Abducted Edo catholic priest killed as community youths apprehend one culprit (Vanguard)
The abducted Catholic priest in Ikhabigbo, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, Rev. Fr. Christopher Odia has been reportedly killed by his abductors just as the mass servant earlier reported to have died has reportedly survived the gunshots and just emerged from the theater at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH).
Meanwhile, brave youths who chased the kidnappers were able to apprehend one of the suspected kidnappers who in the cause of the confrontations injured several persons including a woman said to have been hit by a stray bullet but survived it.
A leader of the community who did not want his name mentioned for security reasons said late last night that “Our boys pursued the kidnappers into the bush and they killed one of our boys but the mass servant who was shot is in Otibhor (ISTH) right now and he just came out of the theater and he survived it, it was the vigilante that died. Our boys went after them and were able to arrest one of the kidnappers who has confessed to the crime and he is presently at the Area Command of the Police in Auchi. Read more
LASBCA begins removal of defective buildings in Ikoyi (Guardian)
To avoid collapse of buildings and save lives, officials of Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), have started the removal of defective buildings in Ikoyi area of the state.
The five structures of four floors each located at the end of Patrick Harbour Estate, Ikoyi, which are still under construction were found to be sinking and tilted, thereby making it imperative to discontinue further construction work on site.
The General Manager of LASBCA, Gbolahan Oki, who confirmed the development yesterday, said officials of the Agency took a proactive approach to prevent the imminent collapse of the structures and save lives.
He stated that the removal of defective structures further affirmed the Agency’s resolve to ensure the demolition of distressed building in any part of the state. Read more
Lagos driver speeding to beat traffic light crashes, dies (Punch)
A bus driver has died and several of his passengers injured in an accident at Marwa Bus-Stop along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the accident, which occurred around 10.44am on Saturday, involved a Volkswagen bus, which rammed into a Toyota Highlander while trying to beat the traffic light, which was about to turn red.
The bus driver was said to have died, while passengers on the bus sustained injuries and were hospitalised.
The Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State, Olusegun Ogungbemigbe, confirmed the accident on Sunday. Read more
I’ll give you a running mate you’ll enjoy working with, Gbaja tells Tinubu (DailyTrust)
Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has promised Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Presidential Candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) a running mate he can work with.
Gbajabiamila made the promise while responding to the remarks of Tinubu at an event to celebrate the speaker’s 60th birthday.
Tinubu ignores certificate scandal, says ‘I’m still searching for my running mate’
Shehu Sani: If you can’t find the schools Tinubu attended, you can find the ones he built
“You (Tinubu) said in your address that many years ago you consulted with younger brother on the issue of WAEC and that consultation bore fruits. I give you my own parting shot. It is that time again to consult with your younger brother. I will give you a running mate that you will enjoy working with. But this time the consultation I promise you will not be for free,” he said. Read more
Call your witnesses, court tells Lagos indigenes in marginalisation suit (Guardian)
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has ordered parties in a suit filed by some Lagos State indigenes over alleged neglect in appointments to public offices and career positions to file pleadings and call witnesses.
The judge gave the order in a ruling on the objections raised by the respondents in the suit. In his ruling, Justice Allagoa noted that the facts of the case were contentious in nature and as such, oral pleadings are necessary.
The judge held: “I have examined the affidavit’s evidence in support of the originating summons and I am of the view that the facts are contentious.
“The plaintiffs’ complaint centered on non-conformity with the Federal Character Commission Act. This requires factual proof of the allegation. The documentary evidence attached to the affidavit in support of the originating summons was dumped on the court. Read more
Self-defence: Ban on firearms still in force, CP warns Matawalle (Punch)
The Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Ayuba Elkana, has said the embargo on firearms licence is still in force, noting that the police have stopped issuing licence to citizens who wished to own guns.
The police boss stated this, on Sunday, in response to inquiries from The PUNCH about the directive by the state government that the police command should issue gun licence to those eligible to bear arms.
The Zamfara State Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Dosara, had in a statement on Sunday, disclosed that the government had directed residents of the state to prepare and obtain guns to defend themselves against bandits who have been terrorising the state.
The government, therefore, directed the state Commissioner of Police to issue licence to all those who qualify and are willing to obtain guns to defend themselves. Read more
Babalakin, Onyema to speak at LAAC conference on sunset airports (DailyTrust)
Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in the Nigerian aviation industry, including Dr. Wale Babalakin, Chairman of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Barr. Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace and other aviation heads, would constitute a panel of discussants at the forthcoming 26th annual conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC).
The conference, which is scheduled to hold on July 28, 2022 at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Lagos, has received the approval of Sen. Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation and other critical stakeholders, which cut across the airline and ground handling sub-sectors.
A statement by the Secretary, Planning Committee of the conference, Mr. Albinus Chiedu, said the Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Agency (NCAA), Capt. Musa Nuhu; the Ag. Managing Director, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engr. Lawrence Pwajok and the Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, would be among the panelists.
Others are Engr. Akin Olateru, the Commissioner, Accident Investigation Bureau – Nigeria (AIB-N) and Capt. Roland Iyayi, CEO, Topbrass Aviation Limited, among others. Read more
I dreamt I’ll be rich if I rub my head with his blood, says man who beheaded son (Vanguard)
A 33-year-old man, Mr Volt Blessing Gabriel, has been arrested by operatives of Delta State Police Command for using a hand saw to cut off the head of his one-year-old child for ritual purposes.
Gabriel, who killed the child, identified as Godspower, in a bush in Benin-City, Edo State, buried the deceased’s head by a palm tree and threw away the headless body.
It was gathered that the suspect said he killed the child because he dreamt that if he did, and use the blood to rub his head, he will become rich.
Police Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Police Command, Mr Bright Edafe, who confirmed the incident in a statement, said Gabriel was arrested after his wife discovered that the child was missing and reported to the police her suspicion of foul play on the part of her husband. Read more
How DSS Rescued 21 Almajirai From A Jos Church (DailyTrust)
The Department of State Security (DSS) has raided a house located at JMDB quarters, in the Tudun Wada community of Jos North LGA of Plateau State, where the operatives rescued 21 young people, including almajirai.
The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), while confirming the incident, told Daily Trust that the rescued victims told the group during interrogation that they were forcefully brought to the house and converted to Christianity.
The General Secretary of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Rev. Yunusa Nmadu, said the house which was raided by the DSS was under the custody of the church but denied that it was used to convert people to Christianity, adding the claim should be discarded.
Daily Trust reports that the DSS raided the house on June 14, and recovered the victims, who were said to have been brought to Jos from another state. Read more
Chris Hemsworth admits getting naked in Thor: Love and Thunder was a ‘dream’ (Metro)
Thor: Love and Thunder’s Chris Hemsworth has revealed his nude scene in the upcoming flick was a ‘dream’ for him to film.
He bared another asset alongside his trusty hammer, and this time, it was his bare behind.
At the film’s star-studded red carpet premiere, he revealed that showing his butt in the upcoming MCU film was ‘10 years in the making’ and was basically a dream come true to do.
‘It was 10 years in the making that scene — kind of a dream of mine,’ the Hollywood star said. Read more
Mission: Impossible star joins new Scream movie
(DigitalSpy)
Mission: Impossible actor Henry Czerny has joined the new Scream movie, which already boasts a massive ensemble cast featuring the likes of Courteney Cox, Dermot Mulroney, Mason Gooding, Jenna Ortega, Jack Champion, Liana Liberato, Devyn Nekoda, Melissa Barrera, Hayden Panettiere and Jasmin Savoy Brown.
After the success of this year’s return of Scream at the box office, with the same creative team returning behind the scenes, the above-mentioned cast members are all returning to reprise their roles from previous instalments. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett are returning to direct.
The premise of the film is being kept largely under wraps, but it follows the four survivors of the Ghostface killings as they leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter.
The fifth movie unleashed a new version of Ghostface on an unwitting group of teenagers, with the OG trio of Sidney, Dewey and Gale trying to help them all survive. It was a self-contained story, but that doesn’t mean it won’t have a major impact on the next movie. Read more
Vicky Eguia, public relations executive at Amazon Studios, dies at 48 (Variety)
Vicky Eguia, a public relations executive at Amazon who helped create Oscar-winning campaigns for “Manchester By the Sea” and “The Salesman,” died Saturday. She was 48.
The cause was cancer, her family said on social media.
Eguia most recently served as director of PR for diversity, equity and inclusion and community relations at Amazon. She joined the company in 2015 to head publicity for its original movies arm and played a critical role in helping the streaming service forge into the world of awards seasons and theatrical distribution as it was looking to compete more aggressively in the film business.
In a note to staff, Amazon Studios head Jen Salke and public relations chief Cory Shields wrote, “As many of you know so well, Vicky was a consummate team player – always ready to pitch in with complete commitment and dedication. We will all miss her charm and sense of humor.” Read more
La Traviata Ballet returns to the Joburg Theatre
(SABC)
La Traviata Ballet, which was last performed in Johannesburg in 2017, will be shown at the Joburg Theatre from July 1 through July 10 for eight performances.
The production, which tells the tale of the Lady of the Camellias and was first produced in 1990 in Cape Town, is based on the 19th century.
La Traviata-The Ballet is one of the ballets that Cape Town-based choreographer Veronica Paeper has created that has garnered the most attention.
Joburg Ballet artistic director Iain MacDonald says audiences will be moved by the production and they will relate to the place. Read more
Sir Paul McCartney halts history-making Glastonbury set to tend to audience member (OK!)
Musical legend Sir Paul McCartney delighted fans as he headlined at Glastonbury’s pyramid stage on Saturday, but wowed them even further when he halted his performance to help an audience member.
During Paul’s tribute to Jimi Hendrix, he stopped on stage and pointed to an area in the crowd, saying: “What’s going on over there? Is there something happening there? If so let’s tend to it. Come on…Okay.”
A moment later the Beatles frontman added: “It’s okay we sorted it we sorted it. There you go mate!”
He then joked with the crowd: “It wasn’t that solo I played? Alright.” Read more
Bono says he discovered existence of half-brother from late father’s affair (Independent)
Bono has said he has a half-brother he did not know about until the year 2000.
The U2 frontman opened up about his life and family on the BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, speaking to Lauren Laverne.
In the episode, broadcast today (26 June), Bono says that he had a “complicated” relationship with his late father, who conceived a child in an extramarital affair.
Bono’s father died in 2001. His mother, Iris, died of a brain aneurysm in 1974, when he was 14 years old. Read more
Russia launches fresh rocket attacks on Kyiv for first time in three weeks (Metro)
Russia has launched fresh attacks on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv for the first time in weeks, as 14 missiles targeted residential buildings.
Emergency services were seen battling flames and rescuing civilians from the blasted out windows of burning apartments after large bangs shook the city at around 6.30am this morning.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said two people were injured and a seven-year-old girl was pulled alive from the rubble.
He said: ‘We are doing everything we can to stop the fire and take people out of the destroyed buildings. Read more
Nigeria to host 2024 Division 2 Cricket U-19 World Cup qualifier (Guardian)
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed Nigeria as host of Africa region qualifiers for the 2024 ICC Men’s U-19 Cricket World Cup from September 21 to October 2, 2022.
The qualifiers, which will hold in Abuja, will produce only one qualifier to the next stage, who will then compete with qualifiers from the division one category.
Already, the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), has started preparing the country’s team for the competition, which was confirmed by NCF General Manager, Emeka Igwilo, at the weekend.
“The NCF Women T20 Invitational, earlier in the year, was a good test of our readiness for high ticket events, which the country stands to attract owing to her growing influence on the continent. Hence, we have a template to rinse adjust and repeat with,” he said. Read more
Nigeria’s Abogidi signs with NBA G League side Ignite (Punch)
Forward Efe Abogidi, an NBA Academy graduate and standout at Washington State, has signed with NBA G League Ignite, NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim announced.
“NBA Africa offered me a platform to begin my journey, and I am so thankful for the opportunities that NBA Academy and Washington State provided me,” Abogidi said.
“It is with gratitude and excitement that I join NBA G League Ignite and begin my career as a professional basketball player.”
Abogidi joins NBA G League Ignite after playing two seasons at Washington State. Read more
Lukaku brings Inter medical forward (FootballItalia)
Romelu Lukaku is currently on vacation in Italy and it’s reported he will cut it short to undergo his Inter medical on Wednesday, completing the transfer from Chelsea.
The striker felt almost immediately after moving to Stamford Bridge last summer that he had made a mistake and was working on a way to wipe out the €113m deal.
That has become possible with a paid loan at a cost of €10m and with the Belgium international taking a pay cut.
He is currently holidaying off the coast of Sardinia, as confirmed by his Instagram Stories, and was expected in Milan for his medical on Thursday June 30. Read more
Qatar warns against unauthorised use of World Cup logo on car plates (DailyMail)
Qatar warned the general public Sunday against the use of unauthorised vehicle license plates with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 logo, after it auctioned off dozens of number plates for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“It is prohibited to copy and install the World Cup logo on the vehicle number plate,” tweeted the interior ministry, warning that violators would face legal action.
“The plates containing the World Cup logo are a special version that are issued according to specific terms and conditions in coordination with FIFA… and for auctioned special number plates only,” it said.
Fifty license plates bearing the World Cup logo were put up for auction in May, with the most expensive one going for 1.8 million Qatari riyals ($494,000). Read more
Wimbledon: Nick Kyrgios happy to be ‘villain’ against British wildcard Paul Jubb (BBC)
Nick Kyrgios said he will embrace being the “villain” when he faces British wildcard Paul Jubb in the Wimbledon first round.
Kyrgios, who believes he can beat anyone in the draw, will face the 22-year-old world number 219 on Tuesday.
However, the Australian also said he regards it as a “dangerous match”, and that the Yorkshireman will “just play freely” with “nothing to lose”.
“I feel like I can put myself in his shoes very well,” said Kyrgios. Read more
Women’s PGA Championship: Chun’s falter cuts lead ahead of deciding round (CNN)
Gee Chun’s lead at the Women’s PGA Championship was cut to three ahead of the deciding round, as the South Korean endured a difficult Saturday.
The 27-year-old shot a three-over 75 at a Congressional Country Club in Maryland, finishing the Blue course in 11 more strokes than it had taken her through a record-breaking opening performance Thursday.
Having begun the day with a six stroke lead after shooting 69 Friday, four bogeys and a double bogey at the 16th hole saw the chasing pack halve the leader’s advantage, though Chun recovered well to close with back-to-back pars.
Chasing her third career major — and a first in six years — Chun said she was “so proud” of a finish that preserved her shortened, though still considerable, margin at the top. Read more
Herbert: Maybe time for Lawrence Stroll to do ‘the right thing’ (F1i)
Ex-F1 driver Johnny Herbert says the time may be fast approaching for Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll to make a difficult but necessary call in the interests of the British team.
Herbert believes that Lance Stroll’s lacklustre performances call into question his future in F1.
While the 23-year-old has shown glimpses of brilliance in the past, Stroll’s results overall with his father’s team have been little to write home about.
The young Canadian finished behind his Aston teammate Sebastian Vettel in last year’s Drivers’ standings and so far this season he has only scored 3 points – and never finished higher than P10 – while Vettel’s current tally sits at 13. Read more