Instagram comedian, 34 others nabbed for Internet fraud (Punch)
An Instagram comedian and social media influencer, Nwagbo Chidera, also known as Pankeeroy, has been arrested for alleged Internet fraud.
Chidera was arrested alongside 34 others at the James Court in the Lekki area of Lagos State by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged involvement in computer-related fraud.
The other suspects include Chinedu Christian, Gafar Adedamola, Chuka Richard, Dibo Samson, Rotimi Damilola, Habeeb Damilola, Afolabi Michael, Adekanbi Adeola, Emeka Egwuatu, Adeyemi Olumide, Awokoya Iyaniwura, Efunnuga Samuel, Samson Egwuatu, Gbemileke Simeon, Omoyemi Owolabi and Farouk Olatunde.
Others are Orapitan Segun, Oladunjoye Olawale, Ibrahim Olanrewaju, Wasiu Sola, Olamiposi Damilola, Isieq Olamilekan, Abel Junior, Emmanuel Martins, Timilehin Jesse, Kelvin Kendal, Omotola Emmanuel, Rasaq Farouq, Oyelere Shakiru, Timileyin Damilare, Kelly Nwanou, Adedeji Olayinka, Balogun Ibrahim and Makinde Benjamin. Read more
Motorists groan as gridlock cripples movement on Oshodi/Apapa expressway (Guardian)
Vehicular movement was brought to a standstill yesterday, following the breakdown of articulated trucks, offloading materials for road repairs along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.
Despite the presence of security personnel along the road, all vehicles were brought to a halt for over 3-hours.
Commuters had to walk several kilometres to their destinations due to the heavy traffic jam, which built up from Anthony bridge, towards Oshodi down to Iyana Isolo. Read more
How CCTV facilitated Nollywood actor, Baba Ijesha’s arrest for defiling minor (Punch)
Popular Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, aka Baba Ijesha, has been arrested by men of the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly defiling a minor.
PUNCH Metro gathered that a closed-circuit television installed in the victim’s home captured Omiyinka allegedly molesting the victim while her mother was not at home.
It was learnt that the victim’s mother, who had been suspecting that her daughter was being sexually abused, installed the CCTV to uncover the perpetrator.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the victim’s mother monitored the situation in her home on her phone and to her dismay, she saw Omiyinka allegedly conducting himself in a suspicious manner around her daughter. Read more
Apapa traffic costs Nigeria N140bn weekly economic loss – Experts (Vanguard)
Experts in the Maritime industry have said that Nigeria could save the N140 billion weekly economic losses and another $10 billion import/export products wasted annually if the stifling traffic is curtailed.
Also, they recommended that the government should revive pipeline transportation; diversify transportation system; reclaim some lands; among others as some solutions to curbing traffic gridlock hampering business activities and crippling the economy.
The experts said these during a two day Maritime Summit organized by Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria, MAJAN with the theme: “Apapa Perennial Traffic Gridlock: Has It Defied All Solutions.”
The experts who are maritime stakeholders included: Francis Omotosho, Registrar, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF Academy; Pius Okonu, Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA; Former National President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF, Eugene Nweke; as well as President MAJAN, Mr. Ray Ugochukwu, among others. Read more
Rotary club of Ewu Tuntun holds seminar on maternal mortality (Guardian)
Rotary Club of Ewu Tuntun, District 9110 is organising seminar on the issue of strategies to reduce maternal mortality rates.
According to President, Rotary Club of Ewu Tuntun, Dele Adegbola: “The seminar lecture, titled Addressing Maternal Mortality in Nigeria is to be delivered by Dr. Femi Oloyede, Medical Director, High Rock Hospital, Lekki, Dr. Femi Oloyede, and District governor Rotary international district 9110 Bola Oyebade as Special Guest”
The seminar will hold tomorrow by 1p.m at Ibis Royale Hotel, Airport Road, Mafoluku Junction, Lagos. Read more
LCCI inaugurates maritime sectorial group (ThisDay)
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has inaugurated its maritime sectorial group that would champion the agenda of the organised private sector in the formulation and implementations of policies in the Nigerian maritime industry.
The President of the LCCI, Mrs. Toki Mabogunje, said the group would serve as a platform for the chamber to engage relevant stakeholders in the maritime industry to advocate specific issues affecting investors.
Mabogunje said: “No economy will be competitive in the international trade arena without an efficient maritime industry. But Nigeria’s sea ports are both poorly developed and poorly run compared to its pears in West Africa.”
The Vice President of the LCCI, Ms. Mojisola Bakare, said trade and commerce would be significantly constrained by an inefficient maritime sector and would negatively affect practically all sectors of the economy. Read more
Lagos community accuses AMCON of estate takeover, ignoring court order (Punch)
Residents of Victory Park Estate in Igbokushu, Lekki area of Lagos State, have accused the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria of taking over the estate despite a court order that forbids it from doing so.
The residents, under the aegis of the Association of Victory Park Estate Bare Land Owners, alleged that AMCON disregarded several court orders restraining it from carrying out any activities on the estate and sold the land to a third party to start construction.
The lawyer representing some of the residents of the estate, Mayowa Owolabi, disclosed that the association acquired several plots of land within the estate in 2002 from a company, Knight Rook Limited, through an affiliated firm, Grant Properties Limited, adding that upon acquiring the land, the owners proceeded to register the title at the Land Registry, paid all the fees and statutory charges and thereafter obtained the Governor’s Consent. Read more
Security agents foil attempted jail break in Kano (ThisDay)
Security agents yesterday frustrated a violent attempted jail break by inmates of Kurmawa prison located within the precinct of Emir’s Palace in Kano.
Spokesman of the state Correctional Service, DSC Musbahu Lawal Kofar Nasarawa told journalists in Kano last night that there was an attempt by some condemned prisoners to cause pandemonium in the prison.
“We have put down the rebellion through the concerted efforts of the prison officials,” he said.
Nasarawa disclosed that the dispute was triggered by an attempt by the prison officials to retrieve illicit items found with the prisoners. Read more
Archbishop Idahosa donates six blocks of classrooms in honour of husband (Guardian)
Archbishop of Church of God Mission International, Margaret Benson Idahosa has donated a six blocks of classrooms to Olinlin Primary School, Uzea in Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State in honour of her late husband, Archbishop Benson Idahosa who was once a pupil of the school founded in 1947.
Commissioning the project, the Archbishop, represented by Bishop Matthew Okpebholo, said the whole idea of immortalising him came when the church he left behind celebrated its 50 years anniversary and they needed to do a background checks on the man called Benson Idahosa.
Margaret said her late husband was a blessing to his generation and beyond, having taken the gospel of Christ around the globe adding that the children who are going to make use of the facility would be proud to say in the nearest future that they attended the same primary school with the late bishop Benson Idahosa. Read more
One Covid vaccine cuts infection risk in all age groups (BBC)
The chances of becoming infected by Covid fell sharply after a first dose of either the AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccines, a UK study has found.
The vaccines worked just as well in the over-75s and those with underlying health conditions, as other people.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) and University of Oxford research also found a strong antibody response in all age groups from both jabs.
Everyone showed some response to both vaccines, they said. Read more
Mexico’s drought reaches critical levels as lakes dry up (VOA)
Drought conditions now cover 85% of Mexico, and residents of the nation’s central region said Thursday that lakes and reservoirs are simply drying up, including the country’s second-largest body of fresh water.
The mayor of Mexico City said the drought was the worst in 30 years, and the problem can be seen at the reservoirs that store water from other states to supply the capital.
Some of them, like the Villa Victoria reservoir west of the capital, are at one-third of their normal capacity, with a month and a half to go before any significant rain is expected.
Isais Salgado, 60, was trying to fill his water tank truck at Villa Victoria, a task that normally takes him just half an hour. On Thursday he estimated it was taking 3½ hours to pump water into his 10,000-liter tanker. Read more
Coronavirus: Tokyo Motor Show cancelled for first time in 67 years (BBC)
The Tokyo Motor Show has been cancelled for the first time in its 67-year history due to rising virus cases.
The cancellation of the event comes even as the organisers of the Summer Olympics push ahead with their plans.
It comes as Japan is expected to declare a state of emergency for Tokyo, Osaka and two other prefectures from 25 April to 11 May.
Japan is facing a surge in Covid-19 cases, driven by more infectious variants of the virus. Read more
Oscars 2021: A watershed moment for disability? (BBC)
The Oscars are upon us once again – but change surrounds this year’s ceremony that goes far beyond the red carpet adjustments enforced by the pandemic.
As the most diverse Oscars ever in terms of nominees, the increased representation also extends to the films themselves – with disability explored in new depth.
Best picture contender Sound of Metal, about a drummer facing hearing loss, saw best actor nominee Riz Ahmed learn sign language for the role. His co-star Paul Raci, who is up for best supporting actor, is a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) and many of the other actors are deaf in real life.
Elsewhere best documentary nominee Crip Camp explores how a 70s hippie camp for disabled youths affected the US disability rights movement; while nominated short Feeling Through has been praised for being the first modern-day film to star a deafblind actor, Robert Tarango. Read more
Ukraine’s president says Russian troop pullback eases tensions (VOA)
Ukraine’s president said Thursday that Russia’s troop reduction near the Ukraine border was reducing tensions between the countries but cautioned his country must remain alert.
Russia earlier ordered tens of thousands of troops to return to their home bases following large-scale drills.
“The reduction of troops on our border proportionally reduces tension,” tweeted President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. “Ukraine is always vigilant, yet welcomes any steps to decrease the military presence & deescalate the situation in Donbass.”
Donbass is a region in southeastern Ukraine where conflict between the countries has persisted since 2014, when Russia seized Crimea and began supporting separatists in the region. Read more
Alexei Navalny urged to end hunger strike immediately (BBC)
Doctors of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny have urged him to immediately end his hunger strike, warning that otherwise he could die.
In a statement, the five say they have been shown the results of his medical tests conducted on 20 April.
“If the hunger strike continues even for a minimal amount of time, unfortunately, we will simply have no-one to treat soon,” they say.
Thousands of Russians rallied on Wednesday demanding Navalny be freed. Read more
Serie A: Osimhen scores as Napoli crush Lazio (Punch)
Ten-man Atalanta missed the chance to move second in Serie A on Thursday with a 1-1 draw against Roma.
But Napoli thrashed Champions League rivals Lazio 5-2 to boost their hopes of a return to elite European football next season.
Bryan Cristante rifled in a long-distance equaliser to rescue a point for Roma in a game where both teams finished with 10 men.
The visitors had dominated taking the lead after 25 minutes through Ruslan Malinovskiy in the Stadio Olimpico. Read more
Cameron Norrie to face Rafael Nadal in Barcelona Open quarter-finals (BBC)
Britain’s Cameron Norrie will face Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open on Friday.
Norrie reached the last eight after Belgian eighth seed David Goffin retired injured.
Goffin received treatment for a leg problem after seven games of the second set and, despite winning the next game, quit while down 6-0 3-5.
Twenty-time Grand Slam winner Nadal beat Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-0 2-6 6-2 to set up a second meeting with Norrie. Read more
Sports union, German activists promise legal help to athletes sanctioned for protesting at Tokyo Olympics (RT)
Athletes who may be tempted to violate the ban on protesting at the Olympic Games in Tokyo got some encouragement from the World Players Association and a German activist group, which pledged to help them fight any sanctions.
“We will work with our affiliates to ensure courageous athletes who take a stand for human rights are properly supported, including through legal and other means,” World Players Association executive director Brendan Schwab said on Thursday.
The move came in response to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decision, announced on Wednesday, to enforce its longstanding Rule 50 prohibition against athlete protests at the Tokyo Games. The IOC cited an Athletes Commission poll showing that around 70% of respondents consider such protests to be inappropriate. “The political neutrality of the Olympic Games is a way to protect athletes from political interference and exploitation,” the IOC added. Read more
National football leagues ponder next moves after super league collapses (VOA)
Now that plans to create a European Super League comprising 12 of the continent’s elite clubs have collapsed, officials from the English, Italian and Spanish leagues are considering what to do in the aftermath.
Six clubs from Britain (Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea), three from Spain (Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid) and three from Italy (AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus) signed up for the breakaway European Super League, whose formation was announced Monday.
Hours after that announcement, however, several English teams announced they were no longer going to take part. The idea was completely dropped within 48 hours, driven largely by fan outrage. Read more
Messi scores two goals as Barca trash Getafe (BBC)
Lionel Messi scored two goals as Barcelona beat Getafe to climb to third in the La Liga table, two points behind second-placed Real Madrid.
Messi broke the deadlock before lowly Getafe equalised through Clement Lenglet’s own goal.
A mix-up between Sofian Chakla and keeper David Soria restored Barca’s lead and Messi made it 3-1.
Enes Unal’s penalty gave Getafe hope but goals by Ronald Araujo and Antoine Griezmann sealed the points. Read more
Ex-baseball star says LeBron ‘may want to move to China’ over NBA icon’s police-shooting tweet (RT)
NBA legend LeBron James has been savaged online by ex-baseball player Aubrey Huff, who suggested that the LA Lakers star “may want to move to China” after his controversial tweet about a US police shooting.
The abuse comes as part of backlash to a now-deleted tweet James sent out on Wednesday night.
“YOU’RE NEXT #ACCOUNTABILITY,” James wrote next to an hourglass emoji, to caption a photo of Nicholas Reardon, the Columbus Police Department officer who fatally shot 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant while responding to a 911 call.Video from Reardon’s body camera showed the black teen swinging a knife at a woman before he opened fire. Read more