Lagos impounds 4,694 Okada, convicts 1,490 offenders (Guardian)
Lagos State Police Command has secured the conviction of 1,490 people for various offences in the state. They consist of miscreants, street traders and traffic offenders among others.
The convicts were among the 1,709 suspects arrested by the police between June 1 and September 9, 2022, a period, during which Lagos State government reviewed the state traffic law guiding the activities of commercial motorcyclists in the state.
The review, among other reasons, came on the heels of the lynching of a sound engineer, David Imoh, by suspected commercial motorcyclists in the Lekki area of the state.
Following the tragic incident, a ban was placed on the operations of commercial motorcyclists in six local government areas, consisting of Eti Osa, Ikeja, Surulere, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland and Apapa.
The enforcement of the ban began on June 1, with security agents patrolling the listed Local Councils for errant motorcyclists who had been protesting against the ban.
Despite the protest, the government extended the ban to four more councils, consisting of Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Shomolu and Mushin on August 18. Read more
Man jailed 21 years for defiling, impregnating daughter (Vanguard)
An Ikeja Special Offences Court, yesterday sentenced a 52-year-old man, Akin Isaac, to 21 years imprisonment for defiling and impregnating his 18-year-old daughter.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo sentenced the convict to 21 years imprisonment following his plea bargain application, dated April 21.
“In view of the guilty plea of the defendant to one count of defilement, I hereby find the defendant guilty as charged,” Taiwo said.
The judge thereafter asked the defendant if he had anything to say, following his conviction. Read more
Actress, Nkechi Blessing, reignites feud with ex-lover (Punch)
Nollywood actress, Nkechi Blessing, has reignited her year-long beef with politician ex-lover, Opeyemi Falegan.
During an interview with TVC ‘s ‘Your View’ aired on Thursday, Blessing talked about her immediate past relationship and how it finally ended.
When asked if she still loved Falegan, the actress said she was “100 per cent” over him. According to her, she only got into a relationship with the politician in order to spite a previous lover.
Describing how she got into a relationship with Falegan, she said, “The thing is, he was the one that loved me more. It was the time that I was trying to level up to the love he has for me that he messed up. Read more
Lagos transport boss’ murder: Businessman denies involvement, threatens legal action (Guardian)
A property consultant, Dolapo Oni, fingered as an accomplice in the gruesome murder of the chairman of Lagos State Parks and Garages Management Authority, Branch A, in Mile 12 under Bridge, Sulaiman Lawal, has denied involvement in the attack.
It was alleged that the deceased was murdered by some yet-to-be identified cultists in a violent battle for control of the Branch ‘A’ garage located under Mile 12 bridge on a Sunday morning.
The deceased’s brother, Mustapha Lawal, in a recent interview alleged that Oni had a hand in the cult clash, which led to the killing of his brother.
Describing the allegation as wicked and baseless, Oni said it was fabricated to soil his reputation and defame his character as he had never been in contact with the deceased. Read more
ICPC uncovers N49.9b ‘ghost’ workers’ salaries (Punch)
The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and other related offences on Thursday revealed that the N13.59trillion 2021 budget was padded by the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, with duplicated projects worth N300b.
The ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, during an interface with the Senate Committee on Finance, also disclosed that projects duplication worth N100billion were also inserted into the N17.12 trillion 2022 budget by some MDAs asides the N49.9b tracked as salary for ghost workers between January and June this year.
Owasanoye explained that the N300billion duplicated projects in the 2021 budget and N100 billion in the 2022 budget were tracked through scrutinisation carried out on approved projects for the various MDAs.
The ICPC boss stated, ” N300billion would have been wasted by the Federal government on duplicated projects inserted into the 2021 budget and N100billion for same purpose in the current fiscal year if not tracked and intercepted by ICPC.” Read more
2023: Wike appointed into PDP Presidential campaign council, Tambuwal named DG (DailyTrust)
Despite the accusations that the North has taken charge of the juicy positions in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party has appointed the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, as Director General of the Presidential Campaign Organisation (PCO) for the 2023 elections.
While Tambuwal is the Director General of the National Campaign Management Committee (NCMC), Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state is the Chairman Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).
Others are Governor Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) PCC Vice Chairman North and Governor Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Vice Chairman South.
Among members of the 326 member Campaign Team are Senator Liyel Imoke, Deputy Director General operations, Prof Adewale Oladipo, Deputy Director General Administration, Chief Raymond Dokpehsi, Deputy Director General Technical and Systems and Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo, Deputy Director General Research and Strategy.
The list consists of the names of former Vice President Namadi Sambo, serving as well as former State Governors of the party, former Ministers who are still members of the PDP, members of the Board of Trustees among others. Read more
WASSCE results withheld due to malpractices-WAEC (Sun)
The West African Examinations Council has restated that all withheld results in its examinations were as a result of alleged malpractices.
The Head, National Office, Mr Patrick Areghan, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Lagos.
Areghan was speaking against the backdrop of reports in some sections of the media, accusing the council of deliberately withholding results of candidates supposedly for the 2022 West African Senior School Certificate Examination.
“Our attention has been drawn to reports in some quarters of how the council was deliberately withholding results of candidates of some states in the country.
“This, I will say, is wicked, malicious, misleading and a calculated attempt to drag the name of council into the mud or disrepute. It is utter ignorance. Read more
Delta man commits suicide over alleged failed relationship (Punch)
A middle-aged man identified simply as ‘Agent Dan’ has reportedly committed suicide in Warri, Delta State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that ‘Agent Dan’ committed the suicide inside his room at 42, Obahor Street, Warri, in Warri South Local Government Area of the state.
Although no suicide note was discovered, witnesses said that his action might not be unconnected with him losing a girlfriend known as Ejiro, who reportedly dumped him for another man recently.
It was gathered that the gory incident has since thrown the entire neighbourhood into shocking mourning. Read more
Despite efforts, out-of-school children still a menace (Leadership)
The alarming rate of out-of-school children in Nigeria, especially in the northern part of the country, has remained a major problem which needs urgent attention by the government and other stakeholders.
The results of the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 6 released recently, has again raised concern over the menace. The report which was carried out last year by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) as part of the global MICS programme covered over 39, 632 households in Nigeria, with support from United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The survey indicated that the highest out-of-school rates are found in Kebbi (65 per cent), Zamfara (61 per cent) and Bauchi (61 per cent) while the lowest rate in Ekiti (two per cent), and Imo (one per cent) respectively.
At the moment, Nigeria has the largest number of out-of-school children. A report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), in partnership with Global Education Monitoring Report, recently showed that the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria has risen to 20 million from about 12.5 million recorded last year.
Although the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, said the number of out-of-school children had dropped from 10.1 million to 6.9 million, most northern states continue to boast of enviable figures of children not going to school.
Nick Cannon welcomes surprise 9th baby, his 1st with Lanisha Cole (PageSix)
Nick Cannon’s ninth baby has arrived!
The “Wild ‘N Out” host, 41, surprised his Instagram followers on Thursday with a black-and-white photo of his and Lanisha Cole‘s first child together.
“Introducing ONYX ICE COLE CANNON,” the “All That” alum gushed of his baby girl. “Once again Today I am in Awe of the Devine Feminine!
“God has given me and @MissLanishaCole the privilege of hosting an Angel here on earth,” the former Nickelodeon star continued. “I vow to protect, provide, guide and love this child to the best of my abilities.”
The “Masked Singer” host asked his fans to “rejoice” news of his expanding family, writing, “We all learn so much from these Angels we call children. I am learning that it is not the limited amount of time we have on this planet but it’s the limited amount of love that is the issue. And I promise to love this little girl with all my heart, regardless what anyone says.” Read more
France unveils pre-selection list for country’s Oscar submission (Deadline)
France has unveiled the five pre-selected feature films in the running to be the country’s Oscar submission.
They are:
Full Time by Eric Gravel (int’l sales. B For Film)
The Worst Ones by Lise Asoka and Romane Gueret (int’l sales, Pyramide Films)
Paris Memories by Alice Winocour (int’l sales, Pathé International)
Saint-Omer By Alice Diop (int’l sales, Wild Bunch International)
One Fine Morning by Mia Hansen-Love (int’l sales, Les Films du Losange)
This year’s selection committee, overseen by the National Cinema Centre (CNC), comprises international sales agents Hengameh Panahi, Grégoire Melin, producers Philippe Rousselet, Didar Domehri, directors Jacques Audiard and Michel Gondry and veteran Gaumont executive Ariane Toscan du Plantier.
It marks the first selection round since the overhaul of France’s selection committee over the summer to end the automatic involvement of the heads of the Cannes Film Festival, export agency Unifrance and the César Academy. Read more
Timothée Chalamet reveals Leonardo DiCaprio gave him career advice (Variety)
Timothée Chalamet has worn the crown of Hollywood “it boy” ever since his turn in Luca Guadagnino’s “Call Me by Your Name.” Since then, he’s starred in indie favorites like “Lady Bird” and “Beautiful Boy,” as well as the headlined fantasy blockbuster “Dune.” Up next: Guadagnino’s film festival darling “Bones and All,” a cannibal love story that earned an 8.5-minute standing ovation in Venice.
Following in the footsteps of Hollywood hotshots before him, Chalamet revealed to British Vogue the career advice that Leonardo DiCaprio gave him: “No hard drugs and no superhero movies.”
DiCaprio and Chalamet shared the screen in Adam McKay’s 2021 satirical comedy “Don’t Look Up,” which premiered in limited theaters and on Netflix last December, and was nominated for a best picture Oscar.
DiCaprio, who has not appeared in a TV series since “Growing Pains” in 1992, is famously picky about choosing his roles. His breakthrough in 1997’s “Titanic” launched him to worldwide stardom, and the closest thing he’s done to a blockbuster superhero movie may be Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s “The Revenant,” in which he plays a frontiersman in the 1800s who fights and kills a bear. DiCaprio won his first and only Academy Award for the performance. Read more
Baz Luhrmann says there’s a 4-hour cut of ‘Elvis’ but he’s “too tired” to release it (NME)
Elvis director Baz Luhrmann has said a four-hour cut of Elvis exists but that he’s too “tired” to release it.
The filmmaker revealed that a longer version of the film could exist but it wouldn’t be released “now, and probably not next year [either]. But I don’t close my mind to the idea that in the future, there might be a way of exploring another [cut].”
“I tell you what, all my tweets are nothing but, ‘We want the four-hour version! We want the four-hour version!’” Luhrmann told ScreenRant in a recent interview. “I think people are at my gates with pitchforks saying, ‘We want the four-hour version!’”
The filmmaker continued: “But I don’t close my mind to the idea that there would be an extended cut. Right now, with how long it’s stayed in the theaters and how well it’s done, it’s crossed the line. But it’s done so well on HBO Max over the weekend, so it’s about the parent company going, ‘Wow, it’s really worth spending the money.’” Read more
Diana Asamoah disagrees with former producer on aspects of contract termination (MyJoy)
Ghanaian gospel musician Diana Asamoah has said that she is thankful to have worked with her former executive producer Emmanuel Anane Frimpong.
In a letter addressed to Mr Frimpong, the singer noted that she is appreciative to him and his company Frimprince Music Productions.
“I, Evangelist Diana Asamoah, will use this opportunity to say a very big thank you for all the good works you have done for me. I really appreciate your strives and efforts. May the Good Lord bless and replenish all that you have put in to help His good work,” parts of the letter signed by Diana Asamoah reads.
She stated that she accepts Mr Frimpong’s decision to terminate their agreement after so many years. Read more
Mariah Carey announces 25th anniversary reissue of “My Favorite” album, “Butterfly”, with 8 new tracks (People)
Mariah Carey is throwing it back to 1997.
On Wednesday, the singer shared a video announcement on Instagram highlighting a special 25th anniversary edition of her sixth studio album, Butterfly, which Columbia Records released on Sept. 16, 1997.
“#Butterfly25 is here!! Celebrating 25 … minutes … since the release of my favorite and probably most personal album. Starting 9/16 ” Carey, 53, wrote in her post’s caption.
The video, which shows clips from music videos from the album’s songs and is set to Butterfly’s fourth track, “The Roof (Back In Time),” teases eight new bonus tracks from the album’s recordings, 4K versions of music videos for “The Roof” and lead single “Honey,” as well as a documentary about the making of the “Honey” music video. Read more
“Difficult” discussion on Ukraine predicted at Biden-Ramaphosa meeting (VOA)
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will meet U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House Friday, with trade, energy, and security all on the agenda. What’s not officially on the program, but will likely be discussed, analysts say, are the two democracies’ differences over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ramaphosa’s first visit to the White House comes as the Biden administration seeks to re-engage with Africa in the wake of the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent visit to the continent, during which he launched Washington’s new Africa strategy.
During the trip in August, Blinken stressed that the U.S. sees Africa as an equal partner.
However, at their meeting in Pretoria, South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor accused Western nations of “bullying” Africa in trying to get countries to condemn the invasion of Ukraine. Read more
England squad: Ivan Toney called up for Nations League games (BBC)
England manager Gareth Southgate has called up uncapped Brentford forward Ivan Toney for the Nations League games with Italy and Germany this month.
Toney, 26, has scored five goals in six Premier League games this season.
Keeper Dean Henderson and defenders Eric Dier and Ben Chilwell are recalled for England’s final competitive matches before the World Cup in Qatar.
Midfielder Jordan Henderson and keeper Jordan Pickford are not involved because of injury. Read more
Milan striker Giroud return to France squad (FootballItalia)
Milan striker Olivier Giroud has been called up for France’s next two games against Austria and Denmark.
The 2018 France World Cup winner made his last appearance with Les Blues in March 2022, missing the following four Nations League games in June.
He has scored 48 goals in 112 games with his national team, three less than France’s all-time best scorer Thierry Henry.
Giroud has scored four goals in eight appearances across all competitions with Milan this season, netting his first-ever Champions League goal with the Rossoneri against Dinamo Zagreb yesterday. Read more
NPFL: Policemen take over LMC office (Channels)
Policemen numbering almost 20 have taken over the office of the League Management Company (LMC) in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
This is coming about a week after the Federal Government withdrew its recognition of the LMC as the operator of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Ismaila Abubakar, had last Friday announced the withdrawal of the government’s recognition of the LMC.
He had explained that the decision was taken in view of the several unpleasant incidents regarding the management of the football league. Read more
Halep undergoes nose surgery, won’t play again in 2022 (DailyMail)
Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has undergone nose surgery to improve her breathing and will not play again until next year.
In a post on Twitter on Thursday, the ninth-ranked Romanian wrote that she felt “completely exhausted” after her first-round loss to qualifier Daria Snigur at the U.S. Open last month. She then decided to follow medical advice and have an operation to help her breathing issues that have affected her “for many years” and were getting worse.
Halep posted a picture in her tweet, showing her nose bandaged.
“I felt it’s the right time to do it and also to do something for myself as a person,” she wrote. “That is why I also did the (a)esthetic part.” Read more
Alpine lay out their criteria for Fernando Alonso’s replacement (PlanetF1)
Alpine have put Mick Schumacher and Nico Hulkenberg on their list of potential candidates for 2023, Otmar Szafnauer saying they want a driver with “experience and speed”.
That rules out the rookies with Formula 2 driver Jack Doohan recently linked to Fernando Alonso’s soon-to-be vacant seat.
It wasn’t that long ago Alpine believed they were spoilt for choice when it came to their 2023 driver line up with Alonso, Esteban Ocon and Oscar Piastri all wanting a seat.
But within the space of 72 hours the team went from three drivers to just one, suggesting that Alpine have been the makers of their own demise. Read more
Rory Mcilroy holes out from the Fairway for Eagle after tough start at Italian Open (Eurosport)
Rory McIlroy had a tough start to the Italian Open, but sparked his round to life when holing out from the fairway for an eagle.
On his first visit to a course that will host next year’s Ryder Cup, McIlroy did not have his A game as he struggled off the tee.
McIlroy’s wedge play has been vastly improved in the past couple of years, and he gave a demonstration on the third hole – his 12th – after starting on the back nine.
On one of the rare occasions he found the fairway off the tee, he had wedge in hand and the hole in his sights. Read more
West Ham survive scare as Villarreal beat Beer Sheva in Conference League (Guardian)
West Ham survived an early scare to win 3-2 at Danes Silkeborg and Villarreal edged Hapoel Beer Sheva in the group stage of the Europa Conference League on Thursday.
Silkeborg, making their first group stage appearance in Europe since the 1997 Intertoto Cup, broke the deadlock after less than five minutes thanks to Kasper Kusk’s effort.
The Hammers responded just before the quarter of an hour mark as Manuel Lanzini converted a spot-kick.
The visitors took the lead on 25 minutes as Gianluca Scamacca claimed his third goal for the club before veteran centre-back Craig Dawson added a third for the English side before the break.
Soren Tengstedt cut David Moyes’ side’s lead with 15 minutes left but they held on for a second straight win in the competition. Read more