Lagos families condemn misrepresentation of Eyo cultural heritage (Punch)
The King Kosoko Royal Family and Oloja Chieftaincy Family of Lagos have condemned the misrepresentation of the Adamu Orisa and Eyo cultural heritage in a film titled, Gang of Lagos.
The Oloja-elect, Abiola Olojo–Kosoko, in a statement, took exception to the portrayal of the cultural heritage as gun–wielding and violent deities, and as a means to forcefully acquiring power and control in society.
He said, “The King Kosoko Royal Family and the Oloja Chieftaincy Family of Lagos condemn in totality the movie called, ‘Gang of Lagos’, for using the Adamu of Orisa and the Eyo paraphernalia in a way that does not depict the true history and spirit behind the Eyo play. Read more
98 Chibok schoolgirls still in captivity 9 years after (DailyTrust)
Ninety eight of the 276 students kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, are still in captivity, nine years after their abduction.
The Chibok schoolgirls were abducted from their school on April 14, 2014.
The incident sparked local and international outrage with leaders and activists putting enormous pressure on the Nigerian government to rescue the girls while offering intelligence and support. Read more
Drama continues as Obi denies British govt apology over detention (Guardian)
The drama surrounding the harassment and detention of Labour Party’s (LP) flag-bearer in the February 25 presidential poll, Peter Obi, continued, yesterday, as the party said it was not aware of any apology purportedly issued by the British Government or any of its agencies regarding Obi’s detention by immigration officials at Heathrow Airport, London on Good Friday, April 7.
The rebuttal was contained in a statement, yesterday, by the Head, Media and Communications of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Diran Onifade.
Onifade said: “We have been receiving enquiries with regards to a so-called apology, purportedly issued by the British Government or any of its agencies, to our principal, Peter Obi, in respect of a routine Immigration engagement with him, as he arrived London, for a brief visit, last Friday. Read more
Lagos Council of Ezes denounces Nwajiagu (Independent)
The Council of Ezes led by Eze Hyacinth Nwabueze Ohazulike, the Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State and chairman of Board of Trustees of the Ndi Eze Ndigbo in Diaspora, has denounced the detained Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate, Frederick Nwajiagu, who is being detained at the State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department (SCIID) Panti, Yaba, before taking to Ikoyi prison, over alleged threat to invite members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB) to help secure the property of Igbo people.
Speaking at a meeting with members of the Umuigbo Youth Progressive Association UYPA), who came from the South East to seek counsel on how to overcome the challenges that Igbo youth are facing in the country, Eze Otisi N. Ikoro, Eze Udo Ndigbo of Ifako Ijaiye Local Government, who spoke on behalf of the council, said that Nwajiagu remains an Igbo son despite his statement, adding that he is not recognized by the council as Eze and that he was self-appointed.
Eze Otisi, who is the Agadagbachiri Uzo Ndigbo, Lagos State and Oputaobie in Abia State, stated that Nwajiagu did not have the mandate of Eze Ndigbo of Lagos and his council or the generality of Igbo people to speak on their behalf. Read more
Shi’ites protest El-Zakzaky’s treatment denial, Israeli occupation of Palestine (Vanguard)
In a bold and powerful display of solidarity, members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, also known as Shi’ites, took to the streets of Abuja, the nation’s capital, to protest the alleged attempt to kill their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, by denying him and his wife, Zeenah, travel documents for medical treatment abroad.
Led by Dauda Nalado, the members of the movement under El-Zakzaky’s leadership, also expressed their unwavering support for the Palestinian people in their struggle against the continued occupation of their land by Israel.
The Quds day procession, observed annually by the Shi’ites every last Friday of the Muslim month of Ramadan, began at the Customs office in Abidjan Street, Wuse Zone 3 at 12:05 am, and passed through Wuse Market in Abuja, before it was met with resistance from the police. Read more
3 Nigerians indicted over $6m fraud in US (Channels)
The United States has charged three Nigerians with money laundering and a fraud scheme with losses of more than $6 million.
The Nigerians – 29-year-old Kosi Goodness Simon Ebo, James Junior Aliyu aged 28 and Henry Onyedikachi Echefu, aged 31 – are accused of conspiring to commit wire fraud and money laundering related to a business email compromise (BEC) scheme with losses of more than $6 million.
One of them is being extradited from Canada to the U.S. to face a federal indictment on Friday, April 14 in a U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, MD. Read more
Supplementary Polls: INEC distributes election materials in Adamawa (DailyTrust)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Adamawa State has commenced the distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive election materials to the areas where the supplementary election will take place in the state on Saturday.
INEC had declared the March 18 governorship election in the state inconclusive as the number of PVC collected in areas where the election was cancelled was higher than the margin of lead.
The election is keenly contested between Senator Aishatu Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the incumbent Governor, Umar Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who is leading with over 30,000 votes. Read more
FG puts states on red alert over impending floods (Leadership)
The federal government has alerted state governments about an impending flooding this year, warning that as many as 626 local government areas (LGAs) in Nigeria are prone to flooding in 2023 – about 80 percent of the local governments in the country.
It urged them to start sensitisation and mitigating efforts to prevent the impending disaster.
Speaking at the presentation of the 2023 climate-related disaster preparedness and mitigating strategies in Abuja, the director-general of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Ahmed, said the 2023 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) had revealed that a total of 66 local government areas (LGAs) are at high flood risk in the months of April to June; 148 LGAs in July to September and 100 LGAs in the months of October and November. Read more
Ariana DeBose will return to host the 2023 Tony Awards (CBS)
Ariana DeBose is set to return as the host for the 2023 Tony Awards in June, the Broadway League and The American Theater Wing, the organizations that produce the Tony Awards, announced on Wednesday.
The Oscar-winner hosted the Tony Awards for the first time in 2022.
“I was honored to serve as host last year and even more so to be asked back! So looking forward to celebrating this incredible season and the people who make the work happen. Here’s to adding some uptown flavor to the magic of the Tony Awards,” DeBose said in a news release.
Debose is a celebrated figure in the theater world. She earned a Tony nomination in 2018 for her role as Disco Donna in the stage production of “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical,” and has appeared in many Broadway and off-Broadway plays like “A Bronx Tale,” “Pippin” and “Motown the Musical.” Read more
Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington to star in ‘‘The Piano Lesson’’ on Netflix (Vibe)
Netflix has announced the cast for the upcoming film ‘‘The Piano Lesson.’’ A press release issued on Thursday (April 13) revealed Samuel L. Jackson and John David Washington as starring actors in the movie. Additionally, Ray Fisher, Danielle Deadwyler, Michael Potts, and Corey Hawkins all have leading roles in the project.
Based on the play The Piano Lesson by August Wilson, the screenplay is written by Virgil Williams, and Malcolm Washington, brother of John David Washington. ‘‘The Piano Lesson’’ also serves as the feature film directorial debut from Malcolm Washington. Producers include their father, acclaimed actor Denzel Washington, and Academy Award Nominee Todd Black.
According to the official description, ‘‘The Piano Lesson’’ is set in 1936 Pittsburgh during the aftermath of the Great Depression, following the lives of the Charles family in the Doaker Charles household. An heirloom, the family piano, is decorated with designs carved by an enslaved ancestor. Read more
Quentin Tarantino says sex scenes are “not part of” his cinema (NME)
Quentin Tarantino has explained why he rarely includes sex scenes in his film – claiming they are “not part of” his cinema.
The legendary director was speaking with Catalan Spanish newspaper Diari ARA when he explored the topic, and listed the reasons why the intimate scenes don’t align with his “vision”.
“Sex is not part of my vision of cinema,” he said. Read more
Ben Affleck reveals Matt Damon was a disgusting roommate (Fox)
Despite Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s longtime bromance, Affleck suggested that Damon has repulsive living habits and isn’t the cleanest roommate.
During a recent interview, the “Justice League” actor detailed his relationship with his friend and noted a few shocking details.
“Matt is a beautiful guy, I love him. He’s my best friend, he’s been great to me my whole life, he’s a brilliant guy… I would not suggest living with him,” Affleck said on “The Late Late Show with James Corden.” Read more
Kelly Clarkson’s album ‘‘Chemistry’’ to drop on June 23 (UPI)
Kelly Clarkson announced Friday via her social media accounts that her 10th album, Chemistry, is coming on June 23.
“Having chemistry with someone is an incredible, and overwhelming, feeling. It’s like you have no choice in the matter,” Clarkson posted in the album announcement. You are just drawn to
each other. This can be good and bad. This album takes you down every path that chemistry could lead you down.”
This is Clarkson’s, who also hosts an eponymous daytime talk show, first non-holiday album in five years. She’s already opened up about her tumultuous divorce from ex-husband Brandon Blackstock. But the first two singles from her new album — “Me” and “Mine” — seem to further reference the heartbreak Clarkson says she experienced. Read more
Pentagon leak suspect Jack Teixeira hit with 2 federal charges (NYPost)
The Air National Guardsman accused of leaking a trove of classified US documents was hauled to court Friday on federal charges — telling his dad he loved him during the brief hearing.
Jack Teixeira appeared in a Boston courtroom at 10 a.m. Friday where he was officially charged with unauthorized detention and transmission of national defense information and unauthorized removal of classified information and defense materials, according to CNN.
The 21-year-old, who gained access to the highly sensitive documents through his position as a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman, was arrested by the FBI the previous day and brought into court shackled. Read more
Donald Trump ‘is already sunk’ in Letitia James case: Kirschner (Newsweek)
Former President Donald Trump has “already sunk” himself in the civil business fraud lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, according to legal analyst Glenn Kirschner.
Kirschner, former assistant US attorney, said during the Thursday episode of his Justice Matters podcast that Trump had already landed himself in hot water by repeatedly invoking the Fifth Amendment when he was first deposed in the James investigation over the summer. James filed the $250 million lawsuit against Trump, three of his adult children and the Trump Organization in September, accusing them of misrepresenting business assets to obtain favourable loans and tax benefits.
Trump flew from his home in Florida to New York on Thursday to sit for the second deposition, while accusing James of “leaking” his arrival time in the process. He also accused James, who is Black, of being “racist” against white people. After the deposition, Trump lawyer Christopher Kise said that the ex-president had spent almost seven hours “describing in detail his extraordinary business success,” according to the Associated Press. Read more
Chukwueze’s stunning strike against Real Madrid wins LaLiga goal of the week (Guardian)
Nigeria Super Eagles and Villarreal forward Samuel Chukwueze has won the LaLiga Goal of the Week award for match day 28.
LaLiga announced Chukwueze as the winner on their Twitter handle on Friday.
Chukwueze’s second goal against Real Madrid in Villarreal’s 3-2 win at the Bernabeu last Saturday was selected among the four nominated.
With the score tied at 2-2 and just 10 minutes left, Chukwueze received a pass pushed the ball forward then curled the ball into the top corner to seal a 3-2 win for Villarreal. Read more
Italian-Nigerian volleyball star, Ituma, dies after falling from hotel window (Punch)
Nigerian-born Italian up-and-coming volleyball star, Julia Ituma, has died after a suspected fall from a hotel room window in Turkey following her team’s, Novara, defeat to Turkish side Eczacibas in the Champions League semi-final.
Turkish police said 18-year-old Ituma was staying on the sixth floor of a hotel in Istanbul.
The body of the Italian-born athlete of Nigerian origin was discovered at 5:30 am local time in front of the hotel, Turkish daily Daily Sabah reported.
Her club announced, “With deep sorrow and emotion the untimely death of Italian volleyball player Julia Ituma.” Read more
Divorce: Hakimi’s wife loses out as player registers all assets in mother’s name (DailyTrust)
Paris Saint-German (PSG) defender, Achraf Hakimi left his wife, Hiba Abouk, shocked following a divorce application she filed over allegations of infidelity.
Abouk, 36, approached the court to seek the dissolution of their marriage and demanded half of Hakimi’s property in divorce settlement, however, it was discovered that he had no assets.
The 24-year-old Moroccan International had registered all his properties and assets under his mother, Sadia Mouth’s name. Read more
Joe Joyce v Zhilei Zhang: Briton targets world titles and then face Anthony Joshua ‘‘for bants’’ (BBC)
Joe Joyce wants to fight heavyweight world champions Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, and will then face fellow Briton Anthony Joshua “for banter”.
Joyce faces China’s Zhilei Zhang at London’s Copper Box Arena on Saturday.
The 37-year-old WBO interim title holder is the mandatory challenger for unified champion Usyk’s WBO belt, while Fury holds the WBC strap.
“I want to make a name for myself and I want to be world champion. I just need to be number one,” said Joyce. Read more
Bucks are title favorite, but Kings, Lakers draw books’ concerns (ABC)
The Milwaukee Bucks are the favorite to win the NBA title entering the playoffs, but two Western Conference teams have the potential to be more costly for sportsbooks.
The Bucks are the consensus betting favorite, listed at +275 at Caesars Sportsbook. The Boston Celtics are next at +325, and the Phoenix Suns (+425), Golden State Warriors (+800) and Philadelphia 76ers (+950) round out the teams with single-digit title odds.
However, thanks to a pair of big bets placed in July by an unidentified bettor in Nevada, the Sacramento Kings pose the largest liability for Caesars. Read more
Stakeholders fear return of violence to NPFL venues (Punch)
Following recurring cases of violence at match venues in the Nigeria Professional Football League this season, keen followers of the Nigerian topflight have expressed concerns about the development, which hampered the growth of the league in the past, The PUNCH reports.
Incidents of violence have long plagued the NPFL, with one of the ugliest scenes recorded at the 2019 play-offs in Lagos, when fans of Kano Pillars went gaga after their game against Enugu Rangers.
This season, three clubs, namely Bayelsa United, Remo Stars and Wikki Tourists have had three points deducted from their accrued tallies as punishment for assault on match officials by organisers of the league Interim Management Committee, while some other clubs have been fined for similar incidents. Read more