Lagos couple who lost 4 children to fire disaster appeals for help (Independent)
A Lagos couple, Chukwudi Micheal and Bolani Micheal, who lost four of their children in a fire incident that razed their two-bedroom apartment has appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to come to their aid.
The fire incident, which took place on Sunday, June 26, 2022, claimed the four children, namely: Jeremiah, 12; Prayer, 18; Trust in God, 14; and Ebube, 10.
It was gathered that their apartment which was gutted by fire was located on Tapa Road, Oke-Oko, Isawo, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
The distraught husband, Chukwudi narrated how his family has been struggling since the incident. Read more
Peter Obi’s presence excites worshippers at RCCG convention (Punch)
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, got a rousing welcome on Friday at the Holy Ghost Service of the 70th convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
The former Anambra State governor graced the fifth day of the convention at RCCG international headquarters along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The programme, with the theme, “Perfect Jubilee” began on Monday, August 8 and will last through Sunday, August 14, 2022.
Obi was introduced alongside other dignitaries, including the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Francis Wale-Oke; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel; and the wife of Ogun State Governor, Bamidele Abiodun; among others.
RCCG Mother-in-Israel and wife of the General Overseer prayed for the restoration of Nigeria. Read more
Atiku berates FG over ASUU strike (ThisDay)
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate for the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has berated the federal government over the continued strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), stating that he takes strong exception to the lecturers strike.
Atiku, who stated this at the International Youth Day seminar hosted by the PDP Youths in Abuja, said that if he is elected president by next general election that he will run an all inclusive government where the youths would be the main beneficiary and the issue of ASUU strike becoming a thing of the past.
Atiku described education as the fundamental rights of all youths that will not be disturbed by ASUU strike.
He said, “Now the most important and fundamental rights of any youth, whenever is the right to education. Therefore, I take very strong exception to the strike by ASUU and inability of the government to resolve that crisis. Read more
I’m still traumatised after robbery – Hafiz Oyetoro (Punch)
Popular actor, Hafeez Oyetoro, aka Saka, has said he is still traumatized by the robbery attack on his apartment in Isheri, a community straddling Lagos and Ogun states, earlier in the week.
He told Saturday Beats, “The robbers came around 2:50am, and they brought their own equipment to cut the burglary proof in the house. They all carried sophisticated guns.
“They stole a laptop, phones and little money available in the house. However, they left us alive, and that is very important to me. The only thing affecting me now is the trauma. As a matter of fact, I don’t like to recall what happened because the more I do that, the more traumatised I feel.”
The comic actor also insisted that it is the people managing the affairs of the nation that are bad, not the country itself. He said, “I know that Nigeria is a good place if it is led by good people, who have conscience. If they create an enabling environment for citizens of the country, people will enjoy their lives. Read more
Again, Buhari urges ASUU to call off strike (Guardian)
President Muhammadu Buhari has again appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off the ongoing strike.
Buhari made the call on Friday in Maiduguri at the maiden Special Convocation Ceremony and conferment of Honourary Degree of Doctor of Letters by the University of Maiduguri on Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi, Chairman, Oriental Energy Resources Ltd.
The president was represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambari.
“It’s more appropriate that we say something about this ASUU strike because we are celebrating Alhaji Indimi who is celebrated hugely for advancement of quality education not only in this country.
“In this regard, I want to convey President Muhammadu Buhari call for ASUU to call off thier strike and return to classroom”. Read more
Lagos police intercept 21 parcels of illicit drugs
(Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command has intercepted 21 parcels of substances suspected to be Indian Hemp.
The illicit drugs were intercepted by officers attached to Area G Command, Ogba area of the state.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this in a statement on Friday.
According to him, the illicit drugs were being conveyed and concealed in the bonnet of a Sienna bus with registration number BEN 883 LW driven by one Kalu Orji ‘m’ aged 32 of Angle 90, Auchi, Edo State. Read more
UNDP, LCCI commend Lagos on development plans (Leadership)
The United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry(LCCI) have commenced the Lagos state government on its economic development plan which is expected to commence this year and end in 2052.
The duo, who spoke at the 2022 Ehingbeti Pre-summit stakeholders engagement, in Lagos recently, noted that, the 30-year Lagos State Development Plan (LSDP) (2022-2052), to be launched at 2022 Ehingbeti in October, will reposition the economy of Lagos and makes it the top best city in Africa.
The senior economic advisor, United Nations Development Programme(UNDP), Amarakoon Bandara, stated that Lagos is unique for commerce and business and was happy with the progress being made by businesses of members of the UN in the state.
Bandara promised technical and financial support where necessary to realise the high ambition of the future of Lagos, especially, the realisation of the 30-year Lagos development plan. Read more
N66m Fraud: Court jails Wakil, Mama Boko Haram, 2 others (Vanguard)
The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentencing of Aisha Alkali Wakil, a.k.a Mama Boko Haram, alongside Tahiru Saidu Daura and Prince Lawal Shoyede on a three count charge of conspiracy and stealing to the tune of N66m.
This was disclosed on Friday in a press statement signed by the Anti- graft agency’s Head, Media & Publicity, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, which was made available to our Correspondent in Maiduguri.
Uwujaren said, the defendants as promoter and managers of a Non-governmental organization, Complete Care and Aids Foundation on September 7, 2018 induced one Ali Tijjani, and his company, AMTMAT Global Ventures to supply N51 million worth of processed maize grain also known as “biski” for which they refused to pay. AMTMAT Global Ventures further processed and funded the trip of the trio to Morocco to the tune of N15 Million, a cost they refused to defray. Read more
Digital marketing helps grow Nigerian music –Adedotun Adekanmbi (Sun)
Digital marketer and data analyst, Adedotun Adekanmbi aka DotunOnAMission, has affirmed that digital marketing has helped in the steady growth of Nigerian music.
According to Adekanmbi, marketing and public relations manager of Trace TV, it is only wise for industry stakeholders and key players to jump on the trend of the new marketing tool.
The member, Chartered Institute of Marketing UK, noted that music marketing has shifted from the old trend to an easier, accessible and result-oriented platform.
“It is imperative to give kudos to the advent of new digital trends, because music marketing has shifted from the days of the vinyl where you have to go to the marketers, put your CDs in stores, share flyers, share your demos to radio stations, and to the active online pushing of your music, which are Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and the rest. Read more
Beyoncé duets with Ronald Isley on new version of the Isley Brothers’ ‘Make Me Say It Again Girl, Parts 1 & 2’ (NME)
Beyoncé has joined Ronald Isley of the Isley Brothers on the new track ‘Make Me Say It Again, Girl.’
The track, which is out today (August 12), is a re-work of ‘Make Me Say It Again Girl, Pts. 1 & ’, lifted from the Isley Brothers’ 1975 album ‘The Heat Is On’.
The collaboration was first teased in June of last year by Ronald Isley’s wife, Kandy Isley. In an interview with Variety, she said Beyoncé’s contribution would be recorded by early July 2021. It comes after a new, Snoop Dogg-assisted Isley Brothers song titled ‘Friends & Family’ arrived last year.
In an interview with Billboard, Ronald Isley’s wife and manager Kandy credited Beyoncé’s mother Tina Knowles-Lawson with helping make the collaboration happen. Read more
Investigation into Alec Baldwin ‘Rust’ shooting nearing end-Police (Newsweek)
The police investigation into Alec Baldwin’s fatal shooting of a crew member on the set of his movie Rust is nearing its conclusion, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office has announced.
Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot on the New Mexico set of Rust on October 21, 2021, when a prop gun that star and producer Baldwin was holding during rehearsals discharged. Writer-director Joel Souza was injured in the incident. Baldwin has maintained that he did not pull the trigger.
Investigators probing the case say that one of the final components required is Baldwin’s phone records, which the Suffolk County Police Department is assisting New Mexico authorities with obtaining, according to the sheriff’s office.
“The district attorney’s office has been working with Suffolk County PD, and Baldwin’s lawyer to acquire the phone records,” said Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza, per NPR. Read more
Oscar Isaac gives explanation for viral red carpet moment with Jessica Chastain (Fox)
In September 2021, Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain were the stars of a viral video from their appearance at the Venice International Film Festival in 2021 to promote their show “Scenes From a Marriage,” where the pair seemed maybe a little too comfortable with each other.
In the viral video, the two were posing with their arms around each other for photos. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary until Isaac appeared to kiss and sniff Chastain’s underarm area. Isaac recently spoke on SiriusXM’s “The Jess Cagle Show” where he offered an explanation for the odd sniffing by comparing himself and Chastain to flatworms.
“You know, you can cut them into like a hundred pieces and they will grow a whole new worm out of the little piece. So they’re basically kind of immortal and they’ve been doing work at the cellular level where they’re seeing that the cells kind of talk to each other through electricity and kind of decide, ‘Okay you’re going to make the head.’ ‘All right, I’m going to make the tail’…they’re communicating through some sort of electro kind of magnetic situation,” Isaac explained.
Now, how does all of that relate to the interesting behavior between the two actors? The ‘Moon Knight” actor said it’s because that whole process is similar to how he and Chastain communicate with one another. Read more
‘The Flight Attendant’s Zosia Mamet & ‘SNL’s Aristotle Athari lead sci-fi romcom ‘Molli & Max in the Future’ (Deadline)
The Flight Attendant star Zosia Mamet and Saturday Night Live’s Aristotle Athari are leading sci-fi rom com Molli & Max in the Future.
Principal photography on the New York-filmed feature debut from short film director Michael Lukk Litwak has just wrapped and the pic has now entered post-production.
Set one billion years into the future and employing techniques used for Disney+’s The Mandalorian, the film is set in an absurd world where lead Max (Athari) believes people change and Molli (Mamet) doesn’t. Over the course of ten years, six planets, four dimensions, and one space cult, they prove each other right.
Rounding out cast is Arturo Castro (Broad City), Michael Chernus (Severance), Aparna Nancherla (BoJack Horseman), Okieriete Onaodowan (Broadway’s Hamilton), Paloma Garcia-Lee (Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story), Erin Darke (Good Girls Revolt), Grace Kuhlenschmidt (Search Party), stand-up comedian Matteo Lane and seven-time Tony Award nominee Danny Burstein (Broadway’s Moulin Rouge!). Read more
Ghanaian producer Nabeyin receives his Grammy Award nomination certificate (MyJoy)
The Recording Academy has presented Edgar Nabeyin Panford, the Ghanaian record producer, his Grammy Award nomination certificate for his work with American rapper, Kanye West.
Delivered last week, the certificate was in recognition of Nabeyin’s role in producing Kanye West’s Donda album.
It was nominated for the Album of The Year at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 3, 2022.
The certificate reads “The Recording Academy presents this certificate to Edgar Nabeyin Panford in recognition of your participation as Producer on the Grammy Award-nominated recording “Donda” (Kanye West) Album of the Year at the 64th Grammy Awards Year 2021”. Read more
Britney Spears ex-husband convicted of crashing her wedding (Sky)
Britney Spears’ ex-husband has been convicted of trespass after appearing uninvited at her home on the day of her June wedding.
Jason Alexander, who was married to Spears for less than three days in 2004, was convicted of aggravated trespass and battery after a security guard told a California court he got inside the singer’s home and tried to enter her bedroom, which she was locked inside at the time.
Spears married long-time boyfriend Asghari at her home on 9 June at home, in front of several dozen guests including Selena Gomez, Drew Barrymore, Paris Hilton and Madonna.
Alexander posted an Instagram Live story on the day from outside Spears’ property in which he said he was there to “crash” the wedding, before he was arrested by police and taken to a local jail. Read more
South Korea to ban ‘Parasite’-style basement homes after deadly floods (NBC)
South Korea’s capital has vowed to move people out of dangerous basement apartments made famous by the movie “Parasite,” after three members of a family who lived in low-income housing died in record flooding this week.
The rains inundated Seoul and the country’s north from Monday to Wednesday, leaving at least 11 people dead, with eight still missing as of Thursday.
The dead included a family who were trapped underground in their home, leading to a national outcry and calls for government action on glaring social inequalities.
Now, officials say they will no longer grant permits for the small apartments — often cramped and dingy homes known as “banjiha,” which were featured in Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning film — and work to convert existing homes. Read more
Oshoala nominated for 2022 Ballon d’Or (Punch)
Super Falcons forward player, Asisat Oshoala has been nominated for the 2022 Women’s Ballon d’Or player of the year award on Friday, Saturday PUNCH reports.
Her exploits with FC Barcelona femeni earned her a place on the 20-woman shortlist.
In July, Oshoala was awarded the African Women’s Player of the Year for the fifth time, breaking her own achievement and becoming the first person to win the CAF award five times.
Her remarkable form which saw her produce 20 goals in 19 appearances saw her become the first African player to win the Pichichi ward in Spain despite being injured for a large part of the season (three months). Read more
Tottenham boss Conte relishing heated Chelsea challenge (Guardian)
Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has said Sunday’s match away to London rivals Chelsea will be an acid test of his side’s progress.
Spurs lost four times to Chelsea last season, including three defeats, two in the League Cup semi-final followed by one in the league, in January.
A fine finish to the campaign meant Spurs secured the fourth spot in the Premier League and a place in this term’s Champions League.
But they make the journey from north to west London this weekend knowing they have won just once at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League era. Read more
Asaba agog for 1st Diamond Superstars Kickboxing Championship (Sun)
Kickboxers from across the country have started arriving in Asaba, the Delta State capital ahead of the 1st Diamond Superstars National Open Kickboxing Championship holding from August 15 to 21, 2022 at the Delta State Sports complex, Asaba.
This was disclosed by the Secretary General of the Kickboxing Federation of Nigeria, Mr. Olalekan Faseesin.
He added that the championship is being sponsored by LovethPatra Ekufu, Nigerian ring Superstar and professional Athlete of repute who is popularly known as “Nigerian Terminator” due to her performances inside the ring.
President of Kickboxing Federation of Nigeria, Mr. Wilson Okon, whose KBFN is organising the Championship in conjunction with the Delta State Sports Commission, has lauded LovethPatra Ekufu for sponsoring the Championship. Read more
Jesse Lingard set for rough West Ham reception after snubbing summer return in favour of Nottingham Forest (Standard)
Monopoly sets will be raided across east London tomorrow, as West Ham fans prepare to travel to Nottingham for a reunion with Jesse Lingard.
It has been only three weeks since the England midfielder turned down the chance to return to the London Stadium, where he enjoyed such a brilliant loan spell two seasons ago, in favour of joining newly-promoted Forest.
There were reports of eye-watering sums involved in a free transfer that was anything but, the exact figures a matter of semantics: excluding, including, add-ons, clauses, bonuses, post-tax, pre-tax. The bottom line was that West Ham offered him a lot of money. Forest offered a bit more.
When asked last week whether he was surprised Lingard had chosen a potential relegation fight over European football, boss David Moyes said:
“Yeah, I was. I thought Jesse would come here.” Read more
Tyson Fury says he will stay retired and ‘walk away’ from boxing (BBC)
Tyson Fury has “finally decided to walk away” from boxing after confirming he is staying retired.
The undefeated WBC heavyweight champion, 34, said he was retiring after beating Dillian Whyte in April.
But on Tuesday he urged fellow Briton Derek Chisora to accept his offer of a trilogy bout, while in July he said he would fight Anthony Joshua if certain conditions were met.
“On my 34th birthday I say bon voyage,” Fury tweeted on Friday. Read more
FedEx St Jude Championship: Rory McIlroy falls off the pace with Si Woo Kim and JJ Spaun sharing the lead (Sky)
Two-time FedEx Cup champion Rory McIlroy fell eight strokes off the pace as Si Woo Kim carded an eight-under 62 to snatch a share of the lead with JJ Spaun.
South Korean Kim admitted to being “excited” to pull off a “perfect” shot, after he holed out from 167 yards on the par-four 18th to cap a strong finish of six-under on his last six holes, the first of three play-off events.
“I was just trying to, like, (see) 10 feet on the left side and it was (a) perfect shot, (it) came off,” he told reporters.
“Yeah, I was excited,” he added. Read more
Ferrari aiming to bring upgrades to Belgian Grand Prix (GMS)
Ferrari are looking to bring some upgrades to their power unit for the Belgian Grand Prix, once the Formula 1 season resumes at the end of this month.
The Scuderia has been one of the stories of the season for both good and bad reasons.
They started the campaign phenomenally well, winning in both Bahrain and Australia to open up an early lead in the Drivers’ championship with Charles Leclerc after the first three races.
However, since then, things have gone a little bit awry, with Red Bull now firmly the team to catch and Max Verstappen the driver to try and reel in. Read more