Police recover stolen goods worth over N800k in Imo (Nation)
In a successful operation the Imo State Police Command has retrieved stolen items worth more than N800,000, subsequently returning them to their rightful owner.
According to a statement by the state police public relations officer, ASP Okoye Henry, on Monday, the recovery was made on April 10, 2024, at about 3:30 am, when operatives of the Owerri Urban Area Command were on a routine night patrol along West-End road, Owerri.
The stolen items, which included a television set, a home theatre, and over 50 hi-target/wax hollandaise wrappers, were abandoned by suspected shop burglars who fled upon sighting the police. Read more
Many feared killed as gunmen attack mourners in Enugu community (DailyTrust)
Gunmen on Sunday night attacked mourners at Ugwuijoro village, Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, killing several persons and leaving many others injured.
Some of those killed were identified as Okeh Simon Ugwu Oruku; Okeh Chukwuebuka; Julius Ogbonna Odiegwu; and Gabriel Ugwor Ezea, among others.
A video which trended on social media on Monday morning showed a deserted community. Read more
Emefiele challenges jurisdiction of Lagos court to try him (Channels)
The Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has deferred till the end of trial, its ruling on the application filed by the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to try him on the charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Through his lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olalekan Ojo, Emefiele submitted that he cannot be tried in the high court of any state in Nigeria for alleged acts of abuse of his office as this raises issues of constitutionality and legality.
The former CBN governor also noted that counts 1-4 of the 26 counts charge filed by the EFCC against him are unconstitutional as they are not contained in any law in Nigeria. Read more
Obaseki increases minimum wage to N70k (Vanguard)
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has announced a new minimum wage of N70,000 for civil servants.
The governor made this known on Monday, while inaugurating the Labour House.
Obaseki named the Labour House after Adams Oshiomhole, Senator representing Edo North, and former governor of the state. Read more
2 killed in fresh Benue community attack (NewTelegraph)
At least two people were reportedly killed on Sunday as some individuals suspected to be Fulani herders attacked a hamlet in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
New Telegraph learnt that the victims, Agness Salahu, 28, and Ademu Efugoga, 25, were attacked around 6: 00 pm while on their way home from an event between the Egba and Ogbaulu communities in Agatu.
Barrister Napoleon Otache, a cousin of the deceased, confirmed the incident and expressed concern that Agatu is currently under siege. Read more
Nigeria to host 6th session of Nigeria-US bi-national commission (Tribune)
Nigeria will on Monday and Tuesday host the 6th Session of the Nigeria-United States Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Abuja.
The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs made this known in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Francisca Omayuli, stating that the BNC comprises various working groups covering a range of areas of cooperation between the two countries.
According to the statement, there are currently five Working Groups including shared prosperity, which focuses on economic development and trade relations; security cooperation; democracy, governance and accountability; movement of people and partnership, involving global issues, multilateral reforms and health. Read more
Court asks Air Peace to answer FIJ’s queries on aircraft operations (Punch)
A Lagos High Court has ordered Air Peace to answer questions raised by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism on the libel suit filed by the firm on its aircraft operations from Lagos to Anambra State on October 12, 2022.
In the suit number: LD/ADR/4833/23 – Air Peace v. Foundation for Investigative Journalism, Air Peace maintains that it adhered to safety protocols and practices in compliance with safety directives and policies.
It challenged FIJ’s Interrogatory’s compelling answers to questions regarding the aircraft used and flight operation, describing them as “scandalous and irrelevant” to the libel suit. FIJ was dissatisfied with the responses to the questions and filed an application compelling Air Peace to answer the questions sufficiently objected to. Read more
Lagos begins medical screening for Hajj pilgrims (Independent)
The Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board will on Tuesday begin medical screening and vaccination exercise for the 2024 Hajj intending pilgrims.
This was disclosed by the Board Secretary, Mr. Saheed Onipede in a statement issued by the Public Affairs unit of the Board over the weekend.
Onipede disclosed that the screening was designed to ascertain the health status of each pilgrim in fulfillment of the requirements for international travels. Read more
Blue Ivy, 12, makes movie debut in new Lion King movie with mum Beyonce (Metro)
Blue Ivy is set to make her big screen debut before she’s even turned 13 after nabbing a starring role in the upcoming Lion King prequel alongside her mom, Beyonce.
The stunning trailer for Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King dropped earlier today, ahead of the film’s release on December 20, 2024.
The film serves as a prequel to the 2019 live-action version, with Beyonce reprising her role as Nala beside Aaron Pierre, who is taking over voicing duties for the titular character. Read more
Kenya dam bursts: More than 40 killed in villages near Mai Mahiu town (BBC)
More than 40 people have died in Kenya after a dam burst following heavy rains and flooding, officials have said.
People in villages near Mai Mahiu, about 60 km (37 miles) from the capital, Nairobi, were swept away as they slept.
“Forty-two dead, it’s a conservative estimate. There are still more in the mud,” Nakuru county governor Susan Kihika told AFP news agency. Read more
Drake sparks claims of trolling with outfit choice in new photo (HipHopDx)
Drake has been accused of trolling Kendrick Lamar in a new Instagram story he posted.
In a photo posted on Friday (April 26), the 6 God can be seen wearing a shirt that reads “Compton Community College,” a real institution that is located in Lamar’s home city.
Drizzy and Kendrick, of course, have been feuding publicly since the latter’s shots at the former on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That.” Read more
Israeli officials eye threat of ICC arrest warrants over war in Gaza (AlJazeera)
Israeli officials are growing wary that they could face prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the war in Gaza.
After days of conjecture in Israeli media, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said late on Sunday that it has issued warnings to senior political and military officials that they could soon face arrest warrants.
The ministry said it has informed Israeli missions of “rumours” concerning prosecutions. Read more
Supreme Court rejects Elon Musk’s challenge to SEC agreement to vet his social media posts (NBC)
The Supreme Court on Monday turned away tech billionaire and Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s attempt to challenge the terms of an agreement he reached with the Securities and Exchange Commission that required a lawyer to review some of his social media posts.
The justices rejected Musk’s appeal of a ruling by the New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in favor of the government agency.
Musk complained that the SEC unlawfully imposed conditions on his ability to comment online about Tesla-related issues what has been dubbed the “Twitter sitter” provision. Read more
Ghana’s high court dismisses bid to speed up anti-LGBTQ law passage (AfricaNews)
A court in Ghana on Monday, April 29 dismissed a legal challenge against President Nana Akufo-Addo’s decision on the anti-LGBTQ bill.
Lawmakers passed a law in February to tighten controls on LGBTQ rights. They want Akufo-Addo to make it official. But the president won’t do it yet. He wants two legal cases against the bill to finish first. This made some in parliament unhappy.
One lawmaker, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, didn’t like the delay. He went to court. But on Monday, the court said no to his challenge. Read more
‘Love Island’ stars Sanam Harrinanan and Kai Fagan announce engagement 13 months after winning show (Standard)
Love Island winners Sanam Harrinanan and Kai Fagan have announced their engagement, making them the second crowned couple in the show’s history to do so.
The reality stars, who won series nine of the dating show, posted a selection of photos to social media, one of which showed Fagan getting down on one knee.
The couple, who were both dressed in white, enjoyed the moment on a flat-bottomed rowing boat and celebrated with a bottle of champagne. Read more
Adeleke affirms support for Super Eagles Supporters Club (Nation)
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has pledged his support to the Super Eagles Supporters Club, even as he described them as a permanent feature in Nigeria’s football firmament.
Governor Adeleke said as much while hosting the Founder and National President of the club, Prince Vincent Okumagba recently at the Osun State’s Government House where he was decorated as the club.
While congratulating Hon. Rufai Omotayo Bashiru, the Chairman of the newly inaugurated Osun State’s chapter of the Super Eagles Supporters Club, Governor Adeleke said he was ready to support the activities of SESC. Read more
Gov AbdulRazaq applauds Para-badminton star Bolaji on historic victory (Leadership)
Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has congratulated the Kwara-born Nigeria’s star, Mariam Bolaji, on her gold medal win at the Spanish Para Badminton International 2024 in Toledo, Spain.
After a streak of superlative performances through the tournament, Bolaji walloped world’s fifth best badminton player Mandeep Kaur of India 2-0 to clinch the gold medal of the tournament.
Bolaji is also due to play at the Paralympic Games in Paris in July, this year. Read more
Women’s football attendances pass one million in 2024 (BBC)
The cumulative attendance for both the Women’s Super League and the Women’s Championship has passed one million for the 2023-24 season.
The milestone was reached during the weekend’s round of fixtures, which included Crystal Palace’s promotion to the WSL.
In March, the previous WSL attendance record of 689,297 was broken with 36 games still to play. Read more
Atalanta can’t afford to miss out on Champion League — Lookman (CompleteSports)
Ademola Lookman insisted that Atalanta will keep pushing hard to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
La Dea currently occupy sixth position on the Serie A table following Sunday night’s 2-0 home win against Empoli.
Five teams will represent Italy in Europe next season.
AS Roma sit in fifth position on the table and have played one game more than Gian Piero Gasperini’s side. Read more
Billy Vunipola handed suspended prison sentence after arrest in Majorca nightclub (Mirror)
Billy Vunipola was arrested for assaulting police during a drunken night out in Majorca and the England and Saracens forward has now been handed a suspended prison sentence
England rugby player Billy Vunipola has been handed a four-month suspended prison sentence and fined €240 (£205) after being arrested for assaulting police during a drunken night out at a Majorcan club.
The 6ft 2in 19-stone giant admitted at lunchtime in a statement he had been fined at a speedy trial in court on Monday but made no mention of the prison sentence, which was suspended as part of a plea bargain deal with prosecutors. Read more
Arsenal’s chaotic win at Tottenham raises one question about title run-in (Independent)
It was a joke that Mikel Arteta probably wouldn’t have made had this game gone a different way. The Arsenal manager was asked about his extreme faith in his players, as Tottenham threw cross after cross into the box in pursuit of an unlikely draw. “Definitely… in the last few minutes I was doubting a bit!”
Arteta wouldn’t have been human if that wasn’t the case. Everyone knew that Arsenal’s title challenge came down to those last few minutes. They got through it, as Arteta made sure to point out that his squad “give me no reason” to doubt.
Many might of course point to how last season ended, and the manager himself pointed to the difference in perception from how these games have gone to everything that happened in last season’s run-in. Read more