Police recover corpse of Bolt driver declared missing in February (DailyTrust)
Aiyu Eromosele Thomas, a drive of taxi hailing app, Bolt, who was reported missing in February, has been found dead.
The family had cried out and appealed to security agencies to hasten investigation to ascertain the whereabouts of their son.
The 34- year-old resident of 70 Imole Avenue, Ajasa Command, Lagos, was booked by an unidentified passenger.
His vehicle, a Toyota corolla with registration number GGE583GX grey colour 2005/6 model, was found abandoned the following day. Read more
Woman delivered of quintuplets after nine-year marriage (Punch)
A 28-year-old woman, Mrs Chidinma Amaechi, has given birth to a set of quintuplets after nine years of marriage.
The quintuplets, consisting of three boys and two girls, were delivered through a caesarian section on Thursday at the Life International Hospital, Awka, Anambra State.
The woman, who finished her National Youth Service Corps programme in July 2022, is married to an Onitsha-based trader, Mr Tochukwu Amaechi.
City Round gathered that Amaechi was without a job and conceived naturally. Read more
DSS arrests Igbo leader who threatened To invite IPOB to Lagos (DailyTrust)
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested the Eze Igbo of Ajao Estate, Lagos, Fredrick Nwajagu, who vowed to invite members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to Lagos to secure properties of Igbo people in the state.
Daily Trust learnt that the Igbo leader was picked on early Saturday in a joint operation by the DSS and the police.
It was gathered that the team had traced Nwajagu to his palace, but he fled.
He was said to have been tracked to a hotel in Ejigbo where he was apprehended. Read more
WAEC withholds 413 candidates’ results (Vanguard)
The West African Examinations Council WAEC has announced the result of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, for Private Candidates, 2023–First Series.
According to the Head of the National Office WAEC, Nigeria Patrick E. Areghan, of the total number of Eight Thousand, Three Hundred And Forty-Eight, 8,348 candidates that sat the examination, Four Thousand, One Hundred And Sixty-One, 4,161 were males while Four Thousand, One Hundred And Eight-Seven (4,187) were females, representing 49.84% and 50.16%, respectively.
“The results of Four Hundred And Thirteen 413 candidates, representing 4.95% of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, are being withheld in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice. The cases are being investigated and reports of the investigations will be presented to the appropriate Committee of the Council for determination in due course.” Read more
2023 elections not credible, marred by violence — Davido (Tribune)
Nigerian sensational singer, David Adeleke, popularly called Davido has faulted 2023 general elections saying he was happy about the low turnout of voters.
Davido made the submission in an interview with Beat 99.9FM, Lagos, on Friday.
Davido, who was off social media for a while after the death of his son, Ifeanyi, said he would have been very vocal about the elections if he was online.
His words; “I’m happy that people were not really coming out. You know if I was online, I would have been really vocal about it (the election). I have always been vocal about it. Read more
FG approves amendment of 2022/2023 deep offshore oil block bid round (Guardian)
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the amendment of the 2022/2023 Deep Offshore oil block mini-bid process to accommodate concerns raised by potential local and international investors.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) stated in Abuja on Saturday that the amendments would address concerns over the terminal date of the current administration to the closure of the bid schedule.
Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, said in the statement that the amendments would also boost confidence in the transparency and continuity of the process. Read more
Gunmen kill scores in Taraba community (Sun)
Gunmen have allegedly killed scores of persons in Garin Baka village of Ardo Kola local government area in Taraba State.
Spokesperson for the Taraba State Police Command SP Usman Abdullahi, who confirmed the attack to our correspondent, said that four deaths have been recorded.
Abdullahi said that investigation is ongoing to ascertain the level of damage and cause of the attack as well as apprehend those behind the dastardly act. Read more
Police arrest Portable after 72-hour ultimatum (Channels)
The police authorities in Ogun State have arrested singer, Habeeb Okikiola, commonly called Portable after a 72-hour ultimatum given to him to honour police invitation.
In viral videos on Tuesday, the musician was seen raining curses on and rough-handling some policemen deployed to the recreational centre he owns in Ogun State.
Portable’s actions have since been condemned by the police authorities with the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, saying the artist exhibited irrational behaviour and hurled insults at police officers carrying out their legal duty. Read more
John Grisham Announces Sequel to His Classic 1991 Novel, “The Firm” (TheRealBookSpy)
Thirty-two years after publishing his iconic legal thriller, The Firm, #1 New York Times bestselling author John Grisham is finally set to release the long-awaited sequel when The Exchange hits bookstores on October 17th, 2023.
The Firm, which was adapted into the 1993 blockbuster movie starring Tom Cruise, Genere Hackman, and Wilford Brimley, follows a young attorney named Mitch McDeere who “joins a small but prestigious law firm only to find out that most of their clients are on the wrong side of the law.” Of course, as many know by now, “the company is helping to launder mob money, get clients off charges, and even murder partners who threaten to blow their cover.” That is, at least, until the FBI gets involved. In the middle of it all is McDeere, who, after dreaming of becoming a successful lawyer, must now find a way to stay out of federal prison . . . and alive . . . long enough to piece everything together.
The Firm was also adapted for television on NBC but functioned more as a continuation than a retelling of the original story. That series, starring Josh Lucus as McDeere, picked up ten years after the events that took place in the book and the movie, but only lasted 22 episodes before being canceled in 2012. Now, with Grisham’s new novel, fans of the original story will finally see what really happens next for McDeere. Read more
Gary Clark Jr. to Perform Stevie Ray Vaughan Tribute at 2023 CMT Music Awards (Billboard)
Four-time Grammy winner and Austin native Gary Clark Jr. has been added to the performers lineup for the 2023 CMT Music Awards. He’ll be delivering a tribute to the Texas blues legend Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Clark’s performance joins the previously announced tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd, as well as performances from Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Carly Pearce and many more.
The CMT Music Awards, hosted by Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini, will take place at Moody Center in Austin for the first time, on Sunday, April 2, airing on CBS Television Network and streaming live and on-demand on Paramount+. Read more
The Academy announces creation of new Production and Technology branch (IndieWire)
With the 2023 Oscars now firmly in the rearview mirror, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the creation of a new Production and Technology Branch. Meant to represent those working in key technical and production positions in all phases of filmmaking, from pre- to post-production, the branch already comprises around 400 individuals who were previously classified as Members-at-Large.
Job titles that fall under the Production and Technology Branch include chief technology officers, senior department heads in technology and creative services, and preservation and restoration specialists, as well as credited production roles, including stunt coordinators, script supervisors, choreographers, music supervisors, colorists, line producers, and associate producers.
“The purpose of the new branch is to have different people with various backgrounds to be a part of the Academy, not just the classic arts but the science heavy and tech inclusive group that have distinguished themselves in their separate fields,” one Academy Member told IndieWire. Read more
Kristen Stewart and Boygenius celebrate their bloody, monster truck-filled short film at premiere (Variety)
A short film that actor-turned-director Kristen Stewart made with the group Boygenius got an official Hollywood sendoff Thursday night at the El Rey Theatre, with a film premiere that also doubled as a launch party for the indie-rock trio’s new album, “The Record.” In keeping with Boygenius’ matter-of-fact naming tendencies, the short is titled simply “The Film.”
Stewart did not participate in the Q&A that Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus did with members of the press and public after the screening, but she stepped out to introduce the short film, which is essentially an interlocking combination of music videos for three songs from the new album: “$20,” “Emily I’m Sorry” and “True Blue.”
The imagery is sometimes sentimental, sometimes bracing and vivid. Bridgers sings “Emily I’m Sorry” in front of a monster truck rally. Palms are cut for a blood oath. And there is some lip-locking through copious blue paint. The framing device is sweet, though, beginning with one band member sleeping fitfully in bed and waking up at the end embraced in a group cuddle.
Neil Diamond says he came to terms with Parkinson’s diagnosis in the last few weeks (Fox)
Neil Diamond opened up about coming to terms with his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis, which he first revealed publicly in 2018.
The 82-year-old legend admitted he struggled to accept his diagnosis and was in denial for a year or two during an interview on “CBS Sunday Morning,” which will air April 2.
“I’m still doing it. And I don’t like it,” the music legend said. “But … this is me; this is what I have to accept. And I’m willing to do it. And, OK, so this is the hand that God’s given me, and I have to make the best of it, and so I am. I am.” Read more
Andrew Tate moved to house arrest in Romania after months in police custody (CBS)
Andrew Tate, the divisive internet personality who has spent months in a Romanian jail on suspicion of organized crime and human trafficking, has won an appeal to replace his detention with house arrest, an official said Friday.
The Bucharest Court of Appeal ruled in favor of Tate’s appeal, which challenged a judge’s decision last week to extend his arrest a fourth time for 30 days, said Ramona Bolla, a spokesperson for Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT.
The 36-year-old Tate, a British-U.S. citizen who has 5.5 million Twitter followers, was initially detained in late December in Romania’s capital Bucharest, along with his brother Tristan and two Romanian women. Read more
Italy temporarily blocks ChatGPT over privacy concerns (VOA)
Italy is temporarily blocking the artificial intelligence software ChatGPT in the wake of a data breach as it investigates a possible violation of stringent European Union data protection rules, the government’s privacy watchdog said Friday.
The Italian Data Protection Authority said it was taking provisional action “until ChatGPT respects privacy,” including temporarily limiting the company from processing Italian users’ data.
U.S.-based OpenAI, which developed the chatbot, said late Friday night it has disabled ChatGPT for Italian users at the government’s request. The company said it believes its practices comply with European privacy laws and hopes to make ChatGPT available again soon. Read more
What to know about Jermaine Franklin, Anthony Joshua’s opponent tonight (DailyTrust)
Nigerian-born Anthony Joshua will return to the ring Saturday night for the first time since losing back-to-back fights to Oleksandr Usyk.
Joshua, popularly called ‘AJ’, will take on American heavyweight, Jermaine Franklin, as he searches for his first win since 2020.
The bout will be held at the O2 Arena in Greenwich, London.
‘AJ’ has lost three of his last five fights but he will be hoping to get back to his best and redeem himself. Read more
Man City humble Liverpool 4-1, revive title hope (Vanguard)
Manchester City brought class once again to the Etihad stadium melting Liverpool’s defence with four goals and are still pushing to defend their Title.
The Reds opened the scoring with Mohammed Salah’s 17th-minute goal, and Julian Alvarez stepped up for injured Erling Haaland with an equalizer for City ten minutes later.
The Sky Blues swooped in the third goal of the game seconds after half-time courtesy of a Kevin de Bruyne tap-in, Likay Gundogan on target in the 53rd minute, and Jack Grealish added to Jurgen Klopp’s misery in the 74th minute. Read more
Osimhen’s ‘magical’ facemask missing (Punch)
According to Italian media outlet Calciomercato, Napoli striker Victor Osimhen returned to Italy after international duty with Nigeria without his facemask.
The 24-year-old, who has been in sensational form this term and is one of the most sort after strikers in Europe, has been wearing the mask, following a collision with Milan Skriniar during an Inter versus Napoli match in November 2021, which left him with multiple fractures to his left orbital and cheekbone.
Osimhen has scored 25 goals for Napoli this season to help the club to the top spot in the Italian league plus a first-ever UEFA Champions League quarter-final spot, where they have been drawn against Sunday’s opponents AC Milan. Read more
Defeated Olympic Eagles ‘sneak’ into Nigeria (Guardian)
About 72 hours after losing the Paris 2024 Olympics Games ticket to Guinea, the National U-23 team ‘sneaked’ into Lagos in the early hours of yesterday.The Olympics Eagles, led by coach Salisu Yusuf, had crashed out of the African U-23 Championship on Tuesday, in Morocco, after losing 2-0 to Guinea in the return leg of their qualifiers. The first leg in Abuja ended 0-0.
The failure by the Yusuf-led Eagles had sparked angry reactions from many Nigerians, who took to social media to slam the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), for refusing to sack Salisu, who had earlier failed to qualify the Super Eagles B team for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) against Ghana.
To a majority of the fans, the NFF should be blamed for giving its approval to the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee to appoint Yusuf, who was banned by FIFA for one year in 2018 after Yusuf was caught on camera accepting bribe from men, who posed as football agents, to select two players for his Morocco 2018 African Nations Championship squad. Read more
Ukraine condemns Wimbledon decision to lift ban on Russian players (France24)
Ukraine has condemned the “immoral” decision to allow Russian and Belarusian tennis players to compete at Wimbledon after tournament organisers announced Friday they were lifting a ban imposed in 2022.
Competitors from the two nations will be able to enter the Grand Slam, which starts on July 3, if they are “neutral” athletes and comply with certain conditions.
Players will be prohibited from expressing support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and those who receive funding from the Russian or Belarusian states, including sponsorship from state-operated or state-controlled companies, will be barred. Read more
Giannis Antetokounmpo slams Milwaukee Bucks teammates after ominous Boston Celtics warning (Mirror)
The Milwaukee Bucks were given a lesson by the Boston Celtics on Thursday night, as their Eastern Conference rivals gained a huge mental advantage with a 41-point winning lead over their opponents.
In a match-up that could well be the Eastern Conference finals later this year, the Celtics proved to the Bucks that they are more than capable of putting in a show-stopping performance in Milwaukee territory. The Celtics stunned the Bucks 140-99 as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown flexed their stunning partnership, leaving Giannis Antetokounmpo visibly frustrated.
Both the Celtics and the Bucks have already clinched play-off spots, although the winner of the Eastern Conference is yet to be determined. The Bucks are still ahead of both the Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers, but Thursday’s game did not go down well with Giannis. Read more