Lagos land grabbers kill 4-year-old, father demands justice (Punch)
A father, Kazeem Rahman, has demanded justice after suspected land grabbers allegedly shot his four-year-old son, Abdulmalik, to death in the Eredo area of Epe, Lagos State.
Kazeem, a mechanic, also works part time for a businessman, Wahab Bello.
The mechanic on April 15, was said to have worked on a faulty vehicle owned by his client on the premises of the Olorode Hotel owned by Bello in the Ipoka area of Epe.
After repairing the vehicle, Kazeem said he and his son went for a test drive and he used the opportunity to visit a pig and fish farm he was managing for Bello. Read more
Sanwo-Olu, others seek prompt payment of insurance claims (Nation)
Prompt payment of verified claims will restore confidence in the industry and further entrench the culture of insurance among Nigerians, it has been said.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr. Zainab Ahmed, spoke at the 50th anniversary of the Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA), and unveiling of Insurers House in Victoria Island.
Dr Ahmed, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Aliyu Ahmed, highlighted efforts of the current administration towards ensuring the growth of the industry. She noted that the consolidated insurance bill, currently before the National Assembly, would redefine insurance business and meet stakeholders’ expectations when signed into law.
She said: “If, as a government we are doing everything to ensure and entrench insurance, and prevail on MDAs to take out insurance and preach it to the public, then we will expect that genuine and verifiable claims are paid promptly as this will engender trust in the sector.” Read more
Ckay makes 2022 Time’s Next Generation
Leaders list (Guardian)
Love Nwantiti crooner, Ckay is the only Nigerian on the 2022 TIME’s Next Generation Leaders list.
The singer was included in the official list released by TIME on Thursday.
In their post, TIME recognises Ckay’s efforts at “turning afrobeats into a global phenomenon—His Way.”
The TIME’s Next Generation Leaders list recognises young people from across fields globally “who are working to build a better world”. Read more
Textile manufacturers demand market access
(DailyTrust)
The Nigerian Textile Manufacturers have decried what they described as ‘the state of poor competitiveness of the textile industry’, which they said is dying and needs urgent interventions from the federal government.
They lamented that despite efforts to revive the textile industry, the sector is still confronted with many challenges including high-cost of production that has rendered its product non-competitive; unrestrained snuggling and counterfeiting of Made-in-Nigeria textiles among others.
Addressing newsmen in Lagos yesterday, The Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association (NTMA) and Textile Workers’ Union lamented that the association which ordinarily should mark its 65th anniversary this year with celebration is sadly not doing so as the industry is at the verge of collapsing.
President of NTMA, Folorunsho Daniyan decried poor patronage in spite of the federal government of Nigeria’s Executive Order 003 of 2017. Read more
Former minister, Ewuga’s pilot-daughter, 11 others die in plane crash (Vanguard)
The former Minister of State, FCT, Senator Solomon Ewuga’s daughter, Adzuayi Ewuga, a female pilot, has died in a plane crash in Central Cameroon.
Report said the pilot, who died in a mini-aircraft belonging to Caverton Aviation Cameroon, had 11-passengers on board.
According to local media reports, the aircraft was flying from Yaounde Nsimalen Airport to Belabo, in the east of the country when air traffic services lost radio contact. Read more
Alleged Blasphemy: Two arrested over killing of Sokoto student – Police (Channels)
At least two persons have been arrested over the killing of a female student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, the police said on Thursday.
According to the police, Deborah Samuel, a level-two student, was accused of making a social media post that blasphemed the holy prophet Muhammad (SAW).
The police said the students forcefully removed the victim from the security room where she was hidden by the school authorities, killed her and burnt the building.
Videos on social media show men stoning and flogging a motionless body draped in red attire. Read more
Navy boosts NDLEA’s marine operations with boats, equipment (Guardian)
Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has said that the ongoing synergy between the anti-narcotic agency and other stakeholders especially the military will further tighten the noose on drug cartels and spell doom for their activities in the country.
Gen. Marwa, who stated this today at the handover ceremony of two epenal boats and other operational equipment by the Nigerian Navy to the NDLEA at the Western Naval Command headquarters, Apapa Lagos, described the gesture as symbolic and the beginning of an era of stronger ties between both institutions.
“The Agency is determined to cripple the activities of drug cartels on every front. We do not doubt that the combination of naval and narcotics strategies will spell doom for drug barons in the coming days. NDLEA will continue to partner with relevant stakeholders as we tighten the noose on drug criminals,” Marwa said.
“I am particularly pleased with the prompt response to my request for matériel that could help to strengthen the Marine Unit of NDLEA as part of a sweeping effort to protect Nigerian waters from the trafficking of illicit drug substances. Read more
Buhari begs ASUU to call off strike (DailyTrust)
President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off the ongoing strike in the interest of students.
The President made the appeal Thursday at the 19th National Productivity Day and the conferment of the National Productivity Order of Merit Award (NPOM) on 48 eminent Nigerians and organisations in both the public and private sectors, for their high productivity, hardwork and excellence.
Buhari, who urged ASUU to consider the plight of students, also urged students in public tertiary institutions to be patient.
He said the government had continued to strive in order to address the nagging issues in the nation’s university system within the ambit of the resources available. Read more
You betrayed South East, we are only wiser – Kalu replies Clark (Channels)
Senator Orji Kalu has said that Chief Edwin Clark betrayed the South-East and the region’s quest to produce the next president come 2023.
Kalu in a statement on Thursday asserted that Clark’s “late hour” support for the South East is rather suspicious, adding that the encouragement could have come at least two years prior.
The Chief Whip’s comments come a day after Chief Clark took him to the cleaners.
The respected statesman from the south-south was of the opinion that Kalu is a “traitor” even though the former Abia State governor is one of the oldest vocal frontline politicians in the South-East. Read more
Family decries non-immortalisation of Western Region governor, Fadahunsi (ThisDay)
The family of late Governor of the old Western Region, Sir Odeleye Fadahunsi, has decried the refusal of both the Federal and Osun State Governments to accord their patriarch the honour due him since his passing on May 12, 1986.
This is coming just as the family stated that the refusal of the two tiers of government is a disservice to the nationalistic efforts of the late politician whom has been described as one of Nigeria’s founding fathers.
Fadahunsi, who was elected into the defunct Western Region House of Assembly on the platform of the National Council For Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) took office as the governor of the region with the exit of the former holder, Sir Adesoji Aderemi, the then Ooni of Ife in 1962.
He vacated office in January 1966 upon the takeover of government by the military, which resulted in late Major-General Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi coming to power. Read more
North Korea reports 6 deaths after admitting Covid-19 outbreak (NBC)
North Korea said Friday that six people died and hundreds of thousands of others fell ill amid an explosive spread of fever across the nation, a day after it acknowledged a Covid-19 outbreak in a largely unvaccinated population for the first time since the pandemic began.
The true scale of the coronavirus outbreak is still unclear, as North Korea — which lacks Covid-19 diagnostic kits and other medical equipment — said it hasn’t found why the fever has happened. But some experts say the outbreak can cause major consequences because the country’s health care infrastructure remains broken and many of its 26 million people are unvaccinated and malnourished.
The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said Friday that more than 350,000 people have been treated for fever that “explosively” spread nationwide since late April and that 162,200 of them were recovered. It said that 18,000 people were newly found with fever symptoms on Thursday alone.
It wasn’t immediately clear how many of the cases were Covid-19 as KCNA said the cause of the fever couldn’t be identified. Read more
Elizabeth Olsen admits extensive Marvel contract can be ‘frustrating’ (FilmNews)
Elizabeth Olsen has confessed she once became “frustrated” with her Marvel contract as it prevented her from taking on other acting roles.
The actress rose to fame after appearing in independent films such as 2011’s Martha Marcy May Marlene and the horror movie Silent House, but garnered worldwide prominence three years later when she landed the role of Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Yet, after appearing in a string of films like Avengers: Age of Ultron, as well as the Emmy-winning miniseries WandaVision, Olsen began to wonder whether she would ever be able to get back to working on her preferred types of projects.
“It took me away from the physical ability to do certain jobs that I thought were more aligned with the things I enjoyed as an audience member. And this is me being the most honest,” she said in an interview with The New York Times. “I started to feel frustrated. I had this job security but I was losing these pieces that I felt were more part of my being. And the further I got away from that, the less I became considered for it.” Read more
Chris Pratt teams with Religion of Sports & Reserve Entertainment on doc about champion wrestler Helen Maroulis (Deadline)
Chris Pratt is getting back into the ring with a documentary about World Champion wrestler Helen Maroulis.
The Marvel star has teamed up with Religion of Sports, the venture founded by Gotham Chopra, Michael Strahan, and Tom Brady, and Reserve Entertainment on Helen Believe.
Pratt will produce via his Indivisible Productions banner.
The documentary, directed by Dylan Mulick, follows Olympic champion Helen Maroulis. At just 23 years old, she was competing in her first Olympic Games in Rio against Saori Yoshida, a 13x World Champion and the most decorated wrestler of all time. Yoshida was undefeated for over four straight years – until she stepped onto the mat with Maroulis, who shocked the world and defeated Yoshida to become the first, and only, American woman to win a Gold Medal in wrestling. Read more
Netflix releases intense ‘Resident Evil’ trailer for live-action zombie drama (THR)
Netflix has released an intense teaser trailer for its long-awaited zombie drama Resident Evil, which adapts the hit console game and movie franchise for television this summer.
The trailer suggests an ambitious sci-fi series with a group of young survivors pitted against some rather aggressive zombies.
The project could give Netflix a tentpole undead drama in the vein of AMC’s long-waning hit franchise The Walking Dead, and a heads start on HBO’s highly-anticipated adaptation of another zombie video game title, The Last of Us, which is expected in 2023.
The streamer previously scored some buzz with another zombie title, Zack Snyder’s movie Army of the Dead, last year, as well as the teen drama All of Us Are Dead. Read more
DRC rapper acquitted after being arrested for criticising president (TheSouthAfrican)
A rapper in the Democratic Republic of Congo sentenced to two years in prison for criticising the president has been acquitted on appeal, his lawyer said on Thursday.
A military court in the east of the country sentenced Nzanzu Muyisa Makasi in December on charges of insulting the president, for a song called No President which suggested the country is ungoverned.
Eastern DR Congo is prey to myriad armed groups, many of which are a legacy of regional wars that flared a quarter of a century ago. Read more
Metallica’s James Hetfield congratulates fan who gave birth at Brazil concert (Independent)
Metallica frontman James Hetfield personally called a fan to congratulate her after she gave birth during the band’s concert in Brazil.
Tattoo artist Joice M Figueiró was 39 weeks pregnant when she and her husband attended one of the band’s shows on their six-date South American tour, on Saturday 7 May.
While watching from the handicap area of the stadium, she said contractions began soon after the headliners began their set.
“Since it wasn’t planned, I was scared that the medical team wouldn’t be ready,” Figueiró told The Washington Post. Read more
Russian court sentences Crimean Muslims to jail
(Aljazeera)
A Russian military court has sentenced five Muslim men from annexed Crimea to up to 14 years in jail for their alleged membership in an “Islamist” organisation, a community figure told Al Jazeera.
Thursday’s decision appears to continue Moscow’s perennial pressure on Crimean Tatars, a Muslim minority that once dominated the Black Sea peninsula and fiercely resisted the 2014 annexation.
Dozens of Tatar men are awaiting trial or have been sentenced – and almost 200 children have been left “fatherless”, community leaders say.
The Southern District Military court in the southwestern city of Rostov-on-Don on Thursday sentenced Bilyal Adilov to 14 years in jail, while Izzet Abdullaev, Tofik Abdulgaziev, Vladlen Abdulkadyrov and Mejit Abdurakhmanov received 12-year sentences, activist Mumine Salieva told Al Jazeera. Read more
Darkness eclipses Nigerian Basketball following withdrawal from international competitions (Independent)
Nigerian basketball has been eclipsed by darkness following the federal government approved withdrawal of the sport from international competition for two years.
The government action is premised on the orchestrated crisis by some personalities in the presidency who feel threatened with the re-election of Musa Ahmed Kida as president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).
The government, while announcing this improperly thought out decision, said that the decision was as a result of the “unending crisis that has plagued and nearly crippled basketball development in the country.”
According to the statement, “President Muhammadu Buhari has today (Thursday) approved the immediate withdrawal of Nigeria from all International Basketball Competitions for a period of two years.” Read more
Son ‘accepts’ substitution after Spurs star’s tantrum in win over Arsenal (France24)
Tottenham forward Son Heung-min insisted he “accepted” Antonio Conte’s decision to substitute him in Thursday’s crucial 3-0 win over Arsenal despite his angry reaction to the decision.
Son scored Tottenham’s third goal early in the second half as Conte’s side demolished their north London rivals to reignite their hopes of a top four finish in the Premier League.
With Son chasing Mohamed Salah in the race to finish as the Premier League’s top scorer, the South Korean appeared frustrated when he was replaced in the 72nd minute.
Son, who also won the penalty converted by Harry Kane for Tottenham’s opener, has 21 top-flight goals and Liverpool star Salah has 22. Read more
Lionel Messi tops Forbes’ highest-paid athlete list for 2022 (CNN)
Despite a disappointing season on the pitch, Paris Saint-Germain star Lionel Messi was the highest-paid athlete in the world over the last 12 months, according to Forbes.
The soccer sensation is reported to be bringing in pre-tax gross earnings of $130 million a year from on-field and off-field pursuits, keeping him ahead of the likes of LeBron James and rival Cristiano Ronaldo on the rich list.
Messi, who earns a reported $75 million a year from playing soccer, also cashes in on $55 million from sponsorship deals and endorsements.
It’s the second time the Argentine sits atop Forbes’ list, the last time coming in 2019. Read more
Man Utd interested in Barcelona midfielder, De Jong (Sky)
Barcelona’s Frenkie De Jong is one of the midfielders Manchester United are interested in signing this summer, but no deal is imminent.
New United manager Erik ten Hag worked with De Jong at Ajax between 2017 and 2019.
De Jong helped Ajax reach the Champions League semi-finals in 2019 before he moved to Barcelona in a £75m deal.
United are expected to sign at least one midfielder this summer, with Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata leaving Old Trafford. Read more
Tennis star Naomi Osaka is launching her own sports agency (NPR)
The 24-year-old tennis star Naomi Osaka is starting her own sports agency after six years with IMG, according to Sportico.
Osaka is partnering with her agent, Stuart Duguid, in the venture, named Evolve. Each will hold equity stakes in the company, said Sportico, which first reported the news Wednesday.
“I’ve spent my career doing things my way, even when people told me that it wasn’t what was expected or traditional, Evolve is the natural next step in my journey as both an athlete and businesswoman,” Osaka told Sportico.
Osaka, the highest-paid female athlete in the world, rose to prominence after defeating Serena Williams in the U.S. Open final in 2018. In the following year, she reigned victorious in the Australian Open. She went on to win the U.S. Open in 2020 and clinched a second Australian Open victory in 2021. Read more
Floyd Mayweather opponent targets Jake Paul fight in Nigeria after beating legend (Mirror)
Floyd Mayweather ‘s upcoming opponent Don Moore wants to beat the boxing legend to set up a fight with YouTube star Jake Paul in Nigeria.
Moore and former five-weight world champion Mayweather fight on top of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai this Saturday. The exhibition will be watched by just 20 spectators with tickets for the fight costing £150,000 each.
Once one of Mayweather’s main sparring partners, Moore never achieved the same success as ‘Money’ during his ring career. He went unbeaten in 19 professional fights and was also coached by Mayweather’s late uncle Roger.
Moore insists his knowledge of Mayweather from their time in the gym together has given him the “blueprint” to beat the undefeated fighter. The 45-year-old insists he is focused on Saturday’s clash but is targeting a clash with Paul later on. Read more
England turn to Kiwi great McCullum to revive Test fortunes (France24)
Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum was named coach of England’s Test side on Thursday, with a brief to shake the team out of its deep malaise.
McCullum will leave his job in charge of Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to take charge of a red-ball side that has fallen to bottom place in the World Test Championship after a dire run of one win in 17 matches.
Leading the revival is a sizeable task for the 40-year-old, who has never before coached at first-class or Test level, but he is renowned as one of the sport’s most progressive thinkers and dynamic leaders.
As New Zealand skipper he set the side on the path to their current golden era — last year they won the inaugural World Test Championship and they have reached the finals of the past two 50-over World Cups. Read more