Lagos residents cry out over attempts by hoodlums to takeover community (Vanguard)
Residents of Etegbin in Oto-Awori council area of Lagos State on Wednesday cried out over the recent invasion of the riverine community by suspected hoodlums who claimed they were acting on a court order to repossess land in the area.
The residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Etegbin that the hoodlums, armed with dangerous weapons, on Friday damaged several buildings and burnt tyres at different locations, forcing residents to remain indoors.
At the main Jetty in the town, about six flying boats belonging to residents were destroyed, while some life jackets were burnt at the waterside.
Mr Gbadebo Oluwadamilare, a resident, said that the hoodlums came in through Oke-Era, chanting songs that the land owners had come to take back their land. Read more
Rice sellers worry as price increases in Lagos (Guardian)
Some rice sellers in Lagos State have expressed worry at the increase in the cost of the commodity, with many of them blaming it on inadequate supply.
The traders spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.
Mrs Oluwasikemi Ohundayo, a trader at the Igando Market, said that the ban on the importation of rice, though meant to develop local rice production, was biting hard on Nigerians.
“The road is not free again because of border closure, and I believe the government did it to develop our own rice production capacity, but we
do not have enough farmers. Read more
Afrobeat singer, Femi Kuti, to perform at Hollywood Bowl in June (Punch)
Afrobeat singer, Femi Kuti, will be performing at the 2022 Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, United States.
Femi Kuti made it known on his Instagram page on Tuesday.
He wrote, “L.A.! I’m very happy to announce that my band and I are coming to the Bowl on the 26th of June
2022. Hope to see you there.”
Femi Kuti is critically considered as the new patriarch of Afrobeat music since the death of his father, the music legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. The international star has received six Grammy nominations for his music. Read more
Federal Character: Lagos indigenes sue FG over alleged marginalisation (ThisDay)
Lagos state indigenes under the auspices of Lagosians Advocacy Group (LAG) have sued the Federal Character Commission (FCC) and 18 others before a Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged continuous and deliberate violation of constitutional rights of Lagos State indigenes regarding appointments into public offices and career positions.
The suit, which is before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, was filed by four legal practitioners, Yakubu Eleto, Adeyemi Onikoro, Shittu Akeem, and Nurudeen Aregbesola.
Others are; Chief Muhammed Jamiu, Madam Titilayo Medeme Ogun, and Gbenga Agoro (for themselves and on behalf of LAG).
The defendants are, the Nigeria President, Attorney General of the Federation, The Senate, Lagos State Governor, Attorney General of Lagos State, Lagos State House of Assembly, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), All Progressives Congress (APC), and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Read more
Nnamdi Kanu knows fate on terrorism charge April 8 (Independent)
Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Abuja has fixed April 8, for ruling on a preliminary objection filed by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, challenging the validity of the 15-count amended charge preferred against him by the Federal Government.
Justice Nyako fixed the date after Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN, counsel for Kanu as well as Shuaibu Labaran, the prosecution counsel, had adopted arguments for and against the Defendant’s preliminary objection.
In a short adumbration, Ozekhome pleaded with the court to acquit and dismiss all the charges filed against Kanu by the Federal Government.
At a resumed trial on Wednesday, Ozekhome argued that the 15-count amended charge was “defective and baseless”. Read more
Kano veteran actress, Ladin Chima, sets Kannywood ablaze with accusation of exploitation (Vanguard)
A veteran actress in Kano, Ladin Chima, also known as Mama Tambaya, has lamented over the exploitations she faced in her life as an actress in both Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Kannywood, and how she has not been able to buy a residence for herself in her about 60 years of playing roles in dramas and Hausa films.
She made the lamentation while responding to questions in a personality profile program on the BBC Hausa Service “Daga Bakin Mai Ita”, where she said that in her about sixty years of playing roles in films from the reign of General Yakubu Gowan to date, from NTA Kaduna to NTA Kano to Kannywood, she has never received a payslip of thirty or fifty thousand naira. All she gets never exceeded N2000 or at most N5000.
She stated this to explain why she didn’t own a house in all her years of acting and how she suffered recently as she was ejected from a government-owned residence and became homeless not for the intervention of some humanitarians.
“The long journey I had from NTA Kaduna, to NTA Kano, to Kannywood, I have never faced any difficult milestone until recently. I was faced with a serious calamity this year that I was almost about living on the streets not for the help and intervention of some humanitarians. I would have been sleeping by the roadside at Bata here in Kano. Read more
4 killed during attack on miners, travellers in Plateau – Military (Punch)
The Military task force in charge of maintaining peace in Plateau State, otherwise known as Operation Safe Haven has confirmed that a total of four persons were killed during two separate attacks on miners and travellers in Jos North Local Government Area of the state.
It was learnt that the two incidents, which happened on Tuesday at Yelwa-Zangam community and the Jos-Jingir road, also left three other persons injured.
Confirming the two attacks in a statement on Wednesday, the Military Information Officer of the Operation Safe Haven, Major Ishaku Takwa said “Operation Safe Haven received a distress call on civil unrest that ensued between Fulani herders and miners at Yelwa Zangam general area of Jos North LGA in the early hours of Tuesday 15 February 22. Also, in the late hours of the same day, a vehicle conveying passengers was attacked along Jos-Jingir road.
“Troops of Operation Safe Haven swiftly responded to both incidents and brought the situation under control. Unfortunately, one person was killed and another injured at the mining site. In the unfortunate attack on commuters, three persons lost their lives, 2 other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries and 6 others were rescued. Read more
UK launches ‘British High Commissioner for a day’ competition in Nigeria (Channels)
The British High Commission in Nigeria is offering young women in Nigeria aged between 18 to 23 the opportunity to be High Commissioner for a day with the launch of its ‘British High Commissioner For A Day’ competition.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the British High Commission, Abuja, the competition is part of activities to mark the International Women’s Day on the 8th March 2022, and in celebration of the year of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
“The competition winner will be given an opportunity to work-shadow the British High Commissioner for a day and will gain some insights into what it is like to be a leader,” the statement read in part.
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is “equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”. Read more
Abba Kyari: We’ve no reason to shield anyone, NDLEA fires back at police (Nation)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has stated it has no reason to shield anyone who may be indicted in the course of the ongoing investigation of a 25kg cocaine deal “involving a gang headed by DCP Abba Kyari.”
Kyari, the former Commander of the defunct Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Force Headquarters, is in the NDLEA’s custody alongside four other senior police officers.
Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, on Wednesday said it remains committed to evidence-based investigation and its resolve cannot be weakened by any misrepresentation of facts.
The NDLEA’s response follows speculations that it might be trying to shield its operatives involved in the case. Read more
Chrissy Teigen trolls John Legend over Valentine’s Day card (PageSix)
All of her doesn’t always love all of him.
Chrissy Teigen trolled her husband, John Legend, over the very simple Valentine’s Day card he gave her to celebrate their love.
Teigen, 36, shared a photo of the card in a post to Instagram Tuesday, revealing Legend, 43, had simply typed, “Happy Valentine’s Day, My love!” on a white piece of paper.
He finished the note with a red heart emoji and signed his name as “Johnny.”
“dead,” Teigen captioned the post, which showed her laughing as she held up the card. “I guess he saves it all for the songs.” Read more
Lady Gaga reveals wild lengths she went to in Italy for House of Gucci role: ‘No one knew who I was’ (Metro)
Lady Gaga did the absolute most to prepare for her role as Patrizia Reggiani in House of Gucci, making sure she gave the part her all.
Fans will know all about how the 35-year-old spoke with an accent for months in a bid to get her portrayal of the real-life ex-wife of Maurizio Gucci as accurate as possible.
In a new featurette ahead of the DVD release on February 21, obtained by Metro.co.uk, the Bad Romance singer lifted the lid on the other lengths she went to behind the scenes.
‘My character, Patrizia Reggiani, was a woman in a man’s world. She was smart and she wanted so much to be taken seriously,’ she said in the clip. Read more
Beavis and Butt-Head Do The Universe movie gets UK release date (PlanetRock)
The new Beavis And Butt-Head Do The Universe movie will be available to watch in the UK this summer, it’s been confirmed.
Streaming service Paramount Plus tweeted that it will be premiering the exclusive Beavis and Butt-Head movie in July followed by brand-new episodes of the cult show.
Paramount Plus also announced in the same series of tweets that the streaming service will launch in the UK to coincide with the release of Beavis of Butt-Head and a slew of other shows and movies.
They wrote: “This summer, #ParamountPlus will come to the UK, bringing all of our shows and movies to British audiences!” Read more
STXfilms sells Chris Pine & Ben Foster reteam ‘The Contractor’ to Showtime (Deadline)
Showtime and Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment have acquired U.S. distribution rights to the Tarik Saleh directed action movie The Contractor starring Hell or High Water stars Chris Pine and Ben Foster.
Following a similar collaboration on the comedy Queenpins, which STX sold to Paramount+ and Showtime for $20M as Deadline first reported, this deal will see The Contractor released in a limited number of theaters in the U.S. by Paramount with a simultaneous PVOD release across platforms. The film will arrive on Showtime and Paramount+ later in 2022. It was announced yesterday at the ViacomCBS Investor day that Paramount+ will be integrating Showtime content this summer with an in-app upgrade to the pay-TV channel’s programming.
Pine stars as Special Forces Sergeant James Harper in The Contractor, a guy who is involuntarily discharged from the Army and cut off from his pension. In debt, out of options and desperate to provide for his family, Harper contracts with a private underground military force. When the very first assignment goes awry, the elite soldier finds himself caught in a dangerous conspiracy and on the run for his life.
Gillian Jacobs, Kiefer Sutherland, Eddie Marsan, Fares Fares, Nina Hoss, and Amira Casar also star in the J.P. Davis penned movie. Read more
Mark Wahlberg talks ‘Difficult’ 30-pound weight gain for Father Stu: ‘I’m not getting younger’ (People)
Mark Wahlberg isn’t a fan of making body transformations for movies.
The 50-year-old actor appeared on Australian radio show Kyle & Jackie O where he opened up about his “difficult” experience gaining weight for his role as a boxer-turned-priest in the upcoming film, Father Stu.
When hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson asked Wahlberg whether it was easier to lose weight or gain weight for a role, he admitted, “I would say it’s easier to stay in shape than it is to get in shape.”
“I put on 30 pounds… that was really difficult,” he explained, reflecting on his physical preparations for Father Stu. “I’m not getting younger.” Read more
Popular Bollywood singer, composer Bappi Lahiri dies at 69 (USAToday)
Popular Bollywood singer and composer Bappi Lahiri, who won millions of fans with his penchant for foot-tapping disco music in the 1980s and 1990s, has died in a Mumbai hospital, according to a hospital statement. He was 69.
Lahiri was suffering from obstructive sleep apnea and a recurrent chest infection, the statement by Criticare hospital said. Lahiri died on Tuesday night.
He composed music for dozens of movies featuring top stars, including Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgun and Mithun Chakraborty. His big Bollywood hits included “Chalte Chalte,” “Disco Dancer” and “Sharaabi.” He also had a run of major box office successes in Bengali films.
He was also known for his love of gold chains, which he often wore around his neck for luck. Read more
China accuses US of hyping up threat of Russia invading Ukraine (Newsweek)
China has accused the United States of exaggerating Russia’s military buildup and creating instability in Ukraine’s society and economy in the process.
Russia reported the partial withdrawal of troops near Ukraine and also concluded war games in occupied Crimea on Wednesday. But in an address from the White House, President Joe Biden said more than 150,000 Russian troops still encircle Ukraine.
Earlier this week, diplomats at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv were relocated amid fears that an attack could be imminent. China, meanwhile, has resisted similar moves and not voiced overt concerns about Moscow’s actions. It has faced criticism from the Pentagon for its perceived “tacit support” of Russian military coercion against Ukraine.
“For days, the U.S. has been playing up the threat of war and creating an air of tension,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a regular press conference in Beijing. “This has gravely impacted the economy, social stability and people’s lives in Ukraine, and obstructed dialogue and negotiations between the concerned parties.” Read more
World Cup qualifiers: Pinnick meets Super Eagles stars in London (Punch)
President of the Nigerian Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, met with some Super Eagles players in London to engage them on the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.
He expressed confidence that the nation will make her presence known in the last leg of the qualifying games.
The football official also met with UK-born Nigerian footballer, Ademola Lookman, who recently transferred his allegiance to Nigeria’s Super Eagles after a brief stint with England.
Pinnick made a post on his Instagram Page, at midnight Tuesday, where he claimed to have held a zoom meeting with the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare, and the rest of the Super Eagles players. Read more
Paolo Di Canio claims Alisson could have “howler” for Liverpool at San Siro (Mirror)
Alisson could have a “howler” against Inter Milan on Wednesday evening.
The Reds take on the Italian champions in the San Siro and Jurgen Klopp’s side are favourites to progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Many believe Alisson is the best goalkeeper in the world, as he currently wears the No1 shirt for Brazil and has helped Liverpool win four trophies since his arrival in July 2018.
Although Di Canio accepts Alisson is a good goalkeeper, he believes the Brazilian is capable of making a mistake and is the weak point in Liverpool’s team. Read more
Newcastle ‘thinking seriously’ about replacing Howe with Mourinho (Football365)
Newcastle United are “thinking seriously” about replacing Eddie Howe with Jose Mourinho in the summer, according to an Italian journalist.
Mourinho was fired in April 2021 by Tottenham after 17 months in charge in north London with his sacking coming just days before their EFL Cup final against Manchester City.
Serie A side Roma announced the Portuguese boss’ appointment just a fortnight later to take over as head coach at the start of the 2021/22 season.
Roma have been fairly disappointing under Mourinho this campaign with the Giallorossi currently sitting in seventh position, six points off the Champions League spots. Read more
Kenya withdraw from African Women Cup of Nations (Punch)
Kenya on Wednesday withdrew its national women’s team from this month’s African Women Cup of Nations qualifiers against Uganda after failing to get the team reinstated by the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF).
The government-sponsored caretaker committee had appealed to the continent’s football body to allow the Harambee Starlets play the final round qualifier against the Uganda Crested Cranes in Kampala on February 17 after the sport’s governing body in Kenya, the FKF, pulled the team out in January.
Kenyan sports minister Amina Mohammed said last month that a “suspected fraud” was behind the team’s sudden withdrawal from the competition as no such request had been authorised by the government.
But on Wednesday, the committee chairman Justice Aaron Ringera said officials had “exhausted all avenues” to find a solution that would allow the team to participate in the qualifiers.
“We are now left with no other option than to disband the camp and allow the girls to go back home,” Ringera told a news conference. Read more
Jon Rahm voted European tour’s player of the year for 2nd time (ESPN)
Jon Rahm was voted as the European tour’s player of the year for the second time in three seasons on Wednesday.
The top-ranked Spaniard won the 2021 award after a year in which he captured his first major — the U.S. Open — and spent 27 weeks at No. 1.
Rahm was also Europe’s leading points scorer at the Ryder Cup, with 3½ from his five matches, and had top-eight finishes in the other three majors.
Rahm, the tour’s player of the year in 2019, too, received the newly named Seve Ballesteros Award after a vote by his fellow professionals. Read more
Tennis fans urged to ‘show respect’ to ‘special’ Novak Djokovic over Covid vaccine stance (Express)
Novak Djokovic continues to court controversy by refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19 – but former tennis star Alex Corretja has urged fans to show the player respect and believes the Serbian is “very special.”
Djokovic flew out to Melbourne last month as he looked to win his fourth consecutive Australian Open title.
The 34-year-old had arrived Down Under after being handed a medical exemption to play at the first Grand Slam of the year.
But Australia Border Force deemed the exemption to be invalid and told him he would have to leave the country. Read more
Amir Khan: Former world champion not considering retirement after Kell Brook fight (BBC)
Amir Khan says he has no intention of retiring from boxing if he loses his upcoming bout with long-time rival Kell Brook.
The British duo fight each other in Manchester on Saturday at a 147lbs catchweight after a near 20-year feud.
But Khan, 35, is not thinking about quitting as he told BBC Breakfast: “After Sunday? Career still going strong. I’m still fighting.
“I feel better at 35 than I was at 25, believe it or not.” Read more
