Father slumps, dies while trying to bail sons at police station (DailyTrust)
An elderly man, Alhaji Muftau Mohammed of Gbeganu Area of Minna, Niger State capital, slumped and died at Morris Police Division, where he had gone to bail two of his sons, Mubarak Ahmed and Yusuf Mohammed who were reportedly arrested by the police.
Mubarak and Yusuf told Daily Trust that they were picked up by the police around 11pm on Wednesday where they were sleeping in a burglary in front of their house due to heat. Read more
Lagos seals church complex for environmental pollution (Punch)
Following a public complaint received from concerned residents, the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office has sealed off the administrative and kitchen complex of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Jesus Sanctuary, Masha, Surulere, Lagos for indiscriminate discharge of wastewater into the environment.
The state Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, revealed this through his X handle on Saturday. Read more
Arrest Evasion: Police detain ex-Gov Bello’s female ADC, others (Leadership)
The police have detained a female police officer who was the aide-de-camp to the embattled former Kogi State Governor, Mr Yahaya Bello, over allegations of being part of the security aides that obstructed the arrest of the former governor in Abuja.
The ADC was arrested alongside other police officers attached to Mr Bello. They are being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja.
Sources within the Police say their arrests and detention followed an order by the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, directing their immediate withdrawal from the former governor. Read more
Itsekiri leaders protest delimitation of Warri federal constituency (Nation)
Concerned Itsekiri leaders have protested the proposed delimitation/review of the Warri federal constituency by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Speaking at an international press conference held Friday in Warri, Delta State, the leaders described the move as “selective justice, gross disrespect for court judgments, marginalization, discrimination, and oppression.”
The area comprises Warri North, Warri South, and Warri South-West Local Government Areas. Read more
Hearings end in ‘Panama papers’ money-laundering trial (Channels)
Hearings in the money-laundering trial of the heads of the now-defunct law firm Mossack Fonseca, the epicenter of the global “Panama Papers” scandal, concluded on Friday in the Panamanian capital.
Following 10 days of hearings, a sentence is expected in the coming weeks, with judge Baloisa Marquinez saying Friday she would take advantage of a law giving her 30 working days to render a verdict — or potentially more in cases of lengthy proceedings.
Prosecutor Isis Soto has requested a sentence of 12 years in prison, the maximum for money laundering, for Jurgen Mossack and Ramon Fonseca, the founders of the firm whose practices were at the heart of the scandal that erupted in 2016. Read more
Polio: Gombe targets 1m children for vaccination (Tribune)
No fewer than one million Under-5 children are targeted to be vaccinated against polio in Gombe State as Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya commenced the exercise.
The Governor flagged off the campaign on Friday at Talasse, headquarters of Balanga LGA in a symbolic exercise marking the beginning of a crucial health campaign of Polio vaccination drive across the state.
Inuwa Yahaya was flanked by commissioners, officials of the ministry, development partners, traditional rulers and volunteers to demonstrate the significance of the campaign. Read more
Ondo 2024: Aiyedatiwa, Ibrahim, Akinterinwa, Oke, 12 others jostle for APC ticket (ThisDay)
Finally, the much awaited day for the people of Ondo State has come, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the coastal state will battle to produce its candidate for the November 16, 2024 governorship election through a direct primary election.
Penultimate Saturday, the party’s National Gubernatorial Aspirants Screening Committee, gave all the 16 aspirants who picked the expression of interest and nomination forms a clean bill of health.
The aspirants in no particular order include the incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; former Commissioner for Finance, Wale Akinterinwa; Olusola Oke (SAN); former member of the House of Representatives, Mayowa Akinfolarin; Senator Jimoh Ibrahim; former National Vice Chairman (South-west), Isaac Kekemeke and former Commissioner who represented the state on the governing board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Gbenga Edema. Read more
2 killed, many kidnapped as bandits raid Niger communities (DailyTrust)
At least two farmers have been killed and an unspecified number of residents kidnapped during attacks by bandits on Karaga and Rumace communities in Bassa Ward, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
Residents told Daily Trust correspondent on the telephone that the attack started around 9pm on Friday and lasted hours.
One of them, Mustapha Bassa, said, “The bandits in their numbers rode on motorcycles carrying 3 people and fired shots as they moved into the communities. He said motorcycles, houses and food banks were set ablaze during the attack.” Read more
Zendaya reveals how icon Serena Williams reacted to seeing her new tennis-themed film “Challengers” (DailyMail)
Zendaya shared how tennis icon Serena Williams reacted after seeing her new movie “Challengers”, in which she plays a tennis player-turned-coach.
The 27-year-old actress — whose boyfriend is fellow actor Tom Holland — told ET: ‘She was like, “I know there definitely weren’t real [tennis] balls.”‘
The silver screen siren added, ‘She knows. She’s the best of the best.’ Read more
UK returns looted Ghana artefacts on loan after 150 years (AlJazeera)
The United Kingdom has returned 32 gold and silver treasures stolen from the Asante Kingdom more than 150 years ago in what is today’s Ghana on a six-year loan, Ghanaian negotiators have said.
The artefacts, comprising 15 items from the British Museum and 17 from the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), were looted from the court of the Asante king during the turbulent 19th-century clashes between the British and the Asante people.
Ghanaian authorities have for years tried to reclaim gold treasures looted by British soldiers from the Asante kingdom, which is also known as Ashanti. Read more
Police celebrate 4/20 by seizing cannabis chocolate bars disguised as Dairy Milk (Metro)
Stacks of cannabis chocolate bars made to look like Cadbury Dairy Milk were seized after a raid.
Three people were arrested following a raid at a house in Rossington, Doncaster, in South Yorkshire.
The dupe Dairy Milk bars ‘could easily be mistaken for normal bars of chocolate,’ the police warned. Read more
David Bowie’s hairdresser details sex, betrayal behind rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust in new memoir (People)
The year was 1971 and Suzi Ronson, 21, was a hairstylist working at a salon in the London suburb of Beckenham when one of the regulars came in for a perm. In her tweed skirt, knitted cardigan and sensible shoes, she seemed no different than the other “ladies of a certain age” who frequented the shop — at least as far as Ronson was concerned. Even her name sounded anonymous: Mrs. Peggy Jones.
Like most customers, Mrs. Jones began chatting about her family. She mentioned her “artistic” son David, proudly detailing all the musical instruments he’d mastered. “He was in the Top 10, you know,” she added. That got Ronson’s attention.
The David Mrs. Jones was bragging about was better known as David Bowie. At the time, he was little more than a one-hit-wonder, having gained notoriety with the pseudo-novelty song “Space Oddity” two years before. Read more
Cardi B convinced Pam Grier to add pole dancing to her skillset (HipHopDx)
Cardi B has convinced the legendary Pam Grier that she needs to add pole dancing to her already-extensive repertoire.
The Blaxploitation legend stopped by Watch What Happens Live, hosted by Andy Cohen, on Thursday (April 18). There, she revealed that she’d been inspired by the “Bodak Yellow” rapper and the project they’ve been working on together, for which Grier wrote a script back in 2022.
“I’m doing presently my biopic as a series,” she said. “As soon as I finish that, I really wanted to work with her. And it could be in maybe two years at the theater ‘cause I’m now learning how to pole dance. And it’s taking a minute, but it’s a lot of fun. But it’s a wonderful story. I don’t want to give it away, but it’s perfect for her because she’s a great mom.” Read more
Zimbabwe: El Nino-linked drought threatens maize production (AfricaNews)
Mazowe district of Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland Central province is struggling with prolonged severe drought, threatening the country’s maize supply, and impacting business of its grain millers.
Whenever farmer Terry Manyimo gazes upon his field, his heart is in his throat.
Zimbabwe’s northern Mazowe district is struggling with a prolonged severe drought. Read more
IDF kills 10 Palestinian gunmen, arrests 8 in two-day West Bank raid (TimesOfIsrael)
The Israel Defense Forces on Saturday continued a counter-terrorism operation in the West Bank’s Nur Shams refugee camp, the military said on Saturday afternoon.
The raid, near Tulkarem, has been ongoing for more than 40 hours.
Amid the operation, the IDF said troops killed at least 10 gunmen and detained another eight wanted Palestinians. Read more
Tinubu celebrates chess master Tunde Onakoya’s new world record (Vanguard)
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Tunde Onakoya on setting a new world chess record and putting up Nigeria’s resilience, self-belief, and ingenuity for global acclaim.
This is contained in a statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Saturday in Abuja.
Onakoya broke the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon on Saturday after playing for over 58 hours and winning every match. Read more
Amunike favoured to become new Super Eagles head coach (Nation)
Former Barcelona winger Emmanuel Amunike may have won the race for the head coach position of the Super Eagles, Soccernet.ng reports.
According to reports, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has decided to go with Amunike as the substantive head coach of the national team.
An official announcement is being awaited from the NFF, although the Sports Ministry has given the football body two weeks to name a successor to Jose Peseiro. Read more
Unveiling Nigeria’s football prodigy, Izuchukwu Anthony (Leadership)
Nigeria has a rich history of producing exceptional football talent, and one name that has been making waves in recent years is Izuchuwku Anthony. This young prodigy has captured the attention of football enthusiasts with his remarkable skills, tenacity on the field, and promising future in the world of football.
The 26-year-old currently plays for Chinese Super League side Nantong Zhiyun, having joined them in January on a two-year deal.
Izuchukwu’s journey into the world of football began at an early age. Izuchukwu started his career with GBS ACADEMY, and his natural talent and dedication to the game caught he eye of coaches and scouts, which enabled him secure a move to Norwegian club FK Haugesund in 2016, where he made his first professional appearance. Read more
Int’l Chess Federation commends Onakoya on GWR feat (Vanguard)
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) on Saturday commended Nigeria’s Tunde Onakoya for setting a new Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest chess marathon.
Onakoya played with an American chess champion, Shawn Martinez, for 58 hours continuously without losing a game at New York City’s Times Square, USA.
By this, he cancelled the 2018 record of 56 hours, 9 minutes and 37 seconds, set by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebo and Sjur Ferkingstad. Read more
London Marathon to give same prize money to wheelchair athletes (NBC)
In a global first for equality in sports, wheelchair athletes and non-disabled runners participating in the London Marathon on Sunday will compete for the exact same prize money.
The move makes the event the only marathon in the world to award winners the same sum — $55,000 for first place, $30,000 for the runners-up and $22,500 for third-place finishers. Organisers said they were unaware of any other major athletic event in any sport that has taken a similar step.
By equalizing the prize pot, marathon organizers have said they hope to pave the way for other races and sporting events to offer parity, encouraging more athletes to participate in disability sport and removing financial barriers to participation. The parity extends to gender: Both male and female wheelchair athletes are eligible for equal prize amounts. Read more
Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Chinese swimmers were cleared to compete despite failed drug tests (BBC)
Twenty-three Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned drug before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 but were cleared to compete after the country’s anti-doping agency found the results were caused by contamination.
The swimmers all tested positive for heart medication trimetazidine (TMZ) at a training camp seven months before the delayed Games.
China Anti-Doping Agency (Chinada) determined they had unintentionally ingested the substance and would not face any punishment. Read more
