NURTW crisis: Soldiers, policemen storm Agbado as MC Oluomo, Istijabah boys draw battle line (Punch)
Scores of policemen and soldiers stormed the Ijaiye Bus Stop in the Agbado area of the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on Monday to forestall a clash between road transport unionists loyal to two factional leaders in the state: Musiliu Akinsanya popularly called MC Oluomo; and Azeez Abiola, aka Istijabah.
Our correspondent, who was at the bus stop, spotted about five patrol vans of security personnel who were on a joint mission in the area on Monday.
The fully armed policemen came in four patrol vans, while fierce-looking, gun-wielding soldiers stormed the bus stop in a van and remained there from morning till about 4pm when they left.
Our correspondent also observed as over 100 area boys and foot soldiers of both MC Oluomo and Istijabah seethed with rage as they stood just opposite the security agents. Read more
Residents lament darkness despite ‘Light Up Lagos’ project, fear more vicious night attacks (Guardian)
Residents and motorists are lamenting increasing darkness on major roads in Lagos, despite the colossal sum spent on the ‘Light Up Lagos’ project, initiated by former governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
According to the then government, the initiative was in demonstration of commitment towards building a 24/7 economy that would create employment and wealth for the state.
Built on a tripod consisting the Light Up Lagos Advisory Committee; Community Electrification, and the Street Lighting Initiative, the package formed part of the state’s security strategy to make the city and neighbourhoods competitive, safe and secure.
The project was further reinvigorated by Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, which replaced all streetlights in the state with smart LED lighting. Read more
Lagos govt to probe expired milk in viral video
(Punch)
The Lagos State Government has promised to unravel the source of expired evaporated milk reportedly sold by a suspect.
The promise was made following a viral online video of a middle-aged man apprehended for selling hazardous milk in the Ojuelegba area of the state.
The General Manager of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency, Mr Afolabi Solebo, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Monday.
He said, “Following the viral online video of a middle-aged man apprehended by concerned citizens for selling hazardous and expired evaporated Peak Milk at Ibidun Street in Ojuelegba, the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency has declared its readiness to unravel the source of the product sold by the suspect.
Chrisland speaks on suspension of students in sex tape, silent on action taken against staff members for negligence (ThisDay)
The management of Chrisland schools has explained why it had to suspend some students over a sex tape which went viral on social media.Some students from the private school located in Victoria Garden City, who were in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for the World School Games in March were involved in immoral acts in a trending video on social media.
This school’s explanation is coming after the Lagos State government ordered that all branches of the school in the state be shut down.Surprisingly, the school was silent on the action taken against the staff members in whose care the children were at the time of the incident during the trip to Dubai The management had earlier suspended an 11-year-old female pupil said to have been gang raped, claiming that the girl took part in a truth-or-dare game in Dubai where the students represented the school in the World School Games between March 8 and 14, 2022.The school announced the girl’s suspension in a letter to her parent, describing her conduct as improper behaviour. However, the mother of the girl has called on Nigerians to help her seek justice for her daughter, whom she said the school was trying to silence her daughter in order to cover up the immoral incident.
In a statement made available to THISDAY on Monday, a member, Advisory Board of the school, Mr. Akin Fadeyi, said it was scandalised and distressed over the issue, adding that it meted out measured reprimands to them to instil a sense of discipline and as deterrence to others. He added that it was also to caution students on the need to remain on the path of resisting wrong influences. According to him, “The disciplinary action was in order not to undermine our cohesive culture as a community of future leaders and committed instructors, but to be assertive in handing down the sort of discipline that seeks to correct and reform our children, when they stray from the path of rectitude.
“The school, he noted, had taken a critical view of the number of students who participated in this trip to Dubai and who did the school proud in its quest to expand the horizons of its students holistically through global exposure, adding that it takes into account a wholesome development of the mind, body and spirit through sporting engagements. Of the 76 children who represented Chrisland, Fadeyi said 71 ensured an untainted adherence to its standards, abiding with laid down regulations and code of conduct, while making us very proud in the process. “Within these 71, we kept our girls on the 11th floor and boys on the fourth floor, to draw clear lines that respect moral boundaries. Read more
Chrisland: Police begin probe as school, parent disagree over alleged rape (Punch)
Chrisland Schools, Lagos State, has denied allegations that a 10-year-old primary six pupil was raped during the school’s participation in the World School Games at Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The female pupil was among 76 pupils that represented the school at the event, which was held between March 8 and 14, 2022.
A statement by a Member, Advisory Board, Chrisland Schools, Akin Fadeyi, titled, ‘Chrisland Children Remain Our Centre of Focus,’ said 71 of the pupils ensured untainted adherence to the school’s standards.
“Within these 71, we kept our girls on the 11th floor and boys on the 4th floor to draw clear lines that respect moral boundaries. Read more
2023: Onitiri, socio-political critic, aspires to represent Lagos Central (Independent)
Otunba Adesunbo Onitiri, a renowned socio-political activist and critic, is set to contest Lagos Central Senatorial seat in 2023.
Announcing this to newsmen in Lagos yesterday, Otunba Onitiri said if elected, one of his priorities would be to lobby other National Assembly legislators to get special statutes for Lagos, being the economic capital of Nigeria.
According to him special status should be supported with incidental infrastructural development to make it world- class standard, he stated.
He promised to ensure that the Lagos State people enjoy free medical services and free education from primary school to university level because, according to him, the state is buoyant enough to foot the bills. Read more
APCON to penalise Sterling Bank over controversial Agege Bread Easter message (Sun)
The Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON)has said it will sanction Sterling Bank over a controversial Easter ad likening the resurrection of Jesus Christ to Agege Bread.
The advertising industry regulator announced this in a statement issued by Olalekan Fadolapo, its registrar/chief executive.
In celebration of Easter, Sterling Bank had posted an Easter ad on social media platforms and also sent its customers via email.
The message contained a picture of a golden-brown bread divided into two with the caption ‘‘Like Agege Bread, He Rose!” Read more
Afe Babalola rejects 2023 elections, demands interim govt (DailyTrust)
Chief Afe Babalola, a legal luminary, has demanded that an interim government should be installed at the expiration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure in 2023.
Speaking at a news conference in Ado-Ekiti, capital of Ekiti State, on Monday, he said the interim government should be in office for six months to chart a new course for Nigeria.
He stressed that the 2023 elections should be suspended until Nigeria has “a new-look peoples’ Constitution which should provide for part-time legislators and the non-executive president”.
Babalola said that members of the interim government should be drawn from all living former presidents and vice-presidents; some selected ministers and governors and delegates of prominent professional associations. Read more
Easter Message: Face your job or join politics, Presidency slams Bishop Kukah (Channels)
The Presidency has berated the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev Matthew Kukah, over his criticisms of the government, urging him to face his job or join politics.
Presidential aide, Garba Shehu, said this in a statement on Monday evening, hours after the cleric accused the Muhammadu Buhari government, in his Easter message, of dividing Nigerians.
“We respectfully ask Bishop Kukah to leave government to the voters and the politicians they elect, while he concentrates on his job, as it is expressed in James 1:27: ‘Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.’
“Or else, he should put away his clerical garb, join partisan politics and see how far he can go,” he said. Read more
Kano rail workers, retirees decry eviction notice (Guardian)
Staff and retirees of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in Kano State have appealed to the Federal Government to intervene in the eviction notice served them by NRC.
The railway workers cried out yesterday that management of NRC issued them final notice to vacate the railway quarters in Kano, against the ruling of court.
Addressing journalists, yesterday, after receiving a delegation of the staff union that came to inspect the property, a former employee of NRC, Kabir Kuta, regretted that NRC management embarked on selling railway property to private individuals against Federal Government’s monetisation policy.
Kuta said NRC evicted over 300 staff and retirees occupying the facility in Kano and sold the property to private individuals, instead of the occupants as directed by government. Read more
“Aquaman” star Jason Momoa joins “Minecraft” movie (DigitalSpy)
Aquaman and Dune star Jason Momoa is set to join the live-action Minecraft movie.
Video gamers were first introduced to this title 11 years ago, helping it to become a record-breaking success with over 238 million units sold worldwide, so you could say its adaptation to the big screen was pretty inevitable.
Variety is reporting Momoa’s involvement is being considered as the gaming adaptation’s lead star while Napoleon Dynamite’s Jared Hess would be coming on board as director.
Minecraft players create their own unique 3D worlds with colourful blocks by mining materials and fashioning items. Read more
Mac Miller drug dealer sentenced to nearly 11 years in prison after supplying late rapper with fentanyl-laced pills (Metro)
Mac Miller’s drug dealer has been sentenced to almost 10 years in prison on one count of distributing fentanyl.
In November 2021, Ryan Reavis reportedly pleaded guilty to supplying Miller’s alleged dealer, Cameron Pettit, with oxycodone pills on orders from Stephen Walter, who recently pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl.
Miller, real name Malcolm McCormick, died on September 7, 2018 at the age of 26 at his Los Angeles home. The cause of death was later confirmed to be mixed drug toxicity involving fentanyl, cocaine and alcohol.
On Monday, it was revealed that Reavis was sentenced to 10 years and 11 months, which is longer than the five years he reportedly asked for, but shorter than the 12.5 years requested by the prosecutors. Read more
Julia Roberts on why she hasn’t starred in a rom-com in 20 years (THR)
Julia Roberts has had numerous memorable romantic comedy roles in hits such as Pretty Woman, My Best Friend’s Wedding and Notting Hill. But ahead of the upcoming Ticket to Paradise, the actress is opening up to The New York Times about why it has been 20 years since her last rom-com outing.
“People sometimes misconstrue the amount of time that’s gone by that I haven’t done a romantic comedy as my not wanting to do one,” Roberts said. “If I had read something that I thought was Notting Hill level of writing or My Best Friend’s Wedding level of madcap fun, I would do it. They didn’t exist until this movie that Ol Parker wrote and directed.”
Of starring in Ticket to Paradise, Roberts said that the film was one that “only works if it’s George Clooney.” “Lo and behold, George felt it only worked with me. Somehow we are both able to do it, and off we went,” she said.
When asked if it was easy to star in a rom-com again, Roberts agreed that it was “a joy to play in that sandbox” given “it has been a long time.” “I love to laugh and be funny. You get into that mode of those endorphins going off when you’re clever and people going, ‘Oh!’ Then that becomes this automatic thing where you’re always thinking in terms of creating fun,” she said. Read more
Celine Dion romantic drama ‘It’s All Coming Back to Me’ sets release for February 2023 (Variety)
“It’s All Coming Back to Me,” a romantic drama film starring and featuring the music of Celine Dion, will be released in theaters Feb. 10, 2023.
Formerly titled “Text for You,” “It’s All Coming Back to Me” is based on the 2016 German film “SMS für Dich” by Karoline Herfurth. The film stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas as a woman struggling to move on from the death of her fiancé. To cope, she begins sending messages to his old phone number, which has been reassigned to a new man, played by Sam Heughan. The two meet and develop a connection based on their shared heartbreak.
In addition to Jonas and Heughan, the film also stars Celine Dion as herself, in the role of a mentor figure who will inspire the two main characters to fall in love. The film is named after Jim Steinman’s power ballad “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now,” which was made famous from Dion’s cover that was recorded for her 1996 album “Falling Into You.” The song is one of the celebrated singer’s biggest hits and most acclaimed songs, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. In a recent episode of the “Just for Variety” podcast, Heughan told Variety senior culture and events editor Marc Malkin that Dion has recorded a new song for the film.
“It’s All Coming Back to Me” is written and directed by Jim Strouse. Screen Gems produced the film, which is distributed by Sony Pictures. Dion executive produces the film alongside Doug Belgrad, Sophie Cassidy, Louise Killin and Jonathan Furhman. Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee and Esther Hornstein produce. The film’s supporting cast includes Russell Tovey, Steve Oram, Omid Djalili, Sofia Barclay, Lydia West, Arinzé Kene and Celia Imrie. Filming for the movie began in late 2020 in London, and wrapped in early 2021. Read more
Sam Esmail’s Netflix film ‘Leave The World Behind’ adds Kevin Bacon, Farrah Mackenzie (Deadline)
Kevin Bacon (City on a Hill) and Farrah Mackenzie (United States of Al) have signed on for roles in Sam Esmail’s Netflix film Leave the World Behind, Deadline can confirm. They join a cast that also includes Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke and Myha’la Herrold, as previously announced.
Leave the World Behind is based on Rumaan Alam’s novel about a family vacation on Long Island that is interrupted by two strangers bearing news of a mysterious blackout. As the threat grows more imminent, both families must decide how best to survive the potential crisis, all while grappling with their own place in this collapsing world.
Esmail adapted the screenplay and is producing with Chad Hamilton through Esmail Corp, alongside Roberts, Lisa Gillan, and Marisa Yeres Gill for Red Om Films. Higher Ground’s Tonia Davis is exec producing alongside Alam, Danny Stillman and Esmail Corp’s Nick Krishnamurthy.
Bacon is an Emmy nominee and Golden Globe winner who currently stars on Showtime’s City on a Hill. In recent years, the actor has also been seen on such series as SMILF and I Love Dick. Recent film credits include You Should Have Left and Patriots Day. Read more
Crowded House’s Australia tour postponed after Neil Finn catches Covid (Guardian)
Crowded House frontman Neil Finn has tested positive for Covid-19, postponing the rest of the band’s Australia tour just hours before their next show.
The 63-year-old New Zealand singer said he was “absolutely crushed”, having tested positive on Monday morning.
“In these very difficult conditions for touring, we were staying in our bubble and observing very strict protocols but somehow the virus still slipped through,” Finn said.
“I am relieved to be only experiencing mild symptoms at this stage and grateful for the protection that my triple boosted vaccination is providing. Read more
DJ Kay Slay, hip-hop pioneer, dies of COVID-19 at 55 (CST)
Pioneering hip-hop artist Keith Grayson, who performed as DJ Kay Slay and worked with top stars, has died of complications from COVID-19.
Grayson’s death at age 55 on Sunday was confirmed by his family in a statement released through New York radio station HOT 97, where he hosted “The Drama Hour” for more than two decades.
“A dominant figure in hip-hop culture with millions of fans worldwide, DJ Kay Slay will be remembered for his passion and excellence with a legacy that will transcend generations,” the family statement said.
Grayson grew up in Harlem, immersed in New York City’s early hip hop scene. He got his start as a teenage graffiti artist and was featured in the 1983 hip hop documentary “Style Wars.” Read more
Okocha joins George Weah, others in African Legends charity game (Leadership)
Former Super Eagles captain, Austin Jayjay Okocha joined other African legends in Liberia as the president of the country and former world player of the year, George Opong Weah, commissioned a new sports park.
The Invincibility Sports Park was built by the Weah-led government and had its first action featuring some of the finest in the game on the continent.
Okocha, Zambian football legend, Kalusha Bwalya, two-time African Player of the Year and Senegal legend, El Hadji Diouf, former African Player of the Year and Togolese star, Emmanuel Adebayor, former Ghanaian captain, Asamoah Gyan and others joined Weah to launch the park.
A game between Weah-led eleven and the African legends ended 4-3 in favour of the legends who also had former Australia captain, Tim Cahill on their side. Read more
Ronaldo and partner announce death of newborn twin son (IrishIndependent)
Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo has announced that his and Georgina Rodriguez’s newborn son has died.
Ronaldo and Rodriguez shared the news of their twin son’s passing in a joint statement posted to their social media accounts yesterday, where the couple said: “It is with our deepest sadness we have to announce our baby boy has passed away. It is the greatest pain that any parent can feel.”
In the statement, the couple, who announced in October that they were expecting twins, continued: “Only the birth of our baby girl gives us the strength to live this moment with some hope and happiness.”
The football star (37) and Rodriguez (28) also took the opportunity to express their gratitude to the doctors, nurses and medical staff for “all their expert care and support” Read more
Man City ‘agree terms’ with Erling Haaland to make him Premier League’s highest earner (DailyStar)
Manchester City have reportedly agreed to terms with Erling Haaland to make him the Premier League’s highest-paid player.
Haaland is one of the most sought-after players in the world heading into the upcoming summer transfer window. He has starred for Borussia Dortmund over the past two years since joining from Red Bull Salzburg, scoring 82 goals in 85 appearances in all competitions.
His goals helped Dortmund to win the DFB-Pokal trophy last season, though his current campaign has been badly disrupted by injury. Despite those injury problems over this campaign, Haaland remains an attractive potential signing for many of Europe’s top clubs given his remarkable scoring record.
And it appears that City have now moved into pole position in the race to make Haaland their star striker. The Daily Mail reports that the Premier League table toppers have made a ‘significant step’ in their pursuit. Read more
Barty to play in US exhibition golf event (WestAustralian)
Ash Barty is returning to the sports world stage, this time wielding a golf club rather than a tennis racquet.
The former world No.1 will play in a teams exhibition event in New Jersey from June 30 to July 1, alongside some of sport’s biggest names.
Barty, who announced her shock retirement last month aged just 25, will be a headline act in the Icons Series which will be played in the US for the first time.
Team USA, captained by 1992 Masters Champion Fred Couples, will take on a Rest of the World team captained by four-time major winner Ernie Els. Read more
Amir Khan robbed at gunpoint in East London, watch taken (BoxingScene)
Former world champion Amir Khan revealed on social media that he was robbed at gunpoint while with wife Faryal Makhdoom.
According to Khan, two robbers approached him with a firearm and took his watch in East London on Monday night.
“Just had my watch taken off me at gunpoint in East London, Leyton. I crossed the road with Faryal (Khan’s wife), luckily she was a few steps behind me. 2 men ran to me, he asked for my watch whilst having a gun pointed in my face.,” Khan stated. “The main thing is we’re both safe.”
Khan was in action back in February, when he suffered a one-sided stoppage loss at the hands of career rival Kell Brook. There is a rematch clause in place, but Khan has yet to officially exercise that option. Read more
Joel Embiid scores 31 to lead Sixers to 2-0 series lead on Raptors (CBS)
Joel Embiid took his lumps and powered his way to 31 points and 11 rebounds, Tyrese Maxey showed he was no one-game postseason wonder and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Toronto Raptors 112-97 on Monday night for a 2-0 lead in the first-round series.
Maxey had 23 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Tobias Harris had 20 points and 10 rebounds. James Harden scored 14.
Game 3 in the Eastern Conference series is Wednesday in Toronto.
The Raptors trailed by 27 points but showed some life in the fourth cutting it to 11 until Maxey, the Game 1 star, buried a 3 that got the Sixers rolling again. Read more