NDLEA intercepts 249,600 Tramadol tabs at Lagos airport, arrests freight agent (Guardian)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 249,600 tablets of Tramadol (225mg) from a shipment from India at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO) import shed of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Lagos.
The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
Babafemi said that the consignment arrived from india via Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airline flight on Aug. 4.
He said it was eventually evacuated on Wednesday as an abandoned seizure.
Meanwhile, a freight agent, Miss Njoko Elizabeth, 37, has been arrested for attempting to export 250grams of Tramadol and cannabis to Dubai. Read more
Father nabbed over alleged killing of two children (Punch)
A 25-year-old man, Elisha Tari of Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State has been arrested for allegedly killing two of his children.
The suspect who hails from Himikidu, Michika LGA, allegedly used a stone and a stick to hit two of his children aged three and five years respectively.
A statement by the state police spokesperson, Suleiman Nguroje, on Saturday noted that the suspect was apprehended on August 18, 2022.
Nguroje stated that the accused was arrested following a complaint lodged at the Divisional Police Headquarters, Michika by the victims’ grandfather. Read more
I no longer have issues with Liz Anjorin — Toyin Abraham (DailyTrust)
Ace Nollywood actress, Toyin Abraham has stated that her rift with fellow colleague, Liz Anjorin is over. Making the announcement, the delectable actress noted that they both tabled their matter before the police and the issue has been resolved.
Taking to her verified Instagram account, the actress said that the rift began due to a fan’s comment.
The actress said, “It is important that I make this clarification and share this information with the public, especially after the conclusion of the police investigation. Lizzy Anjorin and I; we no longer have issues. Yes, I had to get the police involved. The investigations revealed that I did not wrong her. She ran with a comment from a fan which did not come from me. At the Police station, we tabled our grievances and she apologised. We have since moved on. Read more
About 353 inmates on death row in Lagos NCoS (Guardian)
The Nigerian Correctional Service ( NCoS ), Lagos State , on Sunday said it had no fewer than 353 inmates currently on death row at its Kirikiri Custodial Centre.
The spokesperson of the Service, Mr Rotimi Oladokun, confirmed the number in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
According to him, about 210 inmates are also serving life jail terms,
He explained that there were five custodial centres in Lagos namely ; Ikoyi, Badagry, Kirikiri Female, Kirikiri Medium and Kirikiri Maximum.
He said that the Ikoyi Custodial Centre was built to accommodate 800 inmates, however, currently, it hosts no fewer than 2 400 inmates. Read more
Serve Nigeria by serving NIM, Chairman urges fellows (Nation)
The President and Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Management, (NIM) Chartered. Major General Abdullahi Muraina, (rtd) has urged members to serve Nigeria in their service to the institute.
He made this known on Thursday while inducting upgraded members to the Fellowship of the institute at an event which took place at the Muson Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Deputy President of the institute, Dr. (Mrs) Christiana Atako, while urging the upgraded Fellows not to see it as a destination, he urged them not to rest on their oars, especially in reaching for the heights of their contribution to society. Read more
Insurer aims to sustain growth, pledges best practices (Guardian)
As part of its strategies to sustain growth, LASACO Assurance Plc has pledged to uphold best industry practices and policies in all its operations.
Chairman of Lasaco Assurance Plc, Mrs. Teju Philips, made the pledge at the 42nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company in Lagos.
According to her, the company had recorded a gross premium income of N13.3b this year, representing a 21 per cent increase over the N10.93b generated last year.
She equally assured customers and shareholders of improved performances next year, stressing that the firm would surpass its current performances through the implementation of best practice policies, digital upscaling, process strengthening and customer experience rejuvenation. Read more
Agba Jalingo regains freedom in Abuja (Channels)
Human rights activist, Agba Jalingo, has been released from police detention.
Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, made the announcement on his verified Facebook page.
Policemen from the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Friday had stormed Jalingo’s residence, Channels Television had reported.
He was later transferred to Abuja via the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Ikeja on Saturday. Read more
Leventis Foundation teaches youth to see opportunities in Agribiz (DailyTrust)
As part of events marking the 2022 International Youth Day, Leventis Foundation Nigeria (LFN), in partnership with the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, organized a summit to help Nigerian youths seek opportunities in the agribusiness sector.
The event, which took place in Abuja, had in attendance about 200 participants, including 50 NYSC members, with hundreds of others joining the occasion through a provided zoom virtual platform.
In his speech, the LFN Executive Director, Dr. Hope Usieta, said the selected 50 NYSC members would be provided with the starter pack in partnership with their respective states in order to be self-reliant.
He said a financial grant of a minimum of N250,000 will be disbursed to 10 best young entrepreneurs who won the foundation’s business support. Read more
Gbajabiamila promises enactment of pro-people legislations (ThisDay)
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has promised that the 9th National Assembly will work towards enactment of people-oriented laws for national development.
Gbajabiamila gave the in Abuja while receiving the 2022 Democracy Heroes Awards Africa conferred on him alongside Niger State Governor, Alhaji Sani Bello and Minister of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, among others.
The speaker, who was represented by Hon. Aliyu Ibrahim, dedicated the award to the 9th House of Representatives, which has passed groundbreaking legislations such as the Petroleum Industry Act and the Electoral Act, 2022.
Gbajabiamila said: “On behalf of my leader, we say thank you very much, the organisers of this great event for honouring not only him, the right honourable speaker but indeed the House of Representatives. Read more
Paris Club refund: Ned Nwoko opens can of worms (Sun)
The Lead Consultants working on the London and Paris Club refunds yesterday accused state governors on the platform of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) of dishing out tissue of lies as regards the $418 million Paris Club Refund.
They also disclosed that contrary to what is in the media, the money being owed the consultants was $68 million and not $418 million.
Senator Ned Nwoko, who addressed newsmen in Abuja, also alleged that the governors demanded and received the sum of $100 million to prosecute elections in some states.
He also alleged that when he submitted a bill of $350 million as the consultancy fee, the state governors demanded to be paid 50 per cent of it before it could be honoured. Read more
Dr. Dre reveals he almost died after suffering a brain aneurysm last year (DailyMail)
Dr. Dre opened up recently on the Workout The Doubt podcast about his life-threatening brain aneurysm that he suffered in January 2021.
The talented rapper and record producer, 57, explained that he didn’t have any idea how serious his condition really was on the podcast with Dolvett Quince.
At the time, the star was rushed to Cedars Sinai located in Los Angeles to receive emergency treatment and remained in the ICU for a total of two weeks.
While opening up about his scary experience, the Next Episode rapper revealed that he only realized the severity of his condition when his family was brought in to visit. Read more
Maren Morris and Zedd reunite on new song ‘Make You Say’ (NME)
Maren Morris and Zedd have collaborated for a second time on a new song, ‘Make You Say’.
Released Saturday 20 August, “Make You Say” was co-written by Zedd (aka Anton Zaslavski), Morris, DJ duo Beauz (aka sibling DJ Bernie and Johan Yang), as well as Charlie Puth and Jacob Kasher Hindlin.
The track dropped alongside an official music video. Blending cartoon animation with live action, the clip centres on Morris and her fictional love interest.
In a press release, Zedd spoke about the origins of the track and working with the other artists to produce it. “I started working on this record with Beauz about three or four years ago,” he said. “We went back and forth slowly, refining the production over the years, and then Charlie and I got in the studio and wrote the topline for the track. Read more
Supreme Court issues rare emergency order favouring voters challenging elections rules (CNN)
The Supreme Court on Friday sided with Black voters who challenged Georgia’s system of electing members to the state’s Public Service Commission, which regulates public utilities in the state.
The move was a rare example of the conservative court siding with voters over state officials in disputes regarding election rules, especially when the court is asked to act on an emergency basis.
The Supreme Court restored a district court ruling requiring that this year’s election for two of the commission seats be postponed so that the legislature could create a new system for electing commissioners.
The unsigned order from the Supreme Court left the door open for the state’s Republican officials to try again to get Georgia’s rules for electing the commission revived for November’s election. However, later Friday, Georgia indicated in a court filing that it would not ask again for the appeals court to halt the trial judge’s order before November’s election while the appeal on the merits played out.
Nico Martinez, a partner at Bartlit Beck LLP who represented the challengers, said the Supreme Court’s order was an “important step toward ensuring that this November’s PSC elections are not held using a method that unlawfully dilutes the votes of millions of Black citizens in Georgia.” Read more
Casey Affleck missed brother Ben Affleck’s wedding celebration due to ‘parental obligations’
(People)
Not all of the Afflecks could be in attendance at this weekend’s big wedding celebration weekend.
A source tells PEOPLE that Casey Affleck missed the Georgia ceremony celebrating his brother Ben Affleck’s nuptials with Jennifer Lopez on Saturday “unfortunately because of family, parental obligations at home.”
Casey, 47, was previously spotted stepping out Friday with girlfriend Caylee Cowan after a visit to Affleck family favorite Dunkin’ Donuts in Los Angeles. The younger Affleck was photographed again Saturday in L.A. He shares sons Indiana, 18, and 14-year-old Atticus with ex-wife Summer Phoenix.
Saturday’s ceremony was still full of love with such stars in attendance as Ben’s pal Matt Damon and wife Luciana Barroso, Clerks auteur Kevin Smith and wife Jennifer, as well as Clerks star Jason Mewes and wife Jordan Monsanto. Top Hollywood talent agent Patrick Whitesell and his wife, model/actress Pia Miller, were also in attendance. Read more
Idris Elba on daughter not speaking to him for weeks after not getting role in ‘Beast’ movie (Variety)
Idris Elba is sharing the tense environment he lived through after his daughter Isan didn’t land a role in his latest movie Beast for lack of chemistry on camera.
“Interestingly enough, my daughter auditioned for this role,” Elba said during an appearance on The Breakfast Club. “She wants to be an actress and she auditioned and it came down to chemistry in the end. The relationship in the film and the relationship between my daughter was, the chemistry wasn’t right for film, weirdly enough.”
After not getting the part, Elba said his daughter didn’t talk to him “for about three weeks.”
It was producer Will Packer who had to give Isan the news she wouldn’t be acting with her father as he sees her as his “little niece.” Packer gave props to Elba for not going the route of nepotism and asking producers to put his daughter “through the ropes” in the audition process. Read more
Gary Busey charged with criminal sexual conduct during Monster-Mania convention in New Jersey
(EW)
Gary Busey has been arrested on four charges, including two for criminal sexual conduct.
The star has reportedly been taken into custody due to an incident that occurred in Cherry Hill, N.J., when he was visiting Monster-Mania Con at the suburb’s Doubletree Hotel from Aug. 12 to Aug. 14.
Police allegedly responded to a claim of sexual offense during the convention. Now, following an investigation, detectives have charged the actor with two counts of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree, one count of attempted criminal sexual contact, and one count of harassment.
The Cherry Hill Police Department was not available to provide further details to EW as of Saturday evening, but law enforcement officials stated in a press release that the investigation was ongoing. Read more
Daughter of staunch Putin ally Alexander Dugin killed in car bombing near Moscow (NYPost)
The daughter of Russian war mastermind and Putin pal Alexander Dugin was killed in a car bombing outside of Moscow late Saturday night, according to reports.
The far-right ideologue’s daughter, Darya Dugina, was instantly killed when a bomb went off that was intended to take out her father, according to news outlet Baza’s Telegram channel.
A friend of Darya Dugina confirmed to Russian news agency TASS that she was killed when the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado blew up. The car belonged to her father, he said.
Darya Dugina, 29, had been driving for about 10 minutes after leaving the “Tradition” music and literature festival when her car exploded, Baza reported. Read more
UFC title: We will bounce back, Usman says after loss to Edwards (Guardian)
Nigeria’s Kamaru Usman is confident he will bounce back after losing his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight title at UFC 278 to Britain’s Leon Edwards.
The win for Edwards at the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, U. S. on Saturday was one of the greatest comebacks in mixed martial arts history.
The 30-year-old Jamaican-born British fighter looked to be headed for a defeat on the judges’ scorecards.
But then faked a jab with his left hand and then landed a left-foot kick to the head that sparked the 35-year-old Nigerian to claim the belt.
Commenting via his Twitter handle @usman84kg, the Nigerian congratulated Edwards on the victory. Read more
Costa Rica 2022: We’re ready for Netherlands – Falconets Captain (Sun)
Falconets Captain, Tosin Demehin has expressed optimism ahead of their FIFA U20 Women World Cup quarter final tie with Netherlands.
Falconets won all the three group C matches at the tournament to book the quarter final clash with Netherlands. The two-time FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup runners-up will trade tackles with Holland on Sunday at 11:30 pm.
Speaking ahead of the encounter, the reliable defender pleaded for Africans and Nigerians support and prayers to overcome the Netherlands.
“I want to thank God for the games in the group stage and for making us come out top from the group. We have played and won all the three games from the group and made a good record being the first team ever to win all the group matches since the tournament started. Read more
Navarrete defends WBO featherweight title as body causes Baez KO (Skysport)
“That’s a very Mexican punch. I don’t throw a perfect left hook like you’re used to seeing. But this one came out perfect for me. And you saw the result because not many guys can take that shot. I won’t deny that the 10 months away from the ring made it difficult”- Emanuel Navarrete
Emanuel Navarrete successfully defended his WBO featherweight title against Eduardo Baez, clinching the contest via a sixth-round body-shot KO in San Diego.
The Mexican (35-1, 30KO), a two-division champion, began sluggishly in what was his first bout for 10 months – the fighter’s longest ring absence in eight years.
Indeed, while he grew into the contest thereafter, two of the three judges in Pat Russell (49-46) and Zachary Young (50-45) had him behind on the scorecard prior to the knockout, with Dr Lou Moret having him narrowly ahead (48-47).
Despite Baez’s (22-2-2, 7KO) promising showing, demonstrating movement, strong defence and a chin, it was a vicious body shot by Navarrete that was to prove the challenger’s undoing.
“That’s a very Mexican punch,” Navarrete said of the crucial body shot to win the bout. Read more
Aston Villa agree deal worth £25m to sign Watford winger Ismaila Sarr (DailyMail)
Aston Villa have agreed a deal to sign Watford winger Ismaila Sarr, according to reports. The two clubs have reached an agreement on a deal worth £25million plus add-ons.
Sarr was absent from the Watford squad for their Championship clash with Preston North End on Saturday.
Hornets manager Rob Edwards suggested that the 24-year-old’s omission was due to injury, but Sky Sports have reported that a move to Aston Villa has been agreed.
The Senegal international joined Watford from Rennes in 2019 and has netted 25 goals in 95 appearances for the Hornets. Read more
William Saliba reacts to new Arsenal chant as Mikel Arteta tells dressing room tale (Mirror)
William Saliba was left beaming after he was serenaded by Arsenal fans both during and after the Gunners’ thumping 3-0 win over Bournemouth on Saturday evening.
Saliba impressed as Mikel Arteta’s side surged to the top of the Premier League table following a routine victory on the south coast. The French defender even managed to mark the occasion with his first ever Gunners goal; a sweet first-time strike from the edge of the box that sealed the points for the Londoners, who had taken a 2-0 lead into the break courtesy of a brace from Martin Odegaard.
But even though Arsenal’s new captain Odegaard stole the show in the first-half, it was Saliba who was receiving all the love from the visiting fans.
The Gunners faithful managed to adapt The Champs’ hit ‘Tequila’ to fit in Saliba’s name – and the catchy tune ended up providing the backdrop for the one-sided clash. Read more
Kvitova, Garcia advance to Cincinnati women’s final (USAToday)
Petra Kvitova outlasted Madison Keys 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-3 on Saturday to reach the Western & Southern Open final.
The 32-year-old Kvitova had never advanced to the semifinals in 10 prior appearances in the Cincinnati tournament. It is Czech’s 40th career final, and she’ll face another surprise entrant in Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia, the first qualifier to reach the final in Cincinnati.
“That’s nice to have this experience, even at my age,” Kvitova said, smiling. “In my career, I had many, many finals, but never here. It feels different because it’s for the first time in Cincinnati.”
Kvitova almost didn’t make it out of the first round, having to save a match point against last year’s finalist, Jil Teichmann. She also needed three sets to beat fifth-ranked Ons Jabeur in the third round. Read more
Sam Bennett, Ben Carr advance to U.S. Amateur championship match (ESPN)
Texas A&M senior Sam Bennett won his third straight match against a player from the top 10 in the amateur world ranking, this one Saturday getting him into the U.S. Amateur championship match with a 1-up victory over Dylan Menante.
All five of Bennett’s matches at Ridgewood Country Club have been against players at No. 27 or better in the amateur ranking.
Bennett, No. 3 in the world amateur ranking, now faces Georgia Southern senior Ben Carr, who is No. 70 and won his semifinal match 3 and 2 over Derek Hitchner.
Bennett never trailed against Menante, who was part of Pepperdine’s team that won the NCAA title in 2021 but decided to transfer to North Carolina for his senior year. But it was tight the whole way in a match delayed at the start by storms. Read more