Indian national in NDLEA net over 134,700 bottles of Codeine allegedly smuggled into Nigeria (Guardian)
An Indian businessman, Vyapak Nutal, has been taken into custody for interrogation by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), over the alleged smuggling of 134,700 bottles of Codeine syrup into the country through the land border between Nigeria and Niger Republic.
The suspect had loaded the consignment into trucks in Cotonou, Benin Republic and drove through the land borders via Niger Republic before entering Sokoto State at the Illela border.
Settled in a hotel in Sokoto state, credible intelligence reveals that Nutal began to look for buyers for the controlled drug.
While operatives were on his trail, officers of the Department of State Security were able to apprehend him and swiftly handed him over to NDLEA on Wednesday, February 10, 2022. Read more
Lagos arrests 22 suspected land grabbers (Tribune)
The Lagos State Task Force on Land Grabbing over the weekend arrested twenty-two suspected land thugs in the Ibeju Lekki area of the state.
The suspect were immediately charged before Special Offence Court of Lagos State holding in Oshodi on a 6-count charge bordering on felony, forceful entry, wilful damage, conspiracy, impersonation, Obtaining Under False Pretence, illegal possession of firearms, amongst others.
The arrested suspects are identified as Ismail Oshodi, Babatunde Sunday, Otunla Yusuff, Otunla Rasak, Oladele Musemilu, Pastor Eric Isiah, Olalekan Richard, Rasheed Ismail, Wasiu Tajudeen, Quadri Salami, Nureni Anisere, Tawaka Kufure, Kazeem Tajudeen, Ganiu Wasiu Surajudeen Rasak, Samsondeen Adeniyi, Ismaila Adeniyi, AbdulRasak Tajudeen, Kazeem Kareem, Ramzy Elo- Oghene, Akinkoye Selim and Saka Olamilekan.
According to the Task Force, the suspects committed the offences that they were charged with between 9th November 2021 and the 10th February 2022 when they were arrested. Read more
Yaba Building Collapse: Rescue operations resume after being called off (Channels)
Almost 24 hours after a building caved in the Yaba area of Lagos, there are indications that one or two persons might still be trapped in the rubble as family members of the said victims returned to the scene on Sunday morning looking for their loved ones.
This has prompted emergency management officials into making plans to resume the rescue operation after it was called off earlier in the day.
The Director-General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency LASEMA, Femi Oke Osanyintolu, said emergency workers will continue to comb the rubble to see if anyone could still be brought out alive.
Dolapo Odunekan, a student on industrial training is believed to be one of those at the site when the building collapsed. Dolapo’s family members are still on the ground waiting for the rescue operations to resume. They have called his phone number many times without a response. Read more
New Lagos airport international terminal for inauguration in March (Nation)
The new terminal built by the Chinese Engineering Civil Construction Company (CECCC), at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, has reached 98% completion and would be inaugurated before the end of March 2022, Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Captain Rabiu Yadudu has said.
Yadudu disclosed this when the Senate, and House of Representatives’ joint Committee on Aviation paid an oversight visit to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria at the Authority’s Headquarters annex in Lagos.
Receiving the National Assembly officials Yadudu said FAAN has enjoyed the highest level of support, collaboration and co-operation from the Committees in her bid to realize her vision of being among the best airport groups.
He enumerated some of the challenges militating against the realization of the Authority’s goals to include, capacity and contribution of airports to revenue generation, human capacity development, infrastructural gap, economic challenges affecting revenue generation, accumulated debts, rising operating and maintenance cost, amongst others. Read more
Benue Airport Drama: Osinbajo, Air Force apologise to Ortom (DailyTrust)
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has apologised to Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State over the conduct of security personnel attached to the gate of the Air Force Base in Makurdi.
The security personnel attached to the gate of the Air Force Base in Makurdi barred the governor from receiving the Vice-President into his state on Saturday.
Daily Trust learnt that the authorities of the Nigerian Air force equally apologised to the governor who eventually received the Vice President at the Air Force Base.
A picture of the governor welcoming Osinbajo was later released by the official photographer to the vice president later in the day.
Earlier today, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has stated that he was prevented by security personnel at the main entrance of the Air Force Base (NAF) in Makurdi, the State capital while on his way to receive the Vice-President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. Read more
Final decision on strike to be reached soon -ASUU (Punch)
Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities will finalise a decision on an impending strike at the end of an ongoing meeting at the University of Lagos.
A chairman of one of the branches, who preferred anonymity because he’s not in a position to speak, said the least consideration so far is a warning strike.
He explained that “ASUU is being considerate but the actions of the Federal Government are not helpful”.
“The least consideration for now is a warning strike. Some of our branch representatives feel we should commence strike outrightly but others advised that apart from the lecture free-day declared, we should embark on another warning strike before the full, indefinite strike.” Read more
APC Convention: Forum calls on Buhari to save party from implosion (Independent)
President Muhammadu Buhari has been called upon to urgently intervene to save the implosion of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 26th of February National Convention of the party.
According to a group, Concerned APC Members Forum, the call became necessary “judging by the activities of the various actors” vying for the National Chairmanship position of the party.
A statement signed by the group’s Convener, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi, and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja, appealed to President Buhari “not to allow the selfish interest of the 2023 Presidential ambition of some ranking members to destroy the Party.”
While reminding the President of the danger of an internal crisis ahead of the party’s primary election coming up immediately after the Convention, the Forum pointed out that “the need to minimize our crises and concentrate on the 2023 general elections is very important.” Read more
Gov Makinde not behind attack on Sunday Igboho’s residence -Lawyer (Punch)
Yomi Alliyu, SAN, lawyer to Yoruba activist Sunday Adeyemo also known as Sunday Igboho, has exonerated Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, from the recent attack on the Ibadan residence of Igboho.
The Punch had reported that one person was feared killed and many confirmed injured on Saturday when armed thugs attacked the Soka residence of Igboho, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Alliyu, in a post on his Facebook page, said, “The news going around that it was Governo Seyi Makinde that was sending hoodlums to destroy Chief Sunday Igboho’s House or kill anybody wearing Oduduwa Nation or shirt and face cap is far from the truth and should be discountenanced.
“The complaint is that as Chief Security Officer of the State, the Governor should have ordered security men to quench the upheaval that has led to two deaths, though yet unconfirmed, within this weekend alone. Read more
Oxlade apologises to lady, fans for leaked sex tape (Nation)
Following the leaked sex tape of the Afro-pop singer Oxlade has publicly apologised to fans and the young lady involved in his leaked sex tape.
The “ojuju” singer tweeted: “I am conscious that my business is out in the public and I am not the type of person to put my personal business out there.
“Betrayals are very real and in this same token I want to apologise to the woman in the video, who did not deserve this type of exposure and lastly apologies to my fans and well wishers”.
Reacting to the tweet, social media users have different opinions. Read more
Rihanna says she no longer worries about covering her belly after pregnancy joy (DailyStar)
Pregnancy certainly suits pop superstar Rihanna who is embracing her blossoming baby bump.
The Grammy Award-winning musician, businesswoman and philanthropist announced at the end of January that she was expecting her first child, leaving fans speechless.
Rihanna, 33, has been dating A$AP Rocky since January 2020 but the pair have been linked to one another as far back as 2016.
Now, as their relationship goes from strength to strength the pop princess feels more relaxed now that the world knows her delightful news. Read more
‘Mental illness is not a joke’: London gallery under fire for Van Gogh gifts (Guardian)
Vincent van Gogh is perhaps equally famous for his sunflowers and his act of self-mutilation. Apart from his paintings, when people think of the artist, they also think of his ear – or lack of it.
But references to Van Gogh’s missing ear, and mental health, in souvenirs on sale at the Courtauld Gallery in London have attracted criticism.
Currently displaying a major exhibition of his work, including his infamous self-portrait with bandaged ear, some of the Courtauld’s products – such as a £6 eraser in the shape of an ear – have been branded insensitive.
The range to celebrate Van Gogh features sunflowers aplenty, on socks, scarfs, and in packs of seeds, as well as jigsaw, postcard and print mementoes of his best-known self-portraits. But critics have attacked gift shop items highlighting the severe mental health crisis Van Gogh experienced, and which culminated in his suicide. Read more
James Blunt’s music deployed in New Zealand to repel Covid protesters (NME)
Police in New Zealand have turned to the music of James Blunt in their latest effort to repel protesters who are camped outside of parliament.
The demonstrators, who are angry at COVID-19 vaccine mandates, have been blocking the streets of the country’s capital, Wellington, since Tuesday (February 8).
Tactics used by the local authorities to try and get rid of the protesters have included turning on the water sprinklers on the lawn where they camped. But protesters retaliated by digging trenches and building makeshift drain pipes to reroute the water, according to BBC News.
When the sprinkler tactic proved ineffective, police turned to blasting out Barry Manilow‘s greatest hits, which include ‘Mandy’ and ‘Could It Be Magic’, on a 15-minute loop from one of parliament’s loudspeakers, as well as the ’90s Spanish hit ‘Macarena’ and a number of vaccine messages. Read more
Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman to Host 2022 Film Independent Spirit Awards (Collider)
One of Hollywood’s favorite comedy duos and real-life husband and wife will be taking the stage once more! Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally are set to host the 2022 Film Independent Spirit Awards on March 6, which will be aired on IFC and streamed exclusively on AMC+ — this will be their first entirely in-person awards ceremony since early 2020. The awards, which celebrate independent films with budgets under $22.5 million, have been hosted by such comedians as Nick Kroll and John Mulaney, Aubrey Plaza, and last year’s host SNL’s Melissa Villaseñor. This year, beloved comedians Mullally and Offerman will be hosting.
Mullally and Offerman got married in 2003, during her time as Karen on Will and Grace, for which she won two Emmy Awards. Offerman is best known as Ron Swanson, the hardened yet lovable boss of Amy Poehler’s Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation. Mullally memorably guest-starred on Parks and Rec as Tammy 2, Ron’s insane librarian ex-wife. If their wild onscreen dynamic on Parks and Rec is any indication, this year’s Film Independent Spirit
Awards will be a fun, potentially chaotic affair.
In a joint statement about the opportunity, the legendary couple said, “We are sincerely excited to be hosting the 2022 Film Independent Spirit Awards. We hope to get a little rowdy, but it’ll mainly be legitimate cinematic discourse.” Film Independent President Joe Walsh deemed them the perfect hosts for the award’s in-person return: “We’re delighted to have Megan and Nick on board to bring the magic back to the beach…I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us!”
The Film Independent Spirit Awards are traditionally held the day before the Oscars, making it an excellent place for certain films to pick up traction and to celebrate those that may have been ignored by the Academy. However, this year, the ceremony will be on March 6, with the Oscars coming later on March 27. A24 absolutely dominated this year’s nominations, with 13 nominations for their entries, including Zola, The Humans, and C’mon, C’mon. While there is usually more overlap between the Film Independent Spirit Awards and other more mainstream awards, this year, the main film bridging that gap is Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Lost Daughter. The additional overlap with the Oscars is Troy Kotsur’s “Supporting Actor” nomination for CODA. This year’s ceremony will undoubtedly be a celebration of underrated independent films. Read more
Leslie Caron recalls what is was like working with Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire (BelfastTelegraph)
Leslie Caron has described the dancing style of Gene Kelly as more sporty, while she felt Fred Astaire was always “one-and-a-half feet off the ground” as she recalled her time with the Hollywood stars.
The 90-year-old actress and dancer performed alongside both of the late stars during her career and reflected on how they would look after her on set.
However, Caron would not reveal who her favourite dancing partner was out of Kelly and Astaire as she felt their styles were “very different”.
Appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, she explained: “One was very modern and more like a footballer, with his beautiful gestures, beautiful bodies. It was more sports – that’s Gene. Read more
‘Game of Thrones’ star Nathalie Emmanuel says UK film industry fails actors of colour (Yahoo)
Nathalie Emmanuel says the UK is losing actors of colour to the USA because the roles available to them in this country are not good enough.
Emmanuel told the podcast The Way We Are With Munro Bergdorf — reported via the Mirror — that there are few opportunities for people of colour in Britain, other than in bit-part roles as “best friends’ ‘ or “receptionists’ ‘.
The 32-year-old started her career in Hollyoaks and then hit the big time as Missandei on Game of Thrones and with key roles in the Fast and Furious and Maze Runner franchises.
“We lose so much Black and brown talent to the States because the British industry just doesn’t hold space in a meaningful, significant way. It’s frustrating,” said the 32-year-old star. Read more
David and Victoria Beckham’s £31m London mansion in need of ‘urgent structural repairs’ (Mirror)
David and Victoria Beckham ’s £31m London townhouse is in ‘poor structural condition’ and is in need of urgent repairs amid fears part of the property will collapse.
The power couple purchased the Holland Park four-storey Grade II listed mansion in 2013, and were forced to submit more than 50 planning applications to renovate the ageing Victorian property.
Repairs cost more than £8 million, and they hired interior designer Kelly Hoppen to help transform the townhouse into a plush family home, before she was replaced by Rose Uniacke, who has been dubbed the ‘queen of serene’.
The property was overhauled under the watchful eye of Posh and Becks, and the couple were able to finally move into the mansion in 2016 with their four kids – Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz, and daught. Read more
Caroline Weir’s Man City stunner is her best goal yet, Gareth Taylor says (MEN)
Caroline Weir saved her best Manchester derby goal for the fans, Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor says, as he hailed yet another moment of quality from the midfielder.
City were the better side against Manchester United but couldn’t find a breakthrough until ten minutes from time, when Weir had been introduced as a second half substitute. She picked up possession, strode forward, and floated a sublime chip over United’s Mary Earps from 25 yards.
In 2019, for the first derby at the Etihad, Weir drove a powerful effort into the far corner from a similar distance, while last season she chipped Earps on the goalline from just inside the area. This goal combined shades of both Puskas-nominated strikes, and was enough to hand City an important win in front of a record crowd in just the third home derby since United reformed.
“It was a year yesterday she did that in the fixture last season,” Taylor said, hailing the strike as Weir’s best of a quality collection. Read more
Kebbi pledges support for Beach Soccer (Leadership)
The Kebbi State government has pledged to continue its support for Beach Soccer tournaments in the state as part of activities to engage youths in the state.
Commissioner for Youths and Sport, Aliyu Gidado Bello Kaliel stated this while speaking during the 2nd edition of the Kebbi Beach Soccer Super 4 competition held in Birnin Kebbi.
Kaliel, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Shuaibu Aliero said that the State Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has been a sports loving Governor and he would continue to support the game.
He said: “As you are aware, the Kebbi State government has been supporting every activity that concerns the youths in the state including Beach Soccer. Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu is a lover of sports and he has been giving the game maximum support needed to excel. Read more
Confirmed West Ham team news against Leicester as David Moyes makes Kurt Zouma decision (FootballLondon)
Kurt Zouma has retained his place in the West Ham team with David Moyes electing to start the defender despite the ongoing RSPCA and police investigation.
Zouma’s inclusion means there is just one change from the Hammers team that took all three points against Watford with Said Benrhama dropping out of the XI.
His place was taken by Manuel Lanzini after the Argentine changed the game when he came on against the Hornets at the London Stadium.
Lukasz Fabianski is once again in goal and will be hoping to make it back-to-back clean sheets after his fine showing on Tuesday evening with Alphonse Areola on the bench in reserve. Read more
USA’s Erin Jackson becomes first Black woman to win Olympic speed skating gold (Guardian)
Erin Jackson has become the first Black woman to win a speedskating medal at the Winter Olympics, and she did it with a gold.
Jackson won the 500m on Sunday with a time of 37.04 seconds, giving the American speed skating program its first medal of the Beijing Games and first individual medal since 2010.
But this one meant much more than national pride. The 29-year-old Jackson, a former inline skater who switched to the ice shortly before the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, joined fellow American Shani Davis as the only Black athletes to win speed skating medals at the Olympics.
Jackson, who is from the balmy town of Ocala, Florida, slipped at the US trials and finished third, putting her spot on the Olympic team in jeopardy. But teammate Brittany Bowe, who finished first at the trials, gave up her spot on the team to ensure Jackson would get to skate in Beijing. Read more
The 150th Open: Dimitrios Papadatos wins Vic Open and secures one of three spots for St Andrews (Sky)
Dimitrios Papadatos, Ben Campbell and Matthew Griffin have all qualified for The 150th Open at St Andrews after all posting top-three finishes at the Vic Open.
The ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia event was a late addition to The Open Qualifying Series, following the cancellation of the New Zealand Open due to Covid-19, with three places available to qualify for the final men’s major of the year.
Papadatos carded a final-round 66 at 13 Beach Golf Links in Melbourne to end the week on 21 and claim a one-shot victory, with his fifth professional title set to see him return to The Open for the first time since Royal Portrush in 2019.
“The Open is an added bonus,” Papadatos said. “I was just trying to get the win today so that was definitely the highlight. I’ll worry about The Open when it comes. To win this is outstanding. Read more
Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant glad Nets pushed through ‘noise’ after James Harden trade (ABC)
Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant says he doesn’t feel that former teammate James Harden owes him an explanation for wanting to leave the organization.
Harden was the centerpiece of a blockbuster trade to the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday that sent Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two future first-round picks to the Nets.
“James doesn’t have to explain anything to anybody,” Durant said before the game Saturday against the Miami Heat. “He’s his own man. He makes his decisions on his career by himself. He doesn’t owe anybody an explanation, and I wasn’t looking for one.
“I’m just glad that we got this thing done and now we’re able to move forward and get some of this noise away, and I’m sure he would feel the same way. But from around our team and around our group, there’s noise about what may happen. So I’m glad we can push through that.” Read more
Israel Adesanya says Francis Ngannou’s contract situation with UFC is ‘atrocious’ but believes Dana White will ‘do right’ (TalkSport)
Israel Adesanya has called Francis Ngannou’s contract situation ‘atrocious’ but believes UFC are going to ‘do right.’
The middleweight champion retained his belt by defeating Robert Whittaker via unanimous decision at UFC 271 on Saturday night.
It capped a good week for the dominant champion having said to have signed one of the most lucrative deals in UFC history in the lead up to the fight.
Ngannou, on the other hand, has been in something of a deadlock with the company and insists he will not be fighting for ‘$500k or $600k’ anymore. Read more