Man arraigned for beating policeman, stealing N80,000, beret (Punch)
A 21-year-old man, Stephen Monday, has been arraigned before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State, on charges of assault and theft.
The defendant allegedly assaulted a policeman, Inspector Folorunsho Lawal, while the cop performed his duty at Otto community, Ebute Metta.
Monday was also accused of tearing Lawal’s uniform in a three-count charge bordering on assault, theft and conduct likely to cause breach of public peace.
The charges read, “That you, Stephen Monday, and others now at large, on January 29, 2022, around 03.30 pm, at G-Express, Otto, Ebute Metta, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did assault one Inspector Folorunsho Lawal while performing his legal duty by beating him and tearing his uniform, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 173 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
“That you, Stephen Monday, and others at large, on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned magisterial district, did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by attacking Inspector Lawal while he was performing his legal duty, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 168 (d) Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. Read more
Sanwo-Olu to enrol 2 underage children forced to skip school in Lagos (Leadership)
Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has rekindled the hope of two underage children, who were forced to skip school in Anthony Village area of Lagos.
The governor’s convoy had run into the two children on his way to an official function on Thursday.
Sanwo-Olu, who was moved by the stories of the two girls, Amarachi Chinedu, 9, and Suwebat Husseini, 12, decided to enroll them in school and sponsor their education.
The senior special assistant (SSA) to the Governor on New Media, Jubril Gawat, who disclosed this on his verified Twitter handle, wrote: Sanwo-Olu “momentarily halted his convoy when he saw two underage girls on an errand for a bean cake vendor during school hours. Read more
Rotary Club of Isolo observes Day of Service with free health tests (Guardian)
Rotary Club of Isolo observed Rotary Day of Service with health exercises and free healthcare for members of Isolo community where various tests of blood, BP, HIV, Cholesterol and malaria, among others were carried out.
Speaking at the occasion, a member of Rotary Club of Isolo, Assistant Governor, Rotary International, District 9110, Rotarian Ralph Abanum, said Rotary Day of Service was dedicated to showcase the club as a service organisation, a day dedicated to ensure that members of the community in Isolo were encouraged to check and know their health status.
“We have reached out to the entire Isolo community prior to this event to create awareness. We are also partnering with the Isolo General Hospital and we are having members of their staff carrying out the tests.
“More than 400 people have benefited and more are still coming. Read more
Staying married would have killed me – Onyeka Onwenu (Nation)
Music legend Onyeka Onwenu has opened up on the many difficulties she dealt with in her failed marriage.
In an interview with media personality, Kikelomo Atanda-Owo on “Real Talk with Kike”, the 70-year-actress spoke about how she tried so hard to ensure her marriage didn’t fail until she realised she could die if she remained in it.
Onwenu said: “I went through it. It was difficult because I really didn’t want my marriage to end but I could not take it anymore. It would have killed me. I always say and that is the truth.
“And it was not good for the children to live in that kind of environment where the mother is depressed, the mother is carrying the weight of the whole family. Read more
Sweden opens honorary consulate in Lagos to promote economic interests (Punch)
The Kingdom of Sweden has opened a new consulate in Lagos to broaden economic cooperation between Nigeria and the Nordic country.
The new Swedish Consulate was inaugurated on Thursday by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Landmark Towers, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Speaking at the ceremony, Swedish Ambassador in Nigeria, Carl Michael Gräns, said that the consulate in Lagos would be a focal point for trade and socio-cultural activities for both countries.
Gräns emphasised that Sweden’s first embassy was opened in Nigeria on Oct. 1, 1961, adding that both countries had celebrated 60 years of diplomatic relations. Read more
Buni orders full enforcement of traffic laws to curb road accidents (Independent)
The Governor of Yobe state and Chairman APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni, has directed for full enforcement of road traffic laws in the state to curb the menace of accidents on the roads.
In a press statement signed by Mamman Mohammed, Director General Press and Media Affairs said that the Governor gave the directive today when he received the sad news of a road traffic accident involving two vehicles which claimed many lives along Damagum- Damaturu road.
Governor Buni decried the increasing number of accidents on highways in the state.
He charged motorists to be more careful on the roads. Read more
Bwacha flays Ishaku, says he dumped PDP to avoid Taraba governor’s persecution (Channels)
The immediate past Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Bwacha, on Thursday said he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress to escape what he describes as the persecution of the Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku.
Shortly after his defection from the main opposition party, Bwacha, who represents Taraba South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, was received by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today in Abuja, the lawmaker
alleged there is a deliberate isolation from the governor.
He, however, explained that the dispute between himself and Governor Ishaku was not from his side. Read more
APC splinter group cries out as suspected hoodlums attack Aregbesola’s campaign office in Osun (Sun)
The splinter group of the All Progressives Congress (APC), The Osun Progressives (TOP), Thursday cried out over an attack on the campaign office of the former Osun Governor and Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.
The campaign office of Aregbesola was located beside CAC Gbodofon, along Ibadan road, Osogbo, where the TOP are holding their meeting every Thursday.
A member of the TOP who claims to be there when the attack was carried out, Seun Abosede, said the incident happened after the weekly meeting of the group.
He said, “shortly after the meeting today (Thursday), people had already left. They came in two vehicles; one red Sienna car and a bus parked on the other side of the road, moved towards the building with a pump action rifle and started shooting. Read more
Hijab: Group writes IGP over harassment of female students (DailyTrust)
A Muslim group in Osun State, Ta’awunu Human Rights Initiative (THURIST), has written to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to complain over harassment of female Muslim students at Offa, Ijagbo and Oyun Communities in Kwara over the use of hijab.
The petition which was signed by the Director General of the organisation, Barr. Sulaymon A. Tadese was copied to the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The group said some female Muslim students were sent away from Oyun Baptist High school because they put on their hijab.
THURIST accused the Oyun chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) of conniving with officials of the school to intimidate and harass female Muslim students. Read more
Alaafin, Tinubu hail translation of Nigeria’s constitution into indigenous languages (Punch)
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, on Thursday, lauded the launch of translation of Nigeria’s constitution in three indigenous languages, saying efforts would expedite nation-building.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Prince Ade Ajayi Foundation, Centre for Constitutional Literacy and Civic Education, translated Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution into Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo languages and the Naija Patriots Constitution app, which contains the audio format of the constitution.
While unveiling the translations, Oba Adeyemi said, “For a young man to have translated the constitution of Nigeria 1999 as amended into three major languages is a feat.
“It is an opportunity for Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo people to read the constitution in their own local language and come to a conclusion whether the constitution is working or not.” Read more
Nicholas Cage’s Dracula film, ‘Renfield,’ begins production (Collider)
The horror genre has seen a resurgence in the last decade and Universal has been in the middle of that with such hits like the remake of their monster movie classic The Invisible Man. Now the studio best known for their gothic monster movies of the mid 20th century look to strike again while the iron is hot with their new Dracula film Renfield directed by Chris McKay. Based on the Count’s famous sidekick of the same name, a ton of information about the project has slowly come out in the last couple of months. It has all led to this moment as today comes the announcement that the film, which is starring Nicholas Hoult as the crazed title character and Nicholas Cage as Dracula, has just entered production.
Universal Pictures made the announcement on their various social media accounts with the simple caption of, “And it begins”, and with a Dracula emoji for good measure. The post also came with an image of the official film slate showing off the logo which has the Renfield title in the same blocky font as Universal’s original Dracula movie back in 1931.
The yellow and red color scheme is identical as well. However, that is not the only first look we got of the film’s production as the cinematographer of the new monster movie, Mitchell Amundsen, took to his Instagram to show off one of the sets. There is no caption or context given, but they appear to be filming on a basketball court and the brick walls around the court give off this old-timey vibe. However, this film is supposedly going to be set in modern times and maybe Dracula hilariously took up basketball.
With Cage behind the fangs you never know, but in all seriousness, everyone involved in the production seems very excited. Hoult also shared the same slate image that Universal did and McKay, who is best known for The Lego Batman Movie and The Tomorrow War, has been sharing the cast and crew excitement on his Instagram story. He even changed his profile picture on his Instagram to the Renfield film slate. Read more
Mark Zuckerberg falls out of Top 10 rich list after net worth plunges $30B in stock selloff (NYPost)
Mark Zuckerberg has more than one reason to cover his eyes after his Facebook shares suffered a historic selloff in trading Thursday.
The Facebook founder’s personal net worth dropped approximately $29.7 billion on Thursday, according to Forbes’ real-time calculations.
By the end of trading, Zuckerberg’s on-paper fortune was estimated to be $84.8 billion, knocking him out of the Top 10 among the world’s richest individuals. Forbes now has him at No. 12.
Meta shares fell by more than 26% on Thursday to close the day at $237.76 each — wiping off about $232 billion in value, which was the largest one-day drop in market value of any stock in US history, Dow Jones reported, citing its market data.
The social media giant late Wednesday reported the first quarterly decline in its user base in company history.
Facebook reported 1.929 billion daily users in the fourth quarter, down from 1.93 billion users the previous quarter. The unprecedented decline in Facebook’s average daily users headlined a weaker-than-expected earnings report. Read more
Sugar23 to develop Jean Meltzer’s The Matzah Ball as feature film, Lance Bass Productions producing (Deadline)
Sugar23 has optioned the rights to author Jean Meltzer’s first novel, The Matzah Ball, with plans to develop it as a feature film. Sugar23 will produce along with Lance Bass Productions, Brett Gursky and Ben Savage. Michael Sugar, Sugar 23’s Ashley Zalta and Bass will serve as producers. Meltzer, Gursky, Lance Bass Productions’ Drew Pokorny, Savage and Sugar23’s Jillian Kay will serve as executive producers.
The book is an alternative holiday love story, follows chronically-ill Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt, a “nice Jewish girl,” with a secret: she loves Christmas. As the best-selling author of over twenty Christmas romance novels, and four made-for-TV movie spin-offs, she’s kept her stellar career secret from her observant Jewish family for over a decade. But when Rachel’s publishing house tells her they won’t renew her contract unless she writes them a Hanukkah romance, she’s desperate for inspiration. She finds it in the form of the Matzah Ball, a high-end Jewish music celebration scheduled for the last night of Hanukkah. There is only one problem: tickets are sold out and the only way to get one is direct from the ball’s creator, who just happens to be Jacob Greenberg, her summer camp arch enemy.
“As a chronically-ill Jewish woman who has been homebound for almost a decade, optioning The Matzah Ball is nothing short of a dream come true. I couldn’t be more excited to partner with Lance Bass, Brett Gursky, Ben Savage, Michael Sugar, and the incredible team at Sugar23. I know that their creative vision, combined with their many years of film and television expertise, will turn The Matzah Ball into an instant holiday classic,” said Meltzer.
The Matzah Ball was published by MIRA on September 28, 2021. The book was warmly received and Popsugar, Buzzfeed and Bustle each named it one of their most highly anticipated titles of 2021. The novel was also named an Apple Best Audio Book of the Year and a Jewish Book Council Book of the Month Pick. Read more
Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala postponed until 2023 (Variety)
The Recording Academy and Clive Davis have announced that the 2022 Pre-Grammy Gala, the star-studded “Clive Party” held the night before the awards, will be postponed until next year, Variety has confirmed. The Grammys’ move to Las Vegas presumably complicated the arrangements for the event. However, the announcement notes that other Grammy Week events will take place in Las Vegas.
“Due to the logistical obstacles caused by the ongoing pandemic, including the unavailability of an appropriate venue, we have decided to postpone the 2022 Pre-Grammy Gala,” Davis and Academy CEO Harvey Mason, jr. said in a statement. “We will resume the celebration next year
when we will host an incredible evening in our unique and glittering way, hospitable to our wonderful music artists, music executives, film, television, sports and illustrious politicians who annually love the event like no other. As previously announced, other Grammy week activities will be held in Las Vegas and the 64th Annual Grammy Awards will continue its tradition as Music’s Biggest Night on April 3 from the MGM Garden Arena.”
Sony Music chairman Rob Stringer, who was to be the gala’s honoree, presumably will receive that honor next year, although reps could not confirm that at the time of this article’s publication.
Since it was first held in 1976, the gala is among the most coveted invitations during Grammy week, doubling as a salute to industry icons and honors a music executive every year in addition to providing a star-packed evening of performances. Due to the pandemic, last year’s party was held as two separate virtual events, which featured Davis speaking with superstars ranging from Bruce Springsteen and Joni Mitchell to John Legend. Read more
Madame Web: Dakota Johnson tapped to play first female Superhero In Sony Pictures’ Universe Of Marvel Characters (Deadline)
Following the massive success of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Sony is looking to expand on its universe of Marvel characters as sources tell Deadline that Dakota Johnson is in talks to star in the studio’s Madame Web movie. S.J. Clarkson is on board to direct the pic. Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless penned the screenplay.
In the comics, Madame Web is depicted as an elderly woman with myasthenia gravis and thus was connected to a life support system that looked like a spider web. Due to her age and medical condition, Madame Web never actively fought any villains. For that reason, sources have stressed it’s possible the project could turn into something else. Insiders say due to her psychic sensory powers, she is essentially Sony’s version of Doctor Strange.
Either way, getting a female-driven property in Sony’s universe of Marvel characters has always been a top priority for studio brass given the long list of strong female characters that appear in these comics throughout the years. Sony execs have taken their time in figuring out who would land the title role, meeting with a number of A-listers. In the last two months, the list has been cut down, with Johnson gaining front-runner status right before the holiday.
Sony is coming off a hot streak with Venom: Let There Be Carnage making more than $500 million worldwide, while Spider-Man: No Way Home has become the biggest film of 2021 with $1.7 billion in worldwide sales. Read more
Seth Rogen hilariously pokes fun at his outfits on Pam & Tommy: ‘Enjoy the Glory’ (People)
Seth Rogen has no problem making a little fun of himself!
On Tuesday, the comedian and actor, 39, posted three of the incredible outfits he wore during the filming of the Hulu limited series, Pam & Tommy, on Twitter, captioning the trio of photos, “Watch #pamandtommy on Hulu now and enjoy the glory of my outfits.”
In the first picture, Rogen, who portrays Rand Gauthier – one of the men responsible for selling Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson’s stolen sex tape – can be seen totally rocking his ’90s normcore wardrobe, sporting a greyish, olive green long sleeve tee tucked into relaxed, wide-leg mid-wash denim, along with a canvas buckled belt and white trainers.
In the second snap, the Pineapple Express alum opted for a sportier look, donning a cobalt blue, colorblock tee with white and black accents on the sleeves, along with dark, acid-wash boot-cut denim, a canvas belt, and white sneakers. Read more
Ozark star Jason Bateman named Harvard’s 2022 Hasty Pudding Man of Year (USAToday)
“Ozark” actor Jason Bateman is being feted as 2022 Man of the Year by Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals.
Thursday evening’s festivities will mark the first time the award has been presented since the coronavirus pandemic began in 2020.
The “Arrested Development” star also produced and directed “Ozark,” a popular Netflix series. He’s the 55th recipient of the theater troupe’s coveted pudding pot.
The last Man of the Year was Ben Platt in 2020. Past recipients include Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro and Samuel L. Jackson. The 2022 Woman of the Year, Jennifer Garner, will be honored Saturday. Read more
World Cup play off: MTN confident Eagles will fly past Black Stars (Sun)
MTN Nigeria, the official communications partners of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), is confident that the Super Eagles will clinch the Qatar 2022 World Cup ticket, even as the telecom giants applauded the team on their efforts at the AFCON 2021 in Cameroon.
Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Olutokun Toriola, reminded that the World Cup qualification is of paramount importance to Nigerians and reiterated the brand’s readiness to support the Super Eagles fly past the Black Stars of Ghana.
“We have a World Cup to prepare for, and we will support the Super Eagles all the way. We applaud the Super Eagles for putting up an inspiring performance at the Nations Cup, the team did their absolute best and we are proud of them.”
Last year, MTN Nigeria signed a three-year multi-million-naira partnership deal with the NFF and was announced as the official communications partner for the Super Eagles and other national teams. Read more
Egypt eliminate Cameroon on penalties to advance to Cup of Nations final (RFI)
It wasn’t the result the partisans craved. Egypt had beaten them in their own expensively assembled backyard with a display of defensive discipline, order and rigour.
Egypt had conceded just two goals in their previous five matches before the semi-final while Cameroon had smashed in 11.
But the men responsible for that tally – skipper Vincent Aboubakar and Karl Toko Ekambi – were harnessed by a backline that kept its shape and grit.
The hosts tore into the game when the night was young at Stade Olembé – receiving the first supporters since the stampede that left eight people dead and 38 injured on 24 January. Read more
Real Madrid’s double bid ends in shock loss to Athletic Bilbao (France24)
Real Madrid’s hopes of clinching a Spanish domestic double were dashed on Thursday as Athletic Bilbao scored a dramatic 89th-minute winner to knock them out of the Copa del Rey.
Alex Berenguer’s scintillating strike after a Casemiro mistake was enough to seal a shock 1-0 victory at San Mames and send Athletic through to the semi-finals.
With Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla already out, Madrid were firm favourites to win the Copa del Rey while in La Liga, they are in the driving seat too, sitting four points ahead of Sevilla at the top of the table.
But it will be Athletic that join Real Betis, Valencia and Rayo Vallecano in the last four and while Betis are flying high in the league, all four teams will have genuine hopes now of lifting the trophy. Read more
Atletico Ottawa, BlackJacks announce 2022 schedules (TorontoSun)
It was Schedule Day for a couple of Ottawa’s professional sports teams.
On Thursday, both Atletico Ottawa (soccer) and the Ottawa BlackJacks (basketball) announced their 2022 schedules.
Atletico Ottawa kicks off its Canadian Premier League season on April 9 at TD Place. Ottawa’s next two games are also at home: April 16 vs. Halifax and April 24 against Valour FC. Atletico will host 2021 CPL Champions Pacific FC May 7.
With a balanced season seeing all clubs face each other four times (twice at home and twice on the road), the 2022 calendar will allow fans in the Nation’s Capital to fully experience the flourishing league. Read more
Basketball Hall of Fame coach Bill Fitch dies at 89 (UPI)
Basketball Hall of Fame coach Bill Fitch, who mentored some of the NBA’s biggest stars and helped lead Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics to an NBA championship in 1981, died Wednesday at the age of 89.
The NBA announced the death of Fitch on Thursday. Fitch’s daughter, Marcy Ann Coville, told Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle that her father was surrounded by family when he died in Lake Conroe, Texas. The cause of death wasn’t immediately known.
“The NBA mourns the passing of Hall of Fame coach Bill Fitch, an NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and a two-time Coach of the Year,” the league wrote on Twitter. “Bill served 25 seasons as an NBA head coach and mentored countless players and coaches. Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends.”
Fitch, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, was named to the NBA’s Top 10 Coaches of All-Time list when the league celebrated its 50 greatest players during its 50th anniversary. Fitch was 10th on the all-time wins list among NBA coaches until Doc Rivers passed him in December 2020. Read more
Tom Hoge with one-shot lead at picturesque Pebble Beach (ESPN)
Tom Hoge enjoys being at Pebble Beach even in a frigid wind and relentless rain. He loved it even more Thursday in brilliant sunshine, especially with nine birdies on his card.
Hoge began his day along the Pacific Ocean with a 30-foot birdie putt on No. 10 at Pebble Beach. He made the last of six straight birdies with a 40-foot putt on the daunting eighth hole. It added to a 9-under 63, by four shots his best score at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
“It’s hard to be in a bad mood out here,” Hoge said. “I mean, Pebble Beach and perfect weather is about as good as it gets.”
He had a one-shot lead over Seamus Power of Ireland, whose round was equally stout. Power birdied his last four holes at Spyglass Hill, traditionally the toughest of the three courses in benign conditions. It was the only course that played over par Thursday. Read more
Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal to team up at Laver Cup in September (Forbes)
Tennis legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal plan to team up later this year for the fifth edition of the Laver Cup, set for Sept. 23-25 at The O2 in London.
Just as they did in 2017 when they paired in doubles in Prague, both players will represent Team Europe as they take on Team World in a bid to retain the Laver Cup for a fifth successive time under captain Bjorn Borg.
Federer, 40, hasn’t played singles losing in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon last summer to Hubert Hurkacz, dropping the final set 6-0. He said this week that he should know by April or May whether he can return to tennis, and revealed that he still is unable to run as he tries to make his way back from yet another knee surgery.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back into competition later this year and Laver Cup is very much part of my plan,” Federer, the 20-time Grand Slam champion, said in a statement. “It’s no secret that I love the event and I’m super excited to be returning to The O2 and to London, one of the greatest cities in the world. Read more
