Undergraduate denied treatment over bed space dies in LUTH (Punch)
The family of an undergraduate of the University of Port Harcourt, Deborah Doofan, has been thrown into mourning after she died outside the Emergency Ward of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Surulere, due to a lack of bed space to admit her into a ward in the hospital for prompt treatment.
PUNCH Metro gathered that until Doofan’s death, she was suffering from hyperthyroidism, a medical condition associated with overactivity of the thyroid gland, resulting in a rapid heartbeat and an increased rate of metabolism.
Our correspondent learnt that Doofan, a 100-level student of Banking and Finance at UNIPORT, was studying in school when she suffered a crisis and was rushed to the UNIPORT Teaching Hospital. Read more
Bandits kill chief’s wife after N2m ransom in Kaduna (DailyTrust)
Bandits have shot dead the senior wife of a Fulani chief, Hulaira Hussaini Ardo, after collecting a N2 million ransom from the family in Kaduna State.
City & Crime had reported that bandits on February 11, 2023, invaded the residence of the Chief, Malam Husaaini Ardo, at Rugan Ardo in Kagarko LGA and abducted his four wives.
The bandits had during the attack shot dead the Chief Imam of Nomadic Central Mosque in Rugan Ardo, Isyaka Adamu. Read more
Ede Poly graduate wins $50,000 creative writing prize in US (Guardian)
Nigerian and graduate of Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State, Adedayo Agarau, has announced that he won the Wallace Stegner Fellowship in the United States of America.
Adedayo made this announcement via his Twitter account at the weekend, stating that he never believed a boy from the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State would be able to reach that peak in the world.
“I’m delighted to announce that I’ve been awarded the prestigious Wallace Stegner Fellowship @Stanford. I never imagined the boy from Federal Polytechnic, Ede would head to @IowaWritersWksp and now Stanford, but it’s happening and I’m grateful.” Adedayo said via his Twitter post. Read more
INEC declares Abiodun winner of Ogun governorship poll (DailyTrust)
The Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) has declared Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of Saturday’s governorship poll in Ogun State.
The Returning Officer, Prof Kayode Adebowale announced him the winner after collation of results from all the 20 LGs in the state.
Abiodun polled 276,298 to defeat Ladi Adebutu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who had 262,383 votes. Read more
Robbers shoot policemen at Lagos checkpoint, victims hospitalised (Punch)
Three policemen attached to Denton Police Station are currently receiving treatment after they were shot by robbers on Wednesday, March 7, on Freeman Street in the Ebute Metta area of Lagos State.
The policemen who were identified by their last names, Ilesanmi, Ashaa and Olaniyi, were said to have mounted a roadblock in the community around 9pm.
PUNCH Metro however learnt that the robbers were trying to connect the street to exit the community when they encountered the policemen who were conducting a stop-and-search. Read more
Lagos govt reiterates commitment to timely payment of pensions to retirees (Guardian)
Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to prompt payment of pension to retirees through various Pension Fund Administrators.
The state’s Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Mrs. Ajibola Ponnle, who gave the hint at a media briefing on a recent publication that the Lagos State government failed to make payments in October, November, and December 2022, described the news as unfounded and misleading.
“Contrary to this report, the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) on October 14, 2022 paid the accrued rights of N1.062 billion to 288 retirees, and N2.54 billion to 754 retirees in December 2022.
“In 2022, the government, through LASPEC, the agency responsible for the coordination and administration of all pension matters in the state, paid accrued rights of N11.4 billion to 3,480 retirees, and N48.3 billion to 13,142 retirees since the inception of the administration,” she said.
UK-based Nigerian raises alarm over abduction of 2-year-old son by husband (Vanguard)
A United Kingdom-based Nigerian, Mr Aitua Obade, has been arrested by security operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos State, weekend.
Obade, a Healthcare Assistant, was apprehended by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS; Aviation Security, AVESEC; Nigeria Police Force and the Interpol, while checking in to travel to the United Kingdom through Rwandair, following allegation that he abducted his son and seized his wife’s international passport and other valuables.
Vanguard gathered that Obade and his wife, Gabriella, both reside in Dudley, Tipton, United Kingdom. They flew into Nigeria on March 9, 2023, only for the marriage, according to Gabriella, to be dissolved by a traditional ruler in Ekpoma, Edo State. Read more
APC wins 9 of 12 LGAs, as INEC postpones final result announcement in Ebonyi (Channels)
Announcement of the final result of the March 18th, 2023, governorship election for Ebonyi State has been postponed.
Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state Ugochi Onyeka, made the announcement following the inability of the returning and collation officers for Ishielu Local Government Area, to reconcile figures compiled with the ICT desk at collation centre today.
Meanwhile, out of the thirteen local government areas where elections took place on Saturday, twelve LGS have their results announced putting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead, with wins in nine LGAs. Read more
Demi Moore posts video of Bruce Willis celebrating 68th birthday with his family (THR)
Bruce Willis’ family wished the actor a happy 68th birthday in separate Instagram posts Sunday.
His ex-wife Demi Moore posted a video of Willis celebrating with Moore, current wife Emma Heming Willis, his daughters and other family members.
The video shows the family singing “Happy Birthday” to Willis — who was diagnosed with a form of dementia called frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, last month — followed by him blowing out candles on a pie. Read more
Adam Sandler to be awarded Mark Twain Prize for lifetime in comedy (TimesOfIsrael)
Actor-comedian Adam Sandler will be honored by comedic and entertainment royalty when he receives the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on Sunday night.
Sandler, 56, first came to national attention as a cast member on “Saturday Night Live.” After being fired from the cast following a five-year stint, Sandler launched a wildly successful movie career that has spanned more than 30 films, grossing over $3 billion worldwide.
“Adam Sandler has entertained audiences for over three decades with his films, music, and his tenure as a fan favorite cast member on ‘SNL,’” Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter said in a statement when Sandler’s prize was announced in December. “Adam has created characters that have made us laugh, cry, and cry from laughing.” Read more
Ann de Toth, screenwriter and widow of André de Toth, dies at 82 (THR)
Ann Green de Toth, a screenwriter and film industry veteran who worked alongside her husband André de Toth on several projects, has died. She was 82.
De Toth died March 3 after her third battle with cancer in Toluca Lake, California, her family announced.
In 1969, she entered the industry, working with producer Jeffrey Selznick and director Andrzej Wajda, as they prepared for their film, Heart of Darkness. After marrying producer André de Toth in 1983, she worked with him on El Condor, The Todd Killing, Click of the Hammer, Prelude and Fugue for Lovers, The Silent Nine, The Professor and The Fighting Temeraire, among many other films. Read more
Taron Egerton has his say on those James Bond casting rumours (HuffPost)
Taron Egerton has ruled himself out of becoming the next James Bond, believing he’s not the “right choice” to play 007.
The Rocketman star is just one of the many names who has been linked to replacing Daniel Craig as the British spy in the iconic film franchise, but insists there have been “zero phone calls” about taking on the role.
Taron told the Daily Telegraph he thinks there are people better suited to Bond, explaining: “I don’t think I’m the right choice for it.
“You have to be consistently statuesque to be that guy. And that’s something that I am still striving for. I’ve always struggled with my weight.“ Read more
Andy Taylor returning to Duran Duran for new album (FarOut)
Duran Duran bassist John Taylor announced that former guitarist Andy Taylor will be returning to the group for the impending new album. Andy had left the group back in 2006 before the album Red Carpet Massacre.
Andy also made headlines when the band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where he announced that he had been battling stage 4 prostate cancer for five years. When talking about the latest Duran Duran project, John mentioned Andy’s health issues, mentioning at a charity event: “When he dropped the bomb two days before the Hall of Fame, it was really shocking and terribly sad. We’re working on an album right now that is going to be coming out at the end of the year and he’s playing guitar”.
While the group will be recording the album in London and Los Angeles, singer Simon LeBon is set to travel to Lebanon to record in Andy’s studio, as John explains: “LeBon is flying to Ibiza to
work with Andy. I kind of wish I was there. I think it’ll be great. It’ll be really profound for them. They haven’t been in the studio together in maybe 10 to 20 years”. Read more
50 Cent’s $1b Power lawsuit with ex-drug lord heading to mediation (HipHopDX)
50 Cent has reached the mediation stage of the $1billion lawsuit filed against him by an ex-drug lord over his Power series.
According to AllHipHop, it looks like the Queens-bred mogul will face off with former drug kingpin Corey “Ghost” Holland Sr. in May, when the pair are scheduled to appear at a mediation conference together.
In 2021, Holland filed a lawsuit that alleged 50 Cent and fellow executive producer Courtney Kemp stole the idea for Power from his actual life. Reportedly, Holland’s relationship with Kemp’s father stretches back to the 1990s. Read more
Putin visits Mariupol as part of surprise tour of occupied Ukraine (NYPost)
President Vladimir Putin made a surprise weekend visit to the war-ravaged port of Mariupol, state media reported, the Kremlin leader’s first trip to the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine’s Donbas region since the conflict began.
The visit came after Putin traveled to Crimea on Saturday in an unannounced visit to mark the ninth anniversary of Russia’s annexation of the peninsula from Ukraine, and just two days after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for the Russian leader.
Putin is yet to comment publicly on the ICC warrant, but his trips into Ukrainian territory claimed by Russia was seen by some observers as an act of defiance. Read more
Slavia coach slams Olayinka for headbutting (Punch)
Head coach of Slavia Prague Jindřich Trpišovský has faulted Nigerian striker Peter Olayinka for headbutting a Slovan Liberec defender, which had him sent off and perhaps cost the Slavists three points in the Fortuna Liga on Saturday evening.
The 27-year-old was red carded in the 89th minute, when Slavia were leading 2-1, but the Slavists conceded after his dismissal to ensure the tie ended in a stalemate.
Liberec broke the deadlock in the 26th minute when Lukáš Červ scored with the help of countryman Igho Ogbu’s deflection, but Olayinka equalised in the 30th minute. Read more
Barca snatch Clasico win over Madrid to strike title blow (Guardian)
Barcelona snatched a 2-1 Clasico win over Real Madrid with Franck Kessie’s late goal Sunday to move 12 points clear at the top of La Liga.
The victory dents Madrid’s ambitions of retaining the title and leaves the Catalans close to lifting the trophy for the first time since 2019.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Real took the lead through a Ronald Araujo own goal but Barcelona pulled level when Sergi Roberto tucked home just before half-time. Read more
Ikorodu City eyes Lagos FA Cup crown (Punch)
Nigeria National League side, Ikorodu City FC, are looking forward to winning the first major title in their one-year history, after making it to the final of the 2023 Lagos State FA Cup, where they will face Smart City FC.
The Oga Boys defeated Box-to-Box FC 4-3 on penalties after regulation time ended 0-0 in the semi-finals.
Smart City, on the other hand, defeated Future Pros 1-0 in the second semis to set up a mouthwatering clash with Ikorodu City. Read more
PSG loses at home in French league for 1st time this season (WashingtonPost)
Arnaud Kalimuendo scored against his boyhood club as leader Paris Saint-Germain was beaten 2-0 by Rennes in its first home loss in the French league this season on Sunday.
The win ended PSG’s 35-match unbeaten run in the league at the Parc des Princes.
Marseille later won 2-1 to end Reims’ 19-match unbeaten run and cut PSG’s lead to seven points with 10 matches left. Read more
Rivers Utd survive Diable’s scare to reach Confed Cup quarter-final (DailyTrust)
NPFL defending champions, Rivers United, reached the quarter-final of the 2023 CAF Confederation Cup after they fought back to draw 2-2 with Congolese side, CSMD Diables Noires in yesterday’s Group B match played at the ‘Nest of Champions’ in Uyo.
When both sides met in the first leg of the double header, the host thrashed Rivers United 3-0 but the ‘Pride of Rivers’ bounced back from that opening day loss to win three matches in a row to go top of the group.
In yesterday’s match, the Nigerian representatives who needed at least a point to progress to the next round started strongly as they piled pressure on the visitors’ defence. Read more
Emma Raducanu shares first Miami Open practice session after impressive Indian Wells run (Express)
Emma Raducanu has already started practising at the Miami Open following her impressive run in Indian Wells. The British No 1 earned back-to-back top 20 wins as she reached the last 16 in Indian Wells for the first time and is now hoping to back it up with a strong showing in Miami. Raducanu has never won a match at the second WTA 1000 event of the year and will be bidding to change that next week.
Raducanu is coming off the back of an admirable showing in Indian Wells, where she started the tournament doubting whether she’d even compete and ended it in the round-of-16. The world No 77 was only defeated by top seed Iga Swiatek and pulled off two upsets against top 20 seeds en route to her best showing in the desert. Read more