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Tiwa Savage’s absence from the African Magic viewer’s choice Awards (AMVCA) was very conspicuous especially during the Mavins’ Dorobucci performance. Many fans were looking forward to seeing the now pregnant Tiwa Savage. “We all missed Tiwa Savage, and this longing for this Bey of the crew prompted the need for this question: is Tiwa Savage really the heartbeat of the Mavins Crew?” Olisa Adibua said Tiwa’s appearance in the media has been on the decline since her announced pregnancy and many thought it was a result of her current condition.

The duo of Ejike Ugbuaja and Olumide Oyedeji have joined the camp of Nigeria’s national men’s basketball team ahead of the first leg qualifier for the 2015 African Basketball Championship holding in Tunisia in June. Ugbuaja, an Olympian, last played for Nigeria at the London 2012 Olympics while Oyedeji (also an Olympian) last competitive game for Nigeria was at the 2013 Nations Cup in Abidjan. D’Tigers coach, Ahmed Sanni, defended the invitation of the two players, stating that their inclusion in the team would give the team the needed experience to triumph over Burkina Faso this weekend.

The International Olympic Committee is mourning three French Olympic athletes who were among those killed in a helicopter crash in Argentina. According to various media outlets, including French newspaper L’Equipe, two helicopters collided in mid-air and crashed, killing 10 people. Olympic gold medal swimmer Camille Muffat, boxer Alexis Vastine and sailor Florence Arthaud were among those who died.

President Goodluck Jonathan has fired Martin-Luther Agwai as the head of his government’s intervention unit, SURE-P. Mr. Agwai is a respected former Defence Chief, who led United Nation missions in Sudan, amidst other career runs. Mr. Agwai was appointed by Mr. Jonathan to head SURE-P, a department created by the government to deploy saved fuel subsidy money for the provision of critical infrastructure and jobs.

Sports minister, Tam Danagogo has warned the Nigeria Football Federation not to employ a lesser coach than Stephen Keshi should the ex-Togo coach decline to lead the Super Eagles.  Guardiola                                                                   Jose Mourinho Keshi has until Thursday this week to revert to the NFF over the contract offered him. “What I have urged the NFF to do is to make sure that should Keshi not be given the job, a coach with a lesser pedigree than Keshi should not be employed. I have said we should encourage our local coaches,” Danagogo said. “Many have argued that presently Keshi is the best we have for now, while others are of the view that he has done his best.

A fresh fight erupted last week within the leadership suite of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in what might smashup the party’s campaign structure before an upcoming general election later this month. Besides an ongoing issue over the allegation that that a former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is plotting to become the President of Nigeria through a secret deal, another worrisome controversy has been reported.

A one million man march took place in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital Tuesday,as supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stage a peaceful rally in support of President Goodluck Jonathan and the state’s gubernatorial candidate, Dave Umahi in the forthcoming March 28 and April 11 general elections. The rally, which grounded socio-economic activities in the state, as PDP supporters marched through the major streets in support of Jonathan and PDP candidates in the state.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick’d rather consent to a new contract than hold out for improved terms, “were he Stephen Keshi”. Stephen Keshi Has Described The NFF New Offer as “a Slave Contract”. Image: Getty. Pinnick has described the new contract handed out to the 53-year-old as an all-inclusive offer designed to cater to the needs of both parties and, as well took into cognizance the broader vision of the football fraternity. “Nobody arm-twisted us to hand a contract to Stephen Keshi,” the NFF chief said. “We took our time to put the contract together.”

Boko Haram terrorists fleeing from the onslaught of troops met their waterloo in their attempt to enter Gombi town, Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State Monday evening. The Boko Haram fighters were engaged by troops of 23 Brigade, Nigerian Army in a gun battle that led to the killing of quite a number of them. Four Hilux vehicles and a number of motorcylces belonging to the sect were destroyed.

Tragedy was narrowly averted Monday evening in Imo State when the convoy of the state governor, Rochas Okorocha was involved in an accident that left several people injured. The accident occurred in Ulakwo along the Owerri-Aba Road when the governor was returning from the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport where several of his supporters went to welcome him after his two-week overseas trip. The governor was, however, unhurt, as the vehicles that were involved in the accident were those at the back of the convoy.

A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olabode George, on Monday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure there are enough card readers as back-up per polling unit in case of failure. Addressing newsmen in Lagos, George said there was the need for a good contingency and back-up plan in case of failure of the card readers on election days. He said, “It is brilliant to come up with the card reader. But INEC must come up with two, three or four systems per polling unit as back up instead of saying people will vote the next day in areas where it fails.

Lupita has moved past the pearl dress saga and has gone on to shine on the cover of one of the world’s most reknowed cosmetic line Lancome.

The Caf Champions League first round match involving Moroccan club Moghreb Tetouan and Kano Pillars has been rescheduled by a week following last week’s robbery attack on the latter Nigerian club. Mohammed Gambo, Murtala Adamu, Eneji Otekpa, Reuben Ogbonnaya and Murtala Adamu were all injured after armed bandits opened fire on the players, having done their team bus on their way to a Glo Premier League game in Owerri, Imo State. The Nigerian champions have been on the mend since the incident and still have three of their players who were fatally wounded in the hospital.

Ijaw National Leader, Edwin Clark has berated the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari and the party’s National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, saying they lacked credibility. According to Clark, the controversies surrounding the educational qualifications of both the APC standard bearer and the party’s national leader clearly showed that the duo could not be trusted with power.

Source says 300 militants killed in new joint ground offensive – featuring soldiers from Chad and Niger – raising hopes that tide is turning against extremists Nigerian special forces participate in a hostage rescue exercise in Chad on 7 March. The countries – along with Niger, Cameroon and others – are now working together in an anti-Boko Haram offensive. Photograph: Jerome Delay/AP The thousands of foreign troops pouring into northern Nigeria to join its fight against Boko Haram have gained an early victory, seizing two towns from the Islamist extremists after fierce battles, military sources said.

L-R: A former Nigerian Head of State, Gen. Abubakar Abdulsalam; a former South African President, Thabo Mbeki; the All Progressives Congress Presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), During Mbeki’s visit to Buhari in Kaduna... on Monday. | credits: NAN

Manchester United 1 Arsenal 2, FA Cup: Louis van Gaal says Angel di Maria has ‘no excuses’ for red card Angel di Maria looks on as referee Michael Oliver sends him off (GETTY IMAGES) Argentine winger is sent off for grabbing referee Michael Oliver's shirt as his miserable run of form continues Louis van Gaal admitted Angel di Maria had ‘no excuses’ for being sent off for grabbing hold of referee Michael Oliver as Arsenal ended Manchester United’sFA Cup hopes at Old Trafford.

Fani Kayode The Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO), Femi Fani-Kayode, has berated Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, for allegedly ignoring security reports and the counsel of the Federal Government against holding the 2014 May/June West African Examination Council (WAEC) in Chibok.

Most of those in the group drive tankers of petrol, diesel or kerosene to and from Maiduguri - the city at the heart of the Islamist insurgency in the North-east and the capital of Borno State. Gathered at the Ogere Trailer Park, about 50km (30 miles) north of Lagos, they say they have all been affected by the six-year conflict. “We are all concerned about the situation, we have all lost relatives. Wives and children are kidnapped and houses have been burnt," says Atiku Abubakar.

The athletes were part of a team filming the reality show Dropped, a survivalist programme. Two helicopters carrying French sports stars filming a popular European reality show have crashed in a remote part of Argentina, killing 10 people, including two Olympic medal winners and a sailing champion, authorities said. The helicopters apparently collided in mid-air yesterday near Villa Castelli in La Rioja province, about 730 miles (1,170 kilometres) north west of Buenos Aires, La Rioja secretary of security Cesar Angulo said. All 10 people on board - eight French nationals and two Argentine pilots - were killed.

The 31-year-old has ended his seven-month romance with the stunning model @calvinharris / instagram The couple have split Scottish star Calvin Harris has split from underwear model Aarika Wolf. According to the Sun the couple, who met on the set of his single Blame, just “couldn’t make it work” and split at around the time of the Brits, following a seven month romance. Calvin didn’t seem too heartbroken at the music bash though and was seen getting close to Taylor Swift.

The students are reportedly trying to break through police lines Student protesters in Myanmar are clashing with riot police in Letpadan, 140km (100 miles) north of Yangon. Several hundred students are trying to break through police lines preventing them continuing a march south. The students say they want changes to be made to a new bill which they say centralises control over higher education.

The First lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, on Monday told the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation that “she is a woman of peace that can never be identified with electoral violence”. She said there was no way somebody like her, who occupies the exalted office of the President of the African First Ladies Mission, would be promoting violence under any guise.

The Presidential candidate of the African Peoples Alliance (APA), Alhaji Musa Ayeni, yesterday, claimed that he is been ordained by God to take over the mantle of leadership from President Jonathan after May 29. The politician told newsmen in Akure, that his decision to join the presidential race was in obedience to divine call from God.