Old Notes: Extend Jan 31 deadline, N’Assembly tells CBN (DailyTrust)
The Senate and House of Representatives have again asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to immediately extend the deadline for the withdrawal of old naira notes from circulation to July 31, 2023.
The apex bank had on December 15 commenced circulation of newly redesigned N200, N500 and N1,000 notes and set January 31, 2023 as deadline for the withdrawal of old notes.
The Red Chamber had in December 2022 directed the CBN to extend the deadline but the resolution was shunned by the apex bank which on Tuesday insisted that no going back on the deadline.
This has caused panic in many parts of the country as the deadline draws nearer, with thousands, especially those in rural areas, storming banks to exchange the old notes with the new ones. Read more
My marriage is over, actress Wumi Toriola declares (Punch)
Nollywood actress, Wumi Toriola, has finally reacted to rumours concerning her marriage, confirming that she has separated from her husband.
She also addressed allegations that she was violent during her marriage, stating that such allegations were false.
There had been rumours on social media concerning the actress’ marriage after she participated in a viral TikTok challenge where she claimed that she was single.
A famous blogger, Gistlover, had also hinted at the marriage crash, coupled with allegations that the actress’ display of violence led to the end of the union. Read more
Buhari, Sanwo-Olu commission Lagos Blue Rail Line (Channels)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday commissioned the Blue Rail Line (from Marina to Mile 2) in Lagos State.
The President alongside Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat commissioned the project at the Marina Train Station in the state.
The President also witnessed the signing of the commencement of the Phase 2 of the project from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko.
Speaking at the programme on Tuesday, Sanw-Olu thanked the President for his support to the state including tax breaks and waivers granted on the project. Read more
Buhari nominates former IGP Solomon Arase as PSC chairman (Guardian)
President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded the name of former Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase (Rtd) to the Senate for confirmation as the new Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC).
President in a letter to the Senate which was read on the floor of the Red Chamber on Tuesday by the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan said the appointment is in accordance with the provision of section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
Arase if confirmed by the senate will replace the former chairman of the commission, Musliu Smith as a substantive Chairman of the police service commission.
In another development, President Buhari also forwarded two names to be confirmed as Resident Electoral Commissioners for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Read more
Court remands man over allegedly kidnapping minor (Nation)
An Ikorodu Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Tuesday remanded a 25-year-old man, Friday Nwachor, in Kirikiri Correctional Centre for allegedly kidnapping a five-year-old girl.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.O Olateru-Olagbegi, who did not take the plea of Nwachor, ordered that the case file should be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.
Olateru-Olagbegi adjourned the case until Feb. 23 for DPP’s advice.
Nwachor is facing a four-count charge bordering on attempting to steal a child and attempting to escape from police custody. Read more
Campaign director was sacked, didn’t resign – Tinubu team (Punch)
Contrary to the resignation claim by Hajiya Naja’atu Mohammed, who was the Director of Civil Society Organisations of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, the Tinubu Media Office said she was sacked for incompetence and for being a mole in the campaign council.
Naja’atu made the news when she announced her resignation on Saturday, citing what she called the lack of ideological differences among the nation’s political parties.
Although the ex-APC bigwig renounced partisan politics in the wake of her resignation, she declared support for the presidential ambition of the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, less than 24 hours later.
In a statement issued by the Tinubu Media Office and signed by Mahmud Jega on Tuesday, the Asiwaju/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council said Naja’atu was relieved of her duties after she was discovered to be working for “desperate opponents.” Read more
Ogun PDP: Supreme Court dismisses Lawal’s appeals, others (Sun)
The Supreme Court has dismissed multiple appeals originating from the Ogun State People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship legal battle.
The four appeals instituted by one of the governorship aspirants, Otunba Jimi Lawal, and some ward delegates were dismissed on the grounds that the appellants had no cause of action.
In a unanimous judgment, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun dismissed the appeals following their withdrawals by the respective lawyers.
In one of the appeals, filed by Tayo Olabode against the PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, the appeal was dismissed on the ground that the delegates who filed the action lacked locus standi (legal right) to do so. Read more
James Cameron, Taylor Swift and Babylon lead Oscars 2023 nominations snubs (Metro)
The Oscars 2023 nominations have been announced with some surprising names on the list – and some even more shocking snubs.
Everything Everywhere All At Once is leading the way with a whopping 11 nominations, including best film, best director and best actress for Michelle Yeoh.
Netflix flick All Quiet On The Western Front and The Banshees of Inisherin both have nine nods, including best actor for Colin Farrell for the latter.
However, it’s not all good news as James Cameron has been snubbed for his work on sci-fi epic, Avatar: The Way of Water. Read more
Young Thug co-defendant allegedly injured during scuffle with deputy (HipHopDX)
A lawyer for one of the 14 defendants in Young Thug’s YSL RICO trial has accused a Fulton County deputy of assaulting and injuring her client.
Defence attorney Angela D’Williams told WSB-TV on Monday (January 23) that her client, Rodalius Ryan, was punched in the head and fell on the sidewalk while he was waiting to be transported from the jail to the courthouse earlier that day.
D’Williams said the incident left Ryan (also known as Lil Rod) with injuries to his legs, hands and head. She also raised concerns about him suffering a possible concussion.
Sheriffs, however, say Ryan was spitting in the patrol car and “has been an ongoing problem.” Read more
Drake pauses Apollo Theater concert after man falls from balcony (Billboard)
Drake‘s Sunday night show at the Apollo Theater was momentarily put on pause after a man fell from the lower mezzanine balcony into the audience.
“Just gotta make sure somebody’s OK,” the OVO rapper said after a crew member ran onstage to inform him of the fall.
The incident occurred about 90 minutes into the show, just as 21 Savage walked out to perform “Rich Flex” and a slew of other Her Loss hits alongside Drake. The pause lasted about 15 minutes as venue staff treated the injured man. Read more
Paul Mescal fans react to Oscars nomination (NME)
Fans of Paul Mescal have taken to social media to celebrate the actor’s very first Oscar nomination.
Today (January 24), Mescal was nominated for Best Actor for his performance in Charlotte Wells’ debut feature Aftersun at the 95th Academy Awards.
“Paul Mescal. From Normal People to an Oscar nominated role in Aftersun in only three years. Not bad at all,” wrote journalist Scott Bryan.
“so happy for academy award nominee paul mescal there are tears in my eyes he literally deserves this so much,” another person wrote. Read more
Colin Farrell and Bill Nighy in the running to scoop first Oscar nominations (Standard)
Colin Farrell and Bill Nighy are both in the running to receive their first best actor Oscar nominations.
If nominated, the pair are expected to come up against US heavyweights Austin Butler and Brendan Fraser who have also won acclaim for their performances in Elvis and The Whale respectively.
Nominations for the 95th annual Academy Awards are due to be announced on Tuesday from 1.30pm UK time, and will be read out by Riz Ahmed and Allison Williams.
Nighy and Farrell have already picked up nods for their performances at other award shows, with Farrell winning the Golden Globe for best actor in a motion picture, musical or comedy. Read more
Yung Miami opens up about meeting Diddy’s family (HipHopDX)
Yung Miami has revealed that she felt instantly at ease the first time she met Diddy‘s family, noting a special bond with his mother and twin daughters.
During a red carpet interview with The Shade Room, the Caresha Please host said that she didn’t feel any apprehension or hesitation from Diddy’s children during their initial interaction. Instead, she said she felt an immediate sense of familiarity.
“It just felt like family,” Yung Miami recalled. “Mama Combs, I love her, she treats me like I’m her own. The twins, I love the twins, they City Girls, they are so cool. I love the Combs family.”
Her very public and very casual relationship with the Bad Boy mogul might not have suffered if the interaction wasn’t that comfortable though. Earlier in the interview, the “Act Up” rapper said that she doesn’t necessarily feel like not getting along with your partner’s family is a deal breaker. Read more
New shootings rock California as police probe dance hall killings (RFI)
Seven people were killed as two new shootings rocked California Monday, less than 48 hours after a 72-year-old man shot dead 11 people at a Lunar New Year celebration in a Los Angeles area dance hall.
The latest bloodshed occurred at adjacent farms near Half Moon Bay, a Pacific coastal community near San Francisco.
Briefing the media, San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus said seven people were killed and one injured in the twin shootings, and that a 67-year-old Half Moon Bay resident named Zhao Chunli had been taken into custody.
As the new tragedy unfolded, detectives at the southern end of the state were still probing what drove an elderly Asian immigrant to shoot dead 11 people gathered in celebration at a suburban dance hall — before taking his own life. Read more
NPFL 2022-2023: Nasarawa sports ministry queries United management on poor performance (Sun)
The Nasarawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has issued a warning statement to the management of the Nasarawa United football team over the recent poor league performance of the Nasarawa United team in the ongoing abridged 2022-2023 Nigeria professional football league season.
This is even as the Sports Ministry issued a three-match ultimatum to the management and technical crew of the club.
Issuing the statement on Monday in a briefing with reporters was the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Lucky Isaac Yargwa, during an emergency meeting with the management of the united team at the conference hall of the ministry, Lafia, Nasarawa state capital.
Daily Sun reports that the solid miners had lost three of their opening matches after playing Eyimba, Wikki Tourist and Akwa United in their Group ‘A’ 2022/23 Abridged League, Nigeria Professional Football League. Read more
3 men arrested for alleged homophobic chanting at Premier League match at Anfield (Sky)
Three men have been arrested for alleged homophobic chanting at the Premier League draw between Liverpool and Chelsea on Saturday at Anfield.
Merseyside Police confirmed a 23-year-old, 37-year-old and 49-year-old have been arrested “on suspicion of homophobic intentional harassment alarm and distress”.
A statement read: “In three separate incidents, two arrests took place outside the stadium on Anfield Road and one inside the sports ground.
“The 37-year-old has been bailed pending further enquiries, and the 23-year and 49-year-old will attend a voluntary interview. Read more
Fernando Santos: Poland appoint ex-Portugal boss as head coach (BBC)
Former Portugal boss Fernando Santos has been appointed as the new head coach of Poland.
Steven Gerrard had reportedly been linked to the job, after the former England midfielder was sacked by Aston Villa back in October.
Santos led Portugal to victory at Euro 2016 and the 2019 Nations League but quit after their exit in the World Cup quarter-finals at the hands of Morocco.
“It is an honour to continue my work as a trainer here,” the 68-year-old said. Read more
Stefanos Tsitsipas dismisses Australian Open disqualification fears after ballkid incident (Express)
Stefanos Tsitsipas has insisted that he was “not aiming for the ball kid” towards the end of the third set against Jiri Lehecka when he smacked a ball against the wall in frustration. Tsitsipas has been on a roll at the Australian Open and is being tipped as Novak Djokovic’s biggest challenger to winning his 10th title Down Under.
The Greek star continued his good run of form with a straight-sets win over Lehecka to progress to the semi-final. But there was a hairy moment for the No 3 seed towards the end of the third set when he let his emotions get the better of him.
After failing to return a smashed forward from his opponent, Tsitsipas reacted furiously by smacking the ball back at the wall behind him. He seemed unaware that the ball kid had started to run towards Tsitsipas’ direction before his moment of frustration.
Jim Courier said on commentary that the 24-year-old was lucky not to be defaulted, much like Novak Djokovic was when he hit a lineswoman at the 2020 US Open. But Tsitsipas has played down his on-court incident, stating he felt he was nowhere near hitting the ball kid. Read more
Lakers send Kendrick Nunn, second-round picks to Wizards for Rui Hachimura (ABC)
The Los Angeles Lakers acquired Washington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura for Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks, the team announced on Monday.
The deal includes a 2023 second-round pick via Chicago, the Lakers’ own in 2029 and the less favorable of the Wizards’ and Lakers’ 2028 second-round picks, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Hachimura, 24, had grown unhappy without a rookie contract extension in the preseason and became less of a priority with the emergence of Kyle Kuzma in the Wizards’ frontcourt.
“I just want to be somewhere that wants me as a basketball player,” Hachimura told reporters last week. “And I want to be somewhere that likes my game. … I just want to be somewhere that believes in me and I can be myself. That’s my goal.” Read more
Australian Open 2023 results: Alfie Hewett wins in straight sets (BBC)
Britain’s Alfie Hewett began his reign as world number one with victory to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open men’s wheelchair event.
Six-time Grand Slam champion Hewett, 25, became the top-ranked men’s wheelchair tennis player following Shingo Kunieda’s retirement on Sunday.
The top seed delivered a performance to match his new title with a commanding 6-1 6-0 win over Japan’s Daisuke Arai.
Hewett will play doubles partner Gordon Reid or Dutchman Tom Egberink next. Read more