Seun Kuti spends night in custody, police plan arraignment (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command on Monday reiterated that Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, will be taken to court for arraignment for assaulting a policeman on duty in Lagos on Saturday as captured in a viral video.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos, Benjamin Hundeyin, told The PUNCH that the musician, who turned himself in on Monday and was handcuffed and detained, would spend the night in custody.
He confirmed the development to our correspondent in a telephone interview on Monday night.
“Seun Kuti is still in our custody; he’ll be arraigned once investigation is concluded,” Hundeyin told our custody Monday night. Read more
Ekiti: 3 to die by hanging for N186k theft (Guardian)
An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, sentenced three persons to death by hanging for conspiracy and armed robbery of goods worth N186,000.
The defendants: Omotayo Deji, 23, Chidiebere Ifeanyi, 25, and Bolaji Usman, 28, were arraigned before Justice Bamidele Omotoso on January 21, 2020, on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and armed robbery.
According to the charges, the alleged offences contradicted Sections 6 (b), 1 (2) (a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. RII, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. Read more
Hilda Baci reacts to Guinness World Records’ review claim (Tribune)
Hilda Baci, a well-known Nigerian chef, breaks her silence, after being acknowledged by Guinness World Records, pending her new record’s official release.
She tweeted, ” I can’t wait to be official” via Twitter account.
Guinness World Records had previously declared that some details needed to be confirmed before declaring her as the new record holder for the longest hour spent cooking. Read more
FG insists Nigeria Air ‘ll fly before May 29 (Vanguard)
About 13 days to the end of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, the Federal Government, Monday, insisted that the national carrier, Nigeria Air will fly before May 29.
The Federal Government has also granted approval to an online university and 36 other private universities, just as the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu has declared that the country needs more universities.
Fielding questions on the possibility of Nigeria Air becoming operational before May 29 when the administration of President Buhari will come to an end, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika emphatically said that the national carrier will fly before the exit of the government. Read more
Senate Presidency: Sanwo-Olu pitches support for Akpabio (Channels)
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday, pitched his support for Stability Group rooting for the emergence of Senator Goodswill Akpabio and Senator Barau Jibrin as President and Deputy President of the 10th Senate.
The Governor said he aligned himself with All Progressives Congress (APC) zoning decision, having read the legislative agenda being pushed forward by the Akpabio-led team to raise the bar of lawmaking and readiness to collaborate with the incoming administration of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Sanwo-Olu openly endorsed Akpabio and Jibrin when he received members of the Stability Group in a consultative visit at the State House in Marina on Sunday. Read more
Lagos plans 10m coconut trees for climate control (Punch)
The Lagos State Coconut Development Authority has embarked on a mission to plant coconut trees in all established housing estates across the state.
The plan, which is in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Housing, is part of efforts to improve and promote the coconut economy in the state.
According to a statement issued by the state government, LASCODA representative, Akorede Adeboye, during a presentation of a proposal to the ministry, revealed a plan to plant 10 million coconut trees under the Coconut Renewal Initiative. Read more
CIBN Lagos branch gets new chairman (ThisDay)
The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Lagos State Branch, has elected new executive members, with Mr. Adeyemo Adeoye emerging the new chairman.
The branch which emerged the overall best branch at the banking conference held in Abuja last year, saw Mr. Peter Ashade handing over to his successor having successfully served out his two terms.
Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the branch, the newly elected chairman, Adeoye, acknowledged the need for an investment desk dedicated to Lagos State that would help investors get necessary information prior to their arrival. Read more
Yoruba race won’t forget Oba Adeyemi’s legacies – Children (Nation)
The children of the late Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Adeyemi have said the legacies their father left behind would never be forgotten by the Yoruba race.
They described the monarch as an embodiment and custodian of Yoruba culture because of his efforts towards the development of Yorubaland.
Speaking in Oyo town on behalf of Oba Adeyemi’s children, at the one year remembrance “Inter Religious Prayer” for the late monarch, his eldest son, Israel Adeyemi, said the monarch fought for the betterment of traditional institutions, adding that history would never forget Oba Adeyemi as a foremost traditional ruler in Yorubaland and Nigeria. Read more
The Little Mermaid’s Halle Bailey wows in a black mini dress at the film premiere after party (DailyMail)
Halle Bailey looked sensational in an all-black ensemble at The Little Mermaid’s film premiere after party on Monday evening
The film’s leading lady Halle, who plays mermaid Ariel, put on a busty display in a plunging black mini dress.
The actress, 23, completed the look with a matching trench coat and a pair of leather heeled boots. Read more
Britney Spears hasn’t seen kids in ‘over a year,’ sons stopped answering texts: doc (PageSix)
Britney Spears hasn’t seen her teenage sons in “well over a year” following their public spat about her behavior on social media.
“By the end of the summer [2022], tensions got so bad that the boys weren’t even responding to her texts. And she was furious,” TMZ producer Katie Hayes claimed in the documentary “TMZ Investigates: Britney Spears: The Price of Freedom.”
A source confirms to Page Six that the last time the “Toxic” singer saw sons Sean Preston, 17, and Jayden, 16 was at “the very beginning of 2022” — before her wedding to Sam Asghari. Read more
Tonys producers will appeal WGA’s strike waiver denial (Deadline)
Producers of the Tonys will file an appeal of the WGA’s waiver denial. The decision was made Monday during a meeting of the Tonys management committee. A source tells Variety, “Everyone is still trying to see if there is a workable solution.”
On Friday, the Writers Guild of America denied a request for a strike waiver from the show’s producers, meaning the Tonys won’t be televised on June 11.
Ariana DeBose was set to return as host but it is believed she’ll cancel if the strike is still on. Read more
Ludacris working on new music (MusicNews)
Ludacris is gearing up to drop new music.
During a recent appearance on The Tamron Hall Show, the Southern Hospitality star revealed that he hopes to unveil his ninth studio album next year.
“We’re definitely gonna get some music before the end of this year,” he said. “I would say an album, probably next year.”
Ludacris, real name Christopher Bridges, also joked that the reason for the holdup is that he has been very busy filming movies for the Fast & Furious franchise, in which he plays Tej Parker. Read more
Seal announces 30th anniversary 2023 UK tour (NME)
Seal has announced plans for a 30th anniversary UK tour later this year.
The singer will celebrate his landmark albums ‘Seal’ (1991) and follow up ‘‘Seal II’’ (1994) by performing his greatest hits from both including ‘‘Crazy’’, ‘‘Future Love Paradise’’, ‘‘Kiss From A Rose’’ along with his Number One collaboration with Adamski, ‘‘Killer’’.
The tour, which kicks off at Liverpool Philharmonic on September 12, will also see Seal team up with long-time producer and collaborator Trevor Horn, who will take on the role of musical director for the shows. Read more
South African military commander in Moscow for talks (AlArabiya)
The commander of South Africa’s ground forces is in Moscow for talks, Russian news agencies said Monday, days after Washington accused Pretoria of secretly providing arms to Russia.
Lieutenant General Lawrence Mbatha is heading a delegation that discussed “issues relating to military cooperation and interaction” with their Russian counterparts, the agencies said, citing the Russian defence ministry.
Last Thursday the US ambassador to Pretoria Reuben Brigety said that the United States believed weapons and ammunition had been laden onto a Russian freighter that docked at a Cape Town naval base in December. Read more
UN marks 75th anniversary of mass expulsion of Palestinians (UPI)
A special United Nations committee will hold commemorations Monday of the 75th anniversary of the mass displacement of Palestinians from what is now Israel — the first ever — after being handed a mandate by the General Assembly in November.
The U.N. event, recognizing “the Nakba” or “the Catastrophe” — the mass expulsion of Palestinians from then-British Palestine during Israel’s creation in the late 1940s — will include a high-level meeting with addresses by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary A. DiCarlo followed by live-streamed evening presentation in the General Assembly Hall.
“The event will bring to life the Palestinian journey and will aim at creating an immersive experience of the Nakba through live music, photos, videos and personal testimonies. This is an occasion to highlight that the noble goals of justice and peace require recognizing the reality and history of the Palestinian people’s plight and ensuring the fulfillment of their inalienable rights,” the UN said. Read more
Joshua may still fight Wilder, says Hearn (Punch)
Eddie Hearn has confirmed Anthony Joshua could still face Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia this year, even if Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk doesn’t happen.
Joshua recently fought for the first time in eight months, as he defeated Jermaine Franklin by unanimous decision in April.
Fury and Usyk were in talks for a fight that would crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion in two decades, but they could not agree on financial terms. Read more
IMC lists June 3 as kickoff date for NPFL Super 6 (ThisDay)
A revised calendar of activities for the 2022/23 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Super 6 has been released by the Interim Management Committee (IMC) with a kick off date of June 3and final day of Sunday, June 11.
IMC’s Head of Operations, Davidson Owumi, explained that the revision of the schedule was agreed with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to accommodate the league and the Federation Cup.
“With the Federation Cup Round of 16 and quarter final fixtures slated for 24 and 28 of May, we reasoned that the Super 6 can no longer hold from the earlier date as some of the teams that might qualify for the playoffs are also possibly going to be in the Federation Cup”, explained Owumi. Read more
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp tells Man Utd he’s coming for them after Leicester rout (Standard)
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp ‘sent Manchester United and Newcastle United a message’ with his routine chest pumps after Monday’s 3-0 win against Leicester City. The Reds cruised to victory at the King Power Stadium to once again apply the pressure in their late push for Champions League qualification.
Curtis Jones’ first-half brace and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s stunning free-kick secured a seventh successive Premier League win.
It leaves Klopp’s side a point behind United and Newcastle, having played one more game. Read more
Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi and Caitlin Hayes win PFA Scotland player awards (BBC)
Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi and Caitlin Hayes won the player of the year prizes at the PFA Scotland awards, while men’s team boss Ange Postecoglou was voted manager of the year.
Kyogo, 28, is the Scottish Premiership winners’ top scorer this term with 30.
English defender Hayes, 27, has helped Celtic’s SWPL title and Women’s Scottish Cup push.
Postecoglou replicated his league and Viaplay Cup trophy wins from last season and could complete the treble. Read more
Nikola Jokic says Nuggets will be playing new team in Lakers (ABC)
Sporting a new haircut Monday, Nikola Jokic will enter the Western Conference finals with a fresh mentality.
Even though this will be the Denver Nuggets’ second conference finals against the Los Angeles Lakers since 2020, Jokic says this will be a new experience against a new team. Which is a good thing, because when asked what he learned from the Nuggets’ five-game loss to LeBron James and the Lakers in the bubble, Jokic said, “To be honest, nothing. I don’t remember it.”
Jokic certainly won’t recognize these Lakers. Since these teams last faced each other Jan. 9, the Lakers have moved on from Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley, Kendrick Nunn, Juan Toscano-Anderson and Thomas Bryant and have added Rui Hachimura, D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, Malik Beasley, Mo Bamba and Tristan Thompson. Read more
2025 Rugby League World Cup in doubt after France pull out of staging event (Guardian)
The 2025 Rugby League World Cup is in serious doubt after the hosts, France, confirmed they would not be able to stage the tournament. France had been preparing to be sole hosts of the event for the first time since they held it in 1972, but pulled out after funding cuts from the French government.
The government had demanded a guarantee concerning the possibility of the tournament making a loss. Conditions initially set to secure the economic viability of the event were not fulfilled and, despite being given additional time to secure funding, the organising committee was unable to do so. That left them unable to commit to hosting and plummeting into doubt the biggest event in world rugby league.
The International Rugby League will now convene at a board meeting this summer to consider alternative options for host nations in 2025. That could include New Zealand or a possible joint bid from Pacific nations including Samoa and Tonga, though the latter is unlikely because of the logistical implications required to stage a tournament at such short notice. Read more