Court convicts couple for $120m fraud, adjourns for sentencing (Guardian)
Justice Hakeem Oshodi of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, yesterday, convicted husband and wife, Augustine Ezeama and Juliet Ezeama for $120 million fraud.
The judge convicted the couple, after founding them guilty of the charge filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
They were arraigned on seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences on November 16, 2016.
The EFCC alleged that the couple had on May 6, 2015, obtained $30, 570 from a firm, CIFERCOM LLC, under the pretext that the money was for registration of the firm as a company in Nigeria, preparatory to an award of $8m contract to CIFERCOM LLC by the Federal Government. Read more
Court strikes out case against 5 property company employees (Punch)
An Ebute Metta Magistrate’s Court has struck out a case of conspiracy, forgery, and stealing brought against five employees of UACN Property Development Company Plc.
The five workers — Cyril Oaku, Ogundipe Victoria, Toyin Marcus, Adekoya Olushola, and Da-Silva Bankole – were arraigned before the court on charges of conspiracy, forgery and stealing in May 2016.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
During the court’s sitting on May 4, 2022, counsel for the first, fourth, and fifth defendants, Tunde Abioye, observed that the prosecution had not shown up to present its case against the defendants. Read more
Motorist flogs BRT vehicle with horsewhip, breaks mirror, flees (Punch)
A Bus Rapid Transit driver, identified only as Folashade, has been allegedly attacked by a yet-to-be-identified motorist in the Ikeja area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the woman loaded her bus with passengers at the BRT terminal in the Oshodi area of the state on Friday.
Folashade’s passenger, who asked not to be identified, said the woman, who was on the BRT lane, was blocked by the motorist.
The eyewitness stated that during the encounter, which was filmed, the man allegedly assaulted the BRT driver and broke her wing mirror. Read more
Children’s Day: We’ll continue working for your betterment, Buhari promises (Guardian)
President Muhammadu Buhari, again, yesterday, assured Nigerian kids of his administration’s zeal to tirelessly work for a bright future for them.
In his goodwill message, yesterday, to celebrate the 2022 Children’s Day in Abuja, he said government would ensure that every child has access to education.
The President said he recognised the place of education in the development of every country, pledging his commitment to drastic significant reduction in the number of out-of-school children.
He acknowledged that while education of the Nigerian child would remain on the front burner for the current administration, other issues like healthcare, protection from harm, drugs, cultism, child trafficking and abuse, as well as domestic violence were equally receiving needed attention from government. Read more
Violence mar APC primary election at Alimosho (Vanguard)
Armed thugs on Thursday disrupted the All Progressives Party (APC) primary election for the House of Assembly at Alimosho constituency 1 at about 4:50 p.m.
Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the venue of the election at Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area (LCDA) reports that the thugs who were supporters of policians clashed.
They used dangerous weapons including guns, cutlasses, knifes and bottles, to fight and chases people away.
Delegates, party faithfuls, electoral officers, security personnel were whisked out of the election premises following the outbreak of the violence which marred the election process. Read more
Kyari alleges threat to life in prison, seeks bail (DailyTrust)
Suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari has appealed to a Federal High Court in Abuja for bail over alleged threat to his life in detention.
Counsel to Kyari and his co-defendants, Onyechi Ikpeazu, Thursday informed the court that the application became necessary due to the role of the officers in their policing duties in the arrest and remand of the criminals detained with them.
He said the application had been served on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, whose counsel, Sunday Joseph, urged the court to refuse the bail request by the defendants.
The NDLEA arraigned Kyari alongside ACP Sunday Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspectors Simon Agirigba, John Nuhu, ASP John Umoru (said to be at large), Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne.
However, Umeibe and Ezenwanne pleaded guilty to the eight-count charges; while the five officers pleaded not guilty and are being remanded separately at the Kuje Correctional Centre. Read more
My album’ll make history, CKay boasts (Punch)
Fast-rising singer, Chukwuka Ekweani, popularly known as Ckay, has boasted about his forthcoming album.
The Love Nwantiti crooner, whose album is set to be released later this year, noted that his album will make history.
On his Twitter page on Wednesday, the singer wrote, “My album will make history.”
This came hours after his fans expressed disappointment over the omission of his songs in the full list of the 2022 Headies nominations. Read more
2023: Police arrest 2 APC aspirants for allegedly refusing to step down (Vanguard)
Ebonyi State Police Command, yesterday arrested two sons of the foremost founding father of Ebonyi state, Late Senator Office Nwali over their alleged refusal to step down for another aspirant in the just concluded APC primaries in the State.
It was gathered that the duo, Barr. Rollins Offia Nwali and his brother Engr Alfred Offia Nwali were arrested on Thursday at Onueke in Ezza South Local Government Area of the State.
Rollins Offia Nwali, is an aspirant in the APC House of Assembly primary election.
He was contesting for Ezza South State Constituency seat before his arrest. Read more
‘Unknown Gunmen’ Causing Troubles Are Igbo, Says Soludo (DailyTrust)
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra has said majority of the “unknown gunmen” behind the high rate of violence in the state are Igbo.
He also announced a cash reward of at least N1 million to anyone who could provide useful information leading to the arrest of any of the leaders or members of the “criminal gangs” including their sponsors and those enforcing the sit-at-home order.
Gunmen have continued to enforce the sit-at-home order of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by terrorising and killing residents of the state.
Speaking while declaring a 6pm-6am curfew in seven LGAs of the state, Soludo condemned the activities of the troublemakers, saying the curfew will remain in place until peace is restored.
He said, “Let us be very clear. These criminals causing mayhem in Anambra, albeit of disparate groups and gangs, are Igbos (dominantly from other South East states) whose real objective is lucrative criminality and foisting their idolatrous religion on the region. Read more
Queen opens home movies vault to give rare glimpse into private life (Metro)
A new documentary featuring unseen footage from the Queen’s young life promises to offer a glimpse of ‘the fun behind the formality’.
Clips from her personal home movies are being aired for the first time, spanning from the infant princess being pushed in a pram by the Queen Mother to preparing for the coronation 27 years later.
Never-before-seen footage of the monarch includes a shot of a beaming young princess showing off her engagement ring to the camera.
Her 70 years on the throne and early life as a princess have resulted in the Queen being perhaps the most filmed and photographed woman of all time. Read more
“Goodfellas” star Ray Liotta dies aged 67 (BBC)
Goodfellas actor Ray Liotta has died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic at the age of 67.
The US star had been on location filming the movie Dangerous Waters, his publicist Jennifer Allen said.
He was best known for playing mobster Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese’s 1990 gangster film Goodfellas and also appeared in Field of Dreams.
Liotta got his big break playing ex-convict Ray Sinclair in 1986 black comedy Something Wild.
He got a Golden Globe nomination for that role and went on to star in the 1988 film Dominick and Eugene, about the strained relationship between twins with very different characters. Read more
Husband of teacher shot dead in Texas school massacre dies of heart attack (Metro)
The husband of Irma Garcia, one of two teachers killed during a mass shooting at a Texas elementary school, has died of a heart attack.
Joe Garcia died Thursday — just two days after his wife was killed when a gunman entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, his family told Fox 35.
Nineteen children and two teachers were killed in the massacre Tuesday.
Joe and Irma Garcia were high school sweethearts, and married for 24 years. They leave behind four children. Read more
Kendrick Lamar rules streaming songs chart, holds 6 top 10 spots (Billboard)
“N95” starts with 37.2 million official U.S. streams in the May 13-19 tracking week, according to Luminate.
It’s Lamar’s third No. 1 on Streaming Songs, which began in 2013. He first ruled with fellow No. 1 debut “Humble” in April 2017, followed by his featured role on Lil Wayne’s “Mona Lisa,” which crowned the survey in October 2018.
Lamar claims six of the top 10 positions on Streaming Songs in all, with “N95” followed by “Die Hard,” a co-bill with Blxst and Amanda Reifer, at No. 3 (27 million streams). In between the two, Future’s “Wait for U,” featuring Drake and Tems, ranks at No. 2 (33.8 milion). Read more
Meghan Markle’s father suffers a stroke ahead of trip to London for Queen’s Platinum Jubilee (WomensHealth)
Thomas Markle is ‘recovering in hospital’ after suffering from a stroke, his eldest daughter, Samantha, has revealed.
The estranged father of Meghan Markle was transported by ambulance to a hospital in Chula Vista, California on Monday evening after experiencing pain at his home in Rosarito, Mexico.
The sudden illness occurred just a few days before the 77-year-old was due to fly to the UK to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and four years after he had two heart attacks that required surgical treatment. According to his representatives, Thomas was unable to speak when he arrived at the hospital and had to write down his symptoms on a scrap of paper for doctors to read. He has yet to be discharged from the medical facility, according to Samantha. Read more
Black Eyed Peas, Sting, Pitbull & more to perform at first-ever Atlantis Concert for Earth (Billboard)
Black Eyed Peas, Sting, Pitbull and more are using their powers of performance to help the environment. On Wednesday (May 25), Atlantis Entertainment announced the first-ever installment of Atlantis Concert for Earth, a two-day nonprofit concert that will celebrate global conservation efforts.
The event is set to take place from July 22 to July 23 in Sete Cidades, Portugal; the concert is held in partnership with the country’s Azores Islands. Stone Temple Pilots, Bush, Mod Sun and Girlfriends are also set to perform, with Sting doing a special virtual performance, and Nicole Scherzinger doing double duty as the event’s host and performer.
The venue will be a spectacular one. According to the press release, Sete Cidades is a natural amphitheater that sits along two lakes inside the crater of an ancient volcano, and offers 360 degree views.
“Nature is the true headliner at the Atlantis Concert for the Earth,” said will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas in a statement. “It is a surreal other-worldly experience to perform on the rim of an extinct volcanic crater to celebrate the Rockstars of Conservation while using music as a megaphone to call attention to the need for global conservation.” Read more
Nick Jonas celebrates having his baby girl home (Billboard)
It’s been a few weeks since Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra were finally able to bring their new daughter home after she’d spent more than 100 days facing health challenges in the NICU. And on his Wednesday (May 25) appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, the 29-year-old singer-songwriter shared just how overjoyed he and his wife have been about taking on their new gigs as parents — far away from hospital rooms.
“It’s pretty wild,” Jonas told his host, Kelly Clarkson, of having baby Malti Marie home with him and Chopra. “She’s the best — it’s just been a magical season of our life.”
He and the Quantico actress first revealed that they had welcomed a baby via surrogate in a joint January Instagram post, in which they also asked fans for privacy so that they could focus on their new family. On Mother’s Day, the couple both took to Instagram once again to a share that they’d only recently been able to bring their daughter home, as Malti had spent more than three months in the hospital’s newborn intensive care unit. They wrote at the time: “While ours was a challenging few months, what becomes abundantly clear, in retrospect, is how precious and perfect every moment is.” Read more
Bassey, Aribo Swell Super Eagles Camp in Texas to 15 Players (ThisDay)
The arrival of Europa League finalists Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo swelled Super Eagles camp to 15 players for the international Friendly with Mexico’s El Tri tomorrow in Dallas, Texas, USA.
The pair who played pivotal roles in Scottish Rangers getting to the final of the second tier European competition, joined up with the 13 early birds that include; William Troost-Ekong, Moses Simon, Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina and Semi Ajayi.
Although Eagles are going to be without top stars like Victor Osimhen, Maduka Okoye and Emmanuel Dennis for various reasons, this first game under the watch of new Portuguese Coach, Jose Peseiro, will afford the gaffer first hand knowledge of the players he’s going to work with in these friendlies with Mexico and Ecuador.
Eight players from the domestic Nigeria Professional Football League opened the camp on Wednesday. They include; Adewale Adeyinka (Akwa United); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC), Ibrahim Buhari (Plateau United), Chiamaka Madu (Rivers United), Ishaq Rafiu (Rivers United), Victor Mbaoma (Enyimba FC), Faisal Sanni(Katsina United) and Babatunde Bello (Akwa United). Read more
Katoh wins Plateau Utd Player of the Month award (DailyTrust)
Mercurial and combative midfielder, Haggai Katoh has been named Plateau United’s Player of the month of April.
The former Nasarawa United midfielder has been in superb form this season and his partnership with fellow midfielder, Sunday Anthony has been a delight to watch.
Katoh has been an integral part of the Plateau United team who currently sit second on the league table whilst being 7 points away from title chasers, Rivers United.
He is also one of the front runners for goals of the season after scoring a spectacular free kick from 30 yards against Sunshine United earlier in the season. Read more
Mustafa, Dada cruise on in Zenit/Ikoyi Club Tennis (ThisDay)
The Annual Zenith Bank/Ikoyi Club Grandslam Tennis championship is entering the home stretch with interesting results recorded on Wednesday nightat the tennis section of the elite club.
In the Singles A category, Chairman of the tennis section, Akeen Mustafa, led by example by moving into next stage. He lost first set 1/6 but the second was at 3/3 when Victor Onyenkpa scratched due to injury.
Rume Dubre after winning first set at 6/0 also forced tennis section captain Ekene Nwaokolo to scratch in the beginning of the second set.
In the Men’s Singles B cadre, Sesan Dada defeated Layiwola Okoya 3/6, 6/1, 13 – 11. It was a tension soaked match in which Dada came back from a set down to win the tie 2-1. The last set was most entertaining as it ended 13-11 in favour of Dada. Read more
Niger United, Safety Babes boost chances at Prudent Energy handball tourney (Guardian)
Niger United, Kano Pillars, Police Machine, Safety Babes, Seasider Queens won their games in some of yesterday’s fixtures on Matchday Four of the Prudent Energy Handball Premier League Phase One holding at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Former champion, Niger United beat Confluence Stars 37 to 28, while Benue Buffaloes lost 24 to 37 to Kano Pillars, just as Police Machine outmuscled Owena Kings 26 to 21 in the men’s category.
In the women’s class, Safety Babes walloped Defender Babes 22 to 31, while Seasider Queens walked over Kada Queens, just as Imo Grasshoppers drew 37 to 37 with Rima Queens.
In today’s matches, Imo Grasshoppers will battle with Seasider Babes, Defender Babes will take on Plateau Peacocks, while Kada Queens meet Safety Babes and Edo Dynamos take on Adorable Angels in the women’s games. Read more
Leadway Partners Sporting Lagos FC to Boost Sports Devt (ThisDay)
In advancing its commitment to strengthening youth engagement, deepening sports development, and promoting talents, Leadway, the foremost financial services provider, has entered into a sponsorship agreement with Sporting Lagos Football Club, a debutant in the Nigerian National League (NNL).
The season-long sponsorship with the growing Lagos-based football club, which includes delighting the fans on match days, aligns with Leadway’s philosophy of contributing to individual growth, especially the youths, promoting local content, and bolstering economic advancement in its immediate community, the country, and Africa at large.
Commenting on this initiative, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Leadway Holdings, Mr. Olusakin Labeodan, stated that the sponsorship is in line with Leadway’s corporate objective of strategically creating value by harnessing the talents and potentials of individuals through support to an organisation aimed at advancing lives and promoting economic progress. Read more
Winners to share over N60m Okpekpe 10km Road Race prize money (Guardian)
Winners at the 10-kilometre Okpekpe Road Race, which holds this weekend, will share from a total prize purse of over N60 million, the organisers have said. The eighth edition will hold on Saturday in Okpekpe near Auchi in Edo State.
The prize money outlay published in www.okpekperoadrace.com shows that a total of $103,000 is on offer as prize money to the top eight finishers in the men and women’s elite race, with the winner in each gender category going home with $20, 000, while $13, 000, $9, 000, $6, 500 and $3,000 respectively will go to the second, third, fourth and fifth placed finishers.
The organisers also announced an unchanged prize money outlay for Nigerian runners at the race. The first placed finishers in both the men and women race will go home with N1 million, while the second to the fifth placed finishers will get N600, 000, N400, 000, N250, 000 and N150, 000 respectively.
“The prize money on offer at the Okpekpe Race is clearly more than the minimum gross guaranteed prize money specified in World Athletics’ road race regulations,” said Race Director, Zack Amodu. Read more
Marcus thrilled to join Porto B (Punch)
Nigerian forward, Abraham Marcus, is excited to join Porto B in the Portuguese second division and believes the move will help him showcase his potential more, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The former Remo Stars forward signed a one-year loan contract with an option to buy and has been handed the jersey No.98 for the forthcoming season.
Marcus joined the Blue and White from Polish club Radomiak Radom to whom he was loaned by Portimonense.
Speaking on his move, the 22-year-old, who hopes to score goals for Porto B, said, “I am very excited to be part of this club. Read more