Lagos amputee hawker celebrates birthday, set to open supermarket (Punch)
Things are fast falling into place for Mary Daniel, the 26-year-old amputee water hawker and her life is showing significant transformation.
The single mum, who used to sell bottled water on highways in the Oshodi area of Lagos, marked her 27th birthday on Friday with fanfare.
“I feel happy today,” Daniel enthused about the event. “I didn’t celebrate my birthday last year. I am grateful to God for what He has done in my life,” she said, her face lit up with smiles. “I never thought I would mark my birthday in a big way like this.”
She added, “People who know me before now have been calling me and making kind remarks about me. They said I have changed for good and they can hardly recognise me again.” Read more
Dreaded Lagos robber Samuel Ayooluwa caught with two pistols (PMNews)
A suspected dreaded Lagos armed robber, Samuel Ayooluwa has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command with two locally made pistols.
Other items recovered from him are: three live cartridges, three expended cartridges and two mobile phones.
A statement issued by the command‘s spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi said police operatives attached to Itire Division of the Command on 22nd April, 2021, at about 9.40pm, arrested Ayooluwa, 24, at No 54, Olatilewa Street by Lawanson, Surulere, Lagos State.
He said the police operatives on their routine patrol around the area had responded to a distress call from one of the shop owners that three armed men on motorcycle attacked the customers in the shop and dispossessed them of their belongings. Read more
LASG warns against use of land grabbers, violence in property disputes (Guardian)
Lagos State Government has warned residents involved in land disputes against resorting to self-help by employing land grabbers to perpetrate violence.
Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state, Moyosore Onigbanjo, who gave the warning at a stakeholder meeting in Ikorodu, under the theme, ‘Land Grabbers, the Law and Your rights,’ said no one should resort to self-help. Represented by the Directory of Advisory Services in the ministry, Saheed Quadri, he said the state government enacted the land grabbing law to prohibit forceful entry and illegal occupation of landed properties, as well as violent and fraudulent conducts in relation to landed properties.
He accused some traditional leaders and community members of working as accomplices for land grabbers. Read more
Foundation hires residents to clean Lagos beaches, others (Punch)
The Sterling One Foundation has said its Multi-City Beach Clean-up Project will empower youths and women in coastal communities across the country.
The Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Mrs Olapeju Ibekwe, who spoke during the launch at Alpha Beach in Lagos State, said the project would also provide alternative sources of income for the communities and ensure that the beaches get cleaned every week for at least the next one year.
According to a statement, members of the initiative’s board of governance, environmental groups, volunteers, and the media launched the project, which was initiated by the Managing Director/CEO, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, recently. Read more
LASG partners MTN, Microsoft on free internet infrastructure in 100 schools (Independent)
Lagos State government has unveiled a commitment to provide free internet facilities for use in schools through a private sector-led collaboration involving telecommunications firm, MTN through Microsoft.
The partnership that would provide free internet facilities in one hundred (100) Schools across the State is aimed at improving the education system through the deployment of technology, to meet the challenges of the 21st century global best practices.
The Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, disclosed this while speaking at a one-day Workshop with Commission Members and Tutors General/Permanent Secretaries from the Six (6) Education Districts.Read more
Why we beheaded businessman whose wife raised only N40,000 out of N5m ransom – Suspected kidnapper (Punch)
A suspected member of a kidnap gang, Bello Mohammed, has been held for the abduction and killing of a businessman, one Osondu Nwachukwu, who operated a sachet water factory in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Mohammed and four other members at large identified simply as Maikano, Dogo, Hassan and Jubril reportedly carried out the act.
He was arrested on March 11 by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team after the case was reported to the police.
City Round learnt that the gang kidnapped Nwachukwu from his house and contacted his wife to pay N5m ransom. Read more
Angst over killing of abducted 3 Greenfield varsity students (Leadership)
There have been angry reactions from across the country over yesterday’s announcement by the Kaduna State government that bandits had killed three of the students of Greenfield University in Kaduna State who they had abducted on Tuesday.
LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered yesterday that two the three deceased undergraduates had been identified as Dorathy Tirnom Yohanna and Abubakar Yusuf Sanga.
Abubakar Yusuf Sanga, the son of one Yusuf Muazu from Sabon Gida in Gimi district of Numana chiefdom, Sanga local government area of Kaduna State, has been buried in Kaduna according to Islamic rites.
The bandits had raided the private university located at Kasarami village off Kaduna-Abuja Road in Chikun local government area of the state on Tuesday night and kidnapped 23 of the undergraduates from their hostels. Read more
Nigerians remember Dagrin 11 years after (Independent)
Eleven years after an unfortunate accident claimed his life, Nigerians, on Thursday, remembered late rapper, Oladapo Olaonipekun, aka Da Grin. Da Grin, who has been cited as one of the pioneers of dialect rap singers of Yoruba language and Pidgin in Nigeria, died in an accident on April 22, 2010.
Taking to his Twitter handle, a fan of the late rapper, Starboi_Rinzywayne wrote; “Today makes it 11 years since you left this world broken, But you’re never forgotten,& we will keep on Celebrating you like you never Left, DAGRIN EVERGREEN. Keep Resting. Your MEMORY & LEGACY LIVES ON FOREVER.”
Another of Da Grin’s fan, Spreezy X says that the late rapper is still being missed even though some have been showing him disrespect. Read more
We are yet to receive approval to roll out new SIM cards – Subscribers (Leadership)
Subscribers across the different telecommunications network in Lagos say they are yet to receive approval to resume registration of new Subscriber Identification Module (SIM).
The subscribers made the disclosure in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.
NAN recalls that the Federal Government suspended the registration of new SIM in December 2020 and lifted the ban with effect from April 19.
A visit by a NAN correspondent to some of the network providers’ customer service outlets, observed that no SIM registration was done, as most subscribers who requested for new SIM were turned down. Read more
Even after popular guilty verdict, judge seals names of Derek Chauvin jurors to protect them from ‘harassment’ (RT)
The judge in the trial of ex-police officer Derek Chauvin has ordered that jurors’ names remain sealed for at least six months for their protection despite their guilty verdict seemingly easing fears over potential violence.
Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill noted that the court and lawyers in the case had received an unprecedented level of messages and calls, including threats, and some jurors feared media harassment. “In light of all these considerations, the court finds that continuing restrictions on public disclosure of the jurors’ identities remain necessary to protect those jurors desiring to remain anonymous from unwanted publicity or harassment.”
The jury on Tuesday convicted Chauvin of second- and third-degree murder, as well as second-degree manslaughter, in the death of George Floyd last May. Cahill set Chauvin’s sentencing for June 16. The Floyd incident sparked a wave of Black Lives Matter protests, many of which turned violent, across the US. Read more
How to deal with the addictive habits we developed in lockdown as restrictions ease (Metro)
Did you find yourself turning to something more and more during lockdown? Our nightly glasses of wine and growing drinking routine is perhaps one that’s been spoken about the most over recent months – with one in seven Brits admitting they are drinking more alcohol than before. But there are other addictive habits we’ve developed over the past year, too, such as gaming, porn, playing the lottery and online shopping – all of which have the potential to be dangerous. Read more
Ghislaine Maxwell makes first US court appearance (BBC)
Ghislaine Maxwell has appeared in court on new charges of sex-trafficking, her first appearance since her arrest last summer.
She attended the New York court in person on Friday for arraignment on new charges against her filed last month.
Ms Maxwell, 59, pleaded not guilty to the new counts.
The British socialite is accused of helping convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein recruit, groom and sexually abuse girls. Read more
Blood-injecting beauty salon owner charged after clients allegedly catch HIV from ‘vampire facials’ (RT)
A New Mexico beautician has been charged with 24 felonies after at least two of her clients allegedly developed HIV following ‘vampire facials’ at her salon. Inspectors say they found human blood and needles scattered around it.
Maria de Lourdes Ramos de Ruiz of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was charged this week with 24 felonies, including six counts of money laundering, 12 counts of tax evasion, and five counts of practicing medicine without a license.
Ramos de Ruiz’ salon offered clients so-called ‘vampire facials,’ in which a customer’s blood is drawn, spun in a centrifuge, and injected back into their face to stimulate tissue repair and regeneration. Read more
Covid: ‘Smell training’ recommended for lost sense of smell (BBC)
Researchers are calling for people struggling to regain their sense of smell after falling ill with Covid-19 to undergo “smell training” rather than being treated with steroids.
This is a process that involves sniffing different odours over a period of months to retrain the brain to recognise different smells.
A group of international expert say smell training is cheap and simple.
And unlike steroids, it is free from potential side effects. Read more
“Captain America 4” ‘in the works’ after action-packed “Falcon and Winter Soldier” finale (Metro)
An untitled Captain America 4 film is reportedly in the works from Marvel, following the MCU’s explosive finale for episode six of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier on Disney Plus. Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, when Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) handed over Captain America’s shield to Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), it’s been rumoured that Chris could return to reprise the role. Despite Chris seemingly shutting the speculation down, that hasn’t stopped the gossip mill from churning, and now it appears a fourth Captain America film could be on the way. It’s been reported that Captain America 4 will be co-written by Malcolm Spellman, the creator and head writer of Falcon and The Winter Soldier. Read more
Covid-19: Israel records no daily deaths for the first time in 10 months (BBC)
Israel has recorded no new daily Covid-19 deaths for the first time in 10 months, as the country pushes ahead with its speedy vaccination drive.
The country’s coronavirus death toll remained unchanged at 6,346 on Thursday, health ministry data showed.
The last time Israel reported zero Covid-19 deaths was at the end of June last year, after lockdown measures curbed a first wave of infections.
Israel’s outbreak has eased after hitting its peak in January this year. Read more
Cristiano Ronaldo keen on Manchester United return this summer (Metro)
Cristiano Ronaldo is keen on a return to Manchester United this summer, according to reports in Italy. The 36-year-old is currently in his third season at Juventus but is understood to be considering his future with the Italian club eliminated from the Champions League and set to miss out on the Serie A title. Ronaldo had reportedly considered a return to Real Madrid this summer but that possibility now looks remote with the Spanish side keen on signing. Read more
Tokyo Olympics chief hopes for ‘swift return to normalcy’ after Japan declares Covid emergency (RT)
Tokyo Olympics organisers maintain that they are unwilling to cancel this summer’s Games despite a “short” state of emergency being imposed in regions including the Japanese capital.
Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has declared a targeted state of emergency for four prefectures including Tokyo and Osaka in an attempt to halt a surge in Covid-19 cases, with just three months to go before the Olympics.
The government implemented tougher restrictions, such as banning restaurants and bars from serving alcohol, temporarily closing department stores and movie theaters, and barring spectators at sports games, which will be in place from Sunday through May 11. Read more
Rafael Nadal beats Cameron Norrie to reach Barcelona Open semi-finals (BBC)
Rafael Nadal stayed on course for his 12th Barcelona Open title with a 6-1 6-4 win over British number two Cameron Norrie in the quarter-finals.
The 34-year-old had far too much skill and guile on his favoured clay surface.
The world number three swept through the opening set but although Norrie made more of a fight of it in the second, Nadal was too good.
“I played well at the beginning then I stopped a little bit in the second,” said the Spaniard. Read more
Ryan Giggs speaks out after being charged with assaulting 2 women (Metro)
Ryan Giggs says he plans to clear his name in court after he was charged with assaulting two women and controlling or coercive behaviour on Friday. The former Manchester United winger, now Wales manager, was charged with assault causing actual bodily harm against a woman in her 30s and the common assault of a woman in her 20s. Both assault charges relate to an incident on November 1 last year, which is understood to have happened at Giggs’ home in Worsley near Salford. The older woman was treated for injuries at the scene. Read more
Gunners fans protest & demand US owner Kroenke leaves club after Super League debacle (RT)
Arsenal fans have gathered outside their Emirates Stadium to protest against scrapped plans to join the European Super League and the club’s owners.
Taking advantage of the Gunners’ home game against Everton in the Premier League on Friday, hundreds of supporters brandished banners, sang chants and let flares off.
The brunt of their anger was aimed at owner Stan Kroenke, the club’s majority shareholder for a decade now who assumed full control of the north Londoners in 2018.
Facing calls to get “out” of the club since it withdrew from the failing Super League project, Kroenke’s son Josh revealed his father has “no intention” of selling up at a fans’ forum yesterday despite the furor and long-harbored resentments. Read more
Woods posts first picture since car crash (BBC)
Tiger Woods has posted a photo of himself smiling on a golf course – the first time he has been pictured since he was seriously injured in a car accident in February.
The 15-time major champion underwent surgery on open fractures to his lower right leg and further injuries to his foot and ankle following the crash.
Woods had a big smile on his face as he stood on the course next to his dog.
“My course is coming along faster than I am,” Woods wrote on Instagram.”But it’s nice to have a faithful rehab partner, man’s best friend.” Read more