Prophet, wife flee country after DSS arrest (Punch)
The Founder, RIG Nation and Pioneer Church, United Kingdom, Prophet Tomi Arayomi, has announced the relocation of his family out of the country, until a “better Nigeria.”
Arayomi and his wife Tahmar, who are both British citizens, were on Friday arrested alongside their aide, Emmanuel Ezerika, by the Department of State Services at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport in Abuja.
Although the reason for their arrest was unclear, reliable sources told The PUNCH on Friday that Arayomi was arrested for giving “inciting prophecies.”
Arayomi and his wife were later released on Friday night while their aide remain in the custody of the security operatives. Read more
Suspected yahoo boy lynched in Ondo for crushing 4 to death (Nation)
Timely arrival of policemen at Ijoka Area of Akure, the Ondo State capital could not save a young man suspected to be involved in ‘yahoo plus’ from being lynched to death after he crushed four persons to death.
The young man, who is yet to be identified, was driving a Toyota car along the road when he suddenly skidded off its lane and rammed into his victims who were riding on commercial motorcycles also known as okada.
Witnesses said sympathisers, who rushed to rescue the driver, found some fetish items inside the vehicle and raised their suspension that the driver was into a ritual otherwise known as ‘yahoo plus’. Read more
How Agbero, multiple dues spike transportation costs by 25% in Lagos (Guardian)
With the exception of high fuel costs, the cost of public transport in Lagos mega city and life generally can be more tolerable without the self-styled transport unions and their excesses perennially harboured by the state government, Gbenga Salau reports.
Public transport fare in Lagos commercial nerve-centre could drop by a whopping 25 to 50 per cent, if concerned authorities moderate and address the key issue of multiple dues collected by transport unions.
That position is shared by stakeholders, who attribute multiple dues collected by transport unions and their informal beneficiaries as one of the factors responsible for high cost of commuting in the state. Read more
Brain Drain: UK bars active recruitment of health workers from Nigeria (DailyTrust)
The United Kingdom Government has barred active recruitment of health workers from Nigeria by health and social care employers in the UK.
The UK disclosed this in its updated ‘Code of Practice’ for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel’ posted on its website.
Nigeria has now been included in the red list of countries facing critical shortage of health workers as contained in the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s health workforce support and safeguards list. Read more
3 men abduct Lagos policeman, destroy N185k phone (Punch)
Three men, Olayinka Idowu, 39; Caleb Saviour, 45; and Andrew Ogoh, 36, were on Thursday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court sitting at Ogba area of Lagos State on charges of abduction and assault.
The defendants allegedly abducted a policeman, Inspector Shola Akindeko, to an unknown destination and assaulted him.
One of the suspects, Idowu, was said to have destroyed the policeman’s telephone handset, iPhone XR, valued at N185,000. Read more
Firm unveils 5 new products in Lagos (Sun)
Popular global make-up products brand, Classic Makeup, USA, has introduced five new products to the Nigeria market, at an event held in Lagos.
The newly launched products are; Pro Buttercup Setting Powder, Glitters Glue, Sweat Guard, Mist and Fix as well as the Michella Cleansing Water.
Briefing newsmen at the event, Chief Executive Officer, Emmy Classic Cosmetics Company, Michael Obi said all the products are NAFDAC approved, adding that the products are results of long years of research within the target market, which is Nigeria and other African countries, designed with the dermatological realities of Africans in mind. Read more
CAN considers boycott of Peak Milk over Good Friday ad controversy (Vanguard)
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has taken a swipe at FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc, condemning their recent social media advert for their Peak Milk brand, which used the crucifixion of Jesus Christ as a metaphor.
The advert, which was released on Good Friday, has been deemed highly offensive by the Christian community in Nigeria.
General Secretary of CAN, Barr. Joseph Daramola, in a scathing press statement, said that the advert was not only insensitive but also disrespectful to the Christian faith and its followers. Read more
FG, Google bar loan apps in Nigeria from accessing customer’s contacts, photos (Tribune)
The Nigerian government has announced that loan apps on the Play Store will no longer be able to access their users’ contacts or photos from May 31, 2023.
This policy is in line with the government’s recent efforts to prevent loan app firms from invading customers’ privacy.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission had recently registered 170 loan apps out of the 200 operating in Nigeria. Read more
Hilary Swank Gives Birth To Twins (ET)
Hilary Swank is embracing her new role as a mother. The 48-year-old actress revealed on Easter Sunday that she and husband Philip Schneider have welcomed their twins — a boy and a girl.
Swank took to Instagram, sharing a sweet photo of herself holding her newborn babies and looking out at the sunset on the ocean.
“It wasn’t easy. But boy (and girl!) was it worth it. Happy Easter! Posting from pure Heaven.” Swank captioned the beautiful photo.
Swank opted not to share any more details about her kiddos, including keeping their names private. The Oscar winner received lots of love from her famous pals in the comments. Read more
Mo’Nique comes out in her new comedy special (LGBTQNation)
Academy Award-winning actress Mo’Nique came out as queer in her recently released Netflix stand-up comedy special, My Name is Mo’Nique. She also mentioned how her grandmother’s Christianity made it difficult for her grandmother to love her own transgender son.
In the special, Mo’Nique — who has an open marriage and two children with her husband Sidney Hicks — shared how she came out to her father. “I said, ‘Daddy, I want to be with another woman sexually.’ And he looked at me, so beautifully and so patient and so loving, and he said, ‘B**ch, me too!’”
Addressing the audience, she says, “Now I know y’all are looking at me, saying, ‘Wait a minute, b**ch. Are you a motherf**kin’ d**e?’ No, I’m not… all the way.” Rather, she says that she feels somewhere in between straight and lesbian. She also says that she hid her same-sex attraction and tried to change her sexual orientation by sleeping with men but says she is honest about her desires with her husband. Read more
Mariah Carey and her kids celebrate Easter with a real bunny and a huge side of gratitude (People)
Mariah Carey is expressing how grateful she is for her family.
The mom of twins shared an adorable video of her and her kids, son Morrocan and daughter Monroe, both 11, who hung with an actual bunny rabbit on Easter Sunday.
“Bunny kisses and orange soda with a huge side of Gratitude for All! Happy Easter!,” the superstar captioned the outdoor footage with some pals, in which she sang a little “Happy Easter” hum and waved to fans. Read more
Tory Lanez awaits sentencing in shooting of Megan Thee Stallion (NBC)
A judge is expected to sentence Tory Lanez on Monday for shooting Grammy-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion, a case that has been closely watched by fans of both musicians for nearly three years.
Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, faces a maximum sentence of 22 years and eight months in prison if given the maximum sentence on each charge, served consecutively. He could also be deported to Canada following time served.
The sentencing, which was originally scheduled for January, has been rescheduled twice and Lanez has hired new attorneys since his conviction in December. The judge is first expected to hear an appeal request from Lanez’s attorneys Monday. Read more
Abba’s long-serving guitarist Lasse Wellander dies (Guardian)
Abba have paid tribute to the “musical brilliance” of their longstanding guitarist, Lasse Wellander, who has died aged 70 after being diagnosed with cancer.
The musician, who played on the band’s biggest albums and toured with them between 1975 and 1980, died early on Friday “surrounded by his loved ones”, his family said.
The Abba band members, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, said in a statement: “Lasse was a dear friend, a fun guy and a superb guitarist. The importance of his creative input in the recording studio as well as his rock solid guitar work on stage was immense.
“We mourn his tragic and premature death and remember the kind words, the sense of humour, the smiling face, the musical brilliance of the man who played such an integral role in the Abba story. He will be deeply missed and never forgotten.” Read more
Debris found in search for Japanese army Black Hawk helicopter believed crashed at sea with 10 crew (ABC)
An unused lifeboat, a door, and other fragments believed to be from a Japanese army helicopter have been found after it was presumed to have crashed at sea with 10 people onboard, officials said on Friday.
Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada, apparently struggling to hold back tears, told reporters that none of the missing crew members had been found as the search continued on Friday.
He said he took the accident seriously. Read more
French Alps avalanche: Guides among 4 killed at Armancette glacier (BBC)
At least four people have died in an avalanche in the French Alps, the country’s interior minister, Gerald Darmanin, has said.
It happened at the Armancette glacier near Mont Blanc in south-eastern France around midday on Sunday local time.
The local deputy mayor has confirmed that two of the dead were mountain guides.
Several injured people have been taken to hospital, and two people are still missing. Read more
TCC Cup: Valiant FC earn comeback win to claim trophy (Punch)
Valiant FC secured a memorable upset as they came from two goals down to Gbagada FC to eventually win The Creative Championship Cup on penalties at the Onikan stadium, Lagos on Saturday.
Defending champions Gbagada FC were 2-0 at the end of the first half with a goal in the 5th minute from Issa Jamiu and another in the 45th minute from Alfred Segun to send Gbagada into the dressing rooms with a buoyant mood.
It was a tale of two halves however, as Valiant took control in the second half. After 53 minutes, they pulled one back through Olaniyan Gafar’s effort which beat the keeper with speed and they secured an equaliser in the 77th minute when Shedrack Akai scored a long rage effort to spark a frenzy in the final minutes but there would be no winner in regular time despite some late attempts by Gbagada. Read more
Lewis Hamilton reveals McLaren desire after major staff reshuffle (PlanetF1)
Lewis Hamilton said he hopes to see his old team McLaren return to the top of the grid after their recent technical team restructure.
Hamilton spent 14 years associated with McLaren including six as one of the historic team’s Formula 1 drivers and, although it has been a decade since he left the MTC, he still has fond feelings for his former outfit.
The team is currently not at the level it was with Hamilton, who won the first of his seven World titles at McLaren in 2008. Read more
Arsenal show Premier League title strain under Anfield spotlight (France24)
Arsenal’s failure to end their Anfield hoodoo by throwing away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 away to Liverpool on Sunday has opened the door for Manchester City to snatch the Premier League title away from the Gunners.
Mikel Arteta’s men still lead by six points at the top of the table, but for the first time in nearly two months City have the destiny of the title back in their own hands.
City have nine league games remaining to Arsenal’s eight and home advantage when the two sides meet at the Etihad on April 26. Read more
Frank Lampard remains a fan of Raheem Sterling (IrishNews)
Interim boss Frank Lampard has backed Raheem Sterling to prove he is still one of the world’s best against Real Madrid.
The England forward has struggled since his £47.5million move from Manchester City.
Lampard recalled Sterling in his first game back but the wideman could not stop Chelsea slipping to a 1-0 defeat at Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday. Read more
Jon Rahm wins Masters green jacket, holding off Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson in final round at Augusta (ABC)
Jon Rahm has become the fourth Spaniard to win the Masters, outlasting playing partner Brooks Koepka and seeing off a surprise late charge from Phil Mickelson to win his second major.
Adding to his 2021 US Open win, Rahm joined Sergio Garcia (2017), José María Olazábal (1994, 1999) and Seve Ballesteros (1980, 1983) as the only other Spaniards to wear the green jacket at Augusta.
Rahm hugged Olazábal as he came off the green on Ballesteros’s birthday and the 40th anniversary of his second win at Augusta. Read more
Timberwolves punch NBA play-in ticket despite ‘‘immature’’ displays (StraitsTimes)
The Minnesota Timberwolves booked an National Basketball Association play-in clash with the Los Angeles Lakers in extraordinary style Sunday, rallying to beat New Orleans 113-108 after center Rudy Gobert was yanked from the game for punching a teammate.
“Absolute wild one,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said after his team snatched the No. 8 spot from the Pelicans on the final day of the regular season.
The win means the Timberwolves can advance to the play-offs with a victory over the Lakers, and even if they lose on Tuesday they will get a second chance against the winner of the play-in game between the Pelicans and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Read more