Woman, 33, sells baby for N600k to offset bank loan in Ogun (Punch)
A 33-year-old woman, Olaide Adekunle, has reportedly sold her 18-month-old baby for N600,000 to offset her bank loan.
The suspect, who lives in Sango in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, reportedly left her house for Lagos where she sold the baby to a yet-to-be-identified buyer.
The suspect was arrested by men of the Ogun State Police Command following a complaint lodged at Sango divisional headquarters by the woman’s husband, Nureni Rasaq. Read more
Nigeria approves Oxford malaria vaccine, to action immunisation (Guardian)
The Nigerian government has approved the use of R21/Matrix malaria vaccine developed by scientists at Oxford University.
Director-general of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration And Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeyeye, made the announcement at a press briefing on Monday.
“The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in exercising its mandate as stipulated by its enabling law, NAFDAC Act CapN1, LFN 2004 is granting registration approval for R21 malaria vaccine,” Adeyeye said at the press briefing. Read more
31-year-old jailed bricklayer sells cannabis in prison (Punch)
A 31-year-old bricklayer, Rasheed Bolaji, who sold cannabis sativa, in Ikoyi Custodial Centre has been sentenced to two years imprisonment by the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The convict was sentenced by Justice Abimbola Awogboro, after finding him guilty of two-count of trafficking and unlawful dealing in 5.3 kg of Indian hemp, brought against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
Justice Awogboro handed down the jail term on Friday after the bricklayer pleaded guilty to the charges when he was arraigned. Read more
INEC ‘‘sacks’’ Adamawa REC over usurpation of power (Leadership)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has asked its Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, to steer clear of the Commission’s office in the State immediately until further notice.
The Commission disclosed this in a letter with reference number INEC/SEC/442/V.II titled: ‘Commission’s Directive to Stay Away from INEC, Adamawa State’ dated April 17, 202 and signed by the secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.
Consequently, the Administrative Secretary of INEC in the State has been directed to take full charge with immediate effect. Read more
Air Peace relaunches Makurdi route with 3 weekly flights (Independent)
Air Peace on Monday has staged a return to Makurdi Airport from Lagos and Abuja airports with three weekly flights.
The relaunch flight, which departed Lagos, connecting through Abuja, was welcomed at the Makurdi Airport with a ceremonial water salute, marking a comeback of the airline to Benue State after suspending the route in 2021, a statement by Mr. Stanley Olisa, the Spokesman for the airline said.
Speaking on the relaunch, Mr. Ayodeji Adeyemi, Ground Operations Manager, Air Peace, expressed delight of the airline at connecting more cities and people across Nigeria and beyond. Read more
Court removes Ondo monarch (Nation)
An Ondo State High Court has deposed the monarch of Oke-Igbo in Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government, Oba Babajide Oluwole, as the Olu-Oke.
He was removed in a judgment delivered at the weekend by Justice Ademola Enikuemehin, in a suit filed by Princes Rufus Adekanye and Temitope Adeoye, on behalf of the Aare Kugbaigbe Ruling House of Oke-Igbo.
The claimants, through their counsel, Chief Sola Ebiseni, faulted the 2018 appointment of Oba Oluwole, claiming he was not a member of the Aare Kugbaigbe, whose turn it is to present a candidate to the throne. Read more
Expert commends FG on new ARCON law (Tribune)
A marketing communications expert, and Chief Executive Officer, Lilvera Group, Mr. Buchi Johnson has commended the Federal Government on the new advertising regulation law, transforming the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) to Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON).
Buchi, who gave the commendation recently at a media chat, described the initiative as one of the best from the federal government, in recent times, since the law mandating a cumulative 75 percent of local content in all ads and marketing directed at the Nigerian market, will check an annual capital flight of N120billion.
“It is exciting because the country has been losing about ?120 billion annually due to capital flight in the sector where ads targeted at Nigerians were produced externally, thereby creating jobs in other economies but not in the targeted economy, Nigeria,” he added. Read more
Go about your duty without fear, Navy assures seafarers (Guardian)
The Nigerian Navy has assured seafarers of an improved maritime environment.
The Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade–Gulf of Guinea (MDAT-GoG) information centre had reported that the latest incident occurred on Monday, April 10, approximately 300 nautical miles south-southwest of Abidjan, Cote d’ Ivoire.
After the event, the Navy High Command intensified operations through use of Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) to locate a tanker boarded by pirates in GoG, less than three weeks after the hijacking of a tanker named MT Monjasa Reformer on the high sea. Read more
Frank Ocean’s catastrophic Coachella 2023 performance at least included news about a new album (Uproxx)
Yesterday (April 16), Frank Ocean headlined the final day of Coachella’s first weekend. It was a highly anticipated performance, but for a number of reasons, it did not go well at all. One attendee summarized, “I’ve never seen so many people walk out of a show so upset and confused. The amount of anticipation for this was extremely high, and I don’t think anyone was satisfied. Not even the diehard fans.”
If there was one silver lining to be had, though, it was that Ocean spoke about his next album.
At one point during the set, he took a couple minutes to give a short speech, which he started, “It’s been so long, but I have missed you. I want to talk about why I’m here, because it’s not because of a new album. It’s because… not that there’s not a new album, just like… but there’s not right now.” Read more
Timbaland and Justin Timberlake team up for new album (Culturess)
Timbaland, Justin Timberlake’s longtime collaborator, and friend, has announced that the singer’s next album is in the works. The upcoming release will mark Timberlake’s first album since Man of the Woods, which dropped in 2018.
In a recent interview with Variety, Timbaland, a celebrated music producer, disclosed that he and Justin Timberlake have been collaborating on fresh music. This forthcoming album will be Timberlake’s return to the music industry since his previous record, Man of the Woods, was released in 2018.
The celebrated producer remarked in a recent interview that it’s up to the superstar musician to decide how and when he wants to release the album. Read more
‘‘Phantom of the Opera’’ closes on Broadway after record-setting 35 year run (Fox)
It’s the end of an era on Broadway as the long-running musical “The Phantom of the Opera” delivers its final performance.
Sunday marked the show’s 13,981 performance, cementing its record as the longest running show in Broadway history.
Since its debut in 1988, the show has been seen by 20 million people, earning $1.36 billion at the box office. Read more
Taylor Swift amends rule about ‘‘never repeating’’ surprise songs on Eras tour (MusicNews)
Taylor Swift has amended a rule disallowing herself from repeating surprise songs on tour.
During a concert in Tampa, Florida on Friday, the Lover singer told the crowd that she set a rule for herself before embarking on her Eras tour in which she promised to play two surprise songs per concert and wouldn’t repeat these tracks again.
But as part of the gig, Taylor noted that she has given herself permission to repeat surprise songs from her album Midnights. Read more
China Box Office: Jackie Chan’s Ride On trots to 2nd weekend success (Variety)
Jackie Chan-starring nostalgic stuntman comedy film Ride On trotted to a second weekend atop the mainland Chinese box office. The Super Mario Bros. Movie remained in fourth place.
Ride On earned $6.0 million (RMB41.5 million) between Friday and Sunday, a 48% week-on week drop, according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway. That took it to a $22.6 million total since release on April 7.
Below it, Japanese animation Suzume and Chinese shaggy dog story Hachiko swapped places. Hachiko, on its third weekend outing, earned $4.9 million, for a cumulative of $35.1 million. Suzume earned $4.5 million in its fourth weekend on release in China, giving it a $109 million cumulative. Read more
Poland and Hungary ban Ukrainian grain amid glut from neighbor (CNN)
Poland and Hungary have banned imports of grain and other food products from Ukraine following a surge in cheap goods.
The Polish prime minister’s office said the move was “to protect the Polish agricultural market against destabilisation.”
Ukraine responded by saying it “regrets the decision of its Polish counterparts” and was ready to cooperate with Poland in an investigation of any possible abuses. Read more
Halsey leaves Capitol Records after 8 years (Music News)
Halsey has parted ways with Capitol Records after eight years.
The ’11 Minutes’ singer’s managers, Anti-Pop’s Jason Aron and Anthony Li, have confirmed Halsey has departed the major label and also teased new music is on the way.
In a statement issued to Variety, they said: “After eight great years the decision to leave Capitol is bittersweet, but we are excited about exploring a new partnership and sharing new music with fans.” Read more
Enyimba beat Kwara United away as Insurance maintain unbeaten run (Guardian)
Enyimba inflicted a second consecutive home loss on Kwara United, yesterday, beating Afonja Warriors 2-1 at the Akure Township Stadium.
The Peoples Elephant took the lead through Chijioke Mbaoma in the 27th minute, but Samad Kadiri equalised for the host in the 35th minute.
Mbaoma later earned Enyimba the three points to take the record champions to the second position on the Group B table. Read more
Nigeria crowned U-18 IHF women’s champion (Punch)
Nigeria’s U-18 girls have been crowned champion of the IHF Women’s Trophy Africa Zone 3 Phase after defeating Benin Republic in Accra, Ghana.
The fans at the Tennis Arena of the Accra Sports Stadium, were in awe of the coach Shittu Adewunmi’s girls as they conveniently earned a 42-17 victory over Benin Republic with goalkeeper Babatunde Kehinde named the Most Valuable Player of the Match for a wonderful performance.
She is the twin sister of Babatunde Taiwo, who got the MVP in Nigeria’s first match against Liberia. Read more
NPFL: Bendel Insurance maintain unbeaten run in Ikenne (ThisDay)
Bendel Insurance held hosts Remo Stars to another 1-1 result to maintain their unbeaten run in 14 games of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) yesterday.
The 1-1 draw at the Ikenne Stadium home ground of Remo Stars is the fifth consecutive same score line for the Benin Arsenal who are maintaining the top spot of Group A of the NPFL’s 2022/23 season with 28 points.
Kwame Mawuena fired Remo into the lead in the 16th minute while Divine Nwachukwu restored parity for Insurance four minutes later. Read more
Ancelotti exposing Chelsea downfall on Bridge return (France24)
A fortnight ago, Chelsea owner Todd Boehly picked up the phone and called Blues great Frank Lampard to come back and try to steady the ship, with the team in shambles.
In another world, it might have been Carlo Ancelotti on the line to the American.
Instead Ancelotti returns to Stamford Bridge dug-out strictly as an opponent, representing Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final second leg clash on Tuesday. Read more
Pep Guardiola weighs in on Sadio Mane punching former Man City star Leroy Sane (Express)
Pep Guardiola believes the fighting spirit within Bayern Munich’s squad serves as a warning for his Manchester City players ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg in Germany. The Premier League champions boast a 3-0 advantage heading into the contest but as far as Guardiola is concerned, the tie is far from over.
That’s because he believes Bayern are a wounded animal – not least after Sadio Mane was involved in a dressing room spat with former City winger Leroy Sane after last week’s defeat at the Etihad Stadium.
It’s alleged that Mane punched Sane in the face following a heated verbal exchange which resulted in Bayern suspending their summer signing from Liverpool. Read more
Former British No 1 slams WTA’s return to China as ‘‘abject hypocrisy’’ amid Peng Shuai concern (Tennis365)
The Women’s Tennis Association have confirmed that they are planning to return to China to host events, despite ongoing concerns over the health of former player Peng Shuai.
Former Wimbledon doubles champion Shuai caused a storm in November 2021 when she wrote a detailed post on social media making allegations about a relationship with high-ranking Chinese official Zhang Gaoli.
The post was swiftly removed and Peng disappeared from public view, sparking concern across the tennis world about her welfare. Read more