Reactions trail Davido, Chioma tattooing each other’s names on ring finger (Vanguard)
Nigerian Afrobeats singer, Davido and his wife Chioma have elevated their love by getting their names tattooed on each other’s ring fingers.
In the widely shared video, Chioma and Davido were seen tattooing each other’s names on their ring fingers.
According to report, the bride price (Umunna) for Chioma has reportedly been paid in full by Davido at Ezeala Odu in the Imo State.
In images and videos posted online, Chioma’s father can be seen concluding the Umunna and Umuada rites. Read more
New naira: Banks, customers pressure CBN to shift Jan 31 deadline (Punch)
The Central Bank of Nigeria may be under pressure to extend the deadline for old naira notes to cease being legal tender as bankers and customers push for the extension.
The old notes are expected to be out of circulation by January 31 yet there is scarcity of the new notes as banks keep dispensing old notes to their customers.
Saturday PUNCH gathered that different stakeholders had been mounting pressure on the apex bank to extend the deadline in order to allow the new notes to circulate well and ensure the mop up of the old notes.
It was learnt that prominent among the stakeholders were managing directors of banks and their management teams, but a source close to the chief executive of a Tier-1 lender told one of our correspondents on Friday that the bank managing directors could not make the call for the deadline extension openly as the decision on the redesign of the naira had their approval. Read more
NNPC discovers oil in Nasarawa (DailyTrust)
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) will drill the first oil well in Nasarawa State in March 2023 as part of its frontier exploration services.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Mallam Mele Kyari, stated this while receiving the Nasarawa state governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, and a top delegation on a courtesy visit to the company in Abuja.
The spud of the Keana West oil well in Nasarawa comes barely five months after NNPC Ltd commenced drilling at the Kolmani River II oil well straddled between Gombe and Bauchi state.
Daily Trust reports recently that NNPC advanced oil search in Keana West in Nasarawa state, acquired 3D seismic data of 86km2 in Keana West. Read more
Suspense as Supreme Court sacks Obong of Calabar, order selection of new king (Tribune)
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has on Friday, January 13, sacked the Obong of Calabar, His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu V, on a suit that has lingered for 15 years, and ordered for the selection of a new King.
The case was between the current Obong of Calabar, His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu V who has been on the throne since 2008, and his challenger, Etubom Anthony Ani.
In a Supreme Court judgment written by Justice Amina Ahgid and read by Justice Akomoye Agim, the Court upheld the judgment of the Appeal Court, Calabar and ordered a fresh selection exercise which the current Obong is still qualified to contest.
The judgement, Tribune Online gathered, disqualified Etubom Ani from taking part in the new selection exercise thereby paving the way for the current Obong of Calabar to re-emerge as the sole candidate for the selection and subsequently the throne. Read more
We will joyfully escort Tinubu to Aso Rock on May 29 — Gov Bello (Vanguard)
The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, Friday said that he alongside other members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, will joyfully escort the party’s Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to the Presidential Villa, Abuja on May 29.
Governor Bello described the APC’s presidential candidate as the president in waiting.
The Kogi State chief executive stated this while fielding questions from the State House correspondents after meeting behind closed doors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja.
Asked what are the chances of Tinubu to win the February 25 presidential election, he said, “Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu has 21 governor’s, APC governors. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has touched lives of Nigerians across the board. He is a performer. He is a builder. Read more
IGP, DSS, AGF dragged to court for alleged negligence to Obi’s safety (Guardian)
A Legal practitioner, Barrister Ken Eluma Asogwa, has dragged the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Director General, Department of State Security Services (DSS) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for alleged negligence and breach of professional duties towards the Presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter G. Obi.
In a Motion marked, FHC/HC/2023 and dated January 13, the applicant relying on Chapter iv of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Section 4 of Police Act, Section 2(3) of National Security Agencies Act and Order 3 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019 and the inherent jurisdiction of court, prayed the court to declare that the respondents were negligent and breached their professional duties in allowing a mammoth crowd surround Obi “a potential President of Nigeria” at very close proximity at a campaign rally in Enugu, Enugu State.
Other prayers include declarations that by allowing a mammoth crowd and unauthorized persons to surround Obi at very close proximity, the respondents exposed him to danger and a threat to good governance in Nigeria and therefore, unlawful, wrongful and unconstitutional, and that the applicant has the right to vote for Obi in the 2023 Presidential election “and a potential President of Nigeria whose presidency the applicant believes will be a source of liberation for him and that of his family, and the candidate is therefore entitled to full state protection by the respondents. Read more
Loan default: Man, girlfriend arraigned for assaulting banker (Punch)
A 38-year-old man, Ifeanyi Chidubem and his girlfriend, Angela Israel, 24, were on Friday brought before an Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court, for allegedly assaulting a microfinance bank employee, the News Agency of Nigeria reported.
The defendants, whose residential addresses were not provided, are standing trial on a three-count charge of conspiracy, breach of peace and assault.
The prosecutor, ASP Benedict Aigbokhan, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on December 31, 2022, at 1p.m on Okeimoye Street, Isheri Oshun, Lagos.
He said that the defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace by beating one Miss Charity Edosa, an employee of a microfinance bank. Read more
Atiku returns from UK trip (DailyTrust)
Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (#PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has returned from the United Kingdom.
Atiku had travelled to Dubai from where he went to the UK for meetings with key government officials.
During his time abroad, there were reports that the former vice president was ill and receiving treatment.
But Paul Ibe, Atiku’s spokesman, denied this stating that the trip was at the invitation of British officials.
Atiku met with UK’s Minister for Development and Africa in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Andrew Mitchell, among other key senior UK government officials. Read more
Lizzo, Ed Sheeran, Dead and Company lead 2023 New Orleans Jazz Fest (RollingStone)
Lizzo, Ed Sheeran, and Dead and Company lead the massive lineup set to take the stage at New Orleans’ venerable Jazz Fest, returning to the Big Easy the weekends of April 28-30 and May 5-7.
Santana, Mumford & Sons, H.E.R., Gary Clark Jr., Jon Batiste, Jazmine Sullivan, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, the Lumineers, Mavis Staples, Leon Bridges, Buddy Guy, Kane Brown, Steve Miller Band, and countless more will also perform at the city’s Fair Grounds Race Course.
As always, Jazz Fest shines a spotlight on the music of New Orleans, and the 2023 lineup boasts local acts like Big Freedia, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, the Radiators, Dumpstaphunk, Terence Blanchard, Irma Thomas, and many more Big Easy legends.
Over 5,000 artists will play across Jazz Fest’s 14 stages over the course of the two weekends. Other acts booked include Mdou Moctar, Low Cut Connie, Tom Jones, Ludacris, Keb’ Mo’, Ne-Yo, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Los Lobos, and Angelique Kidjo. Read more
Tesla owners lash out at Elon Musk after he slashes car prices by thousands of dollars (Fortune)
Marianne Simmons, a self-professed “Tesla fan girl,” bought her second electric vehicle from the company in September: a white, high-performance Model Y ringing in at more than $77,000. Then the company slashed prices on Thursday and she realized she could have bought the same car today at $13,000 less.
“I feel like I got duped. I feel like a got taken advantage of as a consumer,” said Simmons, 32, a web designer in Naples, Florida. “Right off the bat, I’m out $13,306. It’s such a large reduction that it’s going to affect a lot of people who just bought a vehicle.”
That’s the reality facing owners of Tesla Inc. vehicles after the company cut the price of its cars as much as 20%, part of a push from Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk to increase sales volume in the face of weakening demand. For existing customers, the resale value of the cars they own will take a hit along with the drop in prices of new models.
“For any existing owner it’s a kick to the teeth,” said Ivan Drury, director of insights for research website Edmunds.com. “Anyone who bought a Tesla recently will feel an immediate impact wish they leased it.” Read more
Apple Card responsible for more than $1 billion in losses for Goldman Sachs (9to5mac)
Goldman Sachs submitted a regulatory filing for its “Platform Solutions” group of businesses that includes Apple Card. The collection of consumer offerings from Goldman is on track for a loss of $4 billion since 2020 with Apple Card making up more than $1 billion of that.
Reported by Bloomberg, the new performance details from Goldman’s Platform Solutions division paint a grim picture. In just the first nine months of 2022, the businesses including Apple Card saw a pretax loss of over $1.2 billion.
Looking back to 2020 through the end of September 2022, those losses amounted to $3 billion. But when Q4 results of 2022 are included soon, the number is expected to be close to $4 billion.
Apple Card was launched in the US back in August 2019 and it’s unclear exactly how much of the $4 billion in losses have stemmed from it. However, sources close to the matter believe most of the $1 billion loss in 2021 came from Apple Card. And there are another $2 billion in 2022 losses believed to mostly come from Apple Card and one other Goldman lending platform called GreenSky. Read more
‘New Mrs. Kanye West’: Fans are shocked about reports Kanye West is married months after divorce from Kim Kardashian (AtlantaBlackStar)
Kanye West reportedly just changed his status from missing to married. After going off the map for weeks, the Grammy-winning musician was recently spotted with a mystery blonde woman… who allegedly happens to be his new wife.
Kanye West Calls the NBA and Music Industry ‘Modern Day Slave Ships’ In Latest Twitter Rant
Sources told TMZ the Chicago rapper is officially married to his Yeezy architectural designer, Bianca Censori. The former brunette, now blonde, is originally from Australia and has worked with West for quite a while. The “Stronger” rapper and Censori reportedly had “some sort of wedding ceremony” but have yet to make it legal with a marriage certificate. Nevertheless, Ye was captured by the paparazzi while wearing a wedding band around his left ring finger.
Just a few days ago, the outlet caught Ye and Censori enjoying lunch at the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills, California. Their alleged ceremony comes two months after the finalization of his divorce from “Skims” creator Kim Kardashian.
Fans on Twitter have noticed a slight resemblance between Censori and the woman he shares four children with. Read more
First look at Amy Winehouse biopic revealed as “Back to Black” lands at Focus Features (TheWrap)
Industry breakout Marisa Abela has officially been tapped to star as Amy Winehouse in Focus Features’ “Back to Black.”
As previously announced, Sam Taylor-Johnson of the Fifty Shades of Gray franchise will direct and executive produce the film, which is said to cover Winehouse’s “vibrant years living in London in the early aughts and her intense journey to fame.” Matt Greenhalgh (“Nowhere Boy,” “Control”) wrote the script.
Focus has landed U.S. rights, with Studiocanal handling distribution in the U.K., France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand, Benelux, Scandinavia, and Poland. Universal Pictures International will oversee all other international distribution.
Production begins Monday in London.
In a first-look image Abela emulates the Grammy-winning singer’s signature beehive ‘do and tattoos. The actress most recently starred as Yasmin Kara-Hanani in Season 2 of HBO’s finance drama Industry. She will next appear in the show’s third season and in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. Other credits include the espionage thriller Rogue Agent, She Is Love and the series Cobra. Read more
Shania Twain releases her new single “Giddy Up!” (CanadianBeats)
Strutting into 2023, five-time GRAMMY® Award-winning legend and the best-selling female artist in country music history, Shania Twain, shares a brand-new single entitled “Giddy Up!”
The track sets the stage for her eagerly awaited new album, Queen of Me, arriving on February 3, 2023. It notably stands out as her sixth original full-length offering, her first record since 2017, and her official debut for her new label partner Republic Nashville, a division of Republic Records.
Kickstarting the record, “Giddy Up!” rides out of the gate with a fiery, flirty, and fun chorus tailormade for singing and dancing along. As always, it showcases her show-stopping range and undeniable charisma.
Shania says the saying
“Let’s Go Girls!” is such a wonderfully uplifting sentiment now, but it’s just something I said during the recording in the studio, and I guess that’s the same for Giddy Up! These lines come to me when I’m thinking about how to put a little “pep in my step.” I want people to feel good when they hear the new album. I want to set a celebratory tone and “Giddy up!” is a way to call to the audience and say “let’s get ready for some fun!”
In other big news, Shania recently earned the “Music Icon” award at the 2022 People’s Choice Awards, and she lit up the stage with a rapturous performance. Read more
A new translation of Franz Kafka’s diaries restores much of his Jewish musings (Forward)
Franz Kafka was a devotee of Yiddish theater, fell in love with his Hebrew teacher and once encountered the owner of a brothel he frequented in synagogue on Yom Kippur.
The broad strokes of Kafka’s biography have long been known to historians, but a new English translation of the Czech author’s complete and unabridged diaries gives readers the fullest possible picture of his complex, contradictory relationship with Judaism. For an author most famous for his depictions of loneliness, alienation and unyielding bureaucracy, Kafka often saw in Judaism an opportunity to forge a shared community.
“The beautiful strong separations in Judaism,” he praises at one point, in a disjointed style that is a hallmark of his diaries. “One gets space. One sees oneself better, one judges oneself better.”
Later, writing about a Yiddish play he found particularly moving, Kafka reflected on its depiction of “people who are Jews in an especially pure form, because they live only in the religion but live in it without effort, understanding or misery.” He was also involved with several local Zionist organizations, and toward the end of his life fell in love with Dora Diamant, the daughter of an Orthodox rabbi who taught him Hebrew (though she receives scant mention in the diaries). Read more
Aruna, Meshref hit quarterfinals at WTT Contender Durban (Guardian)
African champions Quadri Aruna of Nigeria and Dina Meshref of Egypt confirmed their status as the players in the continent after taking down their French and Polish opponents in the round of 16 of the WTT Contender Durban 2023.
The two players started the year on a winning note in the first round with Aruna beating China’s Sun Wen 3-1 (12-10, 15-13, 11-13, 11-8) while Meshref was a standout player on the first day of main draw action as she opened her account with a notable win.
Facing off against World No.86 Yuan Wan of Germany, who came out on top in their one and only previous meeting at WTT Feeder Düsseldorf II 2022, Meshref was determined to put things right at the second time of trying, and she secured her revenge.
With the whole of Africa behind her and the Egyptian star embraced her time in the spotlight, producing a sublime display to see off Wan 3-1 (11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9), to set up a round of 16 showdown with World No.67 Natalia Bajor in the process.
In the round of 16 tie against French teenage sensation Felix Lebrun, Aruna produced his best performance this year against the giant-killing European star. Read more
Osimhen scores brace as Napoli humiliate Juventus (Guardian)
Victor Osimhen scored twice and made an assist for Napoli who moved 10 points clear at the top of the Serie A after their 5-1 win over Juventus at the Diego Maradona stadium on Friday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Nigeria international headed in a rebound effort after Wojciech Szczesny had parried Kvicha Kvaratskhelia volley from 12 yards in the 15th minute for his 12th Serie A goal (36th league goal) of the season and his 40th for the Napoli since he joined the club.
The goal was Osimhen’s first against the Bianconeri in four games since he joined Napoli in 2020.
The strike also ended Juventus’s unbeaten run of eight games in the Serie A and Szczesny’s eight straight clean sheets which lasted for 770 minutes. Read more
AJ’s career finished if he loses April fight – Hearn (Vanguard)
Eddie Hearn has admitted that Anthony Joshua’s career will be over if he loses his next fight.
The 33-year-old is set to step back in the ring on April 1 for a comeback bout at the O2 Arena.
He recently suffered back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, making it three losses in his last five after being beaten by Andy Ruiz Jr in the first of their two clashes.
Joshua is now set for a tune-up fight as he looks to rediscover top form and confidence.
However, the pressure is on because if AJ was to lose to a potential lesser-known opponent then his promoter believes his career is finished. Read more
Okowa, others battle for Africa Athletics Region 2 presidency in Ghana (Guardian)
The President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa, is sure of winning the Presidential election today in Ghana, as he battle three other candidates for the Africa Athletics Region 2 Election.
Okowa, who is the Chairman of Delta Sports Commission, was elected AFN President in 2021.
To become the President of Africa Athletics Region 2 today, Okowa has to beat three other challengers from Senegal, Togo and Benin Republic. The contestants are Vierin DeGon of Benin Republic, Tonobok Okowa (Nigeria), Tchanile Salifuo Falilatou (Togo), and
Oually Sara (Senegal).
Another Nigeria, Omatseye Nesiama, who is a board member of the AFN, is vying for the position of Auditor, just as Maria Wophill, also a board member of the AFN is in the race to become a Council member.
Speaking with The Guardian on phone from Ghana yesterday, Okowa said: “I am sure of winning the election because I have worked hard for it. The record of my achievements since I became the AFN President is also speaking for me.” Read more
2023 NPFL Shudders To Life Despite Unresolved Problems (DailyTrust)
After seven months hiatus, the 2022/23 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season kicked-off with a single game last Sunday at the ‘Nest of Champions’, Uyo where returnees Bendel Insurance caused a major upset by beating hosts Akwa United 2-0.
The remaining week one fixtures will be played this weekend across the approved match venues to signal the full commencement of the 2023 NPFL season.
As it has become the norm, this season too couldn’t resume at the same time with other leagues across the world because of several factors which included the sudden scrapping of the League Management Company (LMC).
It will be recalled that a few weeks after the 2021/22 season ended, the LMC which is the organization that governed the NPFL for nearly 10 years, was disbanded by the Federal Government in September. Read more
Bendel Insurance unveils jersey as Sterling Bank reassures on partnership (Tribune)
Edo State Deputy Governor Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, unveiled the new set of jerseys for Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin with a renewed commitment to raising the standard of the club to a world-class one.
The Deputy Governor unveiled three sets of jerseys; yellow with green stripes on the side as the home Jersey, green as the away jersey, and white with green stripes on the side as the third kit.
Performing the jersey unveiling ceremony in a colourful event at the new Festival Hall in Government House, Benin City, was the sports-loving Deputy Governor of Edo state who was also supported by the Edo Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Barr Osarodion Ogie and Tunde Adeola, Executive Director, Sterling Bank PLC.
Tunde Adeola, restated that the Edo state government is fully committed to using sports and Bendel Insurance FC to better the lives of Edo youth and Nigerians, assuring Insurance FC of the best welfare and work environment. Read more