Oyenusi, Anini, Osunbor ‘resurrect’ in Ondo (Nation)
Notorious armed robbers that terrorised Nigeria in the 1980s and 1990s, Oyenusi, Lawrence Anini and Monday Osunbor, have ‘resurrected’ in Ondo State.
They ‘resurrected’ in teenage robbery suspects nabbed by the Ondo State Security Network codenamed Amotekun Corps at Ijare area of Akure.
Members of the gang named themselves after the late notorious armed robbers who were killed by firing squad.
Among the robbers paraded were 14- year- old Anini; 16-year- old Oyenusi and 17-year- old Monday Osunbor. Read more
NSCDC beefs up national security ahead Easter celebration (Guardian)
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has said that security has been beefed up across the country for the Easter celebration.
This is contained in a statement issued by the NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Mr Olusola Odumosu and released to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to Odumosu, NSCDC Commandant General (CG), Ahmed Audi, ordered the massive deployment of personnel from State, Zonal Commands and the National Headquarters to suspected flashpoints.
He said that the deployed personnel are to strengthen security in places of worship, recreational facilities, markets, shopping malls, parks, gardens and other densely populated areas.
“This is to guard against unwanted activities of criminals whose intention is to sabotage government efforts. Read more
National Assembly approves N4t for petrol subsidy (Punch)
The National Assembly has passed amendments to the 2022 Appropriation Act which raised the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) by N442.72bn, from N3.557tn to N4tn.
The Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively, considered and adopted reports on the amendment bills at the plenary on Thursday based on the request by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
The federal parliament approved a new oil price benchmark of $73 per barrel, a new oil production volume of 1.600 million per day, and a PMS subsidy of N4tn.
Provision for federally-funded upstream projects being implemented was cut by N200bn from N352.80bn, while the projection for Federal Government independent revenue was raised by N400bn. Read more
Rema hints new music with Fireboy (Guardian)
Still basking in the release of his debut album Rave and Roses, Rema has hinted at the release of the album’s deluxe version and a collaboration with Fireboy.
Connecting with fans following his return to Nigeria.
Taking to Instagram, Rema shared a video of himself rehearsing Dirty, one of the album’s most popular songs, later asking fans to send in their questions in a post on his Instagram story.
A fan asked, “Are we expecting a deluxe version?” to which Rema replied, “Yes.” Read more
Kaduna train attack: Families besiege NHRC, demand release of abducted victims (Vanguard)
Family members of victims of the bombed Kaduna bound train on March 28 are currently gathered at the National Human Rights Commission Headquarters, Maitama, Abuja.
Wearing forlorn looks, they are demanding immediate release of the 141 persons still in custody of the terrorists.
Vanguard gathered at the time of filing this report that rights activists will address a press conference where demands of the families would be made known.
As a way of putting the federal government on its toes to facilitate the rescue of the abductees, an hashtag, #SaveAK9Trainpaseengers has been created, with Nigerians urged to make posts on sundry social media platforms.
A manifest released by the Nigerian Railway Corporation revealed that a total of 362 passengers boarded the ill-fated train out of which nine persons were killed by the gunmen. 186 have been treated and are back home while the whereabouts of others is still unknown. Read more
AFAN decries rising cost of farm inputs as wet season sets in (Leadership)
The Kaduna state chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), has appealed to the government for intervention in curbing the rising prices of fertilisers and other farm inputs.
AFAN Chairman in the state, Alhaji Nuhu Aminu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Zaria, that the appeal became necessary as preparations for the wet season farming had commenced.
Aminu said the rising cost of farm inputs, coupled with insecurity, was threatening food production in the country.
He appealed to state and federal governments, to ensure early distribution of inputs to farmers. Read more
Man masterminds girlfriend’s kidnap in Abuja, collects N2m ransom (DailyTrust)
The police in Lagos are on the trail of one Ahmed for allegedly conniving with one Uchenna Daniels to kidnap his (Ahmed’s) girlfriend, Hannatu Kabri.
Daniels reportedly abducted Kabri in Abuja on March 31 and took her to Lagos.
Daily Trust learnt that the victim was released after her parents paid N2m ransom.
The case was reported to the police and a manhunt was launched for the suspects, leading to Daniels’ arrest. Read more
Why we are giving proper legal backing to Lagos Anti-Corruption Commission ― Akande (Tribune)
Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions & LASIEC, Hon. Victor Akande has said that the Assembly was committed to ensuring that the state’s anti-corruption commission is given the necessary legal backing.
Akande, representing Ojo Constituency 1 in the Assembly, stated this on Wednesday at a-day stakeholder parley held within the Assembly complex, on a Bill for “A Law To Amend The Lagos State Public Complaints And Anti-Corruption Commission Law, 2021.”
The lawmaker noted that it was ideal to ensure that some items were deleted in the law for the effectiveness of the commission.
“Some of the sections needed to be redrafted just to give the bill a human face, and this has been done. Read more
Julia Roberts talks Sean Penn’s crazy transformation for “Gaslit” & raising her kids with ‘Conviction’ (People)
Sean Penn’s transformation for Gaslit was so involved that his co-star Julia Roberts says she sometimes wouldn’t see him “for weeks.”
Roberts, 54, plays Martha Mitchell, the first person to publicly accuse President Richard Nixon of being involved in Watergate, in the upcoming Starz series, while Penn, 61, plays her husband and Nixon’s Attorney General John Mitchell.
Of Penn’s transformation, Roberts said on Wednesday’s E! Daily Pop, “He would get to work before me. He would be getting his makeup done.”
“When I got to work, he would already look like John Mitchell, and then I’d be gone before he was transformed back into Sean Penn,” she added. Read more
Britney Spears raves about ‘great’ pregnancy sex (PageSix)
Britney Spears says she’s having “the best sex ever” while pregnant with her third child.
“Sex is great when you’re pregnant,” the singer, who’s expecting a baby with fiancé Sam Asghari, boasted via Instagram on Wednesday.
Spears, 40, went on to say that she’s been finding happiness in “the little things” ever since her nearly 14-year conservatorship was officially terminated last fall.
“It’s time for me to indulge into thinking … books … makeup … classic movies … great conversations … and the best sex ever!!!” she added.
Spears also gave a shoutout to fellow pop star Ariana Grande in her post, thanking her for the “amazing” REM Beauty products she sent over. Read more
Cannes Competition lineup only has 3 films from female directors, falling short of gender parity goals (Variety)
This year’s crop of filmmakers at the Cannes Film Festival don’t represent a new benchmark in terms of gender diversity.
Since becoming the first international festival to sign a gender parity pledge in 2018, Cannes has failed to make substantial progress in ramping up the representation of female directors in competition which remains dominated by male directors.
Cannes director Thierry Fremaux told Variety last week that he was aiming to “hopefully” have a “stronger presence of female directors” in 2022. But so far, it’s not looking like he’s achieved that goal.
At this point, there are only three films by female directors in competition out of 18 titles. Last year, four of the 21 titles were from female filmmakers. That matched a previous high of four female movie makers from the 2019 edition. Read more
Family Guy’s Seth MacFarlane reprising Ted role for new TV series (DigitalSpy)
Ted, the live-action comedy film series starring Family Guy’s Seth MacFarlane voicing a naughty CGI teddy bear, is getting a spin-off show coming to streaming service Peacock.
As reported by Variety, MacFarlane will be returning to voice the character, as well as directing, writing, executive producing, and sharing the showrunner duties with co-writers Paul Corrigan and Brad Walsh.
The series will be set in 1993, before the two movies with Mark Wahlberg. It will see Ted living with 16-year-old John Bennett in a working class Boston home. As per, Ted is a bad influence on his friend, but has the interests of his loved ones at heart.
Some new live-action cast members have been announced, including Giorgia Whigham, Max Burkholder and Scott Grimes. It’s not known if any of the actors from the films will return for the show. Read more
Nia Archives calls on MOBO awards to add electronic/dance category (NME)
Nia Archives has written an open letter to the MOBO Awards, calling on the organisation to add an electronic/dance category.
The letter was shared across her social media and starts with Nia Archives writing that “it saddens me that it has been decades since an electronic/dance artist of Black origin was awarded a MOBO,” with Goldie’s 1996 win for ‘Timeless’ the last instance she can see. “That was over 25 years ago – before I was even born.”
“Once upon a time, you championed Black dance artists and had categories such as Best Dance Act, Best Jungle Act and Best Garage Act but by the early 2000s, these categories ceased to exist,” she continued. “The MOBOS are such an important institution and it’s frustrating that the categories in their current state are not representative of Black music in all its forms.”
“How can we expect young Black people to see themselves in the music if our own organisations and award ceremonies won’t even celebrate the diverse range of talent that boldly exists in the country? This current attitude further perpetuates the narrative of what Blackness is and it is simply wrong.” Read more
Mary J. Blige to receive Icon award at the ‘2022 Billboard Music Awards’ (Deadline)
Mary J. Blige will receive the Icon Award at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, May 15. As a part of the recognition, the recent Super Bowl halftime show performer and ten-time BBMA winner and will perform during the broadcast, which will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC and will stream live on Peacock.
Blige joins the ten other artists who have received the Icon Award, which recognizes outstanding artists who have achieved excellence on the Billboard Charts and have made an indelible mark on music. Since the award’s inauguration in 2011, past recipients include Neil Diamond, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Jennifer Lopez, Celine Dion, Cher, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Garth Brooks and, last year, Pink.
“My career has been such an incredible and unexpected journey that has included many turns into avenues I never could have imagined like acting, producing, launching businesses and now even my own music festival,” said Blige in a statement. “Through it all, I always one way or another gravitate back to my first love, music. To be recognized in this way at this moment, with the Icon Award at the Billboard Music Awards, is an incredible honor and one that I am truly humbled by.”
BBMA finalists are determined by performance on the Billboard Charts. Since 1940, the Billboard Charts have been the go-to guide for ranking the popularity of artists, songs and albums. Read more
UK government blasted as “racist” and “inhumane” for plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda (CBS)
Britain will send migrants and asylum-seekers who cross the Channel thousands of miles away to Rwanda under a controversial deal announced Thursday as the government tries to clamp down on record numbers of people making the perilous journey.
“From today… anyone entering the UK illegally as well as those who have arrived illegally since January 1 may now be relocated to Rwanda,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a speech near Dover in southeastern England. “Rwanda will have the capacity to resettle tens of thousands of people in the years ahead.”
He called the East African nation with a sketchy human rights record “one of the safest countries in the world, globally recognized for its record of welcoming and integrating migrants.”
Johnson was elected partly on promises to curb illegal immigration but has instead seen record numbers making the risky Channel crossing. Read more
NFF appoints coach banned for bribery, others to head national teams (Punch)
The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee for the appointment of Salisu Yusuf as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles B (otherwise known as the CHAN team) as well as the U23 (Olympics) team.
Yusuf was previously banned for collecting bribes as an Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles after he was caught on camera in August 2018 accepting cash from men who posed as football agents to select two players for his Morocco 2018 African Nations Championship squad.
He was subsequently banned for one year and ordered to pay a fine of $5,000 by the federation following the NFF Ethics and Fair Play Committee ruling that the coach received $1,000 from the men.
The NFF reinstated the coach in 2019 after serving his punishment and later approved his return as Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles and Head Coach of the Super Eagles B team, with effect from November 1, 2021. Read more
Ireland rejig summer schedule to aid Ukraine World Cup fixture (RTE)
The Republic of Ireland’s summer schedule has been rejigged to accommodate the World Cup qualifier between Ukraine and Scotland.
Ireland were set to open their Nations League campaign against Ukraine at the Aviva Stadium on 4 June, however, Stephen Kenny’s side will now begin away from home, taking on Armenia on the same date.
Two home games will then follow against Ukraine and Scotland on 8 June and 11 June respectively, while the final game of the summer will see Ireland travel for the reverse fixture with the war-torn nation, with a venue yet to be decided in light of the ongoing conflict.
The away game with Ukraine is scheduled to take place on 14 June. Read more
Man Utd appoints Spurs stadium team for Old Trafford development (Sky)
Manchester United have appointed the architects behind the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to create plans for the redevelopment of Old Trafford.
Architects Populous and management consultants Legends International will work jointly on plans to update the largest club stadium in English football with the aim of increasing capacity and enhancing fan experience.
Both companies worked on the development of Tottenham’s state-of-the-art 63,000-seater stadium, which opened in 2019.
A statement on United’s website read: “Work will begin immediately on developing options for Old Trafford and studying their feasibility, with the aim of significantly enhancing the fan experience. Read more
Allyson Felix says 2022 will be final season of glittering career (Guardian)
Allyson Felix, who has more Olympic medals than any US track and field athlete in history, says she will retire after the 2022 season.
“This season isn’t about the time on the clock, it’s simply about joy,” Felix said in an Instagram post on Wednesday. “If you see me on the track this year I hope to share a moment, a memory and my appreciation with you.”
At age 35, Felix won a bronze medal in the 400m last summer in Tokyo, then followed it up with a gold medal in the 4×400 relay. Those were her 10th and 11th Olympic medals, which helped her pass Carl Lewis in the US record books and left her behind only one runner in history, Finland’s Paavo Nurmi, who won 12 medals between 1920 and 1928.
Her last major appearances are likely to be at the US championships in June, followed by the world championships, which take place in Eugene, Oregon in July. Felix also has a record 13 gold medals and 18 overall from world championships. Read more
David Haye tips Tyson Fury to suffer similar fate to Joshua during Dillian Whyte fight (Express)
David Haye has sensationally picked world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury to lose his WBC title to compatriot Dillian Whyte ahead of their clash at Wembley Stadium next weekend. Haye believes the Gypsy King will suffer a similar fate to his rival Anthony Joshua, who was the overwhelming favourite when he fell to Oleksandr Usyk.
Usyk stunned Joshua back in September at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, comfortably outclassing the Brit throughout the contest to snatch his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles via unanimous decision. Both men are currently preparing for the rematch, which is reportedly set to take place in Saudi Arabia.
After watching one British world champion surprisingly lose his belts, Haye is picking against Fury. To some fans, this comes as no surprise given the beef between the pair has led to Haye incorrectly picking the Gypsy King to lose in the past.
While Haye admitted he was impressed by Fury in the last two fights of the Brit’s epic trilogy against Deontay Wilder, he believes Whyte will stun fans around the world by topping the 33-year-old under the Wembley arch. Haye – who had bouts against Fury fall through while he has also sparred Whyte – insists the April 23 fight will be an ‘all-out slugfest from the first bell’. Read more
Tsitsipas breezes past Djere in Monte Carlo (France24)
Titleholder Stefanos Tsitsipas reached the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals on Thursday by beating Serbian Laslo Djere in straight sets 7-5, 7-6 (7/1).
Tsitsipas — the world number five — will play either Diego Schwartzman of Argentina or Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in Friday’s semi-finals.
“I had to put in a very good performance,” said Tsitsipas, who lost in five sets to Novak Djokovic in the French Open final last year.
“Laslo did not hand me victory, but I tried to stay 100 percent focused. Read more
