-based NATO alliance. The Ukrainian president’s remarks come after an infusion of weapons from Western allies and as the country seeks to beat back Russia’s territorial gains in Ukraine.
Zelensky said in the speech that Russian occupiers “will not have a safe rear anywhere on our land.” He said that intercepted communications of Russian soldiers show they are “truly afraid of our armed forces.” Russia’s military is able to sustain conflict, nearly in its fifth month, on the “basis of bottomless stocks of old Soviet weapons,” he said.
“They no longer have strategic strength, character or understanding of what they are doing here on our land,” said Zelensky. “They also don’t have even an iota of courage to admit defeat and withdraw troops from Ukrainian territory.” Read more
Joe Biden arrives in Middle East on first trip as US president (Aljazeera)
US President Joe Biden has landed in Tel Aviv in Israel on his first visit to the Middle East in his current role.
Arriving on Air Force One at Ben Gurion airport on Wednesday, Biden was warmly greeted by Israeli officials and, in a speech, described the US’s connection with the country as “bone-deep”.
“You don’t need to be a Jew to be a Zionist,” said Biden in his opening remarks. “The connection between the Israeli and American people is bone deep … I am proud to say that US relations with Israel are deeper and stronger than they have ever been.”
The US leader also reiterated his support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Read more
Bayern, Liverpool not interested in Osimhen (Sun)
One of the most authoritative Italian pundits, Mario Sconcerti has insisted that German Bundesliga champion, Bayern Munich and Premier League giant, Liverpool are not interested in signing Victor Osimhen despite reports linking the Nigeria national teamer with a transfer to both clubs this summer.
It was previously claimed that Bayern Munich was plotting a move for Osimhen as a possible replacement for Robert Lewandowski who is angling for a transfer to Barcelona.
The Napoli and Super Eagles number 9 was also mentioned as one of the candidates who could fill the void left by Sadio Mane after the Senegal star switched to Bayern Munich.
Napoli will reportedly not allow the Nigerian to leave the Diego Maradona Stadium in the summer transfer window for less than one hundred million euros. Read more
Shane Long: Reading re-sign striker 11 years after first leaving club (BBC)
Veteran Republic of Ireland striker Shane Long has rejoined Reading.
The 35-year-old has agreed a one-year contract at the club where he made his name after first moving to England from Cork City in 2005.
Long, who has scored 119 goals in a near 17-year career, left Southampton earlier this summer after an eight-year spell with the Premier League side.
He scored 54 goals in 203 games in his first spell with the Royals between 2005 and 2011. Read more
Premier League player arrested on suspicion of rape won’t be suspended by his club (DailyStar)
The club of an unnamed Premier League player arrested on suspicion of rape have confirmed he won’t be suspended.
The footballer was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of rape, and he was then arrested again on suspicion of two more attacks on a different woman. The unnamed Premier League player has denied the allegations made against him.
However, the player’s club have confirmed to The Athletic he won’t be suspended by the club as he can still “fulfil his job commitments”. The club said: “We are aware of the allegations which are currently the subject of a police investigation.
“We have confirmed that the player denies the allegations and is on police bail pending the outcome of their enquiries. There have been no charges laid and the player can fulfil his professional commitments including permitted travel. Read more
Casper Ruud rotten luck continues as he loses out in first match in Bastad (Tennishead)
Casper Ruud has now lost three of his four matches played since reaching the final of the French Open as the Norwegian fell to Francisco Cerundolo in Bastad, Sweden.
The 23-year-old sits at a career-high ranking of fifth, but that will be no consolation for him as he lost 4-6, 6-3, 5-7 to his Argentinian opponent.
Since reaching the championship match in Paris and losing to his idol Rafael Nadal there, Ruud has won just one of four matches, his Wimbledon first round encounter with Albert Ramos-Vinolas last month.
Seeded first in Bastad and coming into the tournament as defending champion, the ATP 250 event looked like a chance for Ruud to squeeze a little extra out of the clay before the US hard court swing, but Cerundolo had other ideas. Read more
Jake Paul blasted for ‘trying to cheat’ after inserting clause in Hasim Rahman Jr contract (Express)
Hasim Rahman Jr has ripped into Jake Paul for trying to ‘cheat’ him out of the fight by adding a rehydration clause to their contract. Rahman Jr and Paul will face each other next month at the 200lb cruiserweight limit.
Rahman Jr usually operates at heavyweight and has stepped on the scales as heavy as 264lb in the past. Now, with only one month’s notice the son of former heavyweight world champion Hasim Rahman must drop two stones to make the weight for his clash with the YouTube star.
Furthermore, Paul has also inserted a rehydration clause meaning Rahman Jr cannot be above 215lb during a second-day weigh-in while Paul is expected to weigh 195lb which is his walk-around weight.
Confirming the clause during a media scrum after the pair’s first press conference on Tuesday, Paul said: “The second-day weigh-in is Saturday morning. He can weigh 215 Saturday morning and the night of the fight he can weigh whatever he wants.” Read more
LeBron James clarifies comments about Brittney Griner, U.S. government (SI)
LeBron James clarified comments Tuesday about Brittney Griner and the United States government he made on The Shop: Uninterrupted.
A trailer released earlier Tuesday shows a clip of the NBA star saying, in part, “Now, how can she feel like America has her back? I would be feeling like, ‘Do I even wanna go back to America?’”
James tweeted Tuesday that he “wasn’t knocking our beautiful country. I was simply saying how she’s probably feeling emotionally along with so many other emotions, thoughts, etc inside that cage she’s been in for over 100+ days! Long story short #BringHerHome.”
Griner has been detained for more than 100 days in Russia for allegedly carrying vape cartridges with hashish oil in her luggage while at an airport near Moscow. She pleaded guilty to the charges Thursday, which came four days after her detention was extended to December by Russian authorities. Griner could face up to 10 years in prison. Read more
Delon Wright feels role with Wizards will better highlight his strengths (NBC)
Newly acquired Wizards guard Delon Wright is joining his seventh NBA team in four years, so he is an expert on adapting to change as a well-traveled league veteran. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to do and last year was a microcosm of that.
Wright, 30, was traded to the Atlanta Hawks where he was placed behind All-NBA point guard Trae Young on the depth chart. His playing time was inconsistent, as he averaged his fewest minutes (18.9 per game) since 2016-17, his second season. And after averaging 10.2 points and 4.4 assists on solid efficiency the year before, his shot attempts were cut from 8.2 per game to 3.5, essentially relegating him to play as a defensive specialist.
While Wright sees defense as his calling card and central to his role in Washington, he doesn’t think last year fully showed what he is capable of.
“It’s tough. I feel like last year I wasn’t used to my abilities. We figured it out later in the year, but that’s what happens when you go to a new team, it takes a while for the coaching staff to get adjusted to you,” Wright said. Read more