Catch the summary of all the biggest news of the week from the EndSARS protesters returning to Lekki Tollgate to juicy entertainment gist and sports updates as well.
The EndSARS protesters returning to Lekki tollgate under the #OccupyLekkiTollgate banner to prevent the toll from being reopened. Many had kicked against the reopening of the Lekki Tollgate after the Judicial Panel gave green light to do so. Since the 20 October 2020 shooting, the toll gate had remained closed.
The Lekki Concession Company (LCC), the operators of the Lekki Tollgate, had requested to take back control of the toll plaza since December 2020 but the panel refused as an investigation was still going on.
Musician Mr P, EndSARS promoter Rinu, and DJ Switch are among those that kicked against the toll gate reopening.
On Saturday 13 February 2021, the protesters met policemen at the venue who did not allow them to stage any demonstration before bundling them into a Black Maria allegedly belonging to the Lekki Concession Company, LCC and taking them away.
Social media comedian, Mr Macaroni was one of those arrested. At the end of the day, Adetola, a lead lawyer that has been working with protesters since the beginning of the EndSARS movement in 2020 said about 40 of them were arrested on Saturday. However, they were able to obtain their bail and spring them free before the day was over.
Alhaji Lateef Jakande passes
Alhaji Lateef Jakande, who was the first civilian Governor of Lagos State, also passed away this past week at the age of 91. According to his son Deji Jakande, the nonagenarian had not been sick before his demise.
In fact, Deji claimed that his father could still read newspapers without needing glasses and was about to eat breakfast before he started struggling to breathe. Shortly after, the family doctor examined him and pronounced him dead.
Alhaji Lateef Jakande is one of the most loved governors in Lagos State and his legacy includes establishing the Lagos State University (LASU) and building several low-cost estates in various parts of the city.
Upon the news of his death, both the political class and the masses paid tributes to him. His remains were laid to rest at Volts and Gardens cemetery, Ikoyi, Lagos. Read about his final moments here.
Armie Hammer dropped by his agency
William Morris Endeavor agency dropped actor Armie Hammer following several allegations of abuse against him. The scandal had forced Hammer to leave the set of Lionsgate’s “Shotgun Wedding”, a coming film with Jennifer Lopez, and “The Offer”, a Paramount Plus series.
The allegations against Hammer began early in 2020 with leaked messages attributed to the actor appearing to show him expressing his desire to ‘mutilate and sexually dominate women’. Even his ex-girlfriend came forward with allegations as well.
Armie Hammer is not alone in getting fired this week.
Lucasfilm also fired The Mandalorian star
Lucasfilm, the producers of The Mandalorian, fired actress Gina Carano who plays Cara Dune from the show. Carano had posted a statement on her Instagram Story comparing the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany to the treatment of Republicans in the US.
The post had offended fans who started calling for her to be dropped from the set of The Mandalorian. The actress had been in the crosshairs of fans for a long time with several controversial posts mocking COVID mask mandates, spreading conspiracies about the United States election, liking posts disparaging the Black Lives Matter movement, and deriding pronoun usage.
Blessing Okagbare enters Guinness Book of World Records
This past week, Nigerian athlete Blessing Okagbare got a Guinness Book of World Records recognition as the only athlete to have attended the Athletics Diamond Meetings 67 times between 30 July 2010 and 31 August 2018.
The Olympic, Commonwealth Games and World Championships medalist is not the only woman with a Guinness Book of World Records recognition this week …
Ariana Grande 20th Guinness Book of World Records entry
Grammy Awards and Billboard Music Awards winner Ariana Grande also earned her 20th Guinness World Records entry this past week. She had also been in the record for holding the record of the female artist with the most followers on Spotify and most streamed track on the platform in one week as well.
See what her recent record is here.
Emmanuella gets Nickelodeon nod
While it is not a Guinness Book of World Records entry, Nigerian child comedian Emmanuella Samuel was nominated for the 2021 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. The nine-year-old was nominated in the Favourite African Social Star category.
