Kano Ward Exco suspends APC Chairman Ganduje (Channels)
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has been suspended by members of his ward, the Ganduje Ward in the Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State.
Haruna Gwanjo, leading the Executive Council of Ganduje Ward, made this announcement during a press briefing in Kano on Monday.
Gwanjo stated that Ganduje must address corruption allegations related to his long-standing dollar case before his suspension can be lifted. Read more
Lady accused of fake testimony at Dunamis finally breaks silence (Nation)
Anyim Veronica Nnenna, the lady who was accused of giving false testimony by the Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Abuja, Paul Enenche, on Sunday, April 14, has broken her silence
The female church member, Anyim Veronica Nnenna, was embarrassed and accused of dishonesty during the testimony session.
In a video that went viral on Sunday, April 14, the member mounted the pulpit to testify of how she successfully graduated with a “Bachelor of Law” degree from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) on Saturday, April 13. Read more
Naira strengthens to N1,000 against Dollar (Tribune)
The value of the naira gained strength midday on Monday, opening at N1,130 to the dollar but rising to N1,000 by noon at the parallel market.
This surge comes as traders anticipate another round of dollar sales to Bureau de Change (BDC) operators this week.
Last week, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) offered $15.88 million to BDC operators at N1,101 to the dollar, boosting the naira’s value on the streets. Read more
After 3rd collapse, National Grid trudges To 2,188MW (Leadership)
Third time after its collapse in 2024, which resulted in nationwide blackout, the national grid is gradually been restored.
The grid which collapsed at past 2 am on Monday, has been restored to 2,188.77 megawatts as at 2 pm today.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) while confirming the restoration of the national grid that, said the collapse was following a fire incident at the Afam Power Generating Station, in River State. The spokesperson for the commission, Ndidi Mbah, disclosed this in a statement on Monday. Read more
Consumers decry low supply as DisCos prioritise Band A (DailyTrust)
Electricity consumers categorised under Band C, D and E have decried the sudden reduction in power supply after the increase in tariff for those under Band A feeders.
Band A customers receive 20 to 24 hours of electricity supply daily; B, 16 to 20 hours; B and C, 12 to 16 hours; D, 8 to 12 hours; B and E, four to eight hours.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had, on April 3, announced an increase in tariff for customers in B from N68 per kilowatt watt hour to N225 to allow a cost reflective tariff while the distribution companies (DisCos) to provide a premium of 20 to 24 hours of electricity. Read more
Lagos opens amnesty window to obtain planning permit for completed buildings (Channels)
The Lagos State Government has opened an amnesty window for house owners to obtain planning permits on completed buildings.
This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Physical Planning, Engr. Oluwole Sotire.
According to the statement, property owners and developers of existing (completed) developments without approvals, can obtain their planning permits, otherwise known as building plan approvals, within the stipulated period of 2nd May to 30th July 2024, without payment of statutory penalties that usually go with erecting buildings without approval in Lagos State. Read more
Soldiers foil kidnap attempt, arrest gunrunners in Taraba (Punch)
Troops of the Nigerian Army, in separate operations, have arrested a gunrunning syndicate and foiled a kidnap attempt in Taraba and Benue states respectively.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
The statement partly read, “In Taraba State, troops, in collaboration with vigilantes, acted on actionable intelligence to apprehend one Mansir Mohammed at Jalingo Motor Park, who has been reportedly involved in gun-running activities with terrorists. Read more
Kidnapping: Wike empowers vigilance groups, security agencies with motorcycles (Vanguard)
Determined to consolidate on the successes recorded in the fight against kidnappers in the nation’s capital, Abuja, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike has handed over 60 motorcycles to the Vigilance Group of Nigeria VGN.
At the ceremony Monday in Abuja, Wike also gave 30 motorcycles to the Nigeria Police and five each to the Department of State Services DSS and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC.
The minister warned that the motorcycles must not be used in the townships but in hard-to-reach parts of the territory to fight insecurity. Read more
Trump’s ‘hush money’ NYC trial live updates: Infamous ‘Access Hollywood’ tape transcript read aloud in court (NYPost)
Donald Trump is inside Manhattan Criminal Court today as his first criminal trial begins with jury selection, over six-figure hush-money payments the ex-president allegedly made to former porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal ahead of the 2016 election.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in an effort to cover up the payments to keep Daniels and McDougal quiet about alleged affairs the women say they had with him.
The case marks the first time a former president has gone to trial over criminal charges. The trial is expected to last about two months, and Trump faces up to four years in prison if convicted. Read more
Bishop and worshippers attacked in another mass stabbing in Sydney (Metro)
A second stabbing has been captured on camera in Sydney, this time taking place in a church.
Footage shows the moment a man walks up to the alter in the Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was saying Mass when he launched into the assault, allegedly wounding him in the face and body. Read more
Will Smith makes surprise Men in Black appearance as he performs with J Balvin at Coachella (People)
Will Smith made a blockbuster cameo at Coachella!
On Sunday, April 14, the 55-year-old actor surprised fans by joining J Balvin onstage at the music festival dressed in character as Agent J from Men in Black as he performed his song of the same title from the hit 1997 film.
Smith popped up in the middle of Balvin’s UFO-themed set from the bottom of the stage wearing a black suit and shades as he shouted at the crowd, “Coachella!” before the track began. Read more
Rick Ross shares alleged proof of Drake’s ‘nose job’ & dares him to respond to diss song (HipHopDx)
Rick Ross has claimed to have proof of Drake undergoing plastic surgery on his nose and taunted him to respond on wax.
Rozay and Drizzy, formerly longtime friends and collaborators, recently sparked a bitter feud that has seen personal insults and diss tracks exchanged.
The MMG mogul has repeatedly accused the OVO Sound hitmaker of having a nose job and in a recent Instagram Story, posted two photos of Drake side by side in which he claimed Drizzy’s nose had shrunk. Read more
NY Cardinal Dolan describes the moment he took shelter during Iran’s missile attack on Israel (Fox)
U.S. Cardinal Timothy Dolan shared details about the moment he had to run for shelter Saturday as Iran launched a missile attack on Israel while he was visiting Bethlehem.
The Archbishop of New York is spending a week in Israel to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA). He is the chair of the association.
Cardinal Dolan started his tour in Jerusalem on Friday and arrived in Bethlehem on Saturday, when Iran unleashed a missile attack on Israel. Read more
Islamic State-linked attackers kill at least 11 people – officials say (AfricaNews)
A local official in eastern Congo says extremist-linked rebels attacked villages over the weekend, killing at least 11 people, torching vehicles and taking possessions
The assaults, which occurred on Saturday, were confirmed by the mayor on Sunday. These rebels have been active in the border region near Uganda for some time.
The United Nations recently reported that nearly 200 people have lost their lives in the area this year alone. Read more
Philippine president says he won’t give US military access to additional local camps (ABCNews)
The Philippine president said Monday his administration has no plan to give the U.S. military access to more Philippine army camps and stressed that the American military presence was sparked by China’s aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who took office in 2022, allowed American forces and weapons access to four additional Philippine military bases, bringing to nine the number of camps where U.S. troops can rotate indefinitely under a 2014 agreement.
The Biden administration has been strengthening an arc of security alliances in the region to better counter China, a move that dovetails with Philippine efforts to shore up its external defence, especially in the South China Sea. Read more
Iwobi equals Kanu’s Premier League record in Fulham’s win at West Ham (CompleteSports)
Alex Iwobi bagged an assist in Fulham’s 2-0 win against West Ham which saw him equal Nwankwo Kanu’s Premier League record.
It was Iwobi’s second assist in 25 appearances in the Premier League this season for the London club.
He set up Andreas Pereira for Fulham’s second goal in the 72nd minute. Read more
Athletics coach, Nuhu, hails organisers of Okpekepe 10km race for pacesetting (Leadership)
One of Nigeria’s famous distance running coaches, Stephen Nuhu, says the world acclaimed and World Athletics Gold Label Okpekpe international 10km road race has been a blessing to Nigeria.
He congratulated the organizers of the race on the 10th anniversary for the historic feat, saying it has ‘put Nigeria on the map of the world as a destination for sports’.
‘I want to congratulate the organizers of the race for consistently organizing a world class event every year. It is a testament to the organizational ability of Nigerians and I am happy World Athletics acknowledged this with the label status granted the race in 2015 and its subsequent upgrade from silver to gold,’ said Nuhu. Read more
Saudi reviews football fan rules after whip attack (AlJazeera)
he Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has vowed to review the fan code of conduct after a “disgraceful” attack in which a spectator appeared to whip a player.
The incident occurred on Thursday, April 11, during a match between Saudi teams Al Ittihad and Al Hilal at the Saudi Super Cup in Abu Dhabi.
Footage circulating online shows Al Ittihad striker Abderrazak Hamdallah, a Moroccan national, getting into a tense exchange with – and flinging water on – a thobe-wearing fan in the stands who then strikes Hamdallah with what looks like a whip. Read more
Beijing half marathon: Organisers investigating controversial finish (BBC)
Organisers of the Beijing half marathon are investigating allegations that three African athletes deliberately allowed China’s star runner He Jie to win Sunday’s race.
Footage appeared, external to show Kenya’s Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat and Ethiopia’s Dejene Hailu pointing to the line and slowing down before waving He past.
He, 25, finished one second ahead of the trio, who tied for second place. Read more
Scottie Scheffler wins the 2024 Masters Tournament (NBC)
Scottie Scheffler has won the 2024 Masters Tournament, joining the select group of 17 golfers who have earned the title twice in their careers.
With Sunday’s victory, Scheffler is the fourth-youngest golfer to win multiple green jackets, behind Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Seve Ballesteros.
Scheffler is living in rarefied air. He finished the 88th Masters at 11-under and won by four strokes. The victory made it three wins in his last four events and his second major victory in his previous three trips to Augusta. Read more
Thunder clinch 1-seed but are keeping “eyes on the prize’’ (ESPN)
Rookie centre Chet Holmgren unzipped his black hoodie sweatshirt when asked how the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrated earning the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed, showing off his blue Northwest Division champions T-shirt that was handed out in the locker room.
The Thunder took a team picture to commemorate the occasion after Sunday’s 135-86 win over the Dallas Mavericks — who rested all their starters and a few key reserves — then shifted their focus to preparing for the playoffs.
“I wouldn’t say celebratory so much as just kind of recognizing the fruition of all the hard work that we’ve been putting in,” Holmgren said. Read more