Ex-Nasarawa deputy gov regains freedom after N4m ransom (DailyTrust)
Prof Onje Gye-Wado, a former deputy of Nasarawa State, who was abducted on Thursday night, has been released after a ransom of N4 million.
Daily Trust had reported how the professor of law was kidnapped from his country home in Rinza, near Wamba, headquarters of Wamba local government area of the state.
His kidnappers had demanded a ransom of N70 million, but the family negotiated from N2 million and later N3.5 million, eventually paying N4 million before he was released. Read more
Popular Ibadan online trader found dead in hotel (Nation)
Ayoung lady, Adeshina Olayinka popularly known as Khadi, has been reportedly found dead in an hotel located at Akobo area of Ibadan, Oyo state Capital.
There are various unconfirmed accounts of how the corpse was discovered at the hotel.
According to information gathered on Facebook by Shizeez, Adeshina Olayinka told one of her friends that she wanted to go and meet someone at the hotel in Akobo on Wednesday night. Read more
Nigerians frustrated with election outcome — Kukah (Vanguard)
Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, said yesterday Nigerians were frustrated by the outcome of the 2023 election, asking them to rise and reclaim their country from the clutches of the current administration.
He also noted that justice had eluded Nigerians, saying that explained why they were currently forlorn, dejected and unhappy.
Kukah, who stated this in his Easter message to Nigerians, described them as men and women returning from a funeral with forlorn looks.
He, however, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the fact that he had recognised that his criticisms of the current administration were not borne out of malice, but rather a desire to see Nigeria reach its full potential. Read more
Lagos seeks efficiency in land allocation, survey (Punch)
The acting Surveyor-General of Lagos State, Ayokunnu Adesina, has called for efficient service delivery in land and survey matters.
Adesina said this when he received the Executive Secretary, Land Use and Allocation Committee, Mrs Lolade Ajetunmobi, and her team at his office.
Speaking during the visit, the acting surveyor-general said efficient service delivery could be achieved by the continuous synergy between his office and the Land Use Allocation Committee.
Easter: Tinubu, Atiku, Gbajabiamila, Obi, others kick against agents of disunity (ThisDay)
The President-elect, Senator Bola Tinubu; the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi; the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, and governors of Delta, Cross River, Bayelsa, Ogun, Enugu, Nasarawa, and Imo states have called on Nigerians to shun the agents of disunity in the country.
In his Easter message, Tinubu stated that a peaceful, strong, united, and prosperous country is achievable if Nigerians eschew divisive, parochial, ethnic, and religious sentiments and rivalries.Tinubu rejoiced with Christians in Nigeria and all over the world who are celebrating Easter.He urged everyone to reflect on the priceless sacrifice and limitless love of God for mankind.
On his part, Atiku urged citizens to avoid instigators who are trying to sow division across ethnic and religious lines in the country.He charged Nigerians to “collectively own our problems and collectively find solutions to overcome them.” Read more
Easter: Lagos PDP celebrates Christians, urges residents to keep hope alive (Tribune)
Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) celebrates Christians in the country, especially those in the state, on this year’s Easter Celebration, urging them all to keep hope alive “despite all that is happening in our country.”
The party made the call in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Hon. Hakeem Amode, and further urged Christians to emulate Jesus Christ, who exemplified love, peace and unity.
The party, while noting that Easter is an opportunity of reflection on the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, stressed that the nation could only achieve greatness if the adherents of the two major religions in the country; Christianity and Islam, practise what is contained in both the Bible and the Quran. Read more
CNG rejects call for Nnamdi Kanu’s release (DailyTrust)
The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has kicked against the renewed call for the release of leader of outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
IPOB is leading the agitation for an independent state of Biafra.
Spokesperson of the group, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, in a statement, said the calls for Kanu’s release without trial by Ndigbo leaders and groups have grown louder since the February 25 presidential election. Read more
18 persons burnt to death in Enugu auto crash (Channels)
Eighteen persons have been burnt to death in an auto crash along the Enugu/Port-Harcourt Expressway on Sunday.
The accident involved a Mercedes Benz tipper and an 18-seater commuter bus, police authorities in the South-East state said.
A statement from the Enugu State Police Command spokesman Daniel Ndukwe said the tipper loaded with bags of cement was plying against traffic from Enugu City when it had a head-on collision with the bus loaded with passengers coming from Aba, Abia State. Read more
DMX remembered by fans and friends on 2nd anniversary of his death (HipHopDX)
DMX fans and friends have taken to social media to pay tribute to the legendary rapper on the second anniversary of his death.
The Ruff Ryders breakout star died on April 9, 2021, at the age of 50. He was originally rushed to the hospital on April 2, 2021, when it was revealed that he’d suffered a heart attack possibly stemming from a drug overdose. After being in a coma for nearly a week, the “Where The Hood At” rapper ultimately lost functionality in many of his vital organs before passing away.
At the time of his death, many of his friends and peers paid tribute to the fallen legend, including Wyclef Jean, Eve, Missy Elliott, and Swizz Beatz. Read more
Lars Ulrich admits he reads online comments about Metallica (NME)
Metallica’s Lars Ulrich has admitted that he sometimes reads comments about the band online.
In a new interview with Metal Hammer, Ulrich said he occasionally reads social media comments about his band’s music online. In the interview, he said that he was reading what fans were saying online about the band’s surprise comeback single ‘Lux Æterna“ last year.
He said: “If you decide to go down into the comment sections, at least for me, you have to prepare yourself for not taking any of it overly personally. You have to kind of remove yourself from it. But I’d like to challenge anybody in a band to say they don’t look at comments. Read more
Michael Lerner, Barton Fink and Elf actor, dead at 81 (CNN)
Michael Lerner, a veteran character actor who received an Oscar nomination for his performance as an overbearing studio head in the 1991 film Barton Fink, has died, his nephew, actor Sam Lerner, announced in a post on social media. He was 81.
“We lost a legend last night,” Sam Lerner wrote on Instagram Sunday. “It’s hard to put into words how brilliant my uncle Michael was, and how influential he was to me. His stories always inspired me and made me fall in love with acting. He was the coolest, most confident, talented guy, and the fact that he was my blood will always make me feel special. Everyone that knows him knows how insane he was— in the best way. I’m so lucky I got to spend so much time with him, and we’re all lucky we can continue to watch his work for the rest of time. RIP Michael, enjoy your unlimited Cuban cigars, comfy chairs, and endless movie marathon.”
No further details on Lerner’s death were given. CNN has reached out to representatives for Michael and Sam Lerner for further comment. Read more
Disney confirms ‘‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’’ will be Harrison Ford’s last outing as the whip-cracking adventurer (DailyMail)
Just days after Disney released the new trailer for ‘‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,’’ the studio has also confirmed it will be the final film in the franchise.
The studio issued a press release which referred to the upcoming film starring Harrison Ford as, ‘the highly anticipated final installment of the beloved franchise.’
Director James Mangold also confirmed the studio’s statement with one of his own in the press release. Read more
Michael Bublé always had ‘‘complete and utter belief’’ he would succeed in music (MusicNews)
Michael Bublé always had “complete and utter belief” that he would become a successful singer.
The Canadian crooner spent years performing in shopping malls, on cruise ships and in dive bars and nightclubs before he got signed to a record deal and had his big break. Despite struggling through those years, Michael knew without a doubt that he was destined to succeed one day.
“I was so very sure. I felt like, if I just set a plan, and took it day by day and stayed true to myself, and hopefully built up a team around me that loved me and believed in me, that I would somehow get to this point,” he explained to Variety. “And in hindsight, I realise how unbelievably lucky I have been. I don’t care how much talent you have, there are so many dominoes that have to fall in a perfect way for you to have that sort of dream come true. But I definitely had complete and utter belief that this would be the story. Maybe it was because I could not accept it not happening.” Read more
Box Office: Super Mario Bros. Movie barrels to record $204m debut, Air scores $20m (Variety)
Wahoo! “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” racked up a blockbuster $146 million in its opening weekend and powered to $204.6 million in its first five days of release, squashing expectations and steamrolling the competition at the domestic box office.
The animated movie, a collaboration between Illumination, Nintendo and Universal, has landed a number of records, thanks to positive word-of-mouth, nostalgia for the popular video game, and a huge turnout from family audiences. It currently stands as the biggest opening weekend of the year (overtaking Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania with $106 million), as well as the second-best debut ever for an animated title (surpassing 2016’s Finding Dory with $135.1 million). It’s also the highest-grossing debut for Illumination, beating 2015’s Minions with $115.7 million.
Super Mario Bros. Movie scored another $173 million at the international box office, pushing its global tally to a mighty $377 million. It carries a $100 million production budget. Read more
Timothée Chalamet doing his own singing in Bob Dylan biopic, says director James Mangold (Deadline)
Timothée Chalamet is ready to play Bob Dylan on the big screen and he will be doing his own singing.
Director James Mangold teased his upcoming movie in a new interview with Collider during the Star Wars Celebration in London. He was asked if the Bones and All actors would sing and answered with an, “Of course!”
‘‘The Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’’ director talked about the moment in time the film will take place, which he expects to start filming in August. Read more
Super Falcons’ coach keen on replicating Morocco’s historic Qatar 2022 run (Guardian)
Nigeria can replicate Morocco’s 2022 World Cup feat and reach the semifinal of the 2023 FIFA World Cup, women’s national football team coach, Randy Waldrum, said following Morocco’s historic performance at Qatar 2022.
The Super Falcons will be competing in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand later this year, and Waldrum is hopeful the women on his team can learn from the Moroccans and repeat their achievement in time for the tournament.
“Morocco’s run at Qatar 2022 proves that it is possible to reach the semifinal of the World Cup,” the 66-year-old told FIFA TV. Read more
Utaka leads Nigeria’s top scorers chat globally (Punch)
One-cap Super Eagles striker, Peter Utaka, has emerged as the Nigerian player still active with the most career goals, PUNCH Sports Extra report.
The 39-year-old started off his career at Belgian amateur club, Patro Eisden Maasmechelen in 2003 and has played for 14 clubs so far and has scored a total of 280 goals.
But it was with the Danish club, Odense Boldklub that the Nigerian was most prolific. Read more
Flying Eagles put 5 past abject Leeds (RTE)
Crystal Palace produced a stunning fightback to sink relegation rivals Leeds 5-1 at Elland Road to climb six points clear of the Premier League’s bottom three.
Palace were outplayed in the first half but went in level at the break after Marc Guehi cancelled out Patrick Bamford’s opener for Leeds against the run of play.
Palace struck twice in three minutes early in the second period through Jordan Ayew and Eberechi Eze and Leeds capitulated, with Odsonne Edouard and Ayew’s second completing a remarkable turnaround. Read more
Sean Dyche gives Dele Alli update as Everton flop returns from Turkey loan disappointment (Express)
Everton boss Sean Dyche has provided an update on Dele Alli after the man on loan at Besiktas returned to Goodison Park, following a disappointing spell in Turkey. The former Tottenham and
England star’s fall from grace has seen him ousted by Besiktas boss Senol Gunes and now faces a dilemma over where his future lies.
After being told that he was out of the picture at Everton by Frank Lampard, Alli sought a loan to Besiktas but has made just 13 appearances for the Turkish side – with his last coming on February 26.
He appears to have had a falling out with boss Gunes, who previously questioned his whereabouts after being pictured with Kim Kardashian’s son following Arsenal’s Europa League defeat to Sporting Lisbon last month. He said: “Dele Alli, whom we have allowed [a break], has not come yet [after the international break]. It must be raining, we are trying to get news.” Read more
Injured Tiger Woods withdraws from The Masters at Augusta National after ‘‘struggling to walk’’ (Sky)
Tiger Woods has withdrawn from The Masters due to injury.
Woods, a five-time winner, visibly struggled on Saturday in relentless rain and cold conditions at the opening golf major of the year.
Making just his second start of 2023, he battled to close a second-round 74 on Saturday morning, which saw him slip back to last place of the 54 players to qualify for the last 36 holes.
He had earlier secured a record-equalling 23rd consecutive halfway cut. Read more
NBA to investigate why Dallas Mavericks left out key players for defeat (BBC)
The Dallas Mavericks are facing an NBA investigation after leaving out key players against the Chicago Bulls despite being in play-off contention.
Kyrie Irving was among those omitted, while Luka Doncic only played 12 minutes of Friday’s 115-112 defeat.
The loss ended their play-off hopes but improved their chances of getting a top-10 pick in this summer’s draft. Read more