Evans accomplice makes U-turn, pleads guilty (Nation)
Udeme Upong, one of the co-defendants standing trial alongside alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, aka Evans, has changed his plea of not guilty to guilty.
Udeme Upong, Evans, Joseph Ikenna Emeka, and Chiemeka Arinze, are charged before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, of an Ikeja Special Offences Court on a seven-count charge of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to kidnap and selling of firearms.
They were alleged to have attempted the kidnapping of Vincent Obianodo, chairman of the Young Shall Grow Motors.
At the last adjourned date, it was reported that one of the defendants, Chiemeka Arinze, passed away on November 26 as a result of cardiopulmonary arrest caused by AIDS. Read more
Lagos hasn’t given any fresh appointment to MC Oluomo – Sanwo-Olu’s aide (DailyTrust)
The Lagos State Government has debunked reports that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has appointed suspended Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers Union (NURTW), Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya (Mc Oluomo), as General Manager of the State Transport Parks and Garages Committee.
Amid his face off with NURTW national body, Mc Oluomo pulled out of NURTW, which indicted him for alleged insubordination.
While announcing his exit from the national body, MC Oluomo had asked the Lagos government to suspend NURTW from all its parks and garages.
On Thursday night, the government suspended the activities of NURTW in all parks and garages, citing the crisis rocking the union. Read more
NDLEA intercepts 3m opioid capsules at Lagos terminal (Nation)
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted three million capsules of opioids weighing 1,500kg at Jaelith Bonded Container Terminal under Tincan Seaport in Apapa area of Lagos.
Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, said the opiods, Tapentadol and Carisoprodol, were more dangerous and potent than Tramadol.
He said the seizure followed a similar operation in which operatives of the agency also intercepted 8,613 kilograms of Loud cannabis smuggled in from Ghana through the waterways at the Eko Atlantic Beach, Victoria Island, Lagos the previous day, Sunday 6th March.
Babafemi said: “The seized drugs at the bonded terminal were discovered during a joint examination of a 20ft container, SUDU 7774749 with men of Customs service. Though the consignment was said to have originated from Ningbo province in China and falsely labelled as containing 271 packages of ‘insulating fittings, faucet water closet wc, industrial office printing machine’, investigations revealed that information on the bill of lading and shipping documents were fake. Read more
Undertakers ask Lagos hospitals to get ambulance operators (Sun)
The Lagos State Association of Funeral Directors (LAFD) on Thursday called on hospitals in the state to acquire ambulance operators for prompt evacuation of emergency cases.
The President of the association, Mr Boye Akinkunmi, made the call while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the inauguration of Isolo zone of the association on Thursday in Lagos.
Akinkunmi said every hospital needed ambulance operators to evacuate the human remains in hospitals and promptly attend to emergencies.
According to him, most hospitals in Lagos State don’t have ambulance operators. Read more
Korea, FEAN & Nike Gallery mark International Women’s Day promoting Nigerian female artists (Leadership)
The Embassy of South Korea in collaboration with the Female Artists Association of Nigeria (FEAN) and Nike Art Gallery marked the International Women’s Day with an art exhibition of works by Nigerian female artists.
Held within the grounds of the Korean Embassy in Nigeria, the exhibition, The Beauty of Nigeria, marked the first time the embassy is opening its space (garden and function rooms) to the Nigerian public as a signal of a return to normalcy since the onset of the pandemic, an exposition of the beauty of the union of Nigerian Arts and Korean aesthetics, and a means of celebrating Nigerian female artists.
Speaking to journalists at the event, Ambassador Kim Young-chae who had the governor of Bayelsa State as his special guest of honour, described the exhibition as the blueprint of a sustainable and collaborative effort which saw all sides contribute to the realization of the project without express financial implication.
“We had three agencies, the Nike Art Gallery, FEAN and the embassy collaborate on this partnership without involving any finance. The embassy contributed its venue, FEAN and Nike Gallery contributed their paintings. It is a purely cultural collaboration, and that’s why I truly appreciate it.” Read more
Court of Appeal: SAN secures victory for Living Faith Church over land dispute (Sun)
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr. Reuben Atabo on Thursday secured judgment over land dispute at the Court of Appeal, kaduna in favour of the Trustees of the Living Faith Church.
The Church through its Counsel had in Suit No.KDH/KAD/530/2012 dragged to the lower Court two persons; Ibrahim Isa and K. Alkali Auta who were laying claims to the land.
However in Appeal No. CA/K/318/18 the Court of Appeal, Kaduna judicial division had on March 10, 2022 set aside the judgment of the lower Court.
In a letter of congratulations written to the Trustees of the church, copies of which were made available to Reporters by the SAN read in part, “We wish to inform you that the above matter came up today, being 10th March 2022 at the Court of Appeal, Kaduna for judgment.
“In a well-considered judgement, the appeal was allowed and the judgment of the lower Court was set aside.
“By this judgment, the Court held that all that parcel of the land claimed by the Church belongs to the Registered Trustees of the Church and not the Respondents.
“Our claims at the lower Court were, a declaration of title to all that piece/parcel of land, measuring about 7.632 acres, situate at Ungwan Maigero, Bayan Dutse-Narayi, Chikun local government area, Kaduna covered by a Deed of Assignment registered at No. 85 at page 85 in Vol. 127 (MISC) of Kaduna State land Registry as shown on Kaduna (TPO) and verged pink in the attached survey plan. Read more
Wives of slain soldiers protest in Kebbi (Tribune)
A viral video trending on Thursday revealed the wives of slain Kebbi soldiers in black attires, while few others in hijab stormed the residence of 223 Commanding Officer to protest the killing of their husbands by suspected bandits in Kany Village in Kebbi State.
The protesting women were seen holding sticks and others shouting ‘whatever will happen, let it happen’, we are also ready to die (in Hausa).
A few women were also sighted in the video burning tyres in front of the residence of the commanding officer.
Though from the recorded video, none of the women spoke, the annoyance and the frustration on their faces were unmissable.
Most of the protesting women lost their husbands when the suspected bandits stormed Kanya village on Tuesday and engaged the soldiers in a fierce battle that led to the death of 18 soldiers.
The commanding officer, it was gathered, was in the company of the state deputy governor, Samaila Yombe, who was in the area on a working visit. Read more
Olubadan: Osinbajo, govs, Alaafin, Ooni, others present as Balogun’s coronation begins (Punch)
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum are among the prominent Nigerians that have arrived for the coronation of Senator Lekan Balogun as the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Ondo State Deputy Governor, Lucky Ayedatiwa and Osun State Deputy Governor, Benedict Alabi are also some of the prominent citizens in attendance.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; the Deputy Chairman of Oyo State Council of traditional rulers, and the Ààrẹ Ọ̀nà Kakanfò of Yorùbáland, Otunba Gani Adams, are also present.
The new Olubadan has been ushered into the venue. Read more
Osun Election: YPP set to hold primaries March 12 (Sun)
The Young Progressives Party (YPP), has set March 12 to conduct its primary election to pick its candidate for the Osun governorship polls holding on July 16.
Mr Egbeola Wale-Martins, the National Publicity Secretary of the party made this known in a statement issued to newsmen on Friday.
Wale-Martins, who noted that conducting the primary election was sacrosanct, said, “The NEC at the end of its meeting took some far-reaching decisions on several issues that will help to reposition the party.
“A part of it is that the conduct of Osun state primary is now sacrosanct and will now hold on March 12. To this end, an electoral committee has been constituted for the exercise.” Read more
Amaechi urges better severance package for public servants (Guardian)
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has called on the Federal Government to upgrade the severance package of public servants to save them from a life of penury after service.
The minister made the call in Abuja while appreciating 11 members of staff who retired from service between April and December 2021 in the ministry.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all the retired staff had attained the retirement age of 60 years or 35 years of Service.
“My only worry is what happens after retirement, because the government does not provide enough for its citizens who are retiring. Read more
Samuel L. Jackson gravitates towards popular movies (FilmNews)
Samuel L. Jackson prefers to star in “popcorn movies”.
The 73-year-old actor has appeared in hit films including ‘Jurassic Park’ and the ‘Star Wars’ prequels during a prolific movie career and admits he gravitates towards flicks he would have enjoyed when he was younger.
Samuel told the I newspaper: “I don’t do a lot of cinematic character studies. I tend to do popcorn movies and movies that I would have gone to see when I was a kid, movies that make me happy. Because, I think, people go to the movies to be drawn into the joy and excitement of life.”
The ‘Pulp Fiction’ star will receive an honorary Oscar at the Academy Awards later this month but has never been honoured with an actual Oscar despite appearing in more than 100 movies and he has claimed that a gong should be given for the most popular picture of the year. Read more
UK Cinemas support Ukraine with Cannes winning Olga charity screenings (Variety)
606 Distribution and the BFI have partnered to organize a series of preview charity screenings of Elie Grappe’s Cannes winning film “Olga.”
From each ticket sold, a donation will be made to support Ukraine via the Disasters Emergency Committee.
The film, about a young female Ukrainian gymnast forced to train in exile, had its U.K. premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival earlier this week.
The preview screenings will be taking place in over 200 cinemas from March 18, with more cinemas joining the initiative each day. Participating cinemas include Cineworld, Curzon, Everyman, Odeon and Picturehouse chains, as well as the independent venues which make up the members and lead organizations of the BFI Film Audience Network. The previews are also supported by the UK Cinema Association. Read more
Japanese Breakfast’s Michelle Zauner gives update on Crying In H Mart movie (NME)
Japanese Breakfast’s Michelle Zauner has shared an update on the film adaptation of her 2021 memoir, Crying In H Mart.
As announced in June last year, the musician is writing the screenplay for the film adaptation and the soundtrack under the moniker, Japanese Breakfast.
Speaking to Consequence about her progress on the film, Zauner said: “So I actually just finished the first draft of the screenplay.
“My producers really like it, so hopefully the revision process won’t be too brutal. And yeah, hopefully that will come out sometime in the next couple years. I’m just playing a lot of festivals and being back on the road, and Crying In H Mart the movie [will arrive] maybe sometime in the next few years.” Read more
Robbie Williams says he and his family ‘don’t live anywhere’ after selling all of their properties (Independent)
Robbie Williams has revealed that he currently doesn’t “live anywhere” after selling all his properties.
The singer said that he and his wife Ayda Field, whom he’s been married to for 11 years, “haven’t got an abode right now” during a radio interview.
“We’re actually nowhere,” he told Australian DJs Kyle and Jackie O, adding: “We’ve pretty much sold everywhere.”
Williams continued: “We don’t live anywhere and we’re trying to figure it out.” Read more
Katy Perry wins £2.1m copyright appeal over hit single Dark Horse (Guardian)
Katy Perry has won her appeal in a copyright case over her 2013 hit Dark Horse.
The musician will no longer have to pay $2.8m (£2.1m) to the rapper Flame (real name Marcus Gray), who claimed that her single plagiarised an eight-note ostinato from his 2009 song Joyful Noise.
Gray sued Perry and co-defendants including Capitol Records in 2016 and was initially awarded $2.8m in a jury verdict three years later. But Perry appealed and a federal district court judge vacated the verdict in March 2020.
A judge from the ninth circuit court of appeals has now ruled that Gray was attempting to claim an “improper monopoly” over conventional “musical building blocks”. Read more
Madonna and Fireboy DML show off their chemistry in music video for ‘Frozen’ remix (MyJoy)
Madonna’s “Frozen (Remix)” ft. Fireboy DML received a music video treatment. Released on Thursday, March 10, the visual sees the Queen of Pop showing off her chemistry with the Nigerian crooner.
The clip opens with the 63-year-old walking through a smoky area while singing the Afrobeats version of her 1998 hit.
The music icon flaunts her sexy figure in a black leather outfit that she pairs with fishnet stockings, knee-high boots and her signature Madame X cross jewellery.
DML then shows up, chanting his verse while dancing with Madonna. “I thought you loved me/ I thought you trust me,” he sings. “I tried to take care of your heart, but it’s frozen/ Why can’t you show me, don’t leave me open/ I thought you told me that you’re ready, but you’re broken.” Read more
Jussie Smollett sentenced to 150 days in Cook County jail & probation for hate crime hoax (TheSource)
Jussie Smollett returned to court for sentencing on Thursday (Mar 10). Previously found guilty of five of six charges, Smollett was facing years in prison as he entered Cook County courts Thursday afternoon. The proceedings stretched into the early Chicago evening, ultimately leading to Smollett spending his first night in jail.
According to ABC7Chicago, the courtroom was shocked as Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in Chicago’s Cook County Jail. The sentence, delivered by Judge James Linn, followed a lengthy speech that chronicled every action in the hoax while also calling the actor a narcissist, arrogant, and recalled his acts of perjury.
“You will spend the first 150 days of your sentence in the Cook County Jail, and that will start today. Right here, right now,” Judge Linn said.
In addition to the time in jail, Smollett is on probation for 30 months and will pay $120,000 in restitution to the City of Chicago and a $25,000 fine. Read more
Rafael Nadal urges tougher penalties for abuse of tennis officials after Alexander Zverev outburst (Eurosport)
Rafael Nadal has called for tougher penalties to be imposed upon tennis stars who abuse officials after Alexander Zverev was handed a controversial suspended sentence for his actions in Acapulco.
The German Olympic gold medallist was kicked out of the singles draw at the ATP 500 tournament last month when he smashed his racquet on an umpire’s chair following a doubles defeat.
Zverev has since been given a one-year probation with no immediate punishment and Nadal feels it’s time to clamp down on what he believes to be a growing trend of dissent.
“I have a good relationship with Sascha, I like him, I practise with him very often, so I wish him all the very best. And he knows that he was wrong and he recognised that very early and that’s a positive thing,” Nadal said. Read more
Daar Communications Plc awarded official ticketing rights (Sun)
The Nigeria Football Federation has announced Daar Communications Plc as exclusive ticketing partner for the Super Eagles March 29th showcase World Cup qualifier play-off, return leg at MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.
Commenting on the development, the General Secretary of Nigeria Foot- ball Federation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi said “since inception of the operations of Daar Communications Plc, the company has consistently shown remarkable love and support for the growth and development of Nigerian football.
“The ticketing rights awarded to Daar Communications Plc today is a re- flection of our confidence in the organization to raise the profile of the game and fill the stadium with passionate fans giving the Super Eagles push towards qualification for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.”
Reacting to the Secretary General, Group Managing Director Tony Akiotu said; “the Super Eagles need all the support they can get. Getting fans to the stadium early, building up their excitement and anticipation and finally unleashing all their energy in support of the Super is our overriding primary objective. Read more
Erik Ten Hag ‘makes contact’ with Man Utd stars as Ajax boss begins to plan for future (Mirror)
Ajax boss Erik Ten Hag has reportedly ‘made contact’ with some of Manchester United ‘s stars as the hunt for a new manager intensifies at Old Trafford.
Ralf Rangnick is taking care of things until the end of the season, when United are expected to make a new long-term appointment to lead the club into another new era.
Ten Hag is among the favourites to land the job alongside Paris Saint Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino, who is under threat of being sacked by the French giants.
But Ten Hag is seemingly fancying his chances, as he has already made contact with some of his potential new stars. Read more
Trivago stand by Chelsea but call for change of ownership ‘as soon as possible’ (Standard)
Abramovich being sanctioned but added to calls for a change of ownership “as soon as possible”.
The club is under a cloud of uncertainty following Thursday’s announcement of UK Government sanctions against Abramovich in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Premier League side have been granted a special licence to continue football operations despite Abramovich’s assets being frozen, but face a swathe of restrictive measures such as a ban on selling tickets, merchandise or signing new players.
Chelsea’s main shirt sponsor, telecommunications company Three, suspended their relationship with the club in response, asking for their branding to be removed from the Blues’ kit and stadium, but Trivago have reaffirmed their commitment. Read more
Eubank open to fighting Crawford (BoxingScene)
There is seemingly no end to Chris Eubank Jr.’s wish list of desired fights.
The latest fighter to appear on the British middleweight contender’s wide-embracing radar is WBO welterweight titlist Terence Crawford. The 32-year-old Eubank has been busy calling out all comers, from various weight classes, ever since he won a 12-round unanimous decision over countryman Liam Williams last month at Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales.
At the top of Eubank’s list is IBF middleweight titleist Gennadiy Golovkin and the newly-resurgent welterweight veteran Kell Brook, who is coming off a spirited sixth-round stoppage over bitter rival Amir Khan last month in Manchester, England. Eubank is also keen on revisiting a match-up with the semi-retired Billy Joe Saunders, who defeated him by split decision back in 2014, as well as bouts with the likes of middleweight titlists Jermall Charlo (WBC), Ryota Murata (WBA), and even rising welterweight and compatriot Conor Benn.
Eubank (32-2, 23 KOs) likes the sound of all those fights. A Crawford bout apparently, despite the weight difference between the two, is no exception either. Read more
Ukraine tennis star hits out at Russian players for locker room chat (Express)
Marta Kostyuk has voiced her disappointment at the lack of support from Russian players on tour. The Ukrainian world No 54 came through a three-hour battle to defeat Maryna Zanevska 6-7(5) 7-6(6) 7-5 and shared an emotional moment with the Ukrainian-born Belgian at the net. Speaking after the match, Kostyuk admitted she was unhappy with the decision to allow Russian players to continue competing.
Tennis is one of the few sports still allowing Russian and Belarusian players to compete but as neutrals.
The ATP, WTA, ITF and four Grand Slams announced the joint decision to remove all reference to Russian and Belarusian athletes’ countries and flags last week.
They also cancelled the joint ATP/WTA Moscow tournament in October and banned both teams from the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup, where Russia is the defending champion of both. Read more
Williams calls it a day in Bahrain after fire damage (F1i)
Williams has announced that it will take no further part in Friday’s running in Bahrain as its FW44 remains under repair following the damage sustained by the car in this morning’s session.
A case of overheating brakes that ignited a fire at the rear of the FW44 forced Nicholas Latifi to park the car to allow track marshals to extinguish the flames.
The incident brought out the red flag during the session which allowed the stricken car to be loaded on a flatbed and returned to the Williams garage.
Unfortunately, part of the Williams’ rear suspension and many of its components were consumed by the flames which required a lengthy repair job by the British outfit’s crews that spelled the end of the day’s running for the team. Read more