President Umaru Yar'Adua is dead

A spokesman, who did not want to be named, said Mr Yar'Adua died on Wednesday, although there has been no official announcement yet.

Mr Yar'Adua, who became president in 2007, had been ill for some time, and had not been seen in public for months.

After much wrangling, Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan was accepted as acting president in February.

Reports from Nigeria said Mr Yar'Adua died between 2100 (2000 GMT) and 2200 (2100 GMT) on Wednesday at his presidential residence in the capital, Abuja.

In November, Mr Yar'Adua went to a hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for several months, during which time he was not heard from.

He returned to Nigeria, but Mr Jonathan remained as acting president.

BBC

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Chiwetel Ejiofor cast as Fela

Chiwetel Ejiofor has officially been announced as the actor to play Fela in the biopic about the legendary musician and activist.

The movie is currently in development by Focus Features who secured the rights of Fela's music and a book by Michael Veal titled "Fela: The life and Times of an African Musical Icon'. The movie will be directed by Steve McQueen, director of the critically acclaimed Hunger.

Ejiofor has already been learning to play piano and saxophone in preparation for the role.

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World Cup hotel too noisy for Super Eagles

Nigerian Sports Minister Ibrahim Bio reportedly visited the three-star Hampshire Hotel, north of Durban, and raised the issue of noise from the nearby N2 highway, as well as the team's safety. "I am concerned about the noise, and I am very unsure of the security of this place," Bio said, according to the Mercury newspaper. "It's important that our boys are secure."

FIFA said it has held discussions with the Nigerian Football Association and reported a "positive meeting." Nigeria had agreed to stay at the Hampshire Hotel before Lars Lagerback took over as coach from Shaibu Amodu, and the team has identified a five-star venue, the Zimbali lodge, as its preferred alternative.

Brazil coach Dunga visited South Africa recently to check on renovations at the five-star Hotel Fairway in Randburg, just outside Johannesburg. The hotel is located inside a golf club and was being renovated to accommodate the Brazilians. It is expected to be ready by May 12.

Last month, Germany's team hotel near Pretoria was found to be missing the legal documents that allow people to occupy the buildings. The German Football Federation said it had no intention of moving hotels. 

TIMES

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23-yr-old girl dumps baby in toilet

A 23-year-old girl, Vivian Oghenero, was, yesterday, paraded by the Police in Edo State for dumping her baby in a pit toilet in Benin-City.

Oghenero, who hails from Delta State, lives at Eyeanogie Street, Benin, the state capital, where the incident occurred.

Parading the suspect before newsmen, Edo State Police image maker, Mr. Peter Ogboi, disclosed that it was a good Samaritan who alerted the police on discovering the baby in the pit toilet.

… and the child died

He explained that efforts made by the Police to ensure that the child survived failed as the baby later gave up the ghost.

Ogboi advised young girls against unwanted pregnancies and dumping of their babies in toilets or in uncompleted buildings after birth.

He described the action of the suspect as criminal.

The suspect, Oghenero, in an interview with newsmen, regretted her action and begged for forgiveness.

Vanguard

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