Ailing Akeredolu extends medical leave indefinitely (DailyTrust)
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has extended his one-month medical leave indefinitely.
The notice of extension was contained in a letter dispatched to the lawmakers of the Ondo State House of Assembly.
Daily Trust recall that Akeredolu had earlier informed the lawmakers of proceeding on “medical leave” on June 5, 2023, and was expected to resume on July 6, 2023. Read more
I’ve never been lucky with men – Cynthia Salawu (Sun)
Despite her unlucky path with men, Nollywood actress cum skit maker, Cynthia Salawu is hopeful that her dream man will come someday.
In an encounter with Saturday Sun, Ms Salawu noted that although, she’s not a virgin, she has never been in a relationship.
“I have never been in a relationship. I only had friends. It sounds funny but it’s real. I’ve not been lucky with guys though, I am not a virgin. I know God’s time is the best. And I am patiently waiting for my Mr. Right. I deserve to be pampered and happy. I am from Edo State while my mother is from Delta State, but my man can come from any tribe. I don’t want to date or marry a politician; politics is a dirty game in this part of the world. Maybe an actor, yes, but I would prefer to marry a normal guy because I like private life.” Read more
Rise against coup, terrorism, Tinubu tells West Africa (Nation)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday in Bissau, the capital of Guinea Bissau, urged leaders of the West Africa sub-region to work for peace and defend democracy.
He reflected on the threat to peace in the sub-region, which has reached an alarming proportion with terrorism, and the military incursion into politics.
Tinubu was unanimously elected as chair of the 16-nation Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of States/Governments of the sub-region, the first he attended as Nigerian leader.
He unfolded his agenda for elaborate socio-economic plans for the sub-region and encouraged trade and investment among member-states. Read more
2023 Hajj: First batch of Lagos pilgrims depart Makkah for Nigeria (Punch)
No fewer than 380 Lagos State pilgrims who participated in the just-concluded 2023 Hajj in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia flew out on Monday for home.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the pilgrims who departed King AbdulAzeez International Airport, Jeddah, aboard a Flynas airline at 11.30 am Saudi time, are expected to land safely at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, at about 3:30 pm Nigerian time.
The flight which was described as a ‘‘special flight’’ by the Amir-ul-Hajj, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, has on board the elderly ones, those with medical challenges, and others. Read more
MURIC director, Prof. Akintola retires from LASU after 39 years (Vanguard)
Renowned scholar and Islamic rights activist in Nigeria, Prof. Lakin Akintola, has retired from the services of Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, after spending 39 illustrious years in the institution.
Akintola, who is a Professor of Islamic Eschatology, today (Monday) clocked the age of 70, necessitating his retirement as an accomplished academic.
The don is popular in the country for his relentless agitations for Muslim rights, under the auspices of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), which he founded. Read more
Missing Ex-ASUU president, Dipo Fasina, found in Turkey (Guardian)
A former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dipo Fasina, popularly known as Jingo, has been found in Turkey after being reported missing at the airport.
Fasina was declared missing on Saturday, July 1. This incident was confirmed by the current President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke.
The 76-year-old was travelling to Algeria when he was said to have missed his connecting flight from Istanbul, Turkey. Read more
FG sues Stella Oduah over alleged felony, document falsification, others (Channels)
The Federal Government has filed an eight-count charge against former Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah at a Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing her of falsely claiming to have lost her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate, among other allegations.
The charge was filed on June 26, 2023, according to court documents made available to Channels Television on Monday.
This comes amid controversy over alleged falsified documents claiming the former Anambra North completed the mandatory one-year programme. Read more
Oyebanji directs security operatives to arrest abductors of Ekiti APC Chairman (ThisDay)
The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, yesterday gave marching orders to the state Police Command, the Department of State Services (DSS) and Amotekun Corps to use security means to free the abducted state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Paul Omotoso, and two others from captivity.
Oyebanji stated that Omotoso shouldn’t only be rescued unscathed, that the perpetrators of the dastardly act be nabbed and made to face the full weight of the laws.
The former state Commissioner, Omotoso, and two others, were abducted by gunmen on Agbado-Imesi road last Saturday and taken to an unknown destination. Read more
Margot Robbie can’t imagine anyone else directing Barbie movie except Greta Gerwig (FilmNews)
Margot Robbie can’t imagine anyone else being able to write and direct a Barbie movie like Greta Gerwig.
In the upcoming movie, which was co-written and directed by Gerwig, Robbie plays the iconic Mattel doll alongside Ryan Gosling as Ken.
Speaking at the Los Angeles premiere of “Barbie” on Sunday, the Australian actress insisted that Gerwig was the perfect person for the job. Read more
Amy Schumer sets record straight on Barbie after ‘creative differences’ led to her exit (Metro)
Amy Schumer has cleared up rumours surrounding her involvement with the Barbie movie.
It was previously reported that the comedy actress, 42, was due to star as the titular character in Greta Gerwig’s hotly-anticipated live-action flick.
However, she confirmed her exit from the project in 2017 due to scheduling conflicts, with Margot Robbie now in the lead role. Read more
BBC suspends top presenter amid claims he paid teen for explicit photos (USAToday)
The BBC said Sunday that it has suspended a leading presenter who is alleged to have paid a teenager for sexually explicit photos.
As senior British politicians urged a rapid investigation, the broadcaster said it was working to establish the facts of “a complex and fast-moving set of circumstances.”
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer held crisis talks with the broadcaster’s director-general, and said the “deeply concerning” allegations must be looked into “swiftly and sensitively.” Read more
‘‘Napoleon’’ Trailer: Joaquin Phoenix and Ridley Scott reunite for action epic (THR)
Ridley Scott returns to the historical action epic genre in this first trailer for his sweeping “Napoleon”, which reunites the director with his Oscar-winning Gladiator star Joaquin Phoenix.
Napoleon is described as capturing “Napoleon Bonaparte’s relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his one true love, Josephine (Vanessa Kirby), showcasing his visionary military and political tactics against some of the most dynamic practical battle sequences ever filmed.”
“I’m the first to admit when I make a mistake,” intones Bonaparte (Phoenix) at one point in the trailer, “I simply never do.” Read more
“Oppenheimer” to feature “prolonged full nudity” from 2 lead stars (HuffPost)
“Oppenheimer” will feature “prolonged full nudity” from two of its leading stars, it has been reported.
The Christopher Nolan film, which is one of the most anticipated of the year, tells the real-life story of Robert J. Oppenheimer, who is known as ‘the father of the atomic bomb’ due to his work on the Manhattan Project in developing the first nuclear weapons during World War II.
Cillian Murphy is taking on the role of Oppenheimer, who – along with Florence Pugh – has reportedly filmed nude scenes for the movie, according to The Guardian. Read more
Mexican reporter Luis Martín Sánchez Iñiguez found dead with ‘‘signs of violence’’ (NYPost)
A journalist for one of Mexico’s leading newspapers was found dead in the western state of Nayari in what authorities believe was an attack related to his reporting.
The body of La Jornada correspondent Luis Martín Sánchez Iñiguez was found Saturday morning on the outskirts of Tepic, the state capital, the outlet reported.
Sánchez Íñiguez, 59, had been missing since Wednesday and efforts to find him were underway after his family reported him missing on Friday, the Nayarit state prosecutors’ office said. Read more
Putin met with ‘‘traitor’’ Wagner leader days after attempted mutiny, Kremlin says (TimesOfIsrael)
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin days after a short-lived rebellion by the mercenary chief and his private army, the Kremlin’s spokesman said Monday.
The three-hour meeting took place at the Kremlin on June 29 and also involved commanders from the military company Prigozhin founded, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Wagner mercenaries have fought alongside Russian troops in Ukraine. Prigozhin had a long-simmering feud with Russia’s top military brass which on June 24 culminated in an armed mutiny in which he led his fighters into Russia. Read more
Uzodimma redeems N30m gift to 6 Super Falcons players (Guardian) Governor Hope Uzodimma has redeemed his pledge of N30m to six Super Falcons players who participated at the 2022 Africa Women Championship (AWCON) in Morocco who are from the state.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Oguwike Nwachuku, in Owerri.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Uzodimma had pledged N5 million for each of the players when they paid him a courtesy call at the Government House Owerri.
The players are Desire Okparanozie, Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, Vivian Ikechukwu, Goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi, Ohale Osinachi and U.S.-born Michelle Alozie. Read more
Nigeria wins U-21 Women’s Volleyball Championship (Punch)
Nigeria has won the 2023 African U-21 Nations Women’s Volleyball Championship Zone 3 in Niamey, Niger Republic.
Nigeria defeated Ghana 3:0 (25-10, 25-15, 25-10) in the finals on Sunday night to clinch the title.
The girls had earlier eased past local rivals Ghana in their first match of the tournament with a 3-0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-8) win. Read more
Barcelona’s Oshoala leads World Cup charge for ever-present Nigeria (Leadership)
Sporting a pair of sunglasses, Asisat Oshoala, celebrated Barcelona’s UEFA Champions League triumph with her team-mates in early June, but Nigeria was already on her mind.
Standing on the balcony of the historic palace in Placa de Sant Jaume in the city’s Gothic neighbourhood before several thousand jubilant fans, Oshoala was handed the microphone.
“Visca Barca and Visca Nigeria,” the 28-year-old forward said, swapping in her homeland for “Catalunya”, as the refrain usually goes. Read more
Lena Petermann: Leicester City women sign Montpellier forward (BBC)
Women’s Super League side Leicester City have signed Germany striker Lena Petermann on a permanent deal from Montpellier.
Petermann scored 26 goals in 48 league appearances in her four years with the French Division 1 side.
The 29-year-old has won 25 Germany caps but has not been included in her country’s World Cup squad.
“It feels great,” said Petermann. “I’m really excited to be here, to play and give everything for this club.” Read more
Man Utd told Andre Onana will be targeted in Premier League in David de Gea repeat (Mirror)
Erik ten Hag has been warned that Andre Onana will have to overcome the same early challenges as David de Gea if he becomes the new Manchester United No 1 next season.
After it was confirmed that De Gea, 32, would be leaving Old Trafford after 11 seasons, United are closing in on a deal for the Cameroon international. Personal terms have already been agreed, with only Inter’s valuation now proving a stumbling block with United set to submit a second improved offer.
Onana, 27, previously worked with Ten Hag with Ajax, and seemingly fits the mold of keeper sought after by the Dutch boss. Adept with the ball at his feet, one of the Serie A star’s main strengths was a perceived weakness of his Spanish predecessor. Read more
Disgraced sports doc Larry Nassar stabbed multiple times in jail attack (Global)
Disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar, who was convicted of sexually abusing female gymnasts, was stabbed multiple times during an altercation with another incarcerated person at a federal prison in Florida.
Two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press the attack happened Sunday at United States Penitentiary Coleman in Florida. The people said he was in stable condition Monday.
One of the people said he had been stabbed in the back and in the chest. Read more