3-foot tall ex-corper not my girlfriend – Phillip (Punch)
A sportsman, Phillip Ayobami, who was seen posing with a diminutive lady, Ruth Innocent, at the Bayelsa State orientation camp of the National Youth Service Corps in photos that went viral on social media, has denied being in a relationship with her as she claimed.
Innocent had on March 14 posted photos showing her posing with a tall male colleague during their orientation programme as corps members in Bayelsa in 2021 and claiming that they fell in love with each other.
The photos were published by several online media while Facebook users congratulated her for finding love despite her small stature. Read more
NAFDAC alerts Nigerians to recalled eye drop (Guardian)
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted Nigerians to the recalled EzriCare and Delsam Pharma Artificial Tears eye drops.
The recall is contained in a public alert with No: 008/2023 signed by NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, in Abuja on Sunday.
She said that the eye drop was recalled in February due to suspected contamination with pseudomonas aeruginosa, a highly resistant bacterium.
According to her, since the recall, the U.S. Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has reported 68 patients across 16 states with health problems from the bacteria, including eye infections. Read more
How the Speaker I defeated got me arrested during Ramadan – Yobe Lawmaker-Elect (DailyTrust)
Lawan Musa Majakura, a 34-year-old lawmaker-elect, has explained how the Speaker of the Yobe State House of Assembly, Ahmed Mirwa Lawan, got him arrested after criticising him for alleged poor representation.
Majakura defeated the speaker in the house of assembly elections with 182 votes to represent Nguru II constituency of Nguru Local Government Area.
The lawmaker-elect who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) told Daily Trust via telephone how he was arrested on two occasions. Read more
LASG arrests, parades 4 hoodlums over harassment of motorists (Independent)
The Lagos State Government has arrested and paraded four suspected hoodlums over the continuous harassment of motorists in the state.
The government in a statement by Mrs. Bolanle Ogunlola, the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Transportation stated that the hoodlums were arrested at the Amuwo-Odofin Area of the state, while disguising as the officials of the State Government and harassing motorists who were carrying out their lawful business in the area.
Ogunbola gave the names of the suspects as Tunji Oyedeji, Allison Ozin, Taiwo Olubodun and Awotunde Ahmed. Read more
We make N35k daily from extortion, says arrested fake LASTMA officer (Vanguard)
Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, weekend, arrested another suspected serial fake traffic officer of the agency, Mr. Omotutu Bamidele, 55, around the Ikoyi area of the state.
Bamidele, the suspect, who hailed from ‘Atijere Town’ in Ondo State, However, confessed that he and his colleagues still at large were making an average of N35,000 from extortion acts on a daily basis.
The suspect confessed to having been impersonating with a reflective jacket as a LASTMA officer and extorting money from motorists particularly private car owners/ drivers at highbrow areas across the state. Read more
FG confirms May 3 for commencement of Census (Nation)
The 2023 National Population and Housing Census is to commence on May 3, the Federal Government has confirmed.
Dr Garba Abari, a member of the Publicity and Advocacy Committee on 2023 National Population and Housing Census, confirmed this on Sunday in Abuja when he appeared on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum.
He said that the three-day exercise would commence May 3 and end on May 5 across the country. Read more
Ebenezer Obey to celebrate 81 at Lepers Colony, orphanages (Tribune)
Even though the 80th birthday celebration of the legendary musician, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, held both in Ogun and Lagos states is still the talk of the town almost a year after, the music icon is warming up for another celebration on April 3.
The Chief Commander, as he is fondly called, may not throw a bash this time as he revealed that plans have been concluded to mark his 81st birthday celebration differently.
Instead of painting the town red, Obey has concluded plans to give back to society, as he will mark his birthday at the Lepers Colony in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Read more
Osinbajo leaves for UK, to deliver King’s College London public lecture Monday (ThisDay)
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will on Sunday depart Abuja for an official visit to London, the United Kingdom.
Osinbajo’s media aide, Laolu Akande, in a release, stated that the Vice President was due to leave Abuja for London on Sunday afternoon.
According to the itinerary, the Vice President will be speaking on Monday at the King’s College, London where he has been invited to deliver a public lecture following the school’s annual Africa Week 2023 events. Read more
Daniel Radcliffe and Erin Darke are Expecting First Child (BroadwayWorld)
Daniel Radcliffe, who can next be seen in the Broadway transfer of NYTW’s Merrily We Roll Along, and his longtime partner Erin Darke have revealed that they are expecting their first child.
The couple has been together since 2012, when they met on the set of the film Kill Your Darlings. They recently collaborated on the television show Miracle Workers.
Erin Darke’s other television credits include Paramount Plus’s “Moonshine,” “AMC’S “Dietland”, “The Loudest Voice” on Showtime and Theresa Rebeck’s YouTube original “It’s A Man’s World”. Darke is also known for the Amazon series’ “Good Girls Revolt” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”. Her film credits include Kill Your Darlings, Love & Mercy, Don’t Think Twice, Thank You For Your Service and most recently Summer ’03. Her theater credits include the world premiere of The Spoils (The New Group), An Early History of Fire (The New Group) and Wayside Motor Inn (Signature Theater). Read more
Jonathan Majors arrested in New York after police called to domestic dispute (Guardian)
The actor Jonathan Majors has been arrested in New York on charges of strangulation, assault and harassment.
New York City police said Majors, the star of Creed III and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, was involved in a domestic dispute on Saturday with a 30-year-old woman. Police responded at about 11am to a 911 call inside an apartment in the Chelsea neighbourhood in Manhattan.
“The victim informed police she was assaulted,” a police spokesperson said. “Officers placed the 33-year-old male into custody without incident. The victim sustained minor injuries to her head and neck and was removed to an area hospital in stable condition.”
Majors was no longer in police custody as of Saturday night, police said. Read more
Kelly Clarkson shares news of new single, covers Janet Jackson, Lenny Kravitz for ‘‘Kellyoke’’ (AS)
Before we get to the handful of dazzling performances from Kelly Clarkson and her “Kellyoke” series on The Kelly Clarkson Show, let’s dive into news about her latest single.
Though there is no set release date for Clarkson’s forthcoming LP, the singer revealed that she has new music on the way, sharing new details about the next single. Clarkson noted that she is working on a new video for the single, which will air on her daytime television show.
“Today, we are shooting the episode in which—I’m trying not to get in trouble here—in which I will be singing a song from a certain new record,” says Clarkson. “We’re doing the episode, so that means it’s coming because we don’t shoot that far in advance. It’s coming and it’s so good.”
The Bruno Mars connection to Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” explained (NickiSwift)
Imitation is the highest form of flattery, or so they say. It’s never really a secret when an artist incorporates a previously released song from another musician in their own tracks. This can take many forms, such as sampling a tune, recreating it, or even collaborating with the original artist. Recently, Miley Cyrus released “Flowers,” the lead single from her new album “Endless Summer Vacation,” which drew immediate comparisons to Bruno Mars’ hit, “When I Was Your Man.”
While we’ll get into why (and how) that is in a bit, it’s worth noting that another major inspiration for the song was allegedly Cyrus’s ex-husband, Liam Hemsworth. According to Capital FM, rumours circulated that “When I Was Your Man” held a special place in their relationship because Hemsworth dedicated it to Cyrus at one point. While that bit is just hearsay, with neither celebrity sharing that story, the lyrics and release date are enough to pin it to Hemsworth anyway. Read more
Andrew Lloyd Webber announces death of son Nick at 43 (UPI)
Tony-winning composer Andrew Lloyd Webber announced on social media Saturday that his son, Nick, has lost his battle with cancer, dying at the age of 43.
“I am shattered to have to announce that my beloved elder son Nick died a few hours ago in Basingstoke Hospital. His whole family is gathered together and we are all totally bereft,” Andrew said.
Andrew, who turned 75 on March 22, missed the Broadway opening of his latest stage musical, Bad Cinderella, earlier this month so he could be by Nick’s side.
Nick was a Grammy-nominated composer and record producer, best known for penning the scores for the BBC 1 drama Love, Lies and Records and the 2021 film, The Last Bus. Read more
Spotify only spent 10% of its $100m diversity fund in the past year (NME)
Spotify executives have only spent 10 percent of their $100million (£81.75million) budget on a new fund to promote music and audio content by members of “historically marginalised groups”.
The Creator Equity Fund was launched last year in the wake of controversy surrounding Joe Rogan’s Spotify-exclusive podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, due to uses of the N-word and COVID-19 vaccine misinformation.
Just over a year on, however, Bloomberg has found that the initiative has got off to a slow start. Spotify was found to have taken months to hire staff and deal with “shifting priorities”, and Bloomberg also obtained a memo which said that at the beginning of the year, they were still finalising the fund’s budget and were still sorting out their priority projects. Read more
Mel C describes fame as “a beast” in a moving letter to her younger self (Bustle)
Throughout her career, Melanie Chisholm (aka Mel C and Sporty Spice) has been very open to discussing her Spice Girls heyday. Now, writing in a moving letter, the “Who Do You Think You Are” hitmaker has shared the advice she would give to her younger self and her experiences with the downsides of fame.
As per the Independent, Mel C wrote the letter to mark the release of Reverend and the Makers’ new single “A Letter to My 21-Year-Old Self,” after the band’s frontman asked his friends and fans to write messages to their younger selves — which were later displayed in a Sheffield exhibition on March 23. In her letter, Mel C shares informed advice with “little sporty,” and warns her of the “beast” that is fame.
“I would like to tell you it’s all going to be fun and trust me it is going to be a wild ride but fame is a beast,” she writes. “You and the girls will be adored but that’s not the whole story, you won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, there will be some jealousy, ridicule, and criticism, that’s ok, try not to take it to heart.” Read more
AFCONQ: Super Eagles fly out to Bissau for Djurtus clash (Punch)
The Super Eagles of Nigeria on Sunday flew out to Guinea-Bissau for the reverse fixture of their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau.
The players and their officials departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Sunday for Bissau.
They are expected to arrive at the Osvaldo Vieira International Airport, Bissau. Read more
Phil Foden undergoes emergency surgery after England sub was subbed off vs Italy (DailyStar)
Phil Foden will miss England’s game against Ukraine on Sunday after he underwent emergency surgery.
The Manchester City midfielder made an appearance off the bench for Southgate’s side in England’s 2-1 win over Italy in Naples on Thursday but was subbed off just 12 minutes after Luke Shaw was given his marching orders in the 80th minute.
The Stockport-born playmaker is now set to be out for a period of time with it being confirmed he was forced to go under the knife. Read more
Daly double helps Villa thrash bottom side Foxes (BBC)
England forward Rachel Daly and Alisha Lehmann both struck twice as clinical Aston Villa put the Women’s Super League’s bottom side Leicester to the sword at Villa Park.
In front of a lively crowd of 6,489 – just shy of Villa’s record attendance for a women’s game – Daly took her tally for the season to 13 WSL goals, just two behind the league’s top scorer, Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw.
Kenza Dali found the bottom corner from 20 yards to put Villa ahead and Lehmann produced a controlled first-time finish from Kirsty Hanson’s low cross to double the lead. Read more
NPFL23: Niger Tornadoes compound Dakkada woes in Uyo (DailyTrust)
It has gone from bad to worse for Dakkada FC as they earned a seventh league loss in the first game of the second stanza of the 2022/23 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
Dakkada who are swimming in relegation waters and are yet to keep a clean sheet in the league this season lost 2-1 to visiting Niger Tornadoes in a Group B clash at the Nest of Champions, Uyo Saturday.
The Ikon Allah boys got to a dream start when in the 6th minute, David Okoromi dazzled inside the box and slotted home coolly to give his side an early lead. Read more
Tommy Fury insists fuming Tyson Fury is not to blame for Oleksandr Usyk fight collapse (DailyStar)
Tommy Fury has come out and defended his half-brother Tyson after the collapse of the arranged fight between him and Oleksandr Usyk.
Making an appearance on Soccer AM on Saturday morning, Tommy was asked by presenter Jimmy Bullard about his brother Tyson and what’s going on between him and Usyk, insisting he must be “fuming”. In response, the 23-year-old said: “He does not like Usyk at the minute.
“There’s a lot of politics in boxing but I want to say this first-hand. The reason why this fight isn’t getting made isn’t down to Tyson at all. He wants to fight. He’s proven to everybody. Read more
LeBron James calls out Anthony Davis haters following Los Angeles Lakers victory (Mirror)
LeBron James may not be able to make any impact on the court right now, but the Los Angeles Lakers star is certainly doing enough talking off it.
The Lakers beat Oklahoma City Thunder 116-111 on Friday night as Anthony Davis dropped a stunning 37-point game. Davis controlled the game from start to finish, and helped the Lakers improve their record to 37-37 for the season.
Davis has been under the spotlight even more recently due to James’ injury, but stepped up once again on a big night for the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. And James took to Instagram to back his team-mate, and call out all of the haters. Read more