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 Regional Hotel Operation  EFCC Raises Disciplinary Team against Errant Officers The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,  EFCC,  Mr. Ola Olukoyede has raised a Disciplinary Team to look into the case of two errant officers of the Commission who allegedly assaulted a female staff of Regional Hotel, Ojo,  Lagos. The officers were sighted in a viral video assaulting the staff of the hotel in an early morning sting operation on Thursday,  June 27,  2024. Olukoyede ordered the arrest of the two officers and has directed them to appear before a joint Disciplinary Team comprising the Appointment, Promotion and Disciplinary Committee,  APDC and the Department of Ethics and Integrity.   They are billed to appear before the Team on Monday,  July 1, 2024 at the Corporate Headquarters of the Commission,  Abuja. The Team would look into the case of the officers and recommend appropriate disciplinary measures ...

 Céline Dion makes surprise appearance at 2024 NHL Draft amid battle with stiff person syndrome Céline Dion made a surprise appearance at the 2024 National Hockey League Draft amid her battle with stiff person syndrome. On Friday night, the 56-year-old Canadian singer took the stage at the Sphere in Las Vegas to announce the Montreal Canadiens’ selection with the NHL draft’s fifth overall pick. "To make our 2024 first selection, I'm pleased to invite onstage our No. 1 fan, the one and only, Céline Dion," Canadiens General Manager Kent Hughes announced as the crowd cheered in a clip shared by the NHL on YouTube.  The "My Heart Will Go On" songstress, who donned a white button-down shirt and a belted cream-colored skirt, was then seen beaming as she walked hand in hand with her son, René-Charles Angélil, 23, through a tunnel. "Good evening, everyone. I’m excited — not even a hockey mom," Dion told the audience with a laugh. "With the fifth overall s...

 Biden claims his debate performance won over ‘more undecided voters than Trump’ at NJ fundraiser President Biden argued that his disastrous debate performance actually converted more voters to his side than former President Trump. Biden made the claim while surrounded by donors during a Saturday fundraiser at the home of New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. The president reportedly acknowledged that his performance at the debate left much to be desired, but he argued that polling was on his side. "I didn’t have a great night, but I’m going to be fighting harder," Biden told the several dozen people at the party, according to NJ.com. "Research during the debate shows us converting more undecided voters than Trump did, in large part because of his conduct on Jan. 6," he added. "People remember the bad things during his presidency." Biden's attempt to spin his embarrassing Thursday night performance comes after multiple major newspapers called on him to drop out...

 Arizona election worker seen stealing from Senate security desk day before election center theft: officials A temporary election worker in Maricopa County, Arizona, charged with stealing a digital magnetic key from a tabulation center has been linked to another theft from the state Senate building.  The Arizona Department of Public Safety announced on Thursday that 27-year-old Walter Ringfield, of Phoenix, had been connected to a theft reported to a trooper assigned to the Capitol District on June 19 at the Arizona Senate Building in Phoenix. The development comes after authorities earlier in the week had identified Ringfield as the suspect in a June 20 theft from the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center.  Troopers reviewed Senate security footage, which showed a suspect had entered a restricted area of the building and "removed numerous items from a security staff member’s desk," DPS said. The stolen items included "challenge coins and other desk accessories,...

 'Grey's Anatomy' star Eric Dane shares surprising reason he was 'let go' from hit series amid addiction battle There's a "McSteamy" answer to why Eric Dane left the hit series "Grey's Anatomy" in dramatic fashion in 2012. The actor, who played the beloved plastic surgeon Dr. Mark "McSteamy" Sloan, says when he booked the hit ABC show fronted by Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo, he'd been "sober for three or four years." "So I had my wits about me and I sort of knew what reality was and what reality wasn't," he shared on the "Armchair Expert" podcast with actor Dax Shepard. "And I was able to differentiate between the two. And I was able to sort of conceptualize what that was, keep it in its place, enjoy it, dip in every now and again and come back." "I think the net-net is I didn't really handle it very well," the actor, now 51, shared. "Because if you take the ...

 11 injured at Brewers' ballpark after escalator malfunctions, official says Nearly a dozen baseball fans who packed into American Family Field to watch the Milwaukee Brewers battle the Chicago Cubs on Saturday were injured when an escalator malfunctioned. Six people were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries and five others were treated at the ballpark, Tyler Barnes, the senior vice president of communications and affiliate operations for the Brewers, said in a statement. The escalator’s malfunction resulted "in an increased downward speed," Barnes added. The incident took place at the Terrace Level to the Loge Level after the game was over. "All of a sudden we were about halfway down the slope of the escalator, and the whole thing shook and made a noise," Gregg Braggs, of CHGO Sports, told FOX 6 Milwaukee. "It scared everybody on the escalator because it was startling. "As soon as we kind of laughed-off the fear, the entire thing just broke...

 Giant alligator lunging at cars in NC road shooed away after firefighters take clever approach A 12-foot alligator that was lunging at cars in the middle of a dark road in North Carolina on Friday was encouraged to move on after firefighters deployed a unique method – spraying the massive reptile with a hose. The giant gator was reported to be blocking traffic around 1 a.m. in Boiling Spring Lakes, a town in Brunswick County, south of Wilmington. "This angry interloper was laying in the middle of the road and would lunge at passing motorists," Boiling Spring Lakes Fire Rescue said. The Brunswick County Sheriff's Office requested the help of firefighters after "deciding that a 12-foot dragon was a bit outside what they could handle solo," according to the fire department. But firefighters found that even they were no match for the massive alligator – until they tried a different approach. "After a first attempt to walk this gentleman across the road failed,...

 LAGOS PUSHES STRATEGIC PROJECTS DESPITE WEATHER Despite heavy rainfall in the past few weeks, the Lagos State Government has continued to make progress on its infrastructure projects designed to improve the road network and ease traffic problems across the State. During a fact-finding visit to five strategic projects, the Special Adviser, Office of Infrastructure, Olufemi Daramola and the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso took pressmen on a tour of ongoing projects including Abiola-Onijemo link bridge and the five-kilometre Ikeja Urban Regeneration Project covering Oduduwa Way, Odudunmu, Sobo Arobiodu and Sasegbon Streets. The team also visited the Opebi Mende-link Bridge and adjoining roads, Arowojobe Link Bridge in Maryland, Agidi Demurin and Church Street Network and Saint Finbarrs Road (UNILAG to Abule Okuta-Soluyi) Deeper Life Church, both in Kosofe Local Government. On completion, the Opebi link bridge will ease traffic gridlock and make the travel ex...

 Don’t blame Tinubu for our challenges in the north – Lukman Former National Vice Chairman (North West) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Moh. Lukman has exonerated President Bola Tinubu from the gross under-development and various challenges facing the northern part of the country. He said the region lost it during the 8-year reign of former President Muhammad Buhari, who failed to turn around the region’s fortunes during his tenure. The former member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the governing party absolved Tinubu in an open letter he wrote to political leaders of Northern Nigeria titled, “Explosive North: Open Letter to Northern Politicians” and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, June 30. Lukman complained that the living reality in northern Nigeria today is very explosive. He said: “If anyone is interested in finding the practical meaning of the Hobbesian description of life being ‘solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short’, just look...

 “I’m getting old”, Nkechi Blessing expresses readiness for marriage Actress Nkechi Blessing Sunday, has announced her readiness for marriage, citing the recent weddings of Davido and Sharon Ooja as inspiration. She expressed her desire on Instagram to tie the knot, jokingly seeking suggestions for her wedding hashtag with her boyfriend, Xxssive. Nkechi acknowledged feeling pressure and panic as she gets older, but emphasised that love is beautiful and sweet.  “On the 25th was Chivido, yesterday was cråzy about us. Me I just dey here they think, shey na ExcessLove, XxBlessing, or Nkechi is XX, or Xxssive is Blessing. “I don ready. I be no ready before. Dey will pressure you no panic, I panic. The pressure is much, love sweet o. Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise, love is a beautiful thing. Look at their smile. “It’s like I am ready now make una suggest hashtags abeg and the best designer for my dresses. The pressure don finally hook me for neck, and I don dey old”, she wrote...

 Borno suicide attacks: 30 people killed, over 100 others injured – Emir of Gwoza The Emir of Gwoza Local Government area of Borno State, Alhaji Mohammed Shehu Timta, has said multiple suicide attacks were carried out at various locations, including a wedding reception and a burial ceremony in Gwoza town. The coordinated incidents took place in the afternoon, allegedly caused pandemonium as people scampered for safety. He said, “More than 30 people were killed with over 100 sustained various degrees of injuries with many victims evacuated to Maiduguri for medical attention.” Timta further confirmed that the entire Gwoza council area is in mourning following multiple suicide attacks on the community. He explained that the first suicide attack was masterminded by an unidentified woman who sneaked with two children into a wedding reception of a popular young man in Gwoza, saying that she detonated her Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) killing herself and many people. A few minutes a...

 Why I rejected N150m bribe from Lagos businessman – policeman A Superintendent of Police, Ibrahim Sini has said he turned down a N150m bribe allegedly offered to him by a Lagos-based businessman, Akintoye Akindele to have peace of mind. Akindele who was arraigned for the offence at the Federal High Court in Abuja in August 2023 was remanded in the Kuje correctional centre. According to the charge sheet, the bribe was offered to allow police to permit him to escape abroad and to write a favourable report for him after the investigation. Sini was said to have led the Inspector General of Police’s team of investigators handling the case against the businessman. Speaking at a dinner organised to honour him on Friday, Sini said, “I am very happy to be here and I want to appreciate the organisers of this programme. They have beat my imagination and they have added more grease to my elbow. At the event, Sini was given a plot of land in Abuja. “Yes, I remember when the incident happened, ...

 I’m not embarrassed by my past, says Tonto Dikeh Actress Tonto Dikeh has expressed her unapologetic stance on her past. In a recent Instagram post, she shared new photos of herself and stated that she was not embarrassed by any of her past experiences, no matter how challenging they may have been. Tonto emphasized that what others might view as gossip or scandal, she sees as a testament to her strength and resilience. She boldly invited anyone who wanted to discuss her past to sit down with her, sharing how God transformed her brokenness into something beautiful. “I’m not embarrassed about anything I went through. What may be “TEA” for you, is a “Testimony” for me. If you wanna talk about what broke me, invite me to the table so I can tell you how God used the pieces”, she wrote.

 Joshua finally moves out of mom’s house ahead Dubois bout Former heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua recently moved out of his mother’s north London flat into a new mansion. The 2012 Olympic champion with nearly £100 million in the bank, revealed that he recently moved out and praised his mother, Yeta, adding that he stayed in his mother’s flat to ensure her well-being. “I didn’t want to leave my mom alone,” he said on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs. “I wanted to make sure that her foundations were strong—the nest was strong—so that when I leave, mom’s good. For me, that’s freedom. Knowing no matter where I am in the world, mom’s happy and taken care of.” The British-Nigerian fighter will face fellow Brit Daniel Dubois on September 21 at Wembley Stadium in London for the IBF belt. This bout was arranged following the confirmation by current titleholder Oleksandr Usyk that he would vacate the world title. Usyk became the first heavyweight to hold the IBF, WBO, WBA, and WBC belt...

 Ondo, Ekiti To Witness 2 Months Power Outage Electricity consumers in Ondo and Ekiti States are to endure power outage for two months due to maintenance of infrastructures on the Osogbo/Akure – Ado – Ekiti 132kV line by the Transmission Commission of Nigeria (TCN). According to a public notice posted on the social media handles of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), the maintenance work will take effect from July 1 to August 31. The notice read “Please be informed that the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN is scheduled to carry out critical maintenance work on the 132kV Akure Osogbo transmission line. The planned work involves the installation of Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) and other activities. This will require outage on the affected network for safe working space.” The affected areas are Ondo and Ekiti with daily Outage Period of 0800hrs to 1700hrs (9 hours daily). The Duration is scheduled for two months, until 31st August 2024.” It stated that customers in th...

 Northeast must not return to terrorism – Atiku to Nigerian govt The 2023 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has charged the Nigerian government not to allow the Northeast slide back into terrorism and extreme violence. Atiku made the call against the backdrop of multiple suicide attacks carried out at various locations, including a wedding reception and a burial ceremony in Gwoza town, Borno State. The coordinated attacks led to the death of about 30 people while about 100 sustained various degrees of injuries. Reacting, Atiku said such an attack was due to the government’s lacklustre posture to hold firmly on the frontline. Posting on X, Atiku wrote: “It is a sad development that the ugly incidents of terrorism are resurfacing and, indeed, metastasising in the North-East. “The reported attack by suicide bombers at a wedding reception, funeral procession, and a hospital on Saturday stands condemned. “It is unfortunate that much of the pushback th...

 SERAP gives CBN 7 days to ‘account for missing N100bn dirty notes, other public funds’ Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), “to account for and explain the whereabouts of the over N100 billion ‘dirty and bad notes’ and ‘other large sum of cash awaiting examination’ which are kept in various branches of the CBN.” SERAP, which made the call through a statement issued by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the allegations are documented in the latest annual report recently published by the Auditor-General of the Federation. SERAP also urged him to “explain the whereabouts of the N7.2 billion budgeted for the construction of the CBN Dutse branch in 2010 and the N4.8 billion budgeted for the renovation of the CBN Abeokuta branch in 2009, and to publish the names of the contractors who collected the money but failed to complete the projects.” SERAP urged him “to explain the wherea...

 Kwara Customs Generates N10B in 5 Months, Seizes Prohibited Items Worth N35 Million  ...As Command Empowers Officers' Wives, Donates Relief Materials to Less Privileged  The Nigeria Customs Service Kwara Area Command has generated N10,027,580,694.63 from January to May 2024. The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Faith Ojeifo, made this known during a press briefing on  Thursday, 27 June 2024. While showcasing the activities of the command within the period under review, the CAC disclosed that "A comparative review of the preceding year 2023 indicates that the command surpassed what was collected in the same period last year 2023 with N2,885,779,644.03 which represents 40.41%  increment".   On Anti-Smuggling, the command recorded seizures of prohibited items with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N35,416,140.00. The items include 507 Bags of foreign Rice, One Unit of a used vehicle, 1,055 pieces of used tyres, 164 Jerry cans of PMS of 25 litres each (4,100...

 NADCEL 2024:  "PRAY FERVENTLY FOR THE REPOSE OF THE SOULS OF FALLEN HEROES - COAS TO PERSONNEL The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja has enjoined Nigerian Army (NA)personnel to keep praying for the repose of the souls of fallen heroes, who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty defending Nigeria.  Gen Lagbaja gave the charge on Sunday 30 June 2024, at the interdenominational church service in commemoration of Nigerian Army Day Celebration 2024, held at the All Saints’ Military Church (Protestant), Army Headquarters Garrison, Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja.  In a goodwill message delivered at the Church Service, the Army Chief urged the troops to also remember to pray for the speedy physiological and psychological recovery of personnel who suffered injuries during operations in defence of the Nigerian nation and the citizenry, adding that they laid down their lives and sacrificed body parts to defend the territorial integrity of the n...

 NDLEA intercepts N7.3bn codeine consignments as 2 excrete 150 cocaine wraps in Lagos Arrests 60 at Abuja drug party; destroys 18,632kg cannabis in Edo forest; recovers Tacoma truck loaded with imported Loud in Lekki Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted six thousand one hundred and twenty-five (6,125) cartons of codeine syrup containing one million and fifty thousand (1,050,000) bottles of the opioid worth over seven billion three hundred and fifty million naira (N7, 350,000,000.00) in street value, at the Port Harcourt Ports complex, Onne, Rivers state. The seizure made from six containers on Saturday 29 June 2024 was the third of such in the past four weeks following credible intelligence and diligent tracking of the consignments from their port of departure by a special operations unit of NDLEA, which worked in partnership with the Port Harcourt Ports Command of the Agency and other security agencies including the Customs Service for a ...

 GOV. ALIA'S GOVERNMENT BANS SGF's AKUME THANKSGIVING IN BENUE  The Benue State Government has banned the thanksgiving service organised in honour of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume which is to take place on Sunday June 30. The ban was announced on Radio Benue, the State Government owned media on Friday. According to the report, the Caretaker Chairman of Guma Local Government, Hon. Unongu Simon issued the ban of the thanksgiving event in honor of SGF citing the ban on political gathering in the state by the governor and volatile security in the area. Meanwhile, the Central Planning Committee Chairman, and the former Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Barrister Dave Iorhemba says the event will hold as planned noting that they have not violated any law of the state. He urged the public to disregard the ban on the thanksgiving. It will the recalled that Pastor and Elders of NKST Church Daudu-Mbawa in Guma Local Government Area, ...

 Social media influencer, VeryDarkMan, again arrested by Police The Nigeria Police Force has arrested popular social media influencer, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as Verydarkman. VeryDarkMan was allegedly arrested on the orders of the Police Commissioner of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Command, Igwe. Speaking with newsmen on Sunday, activist lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, said VeryDarkMan was arrested in for allegedly exposing a Nigerian who reportedly duped somebody abroad. According to Adeyanju, the controversial social media influencer was arrested for alleged defamation. He said: “Our client, #thatverydarkman has just been arrested by the police on the instruction of CP Igwe for exposing someone who allegedly duped a Nigerian abroad. “Instead of the police to arrest the person alleged to have duped someone, they arrested VDM on allegation of defamation.”

 Bandits Steal Chief Imam's 73 Cows In Kaduna Bandits have rustled 73 cows belonging to the chief imam of Gidan-Makeri, Malam Ibrahim Zubairu, in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State. A resident of the neighbouring Kuchimi village in the area, Shuaibu Ahmadu, said the incident happened on Tuesday around 5:33pm when the bandits, wielding sophisticated weapons and in their numbers, invaded the area. He said the bandits went straight to where the cows were kept, some few distance away from the community to move them away. He said they were shooting sporadically to scare the villagers from coming after them while leading the cows out of the community. He said the imam had travelled to Kagarko when the bandits struck, even as he said some vigilantes from the neighbouring Kuchimi village, after receiving the information, mobilised and went after the bandits. “The imam was at Kagarko. But as God would have it, the cows were later retrieved by some vigilantes from neighbouring Kuc...

 STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU MOURNS FORMER CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF IBRAHIM OGOHI President Bola Tinubu extends his condolences to the family of Admiral Ibrahim Ogohi (retd), who passed away on Sunday. Admiral Ogohi, a well-decorated officer, was the Chief of Defence Staff from 1999 to 2003. President Tinubu mourns the late Admiral, stating that his services to the nation will always be remembered. The President prays for the repose of the soul of the deceased and comfort to his family. Chief Ajuri Ngelale Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) June 30, 2024

   ‘Olu Jacobs Is Alive And Doing Fine,’ Joke Silva Dispels Rumours Of Husband’s Dëäth ‘Olu Jacobs is alive’ – Betty Irabor, family debunk reports of Nollywood actor’s death Founder of Genevieve Magazine, Betty Irabor, has debunked news making the rounds that Nollywood veteran, Olu Jacobs, is dead. There were rumours on social media that the seasoned thespian passed away at 82 years on Sunday. Jacobs had been battling dementia for a while now. But Irabor tweeted: “Olu Jacobs is well and alive. Please ignore all rumours of his passing.” Jacobs’ family has also released a video to prove that the actor is alive. Speaking last year, his wife, Joke Silva, said Jacob’s ailment had brought significant changes in her man. She said: “It hasn’t been easy. There was a point of acceptance for me that everything happening is reality and it is like the person I married, 80 per cent of the time is no longer there.” If this video is today then Uncle Olu Jacobs is alive.  Such a sigh of r...