IGP sues ex-Anambra Senator Andy Uba over alleged N400m fraud (Channels)
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja has granted the request of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to arraign a former lawmaker for Anambra South Senatorial District, Senator Andy Uba, on a two-count charge bordering on alleged N400 million fraud.
Justice Ekwo fixed February 18, 2025, to take the plea of the defendant following an allegation that he defrauded one George Uboh, whose petition to the police led to the charge.
Equally cited as 2nd and 3rd defendants in the suit which was filed before the court are Crystal Chidinma Uba and Benjamin Etu. Read more
Customs intercepts live turtles, military hardware, others worth N3.32b at Lagos Airport (Nation)
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Muhammed Airport Command, announced on Wednesday, that its operatives intercepted 250 live turtles, Canadian Cannabis Sativa, and military equipment valued at over N3.32 billion in the last three months.
The Area Controller, Micheal Awe, stated that the command generated N72.2 billion between January and October this year, compared to N74.28 billion recorded during the same period in 2022.
The contraband items were imported into the country from Canada and Turkey, among other countries, between July and October this year. The seized items included 23 walkie-talkies, 175 military helmets, and 50 drones. Read more
President Tinubu approves leadership swap in 2 federal universities (VON)
President Bola Tinubu has approved the immediate swap of the Pro-Chancellors and Chairmen of the Governing Councils for the Federal University Oye-Ekiti and Federal University Lokoja.
A statement on the reshuffling by the President’s Spokesperson, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, stated that Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, currently serving as the Pro-Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja, will take over at Federal University Oye-Ekiti.
He also stated that Engineer Kayode Ojo, who previously held a similar position at Oye-Ekiti, will assume the role at Federal University Lokoja. Read more
Recapitalisation: Banks raise N1.68t through e-platform (Nation)
Approximately N1.682 trillion has been raised by banks through the recently launched e-offering platform as part of their recapitalisation efforts.
Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama made this known yesterday at the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) Conference in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The sum, according to a statement by SEC, was achieved through 12 applications submitted by nine banks. Read more
Lagos plans French essay competition in schools (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has unveiled plans to launch essay and quiz competitions in French, targeting public schools to engage students and encourage them to learn the language.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Ali-Balogun, made this announcement on Wednesday during the handing over of digital equipment at the Multilingual International Resource Centre in Maryland, Lagos.
The initiative, which includes distributing electronic learning gadgets to 12 state-owned schools, is funded by France’s Solidarity Fund for Initiative Projects, designed to promote French as a practical means of communication and to foster job creation and trade opportunities with neighbouring countries. Read more
2025: Pray against massive spread of Ebola in Lagos, Oyo, others – Primate Ayodele warns (Independent)
The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has warned Nigerians to pray against the massive spread of Ebola Virus in some states including Lagos, Oyo, Bauchi and Benue.
He made this known in a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin on Tuesday.
The prophet made it known that Nigeria must be prayerful regarding the health sector ahead of 2025 to prevent the re-emergence of diseases that have appeared to have gone. Read more
CSOs to IG: Don’t succumb to blackmail over Alowonle’s arrest (ThisDay)
Civil society organisations (CSOs), yesterday urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun not to succumb to the emotional blackmail by the Osun State government to get the governor’s appointee off the ongoing criminal investigation.
The CSOs operating under the umbrella of National Youths Inclusive Initiatives (NYII), and Societal Safety Network (SSN), noted that this appeal followed the arrest of the Chairman of Osun State Park Management Committee, Nurudeen Wakili, popularly known as Alowonle, with a police service gun and ammunition.
Addressing a joint press conference in Abuja over the case, the CSOs also appealed to the police authorities not to allow the case to be swept under the carpet. Read more
Insecurity: We must educate our people on self-defence –ACF (DailyTrust)
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has said there is a need for public awareness to educate the people on the importance of self-defence in the North due to the prevailing insecurity.
Speaking in his opening remarks at the ACF National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Wednesday, the ACF Chairman, Mamman Mike Osuman (SAN), emphasized the urgent need for collective action to address the deteriorating situation.
The chairman highlighted the alarming rate of attacks, kidnappings and killings in the region, stressing that these incidents had become too common. Read more
Anne Hathaway to star in Colleen Hoover thriller ‘‘Verity’’ for Amazon MGM (THR)
Anne Hathaway is set to star in Amazon MGM Studios‘ feature adaptation of Colleen Hoover‘s thriller novel Verity.
Michael Showalter (The Eyes of Tammy Faye) is directing the film that is planned for a theatrical release. Nick Antosca wrote the current script following the previous work of scribes Hillary Seitz, Angela LaManna and the team of Will Honley and April Maguire.
“Verity” centers on struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh, who is hired by Jeremy Crawford to complete the remaining books in a series penned by his wife, author Verity Crawford (Hathaway), who has suffered a mysterious accident. Lowen soon learns that a secret unfinished manuscript may reveal clues about the family’s past. Read more
Luke Bryan shares advice for new 2024 CMA Awards co-host Lainey Wilson (People)
Luke Bryan feels slighted by recent election results — but not that one.
During the opening monologue of the 58th annual Country Music Association Awards, the “Buy Dirt” singer, 48, bemoaned losing out on PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive title to this year’s cover star John Krasinski.
He and cohosts Lainey Wilson and Peyton Manning were discussing feeling bummed about hoping for certain voting results, and Bryan brought up losing out on the hot prize. Read more
ICC says it has uncovered evidence of war crimes in Libya (AfricaNews)
The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court urged Libya and other nations Tuesday to help arrest six men allegedly linked to a brutal militia blamed for multiple killings and other crimes in a strategically important western town where mass graves were discovered in 2020.
Karim Khan told the U.N. Security Council that he is ready to work with the Libyan government and people as well as countries that are parties to the ICC and those that are not to assist in the arrests.
The ICC does not have a police force and relies on cooperation from its 124 member states to enforce arrest warrants. Read more
The Simpsons voice actor retires after voicing beloved character for 35 years and nearly 700 episodes (Independent)
The Simpsons voice actor Pamela Hayden has announced her retirement from the hit Fox sitcom after 35 years.
Hayden, who’s credited for featuring in nearly 700 episodes of the long-running animated series, is best known as the voice behind Bart Simpson’s bespectacled friend Milhouse Van Houten; however, she’s also played dozens of other characters, including Jimbo Jones, Rod Flanders and Malibu Stacy.
Her final episode, Treehouse of Horror Presents: Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes, will air on Sunday (November 24). Read more
Daniel Craig circling DC Comics movie ‘‘Sgt. Rock’’ with Queer director Luca Guadagnino (Variety)
Luca Guadagnino and Daniel Craig, who recently joined forces on the A24 indie “Queer,” are reuniting on a much grander scale. The duo are circling “Sgt. Rock,” an adaptation of the comic book, for DC Studios. No word on the plot, but it will probably involve a lot less sex and drug taking than their prior collaboration.
The deals haven’t been finalized, so the project could fall apart. But the studio is bullish on the script from Justin Kuritzkes, who previously wrote Challengers and Queer for Guadagnino. The new movie is being developed under DC’s new leadership team of James Gunn and Peter Safran, who have been reinvigorating the company. Read more
Ukraine fires UK-made missiles into Russia for first time (Guardian)
Ukraine has fired UK-made Storm Shadow missiles into Russia for the first time since the beginning of the conflict, multiple sources have told the Guardian.
The decision to approve the strikes was made in response to the deployment of more than 10,000 North Korean troops on Russia’s border with Ukraine, which UK and US officials warned was a significant escalation of the near three-year conflict.
The Guardian reported earlier this week that the UK would soon approve Storm Shadow missiles for use inside Russia after the US president, Joe Biden, agreed to do the same for the similar American Atacms weapons. Read more
Hochstein in Beirut, says “significant progress” on Lebanon-Israel cease-fire as Hezbollah accepts proposal (Al-Monitor)
US special envoy to the Middle East Amos Hochstein arrived in Beirut on Tuesday as Hezbollah accepted a fresh US proposal for a cease-fire with Israel.
Hochstein met with Lebanon’s parliament Speaker and Hezbollah ally Nabih Berri in his residence in Ain al-Tineh. In statements to reporters following the meeting, the US envoy expressed his commitment to work with the Lebanese government and Israel to end the conflict.
“Since my last trip to Beirut a few weeks ago, we have had very constructive talks with Speaker Nabih Berri, and we have continued to narrow the gaps through discussions over the last few weeks,” he said. “Specifically, today we made significant progress.” Read more
Nigeria has better food, football legends than UK – Nottingham striker Taiwo Awoniyi (Vanguard)
Super Eagles and Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has sparked conversation with his bold assertion that Nigeria outshines the United Kingdom in several key areas.
Speaking in a recent interview with Livescore, the Nottingham Forest striker expressed pride in his home country’s rich cultural offerings and sporting legacy.
Awoniyi highlighted Nigeria’s superior cuisine and revered football legends as standout aspects that set the nation apart. Read more
Napoli reject Man Utd’s player plus cash offer for Osimhen (ThisDay)
Ahead of the coming winter transfer window in January, Italian Serie A side, Napoli, have adopted the ‘Dead on Arrival’ attitude to Manchester United’s request to sign Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen.
The Red Devils are offering a player plus cash for the reigning African Player of the Year who is on loan at Turkish side, Galatasaray.
The AFCON 2023 silver medal winner with Nigeria last February in Cote d’Ivoire has been in fine form for Okan Buruk’s side, scoring eight goals and providing four assists in nine games in all competitions. Read more
Tinubu opens 2024 Africa Military Games in Abuja (Punch)
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday called on the militaries across Africa to unite in addressing insecurity and other threats to the continent’s unity and stability.
He gave this charge when he officially declared open the second edition of the Africa Military Games at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Tinubu, represented at the event by Vice President Kashim Shettima, described the event as a historic platform to foster unity, camaraderie and military cooperation across the continent. Read more
US women to host Japan, Australia and Colombia in 2025 event (JapanToday)
The reigning Olympic champion United States women’s national soccer team will compete against Japan, Australia and Colombia in the 2025 SheBelieves Cup, U.S. Soccer announced on Wednesday.
The 10th edition of the event will feature a six-game, three day format for round-robin matches with total points deciding a winner and goal difference, most goals then head to head results used as tiebreakers.
The matches will be the first home contests for the U.S. women, who have won the past five SheBelieves titles and seven overall, as they prepare for qualifying for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Read more
Chelsea ease past Celtic in Women’s Champions League to seal quarter-final place (Standard)
Chelsea have sealed their place in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Champions League.
Sonia Bompastor’s side cruised past Celtic 3-0 in their latest Group B fixture at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night to guarantee progress with two matches to spare.
Lucy Bronze netted an early volley to set the Blues on their way to a comfortable victory in west London, with Wieke Kaptein also heading home before Eve Perisset’s last-gasp penalty. Read more
Warriors guard De´Anthony Melton to undergo season-ending knee surgery (DailyMail)
Golden State Warriors guard De´Anthony Melton will require season-ending knee surgery.
The team announced Wednesday that Melton will undergo a procedure soon for a sprained left anterior cruciate ligament that Steve Kerr said is partially torn. Melton, who had missed the last two games, thought about it in recent days according to Kerr.Tests showed that surgery was the best option, the Warriors said. Melton, who has also dealt with a troublesome back, had been a projected backcourt starter alongside Stephen Curry with Klay Thompson’s departure to Dallas. Read more