Nollywood actor turns US citizen says, “I’m not returning to Nigeria” (DailyTrust)
Nigerian actor, Osinachi Dike, has revealed that he won’t be coming back to Nigeria after becoming a citizen of the United States of America.
According to the thespian and skit maker, he would leave his wife and kids to relocate to the U.S. as he flaunted his US passport via his Instagram account. Osinachi further asserted that he would be leaving the country to go make money to feed his family.
The actor said; “Brethren help me thank God, it has not been an easy thing I would be leaving my family, my wife should take care of the children. I’ve tried, my wife should take care of my kids. I’ve tried so I need to leave, I need to go and make money, I might not even come back, in fact, the truth is anywhere you see me in Owerri, if you see me in Nigeria collect money from me because I’m no more around because I’m no more coming back. Let me go and enjoy myself.”(sic) Read more
Naira, Fuel Scarcity: Ogun youths attack banks as protests escalate (Punch)
Palpable fear has enveloped residents and traders of Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, as irate youths staged violent protests in many parts of the state capital.
The protest reportedly started at Asero, Abeokuta, on Tuesday, by some customers of GTBank over their inability to get new naira notes from the bank.
The protesters who made bonfires on the roads blocked the road that leads to Adatan and Osiele-Ibadan during the protest.
The development also escalated and spread to Adatan, Sapon, Oke-Ilewo, Lafenwa among others. Read more
Politicians paying millions to defect to labour party, says Utomi (Guardian)
Prof..Pat Utomi, the Convener Big Tent Coalition for Obi-Datti at the National Flag Off of Clean Up Nigeria Project on Saturday in Lagos
A chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), Professor Pat Utomi, has alleged that politicians in some political parties were paying Labour party officials millions of naira to defect to the party.
Utomi stated this on Monday in Abuja at the unveiling of The Big Tent Independent Campaign Council Secretariat, a coalition of support organisations aimed at achieving the presidential ambition of LP candidate, Peter Obi.
The professor of political economy, who is also the chairman of the coalition, blamed politicians for the nation’s woes, noting that the country has failed to build real political parties.
He said the Nigerian youths that are tired of the terrible state of the country discovered the former Anambra governor, adding that the LP will focus on improving the lives of ordinary Nigerians rather than serving the selfish interest of a few powerful elites. Read more
6 villagers killed, 3 soldiers injured in fresh Benue attack (Channels)
Six villagers have been killed with three soldiers injured by armed invaders in a fresh attack on Ikobi community of Apa Local Government Area (LGA) in Benue State, according to the military.
One of the locals said that soldiers of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) stationed at Agagbe responded to a distress call and during the process, they had encountered armed invaders at Tse-Abwa, Mbapa council ward in Gwer West LGA.
Another local explained that the soldiers had on Saturday responded to the distress call when Ikobi community in Apa LGA was under invasion, adding that the soldiers repelled the attackers but were later ambushed on their way back to Agagbe on Sunday at Mbapa council ward of Gwer West LGA. Read more
Sanwo-Olu restates commitment to growth, devt of LASCOFED at festival (Guardian)
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reiterated his administration’s readiness to advance the growth and development of the Lagos State Cooperative Federation (LASCOFED) to boost socio-economic activities in the state.
He spoke at the maiden edition of the Lagos Cooperative Festival organised by LASCOFED in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives in Lagos.
The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, said: “We, as government, recognise the role cooperatives play in the socio-economic development of the state and its role in empowering and catering for members’ welfare, hence, we will continue to support the growth of cooperative to eradicate poverty and create more employment opportunities in the state.” Read more
Man in court for possessing firearms (Punch)
A 31-year-old man, Atandare Idunnu, was on Monday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s court sitting at Ogba, Lagos State, for unlawfully possessing a locally-made pistol.
Iddunnu appeared before Magistrate L.A Owolabi and he is facing a three-count bordering on unlawful possession of firearms.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Unuigboje Daniel, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on January 26, 2023. Read more
CBN will not be used to frustrate 2023 polls- Emiefele (Nation)
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emiefele has said that the apex will not allow itself to be used to frustrate the forthcoming general elections.
Emiefele, who spoke when the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Comission(INEC) Prof Mahmood Yakubu led 11 National Commissioners on a visit to the Bank, said the CBN will make available every cash needed to pay logistics for the success of the elections.
He was responding to a request from Yakubu that the CBN should find a way of addressing scarcity of currency across the country 17 days to the Presidential and National Assembly elections since some service providers to the commission were “unbanned”. Read more
Fuel, Naira Scarcity: Protest rocks Ondo as commercial banks close shop (ThisDay)
Some residents of Ore in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest along the Ore-Benin expressway to register their displeasure over the scarcity of naira notes and fuel ravaging the nation.
The currency crisis took a new twist, as some commercial banks in Akure, the state capital, shut down their operations over possible protest and mob attacks from frustrated customers.
THISDAY observed that as at 8:30 am Tuesday, some of the commercial banks around Alagbaka, Akure were yet to open for operation as bank customers who were on long queues were shut out. Read more
Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan tops $100m at global box office (Deadline)
Continuing its powerhouse run at worldwide turnstiles, Shah Rukh Khan espionage actioner Pathaan has topped the global box office century mark, getting there in 12 days on Sunday and now with $103.6 million through Monday. It is the first Bollywood movie to reach the $100 million milestone without a China release.
The split sits at 526 gross crore ($64.2m) in India and $39.4m from overseas markets through Monday. Already, the Siddharth Anand-directed pic is the biggest Bollywood movie ever globally in the original Hindi language.
This is where it gets slightly confusing in terms of the records posted. Aamir Khan-starrers Dangal and Secret Superstar, both Bollywood titles, remain ahead of Pathaan on a worldwide basis, but that includes over $100m each from China where the movies were dubbed for local audiences. Similarly, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, which stars Salman Khan who also appears in Pathaan, is still ahead globally having had a dubbed China release. There is no word yet on a China window for Pathaan. Read more
Madonna sparks discussion about ageism after being called (ABC)
For decades, Madonna has been at the centre of controversy.
“Here’s what I’ve learned after four decades in music. If they call you shocking, scandalous, problematic, provocative or dangerous, you are definitely onto something,” she said at the 2023 Grammys.
But the “Queen of Provocation” was the topic of conversation when she was picked apart on social media for her appearance, with some calling the 64-year-old singer “unrecognizable.”
Advocates for the singer, like bestselling author Rachel Simmons, said the comments are based on ageism and discrimination that she says all women constantly face. Read more
JLo draws a line under that tense Grammys exchange with Ben Affleck (DailyMail)
Jennifer Lopez has done her best to draw a line under that tense Grammys exchange with her husband Ben Affleck.
Taking to Instagram on Monday, Jennifer, 53, shared a reel from the glamorous night and wrote a pointed message to accompany the images.
She penned: ‘Always the best time with my love, my husband’.
Her words came after she was caught scolding Ben, 50, for not looking ‘friendly’ or ‘motivated’ during the ceremony, with fans able to lip-read the exchange. Read more
More Beyonce tickets on sale in London: Renaissance World Tour extended (Standard)
Beyonce has added extra dates to the UK and European leg of her Renaissance World Tour, including two more shows at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
The news will be a relief to fans who found the tickets were sold out in seconds when they were put on sale last week, initially through O2 Priority. Beyonce will embark on a solo world tour for the first time since 2016.
She will perform on June 3 and 4 at the Haringey venue, after shows on May 29 and May 30. The singer, 41, has also announced an additional concert at Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam on June 18. Read more
MTV Movie & TV Awards gets May air date, will re-combine scripted and unscripted ceremonies (Variety)
The MTV Movie & TV Awards are back in one night. The ceremony, set to honor the best in both movies and television — scripted and unscripted — will return on Sunday, May 7, for a live show at the Barker Hangar in Los Angeles.
The event will air on MTV internationally in more than 170 countries.
Formerly titled the MTV Movie Awards with its debut in 1992, the ceremony was renamed the MTV Movie & TV Awards in 2017 to also feature television stars. After a year off the air in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the show returned with two ceremonies in 2021: the MTV Movie & TV Awards on one night and the MTV Movie & TV Awards: Unscripted on the next. For the last two years, the show has had one host for the scripted portion and one for the unscripted; in 2021, Leslie Jones and Nikki Glaser took the mic, and in 2022, Vanessa Hudgens and Tayshia Adams hosted. Read more
Jack Macrae, former Holt editor-in-chief and respected publisher, dies (PublishersWeekly)
John “Jack” Macrae III, former editor-in-chief of Henry Holt, has died. He was 91.
Macrae was best known as the American publisher of two-time Booker Award winner Hilary Mantel. He was also behind award-winning titles by such authors as Ed Abbey, Jorge Luis Borges, Carl Safina, and Calvin Tomkins.
Over the course of his career, Macrae worked at Harper & Row, Dutton, and spent 35 years at Henry Holt, where he served as editor-in-chief in from 1983 to 1989. He later managed an eponymous imprint at Holt, before retiring in 2018. In a statement announcing Macrae’s departure, then Holt president and publisher Stephen Rubin said Macrae is “hugely well-regarded within the publishing community” and “known for his sharp wit, winning personality, and deep knowledge on a wide variety of subjects.” Read more
Former London police officer who raped a dozen women over 17 years gets life in prison (NBC)
A former London police officer was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison with a minimum term of 30 years for raping and sexually assaulting a dozen women over a 17-year period.
Metropolitan Police officer David Carrick, 48, admitted last month he was a serial rapist in what prosecutors described as one of the most shocking cases involving a serving police officer.
Carrick, who joined the force in 2001, pleaded guilty to 49 offenses including 24 counts of rape and charges including assault, attempted rape and false imprisonment. His crimes took place between 2003 and 2020. Read more
Ghana footballer Atsu found alive in quake rubble (Guardian)
Ghana national player and former Newcastle midfielder Christian Atsu has been found alive in the rubble of an earthquake that killed more than 4,800 people in Turkey and neighbouring Syria, Ghana’s ambassador to Turkey said Tuesday.
Atsu, 31, joined Turkish Super Lig side Hatayspor in September, based in the southern province of Hatay near the epicentre of Monday’s massive quake.
“I have good news coming. I am just getting information from the president of the Ghana association that Christian Atsu has been found in Hatay,” Francisca Ashietey-Odunton told Accra-based Asaase Radio, referring to a local Ghanaian community association.
The envoy gave no further details on his condition. Read more
Nasarawa Utd chairman faces sack (Sun)
Following the poor performance of Nasarawa United in the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) 2022/2023 season, chairman of the club, Barrister Isaac Danladi could be shown the exit door as the state Ministry of Youth and Sports Development is already making plans for a replacement.
Recall that the ministry headed by Isaac Lucky Yargwa had handed the team management a three-match ultimatum to savage their job.
The three matches were against Gombe United, Plateau United and Shooting Stars of Ibadan which the team was able to gather only one point sitting bottom at the NPFL abridged league table in group A. Also Recall that the team had played six NPFL matches, losing five and drawing against Gonbe United away from its adopted home, Kaduna. Read more
Ridge City: Everton sign first deal with an overseas women’s club in Ghana (BBC)
Everton have signed a deal with Ghanaian side Ridge City, who became the first women’s club to join the Premier League outfit’s International Academy Affiliate Programme (EIAAP).
The Accra-based club, who only formed four years ago, are also the first African club to join Everton’s EIAAP, which was set up to “expand the knowledge and expertise of Everton’s player development processes to affiliated clubs across the world”.
Ridge City have already been promoted to the Ghanaian Premier League in only their third season, as champions of Division One. Read more
Brighton included release clause in De Zerbi’s contract (FootballItalia)
Daniele Longo revealed that Brighton included a release clause in head coach Roberto De Zerbi’s contract, a sign of his importance to the team.
The 43-year-old Italian coach was brought in to replace Graham Potter back in September 2022, after the Englishman made the move to Chelsea.
The talks between Brighton and the Blues regarding Potter were conducted quickly and reports quickly began to emerge that he had a release clause in his contract, something that is usually only found in players’ deals with their clubs. Read more
LeBron James eyes history as NBA scoring record within reach (AlJazeera)
LeBron James is about to make basketball history. The only question is, when?
The Los Angeles Lakers forward is just 36 points shy of breaking a National Basketball Association (NBA) record held by another Lakers legend, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to become the league’s all-time leading scorer.
James could surpass Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387 career points mark — a record held for nearly four decades — on Tuesday night when the Lakers host the Oklahoma City Thunder or on Thursday when they face the Milwaukee Bucks. Read more
Duo jailed for robbing British cycling star Cavendish at knifepoint (RFI)
Two men were jailed on Tuesday for robbing British cycling star Mark Cavendish and his wife Peta of their high-value watches in a knifepoint attack at their home in 2021.
The pair broke into the property about 40 kilometres (25 miles) northeast of London in the early hours of November 27 that year wearing balaclavas and threatened to stab the athlete.
They then took items including two Richard Mille watches with a combined value of £700,000 ($864,000). Read more