Police, hoodlums demolish 50 Lagos buildings, victims protest (Punch)
Landlords and residents of Oluwa Palace community, in the Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State, have accused policemen of the Lagos State Environment and Special Offences Enforcement Unit and hoodlums of demolishing their houses and rendering them homeless.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the hoodlums alongside the policemen stormed the community with bulldozers and destroyed over 50 structures, including houses, shops, among other property worth millions of naira.
The residents, while lamenting over the invasion, said they were not issued a notice for the demolition, adding that people who lost their property had been traumatised over the development.
A resident in the community, Olawale Yusuf, said his uncle’s property was part of the demolished property, adding that over N300m was expended on the property. Read more
Police, OPC raze Lagos shanty where criminals tie up victims, rob them (NewTelegraph)
In order to have a safe and secured community, police operatives, members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), and other stakeholders have dislodged and set ablaze a notorious shanty harbouring criminal elements, popularly known as Monkey Village, located in the Badia area of Lagos State.
The area was said to be a hideout for several criminals, notably armed robbers, fraudsters, pick-pocketers, money doublers and child traffickers among others.
The action, according to stakeholders was part of a unanimous resolution reached at a joint security meeting held on Friday, September 2, at the palace of Oba Ojora, Abdulfatai Aromire, due to the bad image the criminal elements has brought on the community and its environ, coupled with the security situation in the country.
When our correspondent visited the scene, it was gathered that the shanty which occupies about eight acres of land was set on fire in an operation led by the Divisional Police Officer of Badia Police Station, CSP Ayoola Olawole, with members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), representatives of Chiefs, Community Development Associations (CDAs) amongst others in attendance. Read more
Community in shock as landlord’s skeleton is found in his room 4 years after last seen (Tribune)
The Adeosun/Idi Orogbo Community in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State was thrown into shock on Sunday when they found one of their landlords, Mr John Aderemi Abiola, in his room, almost four years after he was last seen in December 2018.
The discovery was made after the community decided, with the approval of the police authorities, to go into his compound to clear the bush in his compound which had overgrown his fence into the next house, causing invasion by reptiles.
As 2019 crept into 2020, the residents started wondering where the man could be. Though he told about two of those he used to communicate with of his intention to go to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and be back for Ileya ceremony in 2018, not seeing him for the festivity and thereafter made them to think he was staying back where he initially came from.
Calls to his phone lines were not going through each other. After it was noticed that the weeds in his compound had grown bushy, the community landlords were said to have decided in a meeting to find a means of getting access to the premises to clear the bush. Read more
$464m Blocked Funds: Travel agents slam airlines over ‘exploitative’ fares (DailyTrust)
The National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) yesterday accused foreign airlines of exploiting Nigerian travellers with high airfares.
NANTA also clarified that foreign airlines are not selling air tickets in dollars to their Nigerian passengers contrary to the claim by the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika.
President of NANTA, Mrs. Susan Akporiaye, in a chat with newsmen said the delay in the repatriation of the funds by foreign carriers is responsible for the exploitation of the Nigerian air travellers.
She stated that the Federal Government’s refusal to allow foreign airlines to repatriate funds was a violation of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA). Read more
Gunmen kidnap popular supermarket owner in Kogi (Punch)
Unknown gunmen have kidnapped one Funke Ayodele, owner of a popular supermarket known as ‘Cheapest Ladies and Kiddies Place’.
She was reportedly accosted at the gate of her house on Wednesday night after closing from her shop in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital.
An eyewitness said the woman was about to enter her compound at Baptist church area in Ganaja-Lokoja when the gun wielding hoodlums, numbering up to four jumped on her , dragged her out from her car and took her away to an unknown destination.
The gateman and others who were at the gate when her assailants struck were reported to have scampered for safety when the hoodlums brought out guns and started shooting indiscriminately to scare people away .
A family source noted that the woman was picked up around 9 pm by her abductors who were alleged to be trailing her from her shop at Phase II area in Lokoja. Read more
Ogun State Commissioner of Police inspects Shimawa smart police facilities, commends Adron Homes (Guardian)
ACP Ojugbele Adebola, Aare Adetola Emmanuel King GMD Adron Homes, CP Lanre Bankole, Bar. Kemi Osude, Director Public Affairs Adron Homes, DCP (Rtd) Funsho Ajao Director Security Services Adron Homes
Adron Homes and Properties, a leading player in the real estate sector partners with the Nigerian Police Force to give Shimawa and its surrounding communities a strong security presence.
Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole inspected the newly built, cutting-edge smart police station and quarters donated by Adron Homes and Properties, just as he commended the real estate giant for providing modern policing facilities in Shimawa, Ogun State.
The police chief, accompanied by the Area Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Ojugbele Adebola, did a general inspection of the building and other facilities put in place for police officers to be deployed to the area, the facilities include a cutting-edge smart Police Station and an elegant Officers’ quarters.
In his address after inspecting the facilities, he commended the company’s effort and lauded its cooperation with the force. Read more
Abductors demand N50m to free A’Ibom school principal (Nation)
Abductors of Mr. Monday Ekoriko, the principal of Madonna Community Secondary school in Oruk Anam local government area of Akwa Ibom state have demanded N50 million ransom.
Ekoriko was kidnapped last Saturday at his country home Udianga Enem village in Etim Ekpo local government area of the state during a church service at United Evangelical Church(UEC).
Our correspondent learnt the hoodlums contacted the principal’s family and demanded N50million to set him free.
The kidnappers, it was gathered, threatened to kill their captive if the demand was not met within the stipulated time frame.
The eldest son of the victim, Menyene, said: ” They (the hoodlums) called me on phone and the number was hidden, saying we should hurriedly arrange N50 million before my father could be released”. Read more
I’ll never vote for anyone part of rotten system – Falz
Popular rapper, songwriter and actor, Folarin Falana aka Falz has said that he will not reveal the candidate he is supporting ahead of next year’s presidential elections.
The artiste stated clearly that he would not vote for a candidate that has been part of this rotten system.
In an interview on Arise TV, the 31-year-old called on Nigerians to vote based on the candidate’s track records.
Falz said that the focus should not be on choosing political parties.
According to him: ”Anyone who is coming from this same system that has brought rot knows that I will not vote for them.” Read more
Bandits kidnap hearse driver, others in Abia (Sun)
Bandits, on Wednesday, intercepted a hearse conveying a dead body to Isuikwuato Community in Abia State, abducted the driver and others.
The hoodlums were said to have abandoned the dead body on the highway and took their victims to their hideout inside the bush.
The incident, according to a source close to the family of the deceased, took place around the Umunneochi/Ihube Okigwe axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway. The source said the victims were coming from Abraka in Delta State, when on getting to the scene of the incident, they were stopped by the bandits.
The source said: “The armed bandits waylaid the vehicle conveying the dead body and dragged out the occupants, abandoning the coffin in the vehicle on the road.” Read more
“God save the King!”: Charles III greets crowd as he arrives at Buckingham Palace (TimesOfIsrael)
King Charles III shook hands with some of the thousands of well-wishers gathered outside Buckingham Palace Friday as he returned to London following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II.
Shouting “God save the King” and with an impromptu burst of the reworded national anthem, members of the crowd greeted Charles and Queen Consort Camilla after they emerged from their car following a flight from Scotland.
The royal standard was raised for the first time in Charles’ reign, as the new monarch and Camilla inspected bouquets of flowers left on the palace fence by members of the public, before entering their new London home.
The royal couple had been visiting the queen at her Balmoral estate in the Scottish Highlands before her death on Thursday. Read more
Best friends find out they’re pregnant at the same time and give birth on the same day (Metro)
Maisie Campbell White, 27, instantly clicked with Morgan Hood, 29, when they met in January 2020.
Friendship blossomed while Maisie was on a community placement as part of her University of Suffolk Ipswich nursing course, where qualified nurse Morgan took the student under her wing as a ‘mentor’.
The pair became best mates and shared their dreams of starting a family – but little did they know they’d be sharing their pregnancy journeys together too.
They both found out they were pregnant on the exact same day and had their 12-week scans on the same day, with Maisie being told she was expecting a boy and Morgan a girl. Read more
Ryan Cabrera only ‘wanted to impress’ new wife Alexa Bliss with latest music video ‘Worth It’ (People)
Musician Ryan Cabrera let the tears flow on his wedding day to WWE star Alexa Bliss, so when it came time to put the footage from the big day to good use for his latest music video “Worth It,” his bride was the only one he had in mind.
“There was really only one person I wanted to impress, per se, for this video and that was Lex,” the 40-year-old tells PEOPLE exclusively. “When she saw even just the first cut, she already loved it. So I was like, ‘OK, OK, we’re going to be good. We’re going to be good.'”
The couple began dating in late 2019 and got engaged a year later in November 2020. They eventually tied the knot at Kempa Villa in Palm Desert back in April.
“It’s very us,” Cabrera told PEOPLE after their wedding. “The whole thing’s meant to bring out our personalities, and we are far from just normal.” Read more
Queen Elizabeth II’s death inspires Kanye West to settle beefs (Newsweek)
Queen Elizabeth II’s death has inspired Kanye West to settle his lengthy list of beefs, he has revealed in a new post on Instagram.
The queen, who reigned for 70 years, died aged 96 on Thursday at Scotland’s Balmoral Castle, with her eldest son immediately becoming King Charles III.
A statement from Buckingham Palace read: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
Her passing has been met with an outpouring of grief and a sea of tributes from countless people. Read more
Shia LaBeouf reveals his mum died as he was forced to address claims he was fired from Don’t Worry Darling (Standard)
Shia LaBeouf has revealed that his mother died as he found himself forced to hit back at Oliva Wilde’s claims she fired him from her film Don’t Worry Darling.
Director Wilde, 38, claimed in an interview with Variety last month that she had let go of LaBeouf, 35, who was originally cast in Harry Styles’ role opposite Florence Pugh.
LaBeouf refuted these claims as he allegedly sent video and email evidence to Variety of conversations with Wilde which showed the director had begged him to stay, seemingly proving he had walked away from the part.
Now, the actor has shared that he was dealing with the devastating circumstance of his mother Shayna Saide’s death at the time of Wilde’s firing allegation. Read more
“The Son” director Florian Zeller signs multiyear deal with ‘Call My Agent’ producer Mediawan (THR)
Oscar-winning French director Florian Zeller (The Father, The Son) has signed a multiyear deal with fast-growing European production company Mediawan (Call My Agent!) to develop and produce films and high-end TV series across an array of platforms.
Mediawan will finance and produce the films and series, co-producing with Blue Morning Pictures, the production outfit Zeller recently founded with former CAA agent Federica Sainte-Rose. Zeller won an Oscar for the screenplay to The Father, his feature debut as a director, and an adaptation of his own French play of the same name.
The Father, starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman, received six Oscar nominations, including best picture, and won both for Zeller’s adapted screenplay and the best actor honor for Hopkins.
As an agent in CAA’s Media Finance department, Sainte-Rose was involved in the packaging and sales of such films as Audrey Diwan’s Venice Film Festival winner Happening and Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia’s Netflix hit The Platform. She worked with Zeller on both The Father and his follow-up, The Son, starring Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern and Vanessa Kirby, which premiered Wednesday at the Venice Film Festival and will have its North American debut at the Toronto Film Festival on Sept. 12. Read more
Cineworld shares rise as bankrupt chain gets access to $785m in financing (Deadline)
Shares of Cineworld rose Friday after a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge granted Regal Cinemas’ parent Cineworld immediate access to up to approximately $785 million of a financing facility, providing sufficient liquidity for the giant theater chain to meet ongoing obligations, including to vendors, suppliers and employee salaries and benefits.
The shares, traded on the London Stock Exchange, popped 11% on the news. They’ve backed up a bit, but are still about 4% higher.
The remainder of the total $1.9 billion DIP, or debtor-in-possession facility will become available upon Court approval on a final basis.
The decision provides needed funds for the company, which was in dire straits with only $4 million of cash on hand. The agreement and approval by Judge Marvin Isgur came at nearly midnight yesterday after a hearing that started in the morning and stretched on-and-off throughout the day. The judge noted at the close of the hearing that the DIP deal will keep Cineworld operating. Without it, “this business would have been closed.” Read more
Oyedeji unveils Generation Next Basketball Showcase (Nation)
The Generation Next Basketball Showcase championship will commence Saturday, September 17, across four courts in Lagos state with Ilupeju court hosting the opening game.
The Showcase phase which will last for six weeks will see teams divided into groups to play at basketball courts in Ilupeju, Ajegunle, Oworonshoki, and Ikorodu.
It is coming just days after the completion of the Olumide Oyedeji Basketball Camp where over 400 kids were in attendance.
The program put together by the Olumide Oyedeji Youth Foundation will feature over 300 kids below the age of 17 years from basketball academies within Lagos State. Read more
FG declares professional football league body, LMC, illegal (Leadership)
The Federal Government has declared the League Management Company (LMC), operator of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) illegal and directed the leadership of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to withdraw operational licence given to the company immediately and set up an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to run the league.
The permanent secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Ismaila Abubakar, made the pronouncement in a statement released on Friday morning in Abuja.
Abubakar said the decision has become necessary because of the obvious aberration which is at variance with NFF statutes or the laws of the land whereby a private company is gifted the mandate to manage or run the league without the full involvement of and leadership by the clubs, and devoid of any process to monitor the progress and development of the game.
“In view of the several unpleasant incidents regarding the management of the Football League, specifically, the declaration of the National Football League (NFL) as an illegal body by the Court; the status of the League Management Company (LMC), the NFL’s successor-in-title being outside the purview of the Statutes of the NFF; the Federal Government is constrained to withdraw its recognition of the LMC as the operator of the Nigeria Professional Football League, with immediate effect.
Mathias Pogba denies involvement in extortion of brother Paul (Guardian)
Mathias Pogba denies any involvement in extortion reported by his World Cup-winning footballer brother Paul and which are the subject of an investigation, his lawyer said on Friday.
Mathias’s denial in a statement issued by his lawyer, Richard Arbib, comes after he published a bizarre video online on August 27 — in four languages (French, Italian, English and Spanish) — promising “great revelations” about the Juventus star.
Paul Pogba says he is the victim of a multi-million euro blackmail plot by gangsters involving his brother.
According to two sources close to the Pogba family contacted by AFP, large sums of money are being demanded from Paul Pogba if he wants to avoid the dissemination of allegedly compromising videos.
Mathias, though, is adamant he is an innocent party.
“Taking into account how the affair has evolved and the huge media attention surrounding it, Mathias Pogba strongly insists he knows nothing about any extortion attempt against his brother, Paul Pogba,” read the statement.Read more
Thigh injury rules Osimhen out of weekend’s game (Punch)
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen will miss the Italian team’s home fixture with Spezia on Saturday with a thigh injury, the Serie A club announced.
In a statement, Napoli said that the Nigerian forward had hurt the femoral bicep in his right thigh, an injury suffered in the first half of Wednesday’s 4-1 hammering of Liverpool in Naples.
The 23-year-old was substituted four minutes before half-time in the Champions League win at the Stadio Maradona and replaced by recent signing Giovanni Simeone.
Osimhen is expected to be out until at least after this month’s international break. Read more
1 of Australia’s most prestigious golf courses refuses to host event for Greg Norman’s rebel LIV series (DailyMail)
The Royal Sydney Golf Club has refused to play ball with the LIV golf series as Greg Norman’s rebel tour seeks a venue for its first event in Australia.
The ‘Shark’ has plans to take his Saudi-backed tour global in 2023, with Australia to feature on the calendar in April, spurred on by the recent signings of stars Cameron Smith and Marc Leishmann.
However, the picturesque Royal course – one of the most prestigious in the country – informed Norman it is not interesting in hosting the event, according to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald.
The club boasts a $30,000 joining fee and has hosted many famous Australian Open tournaments – most recently Jordan Spieth’s play-off win against then rising star Smith in 2016. Read more
Nepal cricket captain Lamichhane denies rape allegation (RFI)
Nepal cricket captain Sandeep Lamichhane on Friday denied allegations that he raped a 17-year-old girl and said he would go home to fight his case.
A Nepali court has issued an arrest warrant for the 22-year-old, who is playing in the Caribbean Premier League, and he has been suspended from his leadership position.
The teenage girl, along with her guardian, filed a complaint against the player earlier this week, alleging that he raped her in a hotel room in Kathmandu last month after they met and went out.
In a statement on his social media channels, Lamichhane wrote: “I am INNOCENT & keep complete belief in the respectable laws of Nepal. Read more
Iga Świątek to face Ons Jabeur in women’s US Open final after contrasting semis (ABC)
Ons Jabeur has booked her place in the US Open women’s singles final with a rapid win over Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia, setting up a clash with world number one Iga Świątek.
Jabeur took only 66 minutes to dispatch 17th-seeded Garcia 6-1, 6-3 and reach her second-straight grand slam final, while Świątek spent twice as long on court for her 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 win over sixth-seeded Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka.
Świątek is aiming for her second major title of the year after claiming the French Open crown, which she also won in 2020.
Tunisia’s Jabeur made her maiden appearance in a major final at Wimbledon two months ago, losing to Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina. Read more