Rumours of my death disturbing; those behind it won’t escape tragedy – Obasanjo (Vanguard)
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed rumours of his death circulating on social media, confirming that he is alive.
He revealed that he recently woke up to false rumours of his death circulating on social media, expressing shock and disappointment over the deeply upsetting reports.
Obasanjo made this known while speaking at the commissioning of the Old-Garage-Oke-Fia-Lameco road by Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke. Read more
Akwa Ibom declares public holiday to honour late First Lady (Sun)
The Akwa Ibom State Government has declared Friday, November 29 as work-free day in the state in honour of First Lady, Pastor (Mrs) Patience Umo Eno.
Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah disclosed this in a statement dated Wednesday, November 27.
The state government had announced the death of the First Lady after a brief illness in a hospital on September 26. Read more
Again, police arrest popular singer, Speed Darlington (Punch)
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested a Nigerian musician, Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
Counsel for the singer and Human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, confirmed the development in a post on his official X page on Wednesday.
Adeyanju stated that his client was arrested while performing at a show in Owerri, days after returning to the country earlier in the week. Read more
Volume of trade between Nigeria, China highest in Africa- VP Shettima (VON)
Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed satisfaction with the continuous increase in the volume of trade between Nigeria and China, noting it is one of the highest in Africa.
Shettima calls for constant improvement of relations between the two nations, maintaining that the two countries are friends and have sustained mutual respect and honour for each other.
Shettima made the declaration on Tuesday in Abuja when he received a delegation from China led by Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Zhang Qingwei at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Read more
Tinubu appoints Abiola as SSA on Linguistics & Foreign Matters (NewTelegraph)
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Jami’u Abiola as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Linguistics and Foreign Matters.
This was contained in statement issued on Wednesday by Segun Imohiosen, Director, Information & Public Relations Office the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
According to the statement, the appointment takes effect from 14th of this month. Read more
Lagos Taskforce arrests 53 suspected drug dealers, miscreants in security crackdown (Nation)
In a bid to enhance the security of lives and property, the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (Taskforce) has arrested 53 suspected drug peddlers, addicts, miscreants, and illegal street traders during targeted operations across the state.
A statement by the Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, revealed that various illicit substances, including Marijuana, Codeine Syrup, Colorado, and other harmful narcotics, were recovered during the operations aimed at restoring order in affected areas.
“The chairman of the agency, CSP Adetayo Akerele, emphasized that this operation marks a critical step toward securing relief for residents around Gowon Estate, Ipaja, Egbeda, Idimu and its environs who have been affected by the activities of these suspected criminals. Read more
NDLEA relocates to new headquarters Building in Abuja (Channels)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has relocated its headquarters to its new facility in the Jahi area of Abuja.
The facility, which is the first phase of the national headquarters project expected to be completed with the 2025 budgetary provisions, was officially unveiled during an interdenominational service within the complex on Wednesday.
Speaking during the brief ceremony, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Brig Gen Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), said the development represents a phase in the transformation and recalibration of NDLEA into a modern and result-oriented anti-narcotic agency, a process that began in January 2021. Read more
Drama in Senate over tax reform bills (DailyTrust)
There was a mild drama on Wednesday over move to suspend the Senate standing rules to allow members of the President Bola Tinubu’s economic team into the chamber during plenary.
The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), had moved for suspension of Order 12 to allow the Director-General of the Budget Office and the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Tax, Zacchaeus Adedeji, to provide detail explanations to the Senate on the Tax Reform Bills.
But Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) suggested that such a conversation should be referred to the Senate committee on finance or appropriations, to interface with the team. Read more
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo got paid equally for Wicked, Universal calls pay disparity rumors ‘‘completely false’’ (Variety)
Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were paid the same amount for leading the movie musical, Universal Pictures said in a rare statement on the matter to dispel online rumors about salary discrepancies.
False stories about Grande and Erivo’s compensation for their work on Wicked circulated over the weekend as outlets like the New York Post reported on unsubstantiated claims by TikTok and Reddit users that Grande earned $15 million to play Glinda the Good while Erivo was paid $1 million to portray Elphaba, the eventual Wicked Witch of the West.
“Reports of pay disparity between Cynthia and Ariana are completely false and based on internet fodder,” a spokesperson for Universal said in a statement. “The women received equal pay for their work on ‘Wicked.’” Read more
Marilyn Manson drops defamation lawsuit against Evan Rachel Wood (People)
Marilyn Manson has dropped his defamation lawsuit against Evan Rachel Wood two years after filing.
Manson, born Brian Warner, and Wood reached a settlement agreement on Nov. 19, per court documents obtained by PEOPLE. Under the agreement, the rocker, 55, will pay about $327,000 to Wood, 37, for attorneys’ fees.
“After 4 years of fighting a battle where he was able to tell the truth, Brian is pleased to dismiss his still-pending claims and appeal in order to close the door on this chapter of his life,” Manson’s attorney Howard King tells PEOPLE in a statement. Read more
Mali arrests top politician for criticising Burkina Faso’s ruling junta (AfricaNews)
Mali’s junta arrested one of the country’s top politicians Wednesday for criticizing the military rulers of neighbouring Burkina Faso, according to his son and a judiciary source.
Issa Kaou N’Djim, who previously supported Mali’s current military leader Col. Assimi Goita before distancing himself, was arrested on charges of insulting a foreign head of state, which is a crime in Mali, an employee of the court system said. The court employee spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to talk to reporters.
N’Djim had claimed on the Joliba TV News broadcaster on Sunday that the military rulers of Burkina Faso, a close ally of Mali, made up evidence of a foiled coup in November. Read more
Earl Holliman Dies: Police Woman, Twilight Zone and Forbidden Planet actor with dozens of Film and TV credits was 96 (Deadline)
Earl Holliman, an actor whose scores of credits spanning a half-century ranged from 1950s films Forbidden Planet and Giant to Police Woman and other popular ’70s and ’80s TV dramas and starred in the first episode of The Twilight Zone, died Monday in Los Angeles after a short illness. He was 96.
His niece, Theresa Mullins Harris, announced the news on social media, writing in part: “His dream at 5 years old of becoming a movie star came true, more than he ever could have imagined.”
Holliman got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, won a Supporting Actor Golden Globe for 1957’s The Rainmaker and was nominated for the short-lived early-’90s ABC sitcom Delta, starring Delta Burke. He was a series regular on the latter, playing the understanding owner of a bar where aspiring country singer Delta Bishop (Burke) worked while trying to make it. Read more
Law Roach says Zendaya’s 2015 Oscars dreadlocks led to “global conversation” and the birth of The Crown Act (THR)
Law Roach is reflecting on sparking change when Zendaya wore dreadlocks to the 2015 Academy Awards.
The celebrity stylist, who has also been a longtime client and close friend of the actress since she was a teen, recently opened up at the Teen Vogue Summit about the style decision for her Oscars appearance when the Challengers star was 18 years old. At the time, Fashion Police co-host Giuliana Rancic drew criticism for saying Zendaya looked like “she smells like patchouli oil or weed” that night.
Though Roach doesn’t say Rancic’s name during the panel discussion, he said these “really awful comments” made by “this TV personality” actually led to important conversations. Read more
Brazil ex-President Bolsonaro plotted election coup: Police report (AlJazeera)
Brazilian federal police have published a report implicating former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro in an alleged criminal organisation designed to overturn the 2022 presidential election, won by his leftist challenger and current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
The 884-page report, made public on Tuesday, outlined eight main pieces of evidence against Bolsonaro, including an alleged meeting he took with members of Brazil’s armed forces to plan the coup.
“The evidence collected throughout the investigation shows unequivocally that then-President Jair Messias Bolsonaro planned, acted and was directly and effectively aware of the actions of the criminal organisation aiming to launch a coup d’etat and eliminate the democratic rule of law,” the report explained. Read more
US to start immediately on fresh push for Gaza ceasefire (BBC)
President Joe Biden has said the US will make another push with regional powers for a ceasefire in Gaza, involving the release of hostages and the removal of Hamas from power.
His remarks on X come just hours after a ceasefire came into force in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, ending nearly 14 months of conflict.
Hamas said it hoped for a similar deal in Gaza but continues to reject Israel’s demands, which it perceives as surrender. Read more
Fenerbache offer Eagles star new deal (NewTelegraph)
Fenerbache have tabled a new contract for Super Eagles defender Bright Osayi-Samuel, which includes a massive signing-on fee.
The player’s contract with the Istanbul giants will run out next summer. Fenerbache represented by sports director Mario Branco met with the agent of OsayiSamuel for the first time.
The offer includes a contract for two years with an option for an additional year; an annual salary of two million euros and a signing-on fee of 1.3 million euros It is now left for the Super Eagles ace and his camp to decide. Read more
Arsenal needs Osimhen not Havertz – Gallas (Sun)
Former Arsenal captain William Gallas has strongly recommended that his old club target Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen as they look to strengthen their title ambitions, Soccernet.ng reports.
Gallas, who knows a thing or two about what it takes to succeed at the top level, believes that a player of Osimhen’s calibre is exactly what Arsenal need to mount a serious Premier League title challenge.
While Gallas acknowledged the efforts of Mikel Arteta in adapting Kai Havertz into a makeshift centre-forward, he expressed doubt over whether the German is truly suited to the role. Read more
Aduku hails organization of CAF Women’s Champions League (Nation)
Despite a tough loss to FC Masar of Egypt in the third-place match, Edo Queens’ head coach Moses Aduku has thumbed up the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for what he described as a ‘perfectly organized’ Women’s Champions League tournament.
The Nigerian champions, Edo Queens, were narrowly defeated 4-3 in a penalty shootout after playing out a goalless draw in regular time. This result denied them a chance to secure a third-place finish, following their earlier semi-final defeat in the hands of TP Mazembe, which dashed their hopes of reaching the final.
Aduku, however, remained optimistic about his team’s overall performance in the competition. Aduku’s team had shown promise in the early stages of the competition, opening with an impressive 3-0 victory over CBE, before playing a 0-0 draw with FC Masar, and finally pulling off a dramatic 2-1 win over defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns. Read more
Pep Guardiola insists no intent to ‘‘make light’’ of self harm in nose-cut comment (Independent)
Pep Guardiola has insisted he did not want to make light of issues of self harm after comments about a cut on his nose on Tuesday night.
The Manchester City boss was spotted with the scratch during the match and was asked about it during his post-match press conference after the 3-3 Champions League draw against Feyenoord.
Guardiola replied that he had caused it with a fingernail, adding apparently as a joke: “I want to harm myself.” Read more
PSG come under fire over woeful outing at Bayern Munich (RFI)
Paris Saint-Germain’s faltering Champions League campaign came in for savage scrutiny on Wednesday from international sports writers questioning the choices of coach Luis Enrique and the performance of star players in the 1-0 defeat at Bayern Munich.
The Spanish paper AS described as doomed Enrique’s decision to drop the Italy international goalkeeper Gigi Donnarumma and replace him with Matvey Safonov.
Safonov’s first-half blunder gifted Min-Jae Kim the chance to score Bayern’s goal. AS was also critical of the France international Ousmane Dembélé who was sent off early in the second-half for a second bookable offence. Read more
Red Bull confirm Verstappen to miss upcoming practice session as replacement named (RN365)
Red Bull have confirmed to RacingNews365 that Isack Hadjar is to replace Max Verstappen in practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix next weekend.
The new four-time world champion must hand over his RB20 to F2 title-contender Hadjar to fulfil the requirement of a rookie driving his car in an FP1 session.
Team-mate Sergio Perez handed his car over to Hadjar at the British Grand Prix, but Verstappen had not yet done so. Read more