Lagos traders protest shooting of bizmen, killer cop, celebrator disappear (Punch)
Some traders on Wednesday staged a protest to demand justice for their colleagues, Chikere Obieshi and one Odinaka, who were killed by an Inspector, Mohammed Hussini, in the Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro had reported that Hussini, the deceased and some guests gathered at the La Silver Bar in the area on Sunday to celebrate the birthday of a friend, identified only as Ifeanyi, aka Obama.
During the celebration, the armed cop, who was said to be under the influence of alcohol, became overjoyed and opened fire to do a gun salute to celebrate Ifeanyi.
In the process, the cop, who could not maintain a firm hold of the gun because he was intoxicated, released the bullets that struck Obieshi and Odinaka down. Read more
Succour for Makoko, Shomolu residents as firms donate malaria relief materials (Guardian)
Succour has come the way of Makoko residents, a riverine community in Lagos State, as a health insurance company in Nigeria, Hygeia HMO, donated malaria relief materials to curb endemic malaria in the area.
The donation was in accordance with the world Malaria Day celebration, aimed at fighting malaria in communities with high prevalence rate of the disease.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) 241 million new cases of malaria was recorded in 2020, more than half of the 627,000 deaths recorded in 85 countries were in under- five children in sub-Saharan Africa and 31.9 per cent of malaria related deaths are from Nigeria.
Hygeia HMO in a statement, noted that pandemics may come and go, but malaria has remained the deadliest infection for decades. Read more
10 die in Lagos-Ibadan road crashes, FRSC blames speeding (Punch)
Ten people have lost their lives in separate accidents on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
In the first incident, four persons were burnt to death when a commercial bus caught fire at the Fidiwo, Ogun State end of the road.
Our correspondent gathered that the bus had a tyre burst, lost control, somersaulted and went up in flames.
The Ogun State Public Relations Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps, Florence Okpe, said the crash occurred around 2.25pm on Tuesday at Ogunmakin. Read more
Lagos Anglican primate mourns ex-bishop (Punch)
The Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Henry Ndukuba, has described the late former Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos West, Peter Adebiyi, as a man whose life positively imparted many people.
Ndukuba said this on Wednesday during a commendation service for the late Bishop at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral in Ikeja GRA.
He said, “We pay compliments to the family of our patriarch and father, Dr Peter Adebiyi. We thank God because this is a celebration of life. He lived in God’s service, an evidence of the grace of God, he imparted many people and helped many to find purpose and meaning.
“A good number of bishops and priests, especially those that are here, have, at one way or the other, been impacted by this servant of God. Read more
C.M.S ‘97 set flags off projects for alma mater
(Guardian)
The ‘97 Set of Nigeria’s oldest secondary school, C.M.S Grammar School, Lagos, has flagged off two projects to commemorate 25 years of leaving school.
The ceremony was attended by the President of Old Grammarians’ Society; Mr Olu Vincent, first Vice President; Dr Dipo Arigbede, Principal of the school; Rev. Jacob Ogunyinka, patron of the set and Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe.
Chairman of the set, Mr Michael Otue, said they decided to give back to the school by undertaking two projects that will enhance teaching and learning.
He said: “What we are doing is to follow in the footsteps of men that have gone ahead of us by upholding the name of the school. When we thought of what to give back, we wanted a project that will impact teachers and students. This is the reason we have chosen to undertake these projects.” Read more
NPA partners Police, LASG to curb extortion along port corridor (Vanguard)
The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, has enlisted the support of the Nigerian Police in curbing the activities of extortionists and other forms of illegalities along the roads leading to Apapa and TinCan Island Port Complex.
This is said to be in line with the implementation of action points in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the NPA and the Lagos State Government (LASG) on truck traffic control and enforcement in Apapa and environs signed on 8th March, 2022.
The Managing Director of NPA, Mohammed Bello Koko, while receiving the Police Assistant Inspector General, AIG, Zone 2 Command, Bode Adeyinka Adeleke, and his counterpart in the Maritime Police Command, Ibrahim Kaoje, last week at the NPA headquarters, had lamented the proliferation of illegal checkpoints along the ports corridor.
He got the consent of the two Police chiefs to join the NPA management for an on-the-spot check of the port access road to ascertain the reality on the ground. Read more
Abia pensioners protest non-payment of 38 months pension arrears (ThisDay)
Abia State pensioners yesterday took to the streets of Umuahia, the capital city to protest the non-payment of pensions and gratuities running into 38 months.
The languid senior citizens marched under the aegis of Concerned Abia Pensioners, in what they said was the beginning of a two-day protest across the state.
Evoking pity and hopelessness as they lamented the unpaid 38 months pension arrears, 20 years of non-payment of gratuities and non-harmonization of pensions from 1998 to 2010, the pensioners disrupted vehicular movements on their route to government house.
With placards and solidarity songs that were barely audible the angry pensioners took their protest to government house where they were addressed by the state Commissioner for Finance, Dr Aham Uko. Some of the placards read: “Let Governor Ikpeazu cut his security vote and pay pensioners”, “Abia Pensioners: 38 months of unpaid pensions”. Read more
Gospel singer, Temitope Odunlami seeks God’s favour for Nigeria (Independent)
A popular Abeokuta-based gospel music singer, Temitope Odunlami (aka Ijo ope) has urged Nigerians, irrespective of creed, tribe or religion to continue to ask for God’s favour amidst ongoing challenges.
Odunlami stated this in a chat with Daily Independent as she prepares for the May edition of her monthly open-air musical evangelism tagged: “An Hour Street Praise”.
Odunlami showered praises on the Almighty God for keeping the unity of the country despite rising discontentment by the ruled.
The soul-winning singer prayed to God to continue to chart a path of happiness, peace, growth, and development that will lead to the actualisation of the dreams of Nigeria’s founding fathers for the citizens. Read more
Despite denial, National Hospital cancer treatment machine not working (Leadership)
One week after LEADERSHIP reported the failure of the only CT simulation machine at the National Hospital, Abuja, which has not been functioning since January, the management of the hospital is yet to fix the very important cancer treatment machine.
To this end, cancer patients referred to the National Hospital, Abuja, from different parts of the country, especially from Northern Nigeria, have been stranded for four months following the breakdown of the CT simulation machine in the hospital.
LEADERSHIP gathered that patients, who have received or are receiving additional courses of chemotherapy using I.V doxorubicin 90mg, V.I Cyclophosphamide 920mg and I.V docetaxel 120mg, are presently in a fix as the CT simulation machine has not been working since January 2022.
Some of the patients are supposed to undergo External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) which is the most commonly used form of radiation oncology treatment and uses high-dose radiation to destroy cancerous cells or shrink tumours. Read more
2 FIRS officials jailed for forging tax documents
(Nation)
A Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted two officials of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mohammed Adamu and Okoro Eunice Udokanmma.
They were charged with falsification of tax documents.
Justice Inyang Ekwo yesterday convicted the two on the five counts contained in the charge marked: FHCABJ/CR/86/2010.
Ekwo held that the prosecution sufficiently proved its case against the defendants through its six witnesses and several exhibits tendered.
‘Dr Strange’ actress ‘sexually abused girl 13, alongside her husband’ (Metro)
A Hollywood actress and her husband repeatedly had sex with a 13-year-old girl after grooming her, a court has heard.
Zara Phythian, who appeared in Doctor Strange with Benedict Cumberbatch, is accused of numerous sexual offences along with her husband Victor Marke.
The girl, who is now an adult, told police that the couple filmed most of the abuse in an attempt to recreate pornographic scenes.
Phythian, 36, and her husband, 59, deny all of the offences.
The abuse is claimed to have happened between 2005 and 2008, before the couple were married and when they were both martial arts instructors in Nottingham. Read more
Moscow bans 287 UK lawmakers from Russia, drawing British sarcasm (Independent)
Russia on Wednesday banned 287 British members of parliament from entering the country and accused them of fuelling “Russophobic hysteria” in Britain, drawing a defiant response from Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine Britain has, alongside allies, imposed far-reaching sanctions against Moscow’s wealthy oligarchs and political elites, including President Vladimir Putin.
Russia’s foreign ministry said the sanctions on members of the House of Commons were in response to Britain imposing similar restrictions on 386 members of its own lower house of parliament on March 11.
“These persons… took the most active part in the establishment of anti-Russian sanctions instruments in London, and contributed to the groundless whipping up of Russophobic hysteria in the UK,” a foreign ministry statement said. Read more
Electronic music pioneer Klaus Schulze dies aged 74 (MusicNews)
Electronic music trailblazer Klaus Schulze has died at the age of 74.
The Berlin-born star passed away on Tuesday (26.04.22) after battling an undisclosed illness, according to the managing director of Schulze’s record label.
Frank Uhle – who works at the SPV label – said in a statement: “We lose and will miss a good personal friend – one of the most influential and important composers of electronic music – a man of conviction and an exceptional artist.
“Our thoughts in this hour are with his wife, sons and family. His always cheerful nature, his innovative spirit and his impressive body of work remain indelibly rooted in our memories.” Read more
Rob Kardashian says ‘toxic relationship’ with Blac Chyna ‘wasn’t real love’ in emotional testimony (People)
Rob Kardashian took the stand in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday during the ongoing trial between Blac Chyna and the Kardashian-Jenner family, giving an emotional testimony about his and Chyna’s “toxic relationship.”
While speaking in court, Rob said he had met Chyna –– born Angela White –– through Instagram and mutual friends shortly after he graduated college, telling the jury that “everything happened very quickly” after reaching out to Chyna, with whom he shares 5-year-old daughter Dream.
When asked why he stayed in a relationship with her after she repeatedly disrespected his family “a hundred different ways” as their relationship progressed –– including not showing up to a baby shower the family had tried to plan for them, negative tweets and comments on social media about the Kardashian-Jenners, and even alleged death threats made to Rob’s youngest sister, Kylie –– Rob explained he was at the “lowest point” in his life.
“I was probably at the worst place in my entire life, at my weakest, lowest point. She was the one person who brought me in at my lowest point. So I ignored her bad behavior towards my family,” he said. “I was very vulnerable. I wasn’t thinking about that stuff. My mind was just in a completely different place.” Read more
Andrew Garfield announces he is quitting acting to focus on being ‘ordinary for a while’ (Mirror)
Andrew Garfield has revealed he has decided to take a break from acting to take time to be ‘ordinary for a while’.
Since 2020, the Social Network actor has starred in Mainstream, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Tick, Tick… Boom! and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
He also has a main role in the upcoming miniseries, Under the Banner of Heaven.
In a new interview with Variety, Andrew shared: “I need to recalibrate and reconsider what I want to do next and who I want to be, and just be a bit of a person for a while.” Read more
Jason Sudeikis had ‘no prior knowledge’ that Olivia Wilde would be served during CinemaCon (NBC)
Olivia Wilde was served papers regarding her children during an appearance Tuesday at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.
Sources close to “Ted Lasso” star Jason Sudeikis told NBC News via email that “papers were drawn up to establish jurisdiction relating to the children of Ms. Wilde and Mr. Sudeikis.”
The source added, “Mr. Sudeikis had no prior knowledge of the time or place that the envelope would have been delivered as this would solely be up to the process service company involved and he would never condone her being served in such an inappropriate manner.”
Representatives for Wilde did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Read more
Jeff Goldblum responds to meme that he’s ‘hotter than ever,’ says interns ‘earned their paycheck’ (USAToday)
Jeff Goldblum is just being modest.
The internet heartthrob and “Jurassic Park” favorite returns along with original castmates Laura Dern, Sam Neill and BD Wong for “Jurassic World Dominion” (in theaters June 10), which premiered new footage at CinemaCon Wednesday.
Taking the stage with current franchise star Bryce Dallas Howard, Goldbum bemoaned how the “Dominion” stunts “felt more taxing” on his body than they did 30 years ago. But Howard was having none of it from the actor, who at 69, looks as youthful and fit as he did in 1993.
“I’m not taking that from you,” Howard said, pointing Goldbum to a fan tweet that reads, “Jurassic World Dominion, a movie about the original cast being hotter than ever.”
“No, I think that’s my social media interns,” Goldblum joked. “They really earned their paycheck that day. That’s what happened.” Read more
Lagos agog as 2nd AFN All Comers begins (ThisDay)
The sports ground of Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos will come alive this morning when the 2nd Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) All Comers competition begins.
The competition is serving as official selection trials for the 22nd African Senior Championships in Athletics scheduled to hold between June 8 and 12, 2022 in Mauritius.
The Technical Director of the AFN, Samuel Onikeku, said yesterday that the two-day competition will not only give athletes the opportunity to gauge how far they have gone with their training, it will also give them the chance to secure the qualification standard for the flagship event of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA).
“The qualification window closes on Saturday 30th of April and this competition is serving as the final opportunity for those who have not met the standard for the competition to do so,” said Onikeku, a former sprinter. Read more
Iwobi targets Chelsea scalp as Everton battle relegation (Punch)
Ahead of their game against Chelsea at Goodison Park on Sunday, Alex Iwobi has insisted that Everton will give their all as they continue their fight to avoid relegation at the end of the season.
The Toffees currently find themselves on the wrong side of the EPL log as they occupy the 18th position after a disappointing campaign.
It has been tough for the club from Merseyside, who have only won eight league matches this season, lost 19, and have 29 points from 32 games.
They sit just above Watford and Norwich City on the Premier League table with a game to play. Read more
Quadruple-chasing Liverpool hitting all the right notes (France24)
As Liverpool fans all around Anfield celebrated their Champions League semi-final first leg victory over Villarreal, it was fitting they chose a Beatles song to serenade the mastermind of their bid for football immortality.
In recent months, Jurgen Klopp has been feted by supporters who have turned the Beatles’ ‘I feel fine’ into a song of praise for the Liverpool manager.
“Jurgen said to me, you know. We’ll win the Premier League, you know. He said so. I’m in love with him and I feel fine,” they chant from the Kop.
Never has the work of Merseyside’s most famous musical sons been more appropriate than on Wednesday. Read more
Manchester United set to change contract strategy under Erik ten Hag (MEN)
Ralf Rangnick insists Erik ten Hag should have the final say on any Manchester United contract renewals.
United announced Bruno Fernandes had extended his contract by only a year on April 1 even though his previous deal had a final expiry date of 2026.
Fernandes, 27, was rewarded with a salary raise after two productive years following his signing from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020 but the Portuguese’s performance level has plummeted this season and his form since the renewal has been particularly poor.
Anthony Elanga signed an improved contract during Rangnick’s first month as interim manager while Anthony Martial and Phil Jones inked new deals while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was still caretaker manager. Read more
Deaf golfer Makokha eyes gold in Brazil (Star)
Kenya’s top Deaf golfer Isaac Makokha is targeting a gold medal at the 24th Summer Deaflympics to be held at Caxias Do Sul in Brazil from May 1 to 15.
Makokha, who plays off handicap 0.8 exuded confidence of clinching gold. He, however, named German Allen John as his main threat.
In his Deaflympics debut in 2017 at Samsun in Turkey, Makokha finished fifth. He is ranked five in the world among deaf golfers.
“In Turkey, I was under pressure and naïve. However, this time I am well prepared and ready to go for gold even though Germany’s Allen John is a big threat,” said Makokha. Read more
Bucks advance to face Celtics after Game 5 rout of Bulls (NYPost)
The defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks continue to produce in the postseason even without key performers.
The Chicago Bulls simply don’t have that kind of depth or playoff savvy.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 33 points and nine rebounds and the Bucks routed the Bulls 116-100 on Wednesday night to finish off their first-round series in five games.
The Bucks won the last three games by an average of 23.3 points despite playing without Khris Middleton, the All-Star who sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee during the fourth quarter of Game 2. Read more