US indicts Nigerian for $690k scam, false citizenship claim (Punch)
A Nigerian-born United States citizen, Oladapo Fadugba, risks 27 years imprisonment over his alleged involvement in a $690,000 wire fraud scheme and making false declarations to obtain US citizenship.
PUNCH Metro learnt this in a statement by the US Attorney for the District of Florida, Gregory Kehoe, obtained on Wednesday.
According to Kehoe, Fadugba was indicted for multiple charges, including wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and making false statements during his naturalisation process. Read more
Lagos advocates rent reduction, declares caution fee, inspection fee illegal (Leadership)
The Lagos State government has charged the leadership of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, and Association of Estate Agents in Nigeria to support the drive to reduce the rent burden on Lagosians and shun the prevalent illegal fees in the real estate business.
In a statement by the deputy director, Public Affairs, Ganiu Lawal, the professional bodies were also urged to stem the rate at which agents across the real estate value chain engaged in competition of fees in real estate transactions.
It stated that, โthe introduction of illegal fees such as caution fee, inspection fee, finderโs fee, and others represents a professionally harmful practice which affects tenants and puts the integrity of the practitioners and property owners at stake. Read more
Court grants bail to 63-year-old man accused of stealing cocoa, fraud (Guardian)
The Police, yesterday, arraigned a 63-year-old man, Dapo Fatunroti, before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistratesโ Court over alleged threats to life, unlawful entry, theft, and fraud.
Fatunroti, who has no fixed address, is facing a five-count charge bordering on threats to life, unlawful entry, stealing, unlawful interference with property, and obtaining money under false pretences.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Akinwale Oriyomi, told the court that the defendant, alongside others still at large, committed the offences on January 10 in Ise-Ekiti. Read more
Your reforms inflict hunger, poverty on masses, NLC tells IMF delegation (Vanguard)
A few days ago, the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, received a two-man delegation from the International Monetary Fund, IMF, comprising the IMF Resident Representative for Nigeria, Christian H. Ebeke, and, Axel Schimmelpfennig from Washington, D.C.
The purpose of the visit was to assess how Nigerian workers and the general populace are being affected by the current socioeconomic environment and the hardship resulting from government policies.
The IMF delegation , led by Schimmelpfennig also sought insights from the NLC regarding the state of the labour market in Nigeria. According to them, the information gathered would contribute to the IMFโs annual country report for Nigeria. Read more
Air Peace suspends flight operations nationwide (Nation)
The Management of Air Peace has announced the suspension of all flight operations nationwide following the industrial action by staff of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
The suspension, according to the airline, is due to the unavailability of QNH (hazardous weather) report required for safe landings.
The announcement of the suspension is contained in a notice by the Head of Corporate Communication of Air Peace, Dr. Ejike Ndiulo. Read more
ECOWAS At 50: President Tinubu advocates people-centred visions (VON)
Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, has called on member States to reimagine the organisation as a community centered on its people and not just a coalition of states.
The ECOWAS Chair urged the region to prioritise investment in education, innovation, and skills development to fully unlock Africaโs future potential.
President Tinubu, represented by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, stated this on Tuesday in Accra, Ghana, at the launch of a series of events to mark the regional bodyโs golden jubilee. Read more
Insecurity: Tinubu summons NSA, Defence Chief (Tribune)
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday summoned the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, for a high-level meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The two senior security officials arrived at the Villa around 3:00 p.m. and proceeded into a closed-door session with the President at his official residence, amid mounting concerns over a resurgence of deadly attacks in the Middle Belt region, particularly in Plateau and Benue States.
The meeting, described by sources as โcrucial,โ comes against the backdrop of a series of violent assaults by unidentified assailants that have left tens of people dead in the last three weeks. Read more
Ghana president suspends chief justice in unprecedented move (BBC)
Ghanaian President John Mahama has suspended the country’s Supreme Court chief justice – a move that marks a first in the country’s history.
An investigation has been launched and three undisclosed petitions have been filed making allegations against Gertrude Torkornoo, calling for her permanent removal.
Chief justices in Ghana enjoy security of tenure – meaning they can only be removed from office on a few grounds, which include incompetence and misbehaviour. Read more
Sydney Sweeney and Michael Bay set โโOutRunโโ video game movie at Universal (Variety)
Segaโs 1986 arcade driving adventure โOutRunโ is the latest video game to get the adaptation treatment at Universal Pictures.
Michael Bay (Transformers franchise, Ambulance) is set to direct. Sydney Sweeney (Anyone But You, Immaculate) will produce. Bay and Brad Fuller will produce through Platinum Dunesโ first-look deal with Universal Pictures. Toru Nakahara (Sonic the Hedgehog 1-3, Knuckles, โGolden Axeโ) will produce for Sega and Sega Corporation president/COO Shuji Utsumi will oversee the project on behalf of Sega.
Universalโs Executive Vice President of Production Development Matt Reilly and Senior Vice President of Production Development Ryan Jones will oversee the project for the studio. Read more
Dave Coulier learned he was cancer-free on the day his grandson was born (FilmNews)
Dave Coulier found out he was cancer-free on the day his grandson was born.
The Full House star has revealed he celebrated becoming cancer-free and a grandfather on the same day after his son Luc and his wife Alex welcomed a baby boy, Chance Lee, on 27 March.
Speaking to his former co-stars Jodie Sweetin and Andrea Barber on the latest episode of their podcast, How Rude, Tanneritos!, Coulier explained he became cancer-free four months after revealing he was diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in November last year. Read more
George Clooney reacts to Donald Trump calling him โfake movie actorโโ (DailyMail)
George Clooney has claimed he isn’t bothered by Donald Trump calling him a ‘fake movie actor.’
Trump criticized the 63-year-old Oscar-winning actor for his New York Times opinion piece calling for Joe Biden to withdraw as the Democratic presidential nominee.
‘So now fake movie actor George Clooney, who never came close to making a great movie, is getting into the act,’ Trump said at the time. Read more
Harry Potter star hits out at JK Rowling over trans rights views (Standard)
Harry Potter actor Sean Biggerstaff has publicly criticised author JK Rowling for her views on transgender rights, calling her an โobsessed billionaireโ and โbigotedโ in a series of posts on social media.
Rowling, 59, has become a polarising figure for her stance on gender identity.
Most recently, she praised a UK Supreme Court ruling that stated the term โwomanโ in the 2010 Equality Act refers only to biological females. The author reportedly helped fund For Women Scotland, the group that brought the case to court. Read more
Celebrity Big Brother‘s JoJo Siwa ‘realises she’s not a lesbianโ (LADbible)
Celebrity Big Brother’s JoJo Siwa told housemate Danny Beard about the latest epiphany regarding her sexuality during last night’s episode.
Following the triple eviction of EastEnders actress Patsy Palmer, TV presenter Angellica Bell and The Only Way is Essex’s Ella Rae Wise, the 21-year-old American was seen confiding in the RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner.
Having stated previously that she was a lesbian, it seems Siwa no longer uses that label. Read more
Martins reveals pressure wearing Shearerโs No.9 jersey (Punch)
Former Nigeria international Obafemi Martins has revealed the immense pressure he felt after inheriting Newcastle United legend Alan Shearerโs iconic No.9 jersey during his time at St Jamesโ Park, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
In an emotional interview with Football Fans Tribe, the now 40-year-old striker reflected on the weight of expectations following his ยฃ10m transfer from Inter Milan in 2006, when he was tasked with filling the void left by the Magpiesโ all-time record goalscorer.
โIt wasnโt easy at all playing as the No.9. I took Shearerโs No.9 shirt, so the pressure alone is high. They wanted me to be the next Shearer, to score more goals. But I did my part and I moved on. You are the one wearing the jersey, the shirt doesnโt wear you,โ Martins said. Read more
Ex-FIFA council member, Mali football chief walks free (VON)
A former member of the FIFA Council, Mamoutou Toure, has been released from jail in Mali after almost two years in detention for alleged corruption, Malian media reports said on Wednesday.
Toure, president of the Malian Football Federation since 2019, was released after 622 days in prison on Tuesday. He served on the FIFA Council, world footballโs all-powerful decision-making body, for four years until last month when he lost his seat after failing to contest new elections.
The 67-year-old was arrested in August 2023 on allegations of embezzling $28 million of public funds but was granted a provisional release order by the Malian courts, reports said. Read more
Rangers close to appointing Everton’s Thelwell (BBC)
Rangers are close to appointing Everton’s director of football, Kevin Thelwell, as their new sporting director.
The 51-year-old Englishman has already confirmed he is leaving the Premier League side this summer.
And after Rangers chief executive Patrick Stewart announced a root and branch review of all club operations earlier this season, Thelwell has been identified by the Scottish Premiership club to help implement some of the changes. Read more
Como push for permanent deal with Barcelona starlet after standout loan spell (FootballItalia)
Como are pleased with Alex Valleโs performances and are reportedly working to make his loan move from Barcelona permanent.
The 20-year-old joined the Serie A side last January on a six-month deal and was brought in at the specific request of coach Cesc Fabregas.
A product of La Masia, Barcelonaโs famed youth academy, Valle quickly established himself as a starter for the Lariani, featuring in all of their Serie A matches since his arrival and starting nine of them. Read more
Red Bull boss Christian Horner slated over Max Verstappen evidence (RN365)
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner’s photographic evidence of Max Verstappen’s first-corner duel with Oscar Piastri in Saudi Arabia has been described as “a load of baloney”.
The Turn 1 clash at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit between Verstappen and McLaren driver Piastri has resulted in widely differing views as to whether the five-second time penalty handed to the four-time champion for going off-track and gaining an advantage was justified.
In his post-race media session on Sunday, Horner proffered photographic ‘evidence’ that showed Verstappen was ahead under braking. The key point for the stewards, however, was that Piastri was ahead at the apex. Read more