Missing university student Blessing Karami found dead in Abuja (Channels)
A university student, Blessing Karami, who was declared missing on September 11, has been found dead, police authorities said on Thursday.
It was gathered that the 26-year-old Blessing, a student of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), was declared missing after leaving her place of work in Garki, Abuja.
In a statement, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said her disappearance was reported to the police authorities last Thursday, September 14. Read more
Ogun lawmaker, others arrested over Sagamu cult clash (Guardian)
A lawmaker in the Ogun State House of Assembly, Damilare Bello Mohammed, has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a cult clash in Sagamu over the weekend.
Five suspected cultists were also arrested alongside Mohammed in connection with the incident that started on Wednesday and continued till Sunday, leading to several deaths.
Other five suspects arrested are Debbo Animashaun, Bamidele Saheed, Ismaila Onitire, Adewale Otesanya, and Tobi Owoade. Read more
The world will ignore Nigeria at its own peril, Tinubu tells UN (DailyTrust)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said the United Nations must transform from being one of the world’s foremost talkshops to discuss global issues into becoming the world’s foremost action coordination center.
The president said this on Wednesday while meeting with United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, at his UN Headquarters Office in New York City.
He said a situation in which 70% of the resources being devoted to the world’s poorest countries were being spent and sent back out on overheads and administrative costs would defeat the purpose and objectives of the organisation where help was needed most. Read more
MohBad’s body exhumed for autopsy (NewTelegraph)
Following the controversy surrounding the death of Nigerian singer, MohBad, Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has exhumed the body of the singer for autopsy in order to unravel the actual cause of his death.
New Telegraph had earlier reported that the Lagos State Police Command confirmed they have secured a court order to have Mohbad’s body dug up for forensic examination.
However, this morning, the exhumation was carried out and MohBad’s corpse transported to a hospital where pathologists will perform an official autopsy to determine cause of death. Read more
Lagos approves N375m scholarship for indigenes’ tertiary education (ThisDay)
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, yesterday approved the payment of N375,455,000, for scholarship and bursary awards in a bid to support the academic pursuits of Lagos state indigenes.
This fund is designed to alleviate the financial burdens faced by Lagosians pursuing higher education across the country.
Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Scholarship Board, Mr. Abdur-Rahman Lekki, who unveiled this significant development during a recent meeting with key stakeholders in his office, emphasised Governor Sanwo-Olu’s unwavering commitment to advancing education within the state. Read more
Enugu tribunal dismisses petition against Mbah over NYSC certificate (Guardian)
The Enugu State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on Thursday dismissed the petition of Chris Agu of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) against Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Agu had alleged that Mbah forged his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate, was not qualified to run for the election, and was corrupt.
The tribunal, chaired by Justice Kudirat Murayo Akano, held that the petitioner failed to prove any of his allegations that Mba did not possess the minimum requirement to stand for election which is a school certificate or its equivalent. Read more
CBN postpones September 2023 MPC meeting (Channels)
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has postponed the 293rd Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, September 25 and 26, 2023.
This was disclosed in a Thursday press statement by the bank’s Director of Corporate Communications, Dr Isa AbdulMumin. But no reason was given for the decision.
“The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria has deferred its 293rd meeting scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, September 25 and 26, 2023, respectively. Read more
Court jails teenager 12 months for Internet fraud (Punch)
A Kaduna High Court judge, Justice Dairus Khobo, on Thursday, sentenced a 19-year-old teenager, Peterson Enoch, to 12 months imprisonment over offences bordering on internet fraud.
The convict, a resident of Millennium City, Kaduna, was dragged before the court by the state Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
In his judgment, Khobo found the defendant guilty of the charge preferred against him. Read more
Taylor Swift treats swifties to major announcement for 1989 Taylor’s Version (Metro)
For the past two days Taylor Swift fans have been frantically trying to find out the names for the vault songs on 1989.
While the “Mr Perfectly Fine” singer enjoyed a night out with fellow Joe Jonas ex, Sophie Turner, her fans have been cracking codes.
Swifties launched into puzzles on Google, of which there were 89 to complete, in hopes of unlocking her vault for 1989. Read more
3 South African Navy personnel dead in freak submarine incident at sea (AlJazeera)
Three South African Navy personnel have died after seven crew members of a submarine were swept off its deck by big sea waves as a helicopter attempted a “vertical transfer” of supplies, the Department of Defence said on Thursday.
The accident happened on Wednesday as an Air Force Lynx helicopter was attempting what is known as a “vertrep” – or vertical replenishment – of supplies to the SAS Manthatisi submarine on the ocean surface off the coast of Cape Town, the department said.
The operation was immediately called off and a rescue effort was launched. Read more
Lorde has been living and working on new music in London (MusicNews)
Lorde has been working on new music whilst living in London.
The ‘Green Light’ singer revealed in a new email newsletter to fans that she has been living in the British capital since May.
She began: “Things feel clear here. I haven’t seen many friends; mostly, I’m alone with my thoughts.
“I go swimming, I go to work, I walk home or take the train, I eat in my kitchen, I go to bed thinking about what I’m making. I’m starting to miss my friends and family, like a vitamin I’m deficient in.” Read more
Libya’s flood disaster displaced more than 43,000 people, says UN migration body (France24)
A tsunami-sized flash flood broke through two ageing river dams upstream from the coastal city after the Mediterranean Storm Daniel lashed the area on September 10.
It razed entire neighbourhoods, sweeping untold thousands of people into the sea.
The official death toll stands at more than 3,300 – but the eventual count is expected to be far higher, with international aid groups giving estimates of up to 10,000 people missing. Read more
Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal play lovers in haunting “All of Us Strangers” trailer (People)
A surreal love story unfolds in Andrew Scott’s emotional new film.
Written and directed by Andrew Haigh (Weekend, HBO’s Looking),“ All of Us Strangers” stars Fleabag alum Scott as Adam, a man in London who has a chance encounter with his neighbor Harry, played by Paul Mescal.
Their meeting “punctures the rhythm of [Adam’s] everyday life,” according to a synopsis. Read more
‘‘American Fiction’’ pushes theatrical release to December (Variety)
After winning this year’s Toronto International Film Festival’s people’s choice award, “American Fiction” has pushed back its limited release to Dec. 15 and will expand in theaters on Dec. 22.
MGM announced Wednesday that Cord Jefferson’s feature directorial debut, which was originally set for a Nov. 3 limited opening and would expand on Nov. 10 and 17, has now been moved to December in order to take advantage of the holiday play period.
The satirical dramedy, starring Jeffrey Wright, met with rave reviews out of Toronto and received the festival’s people’s choice award, bolstering its Oscar chances. Read more
Rupert Murdoch steps down as Fox and News Corp. chairman (CNN)
Rupert Murdoch, the powerful right-wing media mogul who built and oversaw one of the world’s most influential news empires, announced Thursday that he will step down as chairman of his companies, Fox Corporation and News Corp.
“For my entire professional life, I have been engaged daily with news and ideas, and that will not change,” Murdoch, 92, wrote in a memo to employees. “But the time is right for me to take on different roles, knowing that we have truly talented teams.”
As the leader of Fox and News Corporation, which publishes influential broadsheets such as The Wall Street Journal and tabloid New York Post, Murdoch has for decades commanded considerable influence in the Republican Party, matched by only a select few. Read more
Handball: Nigeria seal U-18 World Championship ticket (Punch)
Nigeria have qualified for the 2024 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship after defeating Morocco 28-14 on Wednesday in the quarter-finals of the Africa Women’s Youth Handball Championship in Monastir, Tunisia.
Nigeria’s U-18 women’s handball team went into the match knowing full well that a win against their North African counterparts would qualify them for the Mundial in Asia and wasted no time to make a statement.
The IHF Women champions were dominant in the first half and went into the break with a comfortable 17-5 lead. Read more
Super Eagles drop in latest FIFA ranking despite Sao Tome and Principe rout (Vanguard)
Super Eagles of Nigeria have dropped a place in the latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday.
This comes after Jose Peseiro’s side thrashed Sao Tome and Principe 6-0 in their last fixture.
The result, however, turned out not to have any positive effect on their position on the ranking table. Read more
Andy Murray makes admission about his season as he looks for a ‘‘strong finish’’ (Tennis365)
Andy Murray has admitted he would have liked his “up and down” year to have gone better “for sure” and outlined his intent to have a strong finish to the season.
The 36-year-old also highlighted the fact he recently reached his highest ranking since his hip surgery and feels he is “still going in the right direction.”
The former world No 1 has had some impressive moments in 2023, having won back-to-back five-set matches at the Australian Open and reached the final of the Qatar Open. The Brit has also won three titles on the ATP Challenger Tour. Read more
Russell still set on “rolling the dice” despite Singapore bust (F1i)
George Russell rued his last lap mistake in the Singapore Grand Prix that robbed him of a podium finish, but the Mercedes driver says he’ll continue to “roll the dice” to help his team seek “a big result”.
Mistakes happen where you’re trying hard, and Russell had gone all out in the closing stages of last weekend’s race at Marina Bay as he felt that an outright win was on the cards if he could get past the McLaren of Lando Norris and reel in future Ferrari race winner Carlos Sainz.
It all went wrong however for the Brion at Turn 10 on the final round. Where Norris had barreled into the corner and brushed the wall, Russell hit a protruding part of the latter which sent him straight on and into the barrier. Read more
Spanish FA sacks general secretary and apologises to players after boycott ends (BBC)
The Spanish football federation has sacked its general secretary Andreu Camps and apologised for what happened after the Women’s World Cup final.
The RFEF said it had “accelerated” the “profound changes” promised to players.
“The RFEF is aware of the absolute need to start a new stage and close the institutional crisis that opened after the national team’s victory in the World Cup,” the federation said. Read more
Cavs president Koby Altman struggles through field sobriety tests before OVI arrest, body cam video shows (Fox)
Body camera footage from the arrest of Cleveland Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman showed the NBA executive struggle through a series of field sobriety tests before eventually being taken into custody on a charge of operating a vehicle while impaired.
Altman, 41, was arrested Friday at around 9 p.m. ET after being stopped by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
During the traffic stop, an officer noted Altman nearly caused an accident while speeding on state Route 2 near East 55th Street in Cleveland, newly released body camera footage showed. Read more