Protest rocks Kano over Appeal Court judgement (DailyTrust)
Protests erupted in Kano city and its environs on Monday afternoon with the demonstrators denouncing the recent judgment of the Court Appeal that sacked the state Governor, Abba Yusuf.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that uneasy calm pervaded the state capital following a contradictory Certified True Copy of Appeal Court that affirmed the prayers of both the appellant and the respondent in the contentious Kano governorship, though the judiciary had since cleared the air.
In what appeared like a coordinated action on Monday, huge crowd of protesters had stormed strategic positions in the city as it visited temporary hiccups on commercial activities. Read more
Lagos crushes 1,500 motorcycles for violating traffic law (Guardian)
Lagos State government, yesterday, crushed 1,500 motorcycles popularly called ‘okada’ impounded during enforcement of the ban on their operation in the ten local councils and 15 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
Speaking during the exercise, the state commissioner for transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, reiterated the government’s commitment to safety and security of lives and property.
Osiyemi who supervised the crushing of the motorcycles at the taskforce yard in Ikeja, stated that the exercise showed that the government is not rescinding its decision to apprehend, impound and crush motorcycles plying restricted areas. Read more
Worker dies, 2 injured at Lagos building site (Punch)
A 40-year-old man simply identified as Chinedu has been confirmed dead while two sustained varying degrees of injury as bags of cement collapsed on the three construction workers in a site at Usman Mogaji Street, Ajangbadi in Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident happened at about 1:00 am on Monday.
It was also learnt that the three construction workers were sleeping inside the site when the bags of cement collapsed on them. Read more
Tinubu’ll present 2024 budget to NASS in few days – Speaker Abbas (Vanguard)
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen has hinted that President Bola Tinubu will present the 2024 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly in the next few days.
Tajudeen dropped this hint while speaking at a one-day retreat for chairmen and deputy chairmen of standing committees of the House on Monday.
Although he was not specific on when the budget would be presented, the Speaker urged the Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of the standing committees of the House that they must consider and finalise the budget within two weeks without compromising the integrity of the process. Read more
Lagos PDP Elders warn, anarchy looms over lack of trust for judiciary (Independent)
Elders of Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have warned of possible anarchy in the country because Nigerians no longer have confidence in the judiciary.
The group in a press conference held on Monday in Ikoyi, Lagos, lamented that these are not the best of times for the judiciary in the country, wondering why technicalities are being used to affirm electoral heists and, in the process, undermine the will of the people and silence them.
The elders numbering over 33, in a paper titled “When Nigerians no longer trust third estate of the realm, anarchy looms” and read on their behalf by Chief Bode George, former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, also used the opportunity to pay glowing tribute to some judges who had their names written in gold by their outstanding performance. Read more
Justices fight back: We can’t replace law with emotions — CJN (Vanguard)
Amid controversies trailing judgments of various courts handling election disputes, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, yesterday, said that public sentiments, and emotions cannot replace the law.
“The law remains the law, no matter whose interest is involved. In all we do, as interpreters of the law, we should endeavour to sever the strings of emotion from logic and assumption from fact,” he charged judges.
The presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party and civil society organisations, however, flayed the CJN for his comments, saying Nigerians were losing confidence in the judiciary, considering the activities of judges in recent election matters in Kano, Zamfara and Nasarawa states. Read more
Sacked Abuja Film Village staff demand reinstatement (DailyTrust)
The aggrieved sacked staff of Abuja Film Village have demanded their reinstatement.
The sacked workers made the request at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday.
Habila Isah Kayit, Spokesperson of AFVI Staff, noted that: “Owing to the current economic realities and inability of the film village to pay our salaries from January till September 2022, we wrote an appeal letter to request payment of our arrears and we received an invitation for a meeting. Read more
Prophet Fufeyin ministers in Taraba, visits Gov Agbu (Leadership)
Mercy City founder, Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin, has visited the Taraba State governor, Col. Kefas Agbu (rtd), eliciting excitement from numerous Tarabians and other Nigerians alike.
Governor Kefas Agbu welcomed the revered prophet and presented him with an Award of Excellence, a moment that has spurred heartfelt reactions across the social media.
A social media user, @BelieverJoy expressed awe after witnessing the miracles at Jalingo National Stadium, where the cleric had initially ministered, stating, “I am in awe of the miracles and healings that took place! Thank you, Prophet Fufeyin, for being a vessel of God’s power.” Read more
German priest abducted in Mali in 2022 has been freed, officials say (France24)
A German Catholic priest widely thought to have been abducted after going missing in Mali in late 2022 has been freed and is on his way back home, officials said on Sunday.
“The priest Hans-Joachim Lohre, abducted November 20, 2022, was freed this Sunday. He’s in a plane heading to his country,” an official with the archdiocese told AFP on condition of anonymity. A government official confirmed the information.
No other details were provided.
Lohre had been due to celebrate Mass in the Malian capital when he went missing. His car was left parked outside his home and calls to his phone went to voicemail. Read more
Disney’s Jennifer Lee teases ‘‘Frozen 3’’ and hints at 4th film (Deadline)
Jennifer Lee, the Chief Creative Officer of Disney Animation, is teasing “Frozen 3” and seemingly hints at a potential fourth film.
Although there’s not much Lee can say about the return to Arendelle, she shared that the third installment of the franchise is “so epic” they might need to make another film.
“Only what we have already shared, which is that the team is hard at work, we are deeply excited about the story we are shaping together, and it’s so epic it may not fit into just one film,” Lee said in an
interview. Read more
Paul McCartney and Elton John to star in This Is Spinal Tap sequel (NME)
Paul McCartney and Elton John are set to appear in the upcoming sequel to This Is Spinal Tap.
Rob Reiner, who directed the original 1984 mockumentary film starring Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer, confirmed various guest stars in the sequel during an appearance on Richard Herring’s Leicester Square Theatre Podcast.
Speaking on the podcast about the sequel, which was announced in May last year, Reiner said: “We’re going to start shooting in the end of February. Read more
‘‘Mr. Big Stuff’’ singer Jean Knight dies at 80 (Billboard)
Jean Knight, the R&B singer best known for her 1971 hit “Mr. Big Stuff” died at 80 on Wednesday (Nov. 22). “New Orleans and the music world mourns the loss of one its most treasured musical daughters, Jean Knight,” her family said in a statement shared with USA Today.
Rolling Stone also confirmed the singer’s passing with longtime friend Bernie Cyrus — who was the executive director of the Louisiana Music Commission for decades — who said, “She was always willing to get involved with good causes and help out.”
Cyrus said the bouncy soul-stirring song was “just so universal. People remember it. And look, so many people covered it. But nobody did it like Jean.” Read more
Kanye West delivers surprise performance of new song “Vultures” in Dubai (People)
Kanye West delivered a surprise performance of a new song on Sunday night in Dubai.
The “I Love It” rapper, 46, appeared on stage during Lil Durk’s concert alongside Ty Dolla $ign at Blu Dubai, where he was featured singing his new song “Vultures.”
The night club shared a video of West’s performance on Instagram Stories, which showcased the musician rapping offensive lyrics from the track like, “How am I antisemitic? I just f—ed a Jewish bitch.” Read more
6 teens go on trial over 2020 beheading of French teacher (Channels)
Six teenagers went on trial in Paris on Monday for their role in the 2020 beheading of teacher Samuel Paty, the first of two trials in a case that horrified France.
The suspects, some wearing sunglasses and surgical masks, arrived holding their coats over their faces to disguise their identities before entering the juvenile court.
The trial is being held behind closed doors given the young ages — between 13 and 15 years old — of the defendants at the time of the events. Read more
Greek PM unhappy after UK’s Sunak cancels talks amid Parthenon marbles spat (France24)
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his “displeasure” Monday over UK counterpart Rishi Sunak’s last minute cancellation of a bilateral meeting set to discuss their long-running dispute over the Parthenon Marbles.
The two leaders were due to hold talks midday Tuesday in London, where Mitsotakis has been visiting since Sunday, before news of their axing emerged late Monday amid an apparent spat over the so-called Elgin Marbles.
“I would like to express my displeasure at the British Prime Minister’s cancellation of our meeting just a few hours before it was due to take place,” the Greek leader said in a brief statement. Read more
Osimhen keen on Chelsea move (Punch)
Nigerian forward, Victor Osimhen, is interested in a move to English Premier League club Chelsea who are eyeing the Napoli man as their prime target during their striker hunt in the upcoming transfer window, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Amid increasing speculations about Osimhen’s future, Italian sources have claimed that the Nigeria international is open to a potential transfer to Chelsea.
Mauricio Pochettino wants to add a center-forward to his squad in future windows, with Osimhen at the top of his list after his three seasons in Serie A where he has helped Napoli win the Scudetto. Read more
Wolves boss O’Neil rages against VAR after Fulham defeat (France24)
Furious Wolves boss Gary O’Neil said bad refereeing decisions were hurting his reputation and “people’s livelihoods” after his team were on the wrong end of more VAR controversy in their 3-2 Premier League defeat at Fulham on Monday.
Willian scored two penalties — including a stoppage-time winner — while Alex Iwobi’s early strike for Fulham was cancelled out by Matheus Cunha and Wolves’ Hwang Hee-chan also netted from the spot.
But VAR was once again the talking point after an engrossing match at Craven Cottage. Read more
Brendan Rodgers warns Celtic they must avoid seeing red against Lazio (IrishExaminer)
Brendan Rodgers has warned his Celtic players they must avoid seeing red against Lazio on Tuesday if they are to have a chance of keeping their European campaign alive beyond Christmas.
The Hoops have taken just one point from their four Champions League matches so far and need to win in the Stadio Olimpico and hope Atletico Madrid defeat Feyenoord in order to go into their final match against the Dutch side with a chance of progressing to the knockout phase of the Europa League.
Celtic’s cause has not been helped by the fact they have had three players sent off in their two away games – Gustaf Lagerbielke and Odin Thiago Holm in the 2-0 defeat in Rotterdam and Daizen Maeda in the first half of their 6-0 thrashing in Madrid. Read more
F1 boss issues latest update on Andretti as 11th team battle rages on (PlanetF1)
Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali said the series feels under no pressure to make a call on the Andretti-Cadillac bid as they complete their due diligence.
The union of Andretti Global and General Motors brand Cadillac is pushing hard for a place on the Formula 1 grid, with FIA approval having already been achieved.
However, the next hurdle of convincing F1 itself to open the door looks set to be a tricky task, with widespread opposition among the existing teams, while FOM [Formula One Management] has been quiet on the prospect of Andretti-Cadillac joining the grid. Read more
UK Championship 2023: Mark Selby and Judd Trump both progress with dominant victories (BBC)
Two-time winner Mark Selby clinically dispatched Mark Joyce 6-0 as he reached the second round of the UK Championship in York.
The four-time world champion dominated throughout and rattled in breaks of 82, 61, 75 and 80 on his way to victory.
It was a ruthless performance from Selby who barely missed a ball and restricted Joyce to just 30 points across the final five frames. Read more
Virgil van Dijk on Liverpool’s title hopes; Manchester City predict crowded title race (NBC)
Virgil van Dijk believes Liverpool are in the Premier League title race and Manchester City believe that Jurgen Klopp’s side, and others, are back.
Following their 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Saturday, Liverpool became the first team in 24 attempts to not lose at the Etihad Stadium as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s late equalizer grabbed a big point which keeps them just one point behind the reigning Premier League champs and in the race for top spot after a third of the season.
After finishing fifth last season as they surged towards the finish line after an awful start and they’ve now lost just one of their last 24 Premier League games, are Liverpool back where they belong? Do they believe they will be fighting Manchester City all the way for the Premier League title this season? Read more