I can’t remember granting any interview saying I’m virgin — Destiny Etiko (Tribune)
Destiny Etiko, a Nollywood actress, has denied reports by several news media that she is a virgin.
Etiko expressed disappointment on her Instagram page that a better title could not be rumoured about her.
On Sunday, it was widely reported that the actress disclosed she is a virgin at the age of 33.
Social media users were taken aback by the now-false information, eliciting a range of reactions. Read more
LASTMA rescues 3 accident victims in Lagos (Vanguard)
Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) rescued three severely injured accident victims, comprising two males and a female, at Mosalasi Round-About inward Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos today.
According to Lastma Akanji Wasiu (Bravo 16), who led the rescue operations, the accident involved three vehicles: a Mazda commercial bus (FKJ 88 XH), a tricycle (Keke Marwa KJA 369 QM), and a white Camry car (KJA 351 HG) on the main carriageway at Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the driver of the white Camry car lost control due to over-speeding, hit a commercial tricycle from the rear, and sent the tricycle off balance, which obstructed an oncoming fully loaded Mazda commercial bus headed for Iyana-Ipaja. Read more
Allen Onyema offers to evacuate Nigerians stranded in Sudan (Guardian)
Air Peace Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, said he is willing to evacuate Nigerian stranded in Sudan.
Onyema in a statement on Monday said that Nigerian students and others stranded in war-ravaged Sudan have urgent “needs for our help.”
“Again, Air Peace is willing to evacuate Nigerians stranded in Sudan free of charge if the government can get them to a safe and secure airport in any of the neighboring countries bordering Sudan. Everything must not be left for the government and government alone,” Onyema said. Read more
Man buried alive over ‘witchcraft’ In Benue (DailyTrust)
An elderly man has been buried alive over witchcraft allegation levelled against him by some youths in Ikyve community, Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State.
Witnesses said the incident happened at the weekend in Ikyve community of Diiv-Ikyurave, a rural area which borders Cross River State.
A resident of the area explained that trouble started for the elderly victim simply identified as Ihwakaa when lightning struck and killed his son, Henry, alongside his wife and their infant. Read more
How Force CID Lagos Annex nabbed 2 suspects over petroleum product diversion (Independent)
The operatives of the Force Criminal Investigations Department (Force-CID), Lagos Annex, Alagbon, have disclosed how two suspects, Tope Ojo and Nojeem Haruna were arrested for their alleged complicity in a case of economic sabotage.
They were alleged to have been engaged in the diversion of aviation fuel valued about N46 million.
The arrest, according to Oluniyi Ogundeyi, Public Relations Officer, Force CID, Lagos Annex, Alagbon, followed a petition addressed to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Alkali Baba, by a civic-minded Nigerian, where the Force-CID was alerted of plots by some hoodlums to intercept and divert petroleum products worth billions of Naira. Read more
Communal clash breaks out in Gwarinpa, Abuja (Punch)
A communal clash broke out in the 3rd Avenue area of Gwarinpa, within the city centre of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in the early hours of Monday.
This is as videos making the rounds on social media show that several persons have been injured.
Our correspondent gathered that the clash is reportedly between some Gbagyi and Hausa tricyclists. Read more
KWASU lecturer dies in his sleep in Ilorin (Vanguard)
A lecturer at the Kwara State University, Malete, in the Moro local government area of the state, Dr Ajeigbe Issa Yaqub died in his sleep in his residence in Ilorin in the wee hours of Monday leaving several family members, associates and colleagues in dismay and shock.
He was until his death, the Head of the Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education and the Ag. Director of Sports at the institution.
Vanguard reliably gathered that the Islamic funeral prayer (Salatul Janazah) for the deceased lecturer was held today in Budo-Egba, Asa LGA, Kwara state. Read more
NB Plc to seek shareholders’ approval for €110m loan from Heineken (Sun)
Due to the impact of inflation and other macroeconomic challenges to businesses, the board and management of Nigerian Breweries Plc has said it will seek shareholders’ approval for an intercompany loan of €110 million from Heineken International at its forthcoming annual general meeting (AGM).
This is even the company said it is still in dialogue with the Federal Government over the proposed increase in excise duty on alcoholic, non-alcoholic beverages, adding that the increase in excise duty would have a devastating effect on its business as well as the performance of the brewery sector.
Its Managing Director, Hans Essaadi, disclosed this to newsmen during the company’s pre-AGM which held in Lagos recently. Whilst noting that the fundamentals of the Nigerian market is very positive with the benefit of an enabling environment, Essaadi, noted that the nation’s macro-economic indicators, security and infrastructure continue to remain at high risk. Read more
Shakira to be named 2023 Woman of the Year at Billboard’s 1st Latin Women in Music event (NBC)
Shakira will be honored with the 2023 Woman of the Year award at the first Latin Women in Music event next month, Billboard and Telemundo announced on Monday.
The pop superstar from Colombia is receiving the honor for her contributions to the music industry, bringing recognition and opportunities for Latin women through her career and philanthropic efforts.
“Shakira is the ultimate Woman In Music. Thanks to her, Latin women all over the world were empowered to write and perform deeply personal music. She created a movement all on her own, and continues to be more relevant than ever today, with grace, a deep tradition of giving back, and enormous talent,” Leila Cobo, Billboard’s chief content officer for Latin/Español, said in a statement. Read more
Former US police officer who fatally shot Daunte Wright released (AlJazeera)
Kim Potter, the United States police officer who mistook her gun for a taser and killed Daunte Wright in 2021, has been released from prison.
The Minnesota Department of Corrections said Potter was set free around 4am local time (09:00 GMT) on Monday, the unannounced timing chosen “out of an abundance of caution”.
The department confirmed Friday she would be released Monday but declined to say what time due to security concerns. Read more
Len Goodman: Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars judge dies at 78 (BBC)
Former Strictly Come Dancing head judge Len Goodman has died at the age of 78, his manager has confirmed.
He died on Saturday at a hospice in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, surrounded by his family. He had had bone cancer.
Goodman featured on Strictly from its launch in 2004 until 2016 and proved popular with viewers for his wry humour and avuncular critiques. Read more
Matthew Perry promises to remove ‘‘mean’’ Keanu Reeves insults in future editions of his memoir (ET)
Matthew Perry has decided to make an important change to future editions of his tell-all memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. The actor says he’s nixing the insulting off-handed remarks he made dissing Keanu Reeves.
Perry made an appearance on Saturday at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, where he addressed the seemingly random insults against Reeves in his memoir, and said that reprintings and future editions won’t include the remarks.
“I said a stupid thing. It was a mean thing to do,” Perry admitted during a panel discussion at USC’s Bovard Auditorium, per the LA Times. “I pulled his name because I live on the same street.” Read more
NBCUniversal CEO steps down after investigation into ‘‘inappropriate relationship’’ (UPI)
NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell agreed to resign from the company after an investigation into an “inappropriate relationship” he had with a female colleague on Sunday.
Comcast, NBCUniversal’s parent company, announced Shell’s resignation effective immediately following an investigation into alleged inappropriate conduct.
Shell acknowledged the relationship in a statement.
“Today is my last day as CEO of NBCUniversal. I had an inappropriate relationship with a woman in the company, which I deeply regret,” he said. “I’m truly sorry I let my Comcast and NBCUniversal colleagues down, they are the most talented people in the business and the opportunity to work with them for the last 19 years has been a privilege.” Read more
Ethiopia to begin negotiations with OLA rebel group (VOA)
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said his government will begin negotiations with rebel group the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) in Tanzania on Tuesday.
This is the first time the Ethiopian government has formally said it would negotiate with the OLA, which has been battling the government on and off for decades.
“A negotiation with Oneg Shene will start a day after tomorrow in Tanzania,” Abiy said on Sunday, using another name for the OLA. Read more
Alejandro Toledo: Peru ex-president to be extradited from US (BBC)
Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo has surrendered himself to US authorities, in order to be extradited to Lima.
Mr Toledo, 77, is accused of taking $20m (£15m) in bribes from a Brazilian construction company while in office between 2001 and 2006.
He fled Peru to live in the US several years ago but was arrested by US authorities on Peru’s request. Read more
I would have worth €150m now – Okocha (Punch)
Football legend, Austin Okocha, says he is confident that clubs will pay around €150m to secure his services in today’s transfer market, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Okocha joined Fenerbahçe from Eintracht Frankfurt in 1996 in a deal believed tobe around £1m after the German outfits were relegated from topflight football.
The Nigerian dazzled during his two years with the Turkish club and an impressive performance at the 1998 FIFA World Cup was enough to convince French giants, Paris Saint Germain, to pay an African transfer record fee of £14m to lure the player to France. Read more
CAF CC:Rivers United walk tight rope as YANGA win 2-0 in Uyo (Guardian)
In football, they say it is not over until, the final whistle, but Nigeria’s Rivers United will have to do something extraordinary in the concluding leg of their CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinal tie against Young Africans of Tanzania to make it to the semifinal of the competition.
Playing at home, yesterday, in Uyo, the Pride of Rivers, Nigeria’s only surviving team in African inter-club competitions, were taught lessons on marksmanship by the Tanzanians, who scored two second-half goals to inch close to the semifinals of the competition.
The Tanzanian Premier League champions came into the game talking about vengeance because Rivers United beat them home and away in the same competition two years ago. Read more
Plateau United get N2m bonus after beating Nasarawa United (Punch)
Plateau United Football Club of Jos on Sunday defeated visiting Nasarawa United of Lafia 1-0, with the players earning a bonus totalling N2m.
They recorded the victory in a Match Day 15 fixture of the 2022/2023 Nigeria Professional Football League played at the New Zaria Road Stadium in Jos.
Each of the 20 Plateau United players who took part in the match went home with N100,000 each.
This was in fulfillment of a promise before match kick-off by the club’s General Manager, Pius Henwan. Read more
Manchester United will give everything to stop City’s treble bid – Erik ten Hag (ESPN)
Erik ten Hag said Manchester United “will give everything” to stop Manchester City replicating their 1999 Treble after reaching the FA Cup final.
City have the Premier League title, the Champions League and the FA Cup in their sights this season, but will have to beat neighbours United in the FA Cup final on June 3 if they want to win all three trophies.
And Ten Hag, who watched United win a dramatic FA Cup semi final shootout against Brighton on Sunday, has reassured fans they will do everything to stop City winning the cup and with it preserve United’s record as the only English team to win the Treble. Read more
Spalletti urges calm as Napoli ready for title party (France24)
Luciano Spalletti said it isn’t time for Napoli to start celebrating despite a last-gasp 1-0 triumph at Juventus leaving his team needing potentially one more win to claim a historic Serie A title.
Giacomo Raspadori smashed in the stoppage time to claim a huge win at Juve which pushed Napoli 17 points clear at the top of the table, sweeping aside disappointment at being knocked out of the Champions League by AC Milan midweek.
If Napoli beat regional rivals Salernitana on Saturday they will need Inter Milan to avoid a home defeat to Lazio on Sunday to be crowned champions for the first time since 1990. Read more
Max Verstappen worried about Azerbaijan Grand Prix (F1News)
Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen will likely be wanting to get through next weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix as quickly as possible, with the Baku City Circuit set to host the first sprint race of the 2023 F1 season.
This year will see six events host sprint races, with it yet to be decided whether a new sprint format will be trialled in Baku.
Under the current sprint format, FP1 and qualifying for the sprint take place on Friday, FP2 and the sprint race take place on Saturday, with the traditional race on Sunday. Read more