Good morning! On today’s trending news stories in the The News Chronicle:
1. Leo Messi speaks on the next World Cup. “I want to arrive [at] the next Copa America in good condition then I will see depending on how I am,” he said. In Inter Milan’s game against Toronto FC on Wednesday night, the game had barely reached halftime when Messi called for a substitution. Gaston Edul and Vero Brunati confirmed that Messi has been dealing with a right hamstring strain which kept him out of games against Ecuador with the national team and against Atlanta United last Saturday. Let’s remember that 9 months ago, Messi brought everlasting joy to his country.
2. Lekki Toll Gate was literally and figuratively in smoke last night as the police opened up tear gas on the crowd that had gathered for Mohbad’s Candlelight Procession. These sets of people had remained at the toll gate hours after the candlelight procession had ended in Muri Okunola Park at 7 p.m. The police had reportedly begged them to go home before resorting to drastic measures. In a tribute to Mohbad, the late rapper was featured on a live billboard in Times Square, New York. According to a statement by The Nigeria Police Force, the autopsy procedure for Mr. Mohbad has been successfully completed and further information will be provided as soon as the results are available.
3. The president, Bola Tinubu’s lawyer declares that “Severe and irreparable harm will be done to Bola Tinubu if [his] records are released.” The lawyer argued at an emergency appeal before Judge Nancy Maldonado of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago. Recall that Atiku Abubakar’s application had been granted in a judgment issued on Tuesday by Judge Gilbert, who ordered the release of Tinubu’s documents and the deposition of the school’s administrators. Although CSU officials insisted that President Tinubu attended the school, they had not been able to authenticate his certificate under oath.
4. Meanwhile, reports show that the federal government reportedly paid N169.4 billion as a subsidy in August to keep the pump price at N620 per liter. Analysis of data by oil marketers and the sector has shown that FG may spend about N1.68tn as a subsidy on PMS from September to December this year.
5. Governor Peter Mbah has reacted to the verdict of the Enugu Governorship Petition Tribunal that upheld his election. ” [I] stand by the Citizens Charter that I executed on my first day in office. The Enugu people should hold me to account. I will not let them down,” he said. This comes after the dismissal of the petitions of PRP and LP candidates over his victory in the governorship election.
6. Nyesom Woke, who is The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has caused a stir as he annuls the Jabi District plot of land belonging to the Labour Party’s Presidential candidate, Peter Obi and other influential personalities in the country including; Liyel Imoke, Musa Aboki Egu, Hassan Hadejia, and Ishaya Baba. In a notice released by the FCTA permanent secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, on Thursday, September 21, the lands were annuled due to the refusal and delay of the allottees to develop them.
7. Finally, Davido and Falz touched the heart of many, as they gave an emotional and energetic performance as their final respect to the late Mohbad in last night’s tribute concert. In a tribute to Mohbad, the late rapper was also featured on a live billboard in Times Square, New York.
