I paid N120,000 to driver who agreed to convey remains of my late daughter — Deborah’s Father (Tribune)
The father of late Deborah, Emmanuel Garba, has revealed that he paid N120,000 to the one driver who agreed to convey the remains of his daughter who was killed by a mob over an alleged blasphemous statement in Sokoto last week Saturday.
This was even as he said all the drivers he approached to convey the body of his daughter refused to take her remains.
Speaking in an interview with some journalists after the burial of his daughter, Garba confessed that when he heard about what happened to his daughter, he drove down to Sokoto to retrieve the remains of his daughter who was deposited at the mortuary.
He said there was no point to continue to delay her burial since she was dead and nobody could bring her back.
Garba, who is a security personnel with the Niger State Water Works Cooperation at Tungan-Magajiya said: “We can’t say or do anything, except to take it easy as an act of God. We have left all to God. We have decided to take it like that”. Read more
Task Force raids Lagos highway over engineer’s murder, nabs 10, seizes 123 motorcycles (DailyTrust)
Operatives of the Lagos State Taskforce on Monday raided Admiralty Way in the Lekki area of the state, where a sound engineer, David Imoh, was allegedly murdered by some commercial motorcyclists popularly known as okada riders over N100.
The raid which lasted about four hours began in the early hours of Monday, during which 10 okada riders were arrested and 123 motorcycles plying the Lekki Epe Expressway, Lekki Phase I, seized.
Speaking on the exercise, the Chairman of the agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye, in a statement on Monday, stressed that the police had carried out series of raids and seizures along the Lekki axis in the past but unfortunately the operators of commercial motorcycles refused to change, thereby causing mayhem in the state.
Jejeloye further stated that the agency had raided the area several times, made arrests and seized bikes plying restricted routes, but the riders would return afterwards. Read more
Dollar hits N600 at parallel market, forex supply shrinks (Punch)
The dollar exchanged at N600 on Monday at the parallel market, heightening fears of a further devaluation of the nation’s currency.
The rate at the Importers and Exporters Window was, however, N415.75 on Monday, widening the exchange rate spread to N184.25.
At Zone 4 in Abuja, which is the hub of the parallel market in the Federal Capital Territory, two Bureau de Change Operators, Mohammed Isa, and Abu Abdullahi, told The PUNCH that the rate was N599/$ at 10am and 11.14am respectively.
However, the rates for both BDCs changed to N600/$ when they were separately contacted at N3.13pm and N5pm respectively on Monday. Read more
Amaechi officially resigns as Transportation minister (DailyTrust)
Frontline Presidential aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, on Monday, officially resigned his position in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari as the Minister of Transportation to focus on his aspiration to contest for the 2023 presidency.
In a press statement issued by the Amaechi Presidential Media Committee (APMC) signed by Kingsley Wali, in Abuja, Amaechi in his resignation letter expressed profound gratitude to the President for considering him fit to serve in his administration.
He equally thanked Buhari for the enormous support given him, which he said, was responsible for the tremendous record of achievements he made in the Ministry of Transportation over the last seven years.
The statement quoted Amaechi as saying in his resignation letter: “It is with mixed feelings that I tender my resignation as the Minister of Transportation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to contest for the Presidential ticket of our great party, the All Progressives Congress. Read more
PDP urged to field indigene for Ikorodu Federal Constituency seat (Nation)
As the race for the ticket of the House of Representatives for Ikorodu Federal Constituency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hots up, the leadership has been urged to encourage only indigenes to contest the ticket.
One of the aspirants, Mr. AbdulKareem Shittu, made this known to reporters in Lagos yesterday.
He said Ikorodu had always been known to encourage ‘indigeneship’, adding that it would therefore be out of place to allow non-indigenes to contest the House of Representatives ticket.
Shittu said: “Things cannot be different now.” Read more
EFCC closes its case against American, Marco Antonio Ramirez (ThisDay)
Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has adjourned the fraud case of an American citizen, Marco Antonio Ramirez till June 24, 2022 for the defence to open its case.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has closed the case of alleged $368,698.24 Visa racket fraud brought against the American, before the Court, sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.
Ramirez is facing an amended nine-count charge alongside his companies: USA NOW LLC, Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP, and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP.
During the resumed proceedings, the EFCC counsel, Samuel Daji presented the Prosecution’s last witness, Ayotunde Solademi, who works with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Office of the Legal Attache in the US Consulate. Read more
Soludo condemns kidnapping of Anambra lawmaker, expresses worry over attacks (Punch)
The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has condemned the abduction of a member representing the Aguata Constituency II at the State House of Assembly, Okechukwu Okoye.
The governor also condemned the kidnapping of Okoye’s Campaign Director, Cyril Chiegboka.
Both men were kidnapped on Sunday while returning from a function.
The governor, therefore, called for their immediate release. Read more
Linda Ikeji appears in NBM N1b libel lawsuit (Vanguard)
Foremost Nigerian online blogger, Linda Ikeji weekend put up an appearance in the N1 billion libel law suit instituted by NBM of Africa and three others at the Delta State High Court at Effurun Court 2.
The suit with number EHC/210/2021 had the Registered Trustees of NBM of Africa, Olorogun Ese Kakor, Olorogun Felix Kupa and Mayor Onyebueke as Claimants with Linda Ikeji as the sole defendant.
The Claimants had through their Counsel, Chief E.K. Agbroko Esq. prayed the court for an award of N1 billion and an unreserved apology to be published in her blog and two national newspapers amongst others.
At the resumed hearing, C.M. Garba (Miss) announced her appearance for the defendant and pleaded that the defendant only got wind of the matter on Thursday night through the social media and begged the court for an adjournment to enable them file motion for extension of time in order to file their statements of defence. Read more
Osun: APC lambasts PDP candidates over hard currencies threat (Sun)
Governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has been lambasted for boasting that he had acquired enough money in hard currencies to pursue the July 16 governorship election in the state.
A video clip of where Adeleke campaigned at Jaleyemi/Odiolowo Way, Osogbo, last Friday, had surfaced on social media where the PDP governorship candidate boasted that he had acquired naira, dollars, pounds and euros for the election.
While reacting to the video, APC, in a statement signed by Ajibola Bashiru, the director general, Adegboyega Oyetola Campaign Council, yesterday, described Adeleke’s boast as absurd, unthinkable and totally unacceptable.
The APC said Osun was not for sale to the highest bidder, maintaining that on a daily basis, the PDP candidate is proving to the Osun electorate that he had nothing to offer. Read more
Nollywood actor, Leo Mezie, is dead (Leadership)
Nollywood actor, Leonard Chimezie Onyemachi, popularly known in the film industry as Leo Mezie has died.
The young handsome actor was said to have died in Abuja at the age of 46.
Mezie, who has been battling with kidney disease and had a kidney transplant over four years ago, had another one last week, but began to develop complications and died on Saturday, May 14, 2022.
His death was cofirmed by fellow Nollywood actress, Chioma Toplis, via a post on Instagram on Monday. Read more
Carrie Underwood reveals dates for The Denim & Rhinestones Tour with special guest Jimmie Allen (People)
Carrie Underwood is readying her return to the road!
After almost exclusively performing at her Las Vegas residency Reflection for the past six months, the 39-year-old country star has announced The Denim & Rhinestones Tour, set to span 43 North American arenas from this fall to spring 2023 with special guest, fellow American Idol alum Jimmie Allen.
“I’m thrilled to be hitting the road again with THE DENIM & RHINESTONES TOUR,” said Underwood in a press release. “I’m having such an amazing time with my Las Vegas residency and look forward to continuing that next year after the tour.”
Sharing a title with Underwood’s upcoming ninth album, out June 10, The Denim & Rhinestones Tour will kick off Oct. 15 at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, and make stops at many iconic venues including New York City’s Madison Square Garden and Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center) before wrapping March 17 at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. Read more
Samuel L. Jackson teases Nick Fury in Secret Invasion (EW)
Samuel L. Jackson has played Nick Fury for more than a decade, and after about a dozen appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the actor probably knows his stoic, eyepatch-wearing agent better than anyone. But as he tells EW, some of the things he’s learned while working on the upcoming Secret Invasion series have surprised even him.
The 73-year-old actor stopped by EW’s The Awardist podcast to talk about his starring role in Apple TV+’s miniseries The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, but he also teased another TV project he has in the works, the Marvel Disney+ series Secret Invasion. Jackson is set to reprise his role in the show as former S.H.I.E.L.D. boss Nick Fury, joined by Ben Mendelsohn’s Skrull Talos and Cobie Smulders’ Maria Hill, as well as newcomers Kingsley Ben-Adir, Olivia Colman, and Emilia Clarke.
Most details about Secret Invasion are still under wraps, other than the fact that it’s a crossover event series based on the comic storyline of the same name. It’s set to feature the Skrulls, who’ve managed to use their shape-shifting powers to infiltrate Earth over years. But the series will also spotlight Fury in a starring role, and Jackson teases that the show will dive deeper into Fury’s past and future.
“There are things that even I really didn’t know about Nick Fury that I just found out,” Jackson says. “The minds behind what happened during the Blip are fantastic. That’s part of what we’re uncovering when we do this series now.” Read more
Bad Bunny’s ‘Un Verano Sin Ti’ is No. 1 and 2022’s biggest-selling album; Jack Harlow’s ‘First Class’ tops Hot 100 (Variety)
Bad Bunny’s “Un Verano Sin Ti” album continues its historic stride, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and filling four of the top 10 slots in the Hot 100 chart, led by “Moscow Mule” at No. 4.
As the undeniable winner of the week, Bad Bunny earns the year’s biggest numbers yet for an album release with 274,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending May 12 (according to Luminate via Billboard).
Jack Harlow also earns his stripes as “First Class” resumes its reign for a second week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, a spot it had earned four weeks earlier upon its debut. The single had slipped to No. 3 but bounced back just as the Louisville rapper introduced his latest LP, “Come Home the Kids Miss You,” which landed at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, with 112,000 units.
“Un Verano Sin Ti” marks the second all-Spanish-language album to reach No. 1 on the 66-year-old Billboard 200 chart. Fittingly enough, the first was Bad Bunny’s 2020 album “El Último Tour del Mundo.” Read more
Pixar announces new movie ‘Elemental’, set to hit cinemas in 2023 (NME)
Pixar has unveiled the title and plot of its 27th feature film – the one that will follow next month’s hotly awaited Toy Story spin-off, Lightyear – with a classic Pixar trope given a breath of fresh air.
The film is titled Elemental, and is currently bound to hit cinemas on June 16, 2023. It’s being directed by Peter Sohn, who’d previously helmed 2015’s The Good Dinosaur (and before it, the short film Partly Cloudy). Also joining from that film’s team is producer Denise Ream.
Elemental will continue the trend of Pixar asking, “What if [otherwise non-sentient item] had feelings?” It follows in the footsteps of the Toy Story series (which brought love, sadness and existential crises to toys), Cars (which did the same to, as its title implies, cars), Wall-E (robots) and Inside Out (feelings themselves), making fully fleshed-out characters of the four basic elements: earth, air, fire and water.
It’ll focus primarily on the latter two, following the story of Ember and Wade – the former an aloof flame and the latter a quirky dash of water – as they learn to overcome their differences and embrace their similarities. Read more
Ryan Gosling will be moving to Australia to film The Fall Guy (HeraldSun)
Ryan Gosling is temporarily moving Down Under.
The Canadian actor, 41, is starring in a new movie, The Fall Guy, expected to be shot in both Sydney and rural NSW later this year.
The film is based on the action television series of the same name which ran from 1981 to 1986. It follows a Hollywood stuntman, Colt Seavers, who doubles as a bounty hunter.
The major production will receive a $30 million grant from the federal government and up to $14.5 million from the NSW government.
The production is expected to inject more than $244 million into the Australian economy, according to Communications Minister Paul Fletcher. Read more
US announces easing Visa, family remittance restrictions for Cuba (VOA)
The United States said Monday it is easing restrictions imposed during former president Donald Trump’s administration on travel to Cuba and on the sending of family remittances between the United States and the communist island.
“The Cuban people are confronting an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and our policy will continue to focus on empowering the Cuban people to help them create a future free from repression and economic suffering,” the State Department said.
The loosening of the embargo on Cuba will see increased visa processing, including at the Havana consulate, but with most visas still handled at the U.S. embassy in Guyana.
The statement said it will “facilitate educational connections” between the two countries, as well as support for professional research including “support for expanded internet access and remittance process companies.” Read more
Turkey threatens to block Finland and Sweden Nato bids (BBC)
Magdalena Andersson says
Turkey’s president has restated his opposition to Finland and Sweden joining Nato – just hours after they said they would seek membership.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the two Scandinavian nations need not send delegations to convince Turkey, a key Nato member, of their bids.
He is angered by what he sees as their willingness to host Kurdish militants.
Earlier, Sweden said Europe was living in a dangerous new reality, referring to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said the move by Finland and Sweden to join the 30-member military alliance did not threaten Moscow directly – but stressed that any expansion of military infrastructure would trigger a response from the Kremlin. Read more
Super Falcons invite Oparanozie, Oshoala, 30 others to AFCON camp (Punch)
Head Coach Randy Waldrum has invited 32 players to the camp of the Super Falcons as the Cup holders get set for a two-week training camp in Morocco ahead of the 12th Women Africa Cup of Nations holding from July 2 to 23.
Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender and captain Onome Ebi, midfielders Rasheedat Ajibade and Toni Payne, and forwards Francisca Ordega, Desire Oparanozie and Asisat Oshoala are among those called to the two-week intensive training programme.
The Nigeria Football Federation in a statement said that the training camp would start on June 18 in the North African kingdom, with all players already advised to arrive in Rabat on June 17.
Nine –time champions Nigeria will play in Group C of the 12-team tournament alongside South Africa’s Banyana Banyana, Botswana and Burundi. Nigeria’s first match of the competition, at which Africa’s four flag bearers to next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand will emerge, is against the Banyana at the Complexe Sportif Prince Abdellah in Rabat on 4th July. Read more
Newcastle deal big blow to Arsenal top-four hopes (BBC)
Arsenal’s hopes of finishing in the Premier League top four were dealt a huge blow as they were well beaten by Newcastle at St James’ Park.
Mikel Arteta’s side needed a win to move above Tottenham into fourth and put them in the driving seat to secure a Champions League spot heading into the final weekend of the season.
But they were second best throughout and fell behind early in the second half when Ben White turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Callum Wilson, who was making his first start since 27 December.
Bruno Guimaraes, who has become a cult hero since joining Newcastle at the start of this year, then rounded off the impressive win when he drove into the net as Arsenal struggled to clear. Read more
Gunners lament crucial Premier League loss (WA)
With his team’s Champions League qualification ambitions in ruins, Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka felt it was time to deliver some home truths.
“Disastrous” was how he summed up Arsenal’s 2-0 loss at Newcastle on Monday night that left Tottenham in charge of the race between the north London rivals for a top-four finish in the Premier League.
Then he went further.
“We didn’t do what the game plan was, not listening to the coach. We were doing our things and when you do your things, this is what happens,” he told Sky Sports. Read more
Juventus in talks to bring Paul Pogba back on free transfer – again (IrishIndependent)
Paul Pogba’s representative was due to meet with Juventus yesterday to discuss the midfielder’s potential return to the Italian giants. Rafaela Pimenta flew to Turin for talks, with Pogba set to leave United, as things stand, when his contract expires at the end of next month.
Pimenta, a lawyer, is the business partner of Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, who died last month, and has taken over the running of the agency. She also concluded Erling Haaland’s move from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City last week.
City were also offered the chance to sign Pogba (29), and have tentatively explored the deal, but there is a growing sense the France star is more likely to move abroad.
Juventus have invited Pimenta to open negotiations although the Brazilian lawyer is also expected to talk to Real Madrid and Paris St-Germain, while Pogba may well speak to United’s new manager Erik ten Hag before deciding his future. Read more
Nick Kyrgios declares himself the world’s best grass court player despite his No.76 ranking (DailyMail)
Despite being ranked just 76th in the world, controversial Aussie tennis player Nick Kyrgios still has the confidence to declare himself the best grass court player in the world.
Kyrgios has elected to miss the French Open and is now focused on Wimbledon in late June, where he hopes to relive some of his best early career successes, including making the tournament’s quarterfinal in 2014.
‘I mean, on the grass, I’d say me,’ Kyrgios told the Sydney Morning Herald during an NBA promotional event in Sydney, when asked who the world’s best grass court player is.
It is a bold call considering Kyrgios has six ATP titles, but has never claimed one on a grass court. However he has reached two semi-finals on grass and the Wimbledon quarterfinal. Read more
Jack Nicklaus turned down ‘US$100 million’ offer from Saudi-backed tour (StraitsTimes)
Golfing icon Jack Nicklaus said he turned down an offer worth more than US$100 million (S$139 million) to act as one of the faces of the new Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf International Series, US reports said on Monday (May 16).
The 18-time Major winner revealed the lucrative offers in remarks published by the Fire Pit Collective website on Monday.
The new Saudi-funded series is being fronted by Australian legend Greg Norman, and tees off for the first time at an event outside London next month.
Nicklaus, 82, said he turned down the offers out of loyalty to the PGA Tour. Read more
Sonny Conto, Shinard Bunch get big KO wins in Philadelphia (BoxingScene)
Sonny Conto remained undefeated with a third-round stoppage over Justin Rolfe in a scheduled six-round heavyweight bout in front of a packed crowd at Parx casino in Bensalem, PA. (photo by Darryl Cobb)
The seven bout card that took place on Friday night was promoted by Joe Hand Promotions.
After two rounds of beating up Rolfe with hard power shots. Conto decked Rolfe with a big left hook in round three. Seconds later, it was another hard left hook from close quarters that sent Rolfe folding towards the canvas and the fight was stopped by referee Eric Dali at 1:38.
Conto, 228.2 lbs of Philadelphia is 10-0 with eight knockouts. Rolfe, 254.1 lbs of Portland, ME is 7-4-1. Read more