36-year-old man arraigned over breach of peace, phone theft (Punch)
A 36-year-old man, Otobo Joseph, has been arraigned before the Ogba Magistrate’s Court sitting in the Ikeja area of Lagos State for allegedly conducting himself in an unlawful manner to cause a breach of peace
The defendant allegedly stole six iPhones valued at N1,496,000.00, owned by a technology company in the Oshodi area of the state.
Joseph, who was arraigned on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, before Magistrate S.O Obasa is facing two-count bordering on breach of peace and stealing. Read more
Peter Obi campaign DG accuses judiciary of creating crisis in Labour Party (Guardian)
The Director General of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council, Akin Osuntokun, has blamed the judiciary for the crisis rocking the party.
Osuntokun said that the judgment by Justice Muazu ordering Abure and other national executives of the party to stop parading themselves as national officers of the party created the crisis currently engulfing the party.
“There is nothing going on (in the Labour Party) other than the crisis of the judiciary. It is a judge, the judiciary that made a judgment that is now responsible for creating a crisis in the Labour Party,” Osuntokun said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday. Read more
Plans underway to evacuate Nigerians trapped in Sudan – FG (Channels)
The Federal Government has disclosed that plans are already underway to see to the evacuation of Nigerians in Sudan, as the country’s crisis continues to deepen.
This move was occasioned by a request made by Nigerian students pleading that they be evacuated from the currently troubled Sudan.
The country is witnessing hostilities between two generals who seized power in a 2021 coup: army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Read more
INEC denies meeting with Adamawa govt officials to rig polls (Vanguard)
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has denounced a report that its officials deployed to supervise the Adamawa State governorship rerun paid a nocturnal visit to the state’s Government House ostensibly to rig the polls for incumbent, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, made the denial in a statement on Thursday.
He said: “The attention of the Commission has been drawn to a press statement by a candidate in the recently-concluded Adamawa State governorship election in which officials deployed for legitimate duty in the state were alleged to have undermined the electoral process after a discreet ‘nocturnal’ visit to the Government House and ostensibly met with one of the candidates in the election, who gave them a list of ‘collation and returning officers’ deployed for the election. Read more
Sallah: NSCDC deploys 4500 personnel in Kebbi (Independent)
For maximum security during and after Eid-El Fitri celebrations, the Kebbi State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Kabiru Abubakar Alkamawa has announced the deployment of 4500 of all categories of civil defense corps including the armed squad across the state to ensure tight security during and after Sallah celebrations.
According to SC Akeem Adeyemi Babatunde the Command’s image maker, the massive deployment transcends worship and recreational centers as critical government assets will also be adequately manned by the armed squad of the corps.
Similarly, for effectiveness, a monitoring team comprising intelligent and uniform personnel would be on patrol 24 hrs across the state to nib in the bud criminal elements in the state to ensure hitch-free celebrations .Read more
Lagos ready to partner investors, DisCos for sustainable power ― Sanwo-Olu (Tribune)
Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said his administration is resolved to partner with would-be investors and distribution companies (DisCos) on sustainable power in the state.
Sanwo-Olu stated this during a courtesy visit by the Board of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) and its investor group, WPG, at Lagos House, Marina, led by the Chairman, Board of EKEDC, Mr. Dere Otubu.
The governor said his administration would continue to collaborate with investors to improve power generation, transmission and distribution in the state, as well as ensuring that quality power supply was provided for Lagos residents. Read more
CP meets stakeholders over resurface of cult clashes in tertiary institutions in Oyo (Guardian)
The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Adebowale Williams, has met with relevant stakeholders in Tertiary institutions in Oyo State over the resurfacing of cult clashes in the state.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Adewale Osifeso, made this known in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Ibadan.
Osifeso said the Commissioner of Police engaged the leadership of Student Governing Bodies and their respective Student Union Bodies in an emergency stakeholders’ security forum on Wednesday at the Command in Ibadan to address issues of security on and off the campuses. Read more
Zamfara Governor-elect unveils transition committee (ThisDay)
The Zamfara State Governor-elect Dauda Lawal has constituted a 60-member Transition Committee as he prepares to take office.
The office of the Governor-elect, in a statement signed by Sulaiman Bala Idris on Wednesday, disclosed that the committee was charged with the responsibility of liaising with the outgoing Administration of Governor Bello Matawalle ahead of the May 29th swearing-in of the new government in the state.
Former Inspector General of Police, MD Abubakar CFR, will Chair the Committee, while Dr. Hamza Mohammed will serve as Secretary. Read more
Hailey Bieber opens up about her current mental health (Today)
Hailey Bieber is getting real about her mental state in 2023.
On her Instagram stories, Bieber, 26, posted a funny video of an animated cat dancing in a house, and on top of the clip she wrote, “This is how my mental state feels after the last month and a half.”
In another Instagram story, Bieber explained why she chose that video to express her emotions. She said, “I like to make jokes about how I feel because sometimes it’s easier than admitting I’m having a hard time. But truthfully since 2023 started I have had some of the saddest, hardest moments I’ve ever had in my adult life and my mind and emotions have been fragile to say the least. Read more
Camila Cabello seemingly references her Coachella reunion with Shawn Mendes in new song snippet (People)
Camila Cabello is seemingly referencing her reunion with Shawn Mendes at Coachella last weekend in a new song snippet.
The “Havana” singer, 26, shared a preview of a new track on Instagram Wednesday, which is saved as “June Gloom” on her phone.
“How come you’re just so much better? / Is this gonna end ever? / I guess I’ll f— around and find out / Are you coming to Coachella? / If you don’t, it’s whatever / If you do, honey, it’ll be all I think about,” Cabello croons in the seconds-long clip. Read more
George Clooney jokes Mark Wahlberg and Johnny Depp ‘‘regret’’ turning down Ocean’s Eleven (FilmNews)
George Clooney has joked Mark Wahlberg and Johnny Depp now “regret” turning down the chance to star in Ocean’s Eleven.
During an appearance alongside director Steven Soderbergh at the 2023 TCM Classic Film Festival over the weekend, the Hollywood star confirmed Wahlberg and Depp had both been approached for the part of pickpocket Linus Caldwell in the 2001 heist comedy. Ultimately, the role went to Matt Damon.
“Steven had just done Erin Brockovich and Traffic, and he was nominated for directing both films. So, people really wanted to work with Steven,” he recalled, to which Soderbergh commented, “That said, some people did say no to us.” Read more
Quentin Tarantino to present secret screening at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight (IndieWire)
Once upon a time in France, Quentin Tarantino looks back on 1969 Hollywood.
The Oscar winner is confirmed to be a special guest during the 2023 Cannes Directors’ Fortnight program, hosting a secret screening tied to 1970s cinema and the history of the Fortnight program.
The official announcement reads: In 1969, in Cannes, the Directors’ Fortnight was born, a counter-programming of free-spirited films from all over the world. In 1969, in California, a new generation of filmmakers rose against old Hollywood. Of this, Quentin Tarantino has recently published a captivating analysis in a critical essay on 1970s cinema. As an exceptional and generous cinephile, Tarantino is at home at the Fortnight. He will be our guest this year to present a secret screening and discuss his counter-history of cinema. Read more
Pixar’s ‘‘Elemental’’ will close 2023 Cannes Film Festival (People)
The Cannes Film Festival has its closing film.
Pixar’s ‘‘Elemental’’ will cap the 76th edition of the iconic movie festival next month, Pixar Animation Studios announced on Wednesday.
The feature-length film will become the fourth Pixar movie to make its world premiere at the French venue, following the previous selections of Up, Inside Out and Soul, the studio said. Read more
Jake Gyllenhaal finished shoot days on ‘‘The Covenant’’ with rocks thrown at his face (EW)
In Guy Ritchie’s ‘‘The Covenant,’’ Jake Gyllenhaal plays a U.S. soldier whose life is saved by Dar Salim’s local interpreter after the pair’s patrol is ambushed by Taliban forces towards the end of America’s military involvement in Afghanistan.
“They don’t make movies like this anymore,” says Salim, whose previous acting credits include the TV shows Borgen and Game of Thrones. “It’s a big action banger that keeps you at the edge of the seat, but at the heart of it is a story about two men from very different cultures who form this unlikely covenant. It has many layers and has some beautiful messages in it as well.”
Salim and Gyllenhaal talk about making the film, the painful way the latter ended most shooting days, and the fact that director Guy Ritchie has his own line of barbecue tables. Read more
Tunisia judge orders jail for Ennahda leader Rached Ghannouchi (MEE)
Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of Tunisia’s main opposition party, Ennahda, is to be imprisoned on the orders of a Tunisian investigative judge, his lawyer said on Thursday.
“It was a ready decision to imprison Ghannouchi only because of [his] expression of his opinion,” lawyer Monia Bouali told Reuters.
Tunisian police on Monday raided the 81-year-old’s home and arrested him on the basis of accusations that he was plotting against internal state security. He was reportedly transferred to a hospital when his health deteriorated. Read more
Wilder may fight Joshua in Saudi soon – Manager (Punch)
Shelley Finkel, the manager of former WBC world champion, Deontay Wilder, has hinted that the American boxer might be facing Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia soon.
Finkel said Wilder is looking for his next opponent after his victory against Robert Helenius in one round last October.
Although both fighters were in talks to face each other in 2019 with Wilder’s team reportedly offering £40m ($50m) to stage the bout in Las Vegas, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn called off the negotiations after failing to see evidence of the prize. Read more
Manchester City advance to Real test as Bayern Munich challenge falls short (IrishIndependent)
Another of this season’s Champions League quarter-final results that was ultimately predictable, but only after one shock. Erling Haaland missed a penalty. He then went and showed why that is so surprising by going and scoring the goal that made absolutely sure of Manchester City’s passage to a third consecutive semi-final. Pep Guardiola has another grand occasion with Real Madrid, a third in four seasons.
That will likely be much closer than this 4-1 aggregate win over Bayern Munich, and perhaps represents the biggest obstacle remaining to a potential treble for the Abu Dhabi project. It might even be “the true final”.
The truth of this tie was maybe a touch more complicated than the scoreline indicated. It was odd in that there were so many passages in this 1-1 when Bayern looked like they could match City but – as in the first leg – it was always like they were just hanging on and Guardiola’s side raised it. Read more
NFF reiterates IMC mandate to complete present NPFL season (Punch)
The Nigeria Football Federation has reaffirmed that the Interim Management Committee of the Nigeria Premier Football League will be allowed to remain in office and conclude its mandate before any action can be taken on a board for the NPFL.
The President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, disclosed this on Wednesday.
The present IMC of the NPFL is led by Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye.
“Let me once more commend the IMC for the great job it is doing to reposition the elite division of our domestic League. We are enamoured by the way and manner the Board has gone about its mandate and everyone can see the transparency, probity and seriousness the members have attached to their tasks. Read more
Inter boss Inzaghi hails ‘‘dream’’ run to Milan derby Champions League semifinal (ESPN)
Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi described their run to the Champions League semifinals as a dream and said they will give it all they have got against city rivals AC Milan as they battle to become the first Italian finalists for six years.
Inzaghi could not hide his excitement after his team drew 3-3 with Benfica in their second leg on Wednesday to win their quarterfinal 5-3 on aggregate, reaching the Champions League semis for the first time since they won the trophy 13 years ago.
“My boys? They were historic,” Inzaghi told Inter TV when asked about his players’ performance. Read more
Tiger Woods undergoes ankle surgery leaving major appearances in doubt (Standard)
Tiger Woods underwent fushion surgery on his right ankle to alleviate arthritis, leaving the chance of seeing him play in another major this year in doubt.
Woods disclosed the surgery on Twitter and said it was a subtalar fusion procedure to address post-traumatic arthritis from when he broke his talus bone in February 2021.
“He’s resting now and will start the recovery process,” Mark Steinberg, his agent at Excel Sports, said in a telephone interview. Read more
Wilder’s trainer back Deontay to stop Anthony Joshua in 3 rounds (BoxingScene)
Malik Scott, the head trainer for Deontay Wilder, believes the hard punching heavyweight would take out fellow former world champion Anthony Joshua within three rounds of action.
Wilder has been out of the ring since demolishing Robert Helenius in a single round last fall.
Earlier this month, Joshua snapped a two-fight losing streak by winning a twelve round unanimous decision over Jermaine Franklin. Read more