Ekweremadu, wife risk life imprisonment In UK (DailyTrust)
On Thursday, a United Kingdom court found former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice, guilty of organ trafficking.
The couple were found guilty alongside a medical doctor, Dr. Obinna Obeta.
They were convicted for facilitating the travel of a young man to Britain with a view to his exploitation after a six-week trial at the Old Bailey.
The victim, a street trader from Lagos, was brought to the UK last year to provide a kidney in an £80,000 private transplant at the Royal Free Hospital in London. Read more
Polls: Anti-Tinubu protesters rock Abuja (Vanguard)
For the second time in two days yesterday, fresh protests rocked the nation’s capital, Abuja, over the just concluded elections, with protesters kicking against the May 29 inauguration of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Like they did on Wednesday, the protesters demanded the invocation of an Interim National Government, ING, to conduct a fresh election.
Asking Presidential Muhammadu Buhari to put the ING in place before he leaves office on May 29, the angry Nigerians, who protested under the aegis of National Youth League for the Defence of Democracy, NYLDD, also demanded the immediate sack and arrest of the chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, by the Department of State Services,DSS. Read more
I will adopt Peter Obi’s model in Abia — Alex Otti (Tribune)
Abia Governor-elect, Alex Otti of the Labour Party (LP) has pledged to run Peter Obi’s Anambra model of reduction of the cost of governance in the State.
He stated this when featured on Channels Television’s Politics Today, which was monitored by TRIBUNE ONLINE on Thursday.
He also promised to run a “lean government” and support the private sector to create jobs.
“We are going to run a lean government. We are going to cut our coats according to our size (cloth). We believe it is the private sector that should be supported to create jobs. And whatever it takes to support private sector, we do exactly that. Read more
Old notes circulation: CBN begins monitoring today, banks set two-week target (Punch)
The Central Bank of Nigeria on Thursday began the disbursement of old naira notes to Deposit Money Banks as government authorities stepped up efforts to end the biting currency scarcity that has inflicted pain on millions of bank customers nationwide.
The central bank had directed DMBs to pick old N1,000, N500 and N200 notes at its offices across the country for onward disbursements to customers, following a meeting between the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and bank chief executive officers on Wednesday.
Findings by our correspondents on Thursday revealed that commercial banks got old naira notes from CBN offices across the country. Read more
Bank opens entries for Hackaholics, targets university campuses (Guardian)
Wema Bank Plc has opened application entries for the fourth edition of its tech talent discovery and nurturing project for young Nigerians, Hackaholics 4.0.
The bank’s Executive Director, Digital and Retail Business, Tunde Mabawonku, made the announcement, stating that Hackaholics was at the heart of the bank’s innovative project for start-ups, just as it redefined experiential banking with ALAT.
Hackaholics 4.0 is focusing on building finance beyond technology, with entries expected to come up with innovative solutions to solve non-finance issues such as government, agriculture, gender violence and how to promote entertainment, among others. The bank plans to engage 10,000 tech entrepreneurs, produce 5,000 solutions, create six pitch centres, and have almost one million footfalls during the campaign. Read more
Lagos floats projects for waste recycling (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has launched the model community recyclable management project as part of efforts to make the state cleaner.
According to a statement made available to newsmen, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr Omobolaji Gaji, disclosed this during the launch at the headquarters of the Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government.
Gaji, who was represented by the Director of Sanitation Services, Office of Environmental Services, Dr Hassan Sanuth, said the recycling initiative was one of the fulfillment of the present administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S agenda. Read more
Haastrup assures of support in fight against hard drugs (ThisDay)
The Chairman, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Princess Vicky Haastrup has assured the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of the association’s support in the fight against importation and use of illicit drugs in the country.
Haastrup gave the assurance on Friday when NDLEA Commander, Apapa Special Area Command, Udotong Noah, paid a courtesy call on her.
Stating that drug abuse in the country is becoming increasingly worrisome especially among youths, the STOAN Chairman said NDLEA must be supported by all well-meaning stakeholders in its effort to curtail illicit production, importation, exportation, sale and trafficking of psychoactive substances. Read more
Tribunal: I didn’t have any secret meeting with CJN in London, says Tinubu (Vanguard)
President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has denied holding any secret meeting with the Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN, Olukayode Ariwoola in London in order to curry the favour of the judiciary as his opponents battle to nullify his mandate.
In a statement signed by the Director, Media and Publicity of the All Progressives Congress APC Presidential Campaign Council PCC, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu reiterated the fact that he is currently in France and could not have also been in London holding the said meeting.
Part of the statement reads; “Our attention has been drawn to the grossly fake, misleading and malicious story about the Chief Justice of Nigeria Olukayode Ariwoola disguising to meet President-elect Bola Tinubu in London. Read more
Observers pass vote of confidence on INEC’s results in Ogun polls (Guardian)
An independent monitoring group, Forum of Election Observers Groups, has declared that the outcome of the governorship and House of Assembly elections in Ogun State largely reflects the opinion of the vast majority of residents in line with the assessment of various stakeholders, including local observers.
Coordinator of the group, Ayodeji Ologun, who stated this at a media briefing in Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday, expressed a vote of confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the conduct and eventual results of the polls.
Ologun said the clarification became necessary considering a series of reports and agitations so far generated by the outcome of the elections, and negative reports being attributed to it by some politically-exposed interests. Read more
Beyoncé and Adidas agree to sever business ties (HipHopDX)
Beyoncé and adidas have announced that they will be ending their collaborative partnership in relation to the singer’s Ivy Park activewear line.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, a source close to the situation confirmed that Beyoncé and Adidas are going their separate ways. However, the creative partnership between the Grammy-Award winning multi-hyphenate and the German sportswear brand is said to have been a mutual decision.
There were allegedly “major creative differences” between Beyoncé and Adidas, but she’s apparently hoping to reclaim her brand, follow her own path, and preserve her creative independence. Read more
US and Canada reach deal to reject asylum seekers (BBC)
The US and Canada have reached a deal to reject asylum seekers at unofficial border crossings, officials say.
US President Joe Biden and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau will announce the pact on Friday during Mr Biden’s visit to Ottawa.
The accord is expected to allow officials on both sides of the border to turn back such asylum seekers heading in either direction.
The US side has also seen a rise in migrant crossings there from Canada. Read more
Ed Sheeran releases heartbreaking single Eyes Closed about ‘numbing pain of loss’ after Jamal Edwards death (Metro)
Ed Sheeran has dropped his brand new single and it’s a tear-jerker, as the singer details his grief following the death of his best friend Jamal Edwards.
The Shape Of You singer is set to release his brand new album ‘-’ (Subtract) on May 5, completing his mathematical album series which has included ÷ (Divide) and x (Multiply).
His new single, Eyes Closed, will lead the new album and was written several years ago following a break-up. Read more
Columbia Records, Kakao Entertainment America partner on K-pop group IVE (Variety)
Kakao Entertainment America and Columbia Records have partnered to co-manage K-pop girl group IVE, it was announced on Thursday (March 23).
The collaboration is expected to boost IVE’s presence in the North American market, with Columbia, a subsidiary of Sony Music, supporting their upcoming album, “I’ve IVE,” due out April 10.
Columbia will assist with global music distribution, local marketing, and promoting the album, which will begin with the pre-album release of the single “Kitsch,” dropping March 27th. Read more
Vertigo remake in the works at Paramount with Robert Downey Jr. eying lead (THR)
Vertigo— the Alfred Hitchcock film long considered one of Hollywood’s best — may be getting a remake.
Paramount Pictures has acquired the remake rights to the 1958 movie, which starred Jimmy Stewart as an ex-detective hired to follow a friend’s wife (Kim Novak) who has been acting erratically.
Robert Downey Jr. is eyeing the Stewart role, with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight tapped to write the screenplay. Downey and wife Susan Downey are attached to produce the project via Team Downey, with John Davis and John Fox via Davis Entertainment. Read more
Gwyneth Paltrow causing ski collision is most likely scenario, US court told (ITV)
Gwyneth Paltrow colliding with a man from behind on a ski slope and falling on top of him is the “only scenario” that would explain his injuries, a US court has heard.
Terry Sanderson provided “a cushion” for the Oscar-winning actress during the incident at the Deer Valley resort in Utah in 2016, jurors were told.
The retired optometrist is suing Ms Paltrow over the crash, in which he suffered several broken ribs and a severe concussion. Read more
North Korea claims it tested nuclear underwater attack drone amid US, South Korea military drills (NYPost)
North Korea claimed on Friday morning that it tested a “nuclear underwater attack drone” this week amid joint US and South Korean military drills, according to state media outlet Korean Central News Agency.
The new underwater weapon is designed to “stealthily infiltrate into operational waters” and target naval strike groups and enemy ports, North Korea claimed.
“This nuclear underwater attack drone can be deployed at any coast and port or towed by a surface ship for operation,” KCNA said in a statement. A test warhead exploded in the waters off Hongwon Bay on Thursday afternoon, North Korea claimed. Read more
Super Eagles seeking to regain confidence of Nigerian fans against Guinea Bissau (ThisDay)
Super Eagles are as good as qualified for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. They lead their group on maximum six points from two matches. Their opponents this evening at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, Guinea Bissau, are second on four points. Both Sierra Leone and São Tomé and Principe who drew 2-2 in Agadir, Morocco yesterday are as good as dead in the running for the group ticket.
The Leone Stars are stuck on just one point with no point for São Tomé, the whipping team of the group.
But Super Eagles who lost the 2022 World Cup ticket on the same Moshood Abiola Stadium ground to eternal rivals Ghana in a final playoff last year, know Nigerians still nurse the wound and the memories of the destruction of that edifice that followed that failure, remains fresh. Only a massive win this evening can begin the healing process which will be completed on Tuesday in Bissau if they win the reverse fixture and qualify with maximum 12 points for AFCON 2023 with two games to spare. Read more
Kane breaks record as 10-man England beat Italy (BBC)
Harry Kane became England’s all-time record goalscorer as they opened their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a first victory in Italy since 1961.
Kane wrote his name into the history books in the 44th minute when he beat Gianluigi Donnarumma from the penalty spot for his 54th goal, overtaking previous record holder Wayne Rooney.
Declan Rice gave England an early lead when he scored from close range after Kane’s shot was blocked before the captain put memories of his penalty miss against France in the World Cup quarter-final in Qatar aside with an emphatic spot-kick. Read more
Italy 1-2 England: Azzurri open Euro 2024 qualifiers with home defeat (FootballItalia)
Italy started their EURO 2024 qualifying campaign in the worst possible way with a home defeat to England, as although Mateo Retegui scored on his debut, the disastrous first half was decisive.
The Azzurri had lost only once in competitive matches to England, a World Cup qualifier in November 1977, recently winning the EURO 2020 Final and Nations League meeting. This time they are in the same EURO 2024 qualifying group as Malta, North Macedonia and Ukraine.
Both sides had injury problems, missing the likes of Ciro Immobile, Federico Chiesa, Giacomo Raspadori, Alessandro Bastoni, Federico Dimarco, Marcus Rashford, Nick Pope and Mason Mount. Italo-Argentine Mateo Retegui was thrown straight into the starting XI for his international debut. Read more
Cristiano Ronaldo scores twice for Portugal on world-record 197th cap – Euro 2024 Qualifiers round-up (Sky)
Cristiano Ronaldo tucked away a penalty and slammed home a free-kick as he set a new record for the most international caps in Portugal’s 4-0 win over Liechtenstein in their opening Euro 2024 qualifier.
Ronaldo celebrated his 197th cap, surpassing Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa, with a double as he returned to the starting line-up for their Group J qualifier at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.
He converted a 51st-minute penalty, his first goal against the tiny Alpine principality as the home side went 3-0 up and added the fourth with a trademark free-kick that bent back the hands of visiting goalkeeper Benjamin Buchel. Read more
World Athletics bans transgender women from female events (AlJazeera)
Transgender women will no longer be allowed to compete in female track and field events regardless of their levels of testosterone, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe says.
No female transgender athlete who had gone through male puberty would be permitted to compete in female world ranking competitions from March 31, Coe said.
Speaking after a meeting of the global track and field federation’s decision-making body on Thursday, Coe said World Athletics had consulted with stakeholders, including 40 national federations, the International Olympic Committee and trans groups about the issue of transgender athletes. Read more
James working around the clock to return for Lakers (France24)
LeBron James said Thursday he is working “around the clock” to regain full fitness but rejected reports that he had set a target date to return before the end of the NBA regular season.
Multiple US media outlets reported on Thursday that the Los Angeles Lakers superstar was eyeing a possible return in the final three games of the season.
James, who has not played since suffering a foot injury in late February, later addressed the reports on Twitter, playing down suggestions of an imminent return. Read more