Ogun ex-permanent secretary, wife found dead in Lagos home (Punch)
The family of an ex-permanent secretary in Ogun State, Adefemi Egbeoluwa, and his wife, Oluwafunmilayo, have been grieving after their lifeless bodies were found at their residence around Allen Avenue, in the Ikeja area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the couple were at home with their domestic worker on the day of the governorship and state House of Assembly elections when some yet-to-be-identified persons invaded the premises and killed the couple.
After perpetrating the crime, the suspects reportedly attacked the domestic worker, beat her till she lost consciousness, and fled. Read more
Twitter user Chude is being investigated for cyberstalking, says police (Guardian)
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has confirmed the arrest of one Chude Franklin Nnamdi over cyberstalking.
Nnamdi was arrested in Anambra State on Saturday.
He alleged that the Anambra governors’ political party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was involved in the rigging of the House of Assembly election in a tweet.
He claimed that governor Chukwuma Soludo was instrumental in the rigging, adding that some thugs carted away ballot boxes. Read more
Drug Deal: Court refuses Kyari’s application to quash charges (DailyTrust)
A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected an application by the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari seeking to strike out charges against him.
Justice Emeka Nwite on Wednesday held that the court has the jurisdiction to hear matters related to drugs under Section 251 of the Nigerian Constitution and the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency Act.
Kyari was remanded alongside ACP Sunday Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspectors Simon Agirigba, John Nuhu and ASP John Umoru, who is said to be at large, over drugs-related offences. Read more
I had my most unserious studio session working on ‘Sability’ – Ayra Starr (Nation)
Fast-rising singer, Ayra Starr has opened up on how her latest single, ‘Sability’ was conceived along with its making.
Starr explained the desire to make music that could be enjoyed not just among Africans but also other continents, gave birth to ‘Sability’.
Opening up about the studio session of ‘Sability’, the Mavin star girl described it as one of the funniest ever and quite the most unserious one.
She noted after every line, she literally dropped on the floor to laugh their hearts out as a result of the songs lyrics which were more comical than serious. Read more
FEC approves over 4bn for construction of barracks for NDLEA personnel (Sun)
The Federal Executive Council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari has approved over N4 billion for the construction of barracks for personnel of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA).
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, told State House Correspondents that the approval became necessary to prevent threats and attacks on officers and men of the agency.
Malami who briefed along side his colleagues in the ministries of information and culture, agriculture and transportation said: “As you are aware, there has been renewed and sustained onslaught against drug cartels and barons over time. Within the three quarters of 2023 about 18,940 arrest were affected by the NDLEA and indeed drugs with the estimated value of over N40 billion where confiscated. Read more
Lagos train accident: 19 patients on admission – Abayomi (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, says 19 patients involved in the train-bus collision accident are currently receiving treatment at three state public health facilities.
Abayomi disclosed this in a situation update about the accident on Wednesday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the state between March 10 and 15 had discharged 66 patients involved in accidents from five state hospitals. Read more
I’m much excited about coming Ramadan – Mr Macaroni (Nation)
Popular skit maker and actor, Adebowale ‘Debo’ Adedayo AKA Mr Macaroni, has expressed excitement about the Ramadan season.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community.
As Muslims prepare for this year’s Ramadan, the Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, in a statement by the Director of Administration of the NSCIA, Zubairu Haruna Usman-Ugwu on Monday, March 20, directed Muslim faithful to look out for the new moon of Sha’aban 1444 A.H, which is equivalent to March 22, 2023, which signals the beginning of Ramadan. Read more
Guber Polls: Collation resumes in Enugu, Abia (Independent)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has directed the resumption of the collation of results for the Abia and Enugu State governorship elections.
The Commission had on Monday 20th March 2023 suspended further collation of the Governorship election results in some parts of Abia and Enugu States and ordered a review of the collation processes in both States.
Barrister Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and chairman information and voter education committee, in a statement, said the review has been completed and that collation of the remaining results can commence immediately. Read more
Dick Van Dyke suffer minor injuries in Malibu car crash (Deadline)
Sitcom legend Dick Van Dyke suffered minor injuries in a single-car crash last week after his Lexus LS 500 slid into a gate in Malibu, police have confirmed.
Van Dyke, 97, was driving the car in an area that had been experiencing record rainfall. After the actor’s vehicle slid into a gate, paramedics treated him at the scene for what TMZ reports was bleeding from the nose and mouth.
The accident occurred in Malibu on Wednesday, March 15. Read more
Michaela Coel, Anne Hathaway to star in David Lowery pop music epic ‘‘Mother Mary’’ at A24 (TheWrap)
Michaela Coel and Anne Hathaway are joining forces for “Mother Mary,” writer-director David Lowery’s third feature film with A24.
Described as an “epic pop melodrama,” the feature will delve into the relationship between a musician (Hathaway) and a renowned fashion designer (Coel).
Singer-songwriters and past collaborators Jack Antonoff and Charli XCX will contribute original songs to the film. (Charli XCX previously wrote the track “Hot Girl” for A24’s “Bodies Bodies Bodies.”) Daniel Hart, who worked on Lowery’s films “The Green Knight” and “A Ghost Story,” is set to compose the score. Read more
Sly Stone book to be released through new Questlove imprint (DailyMail)
Questlove has his own book imprint and is launching it with a memoir by one of the world’s most influential and enigmatic musicians, Sly Stone, leader of Sly and the Family Stone.
“Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” named for the Sly and the Family Stone hit, will be released Oct. 17 through Questlove’s AUWA Books imprint, part of Macmillan Publishers. The memoir is co-written by Ben Greenman and will track Stone’s rise to the heights of stardom in the late 1960s to his long decline and virtual disappearance from the music scene.
“For as long as I can remember folks have been asking me to tell my story,” the 80-year-old Stone, who was born Sylvester Stewart, said in a statement Wednesday. “I wasn’t ready. I had to be in a new frame of mind to become Sylvester Stewart again to tell the true story of Sly Stone. It’s been a wild ride and hopefully my fans enjoy it too.” Read more
Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar and The 1975 among Lollapalooza 2023 headliners (NME)
The line-up for Lollapalooza 2023 has been unveiled, with Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar and The 1975 among the headliners.
Lollapalooza 2023 is returning to Giant Park in Chicago, Illinois from August 3-6. Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lana Del Rey, Odesza, Tomorrow X Together and Karol G will also be topping the bill, with the latter making history as the first female Latin artist to headline the festival.
Elsewhere, Lollapalooza has also booked the likes of Carly Rae Jepsen, Rina Sawayama, Pusha T, Lil Yachty, 30 Seconds To Mars, Beebadoobee and Fred again. They will be joined by Sabrina Carpenter, Gorgon City, Alex G, Diplo, Joey Bada$$, NewJeans and Maggie Rogers. Read more
Zelenskyy shares shocking footage of Russian missile attack on civilian apartments in Ukraine (Fox)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared shocking footage of a Russian missile striking a Urainian apartment building on Wednesday.
The broad daylight attack took place in Ukraine’s Zaporzhzhia region. Footage shows the missile blasting through a building near a busy highway, killing at least one person.
“Russia is shelling the city with bestial savagery,” Zelenskyy wrote to accompany the video. “Residential areas where ordinary people and children live are being fired at.” Read more
Gwyneth Paltrow’s trial begins in Deer Valley ski crash (CBS)
Gwyneth Paltrow’s lawyer called the story of a retired optometrist who is suing her over a 2016 ski collision “utter B.S.” on Tuesday during the trial’s opening day in Utah.
Terry Sanderson claims that the actor-turned-lifestyle influencer was cruising down the slopes so recklessly that they violently collided, leaving him on the ground as she and her entourage continued their descent down Deer Valley Resort, a skiers-only mountain known for its groomed runs, après-ski champagne yurts and posh clientele.
“Gwyneth Paltrow skied out of control,” Sanderson’s attorneys claim in the lawsuit, “knocking him down hard, knocking him out, and causing a brain injury, four broken ribs and other serious injuries. Paltrow got up, turned and skied away, leaving Sanderson stunned, lying in the snow, seriously injured.” Read more
Afghanistan, Pakistan rocked by magnitude 6.5 earthquake (Fox)
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake ripped through northeast Afghanistan late Tuesday, sending tremors in neighboring Pakistan and causing people to flee their homes in terror.
There were conflicting reports about the epicenter of the earthquake. The US Geological Survey pinpointed the center about 25 miles south-southeast of Jurm in Afghanistan’s mountainous Hindukush region, bordering Pakistan and Tajikistan.
At least 12 people were reported injured in northwest Pakistan. The tremors were so powerful that many people fled their homes and offices in Pakistan’s capital of Islamabad. Read more
Success signs new Udinese deal (Punch)
Following an impressive 2022/23 season, Udinese has rewarded Super Eagles striker Isaac Success with a new one-year contract, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Success joined the Italian club in 2021 and after a slow start, he has been a regular for Andrea Sottil’s side this season.
With just a year left on his initial contract, the Little Zebras, as they are fondly called, have decided to hand the Nigerian striker a one-year extension at the Italian Serie A club that will keep him at the club till 2025. Read more
Mesut Ozil announces retirement from football (RTE)
Former Arsenal and Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Ozil has announced his retirement from football at the age of 34.
The 92-time Germany international and 2014 World Cup winner had been playing for Istanbul Basaksehir in Turkey, but he has now made the decision to terminate his contract and call time on his career after injuries limited him to just eight appearances this season.
He left Arsenal in 2021 having fallen out of favour with boss Mikel Arteta, joining Fenerbahce where he stayed for 18 months until last summer. Read more
Tottenham considering 2 surprise names as Antonio Conte dismissal edges closer (Express)
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper and Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou are two surprise names under consideration to replace Antonio Conte at Tottenham as the Spurs hierarchy prepare to part company with the Italian, according to reports.
The 53-year-old head coach is currently back home in Italy following the start of the international break but he is now expected to be relieved from his duties following his sensational rant after his side chucked away a 3-1 lead to draw 3-3 at Southampton on Saturday.
Conte delivered several home truths and seemingly criticised both his players and Daniel Levy during the astonishing tirade at St Mary’s. Read more
Naomi Osaka reveals baby bump for the 1st time on social media (Tennis365)
Former world No 1 Naomi Osaka has given the world a glimpse of her growing baby bump on a social media post.
Three-time Grand Slam winner Osaka announced on the eve of this year’s Australian Open in January that she is expecting her first child with rapper boyfriend Cordae as she shared a picture of a baby scan.
She has given very limited updates about her pregnancy since then as in February she shared a post stating “Only Rihanna would get me to come out the house” after attending the Super Bowl in Arizona. Read more
NBA chief Adam Silver and LeBron James lead tributes to New York Knicks icon Willis Reed (Mirror)
NBA commissioner Adam Silver and LeBron James led the tributes for New York Knicks legend Willis Reed, who sadly passed away aged 80 on Tuesday.
Reed’s death was announced by the National Basketball Retired Players Association, which had confirmed the news with his family. The cause of Reed’s death has not yet been released, but the legendary centre was believed to be in poor health and was unable to travel to New York in February when the Knicks honoured the 50th anniversary of their 1973 championship team.
Reed earned and has maintained the nickname, “The Captain”, after helping fire the Knicks to two NBA Championships in 1970 and 1973 – the franchises only two to date. Read more
Exposed Ferrari power unit to be put on public display at F1 Exhibition (PlanetF1)
A Ferrari power unit from the 2021 season will be going on display at the all-new F1 Exhibition in Madrid, when it opens on Friday.
An engine from the Scuderia, used in the 2021 SF21 has been given to the Exhibition, and it will be the first time any Ferrari Formula 1 engine will have been placed on public display anywhere in the world.
It will also offer a unique opportunity for fans to see the inner workings of a modern day Formula 1 hybrid power unit, with the 1.6-litre V^ internal combustion engine combining with a turbocharger, two Motor Generator Units, Control Electronics and an Energy Store to pump out around 1000bhp in the current specification of cars. Read more