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  The suspension of Emirates Airlines and Etihad’s withdrawal from Nigerian airspace has cost the country, at least, a 20 per cent decline in international passenger traffic. Reporters learned that the decline was a major setback for air travel’s gradual recovery that earlier climbed to 45 per cent of pre-COVID-19 traffic. Meanwhile, foreign airlines have rallied behind the controversial rapid antigen tests as a better alternative to the popular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test standard for COVID-19. To that effect, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged governments to accept best-in-class rapid antigen tests following the publication of new research findings. The Federal Government lately suspended the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) national carrier, Emirates, over the arbitrary imposition of rapid antigen testing on Nigerian travellers to UAE, and refusal to reverse the order. From findings, Emirates and Dubai Airport authorities took the extra safety measu...

  A Federal High Court in Lagos State has barred the Federal Government from blocking SIM cards not linked to National Identity Numbers (NIN), come April.   The Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy had, through the Nigerian Communications Commission, asked operators to block all SIM cards not linked to NIN by April 9, 2021.   This resulted in people disregarding Covid-19 protocols as they trooped to offices of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to get registered.   However, a former second National Vice-President of the Nigerian Bar Association and human rights lawyer, Mr Monday Ubani, filed an originating motion and asked the court to stop the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) from disconnecting all SIM Cards not linked to NINs,  Punch  reports.   The first to fourth defendants in the suit are the Federal Government, Attorney General of the Federation, The NCC and the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy. ...

  Dwayne Johnson, who is starring as Black Adam in the film ‘Black Adam’ has shared on his Instagram Sunday that the DC superhero film will be released on July 29, 2022. In the post, he wrote: A disruptive and unstoppable force of a message from the man in black himself. The hierarchy of power in the DC Universe is about to change.     The short spot with the release date was also aired during Sunday’s NCAA game. The news comes after it was recently announced that Pierce Brosnan has nabbed the role of classic hero Dr. Fate. Rounding out the cast are Aldis Hodge as Hawkman, Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher, and Quintessa Swindell as Cyclone. Black Adam marks the second New Line/DC film following 2019’s hit Shazam!, with the two characters, Shazam and Black Adam, known as archrivals in the DC Universe. Production on the film is slated to begin in April in Atlanta. Jaume Collet-Serra, who also directed Johnson opposite Emily Blunt in Disney’s upcoming Jungle Cruise, is directin...

  The defense in the Derek Chauvin murder trial began his opening statement by telling the jury that George Floyd allegedly died from drugs and not by the actions of Chauvin.   Attorney Eric Nelson told the jury there's evidence that is about more than 9 minutes of video. He then zeroed in on Floyd going to a market shortly before the police confrontation.   He says employees from the market observed Floyd and believed he was under the influence of something. Nelson then raised the issue of Floyd allegedly trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill.   Nelson says when police got the call from someone inside the market, they said Floyd appeared "drunk."   He told the jury when Floyd was inside a car after leaving the market he had fallen asleep, again suggesting he was under the influence.   He says when Floyd was confronted by cops, he "put drugs in his mouth" to conceal them, TMZ reports. He says when an autopsy was performed they found a "s...

  Nike said in the lawsuit that the company, MSCHF Product Studio Inc, infringed on and diluted its trademark with the black-and-red, devil-themed shoes, which went on sale online on Monday. Lil Nas X is not named as a defendant in the suit. The shoes are customized Nike Air Max 97 sneakers that contain red ink and "one drop of human blood" in the sole, according to a website describing the 666 pairs of limited edition shoes. The back of one shoe says "MSCHF" and the other says "Lil Nas X."  Several media outlets reported that the shoes sold out in less than one minute at a cost of $1,018 per pair on Monday March 29. The lawsuit argues that Nike must maintain control over its brand "by setting the record straight" about what products bear its distinctive "swoosh" logo.   "In fact, there is already evidence of significant confusion and dilution occurring in the marketplace, including calls to boycott Nike in response to the launch o...

  The former chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya on Sunday March 28 allegedly attacked ex-Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha inside an airplane.   The Nation reported that what started as a little joke in the business class section of Air Peace at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, suddenly snowballed into a full-fledged confrontation inside the aircraft as the monarch allegedly descended on Okorocha with his walking stick and shouted at him to stay away from him and Orlu people.   The fight was stopped after the flight captain and other attendants onboard intervened. While Okorocha maintained calmness and immediately relocated to another seat, Ilomuanya continously warned him to stay away from Orlu Senatorial District if he truly wanted peace to reign.   It was learnt that Ilomuanya was one of the two monarchs dethroned by Okorocha on June 6, 2014 after being remo...

  About 60 people mostly foreign citizens have gone missing following a deadly ambush on their convoy by Islamist militants in northern Mozambique.   Islamist militants believed to be affiliated with the terrorist group Isis reportedly attacked Palma, a town in Mozambique, on Wednesday, March 24, leading to five days of fighting so far.   The attack on Palma in Cabo Delgado province, is where many foreign contractors have been working for a multibillion-dollar liquified natural gas project run by the French energy company Total.   According to reports, only seven vehicles in a convoy of 17 made it to safety after the attack on Friday, with seven confirmed dead and many injured in the recovered vehicles.    Foreign workers from South Africa, Britain, and France were said to be staying at hotels which targeted for attacks. An estimated 200 foreign workers were believed to be in the Hotel Amarula alone.    After a failed attempt to escape by sea from...

  Burna Boy's homecoming concert for winning a Grammy was held yesterday March 27, in Rivers state.    One of the highlight of the event was Burna Boy being gifted a land in Old GRA, Port Harcourt and money to build by Governor Nyesom Wike.    Governor Wike also promised to give artistes who performed at Burna's Homecoming Concert in Rivers State N10 million each.

  A young Nigerian man identified simply as Charlie has reportedly drowned a day after he shared a Facebook post about death    The deceased, a resident of Abuja, on March 23, shared a Facebook user, Ydk Meera's post in which she talked about how everyone will claim to be her friend when she dies. "When I die everybody gonna swear they were my dawg ! But who fwm rn?" Ydk Meera wrote.    Charles shared the post on his Facebook wall, agreeing with what she wrote. "Swrs they gon be onG and shii. Mfs" he wrote.      That was his last post as he died the following day.      One of his friends, Cla Rita, who confirmed the incident, said that the deceased was brought out of the pool unconscious and rushed to the hospital where he died.    "He's been buried. He didn't die after they found him. It was when he went to the hospital. The doctor didn't give immediate response to his health." she said.    Rita further sai...

A UK University, University of Aberdeen has said it will be returning a Benin Bronze to Nigeria many years after British authorities looted the sculptures.    The UK University made the disclosure in a statement released on Thursday March 25. The school also disclosed that they previously repatriated sacred items and ancestral remains to Canada, Australia and New Zealand.     The bronze sculpture showing an Oba (king) of Benin was acquired by the University in 1957 at an auction, and is believed to be a great example of Benin Late Period Art.   The British forces had stolen thousands of metal and ivory sculptures as well as carvings during an invasion of Benin City in 1897. They were sold to museums, given as gifts to museums or sold at auctions/art dealers.     It was further learnt that the University of Aberdeen initiated move to return the stolen sculpture through Professor Bankole Sodipo, Professor of Law in Babcock Univer...

  A court in Ondo state has sentenced two brothers, Isaac Sunday and Isaac Lucky, as well as their accomplice, Ovie Nana Friday, to death by hanging for stealing.   The convicts were said to have in December 2013, used dangerous weapons to dispose many residents of Bolorunduro in Ondo state of their belongings which include mobile phones, motorcycle, cash and other valuables.   They were first arraigned on a five-count charge to include conspiracy and armed robbery. The charges were later amended to six.   The Chief Legal Officer in the Ondo State Ministry of Justice, Olusegun Akeredolu, who led the prosecution team, called in four witnesses and tendered confessional statements of the accused which were admitted.   The defendants represented by Samson Iluyemi testified for themselves but tendered no exhibit.   Delivering judgement in the case today March 25, the trial Judge, Justice Yemi Fasanmi, said the prosecution team proved its case beyond re...

  Egypt and Liverpool striker, Mohamed Salah has been given an exclusive private security team while in Kenya ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Harambee Stars on Thursday, March 5. The Egyptian national team touched down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 9 pm on Tuesday night, March 23. Upon arrival, a team bus drove them to Villa Rosa Kempinski, a few metres from the city centre in Nairobi.   But to the surprise of journalists and even other players, immediately Salah came out of the airport to head into the waiting bus, four well built men wearing black suits surrounded him and started protecting him. The security team didn't even let the striker take selfies with fans. According to reports, Salah was  given extra security from the Egyptian Embassy in Kenya. “Ahead of their trip to Kenya, the national association reached out to the Egyptian Embassy in Kenya and requested to make sure they provide enough security specifically for ...

  A disc jockey identified simply as "Abiodun", has reportedly died from stab wounds he sustained while on his way to the studio in Ikorodu area of Lagos state.    The entertainer's cousin, @jummiekaycole alleged that he died after a hospital he was rushed to by Good Samaritans allegedly refused to treat him. She also disclosed that he died at the age of 27.    She tweeted;-    Apparently my cousin got stabbed on his way to the studio at Ikorodu around 7am yesterday, Good Samaritans took him to the hospital, but as usual Nigeria healthcare had their way with him, he died because they wouldn’t treat him Thank you Nigeria Rip Abiodun, he was 27 years  

  Footballer, Mikel John Obi, has spoken out about how manager Antonio Conte ended his career at Chelsea because he chose to represent Nigeria at the 2016 Olympics. Mikel Obi, who stayed at Chelsea for 11 years after arriving as a teenager in 2005, says he had the opportunity to represent Nigeria at the 2016 Rio Olympics but was warned by Conte who had just arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2016,  that he would not be part of his plans if he decides to represent Nigeria at the Olympics. Mikel, said he snubbed Conte's threats and went to the Rio Olympics, helping Nigeria win a bronze medal and in the process, permanently damaging his relationship with the Italian coach.   “I had been called up by my national team to play and it was a dream,” Mikel, 33, told The Athletic. “It’s a dream for anyone to go to the Olympics. Yes, as players we want to win the Champions League and the World Cup, but the Olympics is a massive tournament." “This guy [Conte] who has just walked in t...

  Bobby Brown.Jr's cause of death has been confirmed by the Los Angeles County Coroner.    According to an autopsy report, the son of singer Bobby Brown died from the "combined effects of alcohol, cocaine, and fentanyl." The manner of death is described as accidental.    Brown Jr. was found dead at 28 in his California home on Nov. 18 2020. His girlfriend, who had last seen him alive that morning, found him unresponsive on his bedroom floor of their Los Angeles area home at approximately 1:45 p.m and called paramedics, who declared him dead, the report states.   While officials did not find drugs or drug paraphernalia at the scene, Bobby Jr. is listed as having a "medical history of alcohol, cigarette and marijuana use."    The evening before he was found unresponsive, the investigative report states Brown Jr. consumed tequila with friends, and "snorted" Percocet along with three lines of cocaine.   Brown Jr. was one of two children...

  Former South African President, Nelson Mandela’s once-elegant Houghton home in Johannesburg is now an abandoned eyesore.    The house at 12th Avenue in which some of the world’s leading figures were hosted in, was until last year occupied by Mandela’s grandchildren, Ndaba, Mbuso and Andile, who are the sons of the late Makgatho Mandela. Makgatho was Madiba’s son by his first wife, Evelyn.   Sunday Times reported that the electric gate is seemingly broken, portions of the roof fascia are missing or collapsing, the tennis court is crumbling and the tiled roof of one of the outbuildings is sagging.     The once-manicured pavement garden where well-wishers placed stones painted with messages of hope shortly before Madiba’s death in 2013,  is now overgrown and littered with rubbish.   It was also learnt that the three brothers lived in the house after Mandela’s death, but Ndaba said they moved out after the Nel...

  Cristiano Ronaldo was presented with a special commemorative shirt for breaking Brazil legend Pele's official goalscoring record of 767 goals.   The Juventus and Portuguese superstar overtook the Brazilian's total last weekend by netting a hat-trick in his side's 3-1 victory Cagliari to take his own tally to 770 goals.    Before the Old Lady's Serie A fixture with Benevento on Sunday March 21, which they lost 1 - 0 at home, Ronaldo was handed a shirt with 'G.O.A.T 770' on the back, claiming that the Portuguese forward is the 'Greatest Of All Time'.   The presentation was done by Juventus president Andrea Agnelli.      On achieving the milestone in his career, Ronaldo wrote on Instagram: 'Today, as I reach the 770th official goal in my professional career, my first words go straight to Pele.    'There's no player in the world who hasn't been raised listening to stories about his games, his goals and his achievements, and I'm no excep...