Couple who allegedly aided son to defile minor arraigned (Punch)
A couple, Juliet and Boniface, who allegedly aided their son, Ebuka Nwobodo, to defile a minor, were, on Wednesday, brought before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The couple was arraigned on a charge of conspiracy, while Ebuka appeared on a two-count charge of conspiracy and defilement.
However, they all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A. A. Oshoniyi, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N250,000, with two sureties each in like sum.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp Kehinde Olatunde, had told the court that the defendants committed the offences sometimes in 2016, at No. 7, Odunsi St., Bariga. Read more
Ladipo traders elect new leaders, seek pedestrian bridge at Toyota bus stop (Guardian)
Worried by the increasing casualties to traders and road users in Toyota bus stop on Oshodi-Apapa expressway, the newly elected president of the Ladipo Ultra-Modern Market Association, Jude Chikelu Nwankwo, has appealed to the Lagos State Government to construct a pedestrian bridge at the bus stop leading to the market.
He made the appeal after winning the election held yesterday to elect new executives for the Ladipo Central Executive Committee (LACEC), the umbrella governing body of the 43 units in the popular auto market.
The market was yesterday closed for business as traders went to the polls. At the end of the elections, which ended around 3:00 p.m. the incumbent President-General, Jude Nwankwo, was declared elected by the Ugochukwu Agwuncha-led Ladipo Electoral Committee (LEC). Read more
Police re-arraign female doctor over false rape allegations (Vanguard)
The Police Wednesday re-arraigned a female medical doctor, Bolanle Aseyan, before a Lagos Federal High Court over rape allegation.
The defendant is standing trial on a four-count charge bordering on false publication on rape allegation, preferred against her by the Police.
The police prosecuting counsel, Emmanuel Eze, in a charge marked FHC/L/ 260c/2020, alleged that 25-year-old Doctor, committed the alleged offences between June 29 and August 14, 2020, at number 12A, Molade Okoya Thomas, Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, Lagos.
The medical director, who was first arraigned before Yaba Chief Magistrate Court, sometimes in November 2020, was alleged to have committed the offences while observing her internship at Federal Medical Center, Ebute-Metta, Lagos. Read more
One shot dead as violence breaks out in Jangebe (DailyTrust)
At least one person has been killed while some have sustained injuries in Jangebe, the Zamfara community where some schoolgirls were abducted last week.
After the students regained freedom, the government took them for counselling and rehabilitation.
On Wednesday, they were brought back to the school to reunite with their family members.
Pandemonium broke out after anxious parents disrupted the speech of Alhaji Nasiru Muazu Magarya, Speaker of the Zamfara House of Assembly, and forcefully took their daughters away. Read more
COVID-19 vaccines: Governors meet Thursday on distribution (Nation)
Governors of the 36 states are meeting Thursday to strategise on the handling and distribution of the coronavirus vaccines.
Spokesman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, said a virtual meeting would begin at 5 pm.
“The meeting is on a single-item agenda, which will discuss the delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine and distribution. Read more
Buckle up on food production, experts warn South governors (Guardian)
Stakeholders in agriculture and farmers in the South West, yesterday, allayed fears of food scarcity following the alleged stoppage of food supply to the region.
But they were quick to challenge state governments in the region to take full advantage of massive fertile land in South West for food production and stop paying lip service to the development of agric.
The Southwest Chairman of All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr. Olusegun Dasaolu, said the stoppage of food supply to the South was a warning of what to expect in the future.
He said: “It is a warning sign. The signal therein is telling us that we need to buckle up as far as agricultural production is concerned. Read more
Veteran Actor, Sadiq Daba, dead (DailyTrust)
Veteran Nollywood actor, Sadiq Daba, died last night.
He was reportedly to have died of complications from cancer.
His friend, Joe Odumakin, was said to have confirmed that “We have lost Sadiq. It’s so painful because I spoke to him a few days ago when his wife became a permanent secretary. I called his number some hours ago but his son picked it. I told him to give the phone to his father but he told me that his father is gone. I had to ask; gone to where?
“His wife just called me now and we spoke. She said that she was at the morgue. I asked what happened and she told me that about a week ago, he had been ill but he had been home and that he went to the hospital late afternoon today. Read more
15 Ogoni pollution sites cleaned up (Nation)
No fewer than 15 of the oil-polluted sites in Ogoniland have been cleaned up, the Federal Government has said.
Minister of the Environment Muhammad Mahmoud told reporters after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting that the council approved N6 billion for the provision of potable water in the four local government areas of Ogoniland – Gokana, Khana, Eleme and Tai.
Mahmoud said: “My memo was approved and was with regard to the provision of potable water to the four local governments of Ogoniland of Rivers State; that is Gokana, Khana, Eleme and Tai, in the sum of N6,048,318,974.74. Read more
SpaceX’s Starship rocket lands but then explodes (BBC)
The SpaceX company has managed to land one of its Starship prototypes at the end of a high-altitude test flight.
Serial Number 10 (SN10) touched down in Boca Chica, Texas – in contrast to its predecessors SN8 and SN9, which crashed into the ground.
But that wasn’t the end of the story. The next-generation space vehicle put down heavily on its extended legs. Read more
BBC duped by man claiming to be Cory Booker, bluffs way into Khashoggi interview (BBC)
A trickster claiming to be New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker bluffed his way into a BBC radio interview on the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to a red-faced apology from the British outlet and tweets from confused listeners.
“In our Newshour radio programme on Friday, a man claiming to be Senator Cory Booker was interviewed in what appears to be a deliberate hoax,” the BBC said in a statement. “We have apologized to Senator Booker and are looking into what went wrong to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
The BBC noted that the interview only aired one time, on Feb. 26, and all traces of it seem to have been scrubbed from the outlet’s site. Read more
Coronavirus: Germany extends lockdown with plan to relax restrictions (DW)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has revealed the government’s five-step plan to relax lockdown measures.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced on Wednesday evening a plan to relax COVID-19 restrictions, including conditions to reopen businesses.
Merkel made the announcement following a meeting with the 16 state premiers on Wednesday that lasted more than nine hours.
The federal government announced that the lockdown has been extended until at least March 28. Read more
Lupita Nyong’o says Black Panther 2 director has ‘exciting ideas’ for sequel (Metro)
Lupita Nyong’o has revealed that Black Panther director Ryan Coogler has ‘exciting’ ideas of how the franchise can move on without Chadwick Boseman. The film’s stars were devastated by the shock death of the 43-year-old actor last year, following his secret four-year battle with colon cancer. However, Lupita revealed that the highly anticipated superhero sequel would be sure to carry on that actor’s legacy. During an appearance on Wednesday’s Good Morning America, the 38-year-old teased: ‘In true Marvel form, I have nothing to tell you. Read more
Mariah Carey’s brother hits her with defamation suit for tell-all memoir (PageSix)
Mariah Carey’s brother has filed a defamation suit against the pop star for her tell-all memoir — following a similar case brought by Carey’s sister last month.
Morgan Carey, 61, says the “Always Be My Baby” singer — who is ten years his junior — falsely portrayed him as violent when they were growing up in her book “The Meaning of Mariah Carey,” published in September.
“Many passages about [Morgan] in the book are false and defamatory, personally invasive and painful, and have caused serious damage to his reputation and to his personal and business affairs,” Morgan’s Manhattan Supreme Court lawsuit from Wednesday alleges. Read more
Linda Reynolds: Australian minister ‘regrets’ slur on alleged rape victim – PM (BBC)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said his defence minister “deeply regrets” making “offensive remarks” about an alleged rape victim.
Linda Reynolds has not denied a report that she referred to her former aide Brittany Higgins as a “lying cow”.
Ms Higgins has alleged she was raped by one of Ms Reynolds’ ex-advisers – a charge that has rocked the government.
When asked if Ms Reynolds should quit, the PM said her remark had come “in her private office in a stressful week”. Read more
ICC to investigate reported war crimes in Palestinian territories (DW)
The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague announced on Wednesday that her office would formally open a probe into reported war crimes in the Palestinian territories.
In a statement, Fatou Bensouda said the investigation would be carried out “independently, impartially and objectively, without fear or favour.” Read more
AFCON Qualifiers: Super Eagles return to Lagos after 20 years; to play Lesotho (Vanguard)
Dates for the last phase of AFCON Qualifiers for Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been confirmed.
While the penultimate match against Benin Republic will hold on Saturday, March 27th at Charles De Gaulle Stadium in Porto Novo, the Super Eagles will return to Lagos for the first time in 20 years when they welcome the Crocodiles of Lesotho to the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
Although Nigeria has already booked a place at the finals, an outright win is needed to cement top spot.
Super Eagles currently top with 8 points, followed by Benin Republic with 7 points. Read more
Barca overturn two-goal deficit to beat 10-man Sevilla in extra-time thriller (BBC)
Barcelona overturned a two-goal first-leg deficit as they beat 10-man Sevilla 3-0 after extra time in a Copa del Rey semi-final full of drama and incident.
Martin Braithwaite got the decisive goal, a diving header early on in the additional 30 minutes.
Ousmane Dembele had opened the scoring for Barca, who lost the first leg 2-0.
Lucas Ocampos missed a penalty for Sevilla, who then had Fernando sent off just before Gerard Pique dramatically levelled the tie at 2-2 in added time. Read more
German Cup: RB Leipzig dreaming of Berlin after seeing off Wolfsburg (DW)
RB Leipzig’s dreams of winning a first major trophy are still alive as they reached the semi-finals of the German Cup. In the evening’s other semi-final, Bayern Munich’s conquerors Holstein Kiel saw off Rot-Weiss Essen.
The road to Berlin doesn’t have too much further to run. RB Leipzig are into their second German Cup semi-final in their short history, brushing aside Wolfsburg on Wednesday night courtesy of two second half goals.
With Bayern Munich already sent packing, the opportunity to claim some rare silverware has opened up for a number of clubs. In RB Leipzig’s case, it would be their first major trophy and an opportunity to break through the glass ceiling. After their well-earned quarter-final win here, they will now be believing that this is best chance yet. Read more
‘We have to find a spark again’ – Solskjaer after Man Utd held to drab draw at Palace (BBC)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says his Manchester United side need to find their “spark” again after they were held at Crystal Palace – a third goalless draw in a row for the visitors.
The Red Devils never really looked like scoring in a drab encounter at Selhurst Park, with their failure to win a blow to their already slim Premier League title hopes.
The result means Manchester United are 14 points behind leaders Manchester City, with the two sides meeting on Sunday.
Asked about his side’s recent form, Solskjaer told BBC Sport: “Of course it’s a concern. Read more
‘No more issues’ – Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury agreed with announcement imminent (Metro)
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are expected to announce their unification showdown very soon with all terms between the two heavyweights now agreed. IBF, WBO and WBA (Super) champion Joshua and WBC king Fury are set to collide in what will surely be the biggest fight in British boxing history this summer. The bout will crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis, with Saudi Arabia and the Middle East the likely destinations in June. Read more
Nets drill Rockets in James Harden’s return to Houston (NYPost)
In his much-anticipated return to Houston, James Harden heard the jeers first. Then he received the cheers. And by the end, he got the victory.
Harden’s triple-double led his new team past his old one, as the Nets cruised to a 132-114 win over the struggling Rockets at Toyota Center.The reception from the 3,900-plus on hand wasn’t quite as venomous as Kevin Durant received during his return to Oklahoma City. But Harden — who demanded a trade and forced his way to Brooklyn — was mostly booed at introductions, and his every touch was jeered in the early stages of the game. Read more