Good morning! In today’s trending news stories;
1. Former INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega has denied reports claiming compromise in the 2023 elections at a two-day retreat organized by the Senate in Ikot Ipene, Akwa Ibom State. A statement from his Senior Research Assistant clarified the misrepresentation, emphasizing that the reports do not accurately reflect Jega’s position. His stance was for INEC to guide its collation officers to duly perform the electoral process, in order to prevent any potential fallout in the election.
2. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has postponed judgment in the appeal filed by the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and PDP’s, Atiku Abubakar against the tribunal’s decision validating President Bola Tinubu’s election. Though Obi’s counsel urged the court to consider the appeal, INEC, and Tinubu’s representatives advocated for its dismissal. The court reserved judgment for a later date to be communicated to the concerned parties, amidst discussions about the development of new evidence concerning Tinubu’s academic records.
3. The Business and Property Court in London has halted the enforcement of the $11 billion arbitration award in favor of P&ID against Nigeria. It cited that the 2010 contract secured by P&ID for a gas processing plant in Calabar, Cross River State, was obtained through fraudulent means. The judgment acknowledged Nigeria’s success in challenging the award under section 68, highlighting that the entire process was against public policy. Nigeria was ordered to pay $200 million to the court within 60 days, and further investigations revealed evidence of financial transactions between P&ID and a Nigerian government lawyer overseeing the contract.
4. Former US President, Donald Trump has suggested that he was in contact with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un who criticized President Joe Biden. Trump spoke about international matters, including the conflict between Israel and Hamas, noting his diplomatic success during his tenure as president of the United States. He also compared himself to Nelson Mandela. It is worthy of note that Trump had both positive and negative interactions with Kim Jong-un, including meetings and exchanges of harsh words in the past.
5. The Lagos State Government has closed Alaba Market in Ojo, following a thorough assessment of environmental compliance, waste management practices, and general cleanliness. The closure was due to its noncompliance with the environmental and public health standards, which compromised the well-being of the community. The government emphasized the necessity of a responsible attitude towards the environment and underlined the consequences of neglecting environmental regulations.
6. Tottenham Hotspur is having a great start to the Premier League under manager Ange Postecoglou. Their recent win against Fulham solidified their top position in the league, with James Maddison and Son Heung-min playing key roles. Postecoglou’s emphasis on attack has rejuvenated the team and excited the fan base, with hopes growing for a successful season. Despite this positive start, Postecoglou remains grounded, acknowledging the team’s room for improvement for the journey ahead.
7. A photographer named Abu Salami has taken to social media to warn popular singer Davido for failing to keep his side of a football contract agreement. The singer also failed to promote the project despite being paid a significant amount of money. Salami also accused Davido’s lawyer, Bobo Ajuda, of being involved in aiding the singer and facilitating the misappropriation of funds. He threatened to take action against Davido after the singer sent individuals to assault him over the issue.
