AIT, Raypower FM still breaking broadcasting code, NBC laments (Punch)
The National Broadcasting Commission has said barely 24 hours after restoring the radio and television licences of Daar Communications Plc, its stations, Africa Independent Television and Raypower 100.5FM have begun breaching the broadcasting code. The NBC said this in a statement on Saturday. The statement read in part, “The National Broadcasting Commission wishes to take note of the ex parte order granted by the Federal High Court Abuja division on June 7, 2019 to Daar Communications Plc. Read more
Deputy Senate President: Pro-Buhari group, Southeast youths tip Kalu (Nation)
The foremost pro President Muhammadu Buhari group in the Southeast zone, the Buhari Southeast Youth Movement (BUSEYM), has thrown its weight behind the agitation by the people of the southeast zone for the position of the Deputy Senate President and declared their support for Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, describing the former Abia State governor as the right choice of youths in the region. In a communique jointly signed by the Director-General and the Acting National Publicity Secretary of the group, Nwabueze Onwuneme and Nene Jones respectively after the group’s general meeting in Enugu, the Enugu state capital… Read more
Ohanaeze youths seek return of Bakassi Boys to secure South-East (Punch)
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council on Saturday called on the governors in the South-East to ensure the reformation of the Bakassi Boys to safeguard the region. The group lamented that herdsmen were terrorising the region like they were doing in other parts of the country. The President-General of the group, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said this in a statement in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital. Read more
Buhari sends delegation to Ilorin on condolence (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a letter of condolence to the Emir of Ilorin, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, following the loss of his mother, Alhaja Aishat Nma Zulkarnaini-Gambari. In the letter, which was delivered by a government delegation led by the Chief of Staff, Abba Kari, Buhari expressed his sympathies and that of the nation to the Emir, the Kwara State Government and people of the Ilorin Emirate over the loss of the very kind and generous person that was the deceased. Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, also noted that Aishat’s love and kindness had transcended the palace walls, reaching the poor and underprivileged. Read more
N3.4 billion: Emir of Kano, Sanusi replies Ganduje’s query (Punch)
The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has replied to the query issued him by the Kano State Government over alleged misappropriation of N3.4 billion. The one-page reply with reference number KEC/CF/FIN/1/162, dated June 7, 2019, was signed by the Acting Secretary to the Kano Emirate Council, Alhaji Abba Yusuf. The letter titled “Re-Report of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti–Corruption Commission”, a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Kano, was addressed to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). Read more
Dangote, Fayemi meet Ganduje to save Sanusi (Guardian)
Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and the Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II held a peace meeting in Abuja on Friday, indicating that reconciliation between the duo was in sight. The pair have endured a frosty relationship since Ganduje won the governorship election in the state under controversial circumstances. The former Central Bank Governor allegedly supported the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party Abba Yusuf for the poll in a bid to deny Ganduje a second term. Read more
Release our Certificate of Return, Bauchi National Assembly aspirants urge INEC (Nation)
Five aspirants at the concluded 2019 National Assembly election in Bauchi State have asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release their Certificate of Return sequel to an Abuja High Court judgement delivered by Hon. Justice Bello Kawu on the 16th of May 2019, which nullified votes scored by All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates who won in five constituencies. Consequently, Justice Bello Kawu had ordered INEC to issue certificate of returns to the candidates that came second in five constituencies at the National Assembly election in the state. Read more
Bandits strike again in Katsina, kill three brothers (Punch)
Three men from the same mother were on Saturday morning killed by bandits in Zaka village, Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State. Their corpses were brought to the palace of the Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumin Kabir, later in the evening. The aged mother of the victims accompanied the corpses to the palace. Read more
FG to employ all qualified, licensed teachers (Nation)
The Federal Government of Nigeria has pledged to employ all qualified and licensed teachers in the country. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Sonny Echono, who made this known, said every qualified and licensed teacher would be employed as part of efforts to rid the system of unqualified teachers. Echono said this while monitoring the May Diet of the Teachers Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE), organised by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) in Abuja on Saturday. Read more
Whistleblower sues FG over alleged N1.9bn commission default (Punch)
A whistleblower (name withheld), who exposed a secret account with a balance of $223m (N80.2bn) has sued the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation for failing to pay him the N1.9bn commission promised him for exposing corruption. In a suit filed before a FCT High Court vide a writ of summons dated June 7, 2019 by his lawyer, Aliyu Alemu, of Aliyu Alemu and Co, the whistleblower prayed the court to compel the Federal Government to fulfil its promise. Read more
Power-drunk IG team’s cops shoot boy dead, dispose of corpse in Rivers (Punch)
The grief that beclouded Mrs Ebi Agori, wife of a retired naval officer, when she lost her son terribly escalated when she learnt that the officers of the IGP Monitoring Unit, who allegedly shot dead her son, told her that they had disposed of the body of the 21-year-old Daniel. Ebi, an evangelist, who was traumatised by the development, alleged that her son was killed on the order of the Head, Inspector-General of Police Monitoring Unit in Rivers State, Justin Adaka. The 47-year-old woman, who was inconsolable when SUNDAY PUNCH approached her, said she had yet to understand why policemen would kill her son for no reason. Read more
Sudan crisis: Call for civil disobedience after arrests (BBC)
The umbrella group leading Sudan’s pro-democracy movement has called for a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience, days after a bloody military crackdown left dozens dead. It called for the campaign to start on Sunday, and continue until a civilian government was installed. The announcement followed the arrest of three opposition figures who had been involved in mediation efforts. Read more
Venezuela crisis: Border with Colombia reopens after four months (BBC)
Thousands of Venezuelans have crossed into Colombia to buy food, medicine and other essentials after the border between the two countries was reopened. The crossing was closed in February at President Nicolás Maduro’s request as opposition leader Juan Guaidó prepared to bring in US-backed humanitarian aid. The country has faced shortages of basic supplies as a result of a severe years-long economic crisis. Read more
Albania president cancels local elections amid protests (BBC)
Albanian President Ilir Meta has cancelled local elections after months of anti-government protests. Mr Meta said the political situation in Albania would not allow for fair elections, scheduled for 30 June. The announcement came shortly before protesters, some who had been throwing smoke bombs and firecrackers outside parliament in the capital Tirana, were dispersed by police firing tear gas. Read more
Man, 18, shot and stabbed in north London (Metro)
An 18-year-old man has been shot and stabbed in north London. Met Police said officers were called to the scene in Islington after receiving reports at around 3.27pm on Saturday. The young man was found injured in Pooles Park – off Seven Sisters Road – and was rushed to hospital. Read more
Walker struck by lightning dies in Scottish Highlands (BBC)
A woman has died after being struck by lightning in the Scottish Highlands. A group of seven walkers were on Na Gruagaichean, a mountain near Ben Nevis in north-west Scotland, when lightning struck on Saturday, police said. The party were all airlifted to Fort William but the 55-year-old died of her injuries, Police Scotland said. Read more
Kim Kardashian and sister Khloe get cute over Kanye West on his birthday (Metro)
Kanye West turned 42 years old on Saturday (8 June) and was no doubt feeling the love from his famous family. His wife Kim Kardashian was seen declaring her love for him on Instagram, while sister-in-law Khloe thanked Kanye for everything he does for the Kardashian clan. Kim shared a sweet screenshot of herself and her Kanye on FaceTime with her 141million followers and wrote: ‘Happy Birthday. Read more
Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger are officially married after tying the knot in California (Metro)
Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger are officially married. Sources confirmed to People that the couple tied the knot on Saturday (8 June) in Montecito, California, surrounded by their friends and family in an intimate ceremony. Guests at the wedding included Chris’ son Jack, six, who he shares with ex Anna Faris, and Katherine’s brothers Patrick and Christopher, along with her sister Christina. Read more
Women’s World Cup: Falcons score own goal as Norway win 3-0 (Punch)
Former champions Norway kicked off their Women’s World Cup campaign with a routine 3-0 victory over Nigeria, despite the absence of Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg. Guro Reiten’s deflected shot gave the 1995 winners the lead on 17 minutes in Reims before a powerful strike from Lisa-Marie Utland doubled their advantage. Osinachi Ohale turned a cross into her own net before half-time as Norway cruised to an opening win in Group A, leaving them level on three points with hosts France. Read more
Italy crush Greece to stay perfect in Euro 2020 qualifiers (Guardian)
Italy crushed Greece 3-0 to notch up their third win in as many games and pull three points clear at the top of their Euro 2020 qualifying group in Athens on Saturday. The four-time world champions have put the failure to qualify for last year’s World Cup behind them, and have now been transformed under new coach Roberto Mancini. Nicolo Barella opened the scoring after 23 minutes with Lorenzo Insigne and Leonardo Bonucci adding two more in a 10-minute blitz which followed. Read more
PSG expect Neymar to recover in four weeks (Guardian)
Neymar is expected to be sidelined for four weeks by the ankle injury that has ruled him out of the Copa America with Brazil, his club Paris Saint-Germain said Saturday. Two club doctors diagnosed his injury as a “sprain of the lateral ligament” in his right ankle, adding he would not require surgery and would instead receive “conservative treatment”. Neymar was ruled out of the Copa America after hurting himself during the 2-0 win over Qatar in a friendly on Wednesday, capping a nightmare year for the world’s most expensive player who faces accusations of rape which he strongly denies. Read more
Wijnaldum backs Van Dijk for Ballon d’Or recognition (Guardian)
Virgil van Dijk deserves to win the Ballon d’Or should the Netherlands beat hosts Portugal to lift the first ever Nations League on Sunday, according to his club and international teammate Georginio Wijnaldum. Van Dijk was named man of the match as Liverpool claimed the Champions League last weekend. The centre-back also won the PFA’s Premier League Player of the Year award and could become the first defender in 13 years to win the prize for the world’s best player. Read more
Arsenal transfer target Samuel Umtiti insists he is staying at Barcelona (Metro)
Samuel Umtiti insists he will remain at Barcelona this summer, despite interest from Arsenal. Unai Emery has reportedly identified the centre-back as his No.1 defensive target and Barcelona are prepared to offload him. But Umtiti dismissed the growing transfer speculation surrounding him and confirmed he intends to stay at the Nou Camp. Read more
Sebastian Vettel beats Lewis Hamilton to Canada pole position (BBC)
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel beat Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes to pole position at the Canadian Grand Prix. It was only the second time in seven races Mercedes have been beaten to pole – the other by Vettel’s team-mate Charles Leclerc in Bahrain in March. Vettel was 0.206 seconds quicker than Hamilton, with Leclerc 0.680secs off. Daniel Ricciardo was a surprise fourth for Renault after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was caught out by a crash by Kevin Magnussen in the second session. Read more