Abducted pastor mistaken as kidnapper killed in Ogun forest (Punch)
The family of Pastor Adeniyi Adisa, a chartered accountant, has demanded for justice over the murder of their son, whom they alleged died in the hands of some youths and the police in Ogun State.
Saturday PUNCH gathered that the father of five was kidnapped on June 24 as he returned from a visit to a friend in the Yotomi area, Owode Egba area of the state.
The deceased, who was the General Manager of VGC Water in Lekki, Lagos, was held hostage by his abductors for several days until his body was eventually found deposited outside a morgue in Ogun State. He was buried in Ibadan on July 8, 2023. Read more
Fresh supremacy battle in APC (Sun)
The supremacy battle over the control of the soul of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has pitted key supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against governors and former governors elected on the platform of the party.
It was gathered that some key allies of the President are plotting to seize the party from the governors.
Immediate past governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, was named National chairman of APC in early August to replace former Governor Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State. Ganduje, a key ally of Tinubu, is facing his first litmus test since he assumed office. Read more
Finance Act 2023 takes off on September 1 (Nation)
The implementation of the amended Finance Act 2023 will start from September 1, 2023.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) made this disclosure in a public notice it issued in Abuja on Friday. The public service was signed by the Executive Chairman Muhammad Nami.
The amended Finance Act 2023 which tweaked certain provisions in the tax laws, was enacted on 28h May, 2023 and back dated to take effect from 1 May 2023. Read more
Lagos: LP lawmaker, Sowunmi reacts to tribunal sacking (NewTelegraph)
Following the dismissal of a member of the Labour Party (LP) representing the Ojo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Seyi Sowunmi by the Lagos-based National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal, the ex-lawmaker has, however, declared his intention to keep serving the needs of his constituents.
The Tribunal in its ruling on the case submitted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Olanrewaju Ogunyemi, a three-person panel chaired by Justice Abdullahi Ozegya agreed with the petitioner that Sowunmi was ineligible to run for office.
As a result, the tribunal recognised Ogunyemi, a two-term lawmaker from the state and a former Secretary of the APC in the state, as the legitimate winner of the election held on February 25, 2023. Read more
Orile Agege residents demand temporary bridge ahead of canal completion (Punch)
The Chairman of Orile Agege Local Council Development Area in Lagos State, Johnson Babatunde, and residents of the area have asked the state government to provide a temporary bridge ahead of the canal completion in the LCDA.
Pupils of the community and other schools in the area manage to pass through the canal which has claimed lives.
A resident, Lekan Jimoh said a carpenter, Biodun Yawona, was able to build a temporary bridge that the students walked on to their school, but it has now been washed off by flood, making it difficult and risky for anyone to access the other side. Read more
VC reads riot act on hard drugs, cultism, fake news as ABSU matriculates 4,546 students (Vanguard)
The Vice-Chancellor of Abia State University Uturu, Professor Onyemachi Ogbulu, has sternly warned students against indulgence in cultism, hard drugs, examination malpractice, indecent dressing and other vices or be expelled from the institution.
Professor Ogbulu who read the riot act Friday during the 41st Matriculation ceremony of the university at Uturu, also warned students against peddling fake news and demarketing of the institution via social media.
Declaring that the Management of the institution has zero tolerance for any act of exploitation or molestation of students, the VC urged students not to hesitate to report any case of harassment or intimidation to his office. Read more
Frank urges FBI, CIA to probe Chicago Varsity for refusing to release Tinubu’s academic records (Leadership)
A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Friday, called on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to urgently investigate the authorities of Chicago State University over what he called their curious reluctance or refusal to release relevant academic records of a certain Bola Tinubu, who is either a female or male, given that there is a President in Nigeria called Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is laying claim to a controversial certificate from the university.
Frank, who made this request in a statement in Abuja, said the probe has become necessary to determine the authenticity of the certificates offered to Americans who graduated from the University that have now been called to question by President Tinubu’s claims that the University awarded him with a certificate that was littered with errors by an unnamed employee of the University which he had tendered before Nigerian authorities. Read more
Suspected drug smugglers kill 2 Customs officers in Kebbi (Guardian)
Two officers of the Nigeria Customs Service attached to the Kebbi State Command have been killed by suspected drug smugglers. This came less than a month after the Command lost an officer to a smuggler.
The smugglers opened fire on Kabiru Shehu Abdullahi and Abdullahi Mohammed by 1. a.m. when they were checking the car booth of the smugglers while on information Patrol between Bunza- Dakin Gari-Koko road.
The Comptroller of the Command, Dr Ben Oramalugo, said: “There was proliferation of hard drugs when I resumed at the Command and I started fighting them, making seizures, and making arrests. There are rich men into this and they are not happy with me. There is a route they used to pass and I sent my men there. Read more
Selena Gomez breaks up with a beau in ‘’Single Soon’’ music video (UPI)
Selena Gomez has returned with new music.
The 31-year-old singer and actress released a single and music video for the song “Single Soon” on Friday.
The “Single Soon” video opens with a voice message from Gomez’s 10-year-old sister, Grace Teefey, who says, “Hi. Love you, sissy. Never worry about boyfriends. At all.”
Gomez is seen breaking up with a beau by leaving a sticky note with the same message Jack Berger used during his split from Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City and then meeting a group of friends for a night out dancing. Read more
“Going to space with mum was peaceful and loving” (BBC)
“Being in space and seeing the Earth with your own eyes is such a peaceful and loving experience.”
Two weeks ago, 18-year-old Ana Mayers was experiencing zero gravity in space. Oh and she went with her mum.
The pair, along with former Olympian Jon Goodwin, were on Virgin Galactic’s first tourist flight – making them the first mother-daughter duo to fly to space together. Read more
Drew Barrymore’s alleged stalker arrested in New York (THR)
Chad Michael Busto, the man who delivered an unsettling message to Drew Barrymore from the crowd at a 92nd Street Y event in New York earlier this week, has been arrested on suspicion of stalking.
The 43-year-old resident of Washington, D.C. was arrested on Thursday at 11:59 p.m. local time by the Southampton Town Police and booked in relation to a misdemeanor charge of stalking in the fourth degree, according to a press release sent by Lt. Todd Spencer, a spokesperson for the department. Busto is being held overnight and is set to appear in Southampton Town Justice Court at morning arraignment.
The arrest comes just a day after the Southampton PD detained Busto following a 911 call regarding a suspicious person in the Village of Sagaponack, Town of Southampton. Busto allegedly rode a bicycle into private driveways, where he told area residents he was looking for Barrymore’s residence. Officers detained him briefly on Wednesday for questioning, and he was released. Read more
Niger Junta orders French Ambassador to leave (VOA)
Niger’s junta, which seized power in a coup on July 26, said on Friday it had ordered French Ambassador Sylvain Itte to leave the country within 48 hours, as relations between the West African country and its former colonial ruler deteriorated further.
Like recent coups in neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali, the military takeover in Niger came amid a growing wave of anti-French sentiment, with some locals accusing the European country of interfering in their affairs.
In a statement, the junta-appointed foreign ministry said the decision to expel the ambassador was a response to actions taken by the French government that were “contrary to the interests of Niger.”
Carlos Santana apologises for ‘‘insensitive’’ comments about trans community (Blabbermouth)
Carlos Santana has apologized for his “insensitive” comments about the trans community.
The 76-year-old musician faced criticism when a video of him making anti-transgender comments during a concert in New Jersey in July resurfaced on social media.
“When God made you and me, before we came out of the womb, you know who you are and what you are,” the guitarist is seen saying in the clip. Read more
‘‘Dune: Part Two’’ delayed to 2024 amid strikes (Variety)
‘‘Dune: Part Two” has been delayed to 2024.
The story of Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet, will be continued on March 15.
Warner Bros. made the announcement Thursday after Variety exclusively reported last month that the company was eyeing a 2024 date for the sci-fi tentpole. Legendary Entertainment co-produced “Dune: Part Two” with Warner Bros. Film Group, and both parties had to agree on a new release date. Read more
Ukraine claims Crimea landing for ‘‘special operation’’ on Independence Day (BBC)
Ukraine has claimed its troops briefly landed overnight in the occupied Crimea peninsula, as the country marks 32 years of its independence.
All objectives of the “special operation” were achieved without any casualties, the defence ministry said.
It added that during a firefight in Olenivka and Mayak, western Crimea, “the enemy suffered losses”.
Russia illegally annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, eight years before Moscow launched a full-scale invasion. Read more
Balogun close to Monaco move (Punch)
Monaco have reportedly closing in on a deal with Arsenal to sign Folarin Balogun over the coming days.
The forward has received widespread interest in his signature throughout the summer, a consequence of his impressive campaign on loan at Reims in 2022-23.
Despite failing to make an impact at his parent club and a previous loan stint with Middlesbrough, Balogun netted 21 times in Ligue 1. Read more
CAF CL: Enyimba to host Al Ahly Benghazi in Aba (Leadership)
The Enyimba International Stadium, Aba, will host the CAF Champions League second leg tie between the People’s Elephant and Libya’s Al Ahli Benghazi.
Enyimba suffered a 4-3 defeat in the first leg last weekend.
The nine-time Nigeria Professional Football League champions need to score a goal without conceding to seal a place in the next round.
Finidi George’s side will bank on the support of their home fans in Aba to unsettle the North African side. Read more
Luis Rubiales refuses to step down as Spanish football federation president (BBC)
Luis Rubiales has refused to step down as president of the Spanish football federation following his behaviour at the Women’s World Cup final on Sunday.
Rubiales, 46, kissed forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain’s 1-0 victory over England.
He had earlier grabbed his crotch as he celebrated at the final whistle.
“I will not resign, I will not resign,” he told an extraordinary general assembly called by the federation. “A social assassination is taking place.” Read more
Man Utd injury crisis worsens with Luke Shaw joining summer signing on treatment table (Mirror)
Manchester United have suffered yet another injury blow with left-back Luke Shaw set to spend an extended period on the sidelines after picking up a muscle issue.
The Red Devils medical team are still assessing the severity of the injury but the early hopes are that the England international is only out for weeks rather than months. The news is unlikely to have gone down well with boss Erik ten Hag, who will now have to call upon his alternative options.
Deputy left-back Tyrell Malacia i s nursing a knock himself that he sustained at the tail-end of last season and is unlikely to be able to fill in for Shaw while he recovers. As a result, Ten Hag may have to form a makeshift backline for some big games, including an away game at the home of big-six rivals Arsenal on September 3rd. Read more
Oleksandr Usyk fighting for all Ukrainians as he faces Britain’s Daniel Dubois (National)
Oleksandr Usyk kept it short and sweet during Thursday’s press conference ahead of this weekend’s world heavyweight title clash with British underdog Daniel Dubois.
Usyk will take on mandatory challenger Dubois at the Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw on Saturday night with his WBA, IBF and WBO belts on the line.
A crowd of up to 43,000 will be able to attend and support for Usyk will be strong given a number of Ukraine natives now reside in Poland since Russia’s invasion of their country last year. Read more
Los Angeles Lakers announce date for Kobe Bryant’s statue unveiling (CNN)
Vanessa Bryant, the late Kobe Bryant’s wife, announced the date on Thursday when the Los Angeles Lakers will unveil a statue honoring the former NBA superstar.
Bryant revealed that the team with which her husband played his entire career will first display the statue on February 8, 2024 – significant as the five-time champion wore jersey numbers 8 and 24.
“As you know, Kobe played his entire 20-year NBA career as a Los Angeles Laker,” Bryant said while sitting in front of the now iconic jersey numbers in a video posted at 8:24 a.m. on Thursday morning. Read more