Presidential Tussle: Anxiety as Tinubu, Atiku, Obi, APM begin battle at Supreme Court (Vanguard)
President Bola Tinubu and his antagonists-Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mr Peter Obi and the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, will resume the battle for the presidency, today, at the Supreme Court as Tinubu’s aides and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, expect favourable ruling at the apex court.
Atiku, the PDP presidential candidate in the February 26 poll; Obi of the Labour Party, LP; and the APM, filed separate appeals at the apex court seeking to nullify the election of President Tinubu.
The Supreme Court communicated the hearing date through notices sent to all the parties, last Thursday. Read more
Emergency responders prevent gas tankers explosion in Lagos (Nation)
Two gas-laden tankers yesterday fell at Ijora and Omole areas in Lagos.
Emergency responders were quickly alerted and mobilised their officials to the scene.
They were able to prevent the fallen tankers from catching fire.
Lagos State Emergency Maintenance Agency (LASEMA) Permanent Secretary Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu said the agency received a distress call from Omole at 1:1pm and activated the response team, which arrived at the incident scene at 1:20pm. Read more
3rd Mainland Bridge repairs completed, as road users hail FG (Guardian)
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, on Sunday, expressed satisfaction with repairs done on the Third Mainland Bridge, assuring motorists of smooth ride till the commencement of comprehensive rehabilitation in January 2024.
Kesha gave the assurance on Sunday during an on-the-spot assessment of the repairs on the bridge.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the controller had, on Thursday, announced a 24-hour closure of the bridge to allow for repairs of some critical portions. Read more
Trader, Iyaloja clash in Ogun (DailyTrust)
A female trader at the Lafenwa Market in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Adetoun Oyenekan, has alleged the seizure of her wares by the female head of the market, Iyaloja (Alhaja) Sidi Owe.
The trader told newsmen that the Iyaloja, in collaboration with the babaloja, pulled down her stall and left her with nothing to sell.
Mrs Oyenekan, who sells baby toys and stationery, said the goods carted away from her stall by the market leaders were worth over N1m. Read more
‘‘No assassination attempt on my life’’, Gov Bello counters info commissioner (Leadership)
Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has denied reports of assassination attempts on his life by gunmen in military uniforms as claimed by his Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo.
LEADERSHIP reports that the Commissioner had earlier on Sunday issued a statement on behalf of the Kogi State Government alerting the public to failed assassination attempts on the life of the State governor while on transit from Lokoja to Abuja for official engagements.
Fanwo had claimed that the attackers, who were dressed in military uniforms, waylaid the governor’s convoy and started shooting sporadically at his vehicle and other vehicles in the convoy.
Shettima arrives US to attend AfDB World Food Security Summit (ThisDay)
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived Iowa, the United States of America to participate in the African Development Bank (AfDB) World Food Prize-facilitated Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue.
As special guest, the vice president, according to a statement issued yesterday, by his Media Assistant, Stanley Nkwocha, was due to deliver the keynote address at the event which commences on Tuesday, October 24th, 2023.
At the Dialogue, Shettima would be joining other distinguished African international leaders and heads of state/government in the hall of fame who in the past have delivered keynote addresses at the Borlaug Dialogue. Read more
Wike: Arrest Sheikh Gumi now, ex-APC spokesman urges security agencies (Vanguard)
The immediate-past Acting National Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Yekini Nabena has urged security agencies in the country to arrest a controversial Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi over comments wherein he described the Federal Capital Territory FCT Minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike as satanic.
Gumi, in a 14-minutes sermon posted on his official Meta page last Thursday, had labelled Wike as “satanic” for receiving the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria in his office. The cleric in the sermon also asserted that President Tinubu would be stopped from serving for eight years and that Christians should never be trusted with power in Nigeria or head the nation’s defence, security and intelligence services. Read more
Killing of farmers by herdsmen in Oyo, Ogun must stop — Igboho (Punch)
The Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, on Sunday, called on security operatives to, as a matter of urgency, curtail the resurgence of suspected Fulani herdsmen killings farmers in Iwere-Ile, Iwajowa Local Government Area and some other towns in Oke Ogun axis of Oyo State.
The PUNCH reported that many people were confirmed dead when suspected Fulani herdsmen ambushed security operatives at Apalokun village in Iwe-Irele, on Sunday, October 15, who were on their way to restore peace in the community.
Adeyemo, in a personally signed statement forwarded to The PUNCH in Ibadan, the state capital, said, “We are calling on the Police, the Department of State Security, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigerian Army to address the fragile security breaches now before the situation gets out of hand.” Read more
Death toll in Palestine rises to 4,651 with nearly 2,000 Palestinian children dead (UPI)
Israeli Defense Forces have so far killed at least 4,651 Palestinians and wounded more than 14,245 in retaliation for the attack by Hamas that killed about 1,400 Israelis earlier this month.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement that the dead include 1,871 children, 1,023 women and 187 elderly people. Most of the deaths are in Palestine’s Gaza, home to Hamas, though dozens have also been reported dead in Palestine’s West Bank.
In addition, data provided by the United Nations shows that Israel forces killed 227 Palestinians this year before the Hamas offensive while just 29 Israelis had been slain by Palestinian attackers before the attack. Read more
Travis Scott stops security from kicking out female fan mid-concert (NME)
Travis Scott brought his concert in Dallas, Texas to a halt to help a female fan who may have been about to be kicked out from the show.
Fan-filmed footage shows Scott performing onstage when he noticed security causing a commotion near the barricade where the fan had fallen. “One thing you are not gonna do, you are not gonna kick a fan out,” Scott said from the stage. “You’re not gonna do that, brother. You’re not gonna do that. You back up. You back up, brother. She’s just enjoying herself. You back the fuck up. Let her just have a good time.” Read more
Kenya Grace battling cassö, RAYE and D-Block Europe’s Prada for UK Number 1 single (MusicNews)
Kenya Grace is in the midst of an intense battle to hold Number 1 for a third week with Strangers. Less than 300 chart units behind at Number 2 midweek, cassö, RAYE and D-Block Europe’s Prada will be looking to finally ascend to the top spot.
Still in with a chance as the week progresses will be Tate McRae’s greedy (3) and Tyla’s breakout hit Water (4). Both will be hoping to progress to higher peaks – and maybe even challenge for Number 1 – on Friday.
Kid LAROI, BTS star Jung Kook and Central Cee will be aiming to lock in this week’s highest new entry on their brand-new collaboration, Too Much (5). It’s the first time all three artists have joined forces on the same track. Read more
Matthew Vaughn has big ideas on ways to change Superman and Star Wars franchises (Deadline)
Director Matthew Vaughn would love the chance to shake things up in two film franchises that fans hold sacred.
Speaking on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, Vaughn said he and comic book writer Mark Millar had the big concept of “a three-picture trilogy” on Superman for Warner Bros.
“We pitched how to do a trilogy of Superman movies. Warners wasn’t interested. That’s as far as it went,” Vaughn said. It “never came back around” after that, he added. Read more
“Deadpool 3” release date set to be delayed (DigitalSpy)
“Deadpool 3” is set to postpone its release date, with Deadline reporting that the MCU film will be delayed.
The superhero film, which stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, was originally due to be released on May 3, 2024, but the outlet is now reporting that the film will be delayed due to the ongoing actors’ strike.
Deadline is also reporting that fellow MCU film “Captain America: Brave New World” is further ahead in production, with the possibility of the release order being switched in the calendar. Read more
Christopher Nolan says Hollywood studios missed out by not Releasing Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour (THR)
Christopher Nolan said Hollywood studios missed out by not releasing Taylor Swift‘s concert film, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, since she distributed it directly through AMC theaters.
During a recent discussion at a City University of New York event, the Oppenheimer filmmaker noted how the pop star bypassed studios and teamed directly with AMC Theatres to bring her movie to the big screen.
Nolan spoke alongside his Oppenheimer producing partner and wife Emma Thomas, who said that studios have been too skittish about releasing movies in the streaming era. Read more
MTV awards cancelled over Israel-Gaza conflict (BBC)
The MTV Europe Music Awards have been cancelled over “devastating events in Israel and Gaza”.
Organisers Paramount told BBC Newsbeat this was “out of an abundance of caution”.
“Given the volatility of world events, we have decided not to move forward,” a statement said.
The show was scheduled to take place in Paris on 5 November, with performances from BTS’s Jung Kook and former Little Mix star Leigh-Anne. Read more
Falcons’ camp opens in Addis Ababa as Nigeria battles Ethiopia (Guardian)
Barcelona Femeni Forward, Asisat Oshoala, Michelle Alozie, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and other invited Super Falcons stars were expected to arrive in Addis Ababa, yesterday, ahead of their Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifier against Ethiopia on Wednesday.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) told The Guardian, at the weekend, that the players were all expected to have arrived in Addis Ababa, yesterday, to begin preparations for the game today.
NFF Director, Media, Ademola Olajire, said Super Falcons’ Manager, Randy Waldrum, would travel straight from his United States’ base to the camp, just as all the Europe=based stars would jet to the East African country from their bases. Read more
AFL: Wydad edge Enyimba 1-0 in Uyo showdown (Punch)
Enyimba lost their African Football League first-leg match 1-0 to Wydad Casablanca at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Sunday and will now have to win in Morocco next weekend to get through to the semi-finals.
The only goal of the match came from a first-half penalty, with Yahya Jabrane expertly converting from the spot past Enyimba captain and goalkeeper, Ojo Olorunleke, in the 39th minute.
Coach Finidi George was back on the bench after national team duties with the Super Eagles and he started a strong 11, which included breakout Flying Eagles midfielder Daniel Daga. Read more
NNL: Clubs get final warning over registration (NewTelegraph)
The Chief Operating Officer of Nigeria National League (NNL), Dr. Ayo Abdulrahaman has warned that clubs that fail to complete their registration formalities early this week risk being thrown out of the league which is billed to kick off on October 28.
Abdulrahman noted that some of the clubs have since not completed registration which began a month ago after the NNL AGM in Jos.
“We opened the window for registration immediately after the AGM which took place last month in Jos. As we speak, some clubs are yet to register in spite of the ultimatum issued last week.
“The new board under George Aluo is determined to do things differently. Any club that fails to complete its registration formalities by early this week may be thrown out of the league,” Abdulrahman warned. Read more
Mourinho sent off for “crying” gestures as Roma win (BBC)
Jose Mourinho was sent off as Roma earned a last-gasp 1-0 victory over Monza to move up to sixth in Serie A.
Stephan El Shaarawy scored a 90th-minute winner at the Stadio Olympico, after Romelu Lukaku and Sardar Azmoun both hit the post for the hosts.
Monza were forced to play more than 50 minutes with 10 men after Danilo D’Ambrosio’s first-half dismissal. Read more
All-time international goals record holder Christine Sinclair retires from Canada duty (RTE)
Christine Sinclair, the world’s all-time leading international goalscorer, has announced her retirement from the Canada women’s national team but said she still planned to play for Portland Thorns in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) next season.
The 40-year-old Sinclair’s illustrious international career includes a record 190 goals for Canada in 327 games, an Olympic gold medal and six World Cup appearances.
“Honestly, you can’t play forever,” Sinclair said. “And this seems like a good time to be done.” Read more
Novak Djokovic’s new look as he prepares to return to action in Paris (Football365)
Novak Djokovic will look to cement his status as the world No 1 at the Paris Masters and he will have a new look for the end-of-season finale.
The Serbian maestro has clearly been the stand-out player of 2023 after winning the Australian Open, French Open and US Open titles.
Only a defeat against Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final denied the Serbian a chance to complete a calendar Grand Slam for the first time in his career. Read more