Printing money without logic under Buhari caused inflation — Edun (Punch)
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy, Wale Edun, has said that the N22.7tn printed by the Central Bank of Nigeria through Ways and Means overdraft for the Federal Government of Nigeria from 2015 to 2023, under former President Muhammadu Buhari landed Nigeria into hyperinflation bedevilling it now.
Edun who disclosed this on Wednesday during an interface with the Senate Committee on Finance, said during the period, the printing of naira in trillions was carried out without matching it with productivity.
He said the consequence of the eight years of printing money without productivity is high inflation confronting the country now. Read more
How luggage issues prevented me from taking ill-fated flight — Wigwe’s PA (Vanguard)
Simon Faleye, the Personal Assistant to the late Group Managing Director and CEO of Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe, has recounted how he missed being on the helicopter that killed his boss, wife, son and business associate, Abimbola Ogunbajo.
Faleye spoke while mourning and eulogising Wigwe at the Night of Tributes on Wednesday night.
According to him, he said he was supposed to fly in the chopper but later decided to accompany their luggage by road since the chopper could not carry it. Read more
300 inmates in Kano prison without records of any crime – Police (DailyTrust)
The Solicitors Scheme Advisory Committee set up by the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, has uncovered over 300 awaiting trial inmates languishing in Kurmawa Custodial Center, Kano, without proper documentation of their cases.
The committee made the discovery on Wednesday in continuation of its unscheduled visits to Custodial Centers, Police formations and Juvenile Homes.
The body is headed by Kano State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad-Hussaini Gumel. Read more
APC threatens to sue Plateau Gov, Speaker over refusal to swear in 16 lawmakers (Leadership)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has threatened to take legal action against the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Gabriel Dewan over their refusal to abide by the final decision of the Court of Appeal to swear in 16 members of the party as lawmakers.
The party warned that it is running out of patience and will no longer allow the governor and Speaker to continue what it described as illegal act.
The APC which added that the party will not allow the legislative rascality of the Speaker to go unchallenged, threatened that “enough is enough”. Read more
Refuse compactor falls off Lagos bridge, kills tricycle rider (Punch)
A yet-to-be-identified tricycle rider has been crushed to death after the compactor of a refuse truck fell from a bridge in the Surulere area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident happened on Tuesday evening.
The truck, owned by the Lagos Waste Management Authority, was said to be plying the Shitta bridge in the community when it developed a mechanical fault while in motion. Read more
First Lady Tinubu donates books to Lagos public schools (Nation)
Wife of the President Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu has donated 100,000 exercise books to pupils of public primary and junior secondary schools in Lagos State as part of her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Education Support Programme.
The books were presented yesterday by the wife of the governor, Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, on behalf of the First Lady.
She said: “This gesture is well appreciated and will further support our students in their academic pursuit, enhancing learning outcomes. These books will be distributed to public primary and junior secondary school students through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), ensuring they reach those who need them most. Read more
Manufacturers seek discontinuation of expatriate employment levy (Tribune)
Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged President Bola Tinubu to give due consideration to challenges of the manufacturing sector and direct the implementation of Expatriate Employment Levy (EEL) be discontinued.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Director General, MAN, Mr SegunAjayi-Kadir, said this on Tuesday in Lagos, in reaction to the Federal Government’s announcement on Feb. 27, about a mandatory annual levy for organisations employing expatriate workers.
NAN reports that the development requires a pay of 15,000 dollars (£12,000) for an expatriate director and 10,000 dollars for other expatriate employees. Read more
Kano denies measles outbreak in LGA (DailyTrust)
The Kano State Ministry of Health has denied the outbreak of measles in the Kano Municipal Local Government Area.
A statement issued by the ministry’s Public Relations Unit quoted the Director of Public Health and Disease Control, Dr Imam Wada Bello, as vehemently debunking the story in its entirety.
Daily Trust reported that authorities at Kano Municipal Local Government Council in Kano State had confirmed an outbreak of measles in some parts of the local government area. Read more
Gal Gadot welcomes 4th daughter with husband Jaron Varsano (Standard)
Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot has announced she has had another baby girl, saying “you have brought so much light into our lives”.
The Israeli actress, 38, revealed the news by sharing a photo of her in a hospital bed cuddling her daughter, who she has named Ori.
Gadot has three more daughters – Alma, 12, Maya, six, and Daniella, two – with husband Jaron Varsano. Read more
‘‘Rust’’ armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins (NYPost)
“Rust” armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty Wednesday of involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western movie in 2021.
A jury convicted Gutierrez-Reed, 26, after three hours of deliberation, finding she was ultimately responsible for the live rounds on set, one of which killed Hutchins when it was fired from a gun held by actor Alec Baldwin during a rehearsal.
Gutierrez-Reed was placed into the custody of deputies following the conviction, which her lawyers said she will appeal. She faces up to 18 months in prison. Read more
Timothée Chalamet wants a musical cinematic universe with his Bob Dylan and Austin Butler’s Elvis (EW)
Timothée Chalamet wants a little more action from Austin Butler’s Elvis.
While promoting Dune: Part Two, Chalamet confessed to NME and Butler that he really wants Butler’s version of Elvis Presley (as seen in 2022’s Elvis) to pop up in his own upcoming musical biopic about Bob Dylan.
After admitting that he’d asked his Dune: Part Two costar for a ton of tips on portraying a famous rock star, Chalamet told Butler about his dream. “I’m deep in the Bob Dylan lore and he had tremendous respect for Elvis and Sun Records,” Chalamet said. “I wish you were in it! There’s an Elvis character in the Johnny Cash biopic [Walk the Line]. It’s really brief, it’s very brief, but I was kind of wishing we could create a musical cinematic universe.” Read more
WFP warns Sudan war risks triggering world’s largest hunger crisis (AfricaNews)
Fighting between rival generals in Sudan over the past almost 11 months risks creating the world’s largest hunger crisis, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Wednesday.
WFP executive director, Cindy McCain, said the war between the country’s military and a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has shattered the lives of millions across the nation.
Both the RSF and the army have been accused of indiscriminately shelling residential areas, targeting civilians, and obstructing and commandeering essential aid. Read more
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds announce new album ‘‘Wild God’’ and reveal track listing (MusicNews)
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds return with new album, ‘‘Wild God’’.
Releasing on August 30th, the first taste of the band’s 18th studio album is title track ‘Wild God’, out now.
“I hope the album has the effect on listeners that it’s had on me,” Cave says. “It bursts out of the speaker, and I get swept up with it. It’s a complicated record, but it’s also deeply and joyously infectious. There is never a masterplan when we make a record. The records rather reflect back the emotional state of the writers and musicians who played them. Listening to this, I don’t know, it seems we’re happy.” Read more
Trump’s last Republican rival Nikki Haley drops out of presidential race (ITV)
Donald Trump is poised to be the only Republican candidate running for president as his last rival Nikki Haley formally announced the end to her campaign.
“I said I wanted Americans to have their voices heard. I have done that. I have no regrets,” she said from South Carolina on Wednesday.
“Although I will no longer be a candidate, I will not stop using my voice for the things I believe in.”
Her departure clears Trump to focus solely on his likely rematch in November with Biden. Read more
Ayotzinapa protesters knock down door of Mexico’s presidential palace (AlJazeera)
A group of protesters have knocked down a door to Mexico’s presidential palace during a demonstration to demand justice for the 43 student teachers who disappeared in 2014.
Footage shared on Wednesday by local television stations showed a few dozen protesters using a pick-up truck to smash open an entrance to the National Palace, while President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador was holding a news conference inside.
Police used tear gas to disperse the group, according to newspaper El Universal, which said law enforcement had erected barriers within the palace to stop the protesters from entering. Read more
I’m best positioned to lead Super Eagles – Okpala (Punch)
Former Super Eagles midfielder, Sylvanus Okpala, has declared his interest and availability to lead the Super Eagles of Nigeria, noting that he is best positioned to lead the team.
Okpala, who won the AFCON title in 1980 as a player and as an assistant coach in 2013, said this in an interview with PUNCH Online on Tuesday.
Last Friday, Portuguese manager, Jose Peseiro, confirmed his exit as coach of the Super Eagles after his contract officially expired. Read more
Ex-Eaglets Star Olusegun pens new contract at Russian Club Krasnodar (CompleteSports)
Former Golden Eaglets winger, Olakunle Olusegun has signed a new two-year contract with Russian outfit, FC Krasnodar.
Olusegun will now remain with the Bulls until 2028
The versatile winger’s previous deal was due to expire in the summer of 2026.
The 21-year-old signed a four-year contract with Krasnodar after his arrival from Bulgarian side, Botev Plodiv on a permanent transfer in 2022. Read more
Real Madrid 1-1 RB Leipzig (agg 2-1): Vinicius Junior goal helps Real to edge into Champions League quarter-finals (Sky)
Real Madrid were made to work for their place in the Champions League quarter-finals, edging past RB Leipzig 2-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw in their second leg.
RB Leipzig were arguably the better side and missed several gilt-edged chances, registering 20 shots to Real Madrid’s 11.
But Carlo Ancelotti’s side increased the tempo in the second half and ultimately did enough to secure qualification for the next round. Read more
Spain fines its soccer federation for not having harassment protocol in place at Women’s World Cup (NBC)
The Spanish soccer federation and Barcelona soccer club have been fined an undisclosed sum by Spain’s labor ministry for not meeting workplace regulations regarding gender equality.
The ministry said Wednesday that the federation, along with Barcelona and two second-division clubs, failed to meet regulations obliging workplaces with at least 50 employees to have “equality plans” in place.
The ministry said in an email to The Associated Press that it ordered an inspection of clubs with women’s soccer teams and the national soccer federation after the federation president caused an international uproar when he kissed forward Jenni Hermoso during the trophy presentation at last year’s Women’s World Cup. He has since lost his job and now faces trial for sexual assault. Read more
Rafael Nadal withdraws from BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells (ESPN)
Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the BNP Paribas Open on the eve of his first-round match at Indian Wells, saying in a social media post that he doesn’t find himself “ready to play at the highest level at such an important event.”
“Everyone knows how much I love this place and how much I love to play here,” Nadal wrote on X on Wednesday night. “That’s also one of the reasons why I came very early to the desert to practice and try to get ready.”
The 22-time Grand Slam winner, who has played just 12 official matches since the 2022 US Open, was coming off an exhibition loss to fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in The Netflix Slam on Sunday. He showed no apparent sign of any issues related to the micro tear on his surgically repaired hip that forced him to withdraw from the Australian Open and later skip a tournament in Doha, Qatar. Read more
George Russell responds to Max Verstappen speculation over shock Mercedes move (PlanetF1)
With Max Verstappen linked with a possible move to Mercedes for 2025 as Red Bull’s off-track dramas continue, George Russell has shared his thoughts.
With all sorts of speculation about what may happen at Red Bull as the fallout from Christian Horner’s Red Bull GmbH investigation continues, one rumour that’s emerged is that Max Verstappen could be a possibility to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes when the seat is vacated for 2025.
George Russell, who remains at Mercedes and has the backing of the team to rise to the challenge of leading the team when Hamilton departs, was asked about the possibility of Verstappen making the shock move to Brackley from Milton Keynes. Read more