Banana Island: 1 body recovered from collapsed building (Punch)
The body of an adult male has been recovered from the rubble of the collapsed building on First Avenue, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos State.
The seven-storey building, which was under construction, collapsed on Wednesday, leaving many workers trapped.
Although no fewer than 25 people were rescued from the collapsed structure, City Round gathered that emergency responders, who stormed the scene for the rescue operation, continued with the search. Read more
Tiwa Savage confirms kidnap attempt, suspects arrested (Tribune)
Popular singer, Tiwa Savage has confirmed escaping from a security breach at her residence – widely reported online as a kidnap attempt.
The talented singer made the revelation on her Instagram handle via a statement signed by her management.
The statement reads: “Following recent reports online, we can confirm that on Thursday 13th April 2023 there was a major security breach at the residence of musician Tiwa Savage. Read more
Runsewe pleads with Sanwo-Olu over Gang of Lagos film (Guardian)
Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture ( NCAC), Segun Runsewe, has said the uproar created by the production of a new film, Gang of Lagos, calls for strategic rethinking on cultural-related narratives by film makers in Nigeria, to avoid public resentment and reactions.
Runsewe pleaded with the Lagos State Government and the good people of Lagos, to forgive the infractions contained in the flick, assuring to arrest such cultural insensitivity headlong. Gang of Lagos, had depicted the iconic Eyo masquerade as enabler of violence, drawing angry reactions from cultural groups in Lagos Island and from the state government, which described it as “a misrepresentation of cultural ethos of Eyo masquerade and insulting to the tradition and history of Lagos indigenes”.
Runsewe, who doubles as President, World Craft Council, Africa Region, noted that Eyo masquerade is one of the key cultural tourism products, associated with the history of Lagos, nay Nigerian culture. He advised filmmakers to be well-guided when producing films on Nigerian cultural history so as not to provoke tension and irritation across the country. Read more
Igbo lawyers warn politicians against attack on Obi (Sun)
Igbo Lawyers Association (ILA) , on Friday, issued a warning to some people it referred to as unscrupulous politicians, to desist from demonising the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi.
Coordinator of ILA, Victor Onweremmadu, who gave the warning, said the association had watched carefully, the attacks on Obi, since he decided to approach the Presidential Election Tribunal, to retrieve a mandate he believed was stolen from him.
He said it was disheartening that all efforts made by ILA, to convince young Igbos that the “One Nigeria Project” was feasible and possible were currently being ruined by the efforts of some ethnic jingoists and religious bigots now using Obi’s decision to reclaim his mandate to demonstrate hidden hatred for Ndigbo. Read more
Female rep-elect rallies support for Binani (Nation)
As the governorship supplementary elections in Adamawa State which will take place in 69 polling units across 20 local government areas with 32,935 collected PVCs, holds today, the House of Representatives member-elect for Kosofe Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Alhaja Kafilat Ogbara has called on women and other eligible voters in the affected polling units to ensure the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Aisha Binani.
In a press statement made available on Friday, Ogbara said there is need for all hands to be on deck in the fight against all forms of discrimination against women, especially in politics and governance. She therefore urged voters in Adamawa State to reject the gang-up by people who do not want the womenfolk to succeed in politics and vote for Senator Binani in today’s rerun gubernatorial poll.
Recalling that the late Aisha Alhassan of Taraba State suffered similar discriminations as a frontline female governorship contender, the House of Representatives member-elect decried alleged ill treatments and discriminations against Binani in her quest to become the governor of Adamawa State. Read more
NDLEA seizes illicit drugs in Oyo (Leadership)
The Oyo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)has seized 235.89kg of illicit drugs in the state between January and March.
NDLEA state Commander, Abdullah Saeed, on Thursday through the command’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs Mutiat Okuwobi, said that the seized illicit drugs were cannabis sativa, narcotic and psychotropic substances.
He said the command also arrested 56 people over drug-related offences, adding that 49 of the suspects were males, while seven of them were females. Read more
Abia Guber poll: Name those who attempted to bribe you, Ikpeazu challenges Prof. Oti (Vanguard)
Abia state Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has challenged the returning officer for the March 18 governorship election in the state, Professor Nnenna Oti, to name those who bullied and attempted to bribe her during the collation of election results in Umuahia. He stated that the returning officer betrayed his confidence in INEC through her actions during and after the election.
Oti, who is the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, (FUTO),Imo State, has been telling stories of how she was bullied , but refused to be intimidated before and during the collation of results in Umuahia.
The Governor, who threw the challenge in a chat with journalists in Umuahia, alleged that Oti clearly came to execute a ‘hatchet job’ against the PDP in the state considering her utterances after the election.
He also accused Oti of participating in the victory dance of the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Dr. Alex Otti, through her actions after the election in contradiction of the expected neutrality of INEC officials. Read more
Days after DSS ordeal, Prophet Arayomi reveals US Immigration detained him (Channels)
Prophet Tomi Arayomi has recounted his ordeal with US immigration authorities after he was detained by the Department of State Service (DSS).
The Founder of RIG Nation Church, his wife Tamar, and an aide were last week arrested in Abuja. But they were later released (except the aide), prompting him to leave the country with his family. The secret police did not comment on the development and the reason for the arrest.
Days after that, the cleric revealed that he was detained in Houston, US, upon arrival.
Jennifer Hudson prays for ‘‘healing’’ for Jamie Foxx after actor’s ‘‘medical complications’’ (People)
Jennifer Hudson is praying for Jamie Foxx’s full recovery.
On Friday, Hudson, 41, shared a photo of her Dreamgirls costar and wrote a sentimental caption.
“Lifting my friend @iamjamiefoxx and the Foxx family up in prayer !” the actress and singer said, adding, “We pray for healing in Jesus’ name! Sending u all the love in the world, Jamie!!!” Read more
The Script guitarist Mark Sheehan dies aged 46 (BBC)
The co-founder and guitarist of Irish rock band The Script, Mark Sheehan, has died.
The 46-year-old died in hospital on Friday following a brief illness, the band announced.
Sheehan formed the group in 2001 alongside vocalist Danny O’Donoghue and drummer Glen Power.
A statement on the band’s social media pages said Sheehan was a “much loved husband, father, brother, band mate and friend”. Read more
King’s coronation concert: Take That, Lionel Richie and Katy Perry to perform (Guardian)
Take That, Lionel Richie and Katy Perry will be among the artists performing at King Charles’s coronation concert, it has been announced, along with the opera singers Andrea Bocelli and Sir Bryn Terfel.
The singer songwriter Freya Ridings and classical-soul composer and producer Alexis Ffrench will also grace the stage in the grounds of Windsor Castle on Sunday 7 May, the BBC has confirmed.
They are part of a lineup performing at the event in front of 20,000 members of the public and invited guests at the concert, which will also be broadcast on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds. Read more
4 of El Chapo Guzman’s sons charged for trafficking fentanyl (Metro)
Four sons of notorious drug lord Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman were charged in the United States for their role in running a massive fentanyl smuggling operation.
The sweeping indictment unsealed on Friday announced charges against 28 people in Mexico, China, and Guatemala for orchestrating what Attorney General Merrick Garland called the ‘largest, most violent, and most prolific fentanyl trafficking operation in the world.’
The indictment took aim at the Sinaloa Cartel, the criminal organization based in central Mexico made famous by its brutal leader ‘El Chapo’ Guzman. Read more
Tom Cruise was turned down for ‘‘Mission: Impossible’’ by this star (Fox)
Tom Cruise was denied by Nicholas Hoult when the star offered him a role in “Mission: Impossible 7.”
Hoult explained that due to a prior work commitment, he was not able to appear alongside Cruise in the upcoming two-part “Mission: Impossible” finale.
The seventh installment in the franchise, “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One,” is set for release this summer. Read more
Justice Samuel Alito temporarily extends access to abortion drug while Supreme Court considers case (CNN)
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito on Friday extended a hold on a lower court ruling that would have imposed restrictions on access to an abortion drug, a temporary move meant to give the justices more time to consider the issue.
Alito said the order is stayed until 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday. He also asked plaintiffs to respond on or before noon ET Tuesday.
The case is the most important abortion-related dispute to reach the high court since the justices overturned Roe v. Wade last term. It centers on the scope of the US Food and Drug Administration’s authority to regulate a drug that is used in the majority of abortions today in states that still allow the procedure. Read more
French court approves Macron’s plan to raise retirement age (AlJazeera)
France’s constitutional court has approved the key elements of President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reforms, triggering new nationwide protests against the plan.
The nine-member Constitutional Council ruled on Friday in favour of key provisions, including raising the retirement age to 64 from 62, judging the legislation to be in accordance with the law.
Six minor proposals were rejected, including efforts to force large companies to publish data on how many people over 55 they employ, and a separate idea to create a special contract for older workers. Read more
Ex-Nigerian footballer, Ebiede dies at 45 (Guardian)
Former Nigerian youth international, Emmanuel Ebiede has died at the age of 45 after a protracted illness.
Ebiede had been battling with hepatomegaly (enlargement of the liver) and despite the intervention of Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Chris Green last week, he eventually died on Friday.
Top Nigerian journalist, China Acheru who is based in Port Harcourt where Ebiede was receiving treatment confirmed the sad news. Read more
No pressure on Doma – Onigbinde (Punch)
Doma United coach, Akinade Onigbinde, says his team is not under pressure to secure a super-six playoff spot in the 2022/23 abridged Nigeria Professional Football League season following their impressive run so far, The PUNCH reports.
The newly promoted side have enjoyed a steady run in their debut season in the topflight and they sit just a place below the top-three on goals difference in Group B with 19 points from 13 matches.
They have been able to secure five fins, four draws and four other defeats. Three of their draws have come away from home, making them one of the best travellers this season. Read more
Mikel Arteta urges Arsenal to ‘‘finish the job’’ in intense title race (IrishTimes)
Arsenal’s players must pull out all the stops and “finish the job” if they hope to fend off rivals Manchester City and win the club’s first Premier League title since 2004, manager Mikel Arteta said in advance of Sunday’s trip to West Ham United.
The leaders’ seven-match winning run in the league allowed them to maintain their lead over second-placed City, but a 2-2 draw at Liverpool last weekend has given their pursuers a chance to ratchet up the pressure on the Londoners.
Arsenal have a six-point lead over City, but Pep Guardiola’s side have a game in hand, and the two teams are due to meet at the Etihad Stadium later this month. Read more
USA goalkeeper Zack Steffen reveals he still hasn’t spoken to Gregg Berhalter since his World Cup snub (DailyMail)
US international goalkeeper Zach Steffen has recently opened up on the ‘tough pill to swallow’ of missing the World Cup.
Steffen, who this season is on loan at English second-tier team Middlesbrough from English champion Manchester City, was once far and away considered the United States No. 1 keeper, leaving both fans and media members questioning why he was left off of the roster for Qatar.
And the goalkeeper has now opened up on the ‘tough’ experience of having to watch the tournament from home. Read more
Man City monitoring Haaland 24 hours a day to maintain fitness for season run-in (ESPN)
Manchester City are monitoring Erling Haaland 24 hours a day in an effort to keep the Norwegian fit for the season run-in.
City are still in the hunt for the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup and Pep Guardiola is so desperate to have Haaland available that he says the 45-goal striker is being wrapped in cotton wool.
“We take care of him 24 hours, we have incredible doctors and physios, they are behind him every second of the day,” Guardiola told a news conference on Friday. Read more
Anthony Joshua drug test claims addressed by VADA in statement after Jermaine Franklin win (Express)
Unsubstantiated claims that Anthony Joshua failed a drug test after beating Jermaine Franklin by unanimous decision on April 1 have been officially put to bed. Joshua bounced back with a win following back-to-back world heavyweight title losses to Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk.
However, claims were made in the aftermath of Joshua’s win over Franklin that the two-time world champion had failed a drug test. Joshua has faced such accusations before, with Jarrell Miller accusing the Brit, 33, of steroid use in the build-up to their scheduled June 2019 meeting, which was later called off when Miller was refused a licence by the New York State’s Athletic Commission due to a failed drugs test.
Vada has since confirmed that both Joshua and his opponent Franklin passed drug testing. It is an independent organisation founded to offer and promote effective anti-doping. “Congratulations to @JermaineFrankl6 @anthonyjoshua for successfully completing @Vada_Testing through their April 1,2023 bout,” a tweet on Vada’s official account read. Read more