Abuja sex workers lose battle to legalise prostitution (Sun)
The Abuja division of the Federal High Court has dismissed a suit seeking fundamental rights for commercial sex workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to operate without intimidation from security agencies of the federal government.
Throwing out the suit, Justice James Omotosho held that the commercial sex workers were even liable to be arrested and prosecuted for a jail term of two years under the criminal law known as Penal Code as they have no legal rights to enjoy under any known law or the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The suit was filed by a Non Governmental Organisation, Lawyers Alert Initiative for Protection of Rights of Children, Women and Indigent against the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, FCT Minister, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as 1st to 4th respondents respectively. Read more
Lagos-Calabar highway project wasteful, corrupt – Obasanjo (Punch)
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described the N15.6 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway project as wasteful and corrupt.
He equally slammed the President Bola Tinubu administration for spending N21bn on a new official residence for Vice President Kashim Shettima, calling it a misplaced priority and conduit designed to embezzle public funds.
The ex-leader disclosed this in chapter six of his new book, ‘Nigeria: Past and Future’ where he painted the portrait and characters of chief executives at both the federal and state levels. Read more
Speakership tussle: Let Obasa be, Tinubu tells Lagos lawmakers (Vanguard)
Following the crisis that rocked the Lagos State House of Assembly, President Bola Tinubu met with the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa and other aggrieved lawmakers behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.
At the end of the meeting. the President, Vanguard gathered, insisted that Obasa should remain the Speaker with a warning that he should carry his colleagues along.
It was further gathered that the President directed Obasa to withdraw the court case. Read more
Rivers: Lawmakers accuse pro-Wike-led assembly of frustrating budget presentation (NewTelegraph)
A coalition of opposition lawmakers has alerted Nigerians of moves by the Rivers State House of Assembly members who are supported by the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, to avoid receiving the 2025 budget as directed by the Supreme Court, saying their action will not stop governance.
The spokesperson for the opposition lawmakers, Ikenga Ugochinyere, made this known in a live broadcast in reaction to the development in the state.
The lawmakers also disclosed that there is a plot to destabilise the Rivers Local Government election with illegal amendment of law and court orders, saying that regardless of their plan, the election will hold as planned. Read more
NASS strips South-West development commission of 3% seaports, airport revenues (Tribune)
The House of Representatives during Wednesday’s plenary made far-reaching changes to the South West Development Commission by deleting four major clauses from its Establishment Act.
The report on the bill, which was gazetted for consideration on Tuesday’s Order Paper, was given accelerated consideration as the leadership of the House listed it for consideration on Wednesday’s Order Paper and subsequently reeled out a Supplementary Order Paper, where the bill was gazetted for Third Reading and passed.
The bill seeks to “establish the South West Development Commission charged with the responsibility, among other things, to receive and manage funds from allocation of the Federation Account, including donations and gifts for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructural damages suffered in the region and to tackle the ecological, environmental and other developmental challenges in the Region and for related matters.” Read more
Burna Boy secures platinum certification in France (Nation)
Music sensation Burna Boy has achieved platinum certification from the Syndicat National de l’Édition Phonographique (SNEP) for his collaborative single “Donne-Moi L’accord” with French artist Dadju.
Released in 2019, the song has amassed over 50 million streams on Spotify, demonstrating Burna Boy’s broad appeal and ability to produce globally resonant music.
This recognition follows Burna Boy’s recent gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for his song “Alone”, featured on the “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” soundtrack. Read more
Nnamdi Kanu has suffered, release him, Okorie begs Tinubu (Guardian)
Elder Statesman, Chief Chekwas Okorie, said on Wednesday that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has suffered grievously, restating his appeal to President Bola Tinubu to facilitate his release and the release of other prisoners of conscience in the country from further incarceration.
He stated that since 2015, Kanu has suffered grievously from his extraordinary rendition from Kenya on the 27th of June, 2021, stressing that with the current situation of the case, there is a tendency that it would be re-instituted afresh.
In a statement he sent to The Guardian in Enugu, Okorie said: “It is with the utmost sense of responsibility and patriotism that I passionately appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to seize the moment and grant or facilitate the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his fellow prisoners of conscience from further incarceration in Nigerian dungeons. Read more
Boko Haram insurgents bow to superior firepower of Zulum’s convoy (DailyTrust)
Security personnel attached to the convoy of Borno State governor, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum have intercepted a Boko Haram operation close to Gujba town, along Damaturu – Biu road in Yobe state.
The personnel also recovered a rifle loaded with ammunition, a motorcycle abandoned by the fleeing terrorists, and rescued some kidnapped travellers.
Our correspondent reports that the incident happened around 4:48pm, when the convoy was returning from Biu where Mr Zulum commissioned some projects in Biu and Hawul LGAs. Read more
Ayo Edebiri ‘got insane death threats’ after Elon Musk shared fake report about Pirates of the Caribbean casting (Guardian)
Ayo Edebiri, the actor best known for her Emmy-award winning work on The Bear, has said she received “insane death threats” after Elon Musk shared a fake news report about her being cast in a film.
On her Instagram, Edebiri recalled the furore that met Musk’s reposting of a story by “Unlimited L’s”, a rightwing account with no apparent Hollywood connection or insight, that she was to replace Johnny Depp in a reboot of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
“Just remembering when I got some of the most insane death threats and racial slurs of my life for a fake reboot of a movie I had never even heard of because of this man,” Edebiri wrote while sharing Musk’s original post. Read more
Muni Long’s ‘Superpowers’ enters top 10 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay Chart (RatedR&B)
Muni Long has achieved a new top 10 hit on Billboard with “Superpowers.”
Her latest single rises from No. 11 to No. 10 on the Adult R&B Airplay chart, currently led by Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” for a second week. The song debuted on the Adult R&B Airplay chart in late January at No. 28.
Notably, “Superpowers” is Long’s sixth top 10 hit out of her six entries on this chart. Two of her top 10s are No. 1 hits, including “Ruined Me” and “Make Me Forget.” Read more
Scarlett Johansson explains the one rule she has for taking pictures with fans that ‘offends’ them (Unilad)
Scarlett Johansson has one rule that she wants her fans to follow when it comes to approaching her for photographs.
Should you ever bump into an A-list celebrity like Johansson, there’s a good chance you’ll want a picture with them to commemorate the moment.
But there’s a time and a place for such photos — i.e if you spot your movie hero in the bathroom, maybe don’t rush up to them immediately. Read more
US trade wars with Canada, EU intensify (VOA)
US trade wars with Canada and the European Union intensified on Wednesday, with President Donald Trump and the United States’ normally allied countries imposing new levies on each other.
The United States enacted 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports on 35 countries, including Canada and the 27-nation EU, and ending previous exemptions that also had been in place for imports from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Britain, Japan, Mexico and South Korea.
“In my judgment, these modifications are necessary to address the significantly increasing share of imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles from these sources, which threaten to impair U.S. national security,” Trump said in a proclamation announcing the tariffs. Read more
Former Barclays CEO Jes Staley admits he had sex with Jeffrey Epstein assistant (NYPost)
Former Barclays boss Jes Staley had sex with a member of serial pedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s staff, the banker told a court on the third day of his evidence as he appeals against a proposed financial services ban.
Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority said in 2023 that it would ban Staley and fine him 1.8 million pounds ($2.3 million) for allegedly misleading the watchdog over his relationship with Epstein. He is giving evidence at London’s Upper Tribunal this week.
The 68-year-old, who said on Tuesday that he had no idea about the late financier Epstein’s “monstrous activities,” was asked by the FCA’s lawyer about evidence Staley had given in a lawsuit against him by his previous employer JPMorgan. Read more
Ex-hostage says he always knew when truce talks failed because captors would beat him (TimesofIsrael)
Freed hostage Omer Wenkert said Tuesday that although he was cut off from the outside world throughout his 505 days in captivity, he always knew when talks for a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas had fallen through or when a senior Hamas operative was killed, because his terrorist captors would take it out on him.
“Every deal that fell through would bring up a lot of frustration, rage and anger,” Wenkert said of his captors in an interview with Channel 12 news, his first since returning from Gaza on February 22. “Not to mention when one of their fathers was killed, or their families, or when their senior officials were assassinated. You feel it. You know exactly what happened.”
He said that in those instances, his captors would beat him, spit on him, and force him to do strenuous physical exercise. Read more
Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein seeks earlier retrial start date (UPI)
Former Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein appeared Wednesday in the New York County Courthouse in Manhattan to seek a speedier retrial on rape and sexual assault charges.
Weinstein’s retrial is scheduled to start on April 15, but he says his health is poor and he requires a speedier trial.
Weinstein. 72, has been held at Rikers Island since 2024 and says he suffers from several medical conditions that worsen every day that he is jailed while awaiting next month’s retrial. Read more
Atalanta raise Lookman asking price (Punch)
Italian Serie A club Atalanta have increased their asking price for Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman from €50m to €60m amid growing interest from Juventus and other suitors following his stellar performance in their recent encounter.
The reigning African Footballer of the Year played a pivotal role in Atalanta’s emphatic 4-0 victory over the Turin giants last weekend, scoring his landmark 50th Serie A goal and further enhancing his reputation as one of the league’s standout performers.
According to Tuttomercatoweb, Atalanta have raised their valuation of the 27-year-old despite reportedly agreeing in principle to let him leave this summer with two years remaining on his contract. Read more
Morocco 2025: Bantwana arrive Lagos for Flamingos clash (CompleteSports)
The delegation of South Africa’s U17 girls, Bantwana, is scheduled to arrive in Lagos on Wednesday evening, ahead of Saturday’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup second round, second leg qualifying match against Nigeria’s Flamingos.
A brace by Harmony Chidi, which followed Shakirat Moshood’s goal, steered Nigeria to a 3-1 win over their hosts in Pretoria on Saturday, but the Bantwana have sounded a big warning that they will not be in Ikenne to lie down and be slaughtered.
Team captain Katleho Malebana, whose goal early in the second half raised the hopes of the Bantwana, before Chidi’s second and Nigeria’s third, has assured that the South Africans will contest every blade of the grass with their hosts at the Remo Stars Stadium on Saturday. Read more
Leverkusen lower Boniface’s asking price to €50m (Nation)
In a bid to offload Victor Boniface during the summer transfer window, Bayer Leverkusen has reportedly set €50m asking price for the Nigeria International striker.
According to authoritative Sport Bild , the German Champions who were ousted from the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, has lowered their asking price for Boniface as they are looking to sell him in the summer.
In the January window, Boniface was close to moving to Al-Nassr for €70m before the Saudi Arabian side performed a U-turn and opted to sign Jhon Duran instead. Read more
Samu Aghehowa asking price ‘revealed’ with Barcelona, Arsenal, Chelsea ‘going to war’ for star forward (SportsMole)
Porto will reportedly refuse to sell Samu Aghehowa for under €80m (£67m) during this summer’s transfer window, but it is entirely possible that the club will hold out for his full €100m (£84m) release clause.
The 20-year-old made the move to Porto from Atletico Madrid during last summer’s transfer window.
Samu has been in excellent form for his Portuguese club during the 2024-25 campaign, scoring 20 goals and registering three addicts in 33 appearances, including 14 goals and three assists in 21 league outings. Read more
Brooks Koepka tight-lipped on claims that he hopes for PGA Tour return (RTE)
Brooks Koepka did not entirely dismiss recent comments by Fred Couples that the five-time major champion wants to return to the PGA Tour, but said that he does intend to fulfill his LIV Golf contract.
Couples stirred speculation about Koepka’s future by telling a Seattle radio station last week that he “really wants to come back and play the Tour.”
Koepka said he texted Couples after the comments were made, but that the two did not go into much detail about future plans. Read more
Rams to release Super Bowl 56 MVP Cooper Kupp, per reports (USAToday)
Cooper Kupp’s time with the Los Angeles Rams is coming to an end.
The Rams are opting to release the receiver, according to reports, when the new league year rolls in at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday.The release will end a lengthy tenure for Kupp with the Rams, which began when the team used a third-round pick on him in the 2017 draft. Kupp proceeded to play eight years with the organization, all of which came after their move to Los Angeles. Read more