2 Immigration officers barred from Lagos Airport for extorting 14-year-old girl (DailyTrust)
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has withdrawn the On-Duty Card (ODC) of two officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The two officers whose identities were not revealed were also banned from working at any Nigerian airport.
This followed the conclusion of an investigation of the allegation of extortion against the officers.
Daily Trust reports that a woman had taken to Twitter to lament how her 14-year-old daughter travelling on Lufthansa Airline on February 19 was extorted, saying the sum of N8000 was collected from her. Read more
Lagos man allegedly defrauds 2 brothers N2.3m after ‘visa to Dubai’ promise to play football (Vanguard)
The Police on Friday arraigned a 49-year-old man, Rasheed Sule, before a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, over alleged N3.5 million visa fraud.
Sule, of no fixed residential address, is facing a two-count charge of fraud and stealing.
The prosecutor, ASP Clement Okuiomose, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Dec.17, 2021, at about 3:00p.m in the Ajara-Badagry area of Lagos.
Okuiomose said that the defendant obtained the sum of N2,321,000 from the complainants, Hassan Zhekwo and Momoh Zhekwo, two brothers, under the pretence of getting traveling documents for them to travel to Dubai to play football. Read more
Shippers’ Council warns against Apapa-like traffic gridlock at Lekki (Leadership)
The executive secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Hon. Emmanuel Jime, yesterday, warned against the replication of Apapa gridlock at the Lekki Freeport Terminal.
Jime, who made the assertion in Lagos when a delegation from the Lekki Freeport Terminal paid him a courtesy visit at the council’s headquarters said, for now, the only means of evacuation available was the road connecting the port.
He, however, warned that adoption of all modes of transportation is the way out but, at the present stage, could replicate Apapa traffic.
The Shippers’ Council boss, who said there was a need to put things in place to stop such from happening, added that, “Lekki Deep Seaport is going to be the game changer. We are now moving into a period where for the first time, we are able to have ocean-going vessels that normally don’t berth in our ports coming into Lekki. Read more
Police arraign 2 men for allegedly assaulting EKEDC staff in Badagry (Vanguard)
The Police in Lagos on Thursday arraigned two men at a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly assaulting and attacking staff of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC).
The defendants, Taiwo Nupo, 25, and Balogun Olatunji, 36, whose addresses are unknown, are standing trial on a count charge of assault.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, ASP Clement Okuoimose, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on March 11, at about 10.00 a.m., at Zanzunmeh St. Itoga, Badagry area of Lagos. Read more
Lagos First Lady lauds group for backing Sanwo-Olu’s agenda (Nation)
The wife of the Lagos State governor, Dr. (Mrs) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has hailed the idea of the Greater Lagos Initiative (GLI), which is aimed at supporting the efforts of the Lagos State Government in improving the lives of Lagosians.
Dr Sanwo-Olu made the remark during the GLI’s empowerment programme and awards ceremony, dubbed the Lagos Peoples’ Project. During the event, which took place at Ikeja, Lagos, dozens of indigent Lagosians were empowered and some individuals and organisations were recognised for supporting the Lagos State Government to deliver democracy dividends to the people.
While receiving her award, the First Lady who was honoured for her contribution towards women’s development via advocacy and various initiatives described the initiative as “a laudable move that would be of great benefit to the recipients and will improve their lives. She also said the government cannot do it alone and called for the encouragement of corporate bodies and philanthropists to be part of the Lagos Peoples’ Project. Her words: “It is obvious that the government cannot do it alone, which is why we must encourage corporate bodies and philanthropists to beam their searchlight in this direction.”
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs Folasade Jaji also expressed her support for the project, adding that it is in line with the administration’s THEMES agenda and that the government is in support of whatever lines up with its agenda. Read more
Biola Brentwood showcases Nigerian collection at Paris Fashion Week 2022 (Tribune)
Abiola Adeneye is the Creative Director and CEO of Biola Brentwood fashion label, a clothing line that caters for sophisticated women who, according to her, want to stay true to their indigenous African roots.
After featuring at the African Fashion Week, Toronto 2021 in Canada, she made her debut presentation at the recently concluded Paris Fashion Week, and launched her latest collection tagged ‘African Beauty’.
The collection featured lively African fabrics in distinct styles showcasing the beauty in African culture and tradition.
The outfits which have ready to wear pieces infused in the collection were made with the intention to fit every woman, not excluding the plus-size ladies. Read more
6 winners emerge in African folktales reimagined competition (ThisDay)
Netflix and UNESCO have announced winners of the short film competition ‘African Folktales Reimagined’ for Sub-Saharan Africa’s up-and-coming filmmakers. The winners are Gcobisa Yako (South Africa), Korede Azeez (Nigeria), Loukman Ali (Uganda), Mohamed Echkouna (Mauritania), Voline Ogutu (Kenya), Walter Mzengi (Tanzania).
The winners will now go into the development phase of their projects, before starting production on the short films that will eventually premiere on Netflix as part of ‘An Anthology of African Folktales’ later this year.
While congratulating the winners, Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay said that “The laureates, and all the participants in this competition more broadly, highlight the rich, diverse and ever-evolving culture that Sub-Saharan Africa has to offer and that UNESCO wants to promote. We cannot wait to celebrate these films at a special premiere at UNESCO headquarters in Paris at the end of this year.”
Netflix Director of Content in Africa, Ben Amadasun added that “It’s been a truly inspiring journey for us to experience the level of creative talent from our candidates. From the thousands of applicants we’ve received to the Top 21 and finally, the 6 winners – it’s evident that Africa is filled with amazing storytelling talent that is ready to share their different perspectives and celebrate Africa’s rich culture and heritage.” Read more
Umahi: INEC defers deliberation as fresh court orders emerge (Independent)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disclosed last night that it has stepped down further deliberations on court cases arising from the defection of David Umahi, Governor of Ebonyi State from the Peoples Democratic Party PDP to the All Progressives Congress APC.
The matter was slated for deliberation today by the commission but was stepped for a further briefing by the Litigation and Prosecution department as the attention of the commission was drawn to the fresh court order.
Barrister Festus Okoye INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, who made the disclosure pinged out that ok INEC has been served nine different motions and orders on the Umahi defection matter alone, pointing out that the commission has been joined in over 71 litigations in the last three months.
On the Ebonyi matter he said:
“The Commission today listed this matter for deliberation. It involves Court cases on the defection of the Governor and Deputy-Governor of Ebonyi State and sixteen members of the State House of Assembly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Read more
NERC confirms removal of electricity subsidy (Channels)
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has confirmed the removal of electricity subsidies by the Federal Government.
Addressing a news conference in Abuja, the Chairman of the Commission, Mr Sanusi Garba, said the review was conducted in line with multi-year tariff order that mandates that electricity tariff be reviewed every six months.
NERC’s confirmation comes as the nation continues to confront an energy crisis amid petrol queues, rising diesel costs and national grid collapses.
Mr Garba said it is the duty of electricity distribution companies to inform their customers of tariff review outcomes and cost of power. Read more
OAU appoints Prof Bamire as new Vice-Chancellor (Nation)
The management of Obafemi Awolowo University(OAU), Ile-Ife on Thursday announced Professor Adebayo Bamire of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture of the institution, as the 12th Vice-Chancellor.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Owelle Udoji who announced the appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor of the varsity in a press conference held at the school ICT auditorium, noted that the post of the VC of the institution will be vacant by June 7th, 2022 following the expiration of the tenure of Professor Eyitope Ogunmodede.
He disclosed that Council, at its meeting held on 7th December 2021 flagged off the processes for the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor who is expected to assume duties on 7th June 2022. In line with the approval of the Council, the vacancy was widely advertised in compliance with relevant Statutes and Acts guiding appointment to the position.
He said Bamire defeated 19 other applicants to emerge the 12th Vice-Chancellor of the university. Read more
Arnold Schwarzenegger calls for end to Russian warfare in Ukraine (FarOut)
Action movie hero and former politician Arnold Schwarzenegger has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop his malevolent attack on Ukraine, posting a powerful nine-minute video to social media on March 17th.
Warning the Russian people to be wary of misinformation spread by the propaganda machine of the Kremlin, Schwarzenegger directly addressed the President stating that only he was responsible for the invasion, and had the power to “stop this war”. Praising “the strength and the heart” of Russian citizens, the actor recalled a visit to the country in the 1980s when he shot the movie Red Heat in Moscow’s Red Square.
Highlighting the prejudices against the Russian identity, Schwarzenegger used the film to acknowledge how the country has been treated unfairly in the past as a result of the fallout of the Cold War.
Addressing Russian soldiers currently serving in Ukraine, the actor stated, “You are being sacrificed for a senseless war…. let your fellow Russians know the human catastrophe that is happening in Ukraine”. Continuing, he addressed Putin and added, “You started this war. You are leading this war. You can stop this war”. Read more
Canadian performer Jewelle Blackman takes on starring role in Broadway musical ‘Hadestown’ (TorontoStar)
Actor and musician Jewelle Blackman will take on the role of Persephone in the Broadway musical “Hadestown” after being involved in the show since its out-of-town tryout at Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre in 2017.
“Elated, thrilled, ecstatic are just some of the words that I would use to describe my feelings,” Blackman told the Star by phone from New York about her first leading role on Broadway.
“Hadestown,” created by Anaïs Mitchell and Rachel Chavkin, weaves together the classical myths of Orpheus and Eurydice and Hades and Persephone and has its musical roots in New Orleans jazz and blues, folk and pop. It opened on Broadway in April 2019 and won a whopping eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
Blackman has been the understudy for Persephone since the show returned from COVID-19 hiatus last September; she takes over the role April 5. Read more
Petition wants Kanye West removed from Coachella lineup for harassing Kim Kardashian & Pete Davidson (AllHipHop)
More than 3,000 people signed a petition calling for Kanye West to be removed from this year’s Coachella Festival.
Kanye West’s harassment of Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson, among others, led to a user creating the petition on Change.org. The online campaign hopes to get ‘Ye axed from the 2022 Coachella Festival lineup.
“We have watched Kanye harass, manipulate, and hurt Kim, Pete, and others for over a year now,” the petition’s creator wrote. “No one seems to want to stand up to him, and the ones that do, he puts them under fire as well. Most recently, he has been threatening actual bodily harm on others.”
The user added, “This is ridiculous that he is allowed to freely do this. Coachella (along with other brand names that are still working with him) should be ashamed of themselves and should not be giving him any more of a platform.” Read more
Post Malone donates signed electric guitar to Utah Trauma centre for children (HipHopDX)
Post Malone always looks to give back to the community whenever he can. In an effort to raise money and spread awareness for Camp Hope Utah, which is a nonprofit organization benefiting children who have been impacted by domestic violence and trauma.
The Cottonwood Heights Police Department in Utah took to Twitter on Wednesday (March 16) showcasing a Fender Squier autographed by Post Malone claiming he donated the electric guitar to help raise funds for Camp Hope Utah.
“CHPD is helping the Salt Lake District Attorney’s Office raise money for Camp Hope Utah sponsoring abused kids,” the local police department wrote. “Post Malone donated this signed Fender Squire guitar to help raise money.”
Posty’s signature can be seen on the bottom left of the guitar followed by a smiley face and peace sign. An auction will be held in the days ahead and anyone interested in purchasing the rare autographed guitar by Posty can email Camp Hope at CampHopeUtah@ch.Utah.gov.
James Bond and Spider-Man spark audience recovery at Cineworld (IrishNews)
THE owner of the new cinema at Belfast’s Odyssey complex has said a “strong” slate of films at the end of 2021 helped audience numbers to rebound sharply.
Cineworld, which is the world’s second largest cinema chain, opened its first Northern Ireland outlet on December 10 2021.
It said while the likes of James Bond film No Time To Die and Spider-Man: No Way Home boosted its numbers toward the end of last year, it said the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 and a lack of major releases impacted its trade over January and February.
It added that it expects strong trading to kickstart this month due to a strong and full slate of films, including The Batman. Read more
‘Inventing Anna,’ ‘Encanto’ rule Nielsen streaming charts (THR)
Shonda Rhimes’ Inventing Anna stole big numbers in its second weekend, logging 3.3 billion minutes viewed in its first full week of play on Netflix, according to Nielsen rankings for the week of Feb. 14-20.
The nine-episode original limited series first debuted on the streamer Feb. 11, amassing 1.22 billion minutes of viewing times in its first three days.
Inventing Anna, starring Julia Garner, topped both Nielsen’s original series chart for the week of Feb. 14-20, as well as the overall chart, which includes movies and TV series. Females made up two-thirds of the audience, while about one-third were in the 35-49 age group, according to Nielsen.
Netflix’s reality series Love Is Blind was the second-most viewed title among any series or movie in its second week with 1.4 billion viewing minutes. Read more
Daniel Radcliffe reveals why he wouldn’t want to Do a ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ movie (ET)
Daniel Radcliffe isn’t looking to return to the wizarding world any time soon. The actor says he’s happy where things left off, and is looking to some other actors who returned to play iconic characters decades later as a sort of guide to his own possible plans.
Speaking with the New York Times — as part of a group interview with his The Lost City co-stars Channing Tatum and Sandra Bullock — Radcliffe was asked about recent chatter regarding the possibility of adapting Harry Potter and the Cursed Child into a movie.
Director Chris Columbus — who helmed the first two installments in the Harry Potter film franchise — has publicly expressed his interest in bringing the play to the big screen, with Radcliffe in the title role. However, the 32-year-old star says he doesn’t see that happening.
“This isn’t the answer that anybody’s going to want,” Radcliffe began when asked about the possibility, before addressing his recent return to the Harry Potter world in a reunion special for HBO alongside his former co-stars. Read more
Why I left out Ejuke for Ghana clashes – Eguavoen (Leadership)
Super Eagles interim technical adviser, Austin Eguavoen, has revealed why he didn’t select Chidera Ejuke for the double legs FIFA 2020 World Cup playoffs clash against Ghana.
Eguavoen in an interview with Elegbete TV said he wants to achieve balance with the team and invited two players each for the outfield positions.
He said the door is not shut on the CSKA Moscow wingers and others but he has a full complement of players in every position.
“I’ve spoken to most of them one after the other. The best position and then another alternative position,” Eguavoen said. Read more
Ex-Black Stars coach says Ghana will beat Nigeria with massive support (Independent)
Kwesi Appiah, the former Black Stars of Ghana coach, has predicted a tough match between his country and Nigeria.
In a report from the local media, the former captain of the Black Stars, however, said with massive support from his countrymen, the four-time African champions would see off Nigeria for a place at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar in November.
Appiah, who led the team to the World Cup in 2014 after thrashing Egypt in the playoff 6-1 at the same venue, Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, is confident the Black Stars will emerge victorious.
“It is about Ghana and I will entreat all and sundry to rally behind the Black Stars against Nigeria for us to win,” he said as quoted by footballghana.com.
“It is not going to be an easy game but I believe if we support the team wholeheartedly, we will be victorious,” he added.
Kwesi Appiah was also the captain of the Black Stars when Ghana beat Nigeria 1-0 at the Baba Yara stadium 31 years ago, the last time the two teams met in Kumasi. Read more
Jurgen Klopp faces Naby Keita decision as Liverpool unleash new front three
(LiverpoolEcho)
With the March international break in sight, Liverpool are very nearly at the end of a gruelling run of fixtures that has seen them play 13 matches in just six weeks. Keeping their quadruple hopes alive, they have narrowed the gap on Man City in the title-race to just a point, progressed to the Champions League quarter-finals and won the League Cup.
Now a place in the FA Cup semi-finals is up for grabs as the Reds travel to Nottingham Forest, And having named arguably his strongest XI away at Arsenal on Wednesday night, other than Mohamed Salah who was utilised as a substitute after injury, Jurgen Klopp is certain to rotate.
And with a number of senior players short on minutes in recent weeks, we take a look at who the German could turn to as Liverpool look to book a second trip to Wembley of the season.
Having been the hero for the Reds’ Carabao Cup final over Chelsea last month, Caoimhin Kelleher sat out Liverpool’s next game as they faced Norwich City in the previous round of the FA Cup. However, the young Irishman is pretty nailed all to start against Forest as Klopp rotates his entire backline. Read more
Paul Pogba to let Manchester United contract run down before deciding future (IrishIndependent)
Paul Pogba will become the Premier League’s most high-profile free agent by seeing out his contract at Manchester United rather than agreeing a pre-contract with another club for next season.
The France midfielder, who set a new British transfer record when he was signed for £89.3 million, is likely to leave Old Trafford after six years after failing to come to an agreement over an extension since last summer.
It is understood the 29-year-old wants to focus on the remaining two months of the campaign and salvage something from United’s season before turning his attention to his own future. With a quick turnaround for negotiations deemed extremely unlikely, Pogba will be unattached when the season ends in May.
United held talks over a new contract just after the summer break last year, but there was no agreement – and since January he has been able to talk to clubs about a deal starting for the 2022/’23 season. Read more
F1 landscape much changed from Abu Dhabi as new season kicks off in Bahrain (National)
A new Formula One season kicks off in Bahrain this weekend hoping sweeping rule changes will trigger an explosive new chapter in the sport’s history to blow away the controversy of last year’s title decider in Abu Dhabi.
Make no mistake bitterness still lingers over the events last December, certainly deep within Lewis Hamilton and, perhaps even more passionately among his legion of followers.
But F1 is trying to move on. And almost everywhere you look there is change: from dramatic new regulations offering closer racing to a new champion in Max Verstappen and an old one in Hamilton himself surely hell bent on righting a wrong.
Then there’s promise of a Ferrari revival, the legendary Fernando Alonso trying to lead Renault Alpine out of the wilderness and Australian Daniel Ricciardo returning from a bout of Covid. That’s without mentioning ditched Russians and the sport’s new race management with football style video refereeing in use for the first time. Read more
Venus Williams jokes she can’t play doubles with actor without Serena’s permission (TennisWorld)
Former world No. 1 Venus Williams was a guest on The Late Late Show With James Corden and there she joked about playing doubles with Hollywood actor Zach Braff. Braff, a star from the Scrubs series, revealed on the show that he occasionally plays tennis.
However, Braff admitted that he is not very good at playing the game. “I do play a bit of tennis but I do it very, very rarely. I go to this wonderful teacher named Chris Crabb and he teaches a lot of famous people in town.
When I am around and I can go, I go,” Braff said. “But every time I go, I show up and tell him, ‘I have forgotten everything. Let’s go over my backhand again’ and he’s like, ‘You’re going to play [against] Steve Careell and Pete Wentz and Donald Faison’ and I..am horrible, frankly.”
Williams was seated next to Braff and he jokingly remarked it would be cool if she could be his doubles partner one day. Venus Williams has 22 doubles titles – 14 Grand Slam doubles titles – all of those titles have been won with Serena. Read more
Hadwin, Burns, Vegas and Lipsky share PGA Valspar lead (France24)
Defending champion Sam Burns closed with back-to-back birdies to match Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas, Canada’s Adam Hadwin and US compatriot David Lipsky for the lead after Thursday’s opening round of the US PGA Valspar Championship.
Burns, Vegas, Lipsky and Hadwin each fired seven-under par 64s at Innisbrook resort’s Copperhead course in Palm Harbor, Florida.
Only Lipsky, chasing his first US PGA title, had a bogey-free round, his longest birdie putt from just outside 10 feet.
“My iron play was excellent. I hit it close a lot,” Lipsky said. “I didn’t really leave myself too many stressful par saves. Drove it relatively straight and that’s a formula to go well.” Read more