Nigerian-born music manager murdered in UK over ‘fake’ £300k watch (Vanguard)
A Nigerian-born music manager, identified as Emmanuel Odunlami, has been stabbed to death in the UK over what is believed to be a fake designer watch worth up to £300,000.
The Old Bailey, which is the central criminal court of England and Wales, recently heard that Odunlami was ambushed by three robbers after holding a party to celebrate his birthday.
According to Daily Mail, the court heard that the 32-year-old music manager was attacked after leaving Haz restaurant near St Paul’s Cathedral in London on May 1, 2022.
Odunlami’s attackers were said to have been tipped off by Kavindu Hettiarachchi, a security operator, that he was wearing a Patek Philippe Nautilus watch. Read more
Missing Ondo teenager found hanging on tree (Punch)
The Bagbe Community in Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State was thrown into a mourning mood on Sunday when the body of a 17-year-old boy was found hanging on a tree.
The deceased identified as Elijah Akinrinlola was said to be living with his father, Tope Akinrinlola, along the College Road area of the community before the incident.
It was gathered that the deceased was initially declared missing but his body was later found hanging on a tree in the community. Read more
INEC: Why we postponed governorship election (DailyTrust)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed the postponement of the governorship election by a week.
Daily Trust had earlier reported that the exercise had been moved from March 11, 2023 to March 18, 2023.
Sources in the commission had told this newspaper that more time was needed for the conduct of the exercise. Read more
Edo elections: Stop spreading lies to discredit us, LP candidate tells APC, PDP, others (Tribune)
The Labour Party (LP) candidate for Oredo West Constituency in the forthcoming Edo State House of Assembly election, Edosa Richard has warned the other political parties in the State to desist from propaganda and focus on issued-based politics ahead of the March 18 polls.
He gave the advice while reacting to claims in some quarters that the Party does not have candidates for the incoming State House of Assembly election.
Edosa said those peddling the rumours are only trying to convince the electorate to see their parties as the alternative party (s) to be voted for in the election, adding that such is cheap propaganda. Read more
Army recovers 1,671 PVCs ballot papers in Lagos apartment (Vanguard)
Personnel of the 9 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, on Tuesday, recovered 1,671 Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, in an apartment in the Olodi-Apapa area of Lagos State.
Three persons were subsequently arrested in the apartment, while the prime suspect was said to be on the run.
Also recovered in the apartment were ballot papers, cutlasses and Indian hemp.
Vanguard gathered that the startling discovery was made in the course of a preliminary investigation into an incident that occurred in the area, yesterday. Read more
Lagos teenager defiles neighbour’s 5-year-old daughter on election day (Punch)
An Ikeja Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ogba, Lagos State, on Wednesday, remanded a teenager, Tosin Oloyede, for allegedly raping a five-year-old girl during the presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.
Magistrate Mrs B. O. Osusanmi remanded the defendant at the Special Correctional Centre for Boys in Oregun pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution.
The prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Akeem Raji, told the court that the incident happened on February 25, 2023, adding that the 16-year-old suspect allegedly defiled his neighbour’s daughter around 2 pm in the Ikorodu area of the state. Read more
LAWMA celebrates female staff on International Women’s Day (Guardian)
Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), in partnership with Godrej, May & Baker, yesterday, celebrated female staff members as the real faces of waste management in the state, in commemoration of the International Women’s Day.
The event, held at LAWMA’s headquarters, Ijora-Olopa, Lagos, featured speeches, presentations, and recognition of female staff members who contributed immensely to the agency’s success.
Speaking, Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, showered praises on LAWMA sanitation workers (sweepers), whom he described as worthy heroines. Read more
Accord sacks Oyo State executives for endorsing Makinde (ThisDay)
The national leadership of Accord, Wednesday, dissolved its executive members in Oyo state, for endorsing Governor Seyi Makinde, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as its preferred governorship candidate in Saturday’s election.
The party in a letter signed by its National Chairman, Muhammad Nalado, and addressed to the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the state executive in Oyo state was dissolved for anti-party activities.
The letter was copied to the Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC); Oyo State Commissioner of Police; Director, Department of State Security (DSS), Oyo State; and the Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC). Read more
Chaka Khan apologises for calling Rolling Stone editors “children of Helen Keller” (NME)
Chaka Khan has apologised for hitting out at Rolling Stone’s ‘‘200 Best Singers Of All Time’’ list, saying that she is committed to “empowering all artists”.
The US funk and soul singer was ranked at number 29 on the viral list which was published on January 1, 2023.
Topped by Aretha Franklin, the likes of Whitney Houston, Sam Cooke, Billie Holiday and Mariah Carey round out the Top Five. Read more
David Byrne, ANOHNI, John Legend and more feature on Rufus Wainwright’s new album ‘’Folkocracy’’ (NME)
Rufus Wainwright has announced a new album ‘‘Folkocracy’’, which will feature guest contributions from David Byrne, ANOHNI, John Legend and more.
The album of folk music reinventions – out June 2 via BMG – marks the artist’s upcoming 50th birthday and also features special guests Brandi Carlile, Sheryl Crow, Chaka Khan, Andrew Bird, Nicole Scherzinger, Susanna Hoffs, Van Dyke Parks and Madison Cunningham.
“This album is almost like a recorded birthday party and birthday present to myself. I just invited all the singers that I greatly admire and always wanted to sing with,” Wainwright said in a press statement. Read more
Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson, Jelly Roll and Kane Brown lead 2023 CMT Music Awards nominations (TheWrap)
Country music star Lainey Wilson leads the pack at the 2023 CMT Music Awards with four nominations, followed by Cody Johnson, Kane Brown, who’s co-hosting the award show, and first-time nominee Jelly Roll, who all have three each.
CMT on Wednesday announced the full list of nominees for this year’s ceremony, which airs live on CBS and streams on Paramount+ on Sunday, April 2 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
With four nods, Wilson is nominated for “Female Video of the Year,” “Collaborative Video of the Year,” “CMT Performance of the Year,” and the highly coveted “Video of the Year.” Read more
Creed III director and star Michael B. Jordan reveals in 10 years he’d love to take ‘‘a trip to space’’ (People)
When Michael B. Jordan was named one of PEOPLE’s Ones to Watch for its inaugural portfolio in 2013, he had a clear idea of what he wanted his future to look like. “In 10 years, I’ll be 36. Hopefully my career has continued to be successful… All the clichés, happy, healthy,” he said. “I don’t know, I’ll be curious to see what kind of man I’ll be.”
A decade later on his 36th birthday, Jordan officially added director to his long list of accomplishments. Premiering Creed III — in which he once again starred as Adonis, the illegitimate son of Apollo Creed, Rocky Balboa’s renowned opponent — Jordan was ready to share his creation with the world (the film earned $58.6 million at the U.S. box office on its opening weekend, the highest debut ever for a sports movie). “I’m ready for it to be out. I’m ready to hand it over, because it’s not for me anymore, it’s for everybody else,” he tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue.
“Every day it was a fight to make this movie and you don’t do it alone. So for the crew and the cast to show up and give me their all and trust me, when I don’t have a track record, it means a lot and I took that seriously.” Read more
Jon Bernthal returning as The Punisher in new ‘‘Daredevil’’ series (UPI)
Jon Bernthal has signed on to reprise his role of Frank Castle/The Punisher in the planned Disney+ series, Daredevil: Born Again.
Expected to premiere on the streaming service in 2024, the show will reunite Bernthal with his fellow Daredevil universe veterans Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio, according to Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter.
In response to Tuesday’s reports, Bernthal posted a photo of him as The Punisher on Instagram, but did not offer details about his future with the franchise. Read more
Russia releases trailer for 1st feature-length movie filmed in space (CNN)
The space race has expanded to new frontiers in recent years, moving into business, tourism … and now cinema.
Russian filmmakers on Tuesday released a trailer for “The Challenge,” which became the first ever feature film to be shot in space in 2021.
The trailer outlines the movie’s plot: A surgeon, Zhenya, played by Russian actress Yulia Peresild, has to perform heart surgery on a sick cosmonaut in space because he is unable to return to Earth for treatment. The patient is portrayed by real-life cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy.
Cameroonian women protest high cost of living (VOA)
Thousands of women in Cameroon took to the streets on Wednesday, International Women’s Day, to protest the high cost of living. The government blames soaring food and energy prices on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Hundreds of Cameroonian women blow trumpets and whistles on the streets of the central African state’s capital Yaounde, shouting and decrying the high cost of living amid surging inflation.
The women say they want the government to help them cope with price increases. Read more
Rivers awaits CAF decision after Motema no-show (Punch)
Nigeria Professional Football League champions Rivers United are awaiting the decision of Africa’s football governing body, CAF, over the failure of their opponents Motema Pembe to honour their match-day four clash in Uyo on Wednesday, The PUNCH reports.
Rivers United and the Congolese side were scheduled to face-off in one of the matches for the day, but it was confirmed about an hour before kick-off that Motema Pembe were yet to arrive in Nigeria.
“Officially, CAF TotalEnergies Confederation’s Cup Group B match number 127 Rivers United (Nigeria) vs DCMP (RD Congo) have been put off following the non-arrival of DC Motema Pembe. We await the decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF),” Rivers United posted at the scheduled kick-off time of the game. Read more
Bayern Munich expose PSG as Messi departs the stage (DW)
Bayern are into the last eight of the Champions League after a 2-0 win over PSG, 3-0 on aggregate. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting played a key role as Lionel Messi bowed out in what could be his final game in the competition.
Thomas Müller summed it up in his post-game interview: “I think the difference was that we were altogether the better team.”
A simple sentence on the face of it but an acknowledgment of what makes Bayern Munich everything PSG are not. This isn’t a vintage edition of Bayern, who usually have the Bundesliga sewn up by about now, but they found the winning formula against a PSG team blessed with individual talent but cursed by a lack of cohesion. Read more
Antonio Conte: Tottenham know exactly how I feel about my future (Standard)
Antonio Conte has fuelled suggestions he will walk away from the Tottenham job at the end of the season.
Conte is expected to leave the club this summer when his contract expires, though sections of the fanbase feel that another trophyless season means he deserves to be sacked before he can walk.
Tottenham were knocked out of the Champions League by AC Milan on Wednesday night, with a drab goalless draw ensuring the Italian champions reached the quarter-finals at Spurs’ expense. Read more
Tiger Woods’ ex-girlfriend suing over acrimonious split: court filing (France24)
Tiger Woods’s ex-girlfriend has filed a lawsuit seeking to be released from a nondisclosure agreement she says the golf superstar made her sign at the start of their relationship in 2017, court filings showed Wednesday.
Erica Herman, who lived with the 15-time major winner at his Florida mansion until late 2022, filed the request in the Circuit Court of the 19th Judicial Circuit in Martin County, Florida.
According to court records seen by AFP, Herman’s attorneys are arguing that the NDA she was required to sign is “invalid and unenforceable” under US federal legislation known as the Speak Out Act. Read more
British high jump coach Fayaaz Caan suspended for 3 years following disciplinary investigation (BBC)
British high jump coach Fayaaz ‘Fuzz’ Caan has been suspended for three years following a UK Athletics (UKA) investigation into his conduct.
The ban begins from the date of Caan’s initial suspension on 30 June 2021 and will continue until 29 June 2024.
UKA raised 12 alleged charges against Caan after an investigation was launched following a complaint concerning his coaching practices. Read more
Pau Gasol becomes 12th Lakers player to have jersey retired (ABC)
Pau Gasol, the perfect complementary player to Kobe Bryant, was paid the best compliment possible by his former team: The Lakers retired his jersey.
“I mean life goes by pretty fast, right? In the blink of an eye, you can be a kid playing basketball in your school with your buddies, then all of a sudden, you’re realizing your dream,” Gasol said before the Lakers’ 112-103 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night. “But tonight, it really exceeds any dream or expectation that I’ve had because it means so much. And obviously with Kobe up there, it just adds something meaningful and powerful, and sad and happy, and painful and joyful.
“It’s a lot of things.” Read more