₦2.2b Oil Subsidy Fraud: Ex-PDP chairman’s son jailed for 14 years (Channels)
A Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has convicted and sentenced Mamman Nasir Ali, the son of former Peoples Democratic Party national chairman, Ahmadu Ali, and a Sierra Leonean, Christian Taylor, to 14 years imprisonment each over a ₦2.2 billion oil subsidy fraud.
Justice Mojisola Dada sentenced the duo alongside an oil firm, Nass Man Oil Services Limited after the court found them guilty of an amended 57-count charge brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The defendants were first arraigned before the court in 2012 on a 49-count charge of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretences, obtaining money by false pretences, forgery, and the use of false documents. Read more
Lagos begins integration of NIN to social register for FG’s cash transfer (Sun)
Lagos State Government has commenced the integration of the National Identification Number (NIN) into the Lagos State Single Social Register (LASSR) as a subset of the National Social Register to facilitate the Federal Government’s cash transfer to the vulnerable in the state.
The state commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Ope George disclosed this at the statewide press conference, yesterday, on the national identity number integration with the national social register.
George said the move was necessitated by the urgent need to tackle the current hardship triggered by the collapse of the forex window, removal of fuel subsidy and the proposed payment of relief grant. Read more
9 rescued, 1 killed as 2-storey building collapses in Lagos (Guardian)
Nine people were rescued alive yesterday, while three others were feared trapped under the rubble of an uncompleted two-storey building that collapsed in the Ota-Ona area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.
The Guardian learnt that the building caved in around 2:00 p.m., without any immediate fatalities. However, the body of a dead boy was later retrieved. According to Facebook user Rasheed Fatuga, who raised the alarm, the uncompleted structure, located directly opposite the Mobil Filling Station (formerly Bugon Filling Station), collapsed in the afternoon, leaving an unspecified number of people trapped.
Confirming the incident in a statement, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, said nine adult males were rescued and treated by LASEMA’s Pre-Hospital Care Unit. Read more
Female FRSC official kidnapped (Punch)
A female official of the Federal Road Safety Corps, identified as Kate Akpabio, has been abducted by armed men at Rantya community in the Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
A security and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, made this known on Tuesday in a post on X.com.
He stated that the abduction occurred in the early hours of Sunday, at about 5:30 a.m., when suspected gunmen stormed her residence and whisked her away to an undisclosed location. Read more
Benue to begin juice production August (Leadership)
The Benue State Government has disclosed plans to commence large-scale production of juice by August 2025.
The initiative was aimed at boosting agro-industrialisation in the state.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, disclosed this on Tuesday during an inspection tour of various state infrastructure projects in Zone B. Read more
College awards First Lady doctorate (Nation)
The first lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was Friday conferred with an honourary doctorate degree award by the Adeyemi Federal University of Education AFUED, Ondo, during its first convocation ceremony as a university.
Prominent politician and recently appointed Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Engineer Kayode Olubunmi Ojo, received the award on her behalf.
Also conferred with honorary doctorate degree( Honoris Casua) were the Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Kiladejo, and Toyin Falola, a Professor of African Studies, University of Texas at Austin, U.S. Read more
Residents hit Wike for rejecting rehabilitation camp for destitute (DailyTrust)
Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have condemned the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for rejecting a proposal from Senator Ali Ndume, to set up a functional centre where destitute on the streets of Abuja can be moved to and rehabilitated.
The Minister had dismissed a proposal by Senator Ali Ndume to establish rehabilitation camps for beggars and displaced persons in Abuja, stating that such a programme is not possible under the current structure of the FCT. The exchange took place in the Senate when Wike was defending the FCT Administration’s proposed N1.78 trillion budget for 2025. During the interactive session, Senator Ndume raised concerns over the rising presence of displaced individuals and street beggars in the city. Read more
No death penalty for son of Mexican drug boss ‘El Chapo’: US prosecutors (AlJazeera)
Federal prosecutors in the United States said they will not seek the death penalty for the son of Mexican drug lord “El Chapo” if he is found guilty of multiple drug trafficking charges when he goes on trial.
According to media reports, federal prosecutors in Chicago filed a one-sentence notice on May 23, saying they would not seek the death penalty for Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman – the former leader of Mexico’s feared Sinaloa Cartel who is serving a life sentence in a US prison.
The notice did not offer any explanation for the decision by the federal prosecutors, or further details. Read more
Wet Leg share new single ‘CPR’ and announce new tour dates (FarOut)
Wet Leg have continued to tease their new album, Moisturizer, with the release of its second single, ‘CPR’.
Their comeback began in late March with two intimate shows in Brighton and London, where they previewed a range of new material from the forthcoming LP. The anthemic ‘Catch These Fists’ then arrived at the beginning of April, along with confirmation that Moisturizer is set for release through Domino Records on July 11th, 2025.
Now, they have shared the high-octane new single ‘CPR’, which has become a staple of their sets on their ongoing UK tour, which is set to roll through Edinburgh, Leeds and Manchester this week. Read more
US halts student visa appointments and plans expanded social media vetting (BBC)
US President Donald Trump’s administration has ordered embassies to stop scheduling appointments for student visas as it prepares to expand social media vetting of such applicants.
In a copy of a memo sent to diplomatic posts, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the pause would last “until further guidance is issued”.
The message said social media vetting would be stepped up for student and foreign exchange visas, which would have “significant implications” for embassies and consulates. Read more
A young boy races to save the galaxy in final ‘Elio’ trailer (UPI)
Disney and Pixar released a final trailer for Elio, an upcoming animated adventure about a young boy who finds himself at the center of an intergalactic conflict.
The trailer, released Tuesday, features Elio, a space-obsessed 11-year-old, being sent to camp by his overwhelmed mother after being caught skipping school.
Elio is abducted by aliens and soon finds himself mistaken for Earth’s leader among the Communiverse, an interplanetary organization. Read more
Volkswagen executives get prison time in ‘Dieselgate’ scandal (QZ)
Punishments were handed out for Volkswagen executives involved in the emissions-cheating scandal that rocked the auto industry a decade ago.
Two former executives, Jens Hadler and Hanno Jelden, are heading to prison, while two others received suspended sentences.
The case slowly ground through the European legal system, finally culminating on Monday with a panel of judges in Braunschweig, Germany, a city near Volkswagen’s headquarters. It took four hours to read the sentences for the guilty. Read more
Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley Roles Cast in HBO TV Reboot (Movieweb)
HBO’s Harry Potter reboot has found its main cast, and they seem like the perfect choices for Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley. A worldwide search to find the actors that would lead the new adaptation for years to come began in 2024, but it seems HBO and Warner Bros. have finally found them. And like the film series, the main cast will feature up-and-coming actors that will make their breakout debut in Harry Potter.
In an official press release, Warner Bros. announced that they have cast Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley in the upcoming HBO TV series (seen in the image below). The trio will replace Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, who portrayed the iconic characters in the eight-film saga. Francesca Gardiner, the executive producer and showrunner behind Harry Potter, shared an official statement welcoming the fresh faces to the iconic fantasy franchise. Read more
Unity Cup Invitational Tournament: Super Eagles, Black Stars in explosive clash in London (Sun)
Three-time African champions Nigeria and four-time champions Ghana will bring alive the Unity Cup Invitational Tournament in London on Wednesday when both regional rivals clash in the second semi-final of a tournament of immense cultural and sporting relevance.
Both teams bring a number of critical elements into the encounter taking place at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium, including a 74-year rivalry in which Ghana have smiled more than Nigeria, but either team has felt like they lost a World War 3 whenever results did not go their way.
Until March last year, when they won a friendly match against the Black Stars 2-1 in the Moroccan city of Marrakech, thanks to goals from Cyriel Dessers and Ademola Lookman, the Super Eagles had not beaten their West African foes in 18 years. That was when Taye Taiwo’s shot from a free-kick outside the box condemned the Black Stars to defeat in a group phase encounter in Port Said, at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations. Read more
Kano celebrates ‘improved’ medals haul (Guardian)
For athletes and officials of Team Kano, the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival is a remarkable improvement from their previous outings.In Ogun 2025, Kano athletes have so far secured what an official termed an ‘impressive’ 17 medals, including five gold, five silver, and seven bronze.
Team Kano made a bold statement in the golf event, where Rahama Inusa and Augustina Pius secured gold medals in the doubles event.In weightlifting, Lucky Orobosa won gold in the 109kg category, adding to Kano’s impressive medal tally, while in Dambe traditional boxing, Alasan claimed gold in the 65kg category with Yar Mage and Aci Kullun securing gold in the 55kg and 75kg categories respectively.
In judo, which began yesterday, Muhammad Sallus, Rita, and Naomi advanced to the semifinals in their respective weight categories. Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Ibrahim Umar Fagge, praised the athletes, coaches, and the state government for their support. He promised to repay the trust with more medals for the people of Kano State. Read more
WBO president declares Itauma no.1 heavyweight (Punch)
World Boxing Organisation president Gustavo Olivieri has declared Moses Itauma the new number one heavyweight contender following the British-Nigerian’s devastating second-round knockout of American Mike Balogun in Glasgow on Saturday night.
The unexpected announcement came via social media just an hour after the 20-year-old southpaw from Chatham successfully defended his WBO Inter-Continental title for the third time, extending his unbeaten record to 12-0 with his tenth stoppage victory.
Olivieri was clearly impressed by another clinical performance from The Ring’s Prospect of the Year for 2024, posting on social media, “Moses has climbed the WBO rankings with talent, discipline, and electrifying performances. Now the #1 world-rated heavyweight contender, his moment is approaching. It’s only a matter of time before he gets his shot & the world sees a new star emerge. #NewEra” Read more
Senior PGA Championship title slips from Padraig Harrington’s grasp (RTE)
Padraig Harrington after hitting his second shot on the 18th hole
Padraig Harrington narrowly missed out on the Senior PGA Championship trophy as he finished one shot behind winner Angel Cabrera.
The 53-year-old Dubliner was on track to win the title he lost to Steve Stricker in a play-off two years ago when he went two shots clear through 14 at Congressional Country Club in Maryland.
However, a double bogey on 15, par five on 16 and three-putt bogey on 18 opened the door for Argentine Cabrera to finish on eight under and win his second senior major in a week, after his success at The Tradition in Alabama. Read more
Tyrese Haliburton celebrates his father’s return to Pacers games with monster game (SI)
Tyrese Haliburton had an incredible game on Tuesday as the Indiana Pacers beat the New York Knicks 130-121 to take a 3-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference finals. Haliburton had a historically impressive triple-double with 32 points, 15 assists, 12 rebounds and zero turnovers.
And he did it with his father, John Haliburton, in the building. The Pacers star’s father had previously been told that he would not be attending Pacers games for the “foreseeable future” after he confronted Giannis Antetokounmpo following the Pacers elimination of the Milwaukee Bucks.That was nearly four weeks ago, so clearly the front office did not foresee the team still being alive at this point in the postseason. After the game, Haliburton spoke with TNT’s Allie LaForce, who asked if his dad being there had anything to do with his performance. Read more