African stars storm Lagos, to train at Agege Stadium Friday (ThisDay)
All is now set for The Match for Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as most of the invited former African football stars are in town for the African Legends versus Naija Legends.
Thursday evening, 10 of the African stars were spotted at the Radisson Hotel on Isaac John Street Ikeja enjoying the sweet ambience of the highbrow facility. Read more
I rear chicken to support myself in school, says LASU overall best graduating student (DailyTrust)
He said it was difficult for his father to pay his first tuition fee of over N280,000 when he gained admission into the university in 2013. Read more
Lagos-Abeokuta road: Motorists, residents groan as contractor stops work (Punch)
Residents and motorists plying the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway in the Owode/Ijako/Iyana-Ilogbo areas of the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State have lamented the deplorable condition of the road.
The motorists, in separate interviews with PUNCH Metro, said the road, which had fallen into disrepair, had worsened their travel experience. Read more
EFCC files 11-count charge against Naira Marley (Guardian)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has preferred 11 charges bordering on fraud against Nigerian musician, Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, for alleged credit card fraud.
The musician effectively risks seven years in jail if found guilty in accordance with Section 33 (2) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015. Read more
Cybercrime Suspects Unleash Dog On EFCC Operatives (Leadership)
Detectives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from Ibadan zonal office were on Thursday attacked by dangerous dogs by suspected internet criminals in attempt to resist arrest.
The EFCC officials got a dose of ‘corruption fighting back’, as the dog unleashed attacks on them. Upon receipt of intelligence reports and launch of preliminary investigations into their alleged illegal activities, officers of the commission had stormed the suspects’ hideout at Agara area of Ibadan at the early hours of the day. Read more
Man in court for impersonating UN staff, stealing (PMNews)
A 29-year-old man, Oluwaseyi Igboroodowo, who allegedly impersonated a staff of United Nations and stole a parcel worth N175,000, on Thursday appeared before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.
Igboroodowo, whose address was not provided, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, impersonation and stealing, to which he pleaded not guilty. Read more
Alleged $9.8m Fraud: You Have Case To Answer, Court Tells Ex-NNPC GMD, Yakubu (Tribune)
Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday ordered Andrew Yakubu, a former General Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to open his defence on July 3, 2019 in the $9.8 million fraud allegation brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Yakubu had through his counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN), filed a no-case submission on December 5, 2018, arguing that the evidence led by the prosecution’s seven witnesses did not establish a case against him, and so the charges should be dismissed. Read more
Senate confirms reappointment of Emefiele as CBN governor (ThisDay)
The Senate on Thursday confirmed the reappointment of Mr. Godwin Emefiele as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
This is sequel to the presentation of the report of the Senator Adebayo Ibrahim-led Senate Committee on Banks, Insurance and other Financial Institutions that screened the nominee. Read more
Market capitalisation hits N12.5 trn as MTN lists on NSE (DailyTrust)
The Nigerian Stock Exchange’s total market capitalisation rose by N1.8trillion to close at N12.5trn yesterday following the final listing of MTN Nigeria Communications Plc (MTN Nigeria) on the local bourse.
The telco’s 20.35 billion ordinary shares at N90 per share were officially introduced to NSE Premium Board to the jubilation of many dignitaries in attendance. Read more
Senate approves June 12 as Democracy Day (ThisDay)
Senate on Thursday concurred with the Public Holiday Act(Amendment) Bill, passed by the House of Representatives, which approved June 12 as Democracy Day.
This followed presentation of conference report by Leader of the Senate, Sen. Ahmad Lawan, at plenary on Thursday. Read more
Why US suspends Dropbox visa application for Nigerians (Nation)
The United States (US) decision to suspend the drop box system of visa renewal for Nigerian regular travelers may not be unconnected to the number of Nigerians who overstay their visit in the U.S, it was learnt.
The United States (U.S.) Embassy in Nigeria on Wednesday announced the indefinite suspension of the Dropbox visa application process for Nigerians. Read more
Gothic guru blamed in sex-slave crossbow deaths in Germany (NYPost)
Authorities believe cult leader Torsten Weiss, 53 — the owner of a medieval fetish shop — directed the gory, murder-suicides that left himself and two women impaled with crossbow bolts, The Daily Beast reported, citing German news accounts.
Two other women who were also under Weiss’ sway were days earlier found dead in an apartment of what may have been poisonings. Read more
Osaka sex workers to ‘close up shop’ as Japan hosts G20 (Punch)
Sex workers in Osaka will be shown the red light as the city seeks to clean up its image before hosting world leaders for the G20 summit in June.
All 159 members of the Tobita Shinchi association, which represents businesses in the red-light district, will close their doors during the Group of 20 meeting to avoid causing “disruption,” an association official told AFP. Read more
AAG Qualifiers: Nigeria men’s volleyball team depart for Abidjan (DailyTrust)
An 18-member team led by Nigeria Police Force player, Daniel Nathaniel who doubles as the captain left Abuja on Thursday night for Côte d’Ivoire. Read more
Rangers book top six spot, Abia Warriors down El Kanemi (Guardian)
Enugu Rangers yesterday became the first team to qualify for the Super Six play-off when they beat Bendel Insurance 1-0 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.Substitute Felix Ogbuke scored the winner late into the game to take the Flying Antelopes to an unassailable 37 points from 20 games.
There are still three round of matches to go before the season-deciding Super Six play-off, which will produce the winner of the 2018/2019 Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) title. Read more
No Semenya at Stockholm Diamond League after gender ruling (Ahram)
Double Olympic champion Caster Semenya, who lost her appeal over a controversial gender ruling, will not race at this month’s Diamond League meeting in Stockholm, the organisers told AFP on Thursday.
The South African, 28, who won gold in Rio in 2016 and London four years earlier will not lineup for the 800m after winning her most recent appearance over the distance in Doha on May 3. Read more
Ailing Christian Chukwu arrives London for treatment (ThisDay)
Ailing former Green Eagles Captain, Christian Chukwu, arrived United Kingdom in company with his wife Lilian Nkeiruka, Thursday for medical treatment.
Chukwu, who captained Nigeria’s senior national team to win the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 1980, travelled with his wife aboard a Virgin Atlantic airline flight from Lagos. Read more
Formiga, 41, to play in seventh Women’s World Cup (Punch)
Brazil’s 41-year-old international Formiga will become the first footballer to participate in seven World Cups.
The midfielder was named in the squad for the women’s tournament in France.
The Paris St Germain star shares the record of six World Cups with Homare Sawa, who led Japan’s women to their World Cup triumph in 2011. Read more
Man Utd will back Solskjaer for ‘fresh start’ (Guardian)
Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward vowed that manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be backed in the transfer market despite a bitterly disappointing end to the season.
Solskjaer was only appointed on a permanent basis in March but is already under pressure after United won just two of their final 11 games in all competitions. Read more
Osaka into third round as Italian Open resumes after washout (Guardian)
World number one Naomi Osaka eased into the third round of the WTA and ATP Italian Open on Thursday with a straight-sets win over Dominika Cibulkova under the sunshine in Rome after the previous day’s play was washed out.
The 21-year-old Osaka was first up after wintery conditions in the Italian capital wiped out an entire day’s play with competitors now having to play two matches on Thursday. Read more