Tinubu absent, Atiku, Obi, Shettima attend NBA conference (Punch)
The Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Bar Association is currently holding at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, the Labour Party, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, respectively are present at the event.
The vice-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Kashim Shettima, is also present at the event to represent the presidential candidate of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
The 2022 NBA AGM is themed, “BOLD Transitions” and its General Conference is expected to hold between August 19 and 26, with the opening ceremony happening today (Monday). Read more
Mo Abudu makes directorial debut in two new movies (DailyTrust)
Popular Nigerian movie producer and CEO of Ebony Life Group, Mo Abudu, has embarked on a new phase of her career by making her debut as a director.
The filmmaker said in a statement that she would be directing two short films this month and would oversee the whole filmmaking process for the very first time.
Mo Abudu described her debut as a director as the fulfillment of one of her cherished dreams, noting that since her first full-length feature, Fifty, in 2015, she has guided the storytelling process as an executive producer and visionary, but always sought experienced directors to helm each project.
Prior to her directorial debut, the moviemaker had, in 2017, applied to the London Film School and completed the course in directing, with the aim of improving her filmmaking skills.
Speaking on the new feat, Mo Abudu said, “I believe in learning and understanding any major assignment I undertake. Directing is an art form that takes years to master, so I am beginning with baby steps.
“I have written two short films that I will be directing – Her Perfect Life and Iyawo Mi (My Wife), a predominantly Yoruba language film. Read more
Lagos advances Nigeria’s legal profession – Attorney General (Punch)
The Lagos State Attorney General, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, has said the state judiciary has been instrumental in the advancement of the legal profession in Nigeria.
Onigbanjo made this statement during the Opening Ceremony of the Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Bar Association, which is holding today at the Eko Hotels.
Speaking on behalf of the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Onigbanjo said the state’s judicial system had upheld the legacies of the past administration in the improvement of the legal practice in the country.
He said, “We have continually transformed our structures, building new courtrooms, renovating existing ones, to create a more conducive environment for our judges and to efficiently administer justice. Read more
South-South group urges greater cooperation of native residents in Lagos (Independent)
The South-South indigenes in Lagos State have been called upon to unite for a greater advantage of bettering the lives of their people through empowerment opportunities that abound in Lagos.
Under the auspices of CREDAB People’s Association (coined from Cross Rivers, Rivers, Edo, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa), a socio-cultural group for South-South people held her inaugural general assembly with over 800 participants in attendance during the weekend at the Oranmiyan Hall, Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
Olorogun Goodie Ibru, a foremost businessman, who made the call while appraising the economy of Lagos and opportunities that lie within, expressed satisfaction at the creation and movement of the CREDAB People’s Association.
Ibru advised the South-South people in Lagos to take advantage of their numbers which run in millions to benefit the lives of the people resident in the state. Read more
Oshodi-Isolo council boss calls for solemn assembly over slain staff (Vanguard)
The Executive Chairman of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government, Kehinde Oloyede, on Monday, directed his officials to mourn the late Hon Francis Goke Oguntulu who died from the injuries sustained when he was shot by some suspected gunmen.
The incident supposedly occurred at a birthday party on Friday but he was rushed to the hospital where he was said to be pronounced dead on Sunday.
Vanguard learnt that Goke’s immediate family resides abroad and is yet to arrive Nigeria to commence the burial rites.
In a statement which emanated from the Media office of the Executive Chairman, he described Oguntulu as a dependable staff whose political sagacity will be greatly missed. Read more
Vandals cart away transformer components, throw Ilorin into darkness (Leadership)
Five months after the residents of Oko-Erin community in Ilorin, Kwara State contributed N2 Million to fix the two power transformers serving the area, vandals have again carted away cables and other vital components of the transformers.
Consequently, the residents of the community have been thrown into darkness.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the cables and vital components of the two transformers were at the weekend carted away by unknown persons.
The development has taken its toll on socio- economic activities in the area as those using electricity for their businesses now count their losses. Read more
6 Kwankwaso’s supporters die in Nasarawa crash (Nation)
Six supporters of presidential candidate of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) Rabiu Kwankwaso died in an auto crash when he visited Lafia, Nasarawa State capital to commission his presidential campaign office on Saturday.
One of the buses conveying them lost control and somersaulted, leading to the instant death of four. The other two died later in a hospital.
Several occupants of the vehicle also sustained various degrees of injuries and were rushed to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.
The former Kano Governor consoled the people of Nasarawa state, families of the deceased and the NNPP over the unfortunate incident. Read more
Deji of Akure closes markets, shops in Akure for Aheregbe festival (Leadership)
The Deji of Akure kingdom, Oba(Dr)Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, has ordered a day closure of all markets and shops in Akure today for Aheregbe Festival.
Oba Aladetoyinbo said the closure becomes necessary as part of the age long tradition in observance of the annual Aheregbe Festival.
In a statement issued by his chief press secretary, Michael Adeyeye, informed residents that no trading or opening of shops under any guise will be allowed during the festival.
The monarch urged market women and shop owners to kindly comply with this directive. Read more
IPOB threatens Uzor Kalu over call to ‘wipe out’ ESN from Southeast (Guardian)
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) said on Monday that the Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, would pay for any attack on Eastern Security Network (ESN) operatives in the zone henceforth.
It warned the Senator to stay off the activities of the ESN, stressing that his insistence on using soldiers on its members would fail.
The group was reacting to an alleged call by Kalu that security agencies should wipe out ESN operatives in the bushes and forests across the Southeast.
IPOB in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said the lawmaker should write his will if he insists on bringing Fulanis into the Southeast. Read more
Davido collaborates with Pheelz for new single, “Electricity” (Leadership)
After being teased for weeks, Pheelz and Davido and Pheelz have collaborated on a new single, Electricity. Electricity is Pheelz’s second official single for the year and it comes 5 months after the release of the wildly successful BNXN featuring record Finesse.
Pheelz is solidifying his stance in the industry as an artist with Electricity being proof. He taps Davido as they deliver an electric performance on the new release. Written by both Pheelz and Davido (whose writing skills are evident on the current most Shazamed song globally.
Chris Brown’s ‘Under The Influence’ with over 2.2 million Shazams), the Electricity track is a vibrant body of work with vocals that compliment each other effortlessly. The track was also co-produced by P-Prime and TMX0 with its mixing and mastering done by Dro.
The new single also has some note-worthy lyrics. “Nobody go co-sign. And you know everything I do is nobody else concerned,” Pheelz sings. He’s letting us know that there was a time when he was getting zero support and when he was the only one who cared about what he was doing. Read more
Harry Styles reflects on ‘figuring out sexuality’ ahead of My Policeman release date (DailyStar)
Harry Styles has revealed the director of his upcoming film My Policeman wanted to “highlight” what sex is between men, rather than the characters “going at it”.
The singer and actor who is preparing for the release of two films this summer found himself playing Tom, a policeman who discovered he had feelings for Patrick, a museum curator (played by David Dawson).
However, the film is set in the 1950s when it was illegal to be in a same-sex relationship in the UK – leaving Tom to marry Marion (Emma Corrin) before he reunites with his true love.
Speaking about same-sex relationships being illegal, Styles, 28, said it was “unfathomable” to think that it was once illegal. Read more
Camila Cabello and Hans Zimmer collaborate on new song for Frozen Planet II (BBC)
Singer-songwriter Camila Cabello and Dune/Top Gun: Maverick’s composer Hans Zimmer have collaborated to write and record a new song that will accompany the debut extended trailer for the eagerly anticipated Sir David Attenborough-narrated series Frozen Planet II.
The new track, ‘Take Me Back Home’, marks the first time a new song has been written to support a BBC One natural history landmark release and features the haunting vocals of Cabello supported by the epic orchestration of Zimmer and his long-term collaborators – arranger Anže Rozman and producer Russell Emanuel for Bleeding Fingers Music.
A sequel to 2011’s ground-breaking series, Frozen Planet II is a spellbinding six-episode journey through earth’s magical icy lands including the north and south poles, narrated by Sir David Attenborough and produced by BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit, the makers of Blue Planet II and Planet Earth II. Read more
Coldplay bring out Stormzy for ‘Blinded By Your Grace Pt. 1’ performance at final Wembley show (NME)
Coldplay finished their six-night residency at Wembley Stadium last night (August 21) by bringing out Stormzy to perform ‘Blinded By Your Grace Pt. 1’ .
Across the band’s gigs at the London venue this month, they have been joined by a host of special guests, including Natalie Imbruglia, Craig David, Steve Coogan in character as Alan Partridge and many more.
All the performances have taken place on the venue’s ‘C-stage’ at the back of the arena, and the Sunday night gig saw them end the sixth part of their seven-part show by welcoming Stormzy for a version of his 2018 hit.
As with all of the special guest performances during the run of gigs, Coldplay and their guests were joined by Jacob Collier on piano and pedal steel guitarist Nicole Lawrence. Read more
Bullied boy with dwarfism scores role in new ‘Mad Max’ movie (CNN)
Quaden Bayles, an indigenous Australian boy who won the support of celebrities and well-wishers around the globe after being bullied because of his disability, has landed a role in the new “Mad Max” movie.
Oscar-winning director George Miller has cast the now 11-year-old in a small role in the movie “Furiosa,” a prequel to his 2015 post-apocalyptic blockbuster “Mad Max: Fury Road.”
Miller revealed in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Weekend magazine, published Saturday, that he was moved to put Bayles on the big screen after watching the distressing video his mother shared of him in February 2020.
The Queensland boy, born with a type of dwarfism known as achondroplasia, is already scheduled to appear alongside Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton in Miller’s next film, “Three Thousand Years of Longing.” Read more
Netflix reveals release date for ‘Knives Out’ sequel ‘Glass Onion’ (THR)
Netflix has set a date to return to Rian Johnson’s Knives Out world. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery will debut on Netflix on Dec. 23, after hitting select theaters on a date to be announced, the streamer announced Monday.
Along with the release date, Netflix shared first-look photos from the film, which stars Daniel Craig as detective Benoit Blanc. This time around, Blanc travels to Greece and becomes embroiled in a mystery alongside new characters played by Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr, Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline with Kate Hudson and Dave Bautista.
Johnson writes and directs the sequel to the 2019 film, which earned him an Oscar nomination for best original screenplay. He produces with T-Street partner Ram Bergman. Netflix says it will give Glass Onion a theatrical release in select theaters, with those details to come at a later date. The film was previously announced to premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. Read more
Italy’s PM hopeful Meloni slammed for posting rape video (Aljazeera)
Far-right leader Giorgia Meloni, leading the race to become Italy’s next prime minister, was accused on Monday of shameful electioneering by her rivals after posting a video of a Ukrainian woman being raped by a migrant in an Italian city.
The 55-year-old woman was assaulted on a pavement in the city of Piacenza on Sunday morning by an asylum seeker from Guinea, according to local officials. The incident was filmed by someone in a flat overlooking the street and the assailant was arrested.
Police confirmed the arrest and said the man was being detained as the investigation continued.
Meloni, whose Brothers of Italy party heads the polls ahead of a September 25 national election, tweeted the video, which had been posted on a newspaper website with the image blurred but the woman’s cries clearly audible. Read more
Ukraine war: Allies seek more security at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant (BBC)
In a phone call on Sunday, the four leaders also reiterated their support for Ukraine against Russia’s invasion.
Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of shelling a Russian-held nuclear plant, raising fears of a catastrophe.
Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Ukrainians to be vigilant ahead of Independence Day celebrations.
“Russia could try to do something particularly disgusting, particularly cruel,” he said in a weekend address. Read more
2023 World Athletics Championships: Brume, 3 others through to Budapest (Sun)
The performances of Nigerian women at the just concluded Commonwealth Games in Birmingham have earned them placements at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
According to the qualification standards as released by World Athletics, the quartet of Ese Brume, Favor Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma and Grace Nwokocha have all scaled through to the Budapest championship.
With the qualification period for Budapest 2023 running from July 30, 2022 to July 30, 2023, it means performances achieved at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham fall within the qualification period.
This is even as reigning world champion in 100m hurdles Tobi Amusan enjoys a wild card entry for the global showpiece thanks to her world record-breaking 12.06 seconds in Oregon USA. Read more
I’ll make Nigeria proud in EPL, says Awoniyi (Nation)
Taiwo Awoniyi has vowed to make his country and family “proud” after recently scoring his first goal for Nottingham Forest.
The 25-year-old made the £17.5million switch to Trentside from Union Berlin, becoming the club’s record transfer before Morgan Gibbs-White’s £42.5m arrival. He was handed his first start at the City Ground and it could not have gone better as he secured the winner against West Ham last weekend.
With just two games in, he is keen to continue doing what he knows he’s capable of, in his bid to help the Reds excel on their return to the top flight. “I know how much Nigerians love the English Premier League, I know how much they watch the game,” Awoniyi said.
“For me being here, being a player of Nottingham Forest, and also coming from Nigeria, I just want to make myself and my country proud. I believe it, it all boils down to what I do here so if everything goes well I believe a lot of Nigerians will be following. Read more
Cambridge Utd v Norwich City: Record crowd attends season opener (BBC)
Cambridge United and Norwich City kicked off their women’s football season with an East Anglian derby on Sunday. On the back of England’s Euro 2022 success last month, a record crowd was in attendance. How much of an impact has the Lionesses’ win had?
For Cambridge United manager Darren Marjoram, the number of people watching was the biggest silver lining following his team’s 1-4 defeat to Norwich.
Watched by 648 fans, Marjoram described the turn-out as “magnificent”. Last season’s biggest attendance was 500.
“Lots of people here, a really good atmosphere, so thanks to everyone for coming down, and we feel that’s a positive winner ultimately for women’s football,” he said. Read more
Man Utd make request to fans as anti-Glazer protests planned at Old Trafford vs Liverpool (Express)
Manchester United have reportedly emailed fans urging them to arrive at Old Trafford “as early as possible” ahead of the Red Devils’ clash with Liverpool tonight as mass anti-Glazer protests have been planned outside the Theatre of Dreams. The May 2021 match between the age-old footballing foes was postponed as a result of the disruption caused by those remonstrating against United’s American owners.
A United supporters’ group known as ‘The 1958’ have made clear their intention to “peacefully” protest against the Glazers on Monday night in order to “show the world our deep discontent with this vile ownership.” And having seen the visit of Liverpool to Old Trafford last year – a match due to be played behind closed doors during lockdown – abandoned after fans broke into the ground as part of their demonstration towards United’s owners, the club appear determined to ensure such events aren’t repeated.
Amid reports the Greater Manchester Police have formulated a plan to combat unruliness, United are understood to have emailed fans ahead of the clash encouraging them to arrive promptly in order to avoid potentially chaotic scenes outside of Old Trafford. Read more
Presidential reception for Team Nigeria holds September 15 (Guardian)
The Federal Government will host members of Team Nigeria’s contingent to the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on September 15, the Ministry of sports has disclosed.
A statement by the ministry’s Director, Press and Public Relations, Manga Mohammed, said Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, said, yesterday, that the Presidential reception “is in recognition of the historic performance of the team, which is the best ever since 1950 (72 years ago) when Nigeria first participated at the Games, which led to President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval that a special reception is held in their honour.”
Dare added that the “event is also part of the country’s way of appreciating the Team’s great act of sacrifice, patriotism and determination, demonstrated at the Games, which has brought Nigeria into positive global focus.”
Nigeria won 35 medals at the Games, including 12 gold, nine silver and 14 bronze to end the competition as Africa’s best team. Read more
Frederic Vasseur admits to talks with Audi regarding takeover, engine supply deal (F1News)
Alfa Romeo team principal, Frederic Vasseur, does not want to disrespect the Italian car company by focusing on Audi, and insists that he wants to keep Sauber’s attention on their current partnership.
Alfa Romeo began their partnership with Sauber in 2018 when they purchased shares with the Swiss outfit and became a name partner.
They intensified their involvement in the project by buying the naming rights in 2019 as the Sauber name disappeared from the pinnacle of motorsport, but the team and the driving force behind it is still very much Sauber.
Alfa have been performing well in the early part of 2022 with their new partnership of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, the pair scoring points on nine occasions between them. Read more
Alexander Zverev withdraws from US Open (TennisWorld)
World No. 2 Alexander Zverev has withdrawn from the US Open.
Zverev, 25, tore several ligaments during his French Open semifinal versus Rafael Nadal.
After missing out on Wimbledon, Zverev was hoping to at least be ready for the US Open. Unfortunately, Zverev hasn’t managed to get prepared in time for the US Open and he has decided to skip the final Grand Slam tournament of the season.
Zverev, who reached his maiden Grand Slam final at the US Open in 2020, won’t be making his eighth main draw appearance at Flushing Meadows. In 2020, Zverev reached his first and lone Grand Slam final at the US Open. Read more
