Vote-buying: EFCC intercepts N32.4m in Lagos (Punch)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday intercepted the sum of N32,400 million allegedly suspected to be used for vote buying in Lagos State.
The spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement, revealed that the recovery was made by operatives of the Lagos zonal command of the commission
He noted that the suspect involved has been taken into custody for further questioning.
The PUNCH reports that the EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has implored all personnel of the commission deployed for election monitoring duties to show courage and not give room for unscrupulous persons to undermine the integrity of the elections through financial inducement. Read more
Our logo missing on ballots, Ondo Labour Party laments (Vanguard)
Barely 24 hours to the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the Labour Party, in Ondo State, has raised an alarm over the omission of the party’s logo in the ballot papers sent to the state.
The party, however, called on INEC to consider the postponement of the election in seven House of Representatives and one Senatorial area across the state until the needful was done.
Addressing newsmen in Akure, the state secretary of the party, Abiodun Agbaje, alleged that it “was a deliberate act to disenfranchise our supporters…” Read more
Elections: 15 killed in Kano, Enugu, Ebonyi violence (DailyTrust)
At least 15 persons have been killed in different attacks on campaign trains in Kano, Enugu and Ebonyi states.
In Kano, hoodlums attacked the convoy of supporters of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The Head of Operations, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence (NSDC), Kano Command, DCC Faruk Nuhu, in a briefing said the reports its men gathered from the field showed that between five and seven corpses have so far been recovered.
But the NNPP said none of its members was confirmed dead while the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) said it had no report of any casualties other than vehicles. Read more
Breaking: Hours to election, APC suspends Orji Kalu for anti-party activities (Tribune)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended Senate Chief Whip Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North) less than 24 hours before the National Assembly election due to alleged anti-party activities and other violations.
In a letter conveying Kanu’s suspension, APC said it was with immediate effect.
Kalu and the Abia APC leadership and members had been at odds over claims that the former governor of Abia had been undermining and sabotaging the party in the state.
Kalu was suspended for “acts of disobedience and gross anti-party activities,” according to the letter dated February 21. Read more
Gunmen attack Lagos PDP Reps candidate, injure 2 (Punch)
At least two people were injured on Thursday in an attack on the convoy of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the House of Representatives, Lagos Mainland Constituency, Segun Gbayi.
The attack by the yet-to-be-identified gunmen happened in the Makoko area, Yaba, Lagos State.
The gunmen also attacked the security escorts attached to the convoy, opened fire and vandalised their vehicles.
However, Gbayi narrowly escaped the attack unhurt. Read more
Ignore fake audio on rigging plot, Atiku tells Nigerians (ThisDay)
The Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has described as utter rubbish, an audio clip on social media wherein he purportedly revealed plans by himself, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State to rig the presidential election.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, the PDP presidential candidate, said the latest fake audio clip in circulation was a confirmation of his warning last week that the opposition would deepen its propaganda ahead of the election.
Shaibu said, “We warned last week that as the election approaches, there will be a spike in the rate of propaganda on social media. With barely 24 hours to the poll, we have witnessed propaganda from not just the All Progressives Congress but the Labour Party as well. Read more
Cross River: Ayade mourns Calabar South council boss (Sun)
Cross River state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade has described the sudden death of Calabar South local government chairperson, Mrs Esther Bassey, as painful and devastating.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Bar. Christian Ita, the governor, bemoaned Mrs Bassey’s death, saying her demise was shocking.
The statement read in part: “It was with a rude shock and disbelief that I received news of Mrs Bassey’s sudden demise. Her death is a tragic and monumental loss to Cross River State. It is a painful loss. Read more
Health: FCCPC lauds UATH for domesticating Patients’ Bill of Rights (Channels)
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has lauded authorities at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) for officially domesticating the Patients’ Bill of Rights, with a view to ensuring better clinical satisfaction.
FCCPC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Babatunde Irukera, praised the efforts of the management of UATH for ensuring that the PBoR is not only implemented but domesticated in the hospital facility.
The FCCPC boss noted that the domestication of the bill would go a long way to ensure better quality health care delivery in the country. Read more
Readers to be given option of original or edited Roald Dahl book editions (ITV)
Roald Dahl’s Classic Collection is to be released with the author’s “classic texts in print”, following criticism of recent editing of his work to remove potentially offensive language, Puffin UK has announced.
Original works from the much-loved, but controversial, children’s author have been re-written to cater for the sensitivities of modern audiences.
The Roald Dahl Story Company and Puffin Books carried out a review of Dahl’s classics, which led to the removal or re-writing of content deemed offensive – including references to weight, mental health, violence, gender and race. Read more
Vernon Kay ”over the moon” to replace Ken Bruce on Radio 2 (BBC)
Vernon Kay will replace presenter Ken Bruce on his weekday mid-morning slot on Radio 2, the BBC has confirmed.
Bruce announced on air in January that he would be leaving the station after 31 years in the role.
“Vernon is a lovely bloke and I wish him all the best,” Bruce told BBC News, adding that he “wouldn’t dare give anyone else tips about broadcasting”.
Kay, who is known for presenting ITV’s All Star Family Fortunes, said taking over the show was “a dream come true”. Read more
Half-ton meteor crashes in Texas’s backyard (HindustanTimes)
Since they were invented, doorbell cameras have undoubtedly recorded some fairly interesting things, but hardly any of them have ever recorded something so extraordinary. A door cam in Texas McAllen, recorded a part of meteor crashing in a person’s backyard.
In footage shared by @disdikmark, you can hear a loud boom in the person’s backyard. According to reports, the object that caused the loud sound was a half-ton meteor (454 kg). The person who shared the video in the caption wrote, “You can hear the meteorite explosion.”
After this post was shared, NASA confirmed that a meteorite turned into an atmospheric fireball and crashed near McAllen, Texas 5 p.m. EST, February 15. According to NASA experts, the object was a meteoroid with a diameter of about two feet and a weight of roughly 1,000 pounds. Read more
IT prequel series, ‘Welcome to Derry,’ coming to HBO Max (ET)
The world of IT is expanding, with a prequel series coming to HBO Max. Set in the world of Stephen King’s universe, Welcome to Derry is based on the author’s novel as well as filmmaker Andy Muschietti’s successful feature film adaptations, IT and IT Chapter Two.
The series is being developed by Andy Muschietti as well as sister Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs, both of whom were involved in the IT films. Andy Muschietti is set to direct multiple episodes, including the pilot, while Fuchs, who will write teleplay for the first episode, and Brad Caleb Kane will serve as co-showrunners.
“As teenagers, we took turns reading chapters of Stephen King’s IT until the thick paperback fell to pieces,” the Muschietti siblings said in a statement. “IT is an epic story that contains multitudes, far beyond what we could explore in our IT movies. We can’t wait to share the depths of Steve’s novel, in all its heart, humor, humanity and horror.” Read more
Tom Whitlock, Lyricist on Top Gun songs “Danger Zone” and “Take My Breath Away,” dies at 68 (THR)
Tom Whitlock, who wrote the lyrics for the rock anthem “Danger Zone” and the chart-topping love song “Take My Breath Away” for the original Top Gun, winning an Oscar in the process, has died. He was 68.
Whitlock died Saturday at a memory care center in Gallatin, Tennessee, a spokesperson at the Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home in Springfield, Missouri, confirmed. He had Alzheimer’s disease, friends told the Springfield News Leader. Read more
Ukraine pledges victory in 2023 upon anniversary of Russian invasion (PBS)
Ukraine’s leader pledged to push for victory in 2023 as he and other Ukrainians on Friday marked the somber anniversary of the Russian invasion that upended their lives and Europe’s security.
It was Ukraine’s “longest day,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, but the country’s dogged resistance a year on has proven that “every tomorrow is worth fighting for.”
On a day of commemorations, reflection and tears, the Ukrainian president’s defiant tone captured the national mood of resilience in the face of Europe’s biggest and deadliest wa r since World War II. Zelenskyy, who has himself become a symbol of Ukraine’s refusal to bow to Moscow, said Ukrainians proved themselves to be invincible during “a year of pain, sorrow, faith and unity.” Read more
U20 AFCON: Bosso hails Egypt, says main goal is World Cup ticket (Sun)
Ladan Bosso has heaped praises on Egypt following Flying Eagles’ 1-0 victory in the TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday, BSNSports.com.ng has gathered.
Nigeria secured its first points of the tournament after their shock defeat to Senegal at the Cairo International Stadium in the opening round of matches.
Solomon Agbalaka headed in from a corner in the last 20 minutes to give the seven times champions all 3 points against a wasteful Young Pharaohs who created numerous chances in the Group A clash. Read more
Sevilla goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović punched by pitch invader during Europa League match at PSV Eindhoven (CNN)
Sevilla’s 2-0 loss to PSV Eindhoven in Thursday’s Europa League match turned ugly when a pitch invader ran on the field and punched the Spanish club’s goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović at the Philips Stadium in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
Towards the end of the match, which resulted in PSV being eliminated from the tournament 3-2 on aggregate, the spectator can be seen on video walking up to Dmitrović before throwing a punch at his head.
The 6-foot-4-inch Serbian goalkeeper quickly pinned down the pitch invader before security personnel arrived and escorted the assailant off the field. Read more
Klopp signed new contract to oversee ”tricky” Liverpool rebuild (RFI)
Jurgen Klopp admitted on Friday his struggling Liverpool squad need a rebuild, saying he signed a new contract last season to oversee the repair job at Anfield.
Liverpool’s current campaign is in danger of unravelling after this week’s chastening 5-2 Champions League defeat by Real Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
Last season, Liverpool came agonisingly close to winning an unprecedented quadruple but are now already out of both domestic club competitions and lag 19 points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal. Read more
Charles Leclerc says he’s not ready to discuss new Ferrari contract (F1News)
Ferrari star Charles Leclerc has been left “very impressed” by the start of Frederic Vasseur’s tenure as team principal, with the Frenchman having “understood extremely well” what it means to be a member of the Scuderia.
Vasseur’s move to the Maranello-based team was speculated ahead of the season finale last season, before it was officially announced not long after Mattia Binotto’s resignation was confirmed.
Leclerc’s former Alfa Romeo boss officially started his new role on January 9, meaning he’s led the Italians now for just over a month. Read more
Swiatek surges past Gauff into Dubai final (Tennis Majors)
It was harder work than the scoreline might suggest, but world No 1 Iga Swiatek continued her tremendous record against Coco Gauff with a 6-4, 6-2 win to reach the final of the Dubai Open.
The Pole went into the encounter with an impressive 5-0 head-to-head record over Gauff – the most wins she has over any opponent – plus a 5-0 record at WTA 1000 semi-finals.
She now heads into tomorrow knowing that she has never yet lost a WTA 1000 final, having won on all five of her previous appearances. Read more