How pastor raped teenager while playing sermon (Punch)
A teenager has narrated how she was allegedly raped and deflowered by one Pope Paul, a youth pastor in the Deeper Life Bible Church in Lagos state.
The 19-year-old survivor appeared before the sexual offences and domestic violence court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday.
The survivor said the abuse started when she was 15 years old and living with the cleric.
Narrating her experience, the survivor told the court that she knew the cleric when she started residing with his wife identified as Sister Lydia. Read more
Bandits kill newborn, release abducted mother (DailyTrust)
Bandits in Kaduna went berserk on Sunday, killing a baby born by an abducted pregnant house wife, Mrs Shamsiya Mustapha.
Daily Trust had reported that the woman, her husband, Mustapha and her 16-year-old daughter, Mahapuza Mustapha, were abducted by bandits at their residence in Janjala community in Kagarko local area of the state on February, 5, 2023.
The bandits, however, freed the woman’s husband, Mustapha after they collected N2 million ransom including a brand new motorcycle and food stuff, but they held his pregnant wife and daughter and demanded another N2 million before the woman and her daughter could be set free. Read more
You have never supported Lagos PDP governorship candidate — Jandor replies Bode George (Vanguard)
The Lagos Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governorship Candidate, Dr Olajide Adediran, popularly called Jandor, has said that a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Bode George, has never supported any Lagos PDP governorship candidate since 1999.
Jandor made the remarks in apparent reaction to George’s statement while fielding questions on national television on Tuesday, explaining why he did not support Jandor’s governorship candidacy.
George, during the interview, said he has no regret not supporting Jandor in the March 18 governorship election in Lagos state. Read more
Fake LASTMA officer jailed 2 years (Punch)
The Lagos State Special Offences (Mobile) Court sitting at Bolade, Oshodi on Monday, 27 March, 2023 sentenced a fake Lagos State Traffic Management Authority Officer, Omotutu Bamidele, to a 2- year jail term for impersonating and extorting money from motorists across Lagos.
The convicted fake LASTMA officer was arraigned by LASTMA on a 2-count charge of impersonating as a public officer by claiming to be a staff of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (S.78 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015)” and obtaining money by fraudulent trick (Sec. 323 of the Criminal Law, Lagos State) before the court.
The PUNCH reports that Bamidele was arrested a few days ago on Olu Holloway Road, around the Alfred Rewane area of Ikoyi by a LASTMA Monitoring/Surveillance team led by the Zonal Head, Ashafa Moyosore. Read more
WaterAid tasks Lagos govt on clean water, sanitation services (Tribune)
WaterAid Nigeria has called on governments at all levels to prioritize the provision of clean water and sanitation services to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 target.
Raising the alarm over the scarcity of clean drinking water and poor sanitation, Country Director of WaterAid Nigeria, Evelyn Mere,called on stakeholders to do more in addressing the plight of people living without access to safe water globally.
She stated this in her goodwill message at the commemoration of World Water Day 2023 held at the Babs Fafunwa Millennium Schools, Ojodu, Lagos. Read more
Kalu lobbies Buhari to become APC BoT chair after office (DailyTrust)
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take over the chairmanship of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) after leaving office on May 29.
He gave the advice after a closed door meeting with the President at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday.
Kalu had visited Buhari to officially inform him of his intention to run for the position of Senate President if the office is zoned to the South East. Read more
Lassa Fever: Nigeria records 784 confirmed cases, 142 deaths (Guardian)
The Nigeria Centre for Disease and Control and Prevention (NCDC) says in less than three months, the country has registered 784 confirmed cases of Lassa fever with 142 deaths across 23 states.
The NCDC via its official website said on Tuesday that the infections were recorded from Jan. 1 till date.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus. Read more
Worker claims Lagos petrol station, steals property (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command on Monday arraigned a 52-year-old man, Kamarudeen Adeniyi, before a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court for alleged forgery and stealing in the state.
The defendant is facing four-count bordering on forgery, stealing, malicious damage, and a breach of public peace.
The police prosecutor, ASP Clement Okuoimose, told the court that the defendant committed the offences sometime in 2015, at Ajibade Oil Nigeria Limited, at Morogbo, in the Badagry area of the state. Read more
Madonna adds tour date in Tennessee to protest ‘‘unacceptable’’ anti-LGBTQ laws (MusicNews)
Madonna has scheduled a tour date in Nashville, Tennessee to protest anti-LGBTQ laws in the state.
On Monday, the music icon announced that she was adding eight more gigs across the U.S. to her upcoming The Celebration Tour, including stops in Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Palm Springs, and Sacramento.
In addition, Madonna explained that she was “especially happy” to be making a stop in Nashville on 22 December to “celebrate the Drag and the Trans community”. Read more
iHeartRadio Music Awards: Taylor Swift honored with Innovator Award, Harry Styles among top winners (THR)
Taylor Swift and Harry Styles were among the big winners at the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards Monday night, with Swift taking home song of the year for “Anti-Hero,” and Styles being named artist of the year.
Swift also received the Innovator Award for her impact globally to pop culture. According to iHeartRadio, the Grammy-winning artist has not only had a successful career but has been an “advocate for women’s rights and the LGBTQ+ community, using her music and platform to inspire young people to use their voting power.”
After the award was presented by Phoebe Bridgers, Swift was quick to admit that she felt “flattered” to receive the award. Read more
Legendary Motown singer Martha Reeves asks fans to help raise $55K for her Hollywood Walk of Fame star (DailyMail)
Legendary Motown singer Martha Reeves is facing an uphill battle to secure her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The 81-year-old Heatwave singer – who was a rival of fellow Motown icon Diana Ross – must raise $55K to secure her major career milestone, as the prestigious plaques don’t come cheap.
According to the Detroit Free Press, Martha could not afford to fund the costly honor herself – an expense which is usually covered by the star’s record label or a major Hollywood studio. Read more
Matt Damon says Christopher Nolan’s ‘‘Oppenheimer’’ is 3 hours long (Variety)
Matt Damon told Variety‘s Marc Malkin Monday night that Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer’’ runs a hefty three hours long. On the red carpet for “Air,” in which he co-stars, Damon also talked about Nolan’s upcoming historical drama in which he appears alongside Cillian Murphy.
“It’s three hours. It’s fantastic,” Damon said, revealing that he’s seen “Oppenheimer.”
“Cillian is phenomenal. He’s everything you would want him to be,” Damon told Malkin. “I think it’s almost three hours. It goes so fast, it’s great.” Read more
Shawn Johnson’s children ‘on lockdown’ after Nashville school shooting (PageSix)
Shawn Johnson couldn’t stop crying when she was reunited with her kids following the Nashville school shooting Monday morning.
The Olympic gold medalist revealed Drew, 3, and Jett, 1, were “on lockdown” at their school after a shooter opened fire inside a private Christian elementary school nearby.
“I haven’t been able to catch my breath since reading the news and getting a call from our school that they were on lockdown as well given the news. Shaking. Crying. Heartbroken. Horrific,” she wrote on her Instagram Story. Read more
US Vice President meets with Ghanian President (VOA)
In Ghana Monday, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris meets with Ghanian President Nana Akufo-Addo. The two leaders are expected to discuss a wide range of topics, including economic and regional stability, and speak with reporters afterwards.
The vice president is also scheduled Monday to visit Vibrate Space, a community recording studio for young artists in Accra. Actors Idris Elba and Sheryl Lee Ralph will join Harris on her tour of the facility where they will meet with the musicians and artists. Vibrate is located at Freedom Skatepark, Ghana’s first fully functioning skateboard park.
Later Monday, President Akufo-Addo and first lady Rebecca Akufo Addo will host a state banquet for Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. There will be approximately 300 guests, including members of the African Diaspora in the United States. Read more
Greece welcomes back ancient art amid pressure on British Museum (AlJazeera)
Greece has welcomed the Vatican’s return of ancient artefacts from the Acropolis, furthering a campaign to press the British Museum to hand back a collection of sculptures taken from the ancient site in Athens more than 200 years ago.
Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni on Friday led a ceremony for the repatriation of three sculpture fragments that had been kept at the Vatican Museums.
The artefacts, representing a horse and two male heads, will be added to the collection at the Acropolis Museum, which opened in 2009 at the foot of the ancient site in the centre of the Greek capital Athens. Read more
Ahmed Musa equals Zidane’s record, surpasses Viera, Lampard (Punch)
Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, has become the most capped Nigerian player after his appearance in the second leg of Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Guinea-Bissau.
The Nigerian national team defeated the Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau 1-0 at the Estadio 24 de Setembro.
However, Musa, who made his Eagles debut in 2010, and was also part of the 2013 Nations Cup-winning side, earned 108 caps – setting a new record for Nigeria. Read more
Messi honoured with a statue at South America’s soccer HQ (TorontoStar)
The tributes continue to pour in for Lionel Messi following Argentina’s World Cup triumph.
South American soccer’s governing body on Monday presented the 35-year-old Argentine star with a statue, which will be placed in the CONMEBOL museum next to those of Pelé and Diego Maradona.
Messi also received replicas of the World Cup and the Finalissima trophy, which Argentina won against Italy, during the ceremony before the Copa Libertadores draw. His teammates and coach Lionel Scaloni received miniature trophies as well, including that of the 2021 Copa America lifted in Brazil.
“We are living a very special and beautiful moment, getting a lot of love,” Messi said during the tribute. “It was time for a South American team to win the World Cup again.” Read more
Arsenal can beat any team at any time – Eidevall (BBC)
Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall says his side can beat anyone as they look to overturn a first-leg deficit in the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals against Bayern Munich.
The Gunners trail 1-0 on aggregate heading into Thursday’s second leg at Emirates Stadium (20:00 BST kick-off).
Arsenal have not reached the semi-finals in a decade but are the only English side to win the tournament.
“We can beat any team at any time and that’s a great feeling,” Eidevall said. Read more
Lewis Hamilton makes feelings clear on ditching Mercedes for Ferrari in new comment (Express)
Lewis Hamilton has hinted he will stay with Mercedes beyond this season, insisting he is confident the team “can get back to the front”. Opening up on the decade he has spent at Mercedes, Hamilton admitted that while they “don’t have a great car right now” he is not thinking about leaving.
The seven-time F1 world champion has been linked with a switch to Ferrari, given his current deal with Mercedes is up at the end of the season.
Last year, Hamilton found himself unable to compete for the world title for the first time since 2013. The Brit failed to win a single race all season and has struggled so far this term, finishing fifth in both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Read more
Bradley Beal under police investigation after spat with fan (ABC)
Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal is under police investigation after a postgame incident with a fan in Orlando who claimed to have lost a bet, according to police documents obtained by ESPN.
After a 122-112 road loss to the Orlando Magic last Tuesday at Amway Center, Beal and the Wizards were exiting the court and in the visitors’ tunnel, headed to the locker room, when, according to the police report, an unidentified man remarked to Beal, “You made me lose $1,300, you f—.”
Beal, according to the report, turned around and walked toward a friend of the man who made the comment and swatted his right hand toward him, knocking the man’s hat off and contacting the left side of his head. Read more
Euro-2024 : France beats Ireland to retain top spot (France24)
France held on to beat Ireland 1-0 in Dublin on Monday to win their second Euro 2024 qualifier, while the Netherlands eased past Gibraltar 3-0.
Right-back Benjamin Pavard pounced with half an hour remaining at a sold-out Lansdowne Road before two superb Mike Maignan saves in the final two minutes.
With 30 seconds to play in Dublin, AC Milan’s Maignan, who had succeeded former captain Hugo Lloris as Les Bleus’ goalkeeper, tipped over team-mate Jules Kounde’s panicked header. Read more