Lagos taskforce impounds 470 motorcycles (DailyTrust)
The Lagos State Taskforce led by Shola Jejeloye, a Chief Superintendent of Police, has impounded 470 motorcycles in a week-long operation.
A statement by Gbadeyan Abdulraheem Director, Press & Public Affairs, Lagos State Taskforce on Monday said the seizure was as a result of intensified efforts to enforce the ban on motorcycle (popularly known as Okada) operations in restricted areas across the state.
The statement added that the development was part of the Lagos State Government’s commitment to aligning with the master plan of its THEMES PLUS Agenda. Read more
137 freed school children arrive Kaduna (Punch)
The 137 school children abducted from Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State, who were released on Sunday, have arrived at the Government House in Kaduna.
On Sunday, the Kaduna State Government announced the release of the schoolchildren.
This was contained in a statement signed by the state governor, Uba Sani. Read more
NSA confirms escape of Binance executive, says officials responsible arrested (Leadership)
The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has confirmed the escape of Nadeem Anjarwalla, the Binance regional manager for Africa, from lawful custody.
A statement by Head of strategic communication at ONSA, Zakari Mijinyawa, on Monday, said “preliminary investigation shows that Mr Anjarwalla fled Nigeria using a smuggled passport.”
“The personnel responsible for the custody of the suspect have been arrested, and a thorough investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances that led to his escape from lawful detention,” the statement said. Read more
Death toll increases to 6 in Plateau communal clash, others wounded (Channels)
The death toll in the clash of communities bordering Langtang North and Mikang local government areas of Plateau State has jumped to six. Thirty persons were injured while forty houses alongside grain storages were set ablaze.
According to the Plateau State Commissioner for Information and Communication Musa Ashoms, the clash which was owing to land disputes, escalated between Saturday night and Sunday, leading to a rise in the number of casualties and properties damaged.
“There are alternative dispute resolution mechanisms which if employed nobody will be hurt but in this case, this was not employed as people who had lived together all their lives pick up arms against one another which is quite unfortunate,” the commissioner said. Read more
Lagos to celebrate World Theatre Day (Nation)
The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, in conjunction with Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, is set to join the rest of the world to celebrate the Y2024 World Theatre Day on Wednesday at Alliance Francaise, Victoria Island by 3 pm.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Idris Aregbe, said World Theatre Day is an occasion to celebrate the rich fabric of “theatrical arts that enrich our cultural landscape.”
According to him, the ministry plans to make the event a memorable one and will feature a line-up of captivating performances from renowned theatre groups, including Crown Group, Footprints of David Kings and Queen Wura, Lagos State Council of Art’s Troupe, among others. Read more
Falana demands prosecution of culprits in Nasarawa varsity students’ death (Tribune)
HUMAN rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, on Sunday called for legal consequences over the death of two Nasarawa State University students during palliative distribution stampede.
The senior advocate also knocked the vice chancellor of the institution for criminalising the participation of students in the rice-sharing exercise.
In the Sunday statement, the chair of Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond Death (ASCAB) said, “Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State was reported to have ordered the distribution of two 7.5 kilogramme bags of rice and N5,000 to each stu- dent of the university in Keffi. Read more
MohBad: Ensure fairness, group urges Lagos coroner (Punch)
A human rights group, International Observers in the Pursuant of Justice, has called on the Chief Coroner of Lagos State, Adedayo Shotobi, not to be biased in the ongoing inquest into the death of late singer, Oladimeji Aloba, popularly known as MohBad.
In a statement on Sunday by its chairperson, Victoria Janolewsky, the group raised concerns over how Mohbad’s case is being handled.
It further called for equity, fairness, and justice in the matter. Read more
I made good decision joining Lions Club – Ndoma-Egba (Independent)
Former Senate Leader and ex-Chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, has said that he made a good decision to join Lions Club many years ago as his membership of the group allowed him to build friendships that positively affected and influenced his life.
Ndoma-Egba, a lawyer turned politician, known for his philanthropic endeavours and service to humanity, made the disclosure at the 25th anniversary of the Achievers Lions Club, Lagos.
Narrating how he joined the Lions Club as a young man, the ex-Senate Leader, who was the chairman of the occasion, said: “I made a good decision to join the Lions Club. Now, what did Lionism do for me? Read more
Ashanti’s alleged baby bump doesn’t stop her from getting down onstage (HotNewHiphop)
For months now, fans have suspected that Ashanti and Nelly are expecting their first child together. Rumours first started when the reunited lovebirds each put a hand on her stomach during a performance, giggling after the fact. Ever since, supporters have been watching the songstress like a hawk, searching for any sign of a growing bump. She hasn’t made it easy, however, opting to rock loosely fitting clothing during all of her recent appearances.
Ashanti’s mother Tina Douglas, on the other hand, made an interesting comment during an interview earlier this month that led fans to believe the pregnancy was confirmed.
Upon being congratulated for her daughter’s rumoured pregnancy, she corrected the host, who then apologized and said she had believed it was public. “It is public, don’t get it twisted,” Douglas responded. “But it hasn’t been officially announced.” Read more
Anne Hathaway goes public about past miscarriage (UPI)
Anne Hathaway is going public about a past miscarriage.
The 41-year-old actress discussed motherhood and her past fertility struggles in the April issue of Vanity Fair.
Hathaway has two sons, Jonathan, 7, and Jack, 3, with her husband, Adam Shulman, but experienced “infertility and conception hell” with both of her pregnancies, she previously shared on Instagram in 2019. Read more
Drake Bell says Nickelodeon’s response to Quiet On Set is “pretty empty” (NME)
Drake Bell has called Nickelodeon’s response to documentary Quiet On Set “pretty empty”.
In the third episode of the four-part series that aired on Discovery, Bell opened up about being sexually abused by dialogue coach Brian Peck aged 15. He was reportedly abused by Peck whilst working on Nickelodeon’s The Amanda Show from 1999 to 2002. Peck was arrested in August 2003 on over a dozen charges relating to sexual abuse involving an unnamed minor.
In 2004, he pleaded no contest to performing a lewd act with a 14- or 15-year-old, and to oral copulation with a minor under 16. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison and forced to register as a sex offender. Read more
ITV Celebrity Big Brother’s Nikita Kuzmin spotted in “heated” discussion with girlfriend at wrap party (OK!)
Nikita Kuzmin and girlfriend Lauren Jaine were spotted having a rather heated discussion at the Celebrity Big Brother wrap-party. Strictly Come Dancing pro Nikita, 26, finished the show in second place, just behind winner David Potts.
Following their exits from the house, the finalists reunited with their loved ones and previous evictees before enjoying an evening of partying. However, despite spending 19 days apart, Nikita and Lauren’s reunion appeared rather mixed.
Photos from the wrap party show the pair embroiled in what appears to be a heated exchange, as they both gestured widely with their hands before looking rather upset. Read more
UN chief urges ‘massive supply of humanitarian aid’ for Gaza (VOA)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday there is an urgent need for a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza, where starvation is “bearing down on Palestinians.”
Speaking during a visit to Jordan, Guterres said the United Nations will keep pushing for more access and entry points for aid, and he called for Israel not to institute any limitations or obstacles to aid deliveries.
International humanitarian groups have complained of a lack of access to get aid to Palestinian civilians, citing materials being rejected by Israeli inspectors, convoys being held up by Israel and a lack of access inside of Gaza because of the ongoing fighting. Read more
Why Paul Simon reunited with Art Garfunkel after bitter split for the concert in Central Park (People)
Simon & Garfunkel’s 1981 Central Park concert was the first time Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel performed together as Simon & Garfunkel for a full show after the release of their final album, Bridge Over Troubled Water, in 1970. The concert turned out to be a new beginning for the duo — and a new ending.
In part two of the new documentary In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon, which premieres March 24 on MGM+, Simon, 82, recounts the pivotal Central Park show, what it meant for the future of Simon & Garfunkel and the nerve-wracking moment when a man rushed the stage.
He explains that when he was asked to do the concert, he had just faced a hurdle in his career. “Because [his 1980 album] One-Trick Pony was a flop, when they asked me to do a concert in Central Park, I thought, ‘Well I just had this big flop, maybe I should ask Artie to come and sing some songs on this.” Read more
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire leads box office with $45m debut (Variety)
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire ruled over the domestic box office and arrived on the higher end of expectations.
The latest installment in Sony’s supernatural comedy series has collected $45.2 million in its debut in 4,345 North American theaters. Earlier in the weekend, Frozen Empire looked like it would top out with $42 million but estimates were revised up after a bigger-than-expected Sunday.
Still, those ticket sales are just barely ahead of its 2021 predecessor, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which earned $44 million to start while the box office was deep in pandemic recovery mode. It’s a sign that the 30-year-old franchise hasn’t expanded its constituency beyond the original (and aging) core fans of the business of busting ghosts. Read more
Miami Open: Coco Gauff beats Oceane Dodin in straight sets to reach fourth round (BBC)
American Coco Gauff progressed to the last 16 at the Miami Open with a 6-4 6-0 win over Oceane Dodin.
US Open champion Gauff fell a break of serve behind and trailed 4-2 in the opening set.
But the 20-year-old produced an emphatic response, winning the next 10 games without reply to seal victory in just over an hour. Read more
Jose Mourinho confirms plans to return to management amid Chelsea and Bayern Munich links (Standard)
Jose Mourinho has confirmed he plans to return to management this summer.
The 61-year-old was sacked by Roma in January and has been linked with Chelsea and Bayern Munich.
Chelsea fans chanted Mourinho’s name away at Brentford earlier this month amid growing frustration with Mauricio Pochettino. Read more
Juventus keen to sign Mason Greenwood this summer (SportsMole)
Juventus have reportedly emerged as genuine contenders to sign Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood during this summer’s transfer window.
The 22-year-old is currently on loan at Getafe in Spain, and he has impressed for the La Liga outfit this season, scoring eight goals and registering five assists in the process.
There is currently a host of speculation surrounding the Englishman’s future, as Man United’s new minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe recently suggested that the door was still open for Greenwood at Old Trafford. Read more
DP World Tour rookie Jesper Svensson wins Porsche Singapore Classic (StraitsTimes)
As Jesper Svensson sank his winning putt at the Porsche Singapore Classic on March 24, he merely smiled and lifted his hands in celebration.
His muted celebrations were understandable for the Swede had just gone through a three-hole play-off en route to capturing his maiden DP World Tour title, but it did not fully encapsulate what this victory meant to him.
Having finished runner-up twice in the ongoing 2023-24 DP World Tour season, Svensson was determined not to let history repeat itself at Laguna National Golf Resort Club’s Classic Course. Read more
UFC fighter Igor Severino disqualified for biting opponent Andre Lima (CNN)
UFC fighter Igor Severino was disqualified from his fight on Saturday night after biting his opponent, Andre Lima.
In the second round of their flyweight bout in Las Vegas, Lima was being held from behind by Severino before the 20-year-old appeared to lean in and bite Lima on his left arm.
Lima let out an audible shout before referee Chris Tognoni stopped the fight and announced that Severino had been disqualified from the fight, awarding the win to Lima. Read more
Upsets, Sweet 16 chalk and the ACC lead March Madness takeaways from men’s NCAA Tournament (USAToday)
One weekend down, two to go.
The opening salvo in this year’s NCAA men’s tournament ended with many of the bracket’s best teams still alive as we turn the corner to the Sweet 16. While there were enough upsets to go around, the first weekend has been defined by powerhouse performances from many national favorites, led by No. 1 seeds Connecticut and Purdue.
Then there’s the SEC’s postseason thud. The conference strutted into the tournament with massive expectations but has just two teams left standing from the eight that started. On the other end of spectrum are the ACC and Big East, which will have a combined seven teams in the Sweet 16. Read more