Importer To CBN: Tell the truth, naira has been devalued (DailyTrust)
Importers have condemned the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over its denial that the naira has been devalued.
In an interview with BusinessDay, an importer, who craved anonymity, asked the CBN to be truthful.
In its report titled, “Business leaders insist they get dollars at N630 despite CBN denial“, BusinessDay quoted manufacturers and importers as saying they had been buying dollars at N630. Read more
Police declares Oyo transport leader Auxiliary wanted (Channels)
The Oyo State Police Command has declared the sacked Chairman of Park Management System (PMS), Mukaila Lamidi aka Auxiliary, wanted, the authorities revealed in a media briefing on Friday.
The move follows another raid of his hotel where more dangerous weapons were recovered on Thursday.
Channels Television reports that policemen had stormed Auxiliary’s Ibadan residence recovering weapons and ammunition. Read more
Fuel Subsidy: Group demands reversal of Tinubu’s pronouncement, threatens nationwide protest (Tribune)
A Coalition of Civil Society Group under the auspices of the Free Nigeria Movement has demanded the immediate reversal of the fuel subsidy removal pronouncement by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The group also threatened nationwide protest as it gave the federal government 7 days to reverse the pronouncement and urged Nigerian Labour Congress to remain steadfast in standing with the poor people of Nigeria and never compromising their position.
The Convener of the Group, Dr Moses Paul, at a press briefing in Abuja, lamented that the dictatorial pronouncement on the removal of subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose ascension to power awaits confirmation by the courts, is a credible specimen in the scholarly hall of politics and governance. Read more
Hajj 2023: NDLEA warns against illicit drugs as 428 Lagos pilgrims arrive Madinah (Vanguard)
No fewer than 428 Lagos State intending pilgrims who were airlifted by Flynas, a Saudi Arabian based airline have arrived Madinah, Saudi Arabia, for the 2023 holy pilgrimage exercise.
On board the airline with number XY 5680 which took off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja at 5.21pm on Thursday, are 286 males and 242 females.
Another set of 53 of the pilgrims were airlifted alongside Oyo, Osun and Ogun States intending pilgrims Thursday night. Read more
Bode George lists condition to work with Tinubu (DailyTrust)
Former Deputy National Chairman (South-West) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has given the condition under which he would work with President Bola Tinubu.
George, a staunch critic of Tinubu, said this at his Ikoyi office in Lagos while fielding questions from journalists.
The PDP chieftain had opposed Tinubu’s presidency as well as his emergence as winner of the presidential election, noting he would leave Nigeria if Tinubu becomes President. Read more
Lagos plans industrial hub in Ikorodu community (Punch)
The Lagos State Government says the ongoing reorganisation of the state-owned industrial hubs will strengthen the operations of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
This is as the government disclosed that the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was working to complete a new industrial estate located in the Imota Local Council Development Area of the state.
The state government also said it was open to partnership to develop more small and medium-scale industrial hubs for increased economic production and export within the available enterprise zones in various parts of the state, according to a Thursday press release. Read more
Subsidy regime vanished in February 2022 – NNPCL (Channels)
The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Commission Limited (NNPLC), Mele Kyari, says Nigeria’s subsidy regime ended last year.
President Bola Tinubu had at his inauguration announced that “subsidy” is gone leading to a hike in fuel prices with many wondering why it is so even though it was budgeted for up to the end of June 2023.
But while featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the NNPCL boss said the subsidy “vanished” early last year based on the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). Read more
IGP promotes 31,465 Inspectors, rank and file (Guardian)
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has promoted a total of 31,465 policemen comprising 24,991 from Sergeants to Inspectors, 194 from Corporal to Sergeant, and 6,280 from Constable to Corporal.
The IGP said the promotion is part of his manpower development policy targeted at promoting deserving police officers on the basis of competence and length of service,
He however charged the affected officers to add more pep in promoting the lofty principles and values of modern policing and discharge their duties as expected of them in line with the provisions of the extant laws. Read more
Tributes as MTV Wild ‘N Out star Jacky Oh dies aged 32 (Sky)
MTV’s Wild ‘N Out star Jacky Oh has died at the age of 32.
Oh, also known as Jacklyn Smith – was a mother of three children and part of the US sketch comedy and rap battle improv game created and hosted by Nick Cannon for five seasons.
A BET Media Group spokesperson said: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Jacklyn Smith, known to the world as Jacky Oh, a talented Wild N’ Out family member whose impact will be forever treasured and missed. Read more
Bill Cosby faces lawsuit alleging he sexually assaulted a former Playboy model (People)
Bill Cosby is facing a new sexual assault lawsuit.
Almost six months after five women who previously accused Cosby of sexual assault filed a 34-page complaint against the actor in New York’s Supreme Court, former Playmate model Victoria Valentino has filed her own lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Valentino’s lawsuit comes after California temporarily extended its statute of limitations in sexual assault cases with the passage of Assembly Bill 2777. Valentino, 80, alleges in the lawsuit that she was drugged and raped by the 85-year-old actor after they ran into each other at a Los Angeles restaurant in 1969 after first coming forward with the claims in 2014. Read more
Sideshow and Janus Films take North American rights to Catherine Breillat’s Cannes title ‘‘Last Summer’’ (Deadline)
Sideshow and Janus Films have acquired all North American rights for Catherine Breillat’s drama “Last Summer” (L’été dernier) following its well-received premiere in competition in the final days of the Cannes Film Festival (May 16-27).
Breillat’s first feature in a decade, the drama continues the director’s career-long penchant for breaking taboos.
Lea Drucker stars as a successful family lawyer specializing in child protection, living a seemingly perfect life with her husband and their two young daughters in a well-heeled Paris suburb. Read more
Gervonta Davis jailed for violating terms of home detention sentence in 2020 hit-and-run (BoxingScene)
Gervonta Davis was jailed Thursday for violating the terms of his 90-day sentence of home detention for his hit-and-run accident in November 2020 in Baltimore.
Michael Tomko, Davis’ attorney, confirmed to The Baltimore Banner on Thursday night that Davis was ordered at an “impromptu hearing” late Thursday afternoon to serve the remainder of his 90-day sentence in a Baltimore jail cell. Davis was taken into custody at Baltimore Central Booking immediately after the hearing, according to The Baltimore Banner.
Tomko did not provide details as to why Baltimore Circuit Judge Althea M. Handy ordered one of boxing’s biggest stars to serve the rest of his sentence in jail. Read more
Sir Rod Stewart abandons sale of music catalogue (MusicNews)
Sir Rod Stewart has called off the sale of his music catalogue to Hipgnosis Songs Fund.
The 78-year-old music legend had reportedly spent two years negotiating a deal with the company’s founder and CEO Merck Mercuriadis.
However, the ‘Handbags and Gladrags’ hitmaker decided that Hipgnosis – which has already bought the rights to music by Bruce Springsteen, Justin Bieber and Lindsey Buckingham – was not the right owner for his “life’s work”. Read more
Religious leader linked to Kenya starvation cult says court hearing is a ‘‘matter of intimidation’’ (CNN)
The leader of a Christian cult who has been accused of encouraging his followers to starve themselves appeared in court in Mombasa, Kenya on Friday, telling CNN afterwards that the hearing is a “matter of intimidation” and time-wasting.
Paul Nthenge Mackenzie was arrested last month after police received a tipoff that his land on the Shakahola forest in the Kilifi County of eastern Kenya contained mass graves.
According to court documents, investigators have so far found 249 bodies and at least 10 mass graves in the Shakahola forest area. Read more
Jordan Crown Prince ties the knot with Saudi architect (MEMO)
Jordan’s Crown Prince, Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, married Saudi heiress and architect, Rajwa Al Saif, on Thursday in a wedding attended by global royalty, Anadolu Agency reports.
The wedding took place at Zahran Palace in the Jordanian capital, Amman, with King Abdullah II, Prince Hassan bin Talal and the bride’s father as witnesses.
Following the wedding ceremony, state-run television reported that the Crown Prince and his bride travelled through the capital, accompanied by a royal motorcade to Al Husseiniya Palace, where a reception and banquet were held. Read more
WAFU U20: Ivory Coast’s Konan to officiate Ghana, Nigeria final (Punch)
The Confederation of African Football has appointed Ivorien referee, Natacha Gerardine Konan, to officiate the final match of the WAFU B U20 Women Championship between Nigeria and Ghana. The match will take place in Kumasi on Saturday.
Konan will be assisted by her compatriot, Ndeko Edwige Appia as assistant referee 1. Ami Kouma and Jacqueline Nikiema from Burkina Faso will serve as assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively. Baptista Mariette Toi from Benin Republic will be the match commissioner.
The WAFU B U20 Women’s Championship final match between Nigeria and Ghana will take place at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on Saturday at 6:30 PM Ghana time (7:30 PM Nigeria time). Read more
UEFA charge Mourinho with insulting referee after Europa League final (FootballItalia)
UEFA have formally opened disciplinary proceedings against Roma coach Jose Mourinho for insulting referee Anthony Taylor after the Europa League final defeat to Sevilla.
A statement from the UEFA disciplinary committee today outlined a series of charges against both clubs following a fiery and often over the top Final at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.
Both clubs were charged with throwing of objects and lighting of fireworks from their crowd, plus improper conduct of the team. Read more
Guardiola puts City on red alert as United threaten treble bid in FA Cup final (France24)
Pep Guardiola has warned his Manchester City stars that Manchester United are capable of wrecking their treble dreams in Saturday’s FA Cup final.
City will arrive at Wembley this weekend hoping to complete the second part of their incredible bid to win the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in a single season.
Guardiola’s side clinched a fifth Premier League title in six seasons with three games to spare, giving the City boss an opportunity to rest key players and fine-tune his tactics ahead of the two matches that will define their season. Read more
Fed Cup: Insurance overcome stubborn Wolves in semis (Punch)
Nigeria Professional Football League sides, Bendel Insurance and Enugu Rangers will rekindle their age-long rivalry in the FA Cup again after making their way into the final of this year’s edition on Thursday, The PUNCH reports.
Six-time winners, Enugu Rangers, booked their place in the final after beating another NPFL side, Plateau United 1-0 in Ijebu Ode. Former NPFL top scorer, Godwin Obaje, netted the only goal of the game for the Flying Antelopes in stoppage time to prevent the game from going into a straight penalty shootout.
In the other semi-final in Lagos, three-time winners Bendel Insurance needed penalties to edge second-tier side Warri Wolves 3-2 on penalties in a tense Bendel derby which ended goalless in regulation time. Read more
Ferrari reveal expectation for ”tough” upgrade package (RN365)
Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur has conceded the change in car design introduced with its Spanish Grand Prix upgrade was a “tough decision”.
The Scuderia has ditched its unique scalloped sidepod design in favour of a Red Bull-esque shape at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as it aims to regain lost ground to Mercedes and Aston Martin in the early stages of the campaign.
Ferrari began the new F1 technical regulatory era as the fastest outfit but having been clawed back by Red Bull in the second half of last season before lacking pace this term, the decision has been made to explore a new developmental avenue. Read more
Sonego celebrates ”miracle” French Open comeback against Rublev (Eurosport)
Lorenzo Sonego described his shock French Open win over seventh seed Andrey Rublev as a “miracle” after coming back from two sets down to win a third-round epic.
The Italian looked down and out after he was bageled in set two, but he mounted an extraordinary fightback to win 5-7 0-6 6-3 7-6(5) 6-3 in three hours and 42 minutes.
“It’s a miracle,” Sonego said on court.
“Today I played my best tennis. It was tough, being two sets down after an hour. It’s incredible.” Read more