Betta Edu threatens to sue BBC over alleged defamation (Punch)
The suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, has expressed her intention to take legal action against the British Broadcasting Corporation over what she claims to be defamatory statements.
Edu made this known through a letter signed by her legal representative, Chikaosolu Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and addressed to the BBC offices in Abuja and London.
In the letter titled ‘Request for immediate retraction of defamatory article published on BBC website against Dr. Betta Edu’, the lawyer expressed the harm caused to Edu’s reputation, as well as the emotional distress and suffering endured as a result of the publication. Read more
Coastal road project threatens N246b Landmark resort (DailyTrust)
The popular Landmark Beach and Resort in Oniru Victoria Island has been penciled down for demolition for the construction of the 700km Lagos coastal rail.
The management of the beach and resort estimated at over $200m (N245 billion at N1,230/$ NAFEM rate) had called for the reversal to the original master plan of the project to spare the 1.5km stretch of the resort.
But last weekend, the Lagos government issued a one-week demolition notice to the resort management. Read more
Monarch dies after returning home from Eid ground (Leadership)
The Osolo of Isolo Kingdom in Lagos State, Oba Kabiru Agbabiaka, Adeola Olushi III, is dead.
The traditional ruler died shortly after returning home from the Eid prayer ground on Wednesday.
The chairman of Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Olasoju Adebayo, confirmed his death in a statement. Read more
Oyo warns residents over impending flood (Tribune)
The Oyo State Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (Oyonewmap) has appealed to residents not to ignore early warning messages, as its officials embark on a sensitisation exercise in the state.
The Project Coordinator of Oyo State Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (Oyonewmap), Tayo Ayoade, said the project will embark on an advocacy and sensitisation programme on early warning and action on flood hazards throughout the State.
Ayoade said this while speaking with journalists during the week in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Read more
Id-el-fitri: Aiyedatiwa pardons 28 suspects, orders rehabilitation (Nation)
Ondo Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has ordered the release of 28 suspects arrested by men of the Ondo State Security Network codenamed Amotekun Corps.
The 28 suspects were among 45 suspects arrested across the 18 local government areas for offences ranging from kidnapping, dangerous driving, burglary, anti grazing, destruction of public peace, stealing and buying of stolen goods.
Commander of Ondo Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, said the 28 suspects have been profiled as first time offenders, stating their offences were not of capital punishment. Read more
Stray Bullet: NDLEA provides updates, promises to take care of victim’s family (Channels)
The National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has provided information regarding the situation concerning the family affected by a stray bullet that tragically resulted in the death of two-year-old Ivan Omorhiakogbe in Delta State.
According to Mr Femi Babafemi, the spokesperson for the NDLEA, the agency is fully committed to the treatment of Ivan’s younger brother and the overall well-being of the family.
The incident occurred on Thursday, July 13th, 2023, during an operation where NDLEA operatives in pursuit of drug peddlers, fired their weapons into the air in Okpanam, a suburb of Asaba in the Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state. Read more
Toxicity Concern: NAFDAC recalls Benylin cough syrup (Punch)
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control has recalled Benylin Paediatrics Syrup manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, following recent toxicity findings in the laboratory on the product.
NAFDAC said laboratory analysis conducted on the product showed that it contains an unacceptable high level of Diethylene glycol and was found to cause acute oral toxicity in laboratory animals.
The agency disclosed this on its website on Wednesday. Read more
Amotekun arrests 14 suspected kidnappers, 31 other criminals (Vanguard)
Fourteen suspected kidnappers and 31 other suspected criminals, have been arrested by the Ondo state security outfit codenamed Amotekun.
Parading the suspects in Akure, the state capital, the state commander of the Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, said that ” the suspected criminals were picked up in the acts in the 18 council areas of the state.
Adeleye added that “Among the 45 suspects, we have 14 kidnappers, one dangerous driving, 5 burglary cases, two anti grazing, four destruction of public peace, stealing and buying of stolen goods. Read more
“Joker: Folie a Deux” teaser: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga find love (UPI)
Warner Bros. Pictures is giving a glimpse of the new film “Joker: Folie à Deux”.
The studio shared a teaser trailer for the movie Tuesday featuring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga.
“Joker: Folie à Deux” is a musical sequel to the 2019 film Joker, which reimagined the origin story of the DC Comics character of the same name. Read more
JoJo Siwa no longer living her parents (FilmNews)
JoJo Siwa is no longer living with her parents.
During an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast on Wednesday, the former Dance Moms star revealed her parents had moved out of the family’s Los Angeles home earlier that day.
“(It’s) just me now. I’ve been waiting for this one,” she shared. “It’s been our funny joke, our ongoing joke, like, ‘My parents, oh, they’re finally old enough to move out on their own.’” Read more
Mum admits hiding births of 2 babies then burying their bodies inside home (Metro)
A woman has admitted to burying two dead babies in a home in south Wales.
The bodies of two babies were found at a home in Maes-Y-Felin, Wildmill, Bridgend, in November 2022.
It’s thought they died sometime between January 2017 and November 2022. Read more
Kanye West faces wrath of Ryan Garcia for allegedly rejecting boxer in defence of Diddy (HipHopDx)
Kanye West has been called out by boxer Ryan Garcia for allegedly declining his offer to accompany him to the ring over a joke about Diddy.
In a lengthy rant on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday (April 9), Garcia unloaded on the Chicago rap icon, who he claims is “mad” at him for saying “no Diddy,” a play on the “pause” trope that has gained steam in the wake of the mogul’s sexual assault allegations.
While speaking to the press ahead of his fight with Devin Haney on April 20, the 25-year-old was asked about his walkout offer to Ye and said: “Kanye told me ‘no.’ He don’t like that I said ‘no Diddy.’” Read more
‘Steadfast despite grief’: Palestinians in Gaza mark solemn Eid al-Fitr (AlJazeera)
Palestinians across the Gaza Strip are marking the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan with no respite from the Israeli military’s deadly attacks.
On Wednesday, the starving population in the besieged enclave was doing its best to follow Eid al-Fitr traditions, but the reality of the war that has killed more than 33,300 Palestinians, mostly women and children, does not leave much room for celebration.
“There is no joy or appetite for celebrating the holy occasion,” Ahmed Ismail, a shopkeeper in Rafah in southern Gaza, told Al Jazeera. “Even children have no interest in toys as they did in the past. This is the worst season we have ever lived.” Read more
Boeing whistleblower says the Dreamliner 787 could ‘break apart’ due to safety flaws, report says (NBC)
Boeing is facing newly revealed whistleblower claims that its 787 Dreamliner planes have structural failings that could eventually cause them to break apart, adding to the unprecedented crisis facing the aviation giant.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating claims made by Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour, The New York Times reported on Tuesday.
In a lengthy response, Boeing strongly disputed the claims and said it was “fully confident” in the 787. Read more
France is proposing to allow terminally ill patients to take lethal medication to die (TheWeek)
France’s government presented a bill Wednesday to allow adults with terminal cancer or other incurable illness to take lethal medication, as public demands grow for legal options for aid in dying.
Many French people have travelled to neighbouring countries where medically assisted suicide or euthanasia are legal. French President Emmanuel Macron has long promised such a bill.
To benefit from the newly proposed measure, patients would need to be over 18 and be French citizens or live in France, Health Minister Catherine Vautrin said after a cabinet meeting. Read more
3SC boss hails players for win at Kano Pillars (Leadership)
Shooting Stars technical adviser, Gbenga Ogunbote has commended his players for the away victory against Kano Pillars.
The Oluyole Warriors defeated Kano Pillars 2-1 at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Monday.
Veteran midfielder, Rabiu Ali gave Pillars the lead, while Shooting Stars rallied with goals from Taye Murtala and Christian Pyagbara. Read more
Paris 2024: World Athletics to become first federation to award prize money at Olympic games (BBC)
World Athletics has announced it will become the first international federation to award prize money at the Olympic Games.
The global governing body said a total prize pot of $2.4m (£1.9m) has been made available for this summer’s Olympics in Paris, with gold medallists receiving $50,000 (£39,400).
This will be extended to silver and bronze medallists at Los Angeles 2028. Read more
6 arrested in connection with the murder of South African player Luke Fleurs (AfricaNews)
The South African police service (SAPC) said Wednesday (Apr.10) that 6 suspects in the killing of footballer and Olympian Luke Fleurs were arrested and will appear in court.
The 24-year-old defender was shot while waiting to be attended to at a petrol station in the Honeydew suburb in Johannesburg on April 3rd.
The breakthrough was announced in a statement by the police. According to the press release, the team appointed by the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni to trace and arrest the suspects who allegedly hijacked and killed the Kaizer Chiefs player recovered Fleur’s car and arrested 6 people. Read more
Wes Brown speaks for first time on going bankrupt after Ex-Man Utd star lost millions (Mirror)
Former England international defender Wes Brown won the Champions League with Manchester United in 1999 and 2008 but was later the subject of a bankruptcy order
Wes Brown has opened up about being declared bankrupt, almost a year after a petition was filed against him by HMRC.
Brown, 44, made more than 300 Premier League appearances during a career which saw him turn out for Manchester United and Sunderland, among others. He was part of both of United’s Champions League winning squads under Sir Alex Ferguson, starting the final against Chelsea in 2008, but lost millions after ending his playing career. Read more
Super Falcons must sharpen attack before Olympics — Waldrum (CompleteSports)
Super Falcons head coach, Randy Waldrum admitted that his side must improve in attack to have a good outing at the 2024 Olympic Games.
The nine-time African champions are making a return to the Olympics after a 16-year absence.
The West Africans had to rely on Rasheedat Ajibade’s penalty to get the better of South Africa over two legs in their fourth round qualifying tie. Read more
Tyson Fury reckons he can beat Oleksandr Usyk after 15 pints of Peroni and weighing 25st (DailyStar)
Tyson Fury has started throwing verbal shots at Oleksandr Usyk – claiming he could beat the Ukrainian after 15 pints of Peroni.
Fury and Usyk will finally meet in their delayed heavyweight unification showdown in Riyadh on May 18. As he faced the media in a press conference at Morecambe FC, the Gypsy King was broadly respectful of Usyk, whom he was originally due to face in February before a cut suffered in sparring held up the long-awaited bout.
However, Fury couldn’t resist a cheeky barb at the former cruiserweight, insisting he could enter the ring after a heavy drinking session and still win the fight. He said: “I think, if I didn’t train at all for this camp, just come in at 25st and sank maybe 15 pints of Peroni beforehand, the next day, what’s he going to do? Jib-jab me around? Read more