Lagos keeps mum over murder suspects’ release, corpse’s missing hand (Punch)
The Lagos State Ministry of Justice has kept mum over the alleged release of two murder suspects –Ogunbayo Waliu and Mukaila Salami – from custody.
The suspects, who are members of the Oodua People’s Congress, were remanded in December 2020 over the alleged killing of a Togolese, Frank Afanvi, in the Ayobo area of Lagos.
Frank was a French teacher, but became a security guard on Abiola Farm Estate, Ayobo, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 38-year-old Togolese, who was the only graduate in his family, was lured from church to where he was allegedly beaten to death by the OPC members, who claimed that a car battery thief implicated him. Read more
Motorists groan as Marine Bridge repairs progress (Guardian)
Barely two weeks into the repairs on the bridge, vehicular movement out of Apapa through the Marine beach bridge has remained turbulent for motorists, especially during the rush hours.
Vehicle users and commuters have been urging the contractor handling the rehabilitation to hasten up efforts and keep to the timeline for completion of the project.
The Federal and Lagos State governments had jointly announced, on March 9, that the bridge would be partially shut till Monday, June 21, 2021, for emergency repairs on the Apapa outward section. Read more
Soludo whereabouts unknown, 3 policemen killed as gunmen attack summit (Punch)
Gunmen on Wednesday attacked a former Central Bank Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and killed three police orderlies attached to him.
The incident reportedly happened in the professor’s home town, Isiofia, in the Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.
An eyetwitnes said, “A couple of minutes ago, some gunmen disrupted an interactive session between Isuofia youths and a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo at the town’s civic centre.
“Three policemen were shot dead in meeting” Read more
FG expects 70m Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine through AU (ThisDay)
The federal government is expecting about 70 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson (J & COVID-19 vaccine this year through the African Union (AU), the Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, has said.
AU and Johnson & Johnson on Sunday signed a historic COVID-19 vaccine procurement agreement for 400 million doses of the single-shot vaccine.
The vaccine procurement agreement was expected to allow all AU member-states, through the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), set up last November 2020 under the chairmanship of South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, to have access to 220 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, with the potential to order an additional 180 million doses. Read more
Police deploy officers to warring Edo communities, tackle kidnappers (Guardian)
The Edo State Police Command, yesterday, deployed mobile policemen to warring Uhonmora and Sabongida communities in Owan West Council Area of the state.
Commercial and other activities in the communities were reportedly disrupted following three days of communal clash in which three persons were reportedly killed.
The Guardian learned that communal clashes, which started on Sunday, were caused by a land dispute between two communities, just as Spokesman of the State Police Command, SP Bello Kontongs, said a team of Mobile Police Force was deployed to the area to join forces with other security agencies to restore peace. Read more
FEC approves N30.77bn for power, aviation, transport, others (Tribune)
The Federal Executive (FEC) has approved the sum of N30.77 billion for various projects under the ministries of power, aviation, and transport.
Briefing correspondents after the meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the presidential villa, Abuja on Wednesday, Minister of Power Mamman Sale, said the council approved two memos for his ministry.
He said: “One, it approved the payment of the claims and the variation of onshore and offshore cost of the existing contract for the construction of 1×1 50 MBA three 31, 32, 33 KV sub-stations at Damaturu and 1×330 KV land by extension at Gombi in favour Msssr Kadlak International Limited in the sum of $1,621,423.88 cents plus N102,905,606.7. Read more
Kaduna turns killing field, six travellers, two others gunned down (Punch)
Some bandits have invaded three local government areas of Chikun, Giwa and Kajuru in Kaduna State and killed eight people.
The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, on Wednesday confirmed the separate attacks, disclosing that four persons were injured.
He said at Kan Hawa Zankoro, near Ungwan Yako in Chikun Local Government Area, bandits opened fire on a vehicle which somersaulted, leading to the death of six people while four others sustained varying degrees of injuries. Read more
Killers of Catholic priest won’t go scot-free, Ortom vows (Guardian)
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has condemned the killing of Fr. Ferdinand Ngugban of St. Paul Catholic Church, Aye-Twar village in Katsina-Ala Local Council of the state by gunmen.
Ortom, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, yesterday, described the attack as mindless and wondered why a harmless priest would become the target of armed men.
He reassured the people of Katsina-Ala and Sankera that his government would not relent until those responsible for the killing and other attacks in that part of the state were brought to justice. Read more
Police searching Essex forest for student missing for nearly 10 days (Metro)
Police are searching an Essex forest as the hunt for a missing student intensifies. Richard Okorogheye disappeared from West London on Monday, March 22, and had not been seen in the nine days since. But now officers investigating the case are conducting searches with dogs and horses in Epping Forest near Loughton, after a new confirmed sighting last placed him in the area. The Metropolitan Police have released CCTV images of the 19-year-old in the early hours of Tuesday, March 23. Read more
Putin critic Navalny on hunger strike over Russian prison treatment (BBC)
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has announced a hunger strike at the penal colony where he is held, to demand proper medical treatment.
He has complained on Instagram of not receiving medical help for back pain and problems with his right leg, as well as being deprived of sleep.
Navalny, 44, returned home from Germany in January after treatment for a nerve agent attack in Siberia in August.
He was taken into custody immediately and then given a jail sentence. Read more
Volkswagen April Fool’s ‘Voltswagen’ joke backfires (Metro)
Volkswagen has admitted that statements it released in the US regarding a name change were, in fact, a joke. The car company told American consumers it was changing its name to ‘Voltswagen’ as a way of stressing a commitment to electric vehicles. Putting out a fake news release (then removing it again) VW claimed it was changing its name as ‘a public declaration of the company’s future-forward investment in e-mobility.’ Read more
Facebook bans ‘voice of Trump’ from platform (BBC)
Facebook has removed a video of former US President Donald Trump from the page of his daughter-in-law Lara Trump.
The social media giant banned Mr Trump from its platform in January following riots by his supporters on the Capitol building in Washington.
Lara Trump, a new Fox News contributor, posted a video of herself interviewing Mr Trump on a range of issues.
She later posted a screenshot of an email she received from Facebook warning her of the ban. Read more
‘We gotta control this guy’: Derek Chauvin heard defending police’s restraint of George Floyd (CBC)
The former Minneapolis police officer on trial for the murder of George Floyd was heard for the first time defending the actions of the police, telling a bystander they had to control Floyd because he’s “a sizeable guy” who was “probably on something” in footage from his body camera shown in court Wednesday.
That video clip from Derek Chauvin’s body camera, played for the jury in Hennepin County District Court in Minneapolis, marked the first time the public heard comments from the former officer about the events of May 25, 2020.
Those comments were coupled with the emotional testimony of 61-year-old bystander Charles McMillian who broke down on the stand upon watching footage of Floyd’s pleas while police struggled with him, trying to get him into their squad car, and eventually, pinning him to the ground. Read more
Chrissy Teigen wants more kids after heartbreaking pregnancy loss (PageSix)
Chrissy Teigen has revealed that she and John Legend are planning on having more kids following the heartbreaking loss of her pregnancy last fall.
The model and her music star husband are determined to add yet another child to their brood — which already includes daughter Luna, 4, and son Miles, 2 — either by IVF or adoption, Teigen said in an interview with People.
“I can’t imagine a life without [my children] – I just cannot…And I can’t imagine a life without more, honestly, so we’ll see!” said Teigen, who landed on the magazine’s The Beautiful issue on Wednesday. Read more
Brisbane lockdown ends ahead of Easter weekend (BBC)
The Australian city of Brisbane exited its snap three-day lockdown on Thursday after only one local Covid-19 case was reported in the previous day.
The outbreak in Queensland’s capital – home to two million residents – has grown to 16 infections in total.
State Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the low number of new infections meant the lockdown could be lifted in time for the Easter holiday weekend.
Some restrictions will still apply including mask-wearing in indoor areas. Read more
Miami Open: Naomi Osaka loses to Maria Sakkari in quarter-finals (BBC)
World number two Naomi Osaka’s 23-match winning run came to an abrupt end as she lost 6-0 6-4 to Maria Sakkari in the Miami Open quarter-finals.
Japan’s Osaka was stunned by the Greek 23rd seed’s aggressive start, making 12 unforced errors and not landing one winner in a 21-minute opening set.
Osaka, 23, hid under a towel as she tried to compose herself and fought back to lead 3-0 in the second set.
But Sakkari, from 4-1 down, broke twice to win five games in a row for victory. Read more
Sergio Aguero determined to prove Pep Guardiola wrong after confirming Manchester City exit (Metro)
Sergio Aguero is determined to prove Pep Guardiola was wrong to sanction his exit from Manchester City, with the Argentine convinced that he has at least two years left at the top level. Guardiola informed Aguero after training on Monday that the club would not be extending his deal, which expires this summer. Though the decision was not exactly a surprise to Aguero, the 32-year-old had not given up hope that his ten-year stay at the Etihad would be extended. City informed Aguero of their decision at an untypically early stage of the season as the club felt they owed the striker the courtesy of giving him more time to find a new club. Read more
Andreescu books spot in Miami Open semifinals with win over Sorribes Tormo (CBC)
Canada’s Bianca Andreescu has reached the final four at the Miami Open.
Andreescu earned herself a spot in the tournament semifinals on Wednesday by downing Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 — in a match that went two hours 35 minutes.
“Three setters, what can you expect from me?” Andreescu said with a laugh. Read more
Tiger Woods crash: Los Angeles police determine the cause of golfer’s car accident (BBC)
The details of what caused Tiger Woods’ car crash will only be released if the 15-time major winner gives permission for police to share their findings.
A cause has been determined and the investigation is concluded, said Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva.
Woods, 45, needed surgery after suffering a fractured leg and shattered ankle in the crash on 23 February.
“We have the contents of the black box, everything completed, signed, sealed and delivered,” said Villanueva.
“But we cannot release it without the permission of the people involved in the collision.” Read more
Tyson Fury shows off lean and mean new physique ahead of Anthony Joshua fight (Metro)
Tyson Fury may still be playing down the likelihood of a unification fight with Anthony Joshua but the WBC heavyweight champion has got himself in phenomenal shape as he prepares to return to the ring. AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed earlier this month that the two British boxers had signed a two-fight contract with just a venue and date now needed before the undisputed clash can be officially announced. Fury, though, has continually played coy about progress over a deal despite negotiations ramping up but has always insisted he will fight twice in 2021 – whether it is against Joshua or not. Read more
North Macedonia stun Germany in qualifier (BBC)
North Macedonia stunned four-time world champions Germany as Eljif Elmas’ late goal secured a shock win.
Goran Pandev had put North Macedonia ahead in the 2022 World Cup qualifier on the stroke of half-time.
Ilkay Gundogan equalised from the penalty spot early in the second half after Leroy Sane had been fouled.
But North Macedonia, ranked 65th in the world, snatched victory with five minutes remaining when Elmas struck from close range.Chelsea forward Timo Werner missed a glorious chance to score for Joachim Low’s side before North Macedonia’s winner but somehow fired wide from close range. Read more