3 Nigerians extradited to U.S. over fraud (Nation)
Three Nigerian nationals accused of operating an international fraud scheme have been extradited to the Southern District of Florida to face federal charges.
A release issued by the United States Department of Justice yesterday said that one of the suspects, Kennedy Ikponmwosa, was extradited from Spain and he made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin G. Torres on April 18.
Iheanyichukwu Jonathan Abraham and Jerry Chucks Ozor were also extradited from the United Kingdom yesterday and would make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Eduardo I. Sanchez on Monday in Miami. Read more
Lagos, FAAN demolish 13 houses close to airport (Punch)
The Lagos State Building Control Agency has in conjunction with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria demolished some houses located in Ajao Estate and Shasha areas of the state. The properties were located close to the Murtala Muhammed Airport.
The General Manager of LASBCA, Gbolahan Oki, during a press briefing in Ikeja before the demolition exercise, noted that most of the property owners close to the airport lacked the necessary building permits from relevant agencies.
Oki said, “We have realised that property owners in the Ajao Estate and Shasha close to the MMA lack necessary building approval which is a basic requirement. They also lack planning permits. Secondly, they are building on a pipeline and this could cause fire incidents. Read more
Sexagenarian, 100-year-old man docked for alleged land grabbing (Vanguard)
A 100-year-old man, Oladepo Ogunlade and Musiliyu Ogundiran, 61, were on Friday docked in an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan for alleged land grabbing and destruction of economic trees.
Ogunlade and Ogundiran were charged with conspiracy, land grabbing, malicious damage, threatening violence and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Philip Amusan, told the court that the two men committed the offence in 2021 at Lawani village in Ibadan. Read more
Lagos assembly tasks NPC on credible population, housing census (Guardian)
The Lagos State House of Assembly has urged the National Population Commission (NPC) to conduct a credible population and housing census for effective planning in the country.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Security and Strategies, Mr Setonji David stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Friday.
NAN recalls that the Federal Government had announced that the 2023 National Population and Housing Census would begin on May 3. Read more
Sudan Crisis: Allow Nigerian evacuees into your country, FG begs Egypt (DailyTrust)
Nigerians fleeing the war in Sudan are currently stranded in Egypt.
As a result of the shutting down of Sudanese airspace, flights meant to convey people leaving Sudan have been landing in Egypt and neighbouring countries.
The Federal Government had made arrangements for Sudan evacuees to be moved to Cairo by road from where they would join flights back home.
The evacuation process began after the warring factions in Sudan agreed to a three-day ceasefire. Read more
Court bars FG from concessioning Ajaokuta Steel, Itakpe Iron Ore mining coys (Guardian)
A Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja, the state capital, has ordered the Federal Government to desist from proceeding with the concession of the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) and the National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) at Itakpe.
The court also barred the government from conducting its planned virtual pre-qualification conference interview slated for May 4, 2023, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
The Federal Government had commenced the concession process for the two companies which are located in Kogi State, and had placed an advertisement to that effect. Read more
Raise LAUTECH’s global profile, standard, Makinde urges new Chancellor (Tribune)
Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Friday, in Ogbomoso, charged the newly appointed Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University Ogbomoso (LAUTECH) and paramount ruler of Emoha kingdom, in Rivers, Sir Sergeant Ohna Chidi Awuse, to shore up the global profile and standard of the institution through his vast experience and expertise.
Speaking shortly after the investiture of Awuse as part of the activities commemorating the 15th convocation of the university, Makinde underscored the need for the monarch to share LAUTECH’s vision and commit himself to the overall growth of the university.
Represented by his deputy, Barrister Bayo Lawal, the governor contended that chancellor is a person that can help raise the profile of a university and advance its interests regionally, nationally and internationally. Read more
Stock market ends on a high note with Market Capitalization up at N91b (Nairametrics)
The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) closed positive amidst buy-interests and sell-offs as bulls regain dominance, driving up the broad market.
The All-share Index (ASI) appreciated by 0.32% to close at 52,403.51 points.
In the same vein, Market Capitalization grew by N91 billion to close at N28,533 trillion while the Year-to-Date (YtD) returns settled at 1.56%. The stock market has advanced by 807.85 basis points since the start of the year.
Market breadth closed negative as SOVRENINS led 24 gainers, and 27 losers topped by CUTIX at the end of Friday’s session. Read more
Eva Green wins lawsuit over ‘‘career-killing’’ movie A Patriot (Variety)
Eva Green has won her lawsuit over the failed movie A Patriot.
The case, which centered around Green’s $1 million fee for the film, was heard at London’s High Court earlier this year. In a statement, the actor hailed the judgment and said the experience had been “painful and damaging.”
Green had claimed that under her “pay or play” contract she was still owed her fee, which was being held in escrow by her agent, even though the movie had fallen apart. Read more
Unseen Gabriel García Márquez novel to be published next year (Guardian)
Rumours had long circulated that an entire literary masterpiece, never seen by the public, could still be lying in a dusty safe held by the late author’s family or under lock and key at his archive at the University of Texas.
On Friday Penguin Random House confirmed that an unpublished Gabriel García Márquez novel – titled En Agosto Nos Vemos, (We’ll See Each Other in August) – not only exists, but will be on shelves across Latin America in 2024.
“No?! A Gabriel García Márquez book?,” said Juan Moreno Blanco, a professor at the Universidad del Valle in Cali, Colombia, who was lost for words at the news. “I had heard rumours of some manuscripts, but nothing more than rumours. An entire book?!” Read more
Coronation Concert: Tom Cruise, Dame Joan Collins and Winnie the Pooh to appear at Windsor Castle event (Sky)
Tom Cruise has been confirmed as one of the stars to appear at the Coronation Concert on 7 May.
The event, to crown the new King and Queen Consort, will take place in the grounds of Windsor Castle to round off the weekend’s proceedings and is expected to be attended by 20,000 people.
Cruise, Winnie the Pooh and Dame Joan Collins will appear in a series of pre-recorded sketches revealing little-known facts about the King. Read more
Michael J. Fox says Parkinson’s disease is ‘‘getting harder,’’ can’t imagine living until he’s 80 (EW)
Michael J. Fox doesn’t have any illusions about the challenges of Parkinson’s disease.
The beloved actor, 61, was diagnosed when he was just 29. On this weekend’s episode of CBS Sunday Morning, he sits down with Jane Pauley to talk about the increasing obstacles that come with the disease he ages.
A preview clip shows the frankness with which Fox faces his situation, admitting that things are getting worse. “It’s banging on the door,” he says. “Yeah, I mean, I’m not gonna lie. It’s gettin’ hard, it’s gettin’ harder. It’s gettin’ tougher. Every day it’s tougher. But, but that’s — that’s the way it is.” Read more
GloRilla declares April 29 National ‘‘FNF’’ holiday (HipHop DX)
GloRilla has declared April 29 “National ‘‘FNF’’ Day” to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the release of the song that launched her career.
In a series of Twitter posts on Friday (April 28), Big Glo let fans know exactly how to celebrate the new holiday.
“FNF anniversary tomorrow,” she wrote. “The day that changed my life.”
In a second post, she added, “Tomorrow national FNF day which means hopping out at red
lights all tomorrow. let’s goooooo!” Read more
Principal forced to resign over Michelangelo’s David visits sculpture (BBC)
A US principal was forced to resign after parents complained about an art lesson showing one of the world’s most famous sculptures has visited the masterpiece.
Hope Carrasquilla and her family went to see Michelangelo’s David on Friday at Florence’s Accademia Galleria.
They came at the invitation of museum director Cecilie Hollberg, who said that she was grateful for the visit. Read more
UN raises Darfur alarm as battles rage in Sudan despite truce (AlJazeera)
The United Nations has warned there is a serious risk of violence escalating in Sudan’s West Darfur region as heavy battles raged across the country despite the warring sides agreeing to a new ceasefire.
Black clouds rose over the capital Khartoum on Friday as foreign governments scrambled to organise mass evacuations of their citizens, with Turkey’s defence ministry reporting that one of their military transport aircraft had come under fire.
There have been multiple failed truce efforts since a violent power struggle broke out on April 15 between Sudan’s army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanded by al-Burhan’s former deputy and fellow coup leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as “Hemedti”. Read more
IGP hails woman police fighter Ukah for emerging African MMA champion (Guardian)
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, CFR, has lauded Nigerian woman police fighter, Juliet Ukah, for emerging as the latest African EFC Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) champion.
Ukah continued her winning streak in the UFC by dominating South Africa’s Crystal Van Wyk in the strawweight clash as she won the Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) 102 on April 14.
The Nigerian police officer left scars on Van Wyk’s face before winning the fight by unanimous decision. Ukah now has her sights set on the strawweight title that is currently held by Alice Ardelean. Read more
Remo, Wikki three-point deduction overtuned (Punch)
Remo Stars hope of making the top-three in the abridged 2022/23 Nigeria Professional Football League is alive again after the NFF disciplinary committee reversed the order that saw them lose three points and three goals over an alleged assault on match officials during their game against Gombe United, Saturday PUNCH reports.
Similarly, Wikki Tourists relegation battle was also strengthened by the committee which exonerated them from assaulting match officials during their game against Bayelsa United.
Few days after its inauguration, the committee sat on three cases involving Remo Stars, Wikki Tourists and Bayelsa United – and while former two were exonerated, Bayelsa United’s three-point deduction for a similar offence in their game against Doma United on match-day five was upheld by the committee. Read more
Manchester United: Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim make final bids (BBC)
Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Group have submitted their final bids for Manchester United, BBC Sport has been told.
They are the two main parties looking to take control of the club.
Club owners, the Glazer family, will now assess their position after the latest bid deadline passed at 22:00 BST on Friday.
Both bidders are eager for a resolution to a process that began in November. Read more
European: Borussia Dortmund held at home by Bochum (RTE)
Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund were held to a 1-1 draw at Bochum to open the door for Bayern Munich to potentially go top on Sunday.
Both goals came early, with Anthony Losilla firing Bochum in front just five minutes in with a shot from outside the box, before Karim Adeyemi turned in Sebastien Haller’s pass from close range just two minutes later.
Dortmund missed a number of second-half chances, meaning they sit only two points clear of Bayern before they face Hertha Berlin on Sunday. Read more
Germany, Qatar to host upcoming FIBA World Cups (NBC)
The 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup will be in Berlin that September, marking the second time Germany hosts since 1998.
The U.S. women won the last four World Cups (the most recent in 2022), where the champion typically qualifies for the Olympics. The U.S. may get an automatic spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as host.
The 2027 FIBA Men’s World Cup will be in Doha. FIBA did not announce dates, but the event is usually held during the NBA offseason in August and September. Read more
EuroLeague playoff game suspended after wild on-court brawl in Madrid (Guardian)
A EuroLeague basketball game between Real Madrid and Partizan Belgrade was suspended with less than two minutes left after a brawl between players from both teams.
Madrid were losing 95-80 at home – and about to go down two games to none in their playoff series – when a hard foul by Madrid guard Sergio Llull on American forward Kevin Punter upset Partizan players and led to the benches being cleared.
Punches were thrown and a couple of players, one from each team, were tossed to the ground by opponents during the melee in the Spanish capital. Read more