NSCDC nabs ‘pastor’ over POS fraud (DailyTrust)
A 24-years-old man, Victor Adebayo, suspected to be a serial POS fraudster who sends fake alerts to his victims has been arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Kwara State Command.
The suspect, who was nabbed following intelligence, had allegedly defrauded his victims of over N700,000.
According to the spokesman of the NSCDC, Babawale Zaid Afolabi, Adebayo claimed to be based in Lagos and usually sent fake alerts to unsuspecting POS operators in return for cash.
“He has been going around in his Toyota Corolla car defrauding people, many of whom thronged our office to catch a glimpse of him.
“He would meet POS operators to give him cash many of whom trusted him because of his corporate appearance and he would send fake alerts which he had programmed on his phone,” he said. Read more
Protest as DSS officers driving against traffic kill tipper driver, injure 2 (Punch)
Benin City, Edo State, was thrown into confusion on Tuesday when tipper drivers blocked major roads in the area to protest the alleged killing of one of their members by personnel of the Department of State Services.
The DSS operatives were said to be driving against traffic in two cars towards Tipper Garage, Ikpoba Slope, due to the gridlock caused by a broken down articulated vehicle.
The tipper drivers reportedly moved to the road to regulate traffic.
One of the protesters, Joseph Osaretin, said, “When our drivers identified the first vehicle as being occupied bythe operatives, they allowed them to go, and asked an unmarked Audi to go back. This got the operatives angry and on getting down from their vehicle, they shot one of our drivers dead.
“When the drivers saw that their person was down, they went mad and that made the operatives shoot two other persons, who are in a critical condition in a hospital.” Read more
Traffic control collapses, extortion thrives on Lagos Port Road (Leadership)
Truck owners operating at Lagos seaports have raised the alarm that the Nigerian Ports Authority’s (NPA’s) Electronic Call-up system has collapsed.
In a statement by president, Council of Maritime Transport Union Associations (COMTUA), Olayinka Aroyewun, only the revenue and extortion counterpart of the system are working well, while the traffic control system has collapsed.
He also called on the Lagos State government to recall the enforcement team back to the secretariat because they have failed to discharge their duties as expected.
Aroyewun stated that the union also rejected payment on non-port access roads to ETO even as he said the union kicked against payment of demurrage inside garages especially when at Lilly Pond. Read more
LIRS announces January 31 deadline for filing of annual tax returns by employers of labour (Sun)
The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) reminded its esteemed taxpayers, businesses and employers of labour of their statutory obligation to file annual income tax returns pursuant to section 81 (2) of the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) Cap P8 LFN 2004 (as amended). The Act stipulates January 31, as the deadline for filing of annual income tax returns, failing which penalty accrues.
The Executive Chairman of Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Ayodele Subair, urged all businesses and employers of labour resident within Lagos State to file their annual income tax returns on or before January 31, 2022 to avoid payment of penalties or other statutory sanctions.
“The only available platform for filing of annual income tax returns in Lagos State is the LIRS e-Tax portal: https://etax.lirs.net. The e-Tax portal is built for the convenience of taxpayers, is easy, convenient and safe. All businesses and employers of labor are advised to use the e-Tax portal to file their returns.
Taxpayer ID of all employees is compulsory for the annual income tax returns to be successfully filed on the e-Tax portal. Therefore, all employees and taxable persons within the state are advised to generate a taxpayer ID (where applicable) and file their individual annual income tax returns on the e-Tax portal.” He saidIn line with the agency’s quest to ease compliance obligations for taxpayers, it has designated some staff at various offices to assist taxpayers with the use of the e-Tax portal and other filing related issues. Read more
Lagos to sponsor youths’ training in Chicago (Punch)
The Lagos Government has said it will sponsor divisional youth ambassadors on leadership training in Chicago.
The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Olusegun Dawodu, said this on Tuesday in a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs in the ministry, Mrs Olabisi Adeola.
He said, “The state’s readiness to send 10 young leaders including the state ambassador, the divisional ambassadors and some other youths in the state to a leadership and capacity building training programme in Chicago is one of the commitments of the state government to further build their capabilities of our youth and transform them from local champions to global citizens that can compete favourably with their peers from any part of the world.
“The programme is organised by World Chicago in conjunction with Silec Initiatives Nigeria, in order to offer young leaders the opportunity to participate in diverse activities on the international exchange including volunteer activities, participating in international conferences, events and forums.” Read more
4 die, 12 injured in Lagos-Ibadan Expressway auto crash (Punch)
Four persons have lost their lives while 12 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in a motor accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The accident occurred at 10:54 am on Tuesday around Oniworo in Fidiwo village in the Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Ogun Sector Command, Florence Okpe, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
Okpe said two vehicles were involved; a Mazda bus with registration number APP111XM, and a HOWO tanker that had no registration number on it.
She said, “16 persons were involved which comprised 13 male adults and three female adults. Read more
We are lacking manpower in Lagos, Northern Region – NSITF (DailyTrust)
The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), on Tuesday, said the agency was short of personnel, hence its resolve to recruit “suitable and qualified Nigerians” into different cadres in the fund in December 2021.
The General Manager, Corporate Affairs of the fund, Mrs ljeoma Oji-Okoronkwo, who stated this, disclosed that disabled persons were also employed.
Oji-Okoronkwo also said the recruitment became pertinent because of massive redeployment of staff which happened in the third quarter of 2021.
She said, “It would be recalled that the Fund had, in the third quarter of 2021, embarked on a massive redeployment of staff, which placed them where their productivity would be enhanced.
2023: Mode of primaries not enough reason to ditch Electoral Bill — Women Forum (Vanguard)
The Women in Politics Forum, WIPF, says the mode of party primaries is not enough to bring the needed change Nigerians expect to see in the country’s political process, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly must take electoral reforms seriously.
President of the Forum, Barr. Ebere Ifendu, stated this on Monday in Abuja at the unveiling of an online resource portal for women seeking elective positions in the 2023 elections.
The project, tagged: the ‘Nigerian Women Aspirant Website’, was supported by ActionAid.
According to Ifendu, “We had high expectations that the Electoral Bill would have been assented to by the president, unfortunately that did not happen. Read more
Osun: Woman bathes daughter in hot water for refusing errand (Independent)
A woman simply identified as Zainab has been arrested for bathing her 11-year-old daughter with hot water after she reportedly refused to run an errand for her in Osun State.
It was learnt that the suspect was arrested and detained by the Osun State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
8The NSCDC spokesperson for the Command, Daniel Adigun who confirmed the arrest of the suspect said, “The woman was cooking when the incident happened. She injured the victim with hot water obviously out of frustration. We are proceeding with our investigation.”
The Punch reports that a neighbour to the housewife, who pleaded anonymity, said Zainab had sent her daughter to grind pepper, while the girl refused. Read more
Scream directors tease sixth sequel as fans go wild for new film (Metro)
The new Scream film has had fans going to the cinemas in their droves, ready to be scared silly by Ghostface once again.
Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette returned to the cast to battle the masked serial killer, alongside newbies Jack Quaid, Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, with Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett stepping in to direct.
Following the success of the fifth movie in the slasher franchise, the filmmakers are already eyeing up the possibility of a Scream 6.
And we need this to happen immediately.
In a chat with Variety, Matt told the publication: ‘So much of the movie is about fandom and what it means to be a fan and how you feel about it. We have these meta-upon-meta moments, where we’re like, holy s**t, like we are making a fan film about the making of a fan film about one of our favorite franchises. You could spiral.’ Read more
Yvette Mimieux, star of ‘The Time Machine,’ ‘The Black Hole,’ dies at 80 (Variety)
Actress Yvette Mimieux, who starred in movies including “Where the Boys Are,” “The Time Machine,” “Light in the Piazza,” “Toys in the Attic,” “Dark of the Sun” and “The Picasso Summer,” died Tuesday. She was 80.
The beautiful blonde Mimieux made most of her films in the 1960s, but she was also among the stars of Disney’s 1979 sci-fi film “The Black Hole.”
Among the films Mimieux made in 1960 were MGM’s glossy teen movie “Where the Boys Are,” in which four coeds including Mimieux’s Melanie head to Fort Lauderdale for spring break in search of fun and the “right” boy, and George Pal’s adaptation of H.G. Wells’ “The Time Machine,” starring Rod Taylor and with Mimieux third billed as Weena, Taylor’s romantic interest, who lives among the Eloi, a peaceful race living in the year 802,701.
In 1962 she appeared in four films, including the big-budget critical and commercial disaster “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” and “The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm,” in which she played the Princess. Read more
Marvel’s Eternals surpasses Shang-Chi in Disney+ Debut, according to reported streaming numbers (ComicBook)
Eternals is now streaming on Disney+, and it’s one of Marvel’s most popular entries on the streamer. Samba TV released its latest batch of data for the week between January 12th and January 16th, and Eternals was reportedly watched by two million households within the United States over the course of the week. It was added to the streamer on January 12th.
According to the same analytics provider, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was watched by 1.7 million households during its first week on the service. While Samba’s numbers aren’t guaranteed, they are a pretty substantial sample size. The service gathers data from 28 million households within the United States who have opted-in to the service.
Eternals was unable to best Shang-Chi at the box office, grossing $401 million worldwide over the course of its box office run. Shang-Chi, on the other hand, finished its run at a sizable $432 million. A Shang-Chi sequel is also in development, while Marvel Studios has yet to announce follow-up plans for the Chloe Zhao franchise.
“I think just what Shaun decides to do with all this newfound power, you know? It kind of consumed his father, consumed Wenwu. I’m curious as to how someone much younger, much more inexperienced, would fare against the rings,” Shang-Chi star Simu Liu said in a recent chat with Complex. Read more
KiDi nominated for NAACP awards (MyJoy)
Lynx Entertainment signee, KiDi has secured his first global nomination.
KiDi’s hit song ‘Touch It’ off his Golden Boy album was nominated for the 2022 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NACCP) Awards.
The multiple award-winning Ghanaian artiste was nominated in the Oustanding International Song category.
Other nominees in that category also include Wizkid with Essence, Fireboy with Peru, Tiwa Savage with Somebody’s Son and Omah Lay with Understand. Read more
Grammy Award show announces new date and venue for 2022 (ThisisR’n’B)
The 2022 Grammys, officially known as the 64th Grammy Awards, have been rescheduled and will now be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 3rd at 8:00-11:30 PM, live ET/5:00-8:30 PM, live PT on the CBS Television Network and will be available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+
Trevor Noah, the Emmy Award-winning host of “The Daily Show,” will return as masters of ceremonies for Music’s Biggest Night. Additional details about the dates and locations of other official Grammy Week events, including the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony, MusiCares’ Person of the Year, and the Pre-Grammy Gala, will be announced soon.
Grammys has announced the complete nomination award lists check out the full list here 2022 Grammys Awards Show: Complete Nominations List
Here is a list of nominations for R&B artists. Read more
UK PM aims to relax COVID rules amid threat to position (Aljazeera)
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in the country, in a bid to placate members of the ruling Conservative party as he tries to avert a possible revolt in his own ranks following revelations of parties at his residence during the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021.
Johnson’s cabinet will review the current restrictions – imposed last month amid an Omicron surge – at a meeting on Wednesday, according to UK media reports.
He is scheduled to announce the decision to the House of Commons later in the day amid expectations the government will end work from home rules as well as ease rules on entry for sporting venues and nightclubs for fully vaccinated people.
Since the number of COVID cases peaked at more than 218,000 in early January, infections in the UK have gradually declined. The latest government data showed just over 94,000 cases on January 18. Read more
Ron DeSantis submits his own Congressional redistricting map unprompted by Legislature (Newsweek)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis submitted his own congressional redistricting map proposal unprompted by the state Legislature.
Ryan Newman, DeSantis’ general counsel, submitted the proposal, draft P 0079, Sunday night, according to Florida Politics. Days before, the Florida Senate Reappointment Committee pushed its congressional redistricting map forward.
Newman said in a statement to Wink News that the governor’s office has “legal concerns with the congressional redistricting maps under consideration in the Legislature.”
“We have submitted an alternative proposal, which we can support, that adheres to federal and state requirements and addresses our legal concerns, while working to increase district compactness, minimize county splits where feasible, and protect minority voting populations,” Newman said. “Because the Governor must approve any congressional map passed by the Legislature, we wanted to provide our proposal as soon as possible and in a transparent manner.”
We’ll do everything to beat Rivers United, says MFM FC’s Balogun (Guardian)
Mountain of Fire and Miracles Football Club’s Coach, Shola Balogun, has a Herculean task in his hands when his team clashes with Rivers United today in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). The match holds at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.
The Olukoya Boys, who are currently second from the bottom of the table, will be hoping to tame ‘The Pride of Rivers’ to boost their chances of rising on the table against a team that is yet to lose a game and are currently occupying the second spot on the log.
One record that should frighten the Lagos-based team is the away feat of their visitors, who created an upset by defeating one of the favourites for the league title, Enyimba of Aba on the road.
The Lagos-based team currently has five points after winning two matches, drawing none and losing four games, including a home game in the season’s opener against leaders, Remo Stars FC. Read more
Man City transfer round-up: Pep Guardiola’s ‘wish’ revealed as PSG ace offered (Mirror)
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City transfer “wish” has reportedly been revealed.
And it appears the Man City boss wants to return to his former club Barcelona in order to bring young midfielder Nico Gonzalez to the Premier League.
Reports are now linking the Etihad outfit with a move for the young Spanish midfielder, who is seen as a “natural fit” for the English champions.
It comes following reports that Guardiola’s side have been offered Paris Saint Germain full-back Layvin Kurzawa, and after ex-Ajax star Ronald de Boer said the club’s current defender Jurrien Timber could move to Man City as well. Read more
Krygios, Murray irked by ‘stupid’ Ronaldo boo-like chanting (France24)
Andy Murray called it “irritating” and Nick Kyrgios said it was “stupid” as confused players at the Australian Open had to deal with spectators giving them Cristiano Ronaldo’s “siuu” celebration treatment.
Football fans are used to seeing the Manchester United superstar launch into a mid-air pirouette before exclaiming “siuu” when he scores — which comes from Spanish and Portuguese words for yes.
But for the uninitiated it sounds like “boo” and fans at the opening Grand Slam of the year were shouting it en masse during Murray and Kyrgios matches at John Cain Arena on Tuesday.
Crowd favourite Murray, who came through an epic first-round five-setter against Nikoloz Basilashvili, said he couldn’t figure out why people appeared to be jeering him at first.
New Zealand’s white ball series in Australia postponed due to Covid protocols (Guardian)
New Zealand’s limited-overs tour of Australia has been postponed indefinitely due to uncertainty over when the visitors would be able to return home due to Covid-19 protocols.
The tour, scheduled for 24 January to 9 February, comprised three one-day internationals in Perth, Hobart and Sydney and a solitary Twenty20 match in Canberra.
New Zealand Cricket and Cricket Australia said they were discussing when the fixtures could be played.
“As we now know, the advent of Omicron prompted a change of heart from the NZ government, resulting in a hard 10-day mandatory isolation period being imposed on all incoming travellers,” NZC chief executive David White said. Read more
4 champions crowned at the 2022 Golfweek Player of the Year Classic (Yahoo)
Tampa, Florida, has been given the moniker ‘Champa Bay’ in recent years thanks to the Lightning winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, the Buccaneers winning Super Bowl LV on their home turf and the Rays winning divisional and American League pennants.
The Golfweek Player of the Year Classic came to a close on Tuesday with four senior golfers earning their claim to ‘Champa Bay’ at Tampa Palms Country Club.
Lurking all week long, Miles McConnell stuck around the top of the leaderboard long enough to claim the top spot in the senior division (ages 55-64). McConnell was a co-leader following the first round and trailed 36-hole leader Billy Mitchell by three shots heading into the day.
McConnell got out of the gates quickly, carding birdies on three of his first five holes. Read more
Ex-F1 champion tells Hamilton fans to ‘put the pitchforks down’ (Formula1News)
1996 Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill has reiterated his point that fans of Sir Lewis Hamilton need to move past the Briton’s 2021 championship defeat at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
A controversial Safety Car restart by race director Michael Masi – in which he allowed a limited number of lapped runners through due to time constraints – aided Max Verstappen’s last lap overtake to claim his maiden world title.
Immediately after the race, Hamilton offered his rival his congratulations but has since been eerily silent, leading many within the world of Formula 1 to believe that the 37-year-old is considering his future in the pinnacle of motorsport.
Hill has previously told Hamilton fans “get over” the Mercedes driver’s heartache during a Twitter spat, and he has now elaborated on that point.
Alan May has no doubt Fehervary is the Capitals’ top rookie (NBC)
The Washington Capitals have not been short on rookie talent this season. From the likes of Connor McMichael to Aliaksei Protas and others, the Caps’ young guns have stabilized the team in the face of never-ending roster adjustment due to injuries and Covid.
NBC Sports Washington’s Alan May thinks one young defenseman has run away with the designation of ‘best Capitals rookie’ of 2021-22.
“To me, there’s not a lot to choose from. This is 100%, hands down, Martin Fehervary,” May said after Washington snagged their first overtime victory of the season on Tuesday against Winnipeg. “What he’s done for the Capitals’ defense this year…Martin Fehervary is for real.”
Fehervary, 22, stepped in early this year to take over for Michal Kempny, who was assigned to AHL Hershey prior to the regular season. While expected to only be a stopgap, the young D-man has wowed night after night for Washington, becoming one of the team’s most reliable defensemen. Read more