Man bags life imprisonment for raping UNILAG student, judge slams victim (Punch)
A Lagos State Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court, Ikeja, on Tuesday, sentenced a man, Collins Okechukwu, to life imprisonment for raping and robbing a 25-year-old student at the University of Lagos, Akoka.
Delivering judgement, Justice Abiola Soladoye, who described Okechukwu as a pathological liar, held that the prosecution proved the charges of rape and robbery against Okechukwu beyond reasonable doubt.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the judge sentenced Okechukwu to life imprisonment for rape, and 21 years’ imprisonment for robbery.
She said, “The testimony of the defendant portrayed him as a pathological liar in the sense that he claimed that University of Lagos Guest House was fully booked and the survivor was sex-starved, which made them have sex on the bare floor. Read more
2 injured, vehicles damaged in Lagos windstorm (Vanguard)
Road users on Oregun Road, Oregun area of Lagos were stranded for hours just as two people were injured while a car and tricycle were damaged on Wednesday, as windstorm raged in the area pulling down a giant billboard.
A Toyota Avalon car, a tricycle, and an electricity pole were said to have been damaged due to the impact of the rainstorm as the billboard broke into two thereby obstructing free flow of traffic on both sides of the road.
The early morning windstorm started at about 6.55am as many road users were completely cut off from the axis.
Eyewitnesses’ accounts said traffic officials had to divert motorists to the adjourning streets as a result of the gridlock. Read more
FG lifts COVID-19 restrictions, midnight curfew (Punch)
Federal Government has eased the nationwide midnight curfew and llimitations on gatherings along with other restrictions imposed in 2019 to curb the spread of coronavirus.
This is after the country recorded 3,142 deaths from 255,468 cases since the start of the pandemic, according to data obtained from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control website.
The Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 made this known in a statement on Wednesday.
“The removal of restrictions was decided in view of the declining number of cases, reduced risk of importation of new variants as well as the availability of vaccines,” part of the statement read.
“The nationwide curfew imposed from midnight to 04:00 am has been lifted. Advisory limiting Nigerians to essential travels only has been lifted.” Read more
UNILAG flagship law class 80-83 marks reunion (ThisDay)
The 1980-1983 set of the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos (UNILAG) Alumni Association, will be celebrating its 13th to 15th combined annual reunion in Lagos from April 8-10, 2022.
Tagged ‘Eko 2020-2022’, the reunion will hold at The Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
Highlights of the event with the theme ‘Celebrating 40 plus years of Friendship’ will start with a welcome party on April 8, while the Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on April 9. The reunion will end with a grand finale dinner on the same day.
For Christians, there will be a thanksgiving service on April 10 at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Rose of Sharon, Ikeja GRA. Muslim members will hold prayers at the Raddison Blu Mosque within the Radisson Blu Hotel Premises. Read more
LASG, NBA plan forum on monthly rent (Punch)
The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority, in conjunction with the Nigerian Bar Association has concluded plans to hold a stakeholders’ forum for lawyers in the real estate sector.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, adding that the event would focus on monthly rental schemes in the state.
She said, “The Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority in conjunction with the Construction Projects and Infrastructure Committee of the section on Business Law, Nigerian Bar Association, has concluded plans to hold a stakeholders forum for lawyers in the real estate sector in Lagos State in an event scheduled to take place on Thursday, at Ikoyi.
“The focus of discussion will be on Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority Law – and proposed monthly rental policy scheme with regards to real estate transactions in the state. Read more
How Nigerian student in UK died ‘after eating cannabis sweets’ bought from messaging app (Vanguard)
Reports of a Nigerian-born student who died in the United Kingdom after eating cannabis sweets she bought from a messaging app have gone viral.
The student, 23, identified as Damilola Grace Olakanmi was a business law undergraduate at the University of Hertfordshire.
She was said to have bought the “gummies” via a messaging app on her phone and they were delivered to her home.
According to reports, Olakanmi and a 21-year-old friend immediately fell ill at their home in South Park Drive, Ilford at 11:30 pm on March 29. Read more
Odinkalu, Bianca, Charly Boy, others make Soludo’s peace committee (Punch)
The Anambra State Government has constituted a 15-member Committee on Truth, Justice and Peace.
The governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, had promised to set up the committee with a view to enabling the state government to interface and dialogue with various agitators and to allow peace to return to the region.
This was contained in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, and made available to journalists in Awka, on Wednesday.
Accordig to the statement, the purpose of the committee is to seek a restorative justice approach for truth-telling or real facts, for the healing of the victims of the violence. Read more
Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, Tiv, others to participate at 2022 Nsukka most beautiful girl pageantry (Tribune)
The Founder and Chief Sponsor, OCO World Limited, Okwudili Celestine Okwudili, has announced that the 2022 Nsukka Most Beautiful Girl Pageantry, Nigeria (NMBGN) will allow all promising girls from the 36 states to contest.
He added that the winner of the pageantry will smile home with a brand new Toyota Spider and a trip to Dubai.
He equally announced that the 1st runner up will win N500,000 and a trip to any national tourist centre, while the 2nd runner up will get N300,000 and a trip to a national tourist centre also.
Okwudili made the announcement during the official unveiling of the 2021 winner of Nsukka Most Beautiful Girl/ announcement of the sale of forms for the 2022 edition of NMBGN tagged ‘Diva’s Edition’ at the Golden Valley Hotel Nsukka, Enugu State. Read more
Lawmaker seeks prohibition of crossdressing in Nigeria (Independent)
A bill seeking to amend the same-sex Marriage Prohibition Act (2013) and also outlaw cross-dressing in Nigeria has been introduced for first reading at the House of Representatives.
Referencing Section 4 of the same-sex Marriage Prohibition Act (2013) Honourable Muda Lawal Ulnar who sponsored the bill on Tuesday during plenary, proposed that cross-dressing whether done privately or publicly, should be prohibited.
“A person shall be deemed to have committed the offence publicly where it is published or displayed publicly notwithstanding that it was committed privately or in any place that would have ordinarily been described as private. Provided that this section of this Act shall not apply to cross-dressing in the course of a stage play or in any bona fide public entertainment”.
He also proposed that Section 5 is amended by inserting, after the existing sub-clause (3), a new sub-clause (4): That a person engaged in cross-dressing is guilty of an offense and liable to imprisonment for 6 months or to a fine of N500,000. Read more
The Weeknd makes history with his latest Diamond single (HNHH)
The Weeknd is now one of the most decorated artists ever.
As of today, The Weeknd now has the second most Diamond singles thanks to his two newest certifications from the Recording Industry Association Of America (RIAA).
The “Earned It” singer earned his 2nd and 3rd Diamond certifications from the RIAA for his 2016 hit “Starboy” and 2020 hit “Blinding Lights.” This comes as no surprise, as “Blinding Lights” was dubbed Billboard’s No.1 Song of All Time last November after its chart success exceeded that of any other song.
The standout track to the singer’s 2020 album After Hours was awarded this title, which Billboard explained as “A designation that factors in total weeks on the chart as well as exact chart positions, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at No. 100 earning the least.” Read more
New “Doctor Strange” trailer confirms return of Billy and Tommy from WandaVision (Metro)
A new trailer has been released for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, confirming the return of Wanda’s twin sons Billy and Tommy, who were last seen in the heartbreaking WandaVision finale.
The upcoming Marvel blockbuster, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr Stephen Strange, sees him come face-to-face with Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen), after she has assumed the mantle of the Scarlet Witch.
Following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, when Doctor Strange’s attempts to help out Peter Parker (Tom Holland) resulted in the multiverse becoming fragmented, he’s in for even more chaos and mayhem in the sequel to his eponymous 2016 film. Read more
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever tackle lockdown loneliness on new single “My Echo” (NME)
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever have shared a lively new single titled ‘My Echo’, contrasting a jaunty, solo-heavy sound with soul-baring lyrics about feeling trapped in isolation.
Written during one of the extended lockdown periods that Melbourne experienced in 2020, the track tackles themes of claustrophobia, anxiety and the damaging effects of a reliance on technology. In a press release, singer/guitarist Fran Keaney said it’s “about being surrounded by phone screens, computer screens, TV screens, paranoia and loss of time and place”.
‘My Echo’ arrives alongside a video directed by longtime collaborator Nick Mckk. It’s a relatively simple clip, following the band as they jam out in a sprawling, open warehouse. Their surroundings are only visible when illuminated by thumping strobes, with the band – at some points clad in papier-mâché masks representing caricatures of themselves – performing in total darkness for the bulk of the clip.
Expounding on the song’s creation, Keaney explained that the final version of ‘My Echo’ is “pretty faithful to the very first rough recording”. Punctuating the song is a soaring, layered guitar solo, which is driven by one of Keaney’s fellow frontmen, Tom Russo. “Most of Tom’s leads were improvised,” he continued, “but they became the DNA of the song.” Read more
Former teen idol and star of Bye Bye Birdie Bobby Rydell dead at 79 (People)
Bobby Rydell, a 1960s-era music and film star, has died. He was 79.
Rydell’s official Facebook page confirmed the news on Tuesday, writing in a statement that he died that same day from “non COVID-19-related pneumonia complications” at a hospital outside of his birthplace of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Born in 1942, Rydell first rose to fame in 1950 on Paul Whiteman’s TV Teen Club, according to the statement.
In 1959, he landed on the Billboard Hot 100 Hits chart for the first time, with his first single “Kissin’ Time.” Read more
Matthew Broderick tests positive for COVID-19 and will miss performance in Broadway’s Plaza Suite (DailyMail)
Matthew Broderick has tested positive for COVID-19, and will not be able to perform Tuesday in the Broadway production of the Neil Simon play Plaza Suite held at The Hudson Theater.
The 60-year-old actor registered a positive test for the virus ‘before today’s performance of Plaza Suite, despite strict adherence to COVID safety protocols,’ a Plaza Suite spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement, adding that Broderick took a second test which also came up positive.
‘Everybody wishes him a speedy recovery,’ the spokesperson said, adding that Broderick is slated to come back to the stage April 15.
The Manhattan native stars in the play alongside wife Sarah Jessica Parker, 57, who tested negative and will take the stage Tuesday. Read more
James Marsden says his kids are ‘very proud of their dad’ amid ‘Sonic’ success (ET)
It was a family affair at the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 premiere for James Marsden. ET’s Denny Directo spoke to the 48-year-old actor at the film’s premiere in Los Angeles Tuesday night, where he gushed over sharing the family-friendly sequel with his children.
“I feel like I am, but sometimes I get a little ahead of myself. We’ll see,” Marsden said about scoring cool points with his children, Jack, 21, Mary, 16 and William, 9, by bringing them to the premiere. “They’re very proud of their dad. And it’s fun to go see a movie that I can see and enjoy, my nine-year-old can see and enjoy, my 16-year-old, my 21-year-old. Good, family movie.”
For part two, Marsden and the Sonic the Hedgehog cast ventured out to Hawaii, which he called “the dream.”
“Not only did we get to do the sequel, but we got to go to Hawaii to shoot it,” he gushed, “It’s the dream. We always want to do a movie that is internationally, globally loved, and then to come back and be asked to do a sequel — you want every job to be like that.” Read more
U.S., U.K., Australia to work together on hypersonic missiles (NBC)
The United States, United Kingdom and Australia announced Tuesday they will work together via the recently created security alliance known as AUKUS to develop hypersonic missiles.
The move comes amid rising concern by the U.S. and allies about China’s growing military assertiveness in the Pacific. U.S. President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the plan after holding a check-in on the progress of AUKUS, the Indo-Pacific alliance that was launched by the three countries in September.
The leaders said in a joint statement they are “committed today to commence new trilateral cooperation on hypersonics and counter-hypersonics, and electronic warfare capabilities, as well as to expand information sharing and to deepen cooperation on defense innovation.”
The U.S, Russia and China have all looked to further develop hypersonic missiles — a system so fast that it cannot be intercepted by any current missile defense system. Read more
Nwakali reveals why Spanish club Huesca terminated his contract (Guardian)
Nigerian midfielder Kelechi Nwakali has released an official statement following the termination of his contract by Spanish second division outfit SD Huesca.
The Spanish Segunda side announced the termination of Nwakali’s contract on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, posting a statement on their website that they have parted ways with the Nigeria international without divulging the reason behind the decision.
They then proceeded to wish Nwakali “the best in his professional future.”
Nwakali, who was named player of the tournament at the 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile, has now given a detailed explanation of events that led to the decision taken by SD Huesca. Read more
Again, FIFA shuns Nigerian referees for 2022 World Cup (DailyTrust)
For the umpteenth time, the world football governing body, FIFA, has again excluded Nigerian referees from the list of referees who will be officiating at the forthcoming 2022 World Cup to be staged in Qatar.
FIFA, has however, shortlisted eight other African referees among 36 referees, 63 assistant referees and 36 VAR officials who will be selected for the tournament.
The world football governing body will announce the final list of referees one month before the World Cup starts.
Gambian referee Bakary Papa Gassama is among the eight (8) referees from Africa that made the preliminary list. Read more
LA Galaxy in talks with Watford over William Troost-Ekong loan deal (Guardian)
The LA Galaxy are reportedly in talks to sign Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong on loan from English Premier League side Watford.
The Nigeria international helped the Hornets to promotion from the EFL Championship after joining from Italian side Udinese last season and was a regular at the beginning of this campaign, starting 18 of Watford’s first 21 Premier League matches.
But the center-back has lost his place since heading to the Africa Cup of Nations as Nigeria captain, failing to play a single Premier League game since returning.
On Tuesday, CBS Sports’ Roger Gonzalez reported the Galaxy were in talks with Watford over a possible loan deal to bring Troost-Ekong to Los Angeles. Read more
Klopp critical despite Liverpool ECL win (WestAustralian)
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp says his side should have scored more goals in their 3-1 victory over Benfica having dominated the first half of their Champions League quarter-final in Lisbon.
The Reds should have put the tie to bed before the second leg with the number of chances they created in the opening 45 minutes on Tuesday night, but they were still cruising at the break thanks to Ibrahima Konate first since joining from RB Leipzig in the summer and Sadio Mane’s close-range strike.
Klopp was unhappy his side then gifted Darwin Nunez a goal just after the break, when Konate’s misjudgement presented him with a simple chance, and that changed the direction of the game until Colombian winger Luis Diaz, on his first return to Portugal since leaving Porto in January, struck in the 87th minute.
“It doesn’t tell the whole story but the most important thing is we came here for a result,” Klopp said. Read more
Manchester City, Phil Foden foil Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid master class ahead of key week (ESPN)
For nearly 70 minutes, Atletico Madrid put on a Diego Simeone master class at the Etihad Stadium. And then Phil Foden came on.
The 21-year-old England midfielder was introduced in the 68th minute, and less than 90 seconds later Manchester City were 1-0 in front and on their way to securing a perfect start to a 10-day period that might end up defining their season.
It’s Liverpool on Sunday in the Premier League, followed by the return leg in Madrid next Tuesday, then the FA Cup semi final with Liverpool at Wembley on Saturday. In just 20 minutes here, Foden made his case to start them all.
He was the difference in the Champions League quarter final first leg so much so that when the final whistle went, the goal scorer, Kevin De Bruyne, went straight over to offer a hug and a handshake. Had Foden stayed on the bench, City might not have found a way through Simeone’s rigid game plan and would be heading to Spain next week with the tie on a knife edge. Read more
Felix Auger-Aliassime hopes for dream debut in ‘mythical place’ (TennisWorld)
World No. 9 Felix Auger-Aliassime has made it clear that he is thrilled to be in Morocco as he is hoping to enjoy a dream debut in Marrakech. On Tuesday, No. 1 seed Auger-Aliassime made a good start to his Marrakech campaign as he handed a 6-3 6-3 loss to Elliot Benchetrit in the first round.
“I love this country. Of course I think everybody knows now that I have my girlfriend and some family that’s from here,” Auger-Aliassime, per the ATP Tour website. “Of course to play also on the African continent, it’s the only tournament we have on the Tour that’s played here on this continent, so that’s special for me.
“It’s awesome to be here, honestly. I’m loving every minute to play in this mythical place.”
Auger-Aliassime got off to a good start, breaking Benchetrit in the opening game of the match. Read more
Hearn: Golovkin has been very inactive, Murata is really dangerous fight (BoxingScene)
Promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom believes IBF, IBO middleweight champion Gennadiy Golovkin is taking a very risky fight when he goes up against WBA champion Ryota Murata in a high stakes unification.
The bout takes place on Saturday night in Japan.
Golovkin is facing Murata on home soil – with the Japanese boxer being a superstar in the country.
There is a lot riding on the fight for Golovkin – as a victory would allow him to move forward with a trilogy fight against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez on a date in September, for the undisputed super middleweight championship. Read more
