CBN uncovers $2.4b foreign exchange scam (Nation)
In a startling revelation, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Governor Yemi Cardoso, has disclosed that law enforcement agencies are investigating foreign exchange forwards valued at approximately $2.4 billion.
Cardoso noted that these transactions are deemed ineligible for payment.
This disclosure emerged after the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday, March 26. Read more
Why kidnappers no longer target schools in Borno – Zulum (DailyTrust)
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has said mass abduction, especially of school children, have not been heard of in the state lately because the Safe School Initiative has been on for the past seven to eight years.
Addressing State House Correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, the governor said most of the schools are well fenced and manned by operatives.
He said apart from the interventions of the military and other security agencies, the state is also making use of hunters, vigilante and JTF. Read more
As attacks on farmers escalate… 18.6m Nigerians face acute hunger (Leadership)
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s agriculture sector have continued to express concern over the nation’s worsening food crisis as the continued kidnapping of farmers is making many of them abandon food production.
This, LEADERSHIP Data Mining department’s findings have shown, is worsening the nation’s food crisis. In a recent policy brief entitled ‘Status of Food Security: Dimensioning the Crisis, Policy Options, and Strategic Responses’ by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, which was made known in a statement signed by the acting head, Strategic Communications and Advocacy, NESG, Ayanyinka Ayanlowo, the number of food-insecure Nigerians increased significantly, from 66.2 million in Q1 2023 to 100 million in Q1 2024 (WFP, 2024), with 18.6 million facing acute hunger and 43.7 million Nigerians showing crisis-level or above crisis-level hunger- coping strategies as of March 2024. Read more
Lagos demolishes shanties around schools, drainage (Punch)
Operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps have cleared illegal structures built around the fence of Salvation Army Primary School, Ayobo, Ipaja area of the state.
This is as some residents alleged that local government officials were responsible for the illegal structures springing up around school perimeter fences and on drainage alignments in the state.
In a video shared on X by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, some owners of the structures were seen hurriedly salvaging their goods while the demolition was ongoing. Read more
Tinubu: We must treat kidnappers as terrorists, they’re cowards (ThisDay)
President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, condemned what he described as the ‘reprehensible acts’ perpetrated by kidnappers across the country, declaring that individuals involved in such despicable crimes must be treated as terrorists.
This was as the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has said the state was under the siege of banditry and kidnapping, and therefore pleaded with the federal government to come to his aid.
The governor, who said the state had become something else as a result of the frequent attacks by bandits, called for more military presence and security formations in the state. Read more
Okuama killings: How Army raided my house with 40 personnel, apologised — Clark (Tribune)
Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, has narrated how the Army last Saturday raided his country home in Ughelli, Delta State, in search of suspects over the recent killing of their personnel but subsequently apologized for their action.
Speaking during a press conference in his Abuja residence on Tuesday, he said the military only contacted him after ransacking the house.
He said that they had broken into the house before they were informed that it belonged to him, causing the military to call and apologized to him. Read more
48 renounce cultism, surrender arms in Ogun (Channels)
The Ogun State Police Command has commenced its amnesty programme for members of various cult groups willing to renounce their membership as 48 cultists renounced cultism.
The state Commissioner of Police Abiodin Alamutu gave the indication in the Sagamu area of the state where arms and ammunition surrendered by cultists were on display at the palace of the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Adewale Ajayi.
While urging members of the public not to discriminate against those who have turned a new leaf, he warned that anybody caught after the window of opportunity provided for denouncement would be treated like a criminal. Read more
Court sentences Chinese national to death by hanging for killing Nigerian girlfriend (Vanguard)
A Kano High Court sitting on Tuesday, sentenced a Chinese National, Frank Geng-Quangrong, 47, to death by hanging for stabbing his Nigerian girlfriend, Ummukulsum Sani, 22, to death.
Frank, who lives in Railway Quarters Kano, was convicted on one count charge of culpable homicide.
Delivering judgment, Justice Sanusi Ado-Ma’aji, held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. Read more
Sean “Diddy” Combs lawyer calls raids on music mogul’s homes an ‘excessive’ use of “military force’’ (ABC)
A lawyer for music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has released the first public statements from his team since the raid on the rapper’s homes.
Federal authorities in the United States were seen outside Combs’s mansion in Holmby Hills on the Westside of Los Angeles, California on Monday local time with guns drawn in dramatic footage broadcast live.
The Miami home of the rapper was also searched. Read more
Australia’s Splendour In The Grass has reportedly been cancelled (NME)
Australia’s Splendour In The Grass festival has reportedly been cancelled.
The supposed cancellation, announced by The Sydney Morning Herald and the festival’s official media partner Triple J, comes just two weeks after the festival revealed its line-up for July’s three-day event.
The festival has yet to confirm its cancellation. NME has reached out for comment.
Splendour In The Grass 2024 is scheduled to take place between July 19 and July 21. Headliners include Kylie Minogue and Future, while other prominent performers include G Flip, Turnstile, Girl In Red, Tash Sultana and others. Read more
Taylor Swift’s dad Scott will not face charges over alleged assault on Australian photographer (ET)
Taylor Swift’s father, Scott Swift, will not face any charges after allegedly assaulting a paparazzi photographer in Australia last month.
According to RTE and the Daily Mail, Aussie police “conducted an investigation following a report of an assault” on Feb. 27 involving “Papa Swift,” 72, and decided that “no further police action” was required or would be taken in the incident.
According to TheAustralian.com, the incident occurred at the Neutral Bay Wharf as Taylor and her dad were disembarking from a ferry and were bombarded by people waiting for them on land. The photographer involved, Ben McDonald, 51, talked with NCA Newswire after the fact and alleged that Scott became aggressive with him before jumping into a vehicle with Taylor. Read more
Alan Titchmarsh’s trousers censored on North Korean TV (Standard)
North Korea’s state TV channel has censored a BBC gardening show by blurring presenter Alan Titchmarsh’s jeans.
Korean Central Television (KCTV) aired a 2010 episode of Alan Titchmarsh’s Garden Secrets, where footage of the British broadcaster was obscured from the waist down as he knelt in a garden bed tending to plants.
Jeans are seen as a symbol of Western imperialism and are banned under the North Korean regime.
Titchmarsh told the BBC that the news had given him “a bit of street cred”. Read more
Brazil’s Bolsonaro stayed 2 nights in Hungarian embassy after passport seized (France24)
Brazil’s far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro stayed for two nights at the Hungarian embassy in Brasilia last month, just days after federal police confiscated his passport and arrested two former aides on suspicion of plotting a coup, Bolsonaro’s lawyer said on Monday.
Bolsonaro’s Feb. 12-14 stay at the Hungarian embassy was first reported by the New York Times based on security camera footage from inside the embassy.
The episode raises questions about the former president’s plans as he faces multiple criminal investigations in Brazil, with several members of his inner circle already in jail. Brazilian police would not be able to arrest a politician staying at a foreign embassy. Read more
Russia blames US, UK and Ukraine for concert attack, state media reports (ITV)
The chief of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has said the United States, Britain and Ukraine are behind the concert hall terrorist attack, according to Russian state media outlet TASS.
At least 133 people were killed and more than 100 wounded in the mass shooting at a concert hall in Russia’s capital, which saw several gunmen storm and set fire to the Crocus City Hall.
“We believe that this is true,” Alexander Bortnikov said when asked whether the US, Britain and Ukraine were behind the terrorist attack.
“In any case, we are now talking about the factual information we have. This is general information, but they have a long record of this sort,” he said after participating in an enlarged meeting of the Prosecutor General’s Office board. Read more
Colin Farrell describes new Batman spin-off ‘‘The Penguin’’ as “incredibly violent” (FarOut)
Irish actor Colin Farrell has discussed the upcoming Batman spin-off television series “The Penguin”, in which he undertook a dramatic transformation to play Oswald Cobblepot.
An exact release date for the highly-anticipated eight-part series is yet to be announced. However, “The Penguin” is expected to land on the streaming service, Max, before the end of 2024, and is forecast to be one of this year’s most-talked-about television moments.
In addition to Farrell portraying the lead role in “The Penguin”, Cristin Milioti will act as Sofia Falcone, Rhenzy Feliz is set to play Victor Aguilar and Miles Humphries will also appear as Dom Gigante. Read more
Mali beat Nigeria 2-0 in international friendly (Punch)
The Eagles of Mali beat the Super Eagles of Nigeria 2-0 on Tuesday night.
In the clash with the Eagles, Nigeria suffered the loss courtesy of one goal in each half of the game.
E. Toure gave Mali the lead in the 18th minute and the runners-up in the recently concluded African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast could not severe a draw in the first half. Read more
Ukraine, Georgia and Poland are going to Euro 2024 after late drama in qualifying playoffs (ABC)
Ukraine found another late winning goal in another comeback win. Georgia and Poland held their nerve in penalty shootouts. All are going to the European Championship.
The 24-nation Euro 2024 lineup was finalized Tuesday with three qualifying playoffs giving a stronger eastern European flavor to the tournament that opens June 14 in Germany.
Mykhailo Mudryk’s sweeping low shot in the 84th minute lifted Ukraine to a 2-1 victory over Iceland and a second late comeback win in the playoffs for a team representing the war-torn country. Read more
Brazil draw 6-goal thriller with Spain as Endrick, Yamal dazzle (France24)
Brazil snatched a late leveller to share an entertaining and occasionally heated 3-3 friendly draw with Spain on Tuesday as youngsters Lamine Yamal and Endrick dazzled.
Lucas Paqueta fired home a stoppage-time penalty to deny La Roja victory at the Santiago Bernabeu, after the hosts had taken a late lead.
Spain captain Rodri scored two heavily debated penalties of his own in a pulsating battle under a closed roof in the Spanish capital.
Mike Tyson hopes to deliver knockout blow with cannabis edible ears – in a nod to his most notorious fight (Sky)
Former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson is hoping to deliver a knockout blow with his new cannabis product – edibles in the shape of nibbled ears.
The bizarre products are a nod to when Tyson infamously bit off part of the ear of his opponent Evander Holyfield in their WBA Heavyweight Championship bout in Nevada in 1997.
The edibles have been released by Tyson 2.0 – a cannabis company founded by the iconic boxer known as “Iron Mike”. Read more
Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner through in Miami Open (StraitsTimes)
Defending Miami Open champion Daniil Medvedev and top seed Carlos Alcaraz marched into the quarter-finals of the tournament on March 26 with convincing victories.
Medvedev earned a 7-6 (7-5), 6-0 win over Germany’s Dominik Koepfer while Alcaraz took care of Italian Lorenzo Musetti with a 6-3, 6-3 win in 85 minutes.
Second seed Jannik Sinner of Italy also moved into the last eight beating Christopher O’Connell of Australia 6-4, 6-3.
Alcaraz, who is searching for the “Sunshine Double” after winning in Indian Wells, was too much for 23rd seed Musetti although the Italian certainly contributed to a crowd-pleasing contest. Read more
Spain not a racist country, says Carvajal before Brazil friendly (RFI)
Spain defender Dani Carvajal said Monday his country was not racist ahead of a friendly against Brazil arranged to support the fight against racism.
Real Madrid and Brazil forward Vinicius Junior has suffered racial abuse on many occasions in recent years, with one incident in Valencia in May provoking worldwide outrage.
Spain arranged a friendly against Vinicius’ Brazil at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday under the slogan “One Skin” to help combat racism. Read more