Lifestyle

Okada Ban: Lagos to crush seized motorcycles

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The Lagos State Government, Wednesday, announced its plan to crush commercial motorcycles called Okada, seized during enforcement.

A statement issued by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotosho, said the motorcycles will be crushed on Friday.

“Law enforcement agencies seized many motorcycles today (Wednesday),” he said.

“They will all be crushed on Friday in the presence of the media.”

A fresh ban, which took effect on Wednesday, was imposed by the government following the mob attack that led to the death of David Imoh, a sound engineer in the Lekki area of the state.

The ban was imposed across six local government areas – Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Surulere, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, and Apapa and nine local government councils areas.

It’s not the first time the government would impose the measure. In January 2020, the government banned the operation of motorcyclists in 15 local councils across the state.

PREMIUM TIMES observed that many motorcyclists popularly called Okada in many parts of Lagos complied with the ban.

Alternatives

The ban, which is the first phase, was imposed following security and safety concerns, the commissioner said.

He said the state government has rolled out alternatives to cushion the effects of the ban in many areas.

“Many small buses, under the First Mile and Last Mile Scheme, were rolled out extensively in Surulere, Gbagada, Lekki, Lagos Island, and other parts of Lagos,” the statement reads.

“A number of taxicabs under the LAGRIDE scheme were deployed in Lagos Island, Ikeja, Surulere, Lekki and other places.

“The waterways were also busy as Lagos Ferry Services (LAGFERRY) put more ferries on their routes.”

Lifestyle

Army denies complicity in Prelate’s kidnap as youths protest

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The Nigerian Army (NA), yesterday, denied allegations of complicity of its troops in the kidnap incident of the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Samuel Uche, and two others in Umunneochi, Abia State, on Sunday.

The Prelate, his Chaplain, Very Rev. Abidemi Shittu and the Methodist Bishop of Owerri Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dennis Mark, were abducted along the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway in Umunneochi Local Council.

While narrating his ordeal in the hands of the kidnappers, Uche, who was released on Monday after paying N100 Million ransom, had alleged that some soldiers from the North, posted to the area, were aiding kidnappers in the region.

But reacting to the allegation in a statement he sent to The Guardian, the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. General Onyema Nwachukwu, who doubted the position of the Cleric, noted that the allegation is false.

Nwachukwu said: “While the Nigerian Army expresses concern and sympathy for the victim of this heinous crime and shares in his pains, the insinuation that troops are complicit in the kidnap incident is not premised on any findings of investigations and, therefore, unacceptable.

“This allegation, therefore, raises some pertinent questions, which are still unanswered.

“Given the spate of insecurity in the region, was the issue reported to the unit covering the area? Did the Methodist Church take the NA into confidence while negotiating the ransom with the kidnappers? The unit has received no formal complaint. More worrisome is the fact that it was alleged that the ransom was paid in less than 24 hours. Was the ransom paid to troops? These are questions that beg for answers.

MEANWHILE, youths of Umunneochi Local Council, where the abduction occurred, yesterday, staged a peaceful protest to the local council headquarters at Nkwoagu Isuochi.

They expressed worry over the recurring incidents of kidnapping, abduction and other acts of criminality within the council and neighbouring Uturu axis in Isuikwuato Local Council, where many students and staff of Abia State University Uturu have fallen victims.

Lifestyle

Okada ban: 16 riders, passengers arrested

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•140 motorcycles impounded

•Why Okada must leave Lagos —Omotoso; Says ‘Okada accidents record 767 out of 1,712 cases 1st quarter

•As riders drag govt to court


By Evelyn Usman, Olasunkanmi Akoni, Bose Adelaja &Juliet Umeh


No fewer than 16 commercial motorcycles, also known as Okada, alongside their passengers, were arrested, yesterday, by policemen, during the enforcement of the ban on their operations in six local government areas, by the Lagos State Government.


The Police also impounded 140 motorcycles, while 94 of them were seized in communities around Ajah, Ikeja and its environs.

This came, as the Lagos State government has appealed to Lagosians to use alternative modes of transportation in the state, disclosing that out of the 1,712 accidents recorded in the first quarter of year 2022, 767 involved Okada.


Meanwhile, one of the motorcycle unions, Motorcycle Transport Union of Nigeria, MTUN, has dragged the Lagos State government before a Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, praying the court to declare the ban as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

Lifestyle, World News

Johnny Depp I’ve Got My Life Back!!! After Defamation Case Win.

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Johnny Depp has a new lease on life after being awarded more than $10 million in his defamation case against Amber Heard … telling the world he’s “truly humbled” by the jury’s decision.
In a lengthy statement following his win Wednesday, Depp says, “Six years ago, my life, the life of my children, the lives of those closest to me, and also, the lives of the people who for many, many years have supported and believed in me were forever changed. All in the blink of an eye.”

He continues, “False, very serious and criminal allegations were levied at me via the media, which triggered an endless barrage of hateful content, although no charges were ever brought against me … And six years later, the jury gave me my life back. I am truly humbled.”

As reported, a jury found Heard’s op-ed titled, “I spoke up against sexual violence — and faced our culture’s wrath” defamed the actor, and awarded him $10.35M in damages. Heard was awarded $2M in compensatory damages of her own.

Depp’s statement continues, “My decision to pursue this case, knowing very well the height of the legal hurdles that I would be facing and the inevitable, worldwide spectacle into my life, was only made after considerable thought.”

He says, “From the very beginning, the goal of bringing this case was to reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome. Speaking the truth was something that I owed to my children and to all those who have remained steadfast in their support of me. I feel at peace knowing I have finally accomplished that.”

Depp also gives love to his fans, many of whom were outside the court, saying, “I am, and have been, overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and the colossal support and kindness from around the world. I hope that my quest to have the truth be told will have helped others, men or women, who have found themselves in my situation, and that those supporting them never give up. I also hope that the position will now return to innocent until proven guilty, both within the courts and in the media.”

Offering thanks to those involved in the case, “I wish to acknowledge the noble work of the Judge, the jurors, the court staff and the Sheriffs who have sacrificed their own time to get to this point, and to my diligent and unwavering legal team who did an extraordinary job in helping me to share the truth.”

Finally, he says, “The best is yet to come and a new chapter has finally begun. Veritas numquam perit. Truth never perishes.”

Lifestyle, World News

Anyone who chooses to go for cosmetic surgery is insecure – BBNaija’s Alex.

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Big Brother Naija star, Alex has shared her thoughts about people undergoing cosmetic surgery, few hours after it was reported that a Port Harcourt big girl died while undergoing cosmetic surgery in Lagos. 
 
Alex in Snaps she shared, stated that people who choose to undergo cosmetic surgery are insecure.
 
The reality star who noted that everyone is insecure about something, added that going for surgery is no “guarantee of perfection or survival. “
 
Addressing big people, she said why “eat and add to the point where you feel surgery is your only solution”. 
 
Alex added that “people will never meet the society’s standard and it will never make them less attractive to the right people”. 
 
Read below…

Lifestyle, World News

“The last two guys I dated got engaged or married within 3-6 months of us breaking up” – RMD’s daughter says.

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Nichole, the daughter of veteran Nollywood actor, RMD, has said that the last two men she dated got engaged and married few months after they broke up.

“The last two guys I dated got engaged or married within 3-6 months of us breaking up. So, if you want to get married in 2022, we are nearing the cut off for me to ruin your life and for the heartbreak to carry you to your wife. Happy June 1st” she wrote. 

Lifestyle, World News

Gunmen kill 4 herders and rustle 60 cows in Anambra.

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Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), South East branch has alleged that four of its members were killed by gunmen in Anambra State on Tuesday, May 31, and 60 cows rustled.

The group stated this in a statement released by the zonal chairman, Allahaji Gidado Sidikki, in Awka, the Anambra state capital. According to MACBAN, the attack took place at a Fulani camp in the Ndukwenu community, Orumba North Local Government Area of the state.

The statement read in part;

“Our members are being innocently killed oftentimes; we don’t know our sins in Anambra State.

As we appreciate the state government under Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo and security agencies, we also implore for their quick intervention to stop the killing our people. We can no longer move freely now in the state.”

South east zonal chairman of MACBAN, Gidado Sidikki gave the names of the deceased as Mohammed Idris, Sale Idris, Abdulmumkni Idris and Musa Idris. He added that the remains of Mohammed and Sale have been recovered while the other two bodies were still missing.

The state police command is yet to react to this development. 

Lifestyle, World News

“You can’t evade loneliness by deciding to marry” – Divorced woman who is now single in her 30s reacts to tweet advising women planning to migrate to get married to avoid loneliness

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A woman who married early but is now divorced has advised women not to be influenced by tweets encouraging them to get married to avoid being old and single.

A tweet shared by a man had gone viral days ago. In it, the Twitter user advised women planning to migrate to other countries to try to hold on to their Nigerian boyfriends if they have one because it’s harder to find men abroad (read here).

The Twitter user warned that women who are more focused on career and migration may and up single and lonely despite having so much money.

Reacting, a Twitter user warned women that being in the wrong marriage is worst than being single.

She wrote: “As somebody who has been married to the absolute wrong one and is now 30+ and single, i can tell you for FREE that those threads dont touch me at all because i KNOW that the wrong marriage is absolutely WORST than being single.”

She added: “i hope that women dont get genuinely pressed by these threads…
I’m a love and marriage babe but the real deal CHOOSES you. You cannot evade loneliness by “deciding” to marry. Only marriage to the RIGHT one will deter loneliness and the universe grants you that right fit.”

Lifestyle, World News

Man arraigned in court after stealing skull from a Lagos cemetery.

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The police on Tuesday May 31, arraigned a 38-year-old man, Ebuka Enuma before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ court in Lagos for alleged possession of a human skull.

The suspect who lives at Bariga area of Lagos, is said to have stolen the skull after he broke into Amukoko Cemetery and excavated an old grave on May 13.

Prosecution Counsel, ASP Rita Momah said Enuma was arrested while trying to leave the cemetery.

The offence, she said, contravenes the provisions of Section 238 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

Shortly after the suspect pleaded not guilty to the charge against him, Chief Magistrate Adeola Adedayo admitted him to bail in the sum of N300,000 with two responsible sureties. 

The case was then adjourned till June 28 for mention.

Lifestyle, World News

Grandfather attacked in his home by his domestic staff who hacked his head with axe.

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A lady revealed that her father, who is a grandfather too, is receiving treatment in a hospital , after he was allegedly attacked by one of his domestic staff. The axe attack left him with multiple deep cuts on his head.

His daughter, a marriage counsellor, took to Twitter to share the story.

She revealed that the attacker left her father for dead, then called them to ask for ransom.

Fortunately, her father survived and he is recovering.

Lifestyle, World News

Nigerian woman with protruding belly button goes viral as she proudly shows it off.

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A Nigerian TikToker has been praised for proudly showing off her belly button.

TikTok user Chi, who posts under @iam_amakae, regularly shares dance videos wearing crop tops that reveal her protruding navel.

Captions to her video usually encourage body positivity.

In one clip, she wrote: “Body perfect. Love yourself.”

In another, she wrote: “Self confidence, the real me.”

Her navel has set her apart from other TikTok dancers and helped her rack up over 3 million likes on the platform, with many users praising her.

One said: “Ur beautiful in every way and that navel is the finishing touch of ur beauty.”

One said: “the doctor probably didn’t cut her umbilical cord properly when she was first born so it grew like that, the same happened to my cousin.”

Entertainment, Lifestyle, World News

Hollywood actor, Ray Liotta to be honored in hometown of Union Township, New Jersey following his death at 67.

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Late Hollywood actor, Ray Liotta will be honored in his hometown of Union Township, New Jersey following his death at 67.

The Goodfellas actor died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, on Thursday, May 26. 

The iconic actor had been shooting the film Dangerous Waters in the Dominican Republic when he passed.

Mayor Manuel Figueiredo has now revealed that plans are being made to honor the actor, who died last week at the age of 67. 

Officials in Union Township are considering naming a youth baseball field in honor of his performance as Shoeless Joe Jackson in the 1989 classic Field of Dreams, TMZ reported. Figueiredo said plans would not be finalized until Liotta’s family has had time to grieve his passing. 

The actor, best known for his roles in Field of Dreams and as Henry Hill in 1990’s Goodfellas, was lauded by local officials in the wake of his passing Thursday.

‘He had those two movies back to back, at the beginning of his career – that’s a good twin bill there,’ the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission’s executive director Steven Gorelick told NorthJersey.com following his passing.

Gorelick said Liotta’s death hit him with ‘the same force as when James Gandolfini died,’ referring to the late Sopranos actor who died at 51 in June of 2013. ‘Both Jersey boys through and through.’

Liotta and Gandolfini both appeared in the 2012 crime drama Killing Them Softly, and Liotta had also stepped into the Sopranos franchise with his dual roles as ‘Hollywood Dick’ Moltisanti and twin brother Salvatore ‘Sally’ Moltisanti in last year’s The Many Saints of Newark.

Gorelick noted that Liotta’s iconic sequence in Goodfellas, during the day leading up to Hill’s arrest, was filmed in the state.

‘Those scenes where he was driving around in a cocaine-fueled state, that was done in Fort Lee,’ he said.

Liotta, who was engaged to Jacy Nittolo, was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2016.

Lifestyle, World News

Professional bodybuilder Paul Poloczek dies at 37 hours after competing in a tournament.

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Polish professional bodybuilder, Paul Poloczek, has died at the of 37 just hours after competing in a championship in Germany.

The Polish-born strongman had taken part in the NPC Worldwide Championship before his sudden death. 

A cause of death has not been established but Poloczek is just the latest high-profile bodybuilder to die in recent months.

His wife Kathrin DeNev said in a tribute on Instagram: ‘Bodybuilding was your life. You are not forgotten, you live on in our hearts. ‘We will love you forever.’

 She added in a later post: ‘I will do everything to keep your dream alive. Love you.’

Poloczek was originally a football player but fell in love with bodybuilding as a teenager and joined the famous Powerhouse Gym franchise in Oehringen in Germany in 2002, before later becoming its owner.

He won his first Junior Championship bodybuilding competition aged 17 and later finished second in the German Championships in the Super-Heavyweight division in 2012.

He later won the Arnold Classic amateur tournament in 2017 which allowed him to go professional.

Poloczek leaves behind a wife and a young daughter.

His death comes a month after fellow bodybuilder Stacey Cummings died unexpectedly aged 31.

The mother-of-two started bodybuilding in 2013, earning her certification as an International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness professional in 2016. She competed in the bikini division of the 2021 IFBB Texas Pro, and co-owned Flex Fitness 24/7 gym in McKinney, Texas, with her husband, fellow bodybuilding professional Bryant Fought. 

Lifestyle, World News

First one in my family to go to university, do white wedding and to fly – Zimbabwean woman born without limbs celebrates her achievements.

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hysically disabled Zimbabwean motivational speaker, Sinikiwe Kademaunga, has listed her achievements. 

26-year-old Kademaunga and her husband, Reuben got married on October 31, 2021. 

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, June 1, Kademaunga said she is the first one in her family to earn a university degree and to hold a white wedding despite being born without hands, knees and feet. 

“You see this girl here. She was born in a family of 7. The only one with a disability. She was born a taboo because of her disability,” she wrote. 

“Guess what she was the first one in her family to: Pass O level at 1 sitting, Pass A level, To go to university, To wed (White wedding) To fly

“And you think your situation is worse. Good things are coming your way, that will shock your generation. Happy new month” 

Lifestyle, World News

Tears flow as funeral is held for victim of Texas school shooting.

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A heroic fourth-grade student who died while calling 911 to get help for her classmates during the shooting at a Texas school has been buried.

The funeral for 10-year-old Amerie Jo Garza held on Tuesday, May 31. 

Loved ones and members of the community gathered at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Uvalde to remember Amerie.

“My heart hurts for everyone in this town,” relative Jysenia Garcia said outside the church.

“When you know the families of the kids who lost their kids and the shooter’s family, you don’t know where to put your heart,” Garcia added.

“We’ve had a few moments of laughter in our home since the shooting, but then we all look at each other in guilt. I feel guilty smiling. I even felt guilty putting makeup on for the funeral. I don’t know why, I just did.”

Amerie, who called 911 for help at Robb Elementary School when she was gunned down, had just turned 10 two weeks before her death.

Photos from her funeral show mourners crowded around the Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery where her body was laid to rest on May 31, 2022.

Also on Tuesday May 31, the family of another 10-year-old shooting victim Maite Yuleana Rodriguez held a funeral for her at the Rushing-Estes-Knowles Chapel in Uvalde.

Three other wakes held on Tuesday for other victims, including schoolteacher Irma Garcia, 46, and students Nevaeh Bravo and Jose Flores.

Lifestyle, World News

Outrage as mum asks on a group how she can make her beautiful baby have lighter skin.

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A mother took to a Facebook group to ask for advice on how to make her beautiful dark-skinned baby have a lighter skin.

The new mum shared a photo of her adorable daughter then told group members: “Pls this is my baby. What can I use to make her lighter a bit?”

A screenshot of the mum’s post has been shared around Facebook and has started a conversation about colourism and bleaching..

Lifestyle, World News

Man allegedly brutalises his wife in Delta.

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A man simply identified as Gbubemi has been accused of brutalising his wife in Sapele, Delta State. 

According to news portal, Sapele Oghenek, the man said to be from the Dabio family, has been allegedly maltreating the woman since they got married. 

It was also alleged that he stabbed his wife after assaulting her. 

Lifestyle

Two killed as police invade IPOB hideout, arrest others in Ebonyi

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The Ebonyi State Police Command on Monday said that it has invaded the main camp of Eastern Security Network, ESN, located at Isu community in Onicha LGA of the state and dislodged suspected criminals.

The state Commissioner of Police, who spoke to newsmen in Abakaliki through the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Chris Anyanwu, said the suspected criminals were dislodged through the joint efforts of the security operatives; police, DSS and the military.

He revealed that the command equally arrested two notorious native doctors; Itumo Edeh Omukwor, 63, and Irem Ogbeji Nwaduma, 50, from Okpera Osege in Ndufu Echara Ikwo LGA of the state.

Anyanwu noted further the suspected native doctors were arrested in connection with the incessant attacks on Police formations/personnel and government establishments as well as preparing their cohorts with charms when going for such dastardly attacks.

He said that the hoodlums attacked and killed a police officer attached to Ebonyi State Police Command, whose name is yet to be identified.

He said: “A joint operation of the Ebonyi State Police Command Tactical Operation Teams, the Military and DSS embarked on an operation to dislodge criminals hibernating at a camp at Isu Onicha.

“This was sequel to an attack on a Police patrol team yesterday evening during which an Police officer was murdered in cold blood by the hoodlums.

“While surveying the one-way route into the camp, the combined security forces were ambushed by the hoodlums who rained sporadic bullet shots in their direction.

“In a swift and spontaneous response, the joint team engaged the hoodlums in a counter-firing that lasted over 30 minutes and neutralized them.

“As a result of the superior fire power of the joint team, some of the hoodlums with bullet-wounds scampered for escape in different directions. The team later combed the bush and recovered two AK-47 rifles with a few rounds of their ammunition and three corpses of the assailants.

“The team made their way to the main enclave of the miscreants and after a thorough ransacking, recovered more exhibits,” he said.

Items recovered from the suspects include; one AK-49 rifle breech number 1984-AM1196, one AK-47 rifle breech number 1971-DF2726, one AR rifle with illegible breech number, 147 rounds of AR ammunition, 38 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, one locally fabricated double-barrelled pistol.

Also, two walkie-talkie sets and their chargers, two charm-like substances,one hospital card, one Diamond Bank ATM card, two National ID cards, and one Techno phone battery and other incriminating items.

“Two of the criminals were fatally wounded and were confirmed dead at the hospital,” he stated.

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