5 burnt beyond recognition in Badagry-Seme Expressway crash (Vanguard)
Five persons were burnt beyond recognition while three others sustained injuries in a fatal accident on the Badagry-Seme Expressway in Lagos on Thursday.
Mr Sulaiman Taiwo, Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) at Badagry, confirmed the accident.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the accident occurred at Akoro Village, on the Badagry-Sème Expressway. Read more
FCT monarch slumps, dies in palace (DailyTrust)
Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, the traditional ruler of Yaba in Abaji area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is dead.
A member of the deceased family, Shuaibu Abdullahi, confirmed the monarch’s death to our reporter on Thursday night.
He said the late Etsu of Yaba chiefdom died while on his way to observe Magrib prayers, within his palace.
According to Abdullahi, the monarch slumped suddenly and his aides rushed him to Abaji General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Read more
BRT-train wreck: Politics aside, Sanwo-Olu, Jandor, Gbadebo commiserate with victims (Tribune)
It was an emotional moment as leading governorship candidates in Lagos State on Thursday visited victims of a train crash at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in the Ikeja area of the State.
It was gathered the incumbent who is seeking reelection, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP)’s Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour known as GRV and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Olajide Adediran aka Jandor all visited the injured victims at the hospital.
Reacting, Sanwo-Olu declared 3-day mourning for the victims while suspending all his campaign activities to honour those who lost their lives to the fatal accident. Read more
Lagos traders protest as officials seal shops (Punch)
There was a protest on Wednesday by some traders selling items on the premises of the Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Centre’s headquarters in the Ojodu area of the state.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the traders, on Wednesday, arrived to open their shops on the premises also housing the Federal Road Safety Corps, when they saw that barricades had been placed to prevent them from accessing their shops.
Angered by the development, the traders, who were concerned about the threat to where they make their daily income, held a demonstration to express their grievances against the development. Read more
Sanwo-Olu reiterates govt’s commitment to youth development (ThisDay)
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state has declared that his administration is not averse to youth development and interests in the Centre of Excellence.
Against the backdrop of youth agitation arising from the #EndSARS protest, which culminated in a violent riot in October 2020, the Governor said that he personally reached out and provided for all the victims of the protest in the state.
More than two years after the protest, many youths, particularly on social media, are still holding the Sanwo-Olu-led administration responsible. Read more
Woman jailed 24 years for $298k, N48m property fraud (Leadership)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has secured a 24-year jail term against a property owner, Mercy Yusuf and her company, T.M Properties Limited for fraudulently obtaining the sum of $298,000 and N40million from Bacab Properties Limited under the false pretence that she was the beneficial owner of Plot 1721 Jahi District Cadastral Zone B08, Abuja.
EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren said Justice Edward Okpe of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Nyanya, delivered the judgement in Abuja on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.
The EFCC had on October 20, 2021 arraigned the convicts on a four count charge that bordered on obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and using false documents as genuine. Read more
World Consumer Rights Day: NCC harps on renewable energy (Independent)
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has concluded arrangements to host an event to mark the 2023 World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) in Abuja with a spotlight on its regulatory initiatives on clean energy usage in the telecoms sector.
In what has become a tradition in the Commission since 2017, when it declared 2017 as Year of the Telecom Consumers when it honoured telecom consumers by connecting with the global theme for the commemoration to celebrate the Day with landmark activities, the Commission has continued to promote consumer protection and enlightenment.
The theme of the 2023 edition of the Day is “Empowering Consumers through Clean Energy Transitions.” Read more
Drew Barrymore’s therapist responds after she said he quit due to her drinking (Today)
Days after Drew Barrymore revealed that her drinking became bad enough after her 2016 divorce that her therapist quit, the actor’s therapist is sharing why.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Barrymore detailed how alcohol became more challenging to avoid after her split from Will Kopelman, with whom she shares two daughters, 10-year-old Olive and 8-year-old Frankie. Eventually even her therapist, Barry Michels, had to step aside.
“He just said, ‘I can’t do this anymore,’” Barrymore said of Michels. “It was really about my drinking. I said, ‘I get it. I’ve never respected you more. You see, I’m not getting better. And I hope, one day, that I can earn your trust back.’” Read more
Robert Blake, actor who was once tried for murder, dies at 89 (BBC)
Actor Robert Blake, whose long career was overshadowed by accusations that he murdered his wife, has died. He was 89.
He was known as the titular hero of 1970s TV detective series Baretta and starred in the 1997 film Lost Highway, but his career struggled following his wife’s 2001 shooting death.
He was charged with her murder and acquitted, but later found liable for her death in civil court.
Blake died “peacefully with family and friends”, his family said.
A statement released by his niece, Noreen Austin, on Thursday said he had died from heart disease. Read more
Oscars reject Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s bid to appear on telecast (Variety)
For the past year, Volodymyr Zelensky has been greeted with open arms by awards shows, film festivals and even the New York Stock Exchange. But when it comes to landing airtime on the most coveted telecast of all — the Oscars — the Ukrainian leader is being met with a cold shoulder.
For the second year in a row, the Academy has snubbed Zelensky, who was hoping to follow up his Berlin Film Festival (remote) appearance last month with a virtual spot on Sunday’s Oscar telecast on ABC. Sources say WME power agent Mike Simpson made a plea to the Academy to include the comedic actor-turned-politician but was shut down. The Academy declined comment.
Zelensky’s overtures to the Oscars comes as polls show Americans’ support for providing assistance to Ukraine has weakened. Read more
Chaim Topol, star of Fiddler on the Roof, dead at 87 (People)
Chaim Topol, the Israeli actor behind the iconic portrayal of Tevye in Fiddler On the Roof has died. He was 87.
Topol died in Tel Aviv, Israel, according to Israeli leaders. No cause of death was immediately given, but the actor had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease several years ago, his son confirmed to multiple outlets.
“From Fiddler on the Roof to the roof of the world, Haim Topol, who has passed away from us, was one of the most outstanding Israeli stage artists, a gifted actor who conquered many stages in Israel and overseas, filled the cinema screens with his presence and above all entered deep into our hearts,” Israel’s ceremonial president Isaac Herzog wrote on Twitter late Wednesday. Read more
Mae Muller to represent UK in Eurovision Song Contest (MusicNews)
Following an extensive search headed by 2023 partners the global music management and publishing company TaP Music, the BBC can confirm that singer-songwriter Mae Muller will be representing the United Kingdom at the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, set to be held in Liverpool on behalf of Ukraine, in May 2023 with ‘I Wrote A Song’.
Mae was still working at a pub when she landed her first publishing deal. Within two years she’d released 3 EPs full of pop gems that stood out for their melodic hooks and lyrics that were feisty and unapologetic in their frankness. Stealing the attention of the industry, she supported Little Mix on their 2019 stadium tour, landed millions of YouTube views, and scored a top 10 US chart hit with her platinum selling single ‘Better Days’ which she performed on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Having signed to Capitol Records UK (part of Universal Music Group), Mae continues to stand out and in 2022 she was nominated at the MTV EMAs and VMAs. Since then her music has reached over two billion streams and 5.5m monthly listeners on Spotify. Read more
Lauryn Hill, Jeezy and more to perform at Mary J. Blige’s strength of A Woman Festival (HipHopDX)
Lauryn Hill, Jeezy and others are set to perform at Mary J. Blige‘s Strength of a Woman Festival this year.
The Queen of Hip Hop Soul’s festival — named after her 2017 album — is set to return to State Farm Arena in Atlanta on May 12 and May 13. Other artists on the lineup include Busta Rhymes, Method Man, Jadakiss, DJ Drama, Jodeci, Lucky Daye, Muni Long, Coco Jones and Summer Walker.
There’s also an evening with Robert Glasper, along with a live taping of Angela Yee’s Lip Service podcast and a comedy night hosted by Mike Epps. Not only that, but the Sunday Service Collective will be there for a gospel brunch. Read more
Gold Star mums enraged after wounded Marine’s shocking testimony on Kabul suicide bombing (Fox)
The House Foreign Affairs Committee held an emotional hearing Wednesday as witnesses recounted the Biden administration’s botched Afghanistan withdrawal over one year later.
U.S. Marine Sgt. Tyler Vargas-Andrews, who was wounded while he was stationed at Kabul’s Abbey Gate, gave tearful testimony claiming he was never explicitly granted permission to shoot a suspected ISIS member.
Vargas-Andrews said he believes that suspect was the bomber who took the lives of 13 service members during the withdrawal of U.S. forces. Read more
Flying Eagles to battle Tunisia for record ‘‘golden’’ bronze (ThisDay)
After failing to go past the hurdle posed by The Gambia’s Young Scorpions on Monday, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will this afternoon take on their Tunisian counterparts in the Third-place match of the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations to determine the country to go home with the consolation bronze trophy of the tournament.
Today’s game at the Cairo International Stadium will kick off at 4pm Egypt time (3pm Nigeria time).
Should the Flying Eagles win today’s clash with Tunisia, it will be Nigeria’s record fourth Bronze in the U20 tournament. They have only lost the third place game once in 2019 when Flying Eagles were beaten by South Africa. Read more
Erik Ten Hag hails Manchester United response to Anfield nightmare after overcoming Real Betis (RTE)
Erik ten Hag was delighted by his players’ show of character and quality against Real Betis as Manchester United bounced back from their seven-goal shellacking at Liverpool with a Europa League win.
Just a week on from ending the club’s six-year wait for silverware by lifting the Carabao Cup came another historic afternoon for the Red Devils as they suffered a 7-0 Anfield annihilation.
Sunday’s loss equalled United’s heaviest ever defeat and Ten Hag stuck with the same starting line-up that lost at Liverpool as they looked to bounce back in the Europa League against Betis. Read more
Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal ‘‘must improve massively’’ after Sporting Lisbon draw (DailyMail)
Mikel Arteta admits his Arsenal side will need to ‘massively improve’ if they are to progress in the Europa League after the 2-2 draw with Sporting Lisbon.
The Gunners boss made six changes to his starting line-up for the last-16 Europa League tie, with a debut for Polish defender Jakub Kiwior and Gabriel Martinelli deployed down the middle in the absence of Eddie Nketiah, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus.
Those changes looked to have paid off when William Saliba put Arsenal into an early lead, but the Premier League leaders were pegged back before the break and would go on to play out a 2-2 draw in Portugal to take back to the Emirates. Read more
Raducanu, Wawrinka win Indian Wells openers (StraitsTimes)
Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu rallied from a break down in each set to beat Danka Kovinic 6-2, 6-3 on Thursday and reach the second round of the Indian Wells WTA and ATP Masters 1000.
Britain’s Raducanu avenged a 2022 Australian Open second-round loss to the Montenegrin as she continued her fightback from various ailments that have slowed her 2023 campaign.
“I’m happy I stuck in,” said Raducanu, who had shut down her 2022 season early with wrist trouble and hurt her ankle in her second match of 2023 in Auckland.
She pulled out of the WTA event in Austin last week with tonsillitis and withdrew from a pre-tournament exhibition here when her wrist trouble flared up.
But she said the litany of problems only made her more determined. Read more
Brendan Rodgers responds to banishing Leicester’s Jannik Vestergaard over criticism (Mirror)
Brendan Rodgers has slammed Jannik Vestergaard for criticising the Leicester manager in an “unauthorised” interview – and is understood to have banished him from his squad.
The Danish centre-back criticised the 50-year-old in an interview with Danish publication EkstraBladet earlier this month and admitted he has been left baffled by his treatment at the Foxes. He also said it was “strange” that he had not been considered for selection.
Vestergaard has played just three times this season – none in the Premier League – despite Leicester’s defensive crisis and injuries in that position. Only Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest have conceded more top-flight goals than the Foxes’ 43 this season. Read more
Tyson Fury ‘‘not ready’’ to face Oleksandr Usyk after rejecting latest fight deal (DailyStar)
As the world waits for the titanic unification heavyweight title fight, Oleskandr Usyk’s promoter provided a worrying update.
The Ukrainian has held the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight championships since defeating Anthony Joshua in September 2021, while Tyson Fury holds the WBC heavyweight belt. Usyk and the Gypsy King are keen to square off with each of the division’s title belts on the line.
But according to talkSPORT, Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyu claimed Fury rejected their latest offer of a ’60/40 to the winner’ deal. “We initially agreed for 50/50,” he said. “But then Tyson was asking for some bigger money. Read more