The Lagos State Police Command on Friday, November 17, 2023, released controversial singer, Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley; and his associate, Balogun Samson, popularly known as Sammy Larry, after the duo met their bail conditions.
This was made known by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin on Friday in a terse statement saying, “Naira Marley and Sammy Larry, having met their bail conditions, have been released.”
Hundeyin, a Superintendent of Police, made this known on Friday afternoon after the artiste and the socialite perfected their bail conditions granted by a Lagos State Magistrates’ Court.
The court, on Monday, November 6, had granted both of them bail in the sum of N20m with three responsible sureties.
“As part of the bail conditions, the defendants are to surrender their passports and make weekly appearances at the State Criminal Investigation Department (Panti, Yaba, Lagos),” the court ruled.
They were arrested as part of an investigation into a singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad’s death after videos of assault against the late singer surfaced online.
Mohbad died in controversial circumstances on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.
Before his death, the singer had cried out that he was being harassed by his former record label, Marlian Music, owned by Marley.
Saturday Beats had visited Panti (where they were detained) on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, a day after Naira Marley was taken into custody. The duo was observed to have been in low spirits, even as Nigerians called for a thorough investigation.
Victor Osimhen has made the final list for the 2023 CAF Best Player award, a statement from the football body has shown.
“CAF has announced the shortlists for the men’s categories for the CAF Awards 2023,” the African football governing body said on Friday.
The Napoli forward, who is the overwhelming favourite, is the only Nigerian to make the cut and will be aiming to cap off an impressive year in which he won the Italian Scuddeto and top scorer gong in the league.
A few weeks ago, Osimhen finished eighth in the 2023 Ballon d’Or awards held in the French city of Paris.
Apart from the Nigerian, other top players who made the final 10 nominees for the CAF award include holder and Senegalese forward Sadio Mane; Riyad Mahrez of Algeria; and Achraf Hakimi of Morocco among others.
The ultimate winner of each category will be decided after votes from a voting panel consisting of the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals, Head coaches, and captains of member associations and clubs involved in the group stages of the Interclub competitions, CAF added.
The Awards Gala is billed for Monday, 11 December 2023 in Marrakech, Morocco.
Final Shortlist For 2023 CAF Best Player Prize
Riyad Mahrez (Algeria, Al Ahli)
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon, SSC Napoli)
Vincent Aboubacar (Cameroon, Besiktas)
Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain)
Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco, Manchester United)
Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Al Hilal)
Youssef En-Nesyri (Morocco, Sevilla)
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria, SSC Napoli)
Sadio Mane (Senegal, Al Nassr)
A male teacher at Mgandani Primary School in Zhombe, Kwekwe District in Zimbabwe has been arrested on charges of molesting 11 schoolgirls.
The Grade Six teacher identified as Mawere Pepukai, was apprehended by the police on Thursday morning following a complaint from the parents of one of the alleged victims who visited the school.
Pepukai reportedly targeted minors in his class, engaging in inappropriate behaviour such as proposing love, fondling their breasts, and forcibly playing with their private parts.
Mgandani Primary School head, Mr Titos Shoko who confirmed the incident, said the teacher is currently in police custody. He added that the issue came to light when one of the victims reported it to their parents.
Shoko said;
"The teacher was picked up by police and is in police custody. The issue came to light after one of the alleged victims reported the matter to his parents who came to the school.”
The Lagos State Government under the present administration of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has vowed to end street begging in any part of the State.
At least 50 street beggars were taken off the road during a special operation led by the Commissioner, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende.
The “Special Rescue Operations” was organized by the Ministry in collaboration with the Lagos State Task Force to sanitize the state of street begging in Lekki axis on Thursday, November 16, 2023.
"The act of begging or using babies to solicit alms is not part of our religion or culture. It doesn’t support the socioeconomic growth of any state. It is counterproductive because some of the so-called beggars have been discovered to be involved in criminality," Ogunlende said.
According to Mr Ogunlende, before embarking on resuscitating the “Special Rescue Operations” primarily aimed at enforcing the relevant sections of the State Government Laws as well as the Child Rights Law banning begging, the Ministry had carried out massive advocacy and sensitisation to help Lagosians, especially the public spirited ones, know what to do with respect to helping the less privileged in the State.
“Street begging has been banned in Kano, Kaduna and other states in Nigeria. So why not Lagos State? We advise those who want to help the less privileged amongst us to take their gift items be it cash or materials to our Homes or Centres designated for the purpose of helping the needy,” Mr. Ogunlende added.
Speaking on the ”Special Rescue Operations”, the Permanent Secretary, Pharm (Mrs) Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu said the Ministry decided to embark on the exercise following a series of reports from Lagosians to the Ministry who complained of being incessantly harassed by street beggars.
“Every Lagosian irrespective of religion or tribe deserves a safe environment to live, work or do business without molestation. This we will achieve by showing zero tolerance for street begging,” Oke-Osanyintolu stated.
The Permanent Secretary warned people who are in the habit of using babies to solicit alms to desist from the act and engage in legitimate business because if caught they would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
On his part, the Chairman of Lagos State Taskforce, Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, Shola Jejeloye, who led the enforcement of the special rescue operations maintained, “The task of ridding Lagos State of street begging is non-negotiable. It is going to be a continuous exercise.
"We have decided to do it in broad daylight for Lagosians to get the message that there is no room for street begging in the state. It is part of our statutory responsibilities to support the enforcement of any law enacted by the State House of Assembly for the good of everyone. We are ready to collaborate with every Ministry, Department or Agency in this regard.
“During the Rescue Operations which took place in the Lekki axis of the State over 50 beggars were taken off the streets.”
In a similar development, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly commenced the process to outlaw street begging across the state.
The law, if passed, would also penalise the encouragement of street begging by residents. In this way, it would be an offence to give money to a street beggar.
Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa at the plenary on Tuesday who described street begging as a menace taking over the state agreed with the lawmakers that criminal elements have taken over the streets disguised as beggars.
Reacting to the motion brought by Abiodun Orekoya and some of his colleagues, Obasa noted how previous administrations in the state made attempts to curb street begging without success.
The speaker, therefore, stressed the need for a law that would criminalise street begging and also penalise individuals who give money to beggars on the roads.
“When we address the source, then we can curb it. When you go on the road, you find children between the ages of five and six begging. It means there are established groups of people benefitting from this,” the Speaker says.
“They warehouse and provide for them. Beyond the child rights law, we should come up with another law that speaks to begging and giving. We must come up with genuine laws and institutions that handle begging.”
The speaker said the proposed law should aim to establish a centre where individuals who wish to give alms can do so, while the centre would ensure that the alms reach those in need.
"The law will create a fund to be managed by people with integrity so that if you are in need, you would go there,” he stated.
"While this will help people fulfil their religious beliefs about almsgiving, it will also help curb street begging, reduce crime on the road and promote greater responsibility among residents,” he added.
He further maintained that the smart city status of the state could be abused when beggars adorn the roads, inhibiting free movement and engaging in crime which include drug peddling and stealing from motorists.
Obasa also queried how children as young as five or six manage to travel from other states to Lagos, suggesting that some individuals may be sponsoring and accommodating them.
Calling for a holistic approach to end the challenge, the speaker said, “It is better to tackle it from the source which includes discouraging giving directly to the beggars on the road.”
Obasa also urged local government chairmen to come up with ideas to manage street trading rather than thinking of outrightly chasing traders off the streets.
“Street trading happens across the world. It is for our council chairmen to come up with ideas to better manage the activities of traders in their domains.“
“How do you build a shop and put it at N30 million? What will the traders be selling there? If you remove them all, where do you also want them to go?”
Kylian Mbappe has reportedly agreed a deal with PSG to forego significant bonuses he is owed.
The French superstar had wanted to leave the Parisians and join Real Madrid upon the expiry of his contract in the summer of 2022. However, he made a late U-turn and penned a new deal with the French giants until 2024, with the option of an extra year to 2025 that only he could activate.
In the summer, Mbappe was exiled from PSG's squad after he informed the club he would not be utilising that extension, and leave on a free transfer next summer. He was subsequently left out of the club's pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea and forced to train with a group.
Later, Mbappe was then reintegrated after missing the first game of the season against Lorient.
According to French outlet RMC Sport, Mbappe was only allowed to return to the squad if he agreed to forego bonuses that he was owed.
The report claims PSG had originally insisted the only way he could rejoin Luis Enrique's first team was if he signed a new deal, something the forward refused to do and a prospect he continues to dismiss.
As a result, they changed tact and Mbappe has now given up approximately €80m (£70m) worth of bonuses after reaching an agreement with the club following his reintegration.
PSG remain desperate to extend the contract of their talisman, who continues to be linked with a move to Real Madrid.
But, despite the constant speculation over his future, Mbappe shows no signs of letting it distract him after scoring 13 goals in 11 Ligue 1 outings this season.
Everton have been docked 10 points after being found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules, plunging the club into the relegation zone.
The punishment, the biggest sporting sanction in the Premier League’s history, leaves the Goodison Park club 19th in the table on a total of just four points after 12 matches.
Everton said they were “shocked and disappointed by the ruling”, announcing their intention to appeal.
The Premier League referred the club, who have posted losses for five consecutive years, to an independent commission in March for an alleged breach of its profitability and sustainability rules (PSRs).
Clubs are allowed to lose a maximum £105 million ($130 million) over a three-year period or face sanctions.
The Premier League said in a statement: “The club admitted it was in breach of the PSRs for the period ending season 2021/22 but the extent of the breach remained in dispute.
“Following a five-day hearing last month, the commission determined that Everton FC’s PSR calculation for the relevant period resulted in a loss of £124.5 million, as contended by the Premier League, which exceeded the threshold of £105 million permitted under the PSRs.
“The commission concluded that a sporting sanction in the form of a 10-point deduction should be imposed. That sanction has immediate effect.”
‘Harsh’ Punishment’
But Everton said the punishment was too harsh.
“The club believes that the commission has imposed a wholly disproportionate and unjust sporting sanction,” the club said in a statement.
“The club has already communicated its intention to appeal the decision to the Premier League.”
The statement added: “Everton maintains that it has been open and transparent in the information it has provided to the Premier League and that it has always respected the integrity of the process.
“The club does not recognise the finding that it failed to act with the utmost good faith and it does not understand this to have been an allegation made by the Premier League during the course of proceedings.
“Both the harshness and severity of the sanction imposed by the commission are neither a fair nor a reasonable reflection of the evidence submitted.”
Everton said they would monitor “with great interest” the decisions made in other cases concerning financial rules.
Premier League champions Manchester City were charged earlier this year with 115 alleged breaches of financial fair play regulations. That case is ongoing.
Only two other clubs have received points deductions in Premier League history.
Middlesbrough were deducted three points for failing to fulfil a fixture against Blackburn during the 1996/97 season, while in 2010 Portsmouth were deducted nine points after going into administration.
Both clubs were relegated.
Nine-time English champions Everton have been a continuous presence in the top flight since 1954 and have never been relegated from the Premier League but they only avoided the drop by two points last season and have spent years in the shadow of city rivals Liverpool.
Sean Dyche’s side are now level on points with bottom club Burnley on four points after 12 matches — and five points adrift of safety.
Cassandra Elizabeth Ventura, better known as Cassie, is an American singer who has filed a lawsuit against her ex-boyfriend Season Combs, a.k.a. Diddy, for ‘a decade’ of sexual assault.
According to The New York Times, Cassie accused him of rape and persistent physical abuse over a decade in a suit filed in Federal District Court in Manhattan.
She claimed that the pattern of abuse and control began when she met Diddy in 2005 at the age of 19, where the mogul allegedly subjected her to a disturbing cycle of abuse, including beating her and being forced into sexual encounters with male prostitutes while being filmed, physical abuse, and the supply of drugs.
The statement reads, “After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships.”
In response to her allegation, Diddy’s lawyer, Ben Brafman, said, “Mr. Combs vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations. For the past six months, Mr. Combs has been subjected to Ms. Ventura’s persistent demand of $30 million under the threat of writing a damaging book about their relationship, which was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail.
“Despite withdrawing her initial threat, Ms. Ventura has now resorted to filing a lawsuit riddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr. Combs’s reputation and seeking a payday.”
Cassie’s lawyer, Douglas Wigdor, counters this narrative, stating that his client and Diddy had a conversation before the lawsuit was filed.
According to Wigdor, Diddy allegedly offered Cassie eight figures to silence her and prevent the filing of this lawsuit. He said she rejected his efforts and decided to give a voice to all women who suffer in silence.
The lawsuit represents a significant step in addressing the complexities of abuse within high-profile relationships.
[OpinionNigeria]
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has directed all public officials, appointed and elected workers in the state to start wearing Adire every Wednesday to boost the industry and enhance cultural strengths of the state.
Adire is a Yoruba textile, that is a type of dyed cloth made in south west Nigeria by Yoruba women, using a variety of resist-dyeing techniques.
The governor in a circular issued by the head of service, Mr Ayanleye Aina, noted that the directive affected all categories of public servants across ministries, departments and agencies of government including tertiary institutions, local governments, local development council and area office.
“Consequently, every Wednesday is adopted as “Adire Osun Day” with all accounting officers and heads of agencies expected to comply with the directive.
“Additionally, all political appointees are also expected to comply with the directive from the State Executive Council to special advisers, and other categories of appointees,” the circular posited.
A release by the spokesperson to the Governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, stated that Adeleke had presented the subject at the last state Executive Council meeting with a unanimous approval and adoption.
The governor said “Adire” actually has its source from Osun State, noting that the new decision will reassert the traditional claim of Osun to the adire genre.
“Our administration is working on the creation of SME industrial clusters. The Adire and other craft sub-sectors will be supported to grow and flourish.
“By this decision, we are determined to rebuild the Adire industry that is under threat from foreign mass producers. We are poised to breathe life into our culture with Osun as the cradle of the Yoruba nation”, the Governor stated.
[Leadership]
Veteran actor, Hanks Anuku has pleaded for financial assistance from Nigerians.
In a video that has now gone viral, Anuku explained his struggles with unemployment and called on his supporters to help him through this difficult time.
The actor said he had worked tirelessly for his country and attained the height of being a legend.
He then appealed to his fans and the governor of his state, Sheriff, to send him financial support.
“Well, I’m going to address my fans and those who truly love me, including my governor, Sheriff. I have worked for this country, I have attained the height of being a legend.
“I’ve had no jobs for God knows how many years and I expected Nigerians to also know that I did it all for them.
“I’m going to ask the governor. Sherry, please send support to me and my fans who truly love and appreciate the works I’ve done for them, I’ll send my account number. May God help you all. Help me,” he said.
In a related development, Veteran Nollywood actor, Amaechi Muonagor has publicly solicited help as he opened up about battling a stroke.
In a viral video, he said the reason he did not publicly disclose his illness was because he didn’t know it would last this long.
[DailyTrust]
The Premier League has deducted 10 points from Everton, following an investigation into a breach of profit and sustainability rules.
The Goodison Park club insist they are “shocked and disappointed” by the punishment and will appeal.
An official club statement read: “Both the harshness and severity of the sanction imposed by the Commission are neither a fair nor a reasonable reflection of the evidence submitted”.
The deduction is the largest in the history of the Premier League.
It takes immediate effect, plunging Sean Dyche’s team into the relegation zone.
[DailyPost]
More...
Former Super Eagles midfielder, Mikel John Obi, has observed that entitled families are more prevalent in Africa.
He pointed out that if one family member achieves financial stability, there is often a tendency for others in the family to relent in their daily efforts, placing the responsibility of financial provisions on the successful family member.
During an interview with fellow footballer, Rio Ferdinand, the former Super Eagles captain lamented how families are often entitled to a person’s money in Africa.
According to Obi, when an African person acquires money, many relatives and cousins begin to make demands, and sisters even married men believe they are destined to be a part of the family.
The football player mentioned that these people have so many children and expect him to care for them and that he sometimes has to be strong and put his own needs aside.
Mikel Obi stated that the extended family members believe he owes them money and threaten to go to the press if he refuses.
This, according to the footballer, is prevalent in Africa.
He said: “When you come from Africa when you make money, it’s not your money. You have all these relatives, cousins, and your sisters go off and get married to some guy who just wants to get married into Mikel John Obi’s family because his life is sorted, and then you start looking after this guy, and before you know it, they keep having so many kids and you look at it like,
“Okay, you’re having this many kids, who are going to look after them?’ It’s you! It’s the culture because, for them, you owe them that, so sometimes you have to be strong and say, ‘You know what, guys, enough is enough; I don’t care’. They give you this thing whereby ‘if you don’t do it, we’re going to go to the press’. After all, what have I done for you guys? But this happens a lot in Africa. Not everybody comes out and speaks about it.”
[TheNation]
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Peace, Allen Onyeama has described the call for a national carrier as moribund and a drain pipe.
Naija News recalls that some months back, Nigeria had launched a national carrier called Nigeria Air.
However, the government of President Bola Tinubu suspended the project about two months after he took over power.
Joining the growing list of persons who have condemned the push for the national carrier, Onyeama insisted that the country does not need such a project owing to the difficulties of running the business.
Speaking during an appearance on Thursday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today, the Air Peace boss said, “The national carrier thing connotes government ownership. The government has no business doing the business of commercial airline operations. The national carrier thing is a moribund idea that has been jettisoned several decades ago by countries.”
According to him, several airlines that bear country names are just “flag carriers” and not owned by nations as many may have assumed.
“In the olden days, they used to be [owned by governments] but they are all divested. They are all flag carriers.
“Why is my country going backward? In 2023, talking about national carrier?” Onyeama added.
He believes the few African countries with national carriers are those “that cannot afford business entrepreneurs with the right funding”.
[NaijaNews]
THE head coach of Lesotho Leslie Notsi has declared that there was not a great deal difference in quality between the Super Eagles of Nigeria’s Europe-based stars and his players who are mostly based in Africa.
Notsi’s side, ranked 153rd in the world by FIFA, shocked the Super Eagles in their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign opener in Uyo last night by securing a 1-1 draw.
Indeed it was the unfancied Crocodiles, ranked 113 spots below the Super Eagles, who drew first blood through Motlomelo Mkwanazi in the 56th minute before Semi Ajayi rescued a point for the misfiring team of Jose Peseiro.
“There wasn’t much difference (between Europe-based and home-based players),” Notsi said during his post-match press conference.
“Yes, of course there were situations where you could see quickness of thinking and speed, but at the same time we did not give them respect. We felt they are the same human beings as us.”
Notsi insisted that his players were not intimidated by the Nigerian stars as he and his technical crew knew there were weaknesses in the Super Eagles side they could exploit.
“We said ‘let’s go there and enjoy ourselves’. Enjoyment not in terms of just going there to waste time, but to have self-belief and for the players to express themselves in the areas that they’re good at,” he explained.
“We studied the Nigerian team and we knew areas we could capitalise on, where we thought we had chances of coming up with something for ourselves.
“There is a lesson we’ve learnt from this match and we have to cherish what we got then improve more going forward.”
With the draw, Nigeria and Lesotho are level on one point each in African qualifying Group C with Rwanda and Zimbabwe, who played a 0-0 draw on Wednesday.
South Africa wil host Benin Republic in Durban on Saturday to round off the group’s first matchday.
The Super Eagles face Zimbabwe in Butare, Rwanda on Sunday in their second fixture, while Lesotho welcome Benin Republic to Durban, South Africa on Tuesday.
Only the group winners will qualify for the 2026 World Cup from Africa’s nine groups, with the best runners-up going into a play-off tournament with other confederations.
[NaijaTimes]
The Chinese government said it is working with African countries to help reduce poverty on the continent without worsening its debt problems.
Yan Yuqing, the Chinese Consul-General, shared this during the 18th China-African lecture, which took place on Thursday at the University of Lagos.
Yuqing talked about how China and African nations are teaming up to reduce poverty in Africa.
She said, “China has never been a creator of the debt crisis of African countries. China partners to help African countries to help them deal with their poverty problems. Under the framework of the G20, there is a plan to delay debt repayment, and China has contributed more than 60 percent and done more than other G-20 members. China will never threaten to sanction any African country with recourse to contracts between the two countries.
“The people of Nigeria and China are wonderful, hard-working, and friendly. We have very good results in several fields, such as infrastructure, trade and investment, education, and culture. These are very important parts of our bilateral relationship.”
The ambassador further mentioned that the lecture’s theme, “Chinese Modernization and Development of Africa,” was intended to foster stronger Nigeria-China bilateral relations.
“This is also to allow young students from the University of Lagos to know more about Chinese development. I am so glad that most students are learning Chinese. They will have the opportunity to go to China, learn more about Chinese history, and make friends with Chinese people,” she added.
The Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Adelaja Odukoya, said Chinese society had decided to do things differently with regard to its socialist system.
He said, “I call that Chinese essentialism. This means they don’t forget their roots, and they are very passionate about who they are. Whether you like socialism or not, it is a different thing. If there is any social organisation that takes people from wealth into a superpower, it is society that practices socialism. We have an example from China. Go back to 1949; where was China then, and where is it today? Go back to 1917; where was Russia, and where is it today? Capitalist society has done nothing for us in Nigeria.”
The Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. Akanbi Ilupeju, said the meeting was for the benefit and possibilities of having a cross-fertilisation of ideas in relevant areas of the sciences, social sciences, and humanities in general.
“It is also to benefit our students through exchange and the possibility of having the students pursue their programmes in China,” he added.
He said, “I call that Chinese essentialism. This means they don’t forget their roots, and they are very passionate about who they are. Whether you like socialism or not, it is a different thing. If there is any social organisation that takes people from wealth into a superpower, it is society that practices socialism. We have an example from China. Go back to 1949; where was China then, and where is it today? Go back to 1917; where was Russia, and where is it today? Capitalist society has done nothing for us in Nigeria.”
[https://businessday.ng]