US court to sentence Hushpuppi Monday (Punch)
Contrary to the rumoured sentencing of social media celebrity, Ramon Abbas, popularly known as ‘Hushpuppi’, indications have emerged that the sentencing will be held on Monday.
There were reports on Friday that Hushpuppi had been sentenced to 11 years in prison in the United States, but according to the BBC, the report is fake.
Hushpuppi is a suspected Nigerian internet fraudster arrested in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in June 2020 and was extradited to the United States on July 3. He was arrested for defrauding over 1.9 million people, the majority of them being Americans.
The 37 years old had pleaded guilty to the charges filed against him. Read more
Extortion: Lagos govt, JDWAN, RTEAN, Parks and Garages leaderships parley (Vanguard)
Lagos State Government on Friday held a tripartite meeting to resolve the lingering crisis between members of Joint Drivers Welfare Association of Nigeria, JDWAN, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, and Lagos State Parks and Garages.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation Sola Giwa who presided over the meeting, held at the Ministry of Transportation’s conference room, Alausa Ikeja, said the warring parties have agreed to meet in the coming week to resolve the issue of alleged extortion and harassment leveled against the transport union members by the commercial drivers with a view to resolve their differences and foster unity among transport workers in the state.
Giwa, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr, Gbolahan Toriola, stressed that the state government would oversee the resolution process as it has done in the past in line with the White Paper on transport union activities of 2004, which recognizes the RTEAN and National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, now Parks and Garages Management in the state.
He added that the state government is working with the law enforcement agencies to dislodge miscreants’ disguising as union members on Lagos roads, advising JDWAN to officially write to the Ministry of Transportation if the resolutions reached between the two parties are not resolved eventually. Read more
Shun plan to sell TBS, Lagos tells FG (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has written to the Federal Government to shun any attempt to sell the Tafawa Balawa Square situated in State until the conclusion of the ongoing case at the Supreme Court.
Recall that The PUNCH had earlier reported the Federal Government was considering selling the Tafawa Balewa Square and some other assets in a bid to fund the 2023 budget deficit of N10.7tn.
A letter signed by the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, and addressed to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, said the pending Supreme Court case on the ownership of the property between the Federal and State government renders attempts to sell TBS and invalid.
The letter which was made available to Saturday PUNCH on Friday read, “The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation (HAGF) must be aware that the position of Federal Government to either sell or concession the Tafawa Balewa Square cannot be valid as the HAGF is the Plaintiff in Suit No. SC.508/2012 between Attorney a of the Federation vs. Attorney General of Lagos State pending before the Supreme Court wherein the HAGF is seeking for declaration that the ownership of the land, building, monuments structures and fixtures better known as Tafawa Balewa Square in the city of Lagos is vested in the Federal Government. The Suit is fixed for 1st November, 2022 for hearing by the apex Court. Read more
Indomie, Power Oil extend CSR gesture to flood victims (ThisDay)
As part of efforts to cushion the effect of flood ravaging the country, Power Oil and Indomie have teamed up to donate relief items to displaced citizens in Kogi State.
Kogi is one of the states with the most flooding damage, resulting in untold hardship for residents, with more than 10,000 persons already displaced.
While presenting the items, Brand Manager of Power Oil, Valerie Amakulor expressed sympathy to the flood victims, adding that the gesture was to complement efforts of the state government to ensure a better life for the affected.
She said, “We grieve with everyone who has suffered terrible losses as a result of this disaster. And we have the greatest respect for the efforts of the state’s government and security personnel in trying to ensure normalcy is restored which we all understand may take a while. Read more
Skit maker, Cute Abiola quits Navy for entertainment (Tribune)
Popular online comedian and comic actor, Abdulgafar Ahmad, better known as Cute Abiola has announced that the Nigerian Navy has approved his exit from the force.
The skit maker made this known on Friday via his verified Facebook account.
According to him, serving in the Navy has helped instill in him the discipline needed to have a successful life.
“With profound gratitude, I deeply appreciate the Nigerian Navy for giving me the uncommon @opportunity to imbibe discipline through a regimented procedure in the areas of career development, moral values, and work ethics, to mention but a few. I can dauntlessly say that I have the required intelligence and human development finesse to continue to live a prosperous life.” Read more
2 charged with threat to kill co-tenant (DailyTrust)
Two men, Odunayo Kolawole (30) and Tosin Dahunsi (32), have been charged before an Ado-Ekiti magistrates’ court in Ekiti State for threatening death on one John Omopariola.
Insp Oriyomi Akinwale, the prosecutor, told the court that the defendants and others at large committed the offence on October 24, at about 10am in Ado-Ekiti.
Akinwale said that the defendants and the complainant who lived in the same compound had an altercation over what was yet to be ascertained, and that in the process the two accused and their accomplices threatened to kill the latter.
Counsel to the defendants, Mr Olawumi Olowolafe, urged the court to grant them bail. Read more
Nigeria needs more dental care Professionals, don declares (Guardian)
A Professor of Orthodontics, Mrs. Idia Ize-Iyamu, yesterday expressed worry over the dearth of orthodontists in the country.
She revealed that out of the 70 orthodontists in Nigeria, there were only 10 professors with four in Lagos, three in Benin, two in Ife and one in Port Harcourt.
According to her, 70 orthodontists were inadequate to serve the over 200 million people that make up the country’s population.
Ize-Iyamu spoke while delivering the 262 inaugural lecture of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), with topic, ‘The Magic of Transformation: Blessed are ye that Weep Now, for ye shall Laugh’ in Benin City, Edo State. Read more
Why we’re building barracks for NDLEA personnel – Marwa (DailyTrust)
The chairman/chief executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd), has said the agency is priortising the building of barracks for its personnel across the country because they are top targets of drug barons and traffickers of illicit substances.
Marwa disclosed this while presenting the performance report of the agency when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Drugs and Narcotics for the 2023 budget defence.
He said many of his operatives had come under attack while going after drug barons and illicit drug traffickers.
He appealed that the N13 billion earmarked for the construction of the barracks be increased by N10bn to enable the agency carry out the project. Read more
Spice Girls’ Geri Halliwell and Djimon Hounsou join cast of Sony’s Gran Turismo movie (People)
Geri Halliwell Horner is heading to the big screen.
Along with Djimon Hounsou, the Spice Girls alum, 50, has been cast in Sony Pictures and PlayStation Productions’ upcoming feature adaptation of the racing video game Gran Turismo, which is currently filming in Hungary.
Halliwell Horner confirmed the news on social media, sharing a screenshot of The Hollywood Reporter’s casting coverage. “Announcement,” she wrote in the caption.
Additionally, Daniel Puig (Naomi), Josha Stradowski (The Wheel of Time) and Thomas Kretschman (Indiana Jones 5) have joined the cast, which also includes David Harbour (Stranger Things), Orlando Bloom (The Lord of the Rings), Darren Barnet (Never Have I Ever) and Archie Madekwe (Midsommar), according to the outlet. Read more
Jennifer Lawrence admits she ‘should have listened’ when Adele told her not to star in Passengers (Metro)
Jennifer Lawrence has revealed her close pal Adele warned her not to star in sci-fi film Passengers, and she’s full of regret for not paying attention.
The 32-year-old actress played Aurora Lane opposite Chris Pratt in the 2016 film, directed by The Imitation Game’s Morten Tyldum, which was panned by critics at the time.
The film tells the story of two passengers on an interstellar spacecraft carrying thousands of people to a colony 60 light years from Earth who are awoken from their induced hibernation 90 years too early.
Lawrence has since said she made the wrong choice in starring in the film and felt like she misled the fanbase she had built by starring in The Hunger Games franchise. Read more
Donald Glover is going to be in the Community movie after all (NME)
Donald Glover is officially returning for the Community movie after all.
Doubts were raised about Glover’s involvement since the initial announcement of the spinoff didn’t mention the actor, who played Troy in the first five seasons of the NBC show.
However, the show’s creator Dan Harmon has since confirmed that Glover will indeed be joining the cast for the new project.
“For lack of a better word, there was a ball that fumbled… [Glover] is down to clowning,” Harmon told Variety. “Man, I would not want to think about making [the movie] without Donald.” Read more
Powerball: Lotto fever grips US for $1.6bn world record prize (BBC)
After more than three months without a winner in the premier lottery game in the US, this weekend’s draw has grown to the biggest the world has ever seen.
The Powerball jackpot advertised for Saturday now stands at an estimated pre-tax prize of $1.6bn (£1.4bn).
That tops the previous record of $1.59bn, split between three Powerball players in 2016.
The odds of winning the jackpot are one in 292 million, according to Powerball.
The game, which began in 1992, is played in 45 of the 50 US states, the capital city of Washington, and in the US territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Read more
Salt-N-Pepa hail ‘‘strong women’’ in music industry at Walk of Fame star ceremony (Standard)
Salt-N-Pepa have praised the “strong women” who came before them in the music industry as they were honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The all-female rap trio highlighted those who had “endured misogyny…but somehow found a way to persevere” in a male dominated field at the ceremony in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Known as the First Ladies of Hip-Hop, Salt-N-Pepa are credited as pioneers of the genre, bringing fun, fashion, and femininity to hip-hop.
The group consists of Cheryl “Salt” James, Sandra “Pepa” Denton and Deidra “DJ Spinderella” Roper. Read more
Music world set to celebrate Dolly Parton, Eminem at Rock Hall of Fame (RFI)
The music world is gathering in Los Angeles to honour some of its finest acts on Saturday, inducting the latest class of luminaries including Dolly Parton and Eminem into the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The country queen and rap agitator are joined by pop futurists Eurythmics, smooth rocker Lionel Richie, new wave Brits Duran Duran, confessional lyricist Carly Simon and enduring rock duo Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo in entering the music pantheon.
The Cleveland-based Hall of Fame — which surveyed more than 1,000 musicians, historians and industry members to choose the entrants — will honor the seven acts in a star-studded gala at Los Angeles’s Microsoft Theater.
More supergroup concert than ceremony, the evening will see music legends honor their peers with performances of their time-tested hits — the lineup is usually kept under wraps until showtime. Read more
US and its allies clash with China, Russia at UN Security Council over North Korea missiles (ABC)
The United States and its allies have clashed with China and Russia over North Korea’s missile launches and American-led military exercises in South Korea, again preventing any action by the deeply divided United Nations Security Council.
US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said North Korea’s “staggering 59 ballistic missile launches this year”, including 13 since October 27 and one that made an “unprecedented impact” about 50 kilometres from South Korea’s shore, are about more than advancing Pyongyang’s military capabilities and seek to raise tensions and stoke fear among its neighbours.
She said 13 of the 15 UN Security Council members had condemned North Korea’s actions since the beginning of the year.
But Pyongyang has been protected by Russia and China who have “bent over backwards” to justify repeated violations of UN sanctions by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or DPRK, the country’s official name, she said. Read more
Flamingos’ rise from perennial underachievers to heroines (DailyTrust)
Last Sunday, October 30, in Mumbai, Nigeria’s U-17 Women’s Football team, the Flamingos, made history when they defeated European giants, Germany, in the third place match at the just concluded FIFA U-17 Women’s world championship for Nigeria’s first ever medal at the world youth championship and the second for Africa, following Ghana’s success in 2012 in Azerbaijan.
Before Sunday’s historic feat by the Flamingos, the Nigerian girls had attended all but one championship which was in 2018 when they were beaten on the away goal-rule by Cameroon (3-3 aggregate after 2-2 in Benin City and 1-1 in Yaounde).
The girls had featured at the inaugural edition in New Zealand, and after a win (over South Korea), loss (to England) and draw (with Brazil) in Wellington and Christchurch, they flew back after the group phase.
Two years later, the Flamingos reached the quarter finals at the second edition in Trinidad and Tobago after beating North Korea, hosts Trinidad and Tobago and Chile for maximum points in the group. But they lost to eventual winners South Korea in a quarter-final match in Marabella. Read more
Portugal vs Nigeria friendly: Peseiro to release Super Eagles list Monday –NFF (Sun)
Ahead of the Portugal and Nigeria international friendly, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF has revealed that the Super Eagles Coach, Jose Peseiro will release his list of 23 players on Monday, 7th November after the weekend games in the various leagues across Europe.
This much was made known in a media release signed by Ademola Olajire on Friday and quoting the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.
Sanusi stated that Peseiro has been doing his work without any distractions, pointing out that the Coach has even compiled his list of players for the upcoming international friendly game with Portugal in Lisbon on 17th November.
“We have a friendly match against Portugal coming up in Lisbon on Thursday, 17th November. Mr. Peseiro has compiled a provisional list and is only waiting for this weekend’s matches to submit his list of 23 players.” Read more
Manchester City confirm signing of Everton rising star Emilio Lawrence (DailyMail)
Manchester City have confirmed the signing of young star Emiliano Lawrence in the latest addition to their crop of young players.
The 17-year-old, who had risen through the Everton academy as one of their most promising stars, will now cross the M62 to Manchester to play under City’s youth system.
The attacking midfielder is the latest in a group of young players who have moved to the Citizens, including the likes of Ben Knight, Luke Mbete and most notably forward Liam Delap, who is currently on loan in the championship.
The attacking midfielder paid homage to his old club saying: ‘Thank you to everyone @everton for everything over the last 10 years.’ Read more
Girona beats Bilbao 2-1 to escape relegation zone in Spain (USAToday)
Girona escaped the Spanish league’s relegation zone after beating Athletic Bilbao 2-1 at home on Friday.
The Catalan club ended a seven-game winless run and jumped all the way from 17th to 12th place in the tightly packed bottom half of the table.
Former Espanyol defender David López opened the scoring in the 67th minute by heading in a free kick by Aleix García at the near post.
Iván Martín added a second in the 75th when the substitute midfielder raced down a long ball and fired it between the legs of Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón. Martín was playing his first match in four months after recovering from a broken fibula in his right leg. Read more
Nike breaks with Kyrie Irving over alleged antisemitism controversy (UPI)
Nike has suspended its relationship with Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets amid an alleged antisemitism controversy.
Irving had previously been suspended from the team for at least five games on Thursday after he chose not to apologize for posting a link to a film that has been viewed as antisemitic.
Irving had shared a tweet last week with a link to the film Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America, which some have said is antisemitic.
“At Nike, we believe there is no place for hate speech and we condemn any form of antisemitism,” the company said in their statement, which was obtained by the New York Daily News and ESPN. Read more
Fernando Alonso wants to team up with Max Verstappen for tilt at Le Mans (PlanetF1)
Fernando Alonso is open to the idea of teaming up with Max Verstappen for a tilt at the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Both of these double World Champions have an interest in endurance racing, although for Verstappen it is currently limited to competing on a simulator having ascended to the peak of his Formula 1 career.
Alonso, though, has more real-life experience of prototype sports cars.
He is a two-time Le Mans winner with Toyota Gazoo Racing, a World Endurance champion and also won the Daytona 24 Hours in 2019 with the Wayne Taylor Racing team, alongside a former F1 rival in Kamui Kobayashi. Read more