Oil marketer arraigned for allegedly defrauding customers of N100m (Punch)
An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Musbau Issa, on Thursday told the Ikeja Special Offences Court how an oil marketer, Glory Benson, allegedly defrauded her customers of N100,865,000.
Benson alongside two of her companies Glonnek Energy Resources Limited and Petroyal Energy Limited are facing seven counts bordering on stealing, conversion preferred against her by EFCC.
The defendants were alleged to have dishonestly converted petroleum products worth the sum of N100,865,000 to their personal use. Read more
Gunshots as angry inmates protest food ration at Jos correctional centre (Channels)
Inmates at the Jos Correctional Centre in Plateau State protested on Friday over the plan to reduce their food ration.
They expressed dissatisfaction over the decision, a situation that forced the prison authorities to fire tear gas canisters and gunshots into the air to bring the situation under control.
Sources at the correctional centre indicated that the contractor in charge of food supply to the centre had complained to the authority about the high cost of food items, especially rice which is a stable menu of the inmates will have to be adjusted from four times to twice in a week and will be substituted by either grains or garri.
This decision seemed not to go down well with the inmates as they expressed their grievances on Friday during a routine briefing by the official in charge. Read more
Remi Tinubu partners NALDA, empowers women farmers in South-east (ThisDay)
Nigerian First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, yesterday flagged off the Renewed Hope Initiative in Owerri, Imo State, in collaboration with the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) in a bid to tackle poverty and empower rural women and youths.
The intervention covers all five states in the South-east geo-political zone-Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.
The initiative, birthed by Tinubu, is a grassroots scheme designed for the betterment of Nigerians, particularly youths and women-farmers across the six geopolitical zones to tackle poverty. Read more
Stakeholders demand repeal of PIA section 257 (Tribune)
A report put together by a Non-Governmental Organisation, Space for Change (S4C) with support from Ford Foundation has recommended a repeal of Section 257(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
A Civil Society group had in November 2023 instituted legal action against the National Assembly and Attorney General of the Federation/Minister of Justice over the passage of Section 257 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which they described as anti-people.
The contested section of the PIA upholds that in case of vandalism, sabotage, or civil unrest, the host community will forfeit its entitlement of the HCDT funds (which is 3% of the oil company’s operating cost) for repair or replacement of the damaged oil facility, and operating expenditure incurred during production shutdown, or the value of lost oil, gas, condensate, or natural gas liquids. Read more
Kogi Poll: Tribunal adjourns sitting to March 4 (Channels)
The Kogi State Tribunal Sitting in Abuja has adjourned the hearing in the petition filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its governorship candidate, Muritala Ajaka, who is challenging the election of Usman Ododo as the Governor of Kogi State in the November 11, 2023 poll in the state.
The Chairman of the three-member panel, Justice Yusuf Birnin-Kudu made the adjournment after counsel for the petitioners identified the number of Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines used in some local government areas of Kogi State.
This followed the submission by the petitioners and in compliance with the order of the court, that the BVAS machines be brought to the court, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) provided someone to verify the results stored in the BVAS machine with respect to the five Local Governments being contended. Read more
Food insecurity: Ukraine sends food to Nigeria (DailyTrust)
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Thursday announced the donation of 25,000 tons of wheat from the Government of Ukraine that will help provide emergency food assistance to 1.3 million crisis-affected people in northeast Nigeria.
This vital contribution – part of Ukraine’s humanitarian “Grain from Ukraine” initiative launched by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy – arrives as prices of staple food in Nigeria have risen, pushing basic meals out of the reach of millions of vulnerable families across the country.
The shipment was made possible by a collaborative effort from the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Luxembourg, Norway, the Republic of Korea and Sweden, which has helped cover the costs of transporting the wheat from Ukraine to Nigeria and its distribution to the families who so urgently need it. Read more
Immigration CG Adepoju bows out, begs successor to sustain ongoing reforms (Leadership)
The out-gone Comptroller-general of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mrs. Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju, has urged her successor, Mrs. Kemi Nanna Nandap, to sustain the significant milestones and the impactful transformation achieved under her watch in order to put the Service on a higher and sustained level of development.
Adepoju, whose tenure ended on Thursday, February 29, 2024, buttressed that by sustaining the international reforms in travel documents, border management, visa, passport administration and the migration management reform, the Service will effectively strengthen the nation’s internal security.
The outgone CGI, who made the appeal at her pull-out parade ceremony as the 18th Comptroller-general of the Nigeria Immigration Service in Abuja, said her successor needed to strengthen public confidence and overall competitiveness, the spirit of excellence, technology, highly motivated personnel and satisfied citizenry, for a more competitive economy that will continue to attract commendations. Read more
Too much money printed by FG caused free fall of Naira – Gov Otti (Vanguard)
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State says the reason we are experiencing incessant free fall of the naira was because the Federal Government printed too much money in circulation.
Otti stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday.
He said, “I believe that the major problem we have is financial discipline. We are dealing with an economy where we printed so much money, at the last count, we will be nearing N30 trillion. Read more
Rachel Leviss from ‘Vanderpump Rules’ sues Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix, alleges revenge porn (NBC)
One-time “Vanderpump Rules” star Rachel Leviss, whose affair with fellow cast member Tom Sandoval was one of the Bravo show’s biggest story arcs, filed a bombshell lawsuit on Thursday accusing him and co-star Ariana Madix of being involved in producing and distributing revenge porn against her.
Leviss’ secret relationship with Sandoval, who had been dating the plaintiff’s then-friend Madix, led to the “Scandoval” affair which became one of the most talked-about storylines of reality TV last year.
Representatives for Sandoval and Madix could not be immediately reached for comment on Thursday. Read more
Millie Bobby Brown reveals Jake Bongiovi proposed underwater (People)
Millie Bobby Brown is opening up about how Jake Bongiovi proposed to her.
The actress, 20, who has been engaged to the son of Jon Bon Jovi since April 2023, appeared on Thursday’s episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
“Well, I haven’t told anyone this because there are moments, key moments, but I’m like, ‘Fallon is the best’ and also I think this is too good of a story to not tell,” Brown said. “Basically, Jake and I bonded over diving. We love diving, we got our driving licenses together.” Read more
Geri Halliwell boards private jet to meet husband Christian Horner hours before “flirty texts” leak (Mirror)
Geri Halliwell has landed in Bahrain to meet with scandal-hit husband Christian Horner.
The Spice Girls singer, 51, travelled in style to reunite with Red Bull boss Christian, using a private jet on Thursday night to fly into Bahrain ahead of Saturday’s opening grand prix in the Gulf kingdom.
Geri jetting in to see her husband of nine-years comes as alleged flirtatious WhatsApps exchanges between Horner, the Red Bull team principal, and a female employee circulate on social media after the hundreds of screenshots were initially sent to 149 members of the F1 community. Read more
Huge show of support as UK’s oldest cinema closes (BBC)
The organiser of a Birmingham film festival said there has been “a real outpouring of grief” following the closure of a popular independent cinema.
The Electric Cinema, with its art-deco frontage and two screens in Station Street, first opened in 1909 and is thought to be the oldest working cinema in the UK.
It shut during the pandemic but reopened in 2022 with Kevin Markwick and daughter Katie taking over. Read more
Pippa Middleton’s ex Thomas Kingston died by suicide (PageSix)
Thomas Kingston, the ex-boyfriend of Kate Middleton’s younger sister, Pippa, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the corner announced Friday.
He was 45 years old when he was found dead with a “catastrophic head injury” and a gun close to his body at his parents’ home in a Cotswalds village in England on Sunday, Feb. 25 (via the UK Telegraph).
Following his sudden death, his wife, Lady Gabriella Kingston, parents and siblings released a statement remembering him as “an exceptional man who lit up the lives of all who knew him.” Read more
Kenya, Haiti sign ‘‘reciprocal’’ agreement on police deployment: Ruto (AlJazeera)
Kenya and Haiti have signed a “reciprocal” agreement to deploy police from the East African country to lead a United Nations-backed law and order mission in the gang-riven Caribbean nation, Kenyan President William Ruto has said.
Ruto said on Friday that he and Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry had “discussed the next steps to enable the fast-tracking of the deployment”, but it was not immediately clear whether the agreement would counter a court ruling in January that branded the deployment “unconstitutional”.
The deal was signed as the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince was racked by deadly gang-related violence, forcing businesses and schools to close and flight cancellations. Read more
Alexei Navalny: Crowds chant and clap as Putin critic’s hearse arrives for funeral (Sky)
Thousands of people have gathered in Moscow for Alexei Navalny’s funeral despite the risk of arrest – with crowds clapping and chanting his name as his body was being carried inside the church.
The funeral of the prominent Vladimir Putin critic, whose death was announced on 16 February, is being held under heavy police presence.
Hundreds waited for hours to enter the Soothe My Sorrows church and the release of Mr Navalny’s body from the morgue where it was being held was briefly delayed. Read more
Peseiro quits as Super Eagles manager (Punch)
Portuguese manager, Jose Peseiro, has confirmed his exit as manager of the Super Eagles after his contract officially expired on Thursday.
Peseiro, who led the Eagles to a second-place finish at the 2023 African Cup of Nations, on Friday, said he was fulfilled coaching the West African nation.
“Yesterday, we concluded our contract with the NFF. It was a pride and honor to coach the Super Eagles. It has been 22 months of immense dedication, sacrifice, emotion, and enormous enthusiasm. We feel a sense of fulfillment. Read more
Osimhen’s post AFCON scoring form excites new Napoli boss (Nation)
Napoli head coach, Francesco Calzona, is happy with the current form of Super Eagles attacker, Victor Osimhen who hit a hat trick in the Partenopei 6-1 away win at Sassuolo on Wednesday night.
Calzona admitted Osimhen participation at the 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire drained him mentally and physically but noted that it was awesome to see the Nigerian quickly recovering from it to help Napoli in the business end of the Italian Serie A season and the UEFA Champions League.
Osimhen with 11 goals from 15 league games has scored five goals in his past three games including the crucial equaliser in Napoli’s 1-1 home draw with Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 tie played. Read more
Napoli look to block Juventus from Club World Cup with legal action (FootballItalia)
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has reportedly instructed the club’s lawyers to present an appeal to FIFA to block Juventus from the Club World Cup.
FIFA decided to revamp their Club World Cup ahead of next year, setting up a new 32-team tournament to be hosted every four years from the summer of 2025 onwards. The refreshed tournament also promises millions more in revenues to participating clubs.
As things stand currently, Inter have already booked their spot in the 2025 Club World Cup, leaving a single slot left for an Italian club. Juventus are currently set to take that, unless Napoli can progress to the Champions League final (or Lazio somehow win the competition). Read more
Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema out for “several weeks” due to knee surgery (SportsMole)
Arsenal Women’s head coach Jonas Eidevall has announced that Vivianne Miedema will soon undergo a “minor” knee operation and will be absent for several weeks.
The Netherlands international – who previously sustained a serious ACL injury midway through the 2022-23 campaign – has been restricted to just seven Women’s Super League appearances in the 2023-24 season as Eidevall carefully manages her minutes.
Miedema came off the bench to play 16 minutes in a 3-1 win over Manchester United at the Emirates on February 17 before jetting off for the UEFA Women’s Nations League Finals, where the Netherlands lost to Germany in the third-placed playoff. Read more
Bahrain Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz leads a Spanish 1-2 in FP3 ahead of Max Verstappen (PlanetF1)
Carlos Sainz stole the show, and the top spot on the timesheet, from Fernando Alonso with a late lap in Friday’s final practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Although it was clear from their very first lap on the soft Pirellis that Red Bull had ditched Thursday’s sandbags, Verstappen and Sergio Perez immediately going 1-2, it was a Spanish 1-2 as Sainz clocked a 1:30.824 to beat Alonso by a tenth of a second.
Max Verstappen was third ahead of Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris and George Russell. Read more
Andre Esterhuizen: South Africa World Cup winner to leave Harlequins (BBC)
World Cup winner Andre Esterhuizen will leave Harlequins at the end of the season to return to his native South Africa for family reasons.
The 29-year-old centre will be released early from his contract and will play in South Africa next season.
Esterhuizen has made 82 appearances and helped the London club to the Premiership title in 2021. Read more