Ini Edo breaks silence on alleged affair with Empress Njamah’s ex-lover (Vanguard)
Nollywood actress, Iniobong Edo Ekim, popularly known as Ini Edo, has denounced reports of an affair with Empress Njamah’s ex-lover, George Wade.
Social media had been agog with an alleged affair between the duo after reports claimed that Ini Edo’s video and international passport were recovered from Wade after being arrested by Liberian Police.
Reacting to the reports on Tuesday during an Instagram live session, the actress dispelled the romantic affair rumors, explaining that Wade had contacted her posing as a movie producer who wanted to cast her in his movie.
She also revealed that during their conversation, he drifted and started proposing a relationship with her, which she declined instantly.
The actress warned people to leave her alone, and desist from peddling lies about her. Read more
4 in court for threatening Tiwa Savage (Punch)
Four persons were on Tuesday arraigned before a magistrates’ court sitting in Yaba, Lagos State, for allegedly threatening the life of a popular singer, Tiwa Savage, and an attempt to defraud her.
The defendants, Eniola Adeniyi, Donatus Osabanumonu, Idorenyi Okon and Michael Rodolphe, were arraigned by the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Annex, Alagbon Close, Ikoyi, Lagos, before Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun on three counts of conspiracy, intent to defraud and threat to life.
The prosecutor, Idowu Oshubure, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on or before April 13, 2023. Read more
NECO reschedules 2023 common entrance examination (Guardian)
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has rescheduled the 2023 National Common Entrance Examinations (NCEE) which is conducted for admission into Federal Unity Colleges from Saturday 29th April, 2023 to Saturday 3rd June 2023.
NECO said the examination was rescheduled to give States with low registration of candidates the opportunity to register their candidates for the examination.
Head Information and Public Relations Division, NECO, Azeez Sani who disclosed this on Wednesday, said candidates, parents, guardians, schools and relevant stakeholders are therefore enjoined to take note of the new date for the examination. Read more
Dismiss INEC’s preliminary objection, Atiku, Obi urge Tribunal (Tribune)
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has maintained his stand that the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not qualified to have contested the 2023 election.
Atiku’s reply is to INEC which had urged the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal sitting at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, in its preliminary objection to dismiss his petition for lacking in merit.
Atiku, through his team of Lawyers had, in his petition stated that INEC under the guise of “technical glitches’ allegedly rigged the 2023 presidential election in favour of Bola Tinubu by refusing to immediately transmit results electronically from polling units to the INEC Results Viewing Portal, in line with relevant guidelines. Read more
I have no drug case, dual citizenship scandal, Atiku replies Tinubu (DailyTrust)
Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has accused President-elect Bola Tinubu of being unfit to contest for the office of President.
In a further reply to Tinubu’s preliminary objection to his petition challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential election before the Presidential Elections Petitions Tribunal, Atiku maintained that unlike Tinubu, his true identity, age, state of origin and educational qualifications have never been in dispute.
Tinubu had in the reply asked the tribunal to dismiss Atiku’s petition, contending that he had no right whatsoever to be returned as a winner of the election having lost successive presidential elections in Nigeria since 1993. Read more
Ex-Minister of Labour, Musa Gwadabe dies at 86 (Leadership)
Former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Alhaji Musa Gwadabe, is dead.
Gwadabe was a pioneer member of the Peoples Democratic Party and also a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in Kano.
President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu mourned the ex-minister describing his loss as sorrowful and irreparable. Read more
40% pay rise: FG promoting divide and rule, says COEASU (Vanguard)
The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union,COEASU,has accused the federal government of promoting what it described as divide and rule in its recent 40 percent increase in the salary of civil servants.
The union of colleges of education lecturers in the country which said it was happy that civil servants who are the drivers of government policies have been considered for salary increase, however expressed sadness at government’s decision to exclude some categories of workers including lecturers and other workers in the tertiary institutions in the gesture.
COEASU,in a statement, Wednesday, by its president,Dr. Smart Odunayo Olugbeko, regretted that government’s action came even as the various unions in the sector made several overtures to it (government) on salary increase. Read more
Appeal Court orders relocation of Ebonyi Election Petition Tribunal to Abuja (Tribune)
The Ebonyi State Election Petition Tribunal has been directed to relocate to Federal Capital Territory Abuja with immediate effect.
The directive was issued by the Appeal Court President, Monica Mensem.
Secretary of the Tribunal, Nyior Henry Sekulla disclosed this in Abakaliki on Wednesday.
He said that following the directive the election petition Tribunal office at the Ebonyi State Judiciary Headquarters in Abakaliki has shut down from today. Read more
Nicki Minaj surpasses Drake’s chart record thanks to Ice Spice collab (Vibe)
Queen MC Nicki Minaj continues to reign, as she’s just surpassed her Young Money brethren Drake’s chart record.
On Monday (April 24), Chart Data tweeted out that Minaj now takes the lead with the most No.1 hits on the Digital Songs Sales chart following her feature on the “Princess Diana (remix)” with Ice Spice. Drizzy now comes in second place with a total of 13 No.1 songs — although that could change soon.
“IceNika” dropped their remix earlier this month, giving Ice her first No.1 hit and Nicki her 14th. The song currently sits at No.4 on the Billboard Hot 100. She now has more Top 10 hits on the Hot 100 chart than any woman rapper. Read more
Swizz Beatz’s son helped Kendrick Lamar overcome writer’s block (HipHopDX)
Swizz Beatz has revealed his son helped Kendrick Lamar overcome writer’s block.
The producer’s son, Egypt — whose mother is Alicia Keys — was famously credited as a producer (along with his father) on Kendrick’s “untitled 07.” off his untitled unmastered. album when he was just five years old.
During a recent interview on the Jennifer Hudson Show, Swizz Beatz shared that Egypt, who’s now 12, also helped Kendrick Lamar get past a mental block when it came to writing rhymes. Read more
Steven Spielberg says he regrets editing guns out of E.T. (NBC)
Steven Spielberg has said he regrets editing guns out of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The director made the comments while participating in a master class at the Time 100 Summit.
The popular film’s 1982 theatrical cut includes a scene of officers chasing young kids with firearms. Spielberg edited the guns out for the 20th anniversary release of the film and replaced the firearms with walkie talkies.
“That was a mistake,” Spielberg said. “I never should have done that. ‘E.T.’ is a product of its era. No film should be revised based on the lenses we now are, either voluntarily, or being forced to peer through.” Read more
Elizabeth Olsen says there’s no competition with Jessica Biel over their Candy Montgomery series (ET)
On Thursday, Elizabeth Olsen makes her chilling debut as Candy Montgomery, a woman accused of killing her friend with an axe, in the HBO Max true-crime drama, ‘‘Love & Death,’’ written by David E. Kelley and directed by Lesli Linka Glatter.
While this is the first time Olsen has portrayed the infamous housewife, it’s actually the second time in one year that audiences will get to explore the lives and events leading up to the 1980 murder of Betty Gore. The first was actually the Hulu miniseries, Candy, starring Jessica Biel in the titular role.
As a result, it’s been easy to draw comparisons between the two and assume that the two productions were racing to be the first one out — and the first to retell this true-crime saga since the 1990 TV movie, A Killing in a Small Town. Read more
Sudan’s Bashir and allies out of jail as fierce fighting ends ceasefire (France24)
Sudan’s army and a paramilitary force battled on the outskirts of the capital on Wednesday, eroding a truce in an 11-day conflict that civilian groups fear could revive the influence of those loyal to ousted autocrat Omar al-Bashir.
Fuelling those concerns, the army confirmed the transfer of Bashir from Khartoum’s Kober prison to a military hospital, along with at least five of his former officials, before hostilities started on April 15.
Over the weekend, thousands of inmates were freed outright from prison, including a former minister in Bashir’s government who, like him, is wanted on war crimes charges by the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Read more
Eurovision 2023: Frankie Goes To Hollywood to reunite for 1st performance in 36 years (NME)
Frankie Goes To Hollywood will reunite to open the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, performing with its classic line-up for the first time since 1987 in the band’s hometown of Liverpool in England.
BBC News reported yesterday (April 25) that the synth-pop band – specifically its classic line-up of Holly Johnson, Brian Nash, Paul Rutherford, Mark O’Toole and Peter Gill – will play a small set at the Eurovision opening ceremony on Sunday May 7.
Sharing the news on his Instagram page, frontman Johnson noted he was “happy to announce” the group’s reunion and that the Eurovision festivities would be a “very special event”. Read more
Comedian Richard Lewis says he has Parkinson’s Disease (BBC)
Comedian Richard Lewis has opened up about his diagnosis with Parkinson’s Disease in a Twitter video he shared on Sunday.
He said he was diagnosed two years ago and had been dealing with his health privately until now.
Mr Lewis just wrapped an “amazing” 12th season of the comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm, which he was a regular on.
Though he will not continue stand-up, he said he plans to continue acting and writing. Read more
More European giants queue up for Chukwueze (Nation)
Liverpool, Arsenal and Real Madrid are reportedly among the clubs weighing up a move for Samuel Chukwueze in the summer following his impressive performances for Villarreal this season.
The winger has contributed 13 goals and 11 assists in all competitions this season and is still just 22 years of age.
He really caught the eye of the footballing world earlier this month when he bagged two goals and an assist in his side’s shock 3-2 victory at the Bernabeu. Read more
Saints boss saw enough in 3-3 Arsenal draw to believe in survival prospects (Football365)
Southampton boss Ruben Selles insists he has seen enough from his side not to give up hope on their Premier League survival battle despite the fact time is fast running out.
The Saints remain bottom and five points adrift of safety after leaders Arsenal fought back from 3-1 down to draw at the Emirates Stadium last Friday night.
While it was a welcome point from a match Southampton were widely expected to lose, failure to hold on for what would have been a much-needed victory leaves the outlook bleak with just six games left. Read more
Villa go 5th, Leicester draw with Leeds and Wolves claim vital win (RNZ)
Defender Tyrone Mings scored a brilliant header from a set piece as Aston Villa beat Fulham 1-0 at Villa Park to lift them to fifth in the Premier League and a step closer to ensuring European football next season.
Villa are on 54 points after 33 games, one ahead of Tottenham Hotspur and five behind fourth-placed Manchester United.
Fulham, whose European dreams were derailed by a run of four defeats in March and April, are ninth on 45 points. Read more
Castellanos hits 4 against Madrid, Real Sociedad hold off Betis (France24)
Girona striker Taty Castellanos hit an incredible four goals as his side thrashed champions Real Madrid 4-2 in La Liga on Tuesday, helping leaders Barcelona edge closer to the trophy.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid are 11 points behind Barcelona having played one extra match, with this defeat virtually killing any hope they had remaining of defending the title.
Fourth-place Real Sociedad earned a hard-fought 0-0 draw at Real Betis to frustrate the Andalusians, fifth, ensuring a six-point gap remains between them. Read more
Magic’s Banchero named NBA rookie of the year (StraitsTimes)
The Orlando Magic’s Paolo Banchero was named NBA rookie of the year on Tuesday after a dazzling debut season in the league.
Banchero received 98 of the 100 first-place votes from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters to earn the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy.
Banchero averaged 20 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 72 games (all starts) after being the No. 1 overall selection by the Magic in the 2022 draft. He made 85 three-pointers and recorded 60 steals and 39 blocked shots. Read more
2 time Olympian fumes as trans marathon runner beats 14,000 women (Fox)
A two-time Olympian has ripped rules that allowed a transgender runner to beat nearly 14,000 women in the female category of the London Marathon.
Mara Yamauchi — who finished sixth in the marathon at the 2008 Beijing Olympics — lashed out after trans racer Glenique Frank, 54, gushed to the BBC about using “girl power” to run the UK race on Sunday.
“Males in the [female] category is UNFAIR for females,” Yamauchi tweeted alongside a clip of the mid-race interview by the sports bra-wearing runner who also gushed about soon becoming “a gran.”
“Nearly 14,000 actual females suffered a worse finish position [because] of” Frank, wrote Yamauchi — who said that even when she was “ranked second in the world” as a woman, “at least 1300 men ran faster than me.” Read more
