Ponzi scheme operator arraigned for defrauding profs, colonel (Punch)
The police on Monday arraigned a Ponzi scheme operator, Michael Diongoli, before a Federal High Court in Lagos State for allegedly defrauding a retired Army colonel, two professors, a co-operative society, among others of the sum of N1, 286, 580, 656.
Diongoli is facing eight counts of conspiracy, obtained by false pretences and fraud.
The defendant was arraigned alongside his two firms, UK-Don Group and UK-Dion Investment Limited before Justice Lewis-Allagoa.
He was accused of defrauding his victims, under false pretence of multiple returns on investment within the period of six months to one year. Read more
2023: Lagos APC chieftain, Salvador, to challenge Sanwo-Olu under Labour Party (DailyTrust)
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Moshood Adegoke Salvador has collapsed his political group, Conscience Forum, into the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos.
Salvador, one-time Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had defected to the APC in Lagos prior to the 2019 General Elections with over 300,000 members of his group spread across the three senatorial districts of the state.
But the outcome of ward, local government and state congresses of the APC had seen members of the forum sidelined even as those of them who bought forms to contest Party offices at all levels were allegedly denied the rights to contest.
His group also conducted a parallel state Congress which was not recognised by the APC leadership at the national level. Read more
AON expresses disappointment in FAAN over closure of runway at Lagos Airport (Tribune)
All seems not well between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) over the closure of the domestic Runway 18 left at the Murtala Muhammed Airport for the installation of airfield lighting.
The airfield lighting which has been absent at the local airport was meant to aid domestic flights’ take-off and landing at night by the domestic airlines.
FAAN announced decisions to shut down the runway for three months which left the local operators with the option of taxiing through the longer runway for the international airlines burning extra fuel.
The operators in a letter by its president Alhaji (Dr.) Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina and addressed to the managing director of FAAN, Captain Rabiu Yadudu, and made available to the media expressed surprise at the failure of FAAN to carry them along before taking such a decision. Read more
22 Caleb University students win Dr Akintoye Akindele Scholarship (Independent)
Twenty-two students of the Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State, have emerged beneficiaries of Dr Akintoye Akindele Scholarship scheme for 100 students.
The Chairman of the Screening Committee, Professor Oluwole Alagbe, Dean, COLENSMA, explained, “The 22 excellent students emerged after a rigorous process of selection by a Special Panel set up by the University Management.
Students who recorded the highest Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) across the departments, were shortlisted, screened and subsequently awarded the Scholarship,” Alagbe added.
Recall that In March 2022, the oil magnate, philanthropist and entrepreneur, Dr Akintoye Akindele, who was the 11th convocation lecturer announced a scholarship scheme for 1% (22 students) of the newly admitted students. Read more
Sam Larry disowns Portable over one million boys ‘cruise’ video (Nation)
Music promoter Sam Larry has denied claims by self-styled ‘wahala’ singer, Habeeb Okikiola, aka Portable that he is aware he (Portable) founded well-known cult groups Ajah boys and One Million Boys which terrorised Lagos State residents.
The popular music promoter, speaking in Yoruba, refuted Portable’s claim in a 58-second video that was viral on social media.
Sam Larry said he just assisted Portable with his trip because he is a music promoter.
“I heard that something is happening on social media about One Million Boys. I don’t know anything about them and I don’t know them. Portable who mentioned my name, I am his benefactor. I helped him to travel because I am a promoter. Read more
22 escape death in Third Mainland Bridge accident (Tribune)
Twenty-two people narrowly escaped death on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State on Tuesday as a fully-loaded bus hung on the railing by the side of the bridge.
The conductor of the bus was injured as he fell from the vehicle while the driver was trying to control it from swinging onto the lagoon.
The survivors of the Monday incident included a former journalist with the Post Express Newspaper, Frank Oshanugor, who was one of the few who escaped unhurt.
It was gathered that the vehicle was on its way to Lagos Island when the steering wheel developed a fault while the vehicle was at a high speed. Read more
Osun Election: Aregbesola’s men worked for me, says Adeleke (DailyTrust)
Senator Ademola Adeleke has said some associates of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of Interior, worked for him in Saturday’s election.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the election said this in a Channels Television interview.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Adeleke governor-elect, on Sunday.
He polled a total of 403,371 votes ahead of outgoing Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 375,027 votes. Read more
ASUU: Northern groups vow to shut highways, airways, offices of political parties (Sun)
Fifty-two Northern groups under the aegis of Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), yesterday, have resolved to join the planned solidarity protest by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) over the lingering strike by the Academic Union of Universities (ASUU).
NLC’s National President, Ayuba Wabba, had, in a letter dated July 15, notified its chairpersons nationwide that the Congress would on July 27 and 27 protest to nudge the government into meeting ASUU’s demands.
The academic union went on strike in February over the government’s failure to honour an agreement it signed with the government in 2009 on funding, salaries and allowances of lecturers.
National Coordinator of CNG’s Student Wing, Jamilu Charanchi, in a statement, accused the government of paying lip service to the plight of lecturers. Read more
Vehicle rams into newspaper stand, kills 3 in Delta (Leadership)
Tragedy struck in Warri, Delta State at the weekend when a Range Rover jeep with vehicle registration number EFR 940 – TT, rammed into the popular newspaper stand at Iyara Roundabout, killing three newspaper readers and injuring one.
An eye-witness narrated that the incident occurred while the driver of the vehicle tried to negotiate the roundabout at high speed. He lost control and rammed into the newspaper stand.
It was further gathered that the driver sustained serious injuries while the other two persons in the vehicle escaped unhurt.
Some policemen were seen investigating the accident when our correspondent arrived at the scene of the incident. Read more
Quinta Brunson transforms into Oprah in ‘Weird’ Al Yankovic movie alongside Daniel Radcliffe (Variety)
Quinta Brunson channels her inner talk-show host to portray Oprah Winfrey in Roku’s “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story,” starring Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, as the frizzy-haired musical parodist.
The movie is billed as “the unexaggerated true story about the greatest musician of our time.” “Weird,” which has a runtime of 108 minutes, is slated to premiere on the free, ad-supported Roku Channel this fall.
Brunson is the latest cast member announced for “Weird,” which in addition to Radcliffe stars Evan Rachel Wood as Madonna; Rainn Wilson as radio broadcaster Dr. Demento; and Julianne Nicholson and Toby Huss as Yankovic’s parents, Mary and Nick.
Brunson recently made Primetime Emmy Awards history with three nominations — for comedy series, lead actress in a comedy and writing for a comedy series — for ABC’s “Abbott Elementary,” which she created, executive produces and stars in. She is the first Black woman to earn three noms in the comedy categories in a single year and, at 32, is also the youngest Black woman ever nominated in the Emmys comedy acting category. Read more
Game of Thrones star lands role in Hunger Games prequel (DigitalSpy)
Former Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage has been cast in the highly anticipated Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
Lionsgate has confirmed the four-time Emmy award winner will play Casca Highbottom, the dean of the Academy, and will be opposite Tom Blyth as a young Coriolanus Snow and West Side Story’s Rachel Zegler as tribute Lucy Gray Baird.
Set years before becoming the tyrannical President of Panem, Lionsgate says an “18-year-old Coriolanus Snow is the last hope of his fading lineage, a once-proud family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capital.
“With the 10th annual Hunger Games fast approaching, the young Snow is alarmed when he is assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird, the girl tribute from impoverished District 12. But, after Lucy Gray commands all of Panem’s attention by defiantly singing during the reaping ceremony, Snow thinks he might be able to turn the odds in their favor. Read more
The Hoff turns 70! David Hasselhoff and his Baywatch pals reunite for his birthday party (DailyMail)
David Hasselhoff celebrated his 70th birthday in style on Sunday when he was joined by several of his former Baywatch co-stars to help him ring in the big day.
The iconic actor looked shockingly youthful for someone entering his eighth decade, as did his pals, who included Kelly Packard, David Chokachi, Jeremy Jackson and Parker Stevenson.
Hasselhoff and his friends celebrated his birthday at a restaurant and bar in Calabasas, California, with a performance including a clown on stilts.
Hasselhoff still had his youthful visage and winning smile, along with a full head of hair, just as he did back in his days on Baywatch, which he starred on from 1989 through 2000. Read more
Jordan Peele teases next projects at ‘Nope’ premiere (Deadline)
“A little bit of horror, a little bit of comedy; I’m always going to try and give you a big show.”
That’s how Oscar winning writer-director Jordan Peele described his storytelling sensibility to Deadline at the premiere of his latest, Nope.
As to whether he might venture into other genres or play with different tones he continued, “I will stay within this realm that I love which is, I think, the only way I know how to view the world and how to tell stories at this point.
Among Peele’s upcoming projects is the Netflix stop-motion film Wendell & Wild, which he co-wrote and stars in for Oscar-nominated director Henry Selick (Coraline). Read more
Rolling Loud founder backtracks on Kanye & Travis Scott rolling loud comments (HNHH)
Tariq Cherif initially suggested Travis couldn’t headlining Rolling Loud Miami “because of astroworld deaths,” but now he reportedly says that’s not the case.
After his comments on Instagram swept the Hip Hop world, Tariq Cherif is reportedly doing a bit of backtracking on a recent statement about Travis Scott. Once again, Rolling Loud Miami turned into a spectacle after Kanye West pulled out of his performance at the last minute. This incident mirrored Ye’s Coachella debacle earlier this year after the mogul walked away from his headlining spots just a week before the festival’s weekend was to launch.
Kid Cudi was quickly announced as West’s Rolling Loud replacement, and considering their previous public fallout, it made for interesting social media conversations. Rolling Loud founder Tariq Cherif would post online that he “tried to convince Ye to stay.”
“He wasn’t having it,” Cherif added without giving insight into why West decided not to move forward. When followers brought up Travis Scott—who some believe was the reason behind West’s Coachella exit—Cherif chimed in. Read more
Lizzo welcomes fans to her ‘Lizzoverse’ for Album launch party and livestream performance (Variety)
Lizzo’s fall arena tour doesn’t begin until Sept. 23, but she wasn’t going to let Friday’s release of her new “Special” album go by without greeting at least a few of them in the flesh, and many more via a livestream. Over the full three-day weekend, New York’s Cipriani 25 was transformed into a LED dance house for “Lizzoverse,” the first night of which was devoted to an intimate listening party and live concert, with the singer performing all 12 tracks from the new album in a show that streamed via Amazon Music’s Twitch channel.
The opening night party/performance began with fans dancing to a Prince- and Beyonce-filled playlist that felt like it could well have been curated by Lizzo herself. The performance proper began with the venue turning pitch black, soon punctuated by small electronic stars projected onto walls and ceiling as an automated Lizzo voice instructed fans to “sit back, relax and prepare for takeover… byeeee bitch.” The singer then took the stage as the studio version of the opening track, “The Sign,” played. Wearing a bright pink sequined jumpsuit, Lizzo delighted the small live audience by jumping and throwing leg kicks, while belting ad libs. Read more
Protesters block key Panama highway after rejecting deal with government (France24)
There were fresh demonstrations and roadblocks in Panama on Monday as protest groups turned their backs on a deal signed with the government to end their protest in exchange for a fuel price cut.
After union leaders consulted grassroots supporters on the deal announced Sunday, it was decided to continue the protest, said Luis Sanchez, a leader of the Anadepo civic grouping.
“We had warned the executive that we still have to consult the rank and file,” he told the TVN-2 channel.
The agreement, he added, “was signed under pressure” and members have opted to continue the mobilization that had seen trucks and banner-waving demonstrators paralyze the strategic Pan-American Highway. Read more
Buhari hails Super Falcons’ resilience, professionalism (Punch)
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Tuesday, commended the “resilience and professionalism” displayed by Nigeria’s Super Falcons against the Moroccan female national football team in the second semi-final of the African Women’s Cup of Nations.
This is according to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, titled ‘Thanks for the gallant display, President Buhari to Super Falcons.’
According to Adesina, President Buhari is encouraged by the doggedness, resilience and professionalism of the girls, who despite playing with two players down before a home crowd showed their quality and class.
‘‘Although many will be disappointed with the Moroccan victory on penalties, there are many positive outcomes for the Nigerian team to take home and prepare better for the next tournament,’’ the President said. Read more
Tumour found in Dortmund striker Haller (BBC)
Borussia Dortmund striker Sebastien Haller has left their pre-season training camp in Switzerland after a tumour was found in his testicle.
The 28-year-old Ivory Coast striker joined the Bundesliga side from Ajax this month.
Dortmund said Haller “complained that he felt unwell after training on Monday” and, following medical tests, “a testicular tumour” was discovered.
Further examinations will take place “over the coming days”.
Haller said on Tuesday: “Thank you all for your many messages of support and affection since yesterday’s announcement. My family and I thank you. I will now focus on my recovery to come back stronger.” Read more
Arsenal to join Manchester United in race to sign Lyon striker Moussa Dembele (SI)
Arsenal have now reportedly entered the race alongside Manchester United to sign Lyon striker Moussa Dembele this summer according to a new report in France, despite the North London side already adding Gabriel Jesus to their ranks.
United could be in the market for a striker this summer after ending their pursuit of Ajax winger Antony as well as possibly preparing for the exit for Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Red Devils could look to turn their attention to the French frontman should they go into the market for a number nine this summer.
United have been linked with the Lyon striker in the past, however have never decided to make a move for him in previous transfer windows. Read more
World Athletics Championships: Laura Muir wins bronze in 1500m (BBC)
Britain’s Laura Muir claimed her first World Championships medal with a hard-fought bronze in the 1500m in Oregon.
Muir had narrowly missed out on a medal in the past three world finals but ran a season’s best three minutes 55.28 in an astonishingly quick race.
The Scot lay on the track for some time before collecting her medal and congratulating her opponents.
Two-time Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon took gold in 3:52.96, with Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay second. Read more
Deandre Ayton ‘happy’ with resolution after signing extension; Phoenix Suns tout ‘vital’ piece (ABC)
Deandre Ayton says he gained generational wealth that can help his family and many others after signing a four-year, $133 million maximum contract extension to return to the Phoenix Suns on Monday.
But there was also a business lesson involved, too, for the young center as the contract initially came via a matched offer sheet from the Indiana Pacers.
“This is a blessing,” Ayton told ESPN’s Andscape in a phone conversation after signing his contract. “This contract not only has generational impact for my family, but also with the way we are able to work in the Phoenix community and home in the Bahamas. That is the thing that we go by …
“I’ve come to understand that this is a business. So, I was more anxious to know the end of the result so I could focus, move on, and just get back to work. I just treated everything like a business. Just keep being professional, approach everything with professionalism and not looking too deep into it.” Read more
WAFCON: Resilient nine-woman Falcons exit on penalties (Punch)
Nine-woman Super Falcons quest to land a 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title came to a painful end on Monday after the nine-time winners suffered an excruciating 5-4 penalties defeat to the Atlas Lionesses at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium packed with 42,500 fans in Rabat, Morocco, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Falcons were reduced to nine women after Halimatu Ayinde and Rasheedat Ajibade were both sent off in the second half following clumsy tackles.
The win was the first ever for the Lionesses against the defending champions, after previously losing 8-0 at the 1998 edition of the WAFCON in Kaduna and 6-0 at the 2000 edition in South Africa to their foes.
A forced own goal from Yasmin Mrabet gave the Falcons the lead in the 62nd minute, but parity was restored when Sanaa Mssoudy fired in a shot from close range after the Falcons defence failed to clear their lines, with Chiamaka Nnadozie, in goal for the Falcons, spilling a cross from the right flank. Read more
Nationals star Juan Soto wins first Home Run Derby amid trade rumblings (Guardian)
Washington Nationals star Juan Soto won his first Home Run Derby on Monday night, holding off Seattle Mariners rookie Julio Rodriguez 19-18 in the final.
The 23-year-old Soto hit 53 total homers, beating each of his three opponents by one homer in the midseason power showcase. Soto was locked in at the plate even after spending an hour earlier at Dodger Stadium answering repeated questions about his possible departure from the Nats after turning down a huge contract extension.
“It feels amazing. It feels tiring,” Soto said. “I just tried to concentrate to square off the balls, because I know I have the power.”
Soto beat Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez 18-17 in the first round before getting past 42-year-old Albert Pujols 16-15 to reach the final. Read more