Report of plane crash in Lagos fake news, say NEMA (Leadership)
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) have dismissed reports of plane crash-landing in Ikeja, Lagos.
In a chat with LEADERSHIP, the Lagos Territorial Head of NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, said that he had reached out to control towers and other relevant authorities in the aviation industry but they all said the incident didn’t happen.
He added, “The Control Tower could not confirm and no plane is missing on the TRACON. It is pertinent to clear the rumour going round on the purported plane crash landing around Ikeja with obscuring footage in a crowded traffic scene.
“After due consultations with all critical stakeholders and tracking of all incoming and outgoing flights in Lagos, there is no plane missing so far.” Read more
Police arraign 8 for impersonating military officer in Lagos (Punch)
The police, on Wednesday, arraigned eight men in Lagos for allegedly impersonating military officers.
The defendants include Akpan Joel, 31; John Johnson, 31; Busayo Akinola, 33; and Simeon Anthony, 43.
Others are Adamu Sani, 30; Cyril Ogbe, 27; Godfrey Agba, 36; and Benjamin Achi, 29.
The defendants, whose addresses were not provided, appeared before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court.
They, however, pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, ASP Rita Momah, told the court that the defendants committed the offence at different locations and different times in the state.
She alleged that the defendants were apprehended while fully-kitted in army camouflage and parading themselves as army officers. Read more
Lagos NNPP holds successful primaries (Independent)
There was an atmosphere of friendship and camaraderie when members of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) held their primaries in parts of Lagos State on Tuesday.
During the primaries, the party’s delegates picked the representatives for the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
The primaries were for the State House of Assembly and the House of Representatives positions and it took place at all the state constituencies.
The results from all the constituencies were collated at the party’s secretariat annexe, 28 Bishop Crowther Street, Surulere. Read more
NPA commissions Dockyard Training School, set to partner WMU, Unilag, others (Tribune)
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), on Wednesday, commissioned its Dockyard Training School in Lagos. This is even as the agency said that plans are in the works to partner with the World Maritime University (WMU) the Nigerian Navy Hydrography Department, the Nigerian Institute of Marine and Oceanography Research, the University of Lagos and other research and learning institutions in the area of curriculum development and capacity building.
Speaking during the commissioning of the training facility which held, on Wednesday, in Apapa, Lagos, the Managing Director of the NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, explained that the commissioning of the Dockyard Training School is a testament of the agency’s resolve to institute continuous learning as a culture in the agency.
According to Mohammed Bello-Koko, “A modern technical training facility of this nature is germane to us as an Authority because the opportunity to learn, unlearn and relearn which it offers constitutes a critical success factor in actualizing our strategic intent of becoming the maritime logistics hub for sustainable port services in Africa.
“As most of us are aware, having in place a robust talent pool is a necessary precondition for operating efficiently in the fiercely competitive terrain that port business is. Read more
Soldiers kill kidnappers in Benue (DailyTrust)
Soldiers of Operation Whirl Stroke have reportedly killed suspected kidnappers in ZakiBiam town of Ukum Local Government Area in Benue State.
The three suspects were gunned down while they were taking their victims away in a Toyota Corolla vehicle.
Special Adviser to the Benue Governor on Security Matters, Lt. Col. Paul Hemba (retd), told journalists in Makurdi that the incident happened about 3:30 pm on Tuesday.
“On May 24, 2022, at about 1530hrs, one Ordue Kanga aka Ordada and his gang kidnapped Omemma Chimobi in Zaki Biam Town. Based on a credible tip-off, the troops of sub-sector 2, Zaki Baim trailed the bandits through the yam market road as they were looking for an escape route. Read more
How EFCC shot, fired tear gas, broke doors to arrest Okorocha (Tribune)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arrested a former governor of Imo State and presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Rochas Okorocha, after laying siege on his residence for many hours.
The EFCC operatives forcefully gained access into Okorocha’s No 3, Nyase Close, off Ontario Crescent, Maitama, Abuja residence, arrested him around 6.48 p.m. and whisked him away.
His arrest, despite his initial resistance to submit himself to the agents of the anti-graft agency without a warrant, came after there were gunshots by the policemen on the premises.
Security operatives had to fire shots and teargas to disperse the crowd, mostly supporters of the senator.
They also broke the doors leading to the house, before they were able to arrest the former governor. Read more
Killing of Fatima, 4 children: Buhari warns perpetrators to be ready for tough response (Sun)
President Muhamadu Buhari has reacted to the killing on Sunday night of a pregnant northern woman, identified as Fatima, along with her four children in Anambra State.
According to a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari warned the perpetrators of the dastardly acts to expect tough response from the security forces.
He, however, caused against any knee-jerk reactions, the creation of panic, disruption of lives and livelihoods, or even retaliatory violence following the viral videos of the alleged killings of non-indigenes by the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and its mother terrorist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The President said while expert agencies are now verifying the factuality and veracity of the claims that accompany the horrid pictures being circulated, he called on all citizens to avoid hasty steps or conclusions that could exacerbate the situation, and on the contrary keep to a line of conduct that will help the law to take its proper course. Read more
Terrorism Charge: Court shifts Nnamdi Kanu’s trial till June 28 (Vanguard)
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has deferred the trial of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, till June 28.
The court had on March 18, slated Thursday to continue further proceedings on the treasonable felony charge the Federal Government preferred against Kanu.
However, lead counsel of the IPOB, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who hitherto headed the defendant’s legal team, in a statement on Wednesday, disclosed that the case would no longer proceed as earlier scheduled due to the unavailability of the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako.
“Please be informed that we have just received communication from the Federal High Court’s Registrar, notifying us that the Court will no longer be sitting tomorrow, 26th May, 2022, on Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case. Read more
Netflix to Tease Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Pinocchio,’ Kid Cudi’s ‘Entergalactic’ at 1st Annecy Showcase (Variety)
Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio” and Kid Cudi’s “Entergalactic” are among the titles that will be teased at Netflix’s inaugural Annecy International Animation Film Festival showcase next month.
The streamer is also bringing masterclasses and the world premiere of Chris Williams’ sea monster adventure “The Sea Beast,” starring Karl Urban and Dan Stevens, to the festival, which takes place in France.
Netflix’s showcase will offer an exclusive first look at del Toro’s upcoming stop-motion adaptation of “Pinocchio,” with the filmmaker attending in person to discuss the project, as well as the first look at “Entergalactic,” the adult animated project from Kid Cudi (AKA Scott Mescudi) and Kenya Barris, which is based on Cudi’s album of the same name.
The showcase will also include a behind-the-scenes look at David Fincher’s “Bad Travelling,” which will be included in vol. 3 of Tim Miller’s series “Love, Death + Robots” as well as glimpses of “The Sea Beast,” Henry Sellick’s “Wendell & Wild,” “My Father’s Dragon,” “The Magician’s Elephant,” Hiroyasu Ishida’s “Drifting Home,” “Nimona,” “Spirit Rangers” and Everett Downing and Patrick Harpin’s “My Dad The Bounty Hunter.” Read more
Kate Moss testifies for ex Johnny Depp (People)
Kate Moss, an ex-girlfriend of Johnny Depp, testified in the actor’s ongoing defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard.
On Wednesday morning, the British model, 48, appeared via live video link in front of the Fairfax, Virginia, courtroom to address a reference Heard, 36, made in previous testimony about Moss and “stairs.” Moss, who said it was her first time testifying in a court case, testified that Depp did not push her down any stairs when she fell at a resort in Jamaica.
“We were leaving the room and Johnny left the room before I did. There had been a rainstorm. As I left the room, I slid down the stairs and I hurt my back,” she said under oath. “I screamed because I didn’t know what happened to me and I was in pain. He came running back to help me and carried me to my room and got me medical attention.”
“He never pushed me, kicked me or threw me down any stairs,” added Moss. Read more
Mads Mikkelsen reunites with ‘A Royal Affair’ director for ‘King’s Land’ (THR)
Danish star Mads Mikkelsen is reuniting with his A Royal Affair director Nicolaj Arcel for the epic period drama King’s Land.
Arcel penned the screenplay for the feature with Anders Thomas Jensen. The film is an adaptation of the Danish bestseller The Captain and Ann Barbara, set in the mid-17th century. The story follows the attempt by Danish King Frederik V to take, cultivate and colonize an unforgiving area populated by wolves and highwaymen.
Louise Vesth (Melancholia, Nymphomaniac) will produce King’s Land for Zentrope. The epic production will start shooting in Denmark, Germany and the Czech Republic, beginning in September.
Budgeted at 8 million euros. Zentropa describes the movie as one of the company’s biggest in years. Read more
Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus and Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz among launch team for VC music start-up Verswire (MusicWeek)
Veeps founder & COO Sherry Saeedi, Blink-182 founding member & lead vocalist Mark Hoppus, and veteran music manager and Lippman Entertainment partner Nick Lippman have launched Verswire.
Fall Out Boy founding member & bassist Pete Wentz is serving as a strategic advisor.
Verswire is a new venture capital music start-up that serves as a development incubator for both emerging and established artists.
“The countless tech solutions that allow artists to make extra money have merely been a bandaid, while no one has fixed the root of the problem: that unfavourable deals do not allow artists to make money or own their music,” said Verswire CEO & founder Sherry Saeedi.
Living with Kanye West was ‘difficult’ for Kim Kardashian, says Caitlin Jenner (Independent)
Caitlyn Jenner has spoken out about her step-daughter Kim Kardashian’s divorce from Kanye West.
In an interview with “The Pivot Podcast”, the former Olympian, 72, was asked to comment on the relationship and said of West: “He was very difficult to live with.”
However, Jenner added that West, 44, had been on her “side” when she transitioned.
Nonetheless, she explained that the rapper was a “very complicated guy”. Read more
Russian Parliament passes bill allowing Moscow to close Western news bureaus (VOA)
Russia’s parliament on Tuesday passed a bill giving prosecutors powers to shut foreign media bureaus in Moscow if a Western country has been “unfriendly” to Russian media, following the closure of some Russian state news outlets in the West.
The bill, passed in the first reading by the lower house of parliament, or Duma, also prohibits the distribution of articles or other materials from media that have been closed by the prosecutor’s office. It needs to undergo two more readings, be reviewed by the upper house of parliament, and signed by President Vladimir Putin to become law.
The journalists of a media organization deemed to be an offender under the bill would have their foreign ministry accreditation withdrawn – meaning they could not work in Russia.
The new bill adds to the challenges facing foreign media after Russia in March adopted a law which penalized what it termed spreading “fake” news about its army. Read more
Chris Brown May Have Teased “Breezy” Features: Lil Wayne, Tory Lanez, Jack Harlow & More (HNHH)
“Breezy” arrives next month and Brown seems to be giving fans a hint at who to expect to hear on the album.
It’s about that time for a major album rollout and it is coming courtesy of Chris Brown. Last week, Brown announced that his forthcoming album, Breezy, would be arriving next month. He first began teasing the record in April when he gave fans a hint as to what to expect. “NOT GON LIE… It take a different type of LOVE mixed wit heartbreak for some of these songs on my album,” he previously wrote. “So ahead of time…. THANK YOU [praying hands emoji].”
Brown also shared that we can expect more tracks than usual this time around and on Tuesday (May 17), he looks to have shared the features that will make appearances on Breezy. Read more
Okoye, Uzoho’s absence opens door for home-based goalkeepers as camp opens in US (Guardian)
Following the absence of the usual contenders for the goalkeeping position, Maduka Okoye, Francis Uzoho, Daniel Akpeyi and John Noble, the coast is clear for home-based players to stake their claim for the nation’s number one position, Super Eagles’ Goalkeepers’ Trainer, Ike Shorunmu, has said.
Nigeria will play two international friendly matches with Mexico and Ecuador in the United States on May 20 and June 2 respectively.
Nigeria’s current number one goalkeeper, Okoye, withdrew from the team ahead of the friendlies for personal reasons, while Uzoho was not listed in the squad for U.S.
Shorunmu, believes the home-based goalkeepers have the qualities to fill the vacuum successfully, adding, however, that they must be bold and assertive when they get opportunity to man the post if they want to be taken serious. Read more
Dessers on brink of history (Punch)
The inaugural final of the third-tier European club competition – the UEFA Conference League holds Wednesday (today) in Albania’s capital city of Tirana, with history set to be made at the 20,000-capacity National Arena, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Dutch side Feyenoord, which features Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers, clash with favourites AS Roma, managed by Jose Mourinho.
If Feyenoord triumph, Dessers will etch his name in the competition’s folklore as the first Nigerian to win the Conference League title.
The final is a higher profile match than was envisioned by many in 2018, when UEFA decided to create the Europa Conference League. Its aim was to give more opportunities for clubs in lower-ranked countries to get involved in European competitions beyond December.
Dessers who was signed on a season-long loan from Belgian club Genk in the summer, became a massive hit with the Feyenoord faithful, scoring 10 goals in 12 games (six starts and six substitutes) in the competition to steer them to the final. Read more
Okpekpe 10km race to air live on cable TV (Sun)
Organisers of the Okpekpe international 10km road race have said the eighth edition of the historic World Athletics elite label event will be live on television across the globe come this Saturday, May 28, 2022.
Zack Amodu, the race director said its broadcast partner, Supersport, the number one cable TV in Africa, will broadcast the race live on race day.
‘’SuperSport has been our broadcast partner since the start of the race in 2013 and will broadcast the race live on television this Saturday,” said Amodu.
Aside from fulfilling one of the key requirements of organising a World Athletics Elite Label road race, Amodu said the organisers are determined to ensure many people across the globe, especially those in the athletics family, get to watch the race live because it has become a global event.
‘’SuperSport has started running the promo on Supersport Blitz as one of its exciting packages sports lovers and non-sports lovers can look forward to in the month of May. Read more
Oyedele: Flying Eagle eyeing Sanusi’s Eagles place (Punch)
After guiding Nigeria’s U-20 team to victory at the WAFU U-20 tournament in Niamey, Niger, young left-back Olamilekan Oyedele has set his sights on winning a place in the senior national team, at the expense of more experienced players.
“I’m very excited with the progress I’ve made so far in my career, but this is not the real purpose because I need to work hard to convince my parents that I have a future playing football,” Oyedele told PUNCH Sports Extra.
“I need to make everyone believe that I have all it takes to excel and play for the national team.
“I had a good tournament in Niamey and I believe that I have what it takes to break into the national team if given the opportunity. I’m not afraid. Read more
GOtv Boxing Night 25: Apata Roro seeks Ibadan boxing fans’ support (Sun)
Rising Ibadan-based lightweight boxer, Samuel “Apata Roro” Moses, has called on boxing fans in the Oyo State capital to come out en masse to support him when he fights Wale Anifowose at GOtv Boxing Night 25 on June 4.
The bout is one of the seven scheduled for the event to be held at the Old Gymnasium of the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium.
Speaking in a phone chat from his Ibadan base, Apata Roro said he is happy to have the long-sought opportunity to fight at GOtv Boxing Night and vowed to make good use of it. He added that he would require the fans’ support to put up a good showing that will see him defeat his opponent.
“I’ve waited for this opportunity for a long time and I’m glad it has come. I’m preparing well for the fight. But I need the support of all boxing fans in Ibadan to see off Anifowose. I’m appealing to them to come in huge numbers to cheer me in the ring,” he said.
He added that Ibadan is known for its affection for boxing and trusts the fans to troop in to cheer him. Read more
Navratilova baffled by SW19 points row (WA)
Nine-time Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova has expressed her bemusement at talk star players may snub the Championships this summer due to the lack of ranking points.
It was confirmed on Friday the WTA and ATP would not offer any points for the All England Club tournament after Wimbledon chiefs made the decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from competing due to the war in Ukraine.
Former world No.1 Naomi Osaka hinted on Monday she may skip the third grand slam of the season while even Briton’s Cameron Norrie conceded the Championships had been reduced to “almost an exhibition”.
“First of all I couldn’t care less if there were no points given,” Navratilova told TalkTV. Read more
NBA announces members of 3 2021-22 All-NBA Teams (SI)
The NBA announced all three of its 2021–22 All-NBA teams on Tuesday night.
The first team includes Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Suns guard Devin Booker, Mavericks guard Luka Dončić, Nuggets center Nikola Jokić and Celtics forward Jayson Tatum.
Jokić was named this year’s NBA MVP for the second consecutive year. In 74 games, the center averaged 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game.Antetokounmpo earned 100% of the votes needed to earn first-team honours. The reigning NBA Finals MVP averaged 29.9 points (the highest in his career thus far), 11.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.4 blocks in 67 games. Read more