Police arraign 4 over alleged visa fraud (Vanguard)
The police in Lagos on Wednesday arraigned two men and two women before a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged fraud.
The defendants: Zainab Abdullahi, 26; Olanrewaju Mariam, 25; Sulaimon Abdulatif, 24; and Yehuza Jubril, 23, whose addresses were not given, are standing trial on a three-count charge of felony, stealing, and fraud.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Read more
FG spends $600m on fuel importation monthly — Edun (Tribune)
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun has disclosed that the country currently spends $600m on fuel importation monthly.
The minister revealed this during an interview on AIT’s Moneyline programme on Wednesday.
He said that the high import bill is due to neighbouring countries, up to Central Africa, benefiting from the country’s fuel imports. Read more
Reps monthly salary is N600k, not N900k, says Spokesperson (Nation)
The House of Representatives’ monthly salary is N600,000 as against the N900,000 that is being speculated, says Rep. Akin Rotimi.
Rotimi, who is the Spokesperson of House. made the clarification in a statement he issued on Wednesday in Abuja.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the house to the 50 per cent deduction in their salary to reduce hardship. Read more
FG threatens tough action against foreign interference in Nigeria’s affairs (Leadership)
The Federal Government has threatened to take appropriate action against any country that might be behind the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests in Nigeria.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, made this known while addressing members of the Diplomatic Corps in Abuja on Wednesday, stressing that Nigeria is a sovereign state and will not tolerate any interference in its domestic affairs by foreign elements bent on giving support to the protesters.
This position of the government might be a reaction to the reported cases of the protesters waving the flag of Russia in some states and calling on President Vladimir Putin to come to the aid of the Nigerian citizens amid the hunger and hardship ravaging most people in the country. Read more
Police arrest notorious kidnapper in Kaduna (Channels)
The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested a notorious kidnapper who has been terrorising residents of the Ikara Local Government Area of the state.
According to a statement by the Command’s spokesman, Mansir Hassan, the suspect, identified as Abdulrahman of Karshi Abuja, was arrested by the operatives of the police Anti kidnapping unit in possession of an AK-47 rifle along with 27 rounds of live ammunition in Karshi.
The statement further explained that the suspect upon interrogation, confessed to being involved in several kidnappings in Ikara local government area. Read more
Doctors begin indefinite strike in Ogun (Independent)
Medical doctors in Ogun State have begun an indefinite Strike.
The medical practitioners set out on these on Tuesday.The primary reason being the pay gap between federal and state employees.
The revamped Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) should be put into effect, according to Kunle Ashimi, Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in the state, in order to stop the state’s medical professionals from leaving. Read more
2 okada riders killed in Ondo (Punch)
Two commercial motorcyclists were at different locations killed in the Akoko North-West Local Government Area of Ondo State.
One of the victims known as Dada Jatto from Iyani Akoko in the council area was said to have been missing for the past three days before his lifeless body was found beside the road on Tuesday.
A source in the town said the deceased’s lifeless body was found with various machete cuts all over his body. Read more
NNPCL officials not thieves – Kyari (DailyTrust)
Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has dismissed allegations that staff of the company are behind substandard importation of petroleum products into the country.
Speaking Wednesday when he appeared before a Senate Ad-hoc Committee over alleged economic sabotage in the petroleum industry, Kyari said he as the CEO, as well as the NNPCL had faced undue media attacks from persons doing everything to create the impression that the company is sabotaging the nation’s economy.
“NNPCL is faithful and will not lie to the country. We are not criminals and we are not thieves. We will protect our dignity so we can serve this country,” he said. Read more
Connie Chiume, ‘Black Panther’ actress, dead at 72 (CNN)
Connie Chiume, the veteran South African actress who starred in the 2018 Marvel movie “Black Panther,” has died aged 72.
Her family confirmed her death at a Johannesburg hospital in a short statement published on social media.
In a brief announcement on Instagram on Tuesday, they said: “The Chiume family regrets to inform you of the passing of the International Acclaimed award winning actress Connie Chiume. Read more
Zendaya, Robert Pattinson in talks to star in A24’s ‘‘The Drama’’ from Director Kristoffer Borgli (THR)
Zendaya and Robert Pattinson are eyeing a new feature from filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
A24 is set to finance and produce writer-director Borgli’s movie “The Drama,” which hails from Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen’s production company Square Peg. The stars are in early talks for the lead roles in the film from Borgli, who previously wrote and directed A24’s 2023 feature Dream Scenario that starred Nicolas Cage.
Plot details have not been shared, but The Drama is said to involve a couple whose romance changes dramatically before their big day. Aster, Knudsen and Tyler Campellone serve as producers for Square Peg. Read more
Judges start handing down lengthy prison sentences to racist rioters (Metro)
A rioter who took part in violent disorder and assault of an emergency worker has been jailed for three years.
Derek Drummond, 58, took part in the riots in Southport last week.
He has 14 previous convictions for 19 offences ranging from 1988 to the mid-2000s.
At least 428 people have been arrested in connection with the spate of violent rioting across the country this week, with around 120 charged, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said. Read more
Dozens of aftershocks follow 5.2-magnitude earthquake that rattled Southern California (CBS)
A preliminary 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck near Bakersfield and shook all the way to Los Angeles County.
It happened at about 9:09 p.m., roughly 14.29 miles southwest of Lamont, California, which borders Bakersfield. It is a relatively rural area about 89 miles north of downtown Los Angeles.
Immediately after the earthquake, the Los Angeles Fire Department deployed its helicopters to survey the region for any potential damages. Read more
Ed Sheeran writes and records new song ‘‘Under The Tree’’ for Richard Curtis film ‘‘That Christmas’’ (NME)
Ed Sheeran has written and recorded a new song, ‘‘Under The Tree’’, for an upcoming Christmas movie directed by Simon Otto and written and produced by Richard Curtis.
The song will feature in “That Christmas”, an animated film that’s set to come to Netflix on December 6. Among the stars providing their voices are Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker and Bill Nighy – the former voices Santa Claus, while the others voice residents of a seaside town where things turn upside down one Christmas. Read more
Bangladesh’s interim government led by Nobel Laureate Yunus to be sworn in on Thursday (France24)
Bangladesh’s military chief said Wednesday that an interim government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus would be sworn in on Thursday night as he returns from Paris to take over the administration and try to restore stability in the country, after an uprising forced former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to step down and flee to neighboring India.
Gen. Waker-Uz-Zaman said in a televised address late Wednesday afternoon that the responsible for the violence since Hasina’s resignation would be brought to justice.
The military chief, flanked by the chiefs of navy and air force, said that he spoke to Yunus and would receive him at the airport on Thursday. Read more
British man dies while on death row despite later being proven innocent (Mirror)
British man Kris Maharaj spent 38 years in jail and passed away after fighting nearly 40 years to clear his name, human rights lawyer Stafford Smith said in a social media post
The British man put on death row in the US despite later being proven innocent by a judge has died while still a prisoner in Florida.
Kris Maharaj spent 38 years in jail for the murder of a dad and son said to have stolen laundered money from drug lord Pablo Escobar. The 85-year-old was convicted by a US court in 1986 and sent to death row. Read more
Balogun eyes UEFA Champions League action (Nation)
Super Eagles and Rangers defender, Leon Balogun has said it will be a dream come true for him to play in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.
The Gers will confront Dynamo Kiev of Ukraine on today in the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League and the Nigerian has revealed that reaching the group stage of the lucrative foremost club competition would be his biggest motivation ahead of the game.
”I have never played in the Champions League, I have played in qualifiers before, for Rangers as well, it didn’t work out,” Balogun told a press conference ahead of the clash in Lublin. Read more
Indian wrestling star Vinesh Phogat disqualified before gold medal bout after coming in 100 grams overweight (Independent)
India’s star wrestler Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified from the Paris Olympics on the morning of her gold medal fight after coming in overweight, officials said.
Phogat was slated to lock horns with Sarah Hildebrandt of the US later on Wednesday after defeating Cuba’s Yusneylys Guzmán in the 50kg semifinal.
Sources told The Indian Express Phogat was about 2kg overweight on Tuesday night. She made a desperate bid to make weight by jogging, skipping and cycling through the night. But at a weigh-in in the morning she was still 100 grams over, the daily reported. Read more
Ofili rues 6th place finish in Paris 2024 Women’s 200m final (CompleteSports)
Team Nigeria’s sprinter, Favour Ofili, has described her performance in the Paris 2024 Olympic Women’s 200m final as a herculean task, admitting she gave her best but expressing disappointment over her sixth position feat, Completesports.com reports.
The sprinter, who ran in lane 9, ended up in 6th place with a time of 22.24 seconds, which was not good enough for a podium finish.
The final was won by the USA’s Gabby Thomas, who took the gold medal with a time of 21.83 seconds. She was followed by Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia, who finished in 22.08 seconds. USA’s Brittany Brown emerged third best with a time of 22.20 seconds. Read more
Rodri and Alvaro Morata are handed bans by UEFA for “Gibraltar” chants (DailyMail)
Alvaro Morata and Rodri have both picked up a ban from UEFA after their controversial comments in the wake of their European Championship triumph.
Spain saw off England to win a record fourth European crown in Berlin last month, with goals from Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal cancelling out Cole Palmer’s strike.
While English hearts were broken and celebrations were breaking out back in Spain, two of the nation’s leaders in the side in Rodri and captain Morata caught the headlines with comments about Gibraltar. Read more
Novak Djokovic to donate huge Olympics prize money in big hearted gesture (DailyRecord)
Novak Djokovic reportedly plans to donate his Olympics prize money for humanitarian efforts following victory over Carlos Alcaraz in the Paris gold medal clash.
Securing the Golden Slam, the Serbian veteran defeated the Spanish rising star in two straight sets. Djokovic’s career boasts an astonishing 24 Grand Slam titles, and he surged into the Olympic final without losing a set. Despite suffering a defeat by Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final just last month, which made him second favourite for the Olympic title, Djokovic dazzled on the clay of Roland Garros, clinching the match with consecutive 7-6 wins. Read more
Israeli Olympic team receives threatening messages as tensions simmer over Gaza (AfricaNews)
The Israel Olympic team said athletes have received threats as they compete in the Paris Games amid tensions over the human toll in Gaza and as the Middle East teeters on the edge of a larger regional conflict.
On Tuesday, Yael Arad, the President of the Israeli National Olympic Committee, told the AP that the team had received “centralized” threats meant to generate “psychological terror” in athletes.
Paris prosecutors opened an investigation into emailed death threats to athletes last week after the personal data of some Israeli athletes was leaked online. Read more