Landlords, residents protest against property demolition in Lagos slum (Punch)
Landlords and residents at Ikota slum, in the Lekki area of Lagos State, have been thrown into panic as officials suspected to be working with the state government alongside men of the state police command have been demolishing structures in the area.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the affected victims, in a bid to protect their property, protested against the action but the policemen, in an attempt to disperse them, allegedly fired bullets to scare the demonstrators.
A resident in the area, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the property marked were illegal structures, adding that the government was demolishing it for an urban renewal project.
The resident said, “Most of the victims are the people who built their property at the location illegally. Where they built their property was not allocated to them by the government. They just came into the community, probably gave somebody money and just built their property without appropriate documentation. Read more
LASTMA warns against assault on officials (Guardian)
The General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Bolaji Oreagba has said the government would no longer tolerate any act of assault or attempted murder on any official working for the government, especially LASTMA officers.
It warned that government would prosecute perpetrators of such misdemeanors.
Oreagba said this following an attempted murder by a Zuzuki commercial mini bus driver (korope) marked KJA 953 YE, Ibrahim Yusuf on a dutiful LASTMA officer, Traffic Manager Awotola Victor, operating at the Ojodu-Berger-Ogba axis, while he attempted along with the patrol team to apprehend Yusuf, who was causing obstruction around 3:30 p.m., on February 12, 2022.
The General Manager noted that assault on government officials while carrying out their lawful duties is becoming too rampant, stressing that government is ready to put a stop to this through diligent prosecution of such person(s), no matter how highly placed in the society.
According to reports, Yusuf, the minibus driver was causing willful obstruction at River Valley Estate and after refusing all entreaties to move away from the place, the vehicle was to be seized. Read more
FAAN orders AIB, Caverton, others to relocate (Nation)
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has given the Accident Investigation Bureau – Nigeria (AIB-N) and other entities with facilities at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos quit notice.
Other organisations that will be affected by this order include Caverton, Dominion, Evergreen Apple Nigeria and ExecuJet hangars.
Experts have, however, faulted the deadline.
The notice came barely a week after the National Assembly Joint Committee on Aviation, led by Senator Smart Adeyemi and Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, warned FAAN against demolishing the affected offices and private hangars at Lagos Airport, because it would cost the country billions of naira. Read more
Lagos police boss promises to protect human rights (Punch)
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Abiodun Alabi, has assured residents that their fundamental human rights will be respected under his watch.
Alabi, according to a statement on Monday, said this during the 2022 retreat organised by the Board of Trustees of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund on Victoria Island.
He said, “My policing agenda for the state can be summarised as ‘Visibility policing’ and to achieve this, the Rapid Response Squad will be strengthened to ensure quick response to emergencies.
“As we have deliberated extensively on the various security matters in the state and how to reposition the LSSTF to meet the demands of our security agencies, I want to assure residents that their fundamental human rights will be respected and not violated under my watch. Read more
Lagos State government to prosecute attackers of government officials on lawful duties (ThisDay)
The Lagos State Government said it would prosecute anyone found assaulting or attacking any Government officials, in the course of their lawful duties.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, expressed the readiness of the State Government to prosecute anyone found assaulting or attacking any Government officials in the course of their lawful duties in a press release on Wednesday.
This is coming after an attack on one LASTMA official around Berger on the 12th February, 2022. The attacker, one Ibrahim Yusuf, a native of Osun State, was the driver of a Suzuki mini‐van with Reg. No. KJA 953 YE. Yusuf was seen on Saturday, 12th of February, 2022, by LASTMA officials on routine check wilfully breaking the traffic rules by obstructing traffic and parking to pick passengers at different spots not designated as Bus Stop.
The LASTMA official approached the attacker at Berger area, in the bid to arrest the vehicle, but the said Ibrahim Yusuf ran into the market and took a meat seller’s knife and stabbed one Awotola Victor Olatunde, the team leader of LASTMA on his head and also slashed his throat. The attacker threatened to kill the official and leave Lagos State afterwards. Read more
Ex-Delta Poly Rector bags jail term over refusal to appear before ICPC (Channels)
A former Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, Dr. Edna Mogekwu, has been sentenced to jail for refusing to honour invitations on allegations of corruption from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Dr. Mogekwu, who was sentenced to a two-year, one-month jail term, as well as three principal officers of the institution who were also convicted, were charged before Justice Marshal Umukoro, of the Delta State High Court, Asaba, by ICPC over their failure to appear before investigators to clear themselves of allegations of corruption.
The principal officers convicted alongside the Rector by the court to one-month prison term each are a former Registrar, Collins Onyenwenu, a former Bursar, Andy Ughusuena and a former Director of Works of the Polytechnic, Joseph Idabor.
ICPC had earlier filed a 5-count charge against the convicts before Justice Umukoro, in which it accused them of repeatedly refusing to honour invitations from the Commission. Read more
2023: Bolaji Abdullahi joins Kwara Central Senatorial District race (Vanguard)
Former Minister of Youths and Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi on Monday declared his interest to vie for Kwara Central senatorial election in 2023 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Bolaji,a former National Spokesman of All Progressives Congress(APC) and former Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development in Kwara state made his intention known amidst pomp and pageantry at the State party secretariat in Ilorin.
Former Thisday Editor who was also one of the governorship aspirants of the party in 2019 said 2023 elections present Nigerians a golden opportunity to change the fortune of the country that had been weighed down by challenges of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said,”No matter what may have happened in the past, 2023 provides us yet another opportunity to hit the reset button and rededicate ourselves to the great task of nation-building. Read more
Actress Rosy Meurer reacts to criticism of post on Tonto Dike’s son (Punch)
Rosy Meurer, Nollywood actress and wife to actress Tonto Dikeh’s ex-husband, Olakunle Churchill, has reacted to criticisms following her Instagram birthday post for step-son.
On Thursday, the Gambian-born actress drew the attention of critics who slammed her for wishing her husband’s son, Andre, a happy birthday, even while she had no good rapport with his mother, Dikeh.
Rosy took to her Instagram page on Sunday and defended herself, stating that her intentions were pure.
“At the end of the day, I know that I am a good person,” she wrote in the caption. Read more
Gunmen attack Imo police division, kill 2 policemen (Leadership)
The Imo State Police command has announced the death of two Policemen attached to the Isu Police Division during an attack by gunmen on Sunday.
Imo State Police spokesperson, Michael Abattam, made the disclosure in a statement on Monday.
He announced that one Policeman sustained minor bullet wounds on the head.
Abattam said on February 20, 2022 at about 2330 hours, armed men suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/Eastern Security Network (ESN) in their numbers came in two Toyota Sienna buses, a Toyota Camry Car and unspecified number of motorcycles, attacked the Isu Police station from the rear axis because the station had no perimeter wall. Read more
Filmmakers to shoot movies on trains for free – Amaechi (Punch)
The Minister of Transportation,Rotimi Amaechi, has advised film producers to strive for quality that would make them compete favourably internationally and boost the nation’s economy.
Amaechi gave the advice in Abuja, while receiving the Chief Executive of Native Media, Mr Rogers Ofime and his crew members on a thank you visit.
The minister reiterated his resolve to always support movie makers when they needed train service for their shootings.
Amaechi pledged support for the shooting of ‘Conversations in Transit’, a contemporary gritty romantic comedy and other movies. Read more
Sony Chief Tom Rothman celebrates “new hit movie franchise” as Uncharted hits box office milestone (Deadline)
Sony’s $106.4m global box office weekend for Uncharted was another reminder to a streaming-obsessed entertainment industry that the tried-and-true business model of theatrical features still works — and that there’s an audience for them.
Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group Chairman and CEO Tom Rothman underscored this in a company wide email Monday following the success of director Ruben Fleischer’s Tom Holland-Mark Wahlberg movie this past weekend and extolled staffers for delivering a blockbuster hit.
Rather than sell the $120m production off out of financial desperation during the pandemic, Sony believed in the event movie, protected it and waited for the proper time to release it.
The box office results from such actions? Uncharted was supposed to do $30M over four days at the domestic box office; it wound up doing $51M, sending its current worldwide take to $139M. Keywords in Rothman’s note below, is that he’s already declared Uncharted “a new hit movie franchise.” When we spoke to Fleischer, he was hopeful about a sequel. Read more
Lacey Chabert lands exclusive multi-picture Hallmark Channel deal (Variety)
Lacey Chabert and Crown Media Family Networks have agreed to an exclusive multi-picture overall deal. The agreement sets Chabert up to headline and executive produce films and other content for the Hallmark Channel and other Hallmark platforms throughout the next two years.
The company announced the deal on Monday.
“Lacey’s warmth, talent, relatability and creative sensibilities have endeared her to millions of Hallmark viewers for more than ten years, making her one of our most in-demand stars,” Lisa Hamilton Daly, EVP of programming at Crown Media Family Networks, said in a statement. “In addition to shining on screen, Lacey is a prolific behind-the-scenes creative partner, developing and executive producing many of our highest-quality, most-beloved projects. She inherently understands and embodies what our networks are all about – the transformational power of love and making people feel good – and we look forward to continuing our work with her to create heartfelt, compelling stories that will entertain, inspire and touch our audience.”
Chabert has become a Crown Media mainstay over the past few years, starring in several Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries original productions. Most recently, Chabert pulled triple duty on the “Wedding Veil” film trilogy, serving as a developer, executive producer and star. The first installment of the series premiered in January, becoming the second most-watched non-holiday film among audiences over 18 in the network’s history. The second and third installments debuted earlier in February. Read more
The Weeknd to drop immersive music special On Amazon Prime Video (AllHipHop)
The Weeknd has teamed up with Amazon Prime Video for a special presentation of his Dawn FM album.
Amazon and The Weeknd announced an immersive music special called The Dawn FM Experience on Monday (February 21). The Prime Video exclusive is scheduled to premiere on Saturday (February 26).
“I’m ecstatic to partner with Amazon to premiere the most elaborate live TV special I’ve ever done,” The Weeknd said in a press release. “Welcome to the next phase of Dawn FM — a purgatory otherworld where live performance, theater and performance art collide for a night out at the club.”
Amazon Studios chief Jennifer Salke added, “Dawn FM is a masterful display of The Weeknd’s artistic vision and creative genius. We are so proud to work with Abel and XO Records to collaborate across Amazon and share this stunning, brilliant and immersive visual experience with our global customers. With The Weeknd x The Dawn FM Experience, Prime Video and Amazon Music continue to be destinations where artists can present their most ambitious projects without limits or bounds.” Read more
Peaky Blinders season 6 cast on whether they’ll appear in the movie or spin-offs (DigitalSpy)
Peaky Blinders season 6 might only be days away, but creator Steven Knight has been talking about the movie finale, potential spin-offs, and the new ballet for some time now.
Now Peaky Blinders regulars Sophie Rundle, who plays Ada Shelby, and Harry Kirton, who plays Finn Shelby, have addressed whether they’d be up for returning to future Peaky projects.
Obviously, it’s unclear who exactly would appear in the future until we see how the new series plays out. However, fans will be glad to hear Steven has confirmed to Digital Spy that the movie will at least feature Cillian Murphy’s Tommy Shelby and Paul Anderson’s Arthur Shelby.
Season 6 director Anthony Byrne recently told The Sunday Times: “Steve wants to do a spin-off show featuring younger Peakies who we might see potentially coming to London and causing havoc and maybe getting involved with other gangs.” He then hinted to the publication that those younger characters could emerge in this new series. Read more
Cheryl ‘faces huge tax demand’ after HMRC wins legal battle over alleged avoidance (Mirror)
Cheryl is allegedly facing a huge tax demand after HMRC won a legal battle over her alleged avoidance schemes.
The former Girls Aloud singer, 38, may have to pay back taxes after HM Revenue & Customs won the test case, according to reports.
The music star lost a long-standing test case against the taxman after a judge found her personal firm CC Entertainments culpable of ‘straightforward profit extraction’ with an artificial employee bonus scheme.
This meant that the company allegedly paid capital gains tax instead of the pricier income tax and National Insurance, according to The Sun. Read more
Slash says more new Guns N’ Roses music is coming (NME)
Slash has revealed that there is more new music from Guns N’ Roses on the way soon – and some fresh tracks could arrive before they begin their next stint of shows.
The band released two new singles last year in ‘Absurd’ and ‘Hard Skool’, with both tracks stemming from the sessions for the infamous ‘Chinese Democracy’ album.
The guitarist has explained that those tracks weren’t the only pieces of new material the band had been planning to release. “There is new material coming — everybody’s always asking,” Slash told Consequence of Sound. “I would imagine that there will be one or two songs that come out around the time that we hit the road in June.”
Speaking about playing and touring with GN’R – and frontman Axl Rose – again, he added: “It’s been great. We got back together and it was really sort of like one of those huge question marks, and it was only to do the Coachella festivals, really. And it just snowballed into this tour that’s really been sort of going ever since then. Read more
Colombia legalises abortion in move celebrated as ‘historic victory’ by campaigners (Guardian)
Colombia has decriminalised abortion during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, adding to a recent string of legal victories for reproductive rights in Latin America.
The South American country’s constitutional court ruled five against four to decriminalise the procedure on Monday evening. The decision follows a series of rulings in Mexico and Argentina that lowered barriers to abortion.
Previously, abortion in Colombia was allowed only where there was a risk to the life or health of the pregnant mother; the existence of life-threatening foetal malformations; or when the pregnancy was the result of rape, incest or non-consensual artificial insemination.
“We celebrate this ruling as a historic victory for the women’s movement in Colombia that has fought for decades for the recognition of their rights,” said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas director at Amnesty International, in a statement. “Women, girls and people able to bear children are the only ones who should make decisions about their bodies.” Read more
AWCON 2022: CAF names Nigérien referees for Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria final battle (Nation)
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has picked Nigerien official Zouwaira Souley as the centre referee for Wednesday’s 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) final qualifying match between Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria in Abidjan.
In a statement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Monday, Souley will work alongside compatriot Hawa Douno Moussa (assistant referee 1), Lamouni Latiifah Laura Pare from Burkina Faso (assistant referee 2) and another Nigerien, Nafissa Sani (fourth official).
Ayawa Mana Mawoufemo Dzodope from Togo will serve as Match Commissioner, with another Togolese, Latré-Kayi Edzona Lawson-Hogban as referee assessor.
The Super Falcons, holders of the trophy which they have lifted nine times, won the first leg at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, 2-0 on Friday, both goals coming off the boots of US-based forward, Ifeoma Onumonu. Read more
Rio Ferdinand insists Ralf Rangnick is doing a good job at Manchester United (DailyMail)
Rio Ferdinand has leapt to the defence of Ralf Rangnick and believes he has done a good job as Manchester United interim manager.
The Red Devils have collected 25 points from his 12 games in charge, with seven wins, four draws and one defeat, as well as a penalty shootout defeat by Middlesbrough in the FA Cup.
United have moved up to fourth in the Premier League ahead of a tricky run of fixtures in March including Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham.
Off the field issues continue to cast a shadow over the club with rumours of player unrest, and questions over training and the coaches. Read more
Chelsea News:Romelu Lukaku slammed as Blues set to target summer replacement (Mirror)
Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku has been slammed after claiming an unwanted Premier League record against Crystal Palace last weekend.
The Belgium international touched the ball just seven times during the whole 90 minutes – and one of those was the kick-off.
And Premier League legend Alan Shearer has now slammed the striker for “not showing enough for the ball” following the dismal display.
It comes following reports the Blues are now prepared to cut their losses with the £97.5million summer signing and have drawn up a three-man shortlist of potential replacements. Read more
Dillian Whyte signs contract; Tyson Fury fight set for April 23 at Wembley Stadium (BoxingScene)
Dillian Whyte waited until the 11th hour, but the British heavyweight contender did the only sensible thing he conceivably could’ve done Monday.
BoxingScene.com has confirmed that Whyte signed his contract Monday to challenge Tyson Fury for Fury’s WBC heavyweight championship April 23 at Wembley Stadium in London. Fury signed his contract before Monday’s deadline, which the WBC established February 1 for both boxers to put pen to paper after Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions won a purse bid January 28 with a record offer of $41,025,000.
Whyte’s team negotiated adjustments to his contract over the past couple weeks. All along, though, Bob Arum, Fury’s other co-promoter, and Warren expected that Whyte would sign his contract prior to Monday’s deadline.
Based on an 80-20 split established by the WBC and 10 percent of the winning bid being set aside as a win bonus, Fury is entitled to $29,538,000 of the remaining $36,922,500 because he is the defending champion. Whyte is guaranteed $7,384,500 from what’s left of the winning bid as the WBC’s mandatory challenger. Read more
Leon Reid: Irish sprinter plans to continue career despite criminal conviction (BBC)
Irish Olympic sprinter Leon Reid aims to continue his athletics career despite his criminal conviction after being found guilty of allowing his flat to be used to produce crack cocaine.
He got a 21-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, and 220 hours unpaid work at Bristol Crown Court on Friday.
Reid’s agent Derry McVeigh says the athlete, 27, wants to race on.
“He will talk to Athletics Ireland and Athletics Northern Ireland,” said McVeigh. Read more
After slow day in Abu Dhabi, Cavendish brings the heat (France24)
After a day of slow-motion cycling, Mark Cavendish hit top speed in the final 400 metres on Monday to edge Jasper Philipsen and win the second stage of the UAE Tour.
“I knew we could win here,” said Cavendish.
On the second day of the first World Tour race of the season, the peloton dawdled through a flat 173km stage that toured Abu Dhabi, with the speed dipping to 20kmh.
At the end, the sprinters’ teams upped the pace. Read more
Novak Djokovic wins his first match of 2022 in Dubai (NBC)
Novak Djokovic won his first match of the year when he beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-3 to open the Dubai Championships on Monday.
Djokovic couldn’t defend his Australian Open title last month because he was deported from the country for being unvaccinated.
The United Arab Emirates allowed him entry, and Djokovic cashed in at a tournament he’s won five times.
Musetti took two sets off Djokovic at the French Open last year but, on a breezy Dubai evening, the Italian wild card couldn’t convert bags of break chances while trailing 3-1 in the first set and 4-2 in the second. Read more