Three months after, life returns to Abule-Ado amid safety concerns (Guardian)
The explosion that rocked Abule-Ado community in Amuwo-Odofin Council of Lagos State on Sunday, March 15, this year, may have been overtaken by recent events and developments in the state and the country, but wreckages from the tremor that shook even distant communities still littered the immediate surroundings.
About three months after, many residents, particularly those that lost one thing or the other, including loved ones, were still sorrowful.
Nevertheless, driving into the community through Otunba Gani Adams Road from Abule-Ado bus stop, off Mile 2-Badagry Expressway, a first-time visitor could assume nothing had happened in the area, as the road was a beehive of commercial activities, which spilt into the expressway. Read more
Our deadly robbery operations in Oyo, Osun, Lagos – 23-year-old gang leader (Punch)
The ringleader of a notorious gang terrorising Ibadan, Oyo State, Osun and Lagos states, Enioluwa Adebayo, has opened up on his four-year stint in robbery.
Popularly known as Judgement, an alias he earned for killing victims who put up resistance, 23-year-old Adebayo led a three-man gang operating mostly on motorcycles.
It was learnt that the gang also carried out ‘brisk operations’ early morning and in the evening, robbing passersby of their valuables.
City Round gathered that Adedayo and a member of the gang, Sunday Olubushe aka Ajegunle, were arrested recently by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team in Oyo State. Read more
UNILAG commissions webinar room, auto diagnostic centre (Guardian)
The Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos (UNILAG) Akoka, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe has said that the institution was determined to channel resources into a hybrid system of teaching in order to create more engaging learning experiences for its students and also provide practical interaction between them and professional organisations.
Ogundipe said this during the commissioning of the Faculty of Engineering Webinar Room and the Auto Diagnostic Centre at the Faculty of Engineering recently. Read more
Oniru warns trouble makers (Nation)
Oniru of Iruland Oba Gbolahan Lawal has warned those fomenting trouble within the Kingdom to desist or be punished.
The monarch warned residents not to take laws into their hands. He said he is committed to ensuring peace in the kingdom.
The warning followed Thursday protests at the kingdom by descendants of the larger Oniru royal lineage.
The protesters, about 100, were marching against alleged attempts by some children of the late Oba Idowu Abiodun to continue administration of the Oniru joint family properties and convert them for personal use. Read more
DisCo charges three to court over electricity fraud, wrong installations (Guardian)
Three persons have been arraigned before at Ojo Magistrate Court in Lagos on a four-count charge of conspiracy to commit fraud, impersonation, forgery and tampering with electricity installations within the Ojo District of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC).
The three, identified as Magnus Obinali, Success Akamoye, and Jolayemi Oluwatomi, reportedly received a sum of 70,000 from unsuspecting customers who wanted to get their prepaid meters repaired and placed them on a direct connection. Read more
FG hands over National Theatre to Bankers Committee on Sunday (Punch)
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said he will on Sunday hand over the National Theatre to the Bankers Committee for the planned renovation of the edifice. He noted that the glory of the edifice would be restored on completion.
President Muhammadu Buhari had in October 2019 approved the renovation of the building and its premises, a task to be undertaken by the Bankers Committee, which is a body of the Chief Executive Officers of commercial banks, some officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria, with the apex bank governor as the chairman. Read more
Buhari appoints Umar EFCC acting Chairman (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Mohammed Umar as acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Umar, who is the Head of Operations of the anti-graft agency, is to overseer the commission pending conclusion of investigation against erstwhile chair, Ibrahim Magu, over 22 allegations.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) stated these on Friday in a statement by his spokesman, Umar Gwandu. Read more
Female NNPC staff ‘sexually abuse’ househelp in Kaduna DailyTrust)
A staff of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in Kaduna, Mrs Yemi Awolola has been arrested for allegedly torturing and sexually abusing her 14-year-old house help. She picked the victim from an Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP) camp in Kajuru local government area of Kaduna 15 months ago. How CSOs struggle to end torture Why anti-torture law excites rights groups Daily Trust Saturday gathered that the victim had been given to Mrs Yemi by her parents on the agreement that she would be supported to go to school. Read more
Magu writes IGP, seek bail from detention (Guardian)
The suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has applied to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to be released on bail.
Magu, who is facing a probe panel set up by President Muhammadu over allegations of corruption and insubordination, requested to be granted bail through a letter sent on his behalf by one of his lawyers, Oluwatosin Ojaomo, Friday in Abuja.
His lawyer’s letter dated July 10 with the IGP office’s acknowledgement stamp bearing the same date, and obtained, requested the embattled acting EFCC chairman be granted bail “on self-recognisance”. Read more
Trump commutes jail sentence of his friend Roger Stone (Aljazeera)
US President Donald Trump commuted the sentence of his longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone on Friday, sparing him from prison after he was convicted of lying under oath to legislators investigating Russian interference in the 2016 US election.
Trump’s decision to commute Stone’s sentence days before he was due to report to prison marked the Republican president’s most assertive intervention to protect an associate in a criminal case and his latest use of executive clemency to benefit an ally.
Democrats condemned Trump’s action as an assault on the rule of law. Read more
TikTok: Amazon says email asking staff to remove app ‘sent in error’ (BBC)
Amazon has said an email sent to employees asking them to remove the video-sharing app TikTok from any mobile device that can access their company email was sent in error.
An internal memo sent to staff earlier on Friday had said employees should delete the app over “security risks”.
The app, owned by a Chinese company, has come under scrutiny because of fears it could share data with China.
TikTok said it did not understand Amazon’s concerns. Read more
‘Avengers: Endgame’ directors respond to Marvel Studios diversity criticism (Metro)
Avengers: Endgame directors Joseph and Anthony Russo have addressed claims that the sets of Marvel Studios productions lack diversity.
Their comments follow Anthony Mackie, who has played Sam Wilson/Falcon in various movies from the universe since 2014, recently saying in a Variety video: ‘It really bothered me that I’ve done seven Marvel movies where every producer, every director, every stunt person, every costume designer, every PA, every single person has been white.’ Responding, the Russo Brothers agreed with Mackie, with Joe saying the criticism is ‘not wrong at all.’ Read more
Facebook used extensively to spread neo-Nazi music (Aljazeera)
Facebook has removed several pages belonging to music groups espousing white supremacist ideology following an investigation by Al Jazeera into the prevalence of such bands on the social media platform.
Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit identified more than 120 pages from mostly heavy metal groups and record labels with direct ties to white supremacy. The pages had gained a total of more than 800,000 likes and some have been online for more than 10 years. Read more
Fast-moving tropical storm Fay makes landfall in New Jersey (VOA)
Fast-moving Tropical Storm Fay made landfall in New Jersey on Friday amid heavy, lashing rains that closed beaches and flooded shore town streets.
The storm system was expected to bring 5 to 10 centimeters of rain, with the possibility of minor coastal flooding from New Jersey to Rhode Island as well as flash flooding, The U.S. National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. advisory. That’s down from earlier forecasts of about 8 to 13 centimeters of rain. The storm made landfall along the coast of New Jersey about 15 kilometers northeast of Atlantic City, according to national forecasters. Read more
Protesters rally against Macron-backed new French interior minister accused of rape (RT)
Women’s-rights activists took to the streets in Paris and other cities in France to decry the appointment of Gerald Darmanin as interior minister. Darmanin is subject to an ongoing rape investigation.
Dozens of activists bearing signs condemning Darmanin and rape culture in general greeted the new interior minister as he arrived in Dijon early on Friday. He was visiting the capital of Burgundy with Prime Minister Jean Castex to show support to the local police after the city was rocked by massive riots last month. Read more
Singapore ruling PAP party wins elections, but support falls (BBC)
Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) has retained power in Friday’s general election but with a reduced majority, final results show.
The PAP, in power since 1965, won 83 of 93 parliamentary seats or 61.2% of the vote – down from nearly 70% it had in the 2015 poll.
The opposition Workers’ Party secured 10 seats – its best result.
The election was widely seen as a referendum on the government’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Read more
NFF okays PPG to end 2020 NPFL season (Nation)
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has ratified the decision of the Club Owners Association as communicated to them by the League Management Company (LMC) to end the 2019-20 Nigeria Professional Football League season and adopt the Point Per Game (PPG) system among others important decisions arrived at, at the virtual meeting of the body’s Football Committee on Friday.
The NFF Football Committee had a meeting with the chairmen of all national leagues, Nigeria Referees Association and the Executive Committee of the NFF where it was resolved that the first three teams from the NPFL at the end of the PPG system used after MatchDay 25 and the current holders of the Aiteo Cup (Kano Pillars) would represent the country in the next season’s CAF Inter club competitions. Read more
Arsenal could play in the Community Shield even if they lose to Manchester City in FA Cup semi-final (Metro)
Arsenal could be surprise opponents for Liverpool in the Community Shield next month even if they lose their FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City, according to reports. The curtain-raising showpiece is usually contested by the winners of the FA Cup and the champions of the Premier League, with the second-placed side in the league taking the spot if a team does the double. But UEFA’s rearranged European tournaments have created big issues with the FA’s hopes of staging the Community Shield this year. Read more
Real two wins from title after beating Alaves (BBC)
Karim Benzema (right) scored Real’s first and assisted Marco Asensio (left) for the second
Real Madrid are two wins away from clinching La Liga title after victory over strugglers Alaves.
Karim Benzema’s penalty put the league leaders in front after Ximo Navarro’s foul on Ferland Mendy.
Benzema then teed up Marco Asensio for the second, awarded after VAR overruled an incorrect offside decision. Read more
Dana White says UFC events to continue at Abu Dhabi ‘Fight Island’ until next year (RT)
UFC president Dana White has signaled the promotion could extend its stay on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi “easily into next year,” saying he is even looking at buying property in the UAE.
The UFC kicks off its long-awaited set of events from Yas Island in the UAE capital this weekend with a stacked UFC 251 card featuring three title bouts.
The venue has been in the making since the Covid-19 outbreak effectively shut down sport in the US, and with uncertainty over a second wave across America, White says his island masterplan will likely be needed for the long haul. Read more
Jurgen Klopp provides injury update on Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson (Metro)
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson will miss the rest of the season but revealed his injury is not as bad as first feared.
The England international scored his side’s second goal in Wednesday’s 3-1 win at Brighton but was substituted with 10 minutes remaining, following a collision with Yves Bissouma. Reports earlier on Friday claimed the 30-year-old would face a race against time to be fit enough for the start of the 2020/21 campaign, but those fears were offset by Klopp who said the inspirational midfielder would not require surgery. Read more
Manchester City to learn result of appeal to CAS over European ban on Monday (BBC)
Manchester City will learn on Monday whether their appeal against a two-year ban from European club competitions has been successful.
City appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) after Uefa’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) issued the ban in February.
The CFCB ruled the club had committed “serious breaches” of Uefa’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations between 2012 and 2016.
They were also fined 30m euros (£25m). Read more