I’m surprised’, Tinubu’s spokesperson breaks silence on UberFacts viral tweet (Tribune)
Bayo Onanuga, one of the spokespersons to president-elect, Bola Tinubu has expressed his displeasure at the ‘excitement’ generated on social media by a tweet made by a foreign media outlet, Uberfacts.
His remark comes against the backdrop of a post by Uberfacts about the alleged past drug dealings of the APC flag-bearer who have been trending online since the exposè.
Tribune Online gathered in a Twitter post made on Monday morning, Uberfacts said Tinubu surrendered $460,000 to the US government after a Chicago court found the income came from heroin trafficking. Read more
Leaked Audio: Obi has more questions to answer, says FG (DailyTrust)
The Federal Government has said the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, has more questions to answer on the leaked audio involving him and founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo.
After days of silence, Obi said the audio was fake, and accused the Federal Government of spreading lies against him.
But a press briefing in London, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, challenged Obi to clarify what he meant by saying the leaked conversation was fake. Read more
Court denies air passenger, anti-Tinubu protester’s bail (Sun)
A Magistrate Court in Zuba, Federal Capital Territory Abuja on Tuesday denied bail to a passenger of Ibom Air who had expressed anti-Tinubu sentiments onboard the airline’s Abuja-Lagos bound flight.
Ruling on the bail application filed by the passenger, Obiajulu Uja, through his counsel, Senior Magistrate Mohammed Abdulazeez Ismail,of the Zuba, Abuja, held that the application was premature
He held that the exhibits attached to the application did not say the defendant was unfit to face trial but rather indicated he was of unsound mind.
He also held that while the constitution guarantees every person’s liberty, a court can deprive a person of their liberty based on health grounds. Read more
Lagos: PDP’s Jandor files petition against Sanwo-Olu’s victory (Punch)
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the just concluded governorship election in Lagos, popularly known as Abdul-Azeez Adediran has filed a petition before the governorship election tribunal of Lagos.
His petition challenges the result of the election held on March 18.
Jandor further called for the disqualification of the candidates of the All Progressives Congress and the Labour Party, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour for “non-compliance” with the Electoral Act 2022 and the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission. Read more
Ashok Leyland partners Stallion Motors, unveils Phoenix (Independent)
Ashok Leyland, flagship of the Hinduja Group, along with Stallion Motors, its exclusive distributor in Nigeria for over a decade, recently launched the successful light commercial vehicle – Phoenix in Lagos, for the Nigeria market.
Stallion, a household name in Nigeria, said it owns 45% of the new car business. It is undoubtedly one of the strongest players in the commercial vehicle segment by the virtue of its customer base and vast distribution network.
The exclusive national partnership with Ashok Leyland has evolved with time to bring the best-in-class products and services to the Nigerian consumer. These commercial vehicles are assembled locally and are best engineered for the road severity in Nigeria and generating employment. Read more
Policemen caught assaulting Rivers motorist in viral video arrested (DailyTrust)
Policemen captured in a viral video assaulting a motorist in Rivers State have been arrested and will appear at the Force headquarters in Abuja today to face disciplinary action.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a tweet, describing the officers’ action as barbaric.
He said the erring policemen were three and attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Rivers State Police Command. Read more
Wike tackles Dino Melaye over governorship ambition (Leadership)
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has dismissed Senator Dino Melaye’s governorship ambition in Kogi State, saying the two-time member of the National Assembly does not have what it takes to vie for such a position.
The governor was speaking during a media chat with selected journalists in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Wike said: “When you give Dino that ticket, you know he won’t win in Kogi State.
“Why would Kogi people say they would vote for a candidate like Dino? Are we joking?” Read more
Court sentences teenager to 1-year community service for pelting old man (Vanguard)
A Sharia Court in Kaduna on Tuesday sentenced a 16-year-old boy to one-year community service under a non-custodial facility for pelting an old man with stones.
The judge, Malam Anass Khalifa, sentenced the minor after he pleaded guilty to assault.
Khalifa also ordered the boy’s parents to pay compensation of N15,000 to the complainant. Read more
Kuwait news outlet unveils AI-generated presenter Fedha (BBC)
A Kuwaiti media outlet says it has created a virtual news presenter using artificial intelligence (AI).
“Fedha” made her debut on the Twitter account of Kuwait News, an affiliate of the Kuwait Times.
She appears as an image of a woman with light-coloured hair, wearing a black jacket and white T-shirt.
Abdullah Boftain, deputy editor-in-chief for Kuwait News, told AFP news agency the move tested AI’s potential to offer “new and innovative content”. Read more
Folk singer Gordon Lightfoot cancels 2023 concert schedule, citing health (TorontoStar)
Gordon Lightfoot is cancelling all of his planned concerts this year because of his health.
In a statement, representatives for the 84-year-old say the singer is experiencing “some health-related issues,” without giving specifics.
Lightfoot’s representatives asked for his privacy to be respected as he “continues to focus on his recovery.” Read more
Brie Larson returns as Captain Marvel and leads a new team in rousing 1st trailer for ‘‘The Marvels’’ (People)
Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel has a few new allies.
On Tuesday, Marvel Studios debuted the first trailer for the upcoming Captain Marvel sequel The Marvels, which sees the return of Larson, 33, as Carol Danvers and unites the character with Ms. Marvel’s Iman Vellani and WandaVision’s Teyonah Parris for a new adventure.
An official synopsis reveals that in the film, Carol, a.k.a. Captain Marvel, “has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence.” Read more
Anthony Hopkins plays Sigmund Freud in ‘‘Freud’s Last Session,’’ first look revealed (Variety)
“Freud’s Last Session,” which stars Anthony Hopkins as Sigmund Freud and Matthew Goode as author C. S. Lewis, is in its final stages of filming in Ireland.
“Freud’s Last Session” is set on the eve of the Second World War, when at the end of his life, Freud (Hopkins) invites “The Chronicles of Narnia” author C.S. Lewis (Goode) to debate the existence of God. Interweaving past, present and fantasy, the film explores Freud’s unique relationship with his daughter Anna (Liv Lisa Fries), and Lewis’ unconventional relationship with his best friend’s mother.
Sony Pictures Classics last year snapped up all rights for North America, the Middle East, Turkey, India, Eastern Europe (excluding CIS), Asia (excluding China, Korea and Japan) and Latin America and worldwide airlines. WestEnd Films, which is selling the film, has also struck deals across Australia (Sharmill Films), Scandinavia (Scanbox), Italy (Adler), Benelux (Just Entertainment), Portugal (NOS), Israel (United King) and Greece (Spentzos). Read more
Get the right people to manage church-owned record labels – OB Nartey (MyJoy)
Concerns have been raised about the effective management of record labels being established by some Ghanaian churches.
Although a lot of people have lauded the move to have a system that handles the business of music in churches, some have also pointed out things that could hinder the progress of record labels established by the Christian community.
Speaking on Showbiz A-Z on Joy FM, gospel music presenter OB Nartey told host Kwame Dadzie that it is important for the churches to employ people with the know-how to run the labels. Read more
Pentagon leak shows South Korea torn on sending Ukraine weapons (BBC)
A leaked Pentagon document seen by the BBC reveals a sensitive conversation between high-level South Korean officials on whether to sell weapons that could be used in Ukraine.
The intercept targeted two of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s senior advisors.
They are torn between US pressure to send ammunition to Ukraine and their policy not to arm countries at war.
One of the advisers suggests sending the shells to Poland instead, to avoid appearing to have given in to the US. Read more
Jack Black pitches Pedro Pascal to voice Wario in Super Mario Bros. sequel, says ‘‘It’s Not a Given Bowser Returns’’ (Variety)
With “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” grossing $204.6 million domestically and $377 million globally in its debut over the five-day Easter weekend, it’s all but certain Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment will move forward with a “Super Mario” sequel. Jack Black, who voices the villainous Bowser in the blockbuster, is already thinking ahead, telling GameSpot that Pedro Pascal is his pick to voice Wario should the sequel bring in a new villain.
“It’s not a given that Bowser will return,” Black said. “You know, I did a few ‘Kung Fu Panda’ movies, and it was a different villain every movie. They may do the same thing.”
“You know, what if there is a more powerful, more evil villain?” Black continued. “Then I may need to be turned to help Mario and the rest to defend our universe against some other unseen force of evil. Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Wario! Pedro Pascal is Wario.” Read more
Naija Super 8: Clubs excited as voting opens (ThisDay)
Naija Super 8, the recently unveiled football tournament for Nigerian clubs, has kicked off fan voting process for the Nigerian football clubs to participate in the playoffs, scheduled to hold in Uyo, this July.
The voting which commenced on Monday, April 10 and will close on Friday, May 12, has elicited excitement by football clubs shortlisted to participate in the tournament.
Speaking on the commencement of the voting, Managing Director, Flykite Productions, Jenkins Alumona, acknowledged the excitement and commitment shown by the shortlisted football clubs, and urged each of the clubs to embark on innovative fan engagement initiatives that will enable them garner votes from the fans. Read more
2023 Women’s World Cup – 100 days to go until Australia and New Zealand co-host tournament (BBC)
Organisers of the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup, which starts in 100 days, say they are on course to sell a record 1.5 million tickets.
Around 650,000 have been sold for the event in Australia and New Zealand.
“Fifa’s mission is to organise the biggest and best Women’s World Cup in history this year,” said Fifa secretary general Fatma Samoura.
The World Cup, which features England and the Republic of Ireland, starts on 20 July with the final on 20 August. Read more
Leicester appoint Dean Smith as manager until end of season amid Premier League relegation battle (ESPN)
Leicester City have appointed Dean Smith as manager until the end of the season as the club attempts to avoid relegation to the Championship, the club announced on Monday.
Smith will lead 19th-placed Leicester in their final eight matches of the Premier League season, starting against second-placed Manchester City on Saturday. The former Norwich City boss left the Canaries last season after previous spells at Aston Villa and Brentford.
“I’m really happy to have the opportunity to lead the team during these final weeks of the season,” Smith said in a statement. “The challenge in front of us is clear, but it’s one myself and my coaching team have experienced before and, with the quality in this squad and the number of games remaining, it’s very much achievable.” Read more
USWNT captain Sauerbrunn writes open letter to New Zealand (DailyMail)
The captain of the U.S. women’s national team, Becky Sauerbrunn, has written an open letter to Kiwis in which she praises New Zealand for its commitment to gender equality and women’s rights, saying there “could not be a more fitting host for our base camp during the first round” of the Women’s World Cup later this year.
Sauerbrunn´s letter was published Tuesday by the New Zealand media organization Stuff. She said the World Cup from July 20 to Aug. 20 in New Zealand and Australia “will not only showcase the supreme talent and skill of the world’s best female soccer players but will also demonstrate the value of empowerment and the growth of the women’s game.
“I know I speak for my teammates when I say we are thrilled to be playing our group stage matches in New Zealand.” Read more
Rory McIlroy withdraws from PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage event (BBC)
Rory McIlroy has withdrawn from this week’s PGA Tour event, the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head in South Carolina.
No reason was given for the withdrawal of the world number three as it was announced by the PGA Tour.
The Northern Irishman, 33, shot rounds of 72 and 77 to miss the cut at last week’s Masters by two shots – his ninth attempt to complete the career Grand Slam at Augusta National.
The RBC Heritage is among the PGA Tour’s designated events. Read more
Heat’s Jimmy Butler aims to return to East finals as 7-seed (ABC)
Jimmy Butler said he knows that many inside the NBA world don’t believe the seventh-seeded Miami Heat can again make it all the way through the Eastern Conference playoffs this season, but he doesn’t care.
As he prepares to take the organization into its first play-in game against the No. 8-seeded Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night, Butler does so with the same defiant attitude he has carried with him throughout most of his career.
“Nope,” Butler said after Monday’s practice when asked if he’s embracing the underdog role after going into last year’s playoffs as the No. 1 seed. “It’s all the same. Didn’t nobody pick us to win last year, either. So who cares. Y’all not going to pick us this year, still don’t give a damn.