Police uncover Indian hemp plantation, arrest 7 suspects in Ogun (Punch)
Operatives of the Ogun State police command have uncovered a large expanse of land cultivated for the planting of India hemp.
The operatives also arrested seven suspects they allegedly met planting the weeds.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
Oyeyemi confirmed the suspects; Nelson Enu, Patrick Emmanuel, Samuel Paul, Ekioya Joe, Monday Okoro, Endurance Eliobe and Stanley Ogejiagba were all arrested. Read more
Anxiety over resumption of tolling on Lagos bridge (DailyTrust)
There is anxiety and tension in Lagos following the reopening of the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge axis of the Lekki-Epe Expressway ahead of the resumption of tolling by the Lekki Concession Company (LCC), Daily Trust reports.
Though tolling collection is yet to resume, officials of LCC have taken over the bridge after deploying new equipment to ease traffic movement and tolling.
Tolling has been suspended at both Lekki-Epe and Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge Plazas since October 20, 2020, following the #EndSARS protest and the alleged killing of some protesters at the tollgate.
Daily Trust however reports that there has been a massive protest against the resumption of tolling even as several groups have kicked against it. Read more
Lagos: 65-year-old man rescued from jumping into lagoon on his birthday (Sun)
A 65-year-old man has been rescued by the police from jumping into Lagos Lagoon. The man who claimed he wanted to end his life Tuesday afternoon being his birthday was rescued by officials of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command on patrol on the Third Mainland Bridge.
A police officer told Daily Sun that ‘this afternoon while on patrol on Third Mainland Bridge, we saw a 67-year-old man, trying to leap into the Lagoon and we did everything possible to stop him.
‘The elderly man, who gave his name as Oluwatoye Bamgboye, from Oju Ore, Ogun State, was attempting to jump into the Lagos Lagoon inward Lagos Island when we stopped him.
‘He disclosed that a personal challenge made him sell his house, land and car. With that, he still couldn’t solve the problem. He got a loan and the problem still persisted. He explained further that, he secured a job and on the resumption date, he was informed that the job had been given to someone else,’ he said. Read more
2 women seek divorce over ‘dead’ manhood, religion (Vanguard)
Two women, on Tuesday, told an Igando Customary Court that they wanted divorce. The one, because her husband’s manhood was no longer working; the other, due to religious differences.
Blessing Mormah, a 54-year-old woman, approached an Igando Customary Court, asking for the dissolution of her marriage due to her husband’s alleged sexual incompetence.
Mormah, a beautician, asked the court on Tuesday to dissolve her 25-year-old marriage, alleging that she was forced into it.
She said that she was fed up and could not continue with the marriage. Read more
NIN-SIM: MTN apologises for barring customers’ lines (Punch)
Several subscribers have taken to social media on Tuesday to express their displeasure over the barring of their communication lines by telecommunication network providers in Nigeria.
However, the Mobile Telephone Network, in tweets, apologised to the complainants over the restrictions.
Some customers called out MTN for restricting their lines despite having linked them with their National Identification Numbers.
“Mtn has done their worse ba. They have finally done what they have been saying they will do. I hope they are happy?
@MTNNG, what will happen to my airtime now? #givemebackmyairtime #blocked #mtn,” @rinaj_walta tweeted. Read more
Nigeria atheist Mubarak Bala jailed for blaspheming Islam (BBC)
A Nigerian atheist has been sentenced to 24 years in prison by a high court in the northern state of Kano after being convicted of blaspheming Islam.
Mubarak Bala, the 37-year-old president of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, pleaded guilty to all 18 charges and asked for leniency.
He has been in detention since 2020.
A group of Muslims had filed a petition to the authorities accusing Bala of posting uncomplimentary messages about Islam on social media. Read more
Ambulance drivers, mortuary attendants protest extortion by Abia task force, threaten strike (Vanguard)
Ambulance/hearse drivers and mortuary attendants in Abia State, Tuesday, staged a peaceful protest to register their displeasure over extortion of their members by touts operating as revenue task force.
The protesters, who gathered on the platform of Hearse, Ambulance, Casket, Mortuary Decorators Union, drove through major roads in Umuahia the state capital, causing heavy traffic snarl around the metropolis.
They blared sirens and put on their vehicle headlamps as they drove around in snail speed, drawing the ire of other road users.
Addressing newsmen in front of Gity Gate Mortuary Umuahia from where they took off, Chairman of the union, Comrade Uche Kalu, said touts operating as revenue taskforce had not given their members any breathing space in the state as they kept extorting money from them. Read more
7 die as fire guts petrol station in Jigawa (Punch)
The Jigawa Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has confirmed that seven persons died in a fire outbreak that engulfed a petrol station at Al-Masfa in the Kaugama Local Government Area of Jigawa.
The command Public Relations Officer, Mr Adamu Shehu, who confirmed the incident in Dutse on Tuesday, told newsmen that the cause of the fire incident could not be ascertained as of the time of filing the report.
Shehu explained that it took the combined effort of the corps, fire service and other security personnel to put out the fire.
“The fire engulfed a building which serves as an administrative block and accommodation to the station’s personnel. Read more
2023: PDP zoning committee locked in make or mar meeting (DailyTrust)
The zoning committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is presently locked in a crucial meeting over which side of the country should produce the presidential candidate of the party.
The meeting which is taking place at the Benue state governor’s lodge, Abuja, is said to be presided over by the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom.
The ongoing meeting is very crucial because the 37-member committee is expected to come out with the outcome of its deliberations.
Meanwhile, barring any last-minute change of strategy, the committee is expected to throw the contest for the sole ticket of the party open.
The meeting which started at about 12 pm is still ongoing as at the time of filing this report. Read more
Jared Leto was pushed in wheelchair to loo breaks on set of “Morbius” to save time as he stayed in character (Metro)
Jared Leto was carted around the set of Morbius in a wheelchair after his commitment to hobbling to the bathroom in character on crutches took too much time out of the shooting schedule.
The 50-year-old star is known for his method acting approach and would stay in character as Michael Morbius – who suffers with chronic pain – by using crutches, but to speed things up when he needed to relieve himself, he agreed to have a crew member push him in the chair.
In a new interview with Uproxx about the Marvel flick, which has received poor reviews, director Daniel Espinosa confirmed the rumour that ‘a deal was made’ with the actor as it was ‘taking so long between for pee breaks’.
Espionsa, who had previously revealed he was ‘scared for’ the actor after watching his ‘spooky’ level of commitment, defended the 30 Seconds to Mars frontman and Oscar-winner’s bahaviour though, explaining: ‘I think that what Jared thinks, what Jared believes, is that somehow the pain of those movements, even when he was playing normal Michael Morbius, he needed, because he’s been having this pain his whole life. Even though, as he’s alive and strong, it has to be a difference.’ Read more
Baltic states end Russian gas imports – but can the rest of Europe follow suit? (France24)
Global outrage over the gruesome killing of civilians in Ukraine’s Bucha has heightened the pressure on Europe to halt its imports of Russian gas. Having led the way, Lithuania and its Baltic neighbours are urging their EU partners to join them in ending all purchases of Moscow’s “toxic” gas.
European leaders vowed on Monday to slap fresh sanctions on Russia following the discovery of a mass grave and tied bodies shot at close range in a northern suburb of Kyiv. But even as they recoiled in horror at the images coming from Bucha, they looked unlikely to agree to unwind the lucrative energy imports that critics say are financing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Lithuania, meanwhile, has done just that – announcing at the weekend that it was ending all imports of Russian gas. Read more
Kanye West spotted in Beverly Hills after dropping out of Coachella (PageSix)
Kanye West looked somber while out and about in Beverly Hills on Monday, just hours after news broke that he is no longer headlining Coachella.
The “Donda” rapper, 44, paid a visit to a construction site, keeping a low profile in a black hoodie, dark jeans and black boots.
West kept his head down while glued to his phone, and later joined two other men for a chat.
Page Six reported earlier Monday that West abruptly dropped out of the upcoming days-long music festival in Indio, Calif.
Sources told us he was seeking professional treatment following his social media tirades against ex-wife Kim Kardashian, 41, and her new boyfriend, Pete Davidson, 28. Read more
Shanghai Covid lockdown extended to entire city (BBC)
Chinese authorities have extended their lockdown of Shanghai to cover all its 25 million people after a fresh surge in Covid cases.
Initially, there had been separate measures for the eastern and western sides, but the whole city is now subject to indefinite restrictions.
Shanghai is the largest single city to be locked down to date.
The important financial hub has battled a new wave of coronavirus infections for more than a month.
Reported cases have risen to more than 13,000 a day, although the numbers are not high by some international standards. Read more
Daniel Radcliffe jokes he was ‘intimacy coach’ for The Lost City co-stars Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum during raunchy scenes (Metro)
Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum may have got a bit more of Daniel Radcliffe than they bargained for during the making of The Lost City, as the Harry Potter star has joked he was their ‘intimacy coach’ on set.
Sandra and Channing get up close and personal in the new action-comedy film, which sees Sandra, 57, play reclusive writer Loretta Strange, and Channing, 41, as handsome cover model Alan Caprison.
Daniel, 32, who plays Abigail Fairfax, an eccentric billionaire and the villain in the movie, teased that he was actually part of the filming process during a comedic nude scene, in which Sandra’s Loretta has to pick leeches off Channing’s character’s bum while coming insanely close to his penis.
Speaking to Pop Sugar about the moment, Daniel said: ‘I was the intimacy coach and I was just basically saying, “crack on there, guys, you guys got this”.’ Read more
Jada Pinkett Smith’s ex-lover calls out ‘entanglement’ affair in new song (NYPost)
Jada Pinkett Smith’s former sweetheart is singing like a canary.
August Alsina, the R&B vocalist with whom Pinkett Smith, 50, admittedly shared an extramarital “entanglement,” appears to be exhuming the twisted details of their since-bedded relationship in a newly released song, “Shake the World.”
“Well, of course some s–t is bound to go down when you tangled up with the world’s favorite,” Alsina, 29, sings on the track, which he teased via his verified Instagram profile Monday.
His controversial lyrics come amid the chaos sparked by Pinkett Smith’s husband of nearly three decades, Will Smith, 53, who infamously slapped comedian Chris Rock, 57, for teasing the actress about her short hair during the Oscars on March 27. Read more
Mali troops and suspected Russian fighters accused of massacre (BBC)
Harrowing accounts are emerging of Malian troops and suspected Russian mercenaries allegedly executing about 300 people in central Mali.
Residents told Human Rights Watch (HRW) that the killings took place during an operation against militant Islamists over four days in late March.
Detained men were ordered to walk in groups of up to 10, before being summarily executed, HRW said.
“I lived in terror, each minute, each second thinking it would be my turn to be taken away and executed. Even after being told to go, I feared it was a trap,” one man who witnessed some executions was quoted as saying. Read more
Tiger Woods set to play Masters at Augusta National (BBC)
Five-time champion Tiger Woods is planning to play in this week’s Masters just 14 months after suffering life-threatening injuries in a car crash.
The 46-year-old will play nine more practice holes on Wednesday before confirming his decision.
But in a news conference at Augusta National on Tuesday the American said “as of right now, I am going to play”. Read more
World Cup howler: It’s worst time of my life, says Uzoho (Punch)
Super Eagles goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho, has joined duo William Troost-Ekong and Leon Balogun to apologise to Nigerians following Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar later this year.
The Eagles were held 1-1 by Ghana in the second leg of the play-off at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, but failed to qualify for the biggest football showpiece on the away goal rule, following a goalless draw in Kumasi in the first leg.
Uzoho was impressive in the first leg, pulling some strings of saves to help keep the Eagles in the game until the second leg and was also named the man-of-the-match.
However, his howler in the return leg in Abuja after he failed to save a Thomas Partey long-range shot gave the Black Stars the all-important away goal to seal their qualification for the World Cup. Read more
Wimbledon ‘ready to ban’ Daniil Medvedev amid fears win could boost Vladimir Putin regime (Metro)
Wimbledon officials are reportedly prepared to ban Daniil Medvedev from this year’s tournament over fears a win could boost Russian president Vladimir Putin’s regime amid his ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
At present, the three main tennis tours administered by the ATP, the WTA and the ITF have allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to continue playing as long as they compete under a neutral flag and with no anthem played.
However, The Telegraph claim the All England Club have been advised they can go a step further and ban athletes from these counties who have not denounced Putin without facing legal repercussions.
One person who has worked closely with the AELTC said: ‘Private member clubs have more freedom as to who to allow in or not, so they wouldn’t be subject to the same discrimination laws as the tours. Read more
Italy’s Florenzi to undergo knee surgery, season at risk (Guardian)
Alessandro Florenzi’s season is at risk after AC Milan announced on Tuesday that the Italy full-back would undergo knee surgery.
In a statement the Serie A leaders said that Florenzi would go under the knife in Rome on Wednesday to repair damage to a meniscus in his left knee picked up during his team’s goalless draw with Bologna on Monday night.
That stalemate left Milan just one point ahead of Napoli and four in front of reigning champions Inter Milan, who however have a game in hand.
Florenzi, 31, joined Milan on loan from home town club Roma in August and has since played 27 matches for the seven-time European champions in all competitions, scoring once. Read more
Arsenal’s Tierney ‘likely’ to miss rest of season (BBC)
Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney is likely to miss the rest of the Premier League season with a left knee injury.
The Scotland left-back will undergo surgery in the “forthcoming days”, a Gunners statement confirmed.
Tierney, 24, suffered the injury during a training session last week and missed Monday’s 3-0 defeat at Crystal Palace.
He has played 22 league games this season for Arsenal, who sit fifth in the table, outside the Champions League places on goal difference. Read more
Bayern star Davies set to return after Covid-related heart problem (Guardian)
Canadian winger Alphonso Davies is set to make his return for Bayern Munich in their Champions League quarter-final, first leg at Villarreal on Wednesday after a Covid-related heart problem.
The 21-year-old last played in December having been diagnosed with myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart after he tested positive for coronavirus in January.
“‘Phonzie’ (Davies) will be back, the medical examinations have been so positive that he could play from the start,” Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann said Tuesday.
If he plays, Davies will return ahead of schedule. Read more
Tammy Abraham urged to consider Arsenal transfer as John Barnes reveals doubts over Chelsea return (Metro)
Former England star John Barnes doubts Tammy Abraham will return to Chelsea and believes the striker should consider joining Premier League rivals Arsenal instead.
Abraham has enjoyed an impressive first season at Roma, scoring 15 goals in Serie A under former Blues boss Jose Mourinho.
Chelsea included a £68m buy-back clause in Roma’s £34m deal for Abraham but Barnes cannot see the England international returning to Stamford Bridge.
Before Abraham left Chelsea, Thomas Tuchel sanctioned a stunning £97.5m move for Romelu Lukaku and the Blues look set to persist with the Belgian despite his underwhelming form this season. Read more