Mystery death at VGC: Homicide detectives spread dragnet to unravel cause of death (Vanguard)
More details, yesterday, emerged over the circumstances surrounding the death of Chairman of highbrow Victoria Garden City (VGC), Estate resident association, in Lagos, Gihan Mbelu, 42, just as the police have spread their dragnet to unravel the mystery surrounding the tragedy by carrying out an autopsy test.
Vanguard learned that the man, said to be a half-caste as his father was from one of the states in the South East, while his mother is a foreigner, was seen in the early hours of the day he died moving into the estate and greeting friends and well-wishers, happily.
It was gathered he later drove towards a popular restaurant inside the estate called ‘Swiss Restaurant,’ parked his SUV outside their gate and proceeded inside to buy a bottle of soft drink and bottled water. Read more
JAMB releases 2024 UTME results (Sun)
Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the release of results of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Its Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, announced the release of the results at a press conference in Abuja, on Monday.
He asked candidates to start checking their results from Tuesday, 7am, using the unique code approved for this year. Read more
‘‘Enough Is Enough’’, Gov Mbah vows as he visits Nimbo over killing of four (Channels)
Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, has described the recent attack that resulted in the death of four natives of Nimbo in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of the state as unacceptable to his administration.
Vowing that enough is enough, Mbah assured that the government would track down and bring the attackers to book.
He described the attack as a collective tragedy to the entire state, assuring that the government would work with community and security stakeholders to strengthen security not only in Nimbo, but also the entire Uzo Uwani LGA. Read more
Nigeria lost size of Lagos, Enugu, FCT to deforestation In 20 years –Report (DailyTrust)
Nigeria has lost 17,400Km2 in the last two decades from the year 2000 to 2020 to deforestation, a study has revealed.
The volume is the size of Lagos (3,577km2), Enugu (7,161km2) and the Federal Capital Territory (7,315km2) combined.
The report established that Nigeria was fast losing animals and plants species in its forests in the last two decades due to deforestation. Read more
Family of murdered Rivers police inspector demands justice (Nation)
The family of the slain female Police Inspector, Mrs. Christiana Erekere, has demanded justice for the gruesome murder of their daughter.
Erekere, serving in Rivers State, was hacked to death by youths numbering over 40 at her duty post at Taabaa in Khana Local Government Area.
The victim, a widow and mother of four, who was serving at Taabaa Divisional Police station, was reportedly killed with stones and sticks by the irate youths. Read more
Sanwo-Olu fixes last week in September to celebrate Yoruba culture (Tribune)
The Lagos State Government has announced the last week of September every year for the celebration of Yoruba culture.
The decision was contained in a letter sent to the State Assembly by the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The decision of the government followed a resolution passed by the Lagos Assembly at a sitting held on September 19, 2023. Read more
Emefiele collects bribes before awarding contracts, ex-CBN staff testifies (Channels)
The second prosecution witness, a former Director of Information Technology of the Central Bank of Nigeria, John Ayoh, has told the Lagos High Court Sitting in Ikeja that former governor of the apex bank, Godwin Emefiele, does not award contracts without collecting bribes.
Ayoh stated this while testifying before Justice Rahman Oshodi on Monday in the ongoing trial of the former Central Bank Governor on allegations of abuse of office and accepting gratification to the tune of $4.5bn and N2.8bn.
Ayoh said, “That is how he operates, he will not award contracts without collecting anything”. Read more
Lagos warns fuel stations against causing traffic gridlock (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Ministry of Transportation on Monday warned petrol stations against causing traffic gridlock while dispensing fuel to customers.
Mrs Bolanle Ogunlola, Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, gave the warning in a statement in Lagos.
“In the face of the current fuel scarcity, we appeal to fuel stations that have fuel to dispense in the metropolis to ensure that queues of vehicles waiting to obtain supplies do not obstruct the free flow of traffic. Read more
Zendaya tennis movie Challengers scores at weekend box office (NYPost)
The sexy tennis drama “ Challengers ” won the box office this weekend with $15 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.
Zendaya and castmates Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor have been on a globetrotting press tour to get the word out about Italian director Luca Guadagnino’s original film, which opened in 3,477 locations in the US and Canada.
“We’re obviously very, very happy with the number,” said Kevin Wilson, who heads theatrical distribution for Amazon Studios and MGM. “Looking at the audience who showed up, it’s really encouraging. It’s not the easiest audience to get to theaters.” Read more
Taylor Swift breaks Hot 100 records with ‘‘The Tortured Poets Department,’’ becoming the 1st artist with Top 14 songs (Variety)
Taylor Swift has broken yet another record with her new album “The Tortured Poets Department,” as she becomes the first artist to claim the top 14 songs on the Billboard Hot 100. Swift breaks her previous record for most songs to claim the top spots on the chart, which she achieved with 10 tracks from 2022’s “Midnights” that dominated the tally.
“Fortnight,” her duet with Post Malone, leads the pack at No. 1 and becomes her 12th topper on the chart. She ties for the sixth-most No. 1s, and levels up from 49 to 59 career top 10s, which is the most among female artists. Additionally, “Fortnight” secured 76.2 million streams, and became her ninth No. 1 on the Streaming Songs chart, the most among women. All 31 songs have landed in the Hot 100, and she earns an additional inclusion with “Cruel Summer” holding onto the chart. Read more
Chris Pine recalls his dad, CHiPs star Robert Pine’s ‘strength and humility’ while supporting family (People)
Chris Pine is recalling the work his parents put in when acting alone did not pay the bills.
During Chris’ appearance on the April 29 episode of Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, the actor, 43, broke down his father, Robert Pine, and mother Gwynne Gilford’s careers in Hollywood before he was born — and the efforts his parents each took when their family faced tough times in the 1980s.
“Going into the ’80s it got rougher and rougher,” Chris said. “My dad, the work got sparser and sparser, and then the real estate crash in ’87 or ’88 pretty much wiped my family out. Then it was some really rough years, and then my mom went back to school. I have so much respect for what she did. She went back to UCLA and got her BA. She went back and got her Master’s at Antioch.” Read more
Polish farmers suspend blockade of Ukraine border (AlJazeera)
Polish farmers have called off their protest at the last border crossing with Ukraine, lifting a blockade that has dragged on for months, soured bilateral relations and buffeted Ukraine’s trade.
Truckers in Poland began blocking the border late last autumn, angered by what they said was Ukraine’s use of a wartime easing of border restrictions to win market share.
Farmers later joined their ranks, complaining about cheap Ukrainian food imports. Read more
Togo’s parliamentary election tests proposal to prolong dynasty’s rule (AfricaNews)
The opposition and religious leaders say the legislation is an effort by President Faure Gnassingbe, in office since 2005, to prolong his rule. Lawmakers passed the legislation in March after their mandate expired, and it is close to being enacted.
The West African nation has been ruled by the same family for 57 years, initially by Eyadema Gnassingbe and then his son. Faure Gnassingbe took office after elections that the opposition described as a sham. The opposition says the proposed new constitution makes it likely that Gnassingbe will stay on when his mandate expires in 2025.
Authorities cracked down on civic and media freedoms ahead of Monday’s vote. Early this month, the government banned protests against the proposed new constitution and the arrest of opposition figures. The electoral commission has banned the Catholic Church from deploying election observers. Read more
Killer released from prison just days before stabbing OAP on mobility scooter to death (Mirror)
Just five days before killing much-loved OAP Thomas O’Halloran, Lee Byer had been released from jail after serving a 12-year sentence for leading a robbery gang
Knife in hand, career crook Lee Byer walks away after fatally stabbing an 87-year-old in his mobility scooter.
Just five days earlier, Byer had been released from jail after serving a 12-year sentence for leading a robbery gang. Today, the 45-year-old – who claimed he was suffering from paranoia and delusions – admitted the manslaughter of much-loved OAP Thomas O’Halloran. Thomas was found on his scooter with multiple stab wounds on August 16, 2022. The Old Bailey heard Byer seen on CCTV heading towards a passageway at the same time as Thomas. Later, Byer was seen with the knife in his hand in Greenford, West London. Read more
Emotional Humza Yusaf resigns as Scotland’s first minister ahead of 2 no confidence votes (Independent)
An emotional Humza Yousaf has quit as Scotland’s first minister, in a huge boost for Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s hopes north of the border.
In the latest blow to the SNP, which has been in turmoil since the departure of Nicola Sturgeon last February, Mr Yousaf threw in the towel ahead of two tough no-confidence votes this week.
“Politics can be a brutal business,” the outgoing first minister said, at times fighting back tears. Read more
Finidi George appointed new Super Eagles head coach (Punch)
The Nigeria Football Federation has appointed former Super Eagles winger Finidi George as the new head coach of the nation’s senior men’s national team.
The announcement came in a statement on Monday, with the NFF Board approving the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to hand over the reins to the 52-year-old former Ajax Amsterdam and Real Betis forward.
Finidi George, who spent 20 months as an assistant to the outgoing José Santos Peseiro, had been serving as the interim coach after the Portuguese tactician’s departure following the Super Eagles’ impressive run to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire. Read more
8000 athletes to participate in MTN Champs season 2 tournament in Calabar (Leadership)
Arrangements are in top gear by 8,000 athletes drawn from the six geopolitical zones to participate in the forthcoming MTN champs Season two tournament scheduled to take place in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
The Chief Marketing Officer of MTN, Adia Sowho, stated this on Monday in Calabar while answering questions from Journalists.
Adia stated that out of this total number, about 2,300 came from Calabar alone, stressing that the city holds a special place in the history of athletics. Read more
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson on July 20 to be a sanctioned pro boxing match (NBC)
Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul on July 20 will be a professional boxing fight sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations, the promoters announced Monday. The heavyweight bout, to be shown live on Netflix from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will take place over eight, two-minute rounds using 14-ounce gloves.
The result will affect their professional records.
“Mike Tyson and Jake Paul signed on to fight each other with the desire to do so in a sanctioned professional fight that would have a definitive outcome,” Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian said in a statement. “Over the past six weeks MVP has worked with its partners to satisfy the requirements of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR) to sanction Paul vs. Tyson and we are grateful that we have gotten to this point.” Read more
Patrick Mahomes lent his Super Bowl rings to Logan Paul mid-fight on WWE ‘‘Raw’’ (SI)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was one of many special guests at T-Mobile Center for this week’s episode of WWE’s “Monday Night Raw.”
Mahomes also found himself somewhat involved in the action when he handed his three Super Bowl rings—from 2019, ‘22 and ‘23—to United States Champion and Youtuber-turned-wrestler Logan Paul in the middle of a fight.
Paul jumped into the ring and squared up for a shot at his rival, Jey Uso, but his punch accidentally landed on another wrestler, JD McDonagh, instead. Read more
2026 WCQ: South Africa, Benin will make life difficult for Super Eagles –Adepoju (CompleteSports)
Former Nigerian international Mutiu Adepoju has warned that South Africa and Benin will give the Super Eagles a tough battle in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Recall that Nigeria will play the Bafana Bafana on June 3rd, 2024, before confronting Benin on June 10.
However, in an interview with Hot Sports, Adepoju stated that both South Africa and Benin were desperate to pick points from the Super Eagles. Read more
Nuggets’ Jamal Murray questionable for Game 5 with calf strain (ESPN)
Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray’s playing status is in jeopardy for Game 5 of their playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night after he was listed as questionable on the injury report because of a left calf strain.
Murray was nursing the calf injury during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 119-108 loss at Los Angeles on Saturday night that snapped Denver’s 11-game winning streak against LeBron James and the Lakers.
Murray didn’t leave the game but was listed as questionable on the team’s injury report Sunday.
Denver leads the series 3-1. Read more
