Man abducts 2 siblings in Lagos community (Punch)
A 38-year-old man, Mohammed Abu, was on Thursday arraigned before the Ogba Magistrates’ Court sitting in the Ikeja area of Lagos State, for allegedly abducting two children, Juliana and Joy Jude, in the Alakuko area of the state.
Abu, who was arraigned on April 27, 2023, before Magistrate E. Kubenje, is facing one-count bordering on abduction for allegedly luring the two children to her house in the New Abule area of Ogun State.
The police prosecutor, Superintendent of Police, Kehinde Ajayi, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on April 21, 2023. Read more
Court refuses to grant request seeking to stop census (Sun)
The Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, declined a request seeking an order of court to stop the 2023 Census slated to hold from May 3 to May 5.
Justice Inyang Ekwo refused to grant the application and instead asked the applicant, Mr Omotuyi Ademola to put the defendant, the National Population Commission, (NPC) on notice.
According to Justice Ekwo, counsel to the applicant has moved a motion for an interim injunction to stop the conduct of the 2023 Census. Read more
We’ve put Nigeria’s security architecture in better shape ― Buhari (Tribune)
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the robust plan to improve the security architecture of the country has been realized, with the upgrading of hardware, building of facilities, training, and equipping of staff and officers, and structuring of a welfare system that caters for more than 50,000 children of fallen heroes.
He made the assertion in Abuja on Thursday at a ceremony to present 81 new, symbolic flags to the various units of the Nigerian Army.
It was attended by two former leaders of the country, Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon and President, Goodluck Jonathan. Read more
We’re working to make Lagos a significant IT hub in Africa – Sanwo-Olu (Independent)
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State Governor has said that several efforts have been put in place by his administration in making Lagos a significant IT Hub in Africa.
Sanwo-Olu who was represented by Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat his Deputy stated this on Thursday while speaking at the groundbreaking of the Rack Centre 12MW IT Power Capacity Data Centre Facility in Oregun.
He urged the companies with foreign IT workloads and services to relocate their assets locally thereby strengthening Lagos’ position in the global IT market. Read more
10 die in Jos tanker explosion (Nation)
No fewer than 10 persons were yesterday burnt beyond recognition and many others injured after a fuel-laden tanker exploded in Jos, Plateau State.
The tanker was said to have fallen around 12:30 pm and went up in flames while negotiating a bend at Angwan Rogo, along Bauchi Road junction.
A statement by the Plateau State Police Command, spokesman, DSP, Alfred Alabo, said 10 yet-to-be-identified persons were burnt beyond recognition. Read more
MTN revenue rises to N568b in Q1 (DailyTrust)
The Mobile Telecommunication Network provider, MTN Nigeria Plc has generated 20.6% in total revenue to N568.136 billion for the first three months of operation this year.
This is against the N470.984bn low it recorded in the corresponding period of 2022.
The communications giant in its unaudited report filed to the NGX on Thursday, announced profit after tax of N101.303bn for the period under review. This represents an 8.5% increase over the N96.819bn attained last year. Read more
Osinbajo unveils book, says Nigeria requires green hydrogen investments (Vanguard)
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says Nigeria, as a nation, needs to consider investments in Green Hydrogen in view of the energy transition.
Osinbajo made the call while unveiling a book titled “Understanding Natural Gas: A Nigerian Perspective” on Thursday in Abuja.
The Vice President urged the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) to take into account investments in green hydrogen for clean energy. Read more
Obaseki commissions Imose tablet production, repair centre in Benin (Guardian)
The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, yesterday, commissioned the Imose Tablet Production Centre at the Benin Technical School where students will be equipped with skills to produce and repair tablet computers.
Obaseki was accompanied, on the commissioning, by the Secretary to State Government, Osarodion Ogie; Chief of Staff, Osaigbovo Iyoha; Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, and the Commissioner for Housing, Physical Planning, Urban and Regional Development, Isoken Omo, amongst other government officials.
Reaffirming the state government’s commitment to technical and vocational education, the governor said his administration is connecting all the 18 councils to fibres, which will be extended to schools in the state to drive the industrial revolution. Read more
Rihanna to go blue as she takes on Smurfette role in new ‘‘Smurfs’’ movie (HipHopDX)
Rihanna has been cast in a brand new film role — and this time, she’ll be going blue as she takes on the role of Smurfette in Paramount’s ‘‘The Smurfs Movie’’.
The announcement was made on Thursday (April 27), when the “Pon De Replay” singer made a surprise in-person appearance at CinemaCon at the Caesar’s Palace Hotel in Las Vegas, NV.
“I tried to get the Papa Smurf role but it didn’t work out,” Rihanna joked about the part (via Variety). Read more
Adult friendship is hard. But Lane Moore’s new book will help you find your people (LATimes)
Lane Moore is many things: a writer, comedian, actor and musician, to name a few. She is also a consummate truth-teller. In her first book, the hilarious yet utterly candid “How to Be Alone: If You Want to, and Even If You Don’t” (2018), Moore looked back at her history with abandonment, social isolation, familial abuse and estrangement. She wrote about spending years living with attachment issues and dreading every holiday season and Mother’s Day — because she literally could not go home. Now, in her equally forthright and funny follow-up, “You Will Find Your People: How to Make Meaningful Friendships as an Adult” , Moore takes her journey a step further by challenging the preconceived ideas we have around friendship.
“You Will Find Your People” is not so much an instruction manual about making friends as it is a nuanced discussion around how to find, heal and/or nurture genuinely fulfilling friendships. Read more
New York to increase state film incentive to $700m (Variety)
New York is poised to dramatically increase its film tax incentive from $420 million a year to $700 million, as it looks to stave off competition from New Jersey and Georgia.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced an agreement Thursday night on a $229 billion budget, after weeks of negotiations with state lawmakers.
Among many other provisions, the budget will increase the size of the film tax credit program, as well as raise the credit percentage from 25% to 30%, bringing it in line with rival states. The program will also be extended to 2034, according to a source familiar with the conceptual agreement. Read more
L.A. rapper MoneySign Suede dies in prison of suspected homicide (EW)
Jaime Brugada, a.k.a the rapper known as MoneySign Suede, has died in a California prison, the Department of Corrections announced on Thursday. Officials are investigating the death as a homicide. Brugada was 22 years old.
“At approximately 9:55 p.m. on April 25, correctional officers responded when Brugada was not accounted for in his cell after a regular institutional count,” reads a statement from the Department of Corrections. “During a search he was found unresponsive in another area of the housing unit with injuries consistent with a homicide.”
Brugada was transported to an on-site medical facility, where he was pronounced dead at 10 p.m. Read more
Ed Sheeran plays guitar in courtroom during ‘‘Let’s Get It On’’ copyright trial (NBC)
In a packed New York courtroom, Ed Sheeran picked up his guitar Thursday and launched into a tune that has him locked in a copyright dispute over Marvin Gaye’s soul classic “Let’s Get it On” as the only audience that mattered — a jury — looked on.
Sheeran was an hour into testimony in Manhattan federal court when his lawyer, Ilene Farkas, pressed him to tell how he came to write “Thinking Out Loud” a decade ago.
He reached back, grabbed his guitar from a rack behind the witness stand and explained that writing a song was second nature to him. He said he used his own version of phonetics to create songs so quickly that he could write up to nine in a day. Even last weekend, Sheeran claimed he wrote 10 songs. Read more
Kenya cult death toll rises to 95 as government sets curfew (VOA)
The latest death toll in Kenya’s cult investigation has risen to 95 as the government announced a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the ranch owned by a pastor who is accused of ordering his followers to fast to death.
Journalists and human rights activists on Wednesday were barred from accessing the 800-acre (320-hectare) ranch, which has been declared a “disturbed area and an operation zone.”
Pastor Paul Makenzi, who was arrested for allegedly directing his followers to fast to death in order to meet Jesus, remains in police custody until at least May 2. He heads the Good News International Church. Read more
NATO allies have delivered nearly all combat vehicles promised to Ukraine (UPI)
NATO allies have delivered nearly all combat vehicles that were promised to Ukraine to shore up the country’s defenses against the continuing Russian invasion, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced Thursday in Brussels.
More than 98% of reinforced military vehicles have already arrived in Ukraine, comprising 1,550 armored haulers, 230 tanks, and other combat equipment, including vast amounts of ammunition, Stoltenberg said during a press conference at NATO headquarters.
The military vehicles will be used to deliver urgent support to Ukrainian troops on the battlefield, including medical supplies, mobile satellite systems and equipment to set up pontoon bridges, Stoltenberg said. Read more
Rizespor awards thrill Olawoyin (Punch)
Cayakur Rizespor forward, Ibrahim Olawoyin, has expressed his delight after winning the club’s Player of the Month award in January and February, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The former Super Eagles B playmaker was honoured for his contributions in both months after helping the club to two wins and a draw in three matches during the period. He scored a goal and had an assist in those games.
“I feel honoured to have been named the player of the month for January and February. I appreciate my teams for the support and the fans for the love, please keep it coming,” Olawoyin said after receiving the award. Read more
Spurs fight back to hold Man Utd, Newcastle thrash Everton (France24)
Tottenham fought back from two goals down to hold Manchester United to a 2-2 draw on Thursday as Newcastle closed in on Champions League football with a 4-1 thrashing of Everton.
Spurs were smashed 6-1 by Newcastle on Sunday to bring Cristian Stellini’s four-game reign as interim manager to an end.
Things threatened to go from bad to worse in caretaker Ryan Mason’s first match in charge as United stormed into a 2-0 lead by half-time. Read more
North Carolina Courage acquire Canadian Victoria Pickett in trade with Gotham FC (CBC)
The North Carolina Courage have acquired Canadian international midfielder Victoria Pickett from NJ/NY Gotham FC in exchange for $200,000 US in allocation money.
The 26-year-old from Barrie, Ont., was drafted in the second round (15th overall) by the Kansas City Current in the 2021 NWSL draft and was a finalist for rookie of the year.
Pickett scored the winning goal in the new Kansas City franchise’s first-ever NWSL victory, 1-0 victory over OL Reign in August 2021. She was traded to Gotham in August 2022 for $200,000 allocation money and a first-round draft pick. Read more
Government urged to intervene with the FA Cup final set to be impacted by rail strikes (DailyMail)
The Manchester United Supporters Trust has urged the Government to intervene in the rail dispute that threatens to disrupt the first ever all-Manchester FA Cup final in June.
Aslef have announced three days of fresh rail strikes, including Saturday, June 3 when United face Manchester City at Wembley.
Thousands of fans are due to make the journey down to London by train, but Avanti West Coast is one of 16 companies affected by the industrial action. Up to 13,000 train drivers will strike over the three days in May and June, bringing widespread disruption to the rail network.
Max Verstappen not motivated by beating Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher’s 7 world titles (ESPN)
Max Verstappen says he is not motivated by winning a record number of Formula One titles by the end of his career and is instead tempted by racing in other categories of motorsport when his Red Bull contract expires.
The current record for the most championship victories is jointly held by Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher on seven, while Verstappen has two to his name and is already in a strong position to add a third this year.
Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull that runs through to the end of 2028, meaning a winning spree over the coming years could see him draw level or even beat the current record by the end of that deal, but the 25-year-old says the number of titles he wins is not his main consideration going forward. Read more
Aaron Rodgers’ contract restructure helps Jets with cap (ABC)
Aaron Rodgers did his new team a solid by restructuring his massive contract, allowing the New York Jets to execute the blockbuster trade without having to make significant moves to stay under the salary cap.
Before the trade, Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers converted a $58.3 million option bonus, payable in 2023, into a 2024 base salary, a source told ESPN’s Dan Graziano. As a result, he’s making only $1.165 million this season — the base-salary minimum. That also represents his cap charge.
Under his previous contract — the three-year, $150 million extension from last year — the Jets would have inherited a $15.8 million cap charge. That’s relatively low for a player of his stature, but it would’ve put the Jets several million dollars over the cap. Read more