2 die in Ikorodu cultists clash, 21 arrested (Guardian)
No fewer than 21 suspected cult members of two rival groups, Eiye and Aiye confraternities, in Ikorodu area of Lagos, have been arrested after a clash that left two persons dead and many injured. Sources told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that different weapons, including guns, machetes and charms, were freely used by the groups in Isikalu palace and Solomade areas of Ikorodu during the clash, which resulted in disturbance of public order. Read more
Pollution: Lagos to establish six air quality monitoring stations (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has said it will establish six Air Quality Monitoring Stations across the state, so as to curb air pollution. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr Abiodun Bamgboye, made this known on Friday, during the Celebration of the 2019 World Environment Day. Bamgboye said that the establishment of the stations was with the support of the World Bank Pollution Management and Environmental Health programme. Read more
Atiku condemns shutdown of AIT (Guardian)
Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the suspension, on Thursday of AIT and RayPower FM broadcast licence by National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). Abubakar made his views on the issue known in statement by his Media Adviser, Mr Paul Ibe, on Friday in Abuja. He said that the suspension of the licenses of the DAAR Group and shutting down of its stations revealed a dangerous dark and anti-media agenda to stifle critical voices in the country. Read more
Certificate of return: I’ve forgiven INEC’s returning officer, Prof Ibeabuchi —Okorocha (Punch)
The immediate past Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, has said he has forgiven Prof. Innocent Ibeabuchi, the returning officer for the Imo West senatorial election, in the 2019 general elections. Okorocha said this in a statement signed by his media aide, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, and made available to newsmen in Owerri, on Friday. The statement came shortly after Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue Okorocha the Certificate of Return as Senator-Elect for Imo-West. Read more
INEC reacts to court order on Okorocha’s certificate of return (Guardian)
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Friday reacted to the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja which ruled that Rochas Okorocha be awarded his certificate of return as a senator. “In view of the import and directives of the said judgement, the Commission will meet as soon as practicable to do the needful,” INEC national commissioner on information and voter education Festus Okoye said in a statement. Read more
Ibom Air makes maiden flight to Lagos (Guardian)
The Ibom Air owned by Akwa Ibom Government on Friday conducted its maiden flight from Uyo to Ikeja, Lagos State. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the airline’s Bombardier CRJ-900LR aircraft, which took off from the Obong Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo landed at the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, Lagos at 1.15 p.m. It was welcomed with water canon salutation by officers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Fire Services. Read more
14m households to embrace cooking gas in next 5 years, says Osinbajo (Guardian)
The Federal Government has put measures in place to ensure that up to 13.8 million households in Nigeria embraced usage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for their cooking within the next five years. Vice-President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo made the statement on Friday while inaugurating a landmark LPG cylinder manufacturing plant, built at Ajah, near Lagos by Techno Oil Limited. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the plant, the building of which commenced in 2015, is the largest of its type in West Africa. Read more
NTA removed from largest UK cable platform, Sky (Punch)
The Nigerian Television Authority has been removed from the largest digital satellite television service platform in Europe, Sky Limited. A visit to Sky’s website showed that NTA had been barred indefinitely from airing on Channel 794. A message on Sky’s website read in part, “794: NTA International; currently temporarily removed from EPG (Electronic Programme Guide).” Read more
Zimbabwe to introduce new currency, says President Mnangagwa (Punch)
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday promised to introduce a new national currency, 10 years after hyperinflation rendered the Zimbabwean dollar worthless. The country has since used US dollars, the South African rand and, in recent years, two local quasi-currencies that have fallen sharply in value. “A country cannot develop using other countries’ currencies, without its own currency,” Mnangagwa said. Read more
Justine Damond: US policeman jailed for Australian’s murder (BBC)
A former policeman in the US state of Minnesota has been sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison for fatally shooting an unarmed woman who was trying to report a possible crime. Mohamed Noor shot Justine Ruszczyk Damond as she approached his patrol car to report a possible rape behind her Minneapolis home in July 2017. He said the shooting was a mistake. Read more
Ivan Golunov: Russian anti-corruption journalist arrested in Moscow (BBC)
A Russian journalist who carried out high-profile investigations into corruption has been arrested in Moscow. Ivan Golunov, a 36-year-old reporter for the Latvia-based news site Meduza, was detained by police on Thursday and accused of large-scale drug dealing. His lawyer alleged that he had been beaten while in custody and that the drugs were planted on him, but the authorities deny this. Read more
John Singleton’s family ‘hire private investigator’ to look into mysterious events leading up to death (Metro)
John Singleton’s family have ‘hired a private investigator’ to look into events leading up to his death. The hours leading up to the Boyz N The Hood director’s hospitalisation on 17 April are unaccounted for and TMZ reports that his children believe that there is ‘more to the story’ regarding his stroke and eventual passing. The family is unclear how Singleton arrived at the hospital in the first place because he didn’t drive himself there and there’s no receipt from any car sharing services including Uber or Lyft, reports the publication. Read more
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s security taser suspect who went for Arnie’s gold bike (Metro)
Arnold Schwarzenegger found himself involved in a moment that would have baffled even The Terminator on Thursday when someone attempted to steal his gold bike while he was in the gym. Arnie was inside Gold’s Gym when it was claimed that a man wearing a bandana over his face walked up to the bike racks outside and went for the distinctive bicycle. But lucky for the actor, his security team were parked nearby in an SUV ready to cycle into action – or taser the would-be thief. Read more
Eden Hazard completes Real Madrid move (Guardian)
Belgian forward Eden Hazard joins Real Madrid from Chelsea. He will be unveiled by La Liga giant on June 13 subject to him passing medical. “The memories he leaves us with will not fade,” said Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia on Friday. “He provided all who watched Chelsea play with great entertainment and many match-winning contributions, and for that we thank Eden enormously. Read more
Eden Hazard issues heartfelt goodbye to Chelsea after joining Real Madrid (Metro)
Eden Hazard has penned a heartfelt goodbye to Chelsea and their supporters after Real Madrid announced the signing of the Blues talisman. Chelsea will collect an initial £88million for Hazard, with the Belgian admitting he would not have left London for any other club than Real. Hazard departs after seven years at Chelsea, lifting the Premier League twice with the Blues, and revealed how difficult a decision it was to leave the club. Read more
France beat South Korea 4-0 as women’s World Cup kicks off (Punch)
Hosts France laid down a marker in the opening game of the women’s World Cup as towering defender Wendie Renard scored twice in a rampant 4-0 win over South Korea to kick off the tournament in style in Paris on Friday. A sell-out crowd of 45,261 filled the Parc des Princes to watch the start of what is billed as the biggest women’s World Cup yet, but there was no sign of the pressure getting to the French on the big occasion. Read more
Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission appeals against Isha Johansen acquittal (BBC)
Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has lodged an appeal against the acquittal of the football association president Isha Johansen.The ACC said in a statement that it has “filed a ten (10) grounds Notice of Appeal in the Court of Appeals of Sierra Leone, against the judgment of the High Court of Sierra Leone”. Johansen and the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) general secretary Christopher Kamara were cleared of three charges of corruption on 28 May. Read more
Ozil marries in Istanbul, with Erdogan as best man (Guardian)
Former German international football Mesut Ozil was married in Istanbul on Friday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as his best man. The 30-year-old Ozil, who has Turkish family roots, sparked controversy last year when he was photographed with Erdogan, raising questions about the footballer’s loyalty to Germany on the eve of their disastrous 2018 World Cup campaign. The Turkish leader arrived in the early evening for Friday’s ceremony at a luxury hotel on the banks of the Bosphorus to see the former Arsenal midfielder marry his fiancee, former Miss Turkey Amine Gulse. Read more
Willian to replace Neymar in Brazil’s Copa America squad (Punch)
Chelsea’s Willian will replace Neymar in Brazil’s Copa America squad, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said on Friday, after the world’s most expensive player was sidelined by injury. Willian, 30, was a surprise choice as the country’s media had tipped Real Madrid youngster Vinicius Junior and Tottenham’s Lucas Moura as the front-runners to take the Paris Saint-Germain forward’s place. “In accordance with competition rules, CBF sent Conmebol the medical reports of Neymar’s injury. After receiving permission, the player (Willian) was summoned,” the CBF said in a statement. Read more
Arsenal confirm Welbeck, five others’ exit (Punch)
Arsenal forward Danny Welbeck has left the club at the end of his contract along with veteran goalkeeper Petr Cech and experienced defender Stephan Lichtsteiner. Welbeck’s exit was expected after the England international’s injury-ravaged spell at the Emirates Stadium, while Czech ‘keeper Cech and Swiss international Lichtsteiner had previously hinted they would be leaving once their contracts expired. Arsenal also announced youngsters Cohen Bramall, Charlie Gilmour, and Julio Pleguezuelo will leave the Gunners. Read more