8 kidnapped female students escape from captivity in Kaduna (Channels)
The eight female students at Government Secondary School, Awon in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State have escaped from the hands of their abductors.
The students were kidnapped by the bandits in the Awon general area on April 3rd, 2023.
Confirming the development in a statement on Tuesday, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said that the students escaped from a thick forest around the Kaduna – Niger interstate boundaries, and walked for days before arriving at a location (kept undisclosed for security reasons) where they were harboured. Read more
107 stranded Nigerians arrive from Libya (Vanguard)
107 stranded Nigerians on Tuesday afternoon arrived in Lagos Nigeria from Tripoli, Libya.
The Returnees arrived in the country through Al Buraq Air Boeing 737-800 with registration number 5A-DMG which landed at about 3:55 PM at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Ikeja.
According to the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA, the profile of the repatriated Nigerians are 48 adult females including three who have medical-related issues. Five female children and one infant female were among the Returnees. Read more
Court reinstates RTEAN in Lagos (Nation)
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) sitting in Lagos Tuesday reinstated the operations of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in Lagos State.
Justice Maureen Esowe voided the Lagos State Parks Administrator Caretaker Committee.
The judge held that the state government’s suspension of the national unions’ operations and setting up of a caretaker committee last October was illegal and unconstitutional. Read more
Davido visits Lagos CP Owohunwa ahead of highly anticipated concert (Channels)
Afrobeats megastar Davido has paid a visit to the Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, ahead of his much anticipated concert on Sunday.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ben Hundeyin, in a tweet on Tuesday, noted that the visit was to finalise security arrangements for the event to be held at Tafawa Balewa Square on Lagos Island.
“In preparation for his April 23 concert at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, @davido and team visited CP Idowu Owohunwa to perfect security arrangements,” Hundeyin posted on the microblogging site. Read more
Nigerian students in Europe seek evacuation of counterparts in Sudan (Vanguard)
Nigerian students in Europe have appealed to the Nigerian government to immediately evacuate their counterparts currently studying in Sudan following the ongoing conflict in the country.
The leadership of the Nigerian students association in Europe, operating under the aegis of Nigerian Students in Europe, NANSE, said the development threatened the safety of the students hence the appeal.
National president of NANSE, Bashiru Saidu Muhammad, in a statement on Monday, insisted that the federal government must initiate urgent steps to ensure the safety of the students. Read more
Subsidy removal will spur investment, tackle rising debt — LCCI (Punch)
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry says the Federal Government’s planned petrol subsidy removal remains one of the best economic decisions that will reduce Nigeria’s debts and tackle widespread corruption in the oil sector.
LCCl’s President, Dr Michael Olawale-Cole, said this during the chamber’s second quarter state of the economy conference on Tuesday in Lagos.
Nigeria secured an $800 million relief package from the World Bank to minimise the effect of subsidy removal on the most vulnerable in the society. Read more
Rivers: PDP dismisses purported suspension of Sekibo, Opara (Tribune)
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed the purported suspension of Senator George Sekibo and Rt. Hon. Austin Adiele Opara from the party, reportedly by the ward executives of Ward 2 of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area and Ward 10 of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State, respectively.
According to a statement issued by Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary, the NWC considered the petitions by Sekibo and Opara dated April 17, 2023, against the purported suspension, and resolved to declare the action by the said ward executives “which borders on issues of discipline,” as null and void and of no effect as it noted that it was not consistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (As amended in 2017).
The statement cited the relevant portion of the PDP Constitution, saying that Section 57 (7) provides that “Notwithstanding any other provision relating to discipline, no Executive Committee, at any level except the National Executive Committee, shall entertain any question of discipline as may relate or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, Deputy Governor or member of the National Assembly”. Read more
Senate Presidency: PANDEF makes case for South-South (Independent)
As various geo-political regions are clamouring to have the Senate Presidency zoned to their regions, ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, the Pan Niger Delta (PANDEF) makes a case for the South-South region.
PANDEF asked the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone the position of Senate President to the South-South geopolitical zone, in the interest of equity and fairness.
According to PANDEF, it is imperative to stress that the last time someone from the present South-South states occupied the office of Senate President was during the 2nd Republic (1979/1983), when the late Distinguished Senator Joseph Wayas, from Cross River State, was elected, first in October 1979, and, again, in October 1983, before that Republic was truncated on 31st December 1983. Read more
Michelle Yeoh set to return as Emperor Philippa Georgiou in new ‘‘Star Trek’’ movie (CNN)
Live long and prosper, Michelle Yeoh.
After winning a best actress Oscar for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once last month, Yeoh is preparing to step back into the Star Trek universe to reprise her role as Emperor Philippa Georgiou in the new “Star Trek: Section 31” movie.
Yeoh was first introduced as the character in 2017, when the Emmy-winning Star Trek: Discovery TV series debuted on Paramount+.
Paramount+ and CBS Studios announced the news on Tuesday. Yeoh will also serve as an executive producer on the project. Read more
Justin Bieber praises Frank Ocean’s Coachella performance amid backlash (People)
Justin Bieber is coming to the defense of Frank Ocean.
The “Peaches” singer, 29, shared a photo of Ocean’s Coachella stage set up on Instagram and wrote a lengthy post praising the artist for his performance, after Ocean, 35, received backlash from fans following his show at the popular music festival.
“I was blown away by Frank Ocean’s Coachella performance,” Bieber wrote. “His artistry is simply unmatched, his style, his taste, his voice, his attention to detail… I was deeply moved.” Read more
At least 1 dead, 5 injured in New York building collapse (StraitsTimes)
A four-storey parking facility collapsed in New York City’s Lower Manhattan near Pace University and the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday, killing at least one worker and injuring five others who were in the structure, authorities said.
Emergency personnel using robotic devices after firefighters were pulled back from the fallen structure due to unstable conditions checked the site for any further casualties, but officials said they believed all victims had been accounted for.
No foul play was suspected.
“We have no reason to believe that it was anything other than a structural collapse,” City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell told reporters. Read more
Country star Brantley Gilbert rejects Bud Light tossed to him onstage (Fox)
Country music star Brantley Gilbert was the latest celebrity to weigh in on Bud Light’s partnership with transgender TikTok star and activist Dylan Mulvaney during one of his concerts this weekend.
Gilbert tossed a can of Bud Light and yelled “F— that!” when he realized the brand of the beer, smashing it to the ground while performing onstage at Indian Mountain ATV Park in Piedmont, Alabama.
Mulvaney was announced as a Bud Light spokesperson to promote the March Madness basketball tournament this month, which has prompted ridicule and backlash from the media and the public in recent weeks. Read more
Nicolas Cage talks up nutritional value of bugs but won’t eat one again (EW)
Renfield star Nicolas Cage may be enthusiastic about the nutritional value of insects, but the Oscar-winning actor claims his days of consuming them are over.
In the just-released Renfield, Cage plays Count Dracula. His titular assistant, played by Nicholas Hoult, acquires superhuman strength when he eats insects. During EW’s edition of Around the Table with the stars of Renfield, Hoult explained that he consumed real insects while shooting the film.
“The best thing we ate were the crickets,” said Hoult. “The crickets were like smoky bacon flavor and salt and vinegar. I love salt and vinegar, so I was happy about eating the crickets. You would occasionally get little bits stuck in your teeth. But, then, the props team were amazing, they made caramel cockroaches for me, so I got to eat those, which were delicious. Also, the worms were just gummy worms in crushed-up Oreos to make it look like dirt.” Read more
David Cronenberg’s ‘‘The Shrouds’’ adds Sandrine Holt (Deadline)
Daredevil: Born Again actress Sandrine Holt has joined David Cronenberg’s next movie, The Shrouds opposite Guy Pearce, Vincent Cassel and Diane Kruger.
The project, which Deadline first reported, starts production on May 8 in Toronto and stars Cassel as Karsh, an innovative businessman and grieving widower, who builds a novel device to connect with the dead inside a burial shroud. This burial tool installed at his own state-of-the-art – though controversial cemetery allows him and his clients to watch their specific departed loved one decompose in real time. Karsh’s revolutionary business is on the verge of breaking into the international mainstream when several graves within his cemetery are vandalized and nearly destroyed, including that of his wife. While he struggles to uncover a clear motive for the attack, the mystery of who wrought this havoc, and why, drive him to reevaluate his business, marriage and fidelity to his late wife’s memory, as well as push him to new beginnings. Read more
Maharashtra: 12 die of heatstroke at Indian award event (BBC)
Twelve people have died from heatstroke while many others have been admitted to hospital after attending an awards ceremony in India’s Maharashtra state.
The government-sponsored event took place in an open ground under a blazing sun and lasted for several hours.
Thousands of people attended Sunday’s event, which was held to felicitate a prominent social activist. Read more
Osimhen on verge of UCL history (Punch)
Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, is eyeing a chance to qualify for the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League when Napoli battle AC Milan in the second leg of their quarter-final clash on Tuesday (today), PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Napoli lost 1-0 in the first leg to Milan in San Siro with the injured Osimhen absent and will now hope that the presence of their talismanic striker and home advantage will be enough to turn the tie around and claim a spot in the last four of Europe’s showpiece club event.
Should Osimhen qualify for the semis with Napoli, he would become just the eighth Nigerian to play at that level of the tournament. Read more
Nigerian Breweries Plc throws weight behind Okpekpe Race again (ThisDay)
Nigeria’s pioneer and largest brewing firm, Nigerian Breweries Plc will once again be partnering organisers of the historic Okpekpe International 10km
Race to deliver the first gold label 10km road race in Nigeria.
In 2017, the company joined the cast of corporate organisations who made history with the race as the first ever and only World Athletics silver label road running event to hold in Nigeria nay West Africa. Read more
Police investigate racist tweet towards Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka after penalty miss (ESPN)
Police in London are investigating a racially aggravated tweet about Bukayo Saka that was posted after the Arsenal midfielder’s missed penalty in a Premier League game.
A message posted on Twitter soon after Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with West Ham on Sunday showed Saka with his face made to look like a monkey, alongside the words: “This clown has cost us the league.”
Under the post, another Twitter user tagged the Metropolitan Police and said the message was a hate crime. Read more
Assistant Constantine Hatzidakis returns to duty after Andy Robertson clash (IrishIndependent)
Assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis will return to duty this weekend having been stood down while his clash with Liverpool defender Andy Robertson was investigated.
The official was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Football Association after television footage appeared to show him apparently elbow the player at half-time of Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Anfield on April 9.
And Hatzidakis will return to the pitch this weekend in a routine EFL outing, running the line in the Championship clash between Preston and Blackburn. Read more
Conor Benn refuses to comment on reports he has been “provisionally suspended” for doping (BBC)
Boxer Conor Benn says he cannot comment on reports he has been provisionally suspended by UK Anti-Doping.
Benn, 26, failed two voluntary drug tests last year and Ukad and the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC ) are investigating the results.
Boxing News magazine reported Benn was “provisionally suspended” by Ukad on 15 March.
Benn accused Ukad or the BBBofC of leaking the news and said he “remains free to fight outside the UK”. Read more
Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin fully cleared for football activities (ABC)
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has been fully cleared for football activities after collapsing and needing lifesaving CPR during a Monday Night Football game in early January.
“He is fully cleared. He’s here,” general manager Brandon Beane told reporters in a pre-draft press conference Tuesday. “He’s in a great headspace to come back and make his return.”
Beane said Hamlin met with three specialists, most recently on Friday, and all of them were in “lockstep” on allowing Hamlin to play again. Read more