How N60k betting win sparked Lagos market clash – Eyewitnesses (Vanguard)
The alleged refusal of a betting agent to pay the N60,000 won by a staker sparked the ethnic clash that erupted at the popular Oke Odo Market in Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Vanguard’s investigation has shown.
Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the issue that led to the crisis started late on Wednesday night when a staker, a Yoruba man, won the sum of N60,000 in the popular Baba Ijebu betting forum.
It was gathered that when he wanted to collect his win from the betting agent, a man from the North, the agent allegedly refused to pay him, saying the winner should be ready to part with some money. Read more
Under-bridge apartments: Ejected tenants may face prosecution (Punch)
The arrested occupants of the 86-roomed under-bridge apartments of the Dolphin Estate Bridge, Ikoyi, Lagos, where tenants were allegedly paying about N250,000 in annual rent, and the self-acclaimed landlords said to have been collecting rent from them, will soon be prosecuted by the Lagos State Government, PUNCH Metro can confirm.
The spokesperson for the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Kunle Adeshina, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with PUNCH Metro on Thursday following our correspondent’s visit to the area.
The reports of the arrest of the occupants paying a whopping N250,000 as annual rent to live under the bridge left many in shock, with some Nigerians faulting the desperation of the occupants. Read more
Repentant Boko Haram members invade police station in Borno (DailyTrust)
Some repentant Boko Haram insurgents Tuesday night invaded a police station in Maiduguri in an attempt to set free their colleagues that were arrested earlier over alleged drug offences, witnesses told the Daily Trust yesterday.
However, Police Public Relations Officer in Borno State, Kenneth Daso, who confirmed that there was an incident at the police station, said the assailants were repelled by officers on duty.
Daso said the security breach was heralded by an operation carried out by the police. Read more
BVAS contributed 98 per cent success in 2023 elections — PAACA (Tribune)
The Executive Director of Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), Ezenwa Nwagwu, has revealed that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), used in the 2023 general elections contributed 98 per cent success during the electoral exercise.
He said the BAVAS helped reduce the cases of manual manipulation of figures and the speed of the electoral process.
Nwagwu, disclosed this while speaking at a one-day citizens’ town hall meeting on electoral reforms in Awka, the Anambra State capital on Thursday. Read more
2 to die by hanging in Rivers for murder (Nation)
AHigh Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has sentenced Telma Bestman and Wilson Okelekele to death by hanging for conspiring and killing Bestman Wagbara.
Delivering judgment, the trial Judge, Justice Augusta Kingsley-Chukwu, held that the prosecution was able to prove the case of conspiracy and murder against the convict.
The court ruled that Telma actually conspired with Okelekele to kill her husband, Bestman, as it was revealed that she opened the back door leading to the main entrance to the husbands room to aide Okelekele, who was a security guard, to commit the act. Read more
Whitney Adeniran: Chrisland trained staff on safeguard policy – Lagos official (Channels)
The cross-examination of a deputy director from the Lagos State Ministry of Youth & Social Development, Mr. Yakubu Abisogun, continued on Thursday before Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, in the trial of the principal and some staff members of Chrisland School, Opebi, Lagos over the death of Whitney Adeniran, a 12-year-old student of the school.
While answering questions from counsel to the 4th defendant, Mr Ademola Animashaun, the witness testified he was aware that Chrisland School, Opebi trained its members of staff on the safeguarding policy of the Lagos State Government.
He also admitted that he was once a facilitator during one of the trainings. Read more
CAS promises to sustain internal stability in Kano (Vanguard)
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Bala Abubakar, on Thursday, commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State towards strengthening its operational mandate in the state just as he promised to sustain internal stability in the state.
A statement by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature, said Air Marshal Abubakar made the commendation when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Yusuf at Government House in Kano.
The Chief of Air Staff disclosed the joint force of his troops with sister security agencies in combating internal security in Kano yielded tremendous successes and maintained peace and stability in the state. Read more
Nigeria imports $8b steel yearly — Minister (DailyTrust)
The Minister of Steel Development, Mr Shuaib Abubakar, says Nigeria spends $8 billion to import steel into the country annually, saying it has become necessary for the Ajaokuta steel company to work.
The minister disclosed this during an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on Steel Development in Abuja on Thursday.
According to him, “The revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company will cost money and we have written a 10-year document for the revival. We will present the document to Mr President. Read more
Olivia Rodrigo says she’s “so bummed” by Manchester Co-op Live arena shows postponement (Standard)
US musician Olivia Rodrigo has told of her disappointment after her shows were postponed at Manchester’s troubled Co-op Live arena due to a “venue-related technical issue”.
The £365 million venue – the biggest indoor arena in the UK – had postponed its opening show for the third time just over an hour before A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie was set to perform on Wednesday, confirming there was a problem during the soundcheck.
A component of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system used to direct air had separated from the ductwork. Read more
Stormy Daniels’ lawyer claims $130k payment ‘‘wasn’t hush money’’ at Trump trial (NYPost)
Stormy Daniels’ lawyer claimed at Donald Trump’s trial Thursday the $130,000 she was given “wasn’t a payoff, and it wasn’t hush money.”
Keith Davidson was on the stand at Manhattan Supreme Court when he made the admission, cheekily testifying he prefers to describe the arrangement — which was set up by then-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen with the porn star — as a “consideration in a civil settlement.”
Trump is on trial for allegedly falsifying records related to the payment. Read more
Boy, 17, charged after three injured in school attack involving ‘sharp object’ (Metro)
A 17-year-old boy has been charged with three counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm after an attack at a secondary school in Sheffield.
The boy, who can not be named for legal reasons, was arrested on Wednesday morning following reports of an incident involving a ‘sharp object’ at Birley Academy.
A child and two women in their 20s suffered minor injuries that did not require hospital treatment. Read more
JoJo Siwa recalls Dance Moms reunion filming ‘drama’ and ‘always’ feeling like an ‘outsider’ amongst cast (People)
JoJo Siwa is shedding light on her experience on Dance Moms — and her recent return for its newly-released Lifetime reunion special.
On the May 2 episode of her JoJo Siwa Now podcast, the social media personality, 20, reflected on the “drama” from past and present, starting with what occurred the day before filming for the reunion began.
“There was a party with everybody,” she began, listing Brooke and Paige Hyland, Maddie and Mackenzie Ziegler, Chloé Lukasiak, Nia Sioux and Kendall Vertes. “I was understanding, because I don’t know half of them. It’s totally fine. I’ve always been the outsider amongst the group, so I didn’t really care.” Read more
Sao Tome joins African nations in seeking compensation from former colonisers (AfricaNews)
Sao Tome said Wednesday it would demand compensation from Portugal for damage caused by colonialism.
Last week, Portugal’s president said late on Tuesday (Apr. 23) that his country was responsible for crimes committed during the transatlantic slave trade and the colonial era, and suggested there was a need for reparations.
Portugal’s colonial legacy in Africa, including Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and Mozambique, was marked by violence, dispossession, and cultural destruction. Now, Sao Tome plans to seek compensation for the damage caused by colonialism. Read more
Boris Johnson turned away from polling station for forgetting voter ID under rules he introduced (Mirror)
Ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson fell foul of the voter ID rules introduced when he was in Downing Street when he tried to cast his ballot in the local elections in South Oxfordshire
Bungling Boris Johnson was turned away from his local polling station as he didn’t have the right ID, the Mirror understands.
The former Prime Minister fell foul of the voter ID rules introduced when he was in Downing Street when he tried to cast his ballot in South Oxfordshire today. Polling station staff initially turned him away as he only had an envelope with his name and address on it, according to a source. Read more
College protests: Biden says ‘peaceful protest’ is protected; ‘violence’ is not (UPI)
President Joe Biden on Thursday addressed pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses throughout the nation as hundreds of protesters have been arrested.
Biden said the campus pro-Palestinian protests are protected as long as they are peaceful, but he said violent protests are not protected.
“As president I will always defend free speech but I will also stand up for the rule of law,” Biden said in a brief address from the White House. Read more
Aina names Ronaldo toughest opponent (Punch)
Super Eagles and Nottingham Forest wing-back Ola Aina named the toughest opponent he had ever faced during his illustrious career and his answer may not come as a surprise, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Aina made this disclosure during a quick-fire question session shared by Nottingham Forest’s social media page.
The Nigerian international was asked several questions and one of them was the player that he dreaded most as a defender. Read more
West Indies’ Thomas hit with five-year ban after agreeing to fix matches (AlJazeera)
West Indies batter Devon Thomas has been banned for five years, with 18 months suspended, after admitting to seven charges, including those related to match-fixing, in franchise-based leagues in Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and the West Indies, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Thursday.
The sentence will be backdated to May 23 last year, when the West Indies batter was provisionally suspended. The 34-year-old, who last played for the West Indies in August 2022, will be eligible to play again in November 2026.
Thomas admitted that he agreed to fix matches in the Lanka Premier League believing it was required for his selection, and accepted money from someone who approached him for match-fixing in the Caribbean Premier League, but denied going through with a fix. Read more
Boniface, Schick, Xhaka, others have been outstanding for Bayer Leverkusen –Rudi Voller (CompleteSPorts)
Germany football legend Rudi Völler has praised Super Eagles strikers Victor Boniface, Patrik Schick, Granit Xhaka, Jonas Hofmann, Arthur, Matej Kovar, Alejandro Grimaldo, and other Bayer Leverksen players for their resilient and outstanding showings in the Bundesliga this season.
Recall that Leverkusen are still gunning for a treble after winning the Bundesliga and being unbeaten in all competitions.
However, in a chat with Spox.com, Rudi Voller rated the Nigerian international very highly while also commending other players in the Bayer Leverkusen team for showing team spirit. Read more
Worcestershire spin bowler Baker dies aged 20 (BBC)
Worcestershire spin bowler Josh Baker has died at the age of 20.
Baker made two County Championship appearances this season, the last against Durham at Kidderminster in April.
The left-armer made his first-class debut in 2021 and played 47 games in all formats, taking 70 wickets. Read more
Despite points deductions and uncertainty, Everton won’t stop fighting (ESPN)
Sylvester Stallone is an Everton supporter and perhaps the most apt celebrity fan of any Premier League team. After all, the Hollywood actor built a career on rolling with the punches and hauling himself off the canvas as Rocky Balboa. His story has become the story of Everton, a club that doesn’t know where the next punch is coming from.
For this season at least, Everton have been able to fight back and ready themselves for whatever new setback or challenge came their way. Having been hit with two separate points deductions by the Premier League for breaching financial regulations — a 10-point penalty was reduced to six on appeal, while the club is challenging an additional two-point deduction — Sean Dyche’s team has rallied in recent weeks to pull clear of the relegation zone and seemingly secure their top-flight status.
But while the construction of a new £750m, 52,888-capacity stadium on the banks of the River Mersey points to a bright new future for Everton, the months ahead continue to be laced with peril for one of England’s most historic clubs. Read more
Chelsea punish Tottenham’s glaring weakness to leave Ange Postecoglou with his first Spurs crisis (Independent)
As the saying goes, fail to prepare, prepare to fail. Ange Postecoglou insisted Tottenham had “far more important issues” than defending set-pieces before a second London derby in five days, but a potential problem for the Spurs manager is now growing into a crisis after this defeat to Chelsea. A third defeat in a row for Postecoglou’s side was a further blow to their hopes of catching Aston Villa in the race for the final Champions League place and ensured the visitors remained seven points adrift of the top-four with four games to go.
A tetchy Postecoglou went from exasperated to downright livid when Trevoh Chalobah scored the opening goal with an unmarked header at the back post, created by Conor Gallagher’s delivery and a clever block on the edge of the box. Nicolas Jackson’s second-half header, which came after Cole Palmer rattled the crossbar with a wonderful free-kick, means that five goals from the last six Tottenham have conceded have been from set-pieces, following the 3-2 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday and the 4-0 thrashing at Newcastle two weeks before. Read more