Author: David Great

US actor Paul Sorvino, best known for playing Paulie Cicero in the 1990 mobster classic Goodfellas, has died at age 83. Roger Neal, his publicist, said he died of natural causes at his home in Indiana. Over the course of a film and TV career that began in 1970, the Tony Award nominated actor was best known for his portrayals of policemen and gangsters. Paul Sorvino is survived by his wife and three children. In a statement following his death, his wife Dee Dee Sorvino said that “there will never be another Paul Sorvino”. “He was the love of my…

The Oyo State Government has sanctioned some headteachers for collecting illegal fees and denying pupils access to examination halls in the ongoing Public Primary Schools Unified Examinations. Dr Nureni Adeniran, the Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), made this known in a statement on Monday in Ibadan, while monitoring the examination. Adeniran said that five headteachers of Methodist Basic School (School one to five), Gan-gansi, were found culpable in the alleged illegal collection of fees, spearheaded by the School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) of the school, who chased the pupils home. He said that the present administration had…

The Federal Government on Monday says it has shut down the diving operations of Scorpion Oil Services onboard MV African Installer offshore Lagos for operating without the requisite approvals. Lauretta Adogu, the Director of Factories of the Federation in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, said this during a monitoring exercise conducted by the ministry and the Chief Inspector of Diving, Julius Ugwala. Adogu, who is also the Director, Occupational Safety and Health Department, said this in a statement signed by Olajide Oshundun, head, press and public relations in the ministry. The director said the shut down had become necessary…

Chelsea have offered Germany striker Timo Werner, 26, to RB Leipzig in order to beat Paris St-Germain to the signing of France defender Nordi Mukiele, 24, from the Bundesliga club. (Foot Mercato, via Metro) Chelsea’s move for Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde is in danger of collapsing, with Barcelona increasingly optimistic they can land the 23-year-old France international. (Guardian) If Kounde does not join, Chelsea will consider Villarreal’s 25-year-old Spain international Pau Torres, Inter Milan’s Slovakia centre-back Milan Skriniar, 27, and 20-year-old Croatian Josko Gvardiol, who is at RB Leipzig. Bayern Munich’s French duo Dayot Upamecano, 23, and Benjamin Pavard, 26, are also defensive options. (90 Min) Chelsea are blocking Barcelona from buying Spain defender Marcos Alonso, 31, and Cesar Azpilicueta, 32, from…

Ahead of 2023 general elections, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Good Governance Awareness Initiative (GGAI), has recommended use of body cameras by security personnel on election day to curb vote buying. The NGO also advised the Federal Government to set up mobile courts in the 774 local government areas across the country to prosecute vote buying on election day. The Executive Director, Ms Maureen Onwukwe, stated this in Abuja on Monday at a news briefing and public presentation of a research survey titled: “Why People Sell and Buy Votes in Nigeria”. Onwukwe, who described election as an integral part of every…

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke presiding over a Federal High Court in Lagos has restrained oil exploration company, Oriental Energy Resources Limited, and 13 banks listed before the court, whether by themselves directors, officers, or agents, from withdrawing, transferring, removing any funds, properties or assets, outside the jurisdiction of Nigeria or encumbering any funds belonging to or held to the account of the company with the banks except for payments of normal salaries. The court also said such payment must also be duly granted by the court upon request pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. Justice Aneke also…

By Toni Kan The Ojude Oba festival is a cultural and exuberant spectacle of sound, colour and joie de vivre. Sponsored by the telecom powerhouse, Globacom and other corporate bodies, it is a full day celebration of the very best of Ijebu culture and traditions. The festival held in the forecourt (the eponymous Ojude Oba) of the monarch, is an annual event celebrating the culture and traditions of the Ijebu people while paying homage to the King, Alaiyeluwa Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Adetona, Ogbagba II, Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland. Without doubt one of Nigeria’s longest reigning monarchs, the Awujale…

By Nicholas Adesina The annual spectacle of Nigeria’s most financially rewarding TV show is already on day three and we can officially now say “Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines” or like would happen on twitter, “START YOUR STANNING”, this is because by and large the viewers are this time a little slow in picking favorites probably due to the dearth of previously famous or social media superstars. It really is an opportunity this time for the contestants to LEVEL UP and win the mouthwatering 100m or level out empty handed. With a mash up of candidates dominated by Gen…

BudgIT, a foremost civic-tech organisation leading advocacy for transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s public financial management, has expressed concerns over the poor fiscal performance of the federal government’s 2022 budget and the growing subsidy payments. According to BudgIT, the most pressing concern is the debt service-to-revenue ratio, which has reached alarming levels within the first 4 months of 2022. The country’s current debt service, which stood at N1.94 trillion naira from January – April 2022, is over 100% of the nation’s revenue which was N1.64 trillion naira, within the same period. This is in spite of warnings given by the…

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday expressed his deep gratitude to Nigerians and everyone following his recent successful surgery. Prof. Osinbajo underwent a surgical operation on Saturday, July 16, at the Duchess International Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos. Below is the full statement of the Vice President. “My deep gratitude to everyone for your get-well wishes and prayers following my surgery. Tinubu, Atiku wish Osinbajo speedy recovery after successful surgery “And special appreciation to the amazing team of surgeons, doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, and the management of the Duchess International Hospital, Lagos, for providing such excellent care. “God bless you all,” the Vice…