Bamise: Another lady reveals how arrested BRT driver wanted to rape her inside bus (Punch)
A medical doctor, Onyinyechi Anoke, has narrated how she escaped being raped by Nice Omininikoron, the driver of the Bus Rapid Transit vehicle remanded over the murder of a passenger, Oluwabamise Ayanwola.
The doctor is the second lady accusing Nice, who was remanded in prison on Friday, of rape after the death of Bamise.
The narratives of the medical doctor and a former salesgirl, who spoke exclusively with The Punch, are similar to the late Bamise’s revelation in the text and audio chats the deceased sent to her friend after sensing danger inside Nice’s BRT.
However, despite the revelations, the Lagos State Police Command and Lagos State Government are yet to make any official statements on the fresh accusations. Read more
FCCPC raids online loan sharks in Lagos (Vanguard)
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), in conjunction with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other related federal agencies, over the weekend, raided the premises of an illegally run Chinese-owned online money lender at two locations on Opebi Road in Lagos.
The Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, Babatunde Irukera, who led the enforcement exercise, condemned the exploitation of Nigerians by unlicensed online money lenders in the country, noting that most of them were not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and do not have any license to do their businesses.
According to him, the activities of the company were against the rights of Nigerian consumers.
Irukera said many of the online money lenders came into existence during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. Read more
Lagos Police intensify efforts to locate dispatch rider involved in child theft (Vanguard)
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command CP Abiodun Alabi, said the effort has been intensified to identify a dispatch rider who abducted and hid a child in a dispatch box at Sangotedo area, Lekki.
This was confirmed in a statement by Adekunle Ajisebutu, spokesperson for the Lagos Police Command.
According to the police spokesperson, the attention of Command has been drawn to a video alleging that a yet-to-be-identified dispatch rider stole a child found and recovered in a dispatch box.
“The command wishes to inform the public that the incident said to have taken place in the Sangotedo area, Lekki, was not reported to any police station to enable the police to take appropriate actions.” Read more
INEC, APC on collision course over Buni (Tribune)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting slated for next Thursday has suffered a serious setback owing to a rebuff by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
A letter addressed to the Niger State governor and acting chairman of the CECPC, Abubakar Sani Bello, by the commission’s secretary, Rose Oriran Anthony, revealed that INEC has refused to accord recognition to Governor Bello as the chairman of the committee.
In the letter dated March 9, 2022, the commission maintained that Governor Buni and Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, being chairman and National Secretary, respectively, ought to have signed the notification for APC NEC meeting by virtue of the provision of Article 1.1.3 of the commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Party Operations (2018).
The letter reads in part:” Please refer to your letter Ref. APC/NHDQ / INEC/019/022/32, dated 8th March 2022. “The commission draws your attention to the fact that the notice for the meeting was not signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the CECPC, contrary to the provision of Article 1.1.3 of the commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Party Operations (2018).
“Furthermore, the APC is reminded of the provision in Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which requires ‘at least 21 days’ notice of any convention, congress, conference, or meeting convened for the purpose of ‘merger’ and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any elective office. Read more
12 burnt to death in accident on Ilorin-Ogbomoso road (Punch)
12 people were burnt to death in a fatal accident that occurred on Saturday at Otte on the Ilorin-Ogbomoso express road.
The accident, which was as a result of a head-on collision between a commercial Toyota ‘Hummer’ bus and a Volvo trailer loaded with cement according to the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Kwara State Fire Service, occurred at about 7am at Otte in the Asa Local Government Area of the state.
Six of the passengers were however rescued alive but with burn injuries, while the remaining 12 were burnt beyond recognition.
Sources said while the cement laden trailer was coming from a depot in one of the North Central states and going to the South, the passenger bus was coming from Lagos and heading to Sokoto State. Read more
Police deploy to schools after student stabbed classmate to death in Akwa Ibom (DailyTrust)
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has said it will henceforth deploy its surveillance unit to schools following the death of a student.
A Senior Secondary School 3 student, Samuel Effiong Archibong, of Aka Community Secondary, Uyo, reportedly stabbed his classmate, 18-year-old James Elija Adoke, to death on Thursday.
It was said that the deceased was stabbed to death following a misunderstanding with Archibong, alleged to be a cultist.
Following the incident which created pandemonium in the school, the State government has closed down the school. Read more
Ogun APC chairman, Yemi Sanusi inaugurates state exco (Sun)
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Yemi Sanusi, has inaugurated the remaining 19 members of the party State Executive Committee.
Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the APC had recognized Yemi Sanusi as the State Chairman of APC, as against former governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s faction which had elected Derin Adebiyi, as its chairman.
Sanusi who had been presented with the certificate validating his election by the national body, while inaugurating other members of the State Working Committee of APC, on Friday, at the party Secretariat in Abeokuta, charged party faithful and the newly sworn-in exco to brace up for the challenges ahead of the party in the state.
He also asked them to see their new posts as call to service and should not betray the confidence reposed in them by the party. Read more
Lanre Teriba set for US tour (Nation)
Nigerian gospel singer, Lanre Teriba aka Atorise, and his Tungba-gospel music group are ready to leave Nigeria for the United States of America on an extensive musical tour.
According to a statement from Atorise, the tour will take the singer and his band across 21 cities in America.
The American tour tagged the Breakthrough tour has generated buzz in the United States as a number of music promoters have booked him to perform his unique sounds at concerts in Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Philadelphia, and other cities.
Speaking on the tour slated for May 2023, Atorise said, “this tour is a great way to rejoice as the world begins to open up again after the global pandemic. I can’t wait to see all of my fans throughout America.” Read more
J&J is most accepted last week as Nigeria vaccinates over 28 million people (Channels)
The Johnson and Johnson (J&J) single-dose vaccine was the most accepted type of COVID-19 jab in Nigeria in the last one week.
This is according to the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) which gave an update on the vaccination exercise via its verified Twitter handle on Friday.
Other brands of COVID-19 vaccine approved for use by the Nigerian authorities include Oxford/AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Pfizer.
In the report which covered the progress of the exercise in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the agency revealed that there was an average daily uptake of 80,000 doses of the vaccine. Read more
Fidelity Bank marks IWD with financial support to women-owned businesses, girls’ (Leadership)
In what has been termed a major push for breaking the gender bias in Nigeria, leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, in partnership with media entrepreneur-Linda Ikeji- celebrated the 2022 International Women’s Day (IWD) with an impressive networking event specifically for women to inspire one another, discuss pertinent challenges they face as well as proffer solutions on breaking the gender biases prevalent in the country.
The high-profile event, held at the Civic Centre, Lagos on Tuesday, 8 March 2022, featured several notable personalities including former World Bank Vice President and keynote speaker at the event, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili; billionaire businesswoman and philanthropist, Apostle Folorunso Alakija; MD/CEO, Practoil Ltd, Hajia Bola Shagaya; award-winning author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie; Iya Oge of Lagos, Opral Benson; Country Director, Empretec Nigeria Foundation, Onari Duke; Executive Vice Chairman, H. Pierson, Eileen Shaiyen; oil magnate and lawyer, Mrs. Uju Ifejika; seasoned actress and journalist, Dame Taiwo Ajayi-Lycett; Former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa; Fashion and Style Connoisseur, Nkiru Anumudu; amongst a host of eminent ladies from across the country.
Aside from celebrating Nigerian women’s achievements in various industries and drawing attention to the issue of gender inequality, the event also served as a platform for the Bank to officially launch HerFidelity, its niche proposition for female customers. The proposition boasts of exciting features such as capacity development initiatives, access to finance, recognition and networking events, health and wellness programmes, etc, all designed to speak to the yearnings of women.
Welcoming guests to the event, the chief host and Managing Director/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe said, “Despite the challenges women face, we continue to play a significant role in driving the economic, social and cultural development of our communities. Indeed, a recent PwC Nigeria report indicated that 41 percent of micro-businesses in Nigeria are run by women, with over 23 million female entrepreneurs operating in this segment. This exemplifies not only our drive as women but the immense value we bring to the table. Just imagine what we could achieve if the girl child is given the opportunity she deserves, encouraged to go to school and is judged by her competence and not by her compliments! The possibilities are endless.” Read more
Mila Kunis explains why she used to tell people she was Russian and not Ukrainian (Independent)
Mila Kunis, who was born in Ukraine, has said that she used to tell people she was Russian.
The Friends with Benefits star was born in the Ukrainian city of Chernivtsi. In 1991, when she was seven, her family fled from Soviet Ukraine to the United States.
In a new interview with Maria Shriver for Conversations Above the Noise, Kunis said: “People were like, ‘Oh, you’re so Eastern European.’ I was like, ‘I’m so LA! What do you mean?’ Like, my whole life I was like, ‘I am LA through and through.’”
Kunis said that because she identified so strongly as an American, for a long time, being Ukrainian felt “irrelevant” to her, despite having close friends in the country and visiting it with her husband, the actor Ashton Kutcher. Read more
Downton Abbey star lands next movie role (DigitalSpy)
Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery has landed her next role.
The Lady Mary Crawley actress, who has also appeared in Defending Jacob, has been cast in the thriller Boy Kills World, which we’re sure isn’t related to 1990’s sitcom Boy Meets World.
As reported by Deadline, the actress will play Melanie, the sister in the film’s main family of characters. She’s described as a sociopath and a “satirical powerhouse” who tries desperately to portray her family as together and strong to the outside world when they really aren’t.
Nthibah Pictures’ Wayne Fitzjohn said in a statement: “We welcome Michelle to the ‘Van der Koy’ clan and the film. It is a perfect role for Michelle. It’s an exciting time for the production with filming having begun just two weeks ago. We cannot wait to show the world the result.”
The film has already cast It star Bill Skarsgård, X-Men’s Famke Janssen, Isaiah Mustafa, Sharlto Copley, Stranger Things’ Brett Gelman, Jessica Rothe and Andrew Koji. Moritz Mohr is serving as a first-time director, while the Evil Dead and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Sam Raimi is one of the producers. Read more
Japanese anime takes Sharjah by storm at SHASHAH festival (GulfNews)
The three-day SHASHAH festival showcasing Japanese anime (animation) started in Aljada, Sharjah, on Friday featuring workshops, film screenings, panel discussions, music performances, competitions, cosplays and more.
The event is organised by FUNN, a Sharjah-based organisation that promotes media arts learning among children and youth. Running until Sunday, from 4pm to 10pm, the opening of SHASHAH 2022 heard from Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi, director of FUNN, who said: “SHASHAH represents the totality of media arts that appear on screen, be it in the medium of photography, cinema, or animation. Whether these are absorbed via television, computers, the cinema, or a mobile gadget, they all fall under the broad framework of arts.”
She added: “This is FUNN’s first event focused exclusively on anime art, and we chose a name that embodies all aspects of this unique art form. SHASHAH thus explores the divergent art styles of anime with an array of artists and creators who will lead our children and youth into its deep and expressive world.”
Young children experienced learning the Japanese art of origami at a workshop led by Sahar Abdalla, a visual artist, animator and art director, who introduced children to the art of ‘folding paper’. Read more
‘Peaky Blinders soundtrack featuring Nick Cave, Arctic Monkeys getting vinyl release (NME)
To celebrate Peaky Blinders’ final series, the original soundtrack is getting a vinyl release.
The 49 tracks of music and dialogue from the show’s first five seasons will be spread across three blood-red LPs.
The vinyl release will feature two versions of Peaky Blinders’ iconic theme tune ‘Right Hand Red’ – the original by Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds as well as a reworked version by PJ Harvey.
Other tracks included are Jack White‘s ‘Love Is Blindness’, Arctic Monkeys’ ‘Do I Wanna Know?’, Radiohead’s ‘You and Whose Army?’ and ‘Lazarus’ by David Bowie. Read more
Hoard of the rings: ‘lost’ scripts for BBC Tolkien drama discovered (Guardian)
Decades before Peter Jackson directed his epic adaptations of The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien was involved with the first ever dramatisation of his trilogy, but its significance was not realised in the 1950s and the BBC’s audio recordings are believed to have been destroyed.
Now an Oxford academic has delved into the BBC archives and discovered the original scripts for the two series of 12 radio episodes broadcast in 1955 and 1956, to the excitement of fellow scholars.
Tolkien’s fantasy masterpiece was dramatised by producer Terence Tiller, whose scribbled markings on the manuscript no doubt reflect his detailed discussions with the author in correspondence and meetings. Among the typed pages is a sheet in Tolkien’s hand, with red crossings-out, showing his own reworking of a scene.
Stuart Lee, a reader in the English faculty at Oxford University, said: “They said the scripts had been lost, but they have survived – the only professional dramatisation of The Lord of the Rings made during his [Tolkein’s] lifetime. It was not seen as important by the BBC then. It shows how reception of the book has changed – minor interest in 1955-56, now a global phenomenon, with Amazon reportedly investing more than $1bn in the latest series.” Read more
Fields of Athenry and The Rare Ould Times songwriter Pete St John has died aged 90 (RTE)
The death has been announced of the singer-songwriter Pete St John.
The traditional music legend died peacefully earlier today at Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital, his family said.
He is best known for writing songs including The Fields of Athenry and The Rare Ould Times and his work was recorded by artists including The Dubliners, Paddy Reilly and many more.
Pete St John was born Peter Mooney in Dublin in 1932. Read more
The Wanted‘s Tom Parker bravely fighting brain cancer in wheelchair (TMZ)
Tom Parker from The Wanted is bravely dealing with his illness … confined for a time to a wheelchair after undergoing treatment for brain cancer.
His bandmate, Max George, posted this pic of Tom Friday in a wheelchair. Max captioned the pic of Tom, who looked chill, “I mean … come on.”
Tom was diagnosed back in October 2020, with stage 4 glioblastoma. Last year he said the cancer is being held at bay.
Tom had been getting treatments in Spain at a clinic that specializes in this type of cancer. The treatment lasted 3 weeks, and he was able to rejoin the band last month in an emotional reunion. He also appeared on stage at a U.K. concert and performed on a gold throne! Read more
Lewis Hamilton plays down hopes of starting F1 season with a win (CNN)
Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton played down his chances of starting the Formula One season with a win and said on Saturday his Mercedes lacked a ‘considerable amount’ of pace.
The season begins in Bahrain next week and Hamilton, hoping to win back the title from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen after a controversial end to the 2021 season, took the underdog position.
“At the moment, I’m sure everyone can figure that out, we are not the quickest,” the 37-year-old Briton told reporters on the final day of pre-season testing at the Sakhir circuit.
“I think Ferrari look to be the quickest and perhaps Red Bull and then maybe us or McLaren. We’re currently not at the top.” Read more
Mark ‘D’ Ball: Kano Pillars beat Bauchi Nets to emerge group winners (Sun)
Kano Pillars on Friday defeated Bauchi Nets 77-68 to emerge Group 3 winners in the 2022 Mark ‘D’ Ball Men’s basketball championship in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the result meant that Kano Pillars finished with a 100 percent win record.
They topped the eight-team Phase 1 Group 3 table with 14 points.
In this final game of the group, it all started out as a ding-dong affair at the Indoor Sports Hall of Moshood Abiola Stadium and with Kano Pillars looking eager to extend their winning run. Read more
Sadiq Umar wins player of the month award in Spain (DailyTrust)
Super Eagles of Nigeria striker, Sadiq Umar, has won the Player of the Month award for February 2022 in the Spanish second division.
The striker was fantastic for his club in February, contributing to seven goals (five goals and two assists) for his club side, Almeria in four league matches.
The 25-year-old helped Almeria to four straight wins in the month, putting them in contention for promotion to the first division.
The former Partizan Belgrade hit man clinched the award at the expense of Huesca’s Jaime Seoane and Jose Corpar of SD Eibar. Read more
Premier League disqualifies Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich over links to Russian President Vladimir Putin (ABC)
The Premier League has disqualified Roman Abramovich from running Chelsea football club after the Russian owner was sanctioned by the British government over Russia’s war on Ukraine.
The announcement that Mr Abramovich had been disqualified from being a club director was made by the league’s board.
“The board’s decision does not impact on the club’s ability to train and play its fixtures, as set out under the terms of a licence issued by the government which expires on 31 May 2022,” the league said.
The Russian oligarch has owned Chelsea since 2003. Read more
Pochettino finding it ‘hard to sleep’ since PSG collapse in Madrid (France24)
Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino said on Saturday that he is finding it “hard to sleep at night” after his side’s dramatic Champions League capitulation against Real Madrid, but that he wants his team to take out their “rage” on their Ligue 1 opponents.
The French giants led by two goals on aggregate in their last-16 tie with Real in midweek with less than half an hour to play.
But Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick as PSG imploded at a raucous Santiago Bernabeu, adding another embarrassing loss to their collapses at the hands of Barcelona in 2017 and Manchester United in 2019.
“How do I feel? Very upset,” Pochettino told a press conference ahead of his side’s league game against bottom club Bordeaux on Sunday. Read more
Mohamed Salah injury explained by Jurgen Klopp after Liverpool star limped off vs Brighton (Express)
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has provided an update on Mohamed Salah’s injury status after the Egyptian limped off during the second half of their 2-0 win over Brighton. Salah put rumours of wage disputes to one side at the Amex Stadium by smashing in a penalty which, when added to Luis Diaz’s opener, was enough to secure a precious victory.
The Reds needed three points from the south coast to keep the pressure on league leaders Manchester City.
Diaz, who has been electric since his January arrival, set them on their way with a gutsy first-half header which saw him cleaned out by Seagulls stopper Roger Sanchez.
Many thought the Spaniard should have been sent off for a high challenge, but following a VAR consultation, referee Mike Dean took no further action. Read more
Coach Darren Cahill abruptly ends partnership with Amanda Anisimova (TennisWorld)
Coach Darren Cahill has informed Amanda Anisimova that he can’t commit to the Tour demands anymore and that their partnership is over. Anisimova, 20, added Cahill to her coaching staff for the 2022 season and they got off to a great start as the American started her season by winning the Melbourn Summer Set 2.
Anisimov also played well at the Australian Open as she stunned Naomi Osaka before losing to world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty in the round-of-16. Cahill told Ben Rothenberg his decision to end the partnership has nothing to do with Anisimova – it’s just that he can’t commit to the Tour demands.
Anisimova was joined by Cahill in Indian Wells and the coach informed her about his decision after their first practice in the desert.
Halep worked with Cahill for years and he guided her to Grand Slam success and the No.1 ranking. When asked about Cahill in Australia, Halep had only words of praise for her former coach. “I think (he) is very special. The way he talks, the way he always gives you advice, I think it’s very special,” Halep said of Cahill. Read more