N14m debt: Portable fails bail conditions, sleeps in police cell (Punch)
Nigerian music artiste, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly called Portable, has passed the night in a police cell following his failure to meet the bail conditions set for his release after he was arrested for refusing to pay the N14m debt he incurred when he purchased a G-Wagon from a car dealer in Lagos State.
A source, who spoke to our correspondent on Wednesday, confirmed the development.
The source said when Portable was arrested Tuesday, bail conditions were set for his release and he failed to meet the bail conditions. Read more
Labour rejects FG’s N48,000 minimum wage proposal (Nation)
Organised labour has rejected the N48,000 proposed by the federal government as minimum wage for public service workers.
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The government’s position was presented to labour at the resumed tripartite committee meeting on Wednesday, May 15.
In protest, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) walked out of the meeting which was held virtually. Read more
Naira printing: Emefiele pleads not guilty, secures N300m bail (Vanguard)
The embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, on Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to the allegation that he unlawfully printed Naira Notes while he held sway at the apex bank.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alleged that Emefiele had without authorization from former President Muhammadu Buhari, printed N684million Notes with the total sum of N18.96 billion.
Besides, the anti-graft agency accused the former CBN boss of unlawfully approving the withdrawal of about N124.8bn from the consolidated revenue fund. Read more
LASU’s DRMI, NOTAP collaborate to enhance staff knowledge on intellectual property rights (Independent)
The Directorate of Research Management and Innovation (DRMI), Lagos State University (LASU) in collaboration with collaborated with the National Office for Technology Acquisition And Promotion (NOTAP) conducted the maiden two-day training workshop on Intellectual Property Rights and the commissioning of the Intellectual Property Rights and Technology Transfer Office (IPRTTO).
The training took place on Monday, 13th, and Tuesday, 14th May 2024 at the Senate Chamber, 1st floor, Babatunde Raji Fashola Senate building, LASU Main Campus, Ojo.
The workshop aimed to equip academic staff members with valuable insights and knowledge on technology transfer, commercialisation and the importance of intellectual property rights. Read more
3 Wike’s loyalists dump Fubara’s cabinet (DailyTrust)
Three loyalists of Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have resigned from the cabinet of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
They are Commissioners for Education, Professor Chinedu Mmon and Gift Worlu, Commissioner of Housing and Austin Ben Chioma, Commissioner for Environment.
The trio are among those who rejoined the cabinet after President Bola Tinubu brokered a peace deal that eventually collapsed. Read more
Over 20 injured as explosion rocks Kano mosque, suspect arrested (Channels)
An explosion rocked a mosque in Gadan Village, in the Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State on Wednesday, leaving 24 individuals with various injuries.
The incident occurred around 5:20am during the Subhi (early morning) prayer.
A spokesman for the Kano State Police Command, Abdullahi Kiyawa, said preliminary forensic analysis showed that the explosion was suspected to be caused by petrol. Read more
Forensic Institute to expose politicians with fake certificates (Tribune)
National Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria have revealed plans to expose politicians with questionable qualifications and prevent them from participating in elections.
The President and Chairman Governing Council of the Institute, Dr Iliyasu Gashinbaki, disclosed this during a meeting with the leadership of national Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Abuja.
He said the institute would partner with IPAC to authenticate documents of aspirants even before the primary elections in the 2027 general elections. Read more
FG launches minerals resource software for investors (Channels)
The Federal Government has launched a solid minerals resource support system for investors and intending investors in Nigeria, and across the globe.
While speaking during the launch ceremony, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, expressed delight over the move, while stating that the support system will enhance the ease of doing business in the solid minerals sector.
He explained that the portal served as a one-stop shop for investors and intending investors, to get all necessary information to guide them in making informed investment decisions. Read more
5 best moments from Mary J. Blige’s 2024 Strength of a Woman Festival & Summit (Vibe)
Mary J. Blige brought her Strength of a Woman Festival & Summit to her home of New York City this year, where she continued her mission to “uplift, inspire, and build” within her community.
The three-day experience took place during Mother’s Day weekend (May 10-12) and included a special show with Robert Glasper, a day of enlightening panels at The Glasshouse in Manhattan, and an evening concert at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
Blige also hosted a Gospel Brunch to cap off the festival, which partnered with Pepsi, Live Nation Urban, ASCAP, and more.
Created by the Grammy Award-winning singer and her partners Nicole Jackson, Vice President of MJB Inc., and Ashaunna Ayars of The Ayars Agency, the summit offered a variety of activations and installations from Simone I. Smith and Blige’s Sister Love jewelry line, a listening station of the R&B icon’s discography, and her signature Sun Goddess Wine. Read more
Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon wage wedding warfare in “You’re Cordially Invited” trailer (EW)
Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon are going to war… over a wedding venue.
Prime Video has unveiled a first look at You’re Cordially Invited, a comedy that promises to showcase the vengeful sides of the two stars, who play representatives of two weddings accidentally scheduled for the same place and time.
While Witherspoon’s character is determined to plan the perfect wedding for her sister (Meredith Hagner), Ferrell’s hopes to do the same for his daughter (Geraldine Viswanathan). But can a single island resort sustain two weddings, or is one of them doomed to failure? Read more
South African president signs controversial health law (AfricaNews)
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday, May 15 gave the green light to a new health-insurance law, despite facing tough upcoming elections.
The law aims to fix the country’s health system and make treatment fairer. It stops private companies from insuring treatments covered by the National Health Insurance plan.
Some groups say this law goes against the constitution and plan to challenge it in court. Read more
Mad Max Director considered de-aging Charlize Theron for “Furiosa”, but the technology was ‘‘never persuasive’’ (Variety)
Mad Max mastermind George Miller considered using de-aging technology so that Charlize Theron could star in his Fury Road prequel “Furiosa,” but says “it would have been difficult” to pull off. Instead, he opted to cast someone new in the role of Imperator Furiosa: Anya Taylor-Joy.
In a Variety cover story on Taylor-Joy and “Furiosa,” which premieres on Wednesday night at Cannes Film Festival, Miller said he had observed de-aging used in movies like Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman and Ang Lee’s Gemini Man starring Will Smith. Read more
Jake Gyllenhaal set to return in Road House sequel (TheMix)
Exciting news for fans of action and drama! Jake Gyllenhaal has officially agreed to reprise his role in the sequel to the hit movie Road House.
Following the success of the first film, Amazon Studios is gearing up for “Road House 2” (not the actual title) with Gyllenhaal set to return as Dalton.
The first Road House reboot – a reimagining of the 1989 cult classic of the same name, starring Patrick Swayze – premiered on Prime Video back in March. Read more
Zayn Malik makes rare comment about relationship with ex Perrie Edwards (Standard)
Zayn Malik has given a rare insight into his relationship with former fiancée Perrie Edwards.
The former One Direction star, 31, and Little Mix singer, 30, first got together in 2011 with Malik proposing two years later.
They split in 2015 before making it down the aisle with Edwards claiming Malik dumped her via text message. Read more
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico shot and injured after government meeting (DailyRecord)
Slovakia’s populist prime minister Robert Fico has been injured in a shooting and taken to hospital, according to reports.
The incident took place in the town of Handlova, some 150 kilometres north east of the capital Bratislava, according to the news television station TA3.
A suspect has been detained, it said. President Zuzana Caputova condemned “a brutal and ruthless” attack on the premier. Read more
Special Eagles captain eyes World Cup slot from tough Nations Cup group (Punch)
Nigeria’s amputee football team, the Special Eagles, will aim to qualify for the 2026 Amputee World Cup in Morocco when they begin their Nations Cup quest against hosts Egypt at the Al Salam Stadium, Cairo on Saturday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Since the inception of the Nations Cup in 2007, the Special Eagles haven’t missed the tournament but their only appearance at the World Cup was in Mexico in 2018.
Nigeria are in Group A alongside hosts Egypt, Cameroon and Burundi. Group B consists Liberia, Morocco, Uganda and Senegal, just as Ghana, Kenya, Gambia and Algeria will slug it out in Group C. Angola, Tanzania, Sierra Leone and Rwanda are in Group D. Read more
“I wanted to be white and English” – says Rosario (Sky)
“People didn’t know if I was Black, white, Asian, Indian, Pakistani. There was a lot of grief, there was a lot of racism. The only thing that saved me was being a footballer.
“The 70s and 80s were rough. I wanted to be white and English. I’m ashamed to admit that.”
Those are the words of former Coventry, Norwich City and Nottingham Forest forward, Robert Rosario, who Sky Sports News can reveal was the first British South Asian footballer to play in the Premier League. Read more
UEFA tells Man City’s owners to reduce stake in Champions League-bound Girona (France24)
City Football Group, the parent company of Manchester City, must reduce its stake in Girona if the Spanish club is to be allowed to compete in next season’s Champions League, UEFA said on Wednesday.
Liga side Girona are 47 percent owned by City Group since 2017 and, after a stunning season when they competed for a period with Real Madrid for the Spanish title, are guaranteed to finish in the top four and therefore qualify for next season’s Champions League.
However, UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) sent a letter on Tuesday to football stakeholders informing of updates to multi-club rules pertaining to entry into continental-wide competitions. Read more
Courtois set to start for Real Madrid in UCL final (ESPN)
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is in line to start for Real Madrid in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund on June 1 at Wembley, sources have told ESPN.
Courtois has been sidelined for much of the season after suffering two serious knee injuries. He returned against Cádiz in LaLiga on May 4, before he sat out Madrid’s Champions League semifinal second leg against Bayern Munich.
Since then, he has kept clean sheets against Granada and Alavés. He made 10 saves in his last game and received an applause from fans at the Bernabéu. Read more
Oleksandr Usyk names his “big motivation” ahead of Tyson Fury fight (DAZN)
Oleksandr Usyk says his father “was a big motivation” for him in his career, and supported him throughout his career.
Usyk’s father passed away just days after watching Usyk win gold at the 2012 Olympics in London.
In the 12 years since winning gold, Usyk has gone on to become a unified cruiserweight world champion, and now he is one fight away from the same feat at heavyweight. Read more
Sabalenka strolls to Italian Open semis with win over Ostapenko (StraitsTimes)
World number two Aryna Sabalenka had little trouble in defeating Latvian ninth seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-2 6-4 to reach the Italian Open semi-finals on Wednesday.
Sabalenka has never won the Italian Open but she had the majority of the support at Centre Court, where the crowd rose to congratulate the Belarusian’s triumph which took little over an hour to complete.
“With this amazing atmosphere, this amazing support, that’s why I’m super-motivated here,” Sabalenka said. Read more