2 suspects caught with slain woman’s phone (Punch)
Two men, Abdullahi Abubakar and Nurudeen Shotade, have been arraigned before a Magistrates’ Court sitting in Yaba, Lagos State, for possessing the stolen phone of a woman, Opeyemi Oyelami, who was robbed and killed by armed robbers in the state.
The defendants were arraigned by the Lagos State Police Command on Thursday before Magistrate A. O. Salawu, on two counts bordering on stealing, and unlawful possession of stolen items.
PUNCH Metro gathered that on January 20, 2023, around 6am at No 52 Ikola Road, behind AIT, Alagbado, Lagos State, three men, armed with a shotgun, and a bike man, robbed Oyelami of her phone, a Tecno POP 5, and shot her at her shop. Read more
2023 UTME: JAMB directs candidates to print notification slips (Guardian)
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has directed candidates for this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to proceed to print their examination notification slips.
This is contained in a statement by Dr Fabian Benjamin, Head, of Public Affairs and Protocol of the board, and issued to newsmen on Friday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a total of 1.5 million candidates would be sitting for this year’s examination in 740 centres across the country. Read more
Eid-El-Fitr: CAN felicitates with Muslims, preaches peace, tolerance (DailyTrust)
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged Muslims and all Nigerians to use the occasion of this year’s Eid-el-Fitr to pray for peace and prosperity in the country.
The President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, made the call on Friday in his Eid-ul-Fitri felicitation message to Muslims.
“The CAN joins our Muslim brothers and sisters in Nigeria and around the world to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitri festival, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Read more
YABATECH rejoices with Muslim faithful, seeks prayer for nation (Independent)
The Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has implored the Muslim faithful to use the occasion of Eid-el-Fitr to pray for the nation as it prepares for a new political and democratic dispensation.
Uduak Inyang-Udoh, the Acting Rector of YABATECH, in his felicitation message to the Muslim faithful, said the occasion of 2023 Eid-el-Fitr celebration.marked the end of a month-long period of dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan.
“On behalf of the Governing Council, Management, Staff and Students, I felicitate with staff, students, alumni, and friends of the College and the nation at large on this auspicious occasion of Eid-el-Fitr Celebration. Read more
Don’t set Nigeria ablaze, NASFAT tells politicians (DailyTrust)
The National Missioner of the Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fathi Society (NASFAT), Imam Abdul-Azeez Onike has said the prayers of many Nigerians were answered with the outcome of the 2023 elections, advising the President-elect to be fast in healing the wounds of the nation.
He said many people thought the country would scatter going by the rate at which people beat the drum of war prior to the elections.
Onike stated this in his sermon shortly after the two-rakat Eid prayers at the NASFAT Islamic Centre, Asese along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Read more
Gunmen kill 5 cops, couple in Imo (Nation)
Gunmen on Friday killed five policemen at a checkpoint at Okpala junction in the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State.
They also killed a couple identified as Mr and Mrs Chinaka Nwagu from Amankwo Okpala community.
Eyewitnesses said the incident, which occurred around 8am, sent panic to residents and passersby in the area. Read more
Attacks: SOKAPU seeks deployment of UN, AU peacekeepers to Southern Kaduna (Channels)
The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has said that no fewer than 245 communities in the area have been sacked by armed herdsmen in collaboration with terrorists in the past six years.
The body is therefore appealing to the United Nations and African Union (AU) to come to their aid by urgently sending troops to the area on a peacekeeping operation, stating that the people of Southern Kaduna have lost faith in the capacity and sincerity of the Nigerian security authorities to protect them against bandits and armed herdsmen.
Speaking at a news conference in Kaduna on Friday, the President of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union, Awemi Maisamari lamented that now fewer than 63 communities in Atyap land in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area alone have been attacked by herdsmen and bandits, with hundreds of people killed and thousands of others displaced from their homes in the last six years. Read more
Buhari celebrates last Sallah as President (ThisDay)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday celebrated his last Sallah at the State House, Abuja, saying he can’t wait to go home after eight years of governing the nation.
Speaking at the Ninth and final Sallah homage paid to him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the
President, described himself as being lucky, to have led Nigeria in various capacities – governor, Minister, Head of State and President.
He thanked the residents of Abuja for tolerating him in the last close to eight years. Read more
Martin Lawrence gives update on Jamie Foxx’s health after ‘medical complication’ (PageSix)
Martin Lawrence gave insight into his friend Jamie Foxx’s health one week after the Oscar winner’s “medical complication.”
The “Martin” alum told Extra on Thursday that the 55-year-old is “doing better.”
Lawrence, 58, shared his well-wishes, calling Foxx “one of the best that we got in Hollywood.”
He added, “Not only one of the best entertainers, but a good person. … My prayers go out for him every night and just wishing the best for him.” Read more
Kim Petras still surprised by her collaboration with Nicki Minaj which samples 1990s club banger (Metro)
Kim Petras has admitted her collaboration with Nicki Minaj ‘doesn’t feel real still’ after releasing the single on Friday morning.
The trans popstar, 30, rapidly rose to worldwide fame in 2022 following her collaboration with Sam Smith after releasing independent singles since 2017.
The duet, Unholy, took Kim to number one in several countries, including the UK, the US, New Zealand, and many territories across continental Europe. Read more
Skrillex, Fred Again and Four Tet to close out Coachella (Variety)
The electronic-music dream team of Skrillex, Fred Again and Four Tet — which recently played a rapturously received five-hour set at Madison Square Garden — will close out the Coachella festival this weekend, a rep for the trio has confirmed.
The group will follow Blink-182, who Variety revealed will fill the slot vacated when Frank Ocean announced he will not play the second weekend, on the main stage Sunday night, in the slot marked “TBD” on the schedule the festival shared on social media earlier on Thursday. Ocean’s set, his first in six years, was marred by controversy when a huge planned production involving an ice-skating rink was called off at the last minute, leaving the singer to play an at-times musically solid but uneven and low-energy set.
Last year, Coachella also doubled down when scheduled headliner Kanye West pulled out shortly before the festival’s opening day: Swedish House Mafia, who were already on the bill in a headlining but unlisted time slot, played a tag-team set with the Weeknd in his place. Read more
Trans Woman featured in hit Sundance documentary Kokomo City shot and killed in Atlanta (Deadline)
The director and subjects of Kokomo City are expressing shock over the death of Rasheeda Williams, one of the trans women featured in the award-winning documentary, who reportedly was shot to death in Atlanta Tuesday night.
Atlanta police say they are investigating the killing after being called to the scene of the shooting on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW. “Upon arrival, officers located a female victim with an apparent gunshot wound. She was not alert, conscious or breathing and pronounced deceased on scene by AFR [Atlanta Fire Rescue Department],” police said in a statement. “Homicide investigators responded to the scene and are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. The investigation continues.” Read more
Alec Baldwin’s dropped ‘‘Rust’’ charges do ‘not absolve’ him, may be refiled: special prosecutors (Fox)
The special prosecutors in Alec Baldwin’s “Rust” shooting case clarified that although the charges have been dropped against him, it “does not absolve” him of “criminal culpability” in the deadly on-set shooting.
“Over the last few days and in preparation for the May 3, 2023, preliminary hearing, new facts were revealed that demand further investigation and forensic analysis in the case against Alexander ‘Alec’ Rae Baldwin, III,” Jason Lewis and Kari Morrissey said in a late Thursday statement sent to Fox News Digital soon after news broke that the actor’s involuntary manslaughter charges were being dropped.
The statement continued, “Consequently, we cannot proceed under the current time constraints and on the facts and evidence turned over by law enforcement in its existing form.” Read more
6-year-old shot after basketball rolls into North Carolina man’s yard (BBC)
Police in North Carolina are searching for a man accused of shooting a six-year-old girl and her father after their basketball rolled into the suspect’s yard.
Two other victims, a woman and a man, were also injured.
Police said the suspect, 24-year-old Robert Louis Singletary, remains at large.
Mr Singletary faces four counts of first-degree attempted murder. Read more
Ugandan leader declines to sign anti-LGBTQ bill (VOA)
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni declined to sign a bill that would require the death penalty for homosexuality in some cases and sent it back to Parliament for “strengthening.”
Museveni’s decision was announced late Thursday after he met with lawmakers in his ruling National Resistance Movement party, almost all of whom supported the bill.
The meeting ended with a decision to return the bill to Parliament “with proposals for its improvement,” a statement said. It was not clear what the president’s recommendations were.Read more
2023 U-20 W/Cup Draw: Nigeria placed in Pot 3, likely to face Brazil, Argentina (Guardian)
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles are likely to face Brazil and Argentina in the group stage of the 2023 U-20 World Cup.
On Thursday, 20 April, FIFA unveiled on their Twitter handle the pots ahead of Friday’s draw for this year’s edition which will be hosted in Argentina.
The Flying Eagles were placed in pot three with Uzbekistan, Japan, Iraq, Honduras and Fiji. The implication is that Ladan Bosso’s side can be placed in the same group as host Argentina who are in pot one and Brazil in pot two. Read more
Juventus’ 15-point deduction overturned after CONI hearing, AC Milan drop out of Champions League places (Eurosport)
Juventus’ 15-point deduction over their transfer dealings has been reversed.
This reversal has huge implications in the race for European qualification in Italy’s top tier, with Juve now only two points adrift of Lazio in second
The Bianconeri have jumped from seventh into third place and leaves AC Milan outside of the Champions League places with eight Serie A matches remaining.
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho’s Roma currently occupy the fourth and final Champions League spot with 56 points. Read more
Ten Hag blasts Man United’s ‘unacceptable’ lack of fight in loss to Sevilla (ESPN)
Erik ten Hag has accused his Manchester United players of lacking fight after they were dumped out of the Europa League by Sevilla.
United were beaten 3-0 at Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium on Thursday, ending their hopes of a cup treble in Ten Hag’s first season in charge.
Calamitous mistakes from Harry Maguire and David de Gea contributed to the result, but afterwards the furious Dutchman branded the entire performance as “unacceptable.” Read more
Birthday boy Zverev knocked out in ATP tournament in Munich (StraitsTimes)
Alexander Zverev was dumped out in the last 16 of the ATP tournament in Munich, suffering a straight sets defeat to Christopher O’Connell on Thursday.
Competing on home soil, Zverev lost 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 to the Australian, who is ranked 82nd in the world.
O’Connell converted his first match point just short of the two-hour mark to make it through to the last eight. Read more
Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. confident ahead of first game since ’21 (ABC)
It has been 564 days since Fernando Tatis Jr. last graced a baseball field in a major league game with actual stakes. There are obvious concerns — given the season-long absence, the steroid-related suspension, the surgeries to both his wrist and shoulder — about whether he can recapture the superstar level he previously displayed.
Not from Tatis, apparently.
Moments before he would make his highly anticipated debut on Thursday night, the San Diego Padres’ shortstop-turned-outfielder was asked about his level of confidence in getting back to who he was. Tatis laughed. Read more
Toronto Raptors fire coach Nick Nurse after 41-41 season (UPI)
The Toronto Raptors basketball team fired coach Nick Nurse after posting a 41-41 record in 2022-23, the team announced Friday morning.
“The decision to make a change like this is never arrived at easily or taken lightly, especially when it comes to a person who has been an integral part of this franchise’s most historic accomplishments, and who has been a steady leader through some of our team’s most challenging times, Raptors president Masai Ujiri said in a news release.
“As we reflect on Nick’s many successes, we thank him and his family and wish them the best in the future. This is an opportunity for us to reset, to refocus, to put into place the personnel and the players who will help us reach our goal of winning our next championship.” Read more