Hello and welcome! In today’s trending news stories;
1. The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the money laundering case against Binance until April 8th. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought the suit, which was also adjourned until April 19th for the tax evasion case against Binance and its executives. Both cases were postponed due to failure to serve Binance before arraignment. Binance Holdings Limited, Tigran Gambaryan, and Nadeem Anjarwalla are the defendants. The court heard arguments from both sides, and Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the arraignment to April 19th for Gambaryan to enter his plea. The EFCC filed charges alleging money laundering against the defendants, and the FIRS filed charges for tax evasion. The judge previously ordered Binance to provide comprehensive data on Nigerian users amid concerns about money laundering and terrorism financing.
2. President Bola Tinubu, Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, urged ECOWAS member states to unite against forces seeking division within the community. Speaking at the Sixth Legislature inauguration of the ECOWAS Parliament, he stressed the importance of regional solidarity to bolster resilience and effectiveness. Tinubu emphasized the need for active cooperation and confidence between member states and the Parliament to strengthen democracy and address challenges.
3. Cole Palmer delivered a remarkable performance for Chelsea against Manchester United, scoring a sensational hat-trick to secure a thrilling victory. The match saw Chelsea coming from behind dramatically, with Palmer’s last-minute long-range strike, aided by a deflection, sealing the win. Palmer’s stellar form has been a highlight of Chelsea’s season, with 16 Premier League goals and 21 goals overall. Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole praised Palmer’s impact, highlighting his ability to turn matches and his composure under pressure, dubbing him the signing of the season for Chelsea.
4. Lamine Yamal, a rising star forward at Barcelona, expressed his pride at the prospect of wearing the iconic number 10 shirt at the new Camp Nou next season, marking the club’s 125th anniversary. In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, he discussed his ambitions at Barcelona and his happiness at being recognized for his work. Although the number 10 currently belongs to Ansu Fati, Yamal expressed his willingness to take on the responsibility if Fati departs. Yamal also revealed his intention to commit to Barcelona long-term, with plans to sign a five-year contract once he turns 18, with a significant penalty clause. Despite interest from other top clubs, Yamal remains focused on his game and hopes to be remembered as a Barcelona legend like Carles Puyol and Xavi.
5. The anti-graft agency has filed a six-count charge against the controversial transgender figure, Bobrisky, following his recent arrest. The charges include repeated abuse of naira notes and alleged money laundering. Bobrisky is set to appear before Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos. The allegations stem from incidents where Bobrisky is accused of spraying and tampering with large sums of money at various social events, as well as failing to declare the activities of his company, Bob Express, which received substantial amounts of money.
6. J. Cole surprised fans with the unexpected release of his mixtape “Might Delete Later” on Friday, featuring the standout track “7 Minute Drill.” In this track, Cole seemingly responds to Kendrick Lamar’s disses on previous songs. He critiques Lamar’s discography, particularly calling out specific albums and questioning his output. Cole warns Lamar that this is just a “warning shot” and hints at escalating the feud if necessary. The track features a beat switch and samples from Drake’s “Energy.” The title “7 Minute Drill” refers to Cole’s practice of rapping continuously for seven minutes to break writer’s block. The release of the mixtape precedes Cole’s headlining performance at the Dreamville Fest in Raleigh, N.C.
