Police investigate murder of corps member in Abuja (Guardian)
Homicide detectives at the Police Command headquarters, Garki, Abuja have commenced investigation into the gruesome murder of female corps member, Stephanie Se-ember Terungwa Edward Achado.
Stephanie was declared missing on April 14, 2022 in Abuja, but was later found dead.
Her body was found on Wednesday still dressed in her NYSC uniform, almost two weeks after she disappeared in the Lokogoma area of the FCT.
The killers had removed some vital parts of her body. Read more
Husband attempts to abscond as wife gives birth to quadruplets (Vanguard)
An apprentice tyre dealer, Cissé Abdullahi, who attempted absconding to Republic of Benin following his wife’s delivery of quadruplets, has solicited the support of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos and other philanthropists for the care of the babies.
Abdullahi, 37, a native of Ilorin, who lives at Kumapaji Phase 3, Baale Bus Stop, Oko-Afo in Olorunda LCDA, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that only N3,500 was in his possession when he heard that his wife had delivered quadruplets.
“I was coming from Apapa where I am learning how to sell tyres when I heard the news of my wife’s delivery of the babies at the Badagry General Hospital.
“It is a good thing, but I never expected quadruplets because the last scan indicated that it would be twins. Read more
UI student disappears from Lagos construction site, family panics (Punch)
The family of a 22-year-old undergraduate at the University of Ibadan, Samson Ajayi, are in despair after he went missing while going to work on a construction site in the Ajah area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident happened on March 9, 2022 and the case was reported at the Ogombo Police Station.
Samson’s uncle, Taiwo Ajayi, said the victim stayed with his parents in the Alagbado area of Lagos State due to the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
He explained that Samson went to work on the construction site so as not to be idle, adding that efforts by the family to find him were abortive. Read more
Bizman in court over N43m fraud, gets N20m bail (Punch)
Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos State, on Thursday, granted a businessman, Fatuyi Philips, accused of N43m fraud bail in the sum of N20m.
Philips is the Chairman of the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria. He is being tried along with his firm, Oceanview Oil and Gas Limited.
The defendant, who is facing two counts bordering on obtaining money by false pretences to the tune of N43,502,000, was first arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on April 7, 2022.
The charges read in part, “Fatuyi Yemi Philips and Oceanview Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, on or about September 28, 2016, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, obtained the aggregate sum of N43,502,000 from Elochukwu Okoye and Elebana Unique Ventures Nigeria Limited on behalf of WAPCIL Nigeria Limited under the false representation that you would sell to WAPCIL Nigeria Limited $98,870.00, a representation you knew to be false.” Read more
FG declares May 2, 3 public holidays to mark Workers Day, Eid ul-Fitr (Guardian)
Federal Government has declared Monday, May 2 and Tuesday, May 3, 2022 as public holidays to mark Workers Day and Eid ul-Fitr celebrations.
Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government.
He congratulated workers across the country on this year’s celebration, urging them to raise the bar of their trade, in line with the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s drive to rev up governance and make Nigerians derive maximum benefit from the nation.
He also congratulated Muslims for the successful completion of the holy month of Ramadan, urging them to imbibe virtues of kindness, love, tolerance, peace, self-denial, sacrifice and good neighbourliness, as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad. Read more
Owners groan as FCTA pulls down 600 houses in Abuja (DailyTrust)
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has demolished over 600 “illegal houses” in Zamani Village near Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja.
The Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring Inspection and Enforcement to the minister of FCT, Ikahro Attah, while speaking to journalists at the venue, reiterated the fact that local chiefs do not have right to sell land and people should stop buying from them.
According to SSA, “For me, I don’t think I can quantify the houses, there are Development Control workers who are taking note but I can say over 600 illegal structures were pulled down.
“We are not paying any compensation because they violated the law by building illegal structures. We are not done with Zamani community, we have a city to protect. Someone came to offer bribe and the man spoke a language close to my own, I refused, later the indigenous people came and claim the house is theirs but I said no because someone already came to offer me bribe and I refused. Read more
Sanusi secures release of 59 Kano inmates with N17m (Punch)
Former Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has secured the release of 59 inmates with minor offences in the Kurmawa and Gorondutse Correctional Centres in Kano State.
The Emir paid their fines amounting to N17m through his foundation, Muhammadu Sanusi II Foundation.
The foundation’s coordinator, Mujitaba Abba, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Kano on Wednesday.
He disclosed that Sanusi gave permission to secure the release of 59 of the prisoners after the payment of N16, 820,370 in fines and restitution. Read more
NLC to embark on 3-days warning strike in solidarity with unions, students (Vanguard)
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has threatened to embark on a three-day nationwide warning strike, in solidarity with affiliate unions in the universities and Nigerian students.
The union’s threat is contained in a communique jointly signed by its President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, and its General Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Ugboaja, and issued to newsmen, on Thursday in Abuja.
The communiqué was issued at the end of the Congress’ Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the NLC had on April 13, given the Federal Government 21 days within which to set up a High-Powered Panel to resolve the issues that were causing incessant strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and others. Read more
2023: Gov Abiodun declares for second term (Punch)
The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, on Thursday, declared his intention to run for a second term in office.
The Governor, in a statement, said he would be running for re-election alongside his Deputy, Noimot Oyedele.
He said, “Today, I formally declared my intention to run for a second term in office, and I also announced that I will be running with my deputy, Noimot Salako Oyedele.”
Abiodun made the declaration during the presentation of the nomination form to him by the ‘DA Mandate Group.’ Read more
Huge bottle of scotch that’s bigger than a bath is set to sell for £1,500,000 (Metro)
The largest bottle of scotch in the world, standing taller than most men at 5’11, is set to sell for well over a million pounds at auction.
Unfortunately, we doubt most of those reading have a spare mill to throw at a 311 litre bottle of alcohol, so this is more of a curiosity than anything actually useful.
BUT, if you just sold a very expensive house, perhaps you could use the windfall to buy yourself something that’s sure to get the party started.
Just bear in mind that you’ll have to find somebody else’s house to actually have the party.
The 32-year-old Macallan will go under the hammer at Edinburgh-based Lyon & Turnbull next month. Read more
James Corden leaving Late Late Show after eight years (BBC)
British comedian and actor turned US talk show host James Corden has announced he will be leaving The Late Late Show next year.
He made the announcement during a tape recording of the CBS network show in Los Angeles, California on Thursday.
Corden – best known in the UK for TV series Gavin and Stacey – has hosted the US-based talk show since 2015.
Speaking on Thursday’s edition of the show, he said it had been “the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make.” Read more
Astroworld documentary maker says Travis Scott should be in jail (PageSix)
Rapper Travis Scott belongs behind bars says the filmmaker of a new documentary about the Astroworld tragedy, “Concert Crush.”
“Travis Scott to me is a punk,” self-described “victim-driven” documentary filmmaker Charlie Minn tells Page Six. “In my opinion, he is a criminal. Ten people died. How do we get around that?”
Four hundred lawsuits against Scott, Live Nation and others involved in Astroworld have been combined into one civil case representing nearly 2,800 victims. They have been accused of negligence.
Prior to the suits being combined, both Scott and Live Nation had denied allegations.
Scott’s November concert led to 10 deaths — with victims ranging in age from 9 to 27 — and numerous injuries when the crowd surged. Read more
Beijing closes more venues as anger at Shanghai lockdown grows (AlJazeera)
China’s capital Beijing closed more gyms, malls, cinemas and apartment blocks on Friday, with authorities ramping up contact tracing to contain a COVID-19 outbreak, while resentment at the draconian month-long lockdown in Shanghai continued to grow.
In the finance hub, fenced-in people in various districts have been protesting against the lockdown and difficulties in obtaining provisions by banging on pots and pans in the evenings, according to a Reuters news agency witness and residents.
A video shared on social media, whose authenticity could not be immediately verified, showed a woman warning people via a loud-hailer not to do so, saying such gestures were being encouraged by “outsiders”. Read more
Measles cases soar 400 percent in Africa this year
(Guardian)
Measles used to be a common childhood disease but after an effective vaccine was developed, the disease was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 but this year’s outbreak puts that status in jeopardy.
Africa is facing an explosion of preventable diseases due to delays in vaccinating children, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Thursday, with measles cases jumping 400 percent.
Twenty African countries reported measles outbreaks in the first quarter of this year, eight more than in the first three months of 2021.
The Africa region recorded almost 17,500 cases of the highly contagious virus between January and March.
The WHO and the UN’s children’s agency UNICEF announced Wednesday in Geneva that measles cases surged by nearly 80 percent worldwide this year, warning that the rise of the “canary in a coal mine” illness indicates that outbreaks of other diseases are likely on the way.
Most of the outbreaks were in Africa and the eastern Mediterranean. Read more
Avatar 2: James Cameron shares sequel footage with CinemaCon audience 13 years after first film released (Metro)
‘It’s been 84 years…’ since we were promised a sequel to James Cameron’s Avatar movie.
Okay, we’re quoting the wrong film, but it has been an exceptionally long time since the release of the director’s acclaimed 2009 epic.
Pretty much as soon as Avatar was released a whopping 13 years ago, plans were announced for a sequel – and then a third, and a fourth, and a fifth.
Avatar movies are planned up until December 2028, with one scheduled to come out almost every year until then – that despite the fact it has taken well over a decade for the second one to be released. Read more
Amazon posts loss as online sales falter (BBC)
A drop in online sales and rising costs have helped to push Amazon to its first loss since 2015.
Online sales at the e-commerce giant slipped 3% in the first three months of the year, as the boom to its business from the pandemic starts to fade, the firm said Thursday.
Growth in other parts of its business, including cloud computing and advertising, remained strong.
But it is wrestling with the impact of rising costs and the Ukraine war.
Overall, Amazon reported a loss of $3.8bn, much of which was driven by a hit from its investment in electric carmaker Rivian. Read more
Eunisell charges Rivers United to stay on course in NPFL title race (Guardian)
Eunisell Limited has urged Rivers United to continue in their bid to win the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Rivers United have continued to set the pace in this season’s NPFL and have kept top spot for 12 consecutive matchdays, as well as leading the league table with 55 points from 25 matches.
Eunisell Managing Director, Chika Ikenga, has enjoined the Port Harcourt-based outfit to stay focused in their quest for the NPFL title despite stiff challenge from the chasing pack.
Ikenga believes that “Rivers United have put themselves in the driving seat of the title race” with a four-point gap over second-placed Plateau United. Read more
Osimhen can solve Arsenal’s striking problems – Fans (Punch)
A section of Nigerian fans of Arsenal have backed the English Premier League side to sign Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, saying he is the right person to solve their striking problems.
Arsenal have been without a proven striker since the departure of former captain Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang to Barcelona in the January transfer window, while Alexandre Lacazette has struggled and Eddie Nketieh does not seem to be on the consistent level needed to contend for domestic and international trophies.
The Gunners had been linked with Dusan Vlahovic, who opted to join Juventus instead in January, while they failed to meet the valuation of Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak.
The North London side will be hoping to boost their ranks ahead of the coming season in order to be able to contest for honours and have been linked with Nigerian Osimhen, who has been valued at €100m by Napoli, as well as Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus, who has not renewed his contract with the Cityzens. Read more
Katie Taylor targeting boxing immortality in historic fight against Amanda Serrano (Metro)
Katie Taylor is going into what has been dubbed ‘the biggest fight ever in women’s boxing’ with her eyes wide open, knowing victory over Amanda Serrano can catapult her towards immortality in the sport.
The Irish superstar, the quiet woman of boxing, takes on seven-weight world champion Serrano in the first-ever female fight to headline New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden this weekend with her reputation, status, legacy and undisputed lightweight championship at stake. She has fought at the Garden before but never with anything of such magnitude on the line.
A headline slot at MSG moves the bout into a different stratosphere — and Taylor hopes to emulate the first two fights there between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in the 1970s. Read more
Mark D Ball round of 16 dunks off May 10 (DailyTrust)
Hostilities will resume in the 2022 edition of Mark D Ball men’s basketball championship on May 10, as the second round of the mouth-watering competition tagged “Sweet 16,” dunks off at the indoor hall of MKO Abiola stadium, Abuja.
After the draws ceremony which was held yesterday online, the 16 qualified teams were grouped into four groups of four teams each.
Group one has Mo Heats, Delta Force, Bayelsa Waves and Police Baton, Group two has giants Kano Pillars,Plateau Peaks, Gombe Bulls and Nile University Spartans while Nigeria Customs, Novena Heartlanders, Hot Coal Ballers and Apa Flames are in Group three. Read more
Ralf Rangnick to become Austrian national team coach (Vanguard)
Manchester United’s interim coach, Ralf Rangnick, is expected to take up the role of head coach with the Austrian national team, according to reports.
Rangnick came in to fill the void created by the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Prior to his arrival, another United legend, Michael Carrick took charge of the team.
Rangnick has overseen an unimpressive United side that has managed just two wins in their last ten outings. One of the wins came against relegation confirmed Norwich City.
With the appointment of Erik ten Haag, Rangnick will now continue in a consultancy role at the club until 2024 as stated in his agreement at the time of his appointment. Read more
Thomas Tuchel not happy with Chelsea duo’s performance in Man Utd draw (Metro)
Thomas Tuchel admitted Timo Werner and Kai Havertz failed to ‘reach their peak’ in Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
Chelsea left Old Trafford with a point after Cristiano Ronaldo cancelled out Marcos Alonso’s opener but the visitors had plenty of chances to win the game.
Havertz and Werner led the line for the Blues with Romelu Lukaku on the bench but failed to take their chances as David de Gea made a string of saves.
A frustrated Tuchel wanted more from his strikers and claimed players ‘lacked determination’ in the box. Read more