Alleged rape: Baba Ijesha to appear before court on June 24 (Punch)
Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka alias Baba Ijesha is to be arraigned at an Ikeja Special Offences Court on Thursday over allegations of sexual assault of a minor.
Baba Ijesha who has been in custody since his arrest on April 22, is to stand trial before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo on June 24, the judge’s cause list has revealed.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the matter is listed on cause list of the Court.
The PUNCH earlier reported that the actor was arraigned on June 16 at the Yaba Magistrates’ Court on charges of indecent treatment of a child, defilement of a child, sexual assault by penetration, attempted sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault. Read more
No loss of life in Marina fire outbreak -LASEMA (Guardian)
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said no life was lost in the fire outbreak which occurred at a three-storey building in Marina, Lagos Island, on Sunday.
LASEMA Spokesman, Nosa Okunbor, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the fire started in one of the flats in the building.
“Earlier today, LASEMA and other stakeholders extinguished the fire that gutted the three-storey Elephant House building at Marina.
“We effectively stopped it from extending to other property around it. Fortunately, no loss of life and no injuries were recorded. Read more
Lagos school proprietor arrested for molesting student (Punch)
The Proprietor of Megland Comprehensive School, Lekki, Lagos State, Emmanuel Madueke, has been arrested by the police for allegedly molesting and harassing a female student of the school.
It was gathered that 62-year-old Madueke, who developed a cordial relationship with the student, had on May 26, 2021, made advances to the victim during the school’s Children Day celebration and kissed her on the lips, but she pushed him away and ran out of his office.
The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, in a statement on Sunday, stated that its team, which comprised officers of the Office of Education Quality Assurance, Ministry of Youth and Social Development and the DSVRT, visited the school based on the state government’s Executive Order on Safeguarding and Child Protection Programme, 2016.
The Coordinator of the DSVRT, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, who noted that the proprietor’s alleged act contravened the Child’s Rights Law, 2015 as well as sections 135 and 263 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, said the suspect claimed that his action was an innocent gesture on the student’s cheek. Read more
UAE makes U-turn, reinstates ban on Nigerian flights (DailyTrust)
Barely 48 hours after announcing resumption of flights to Nigeria, Emirates, the UAE flag carrier, has again announced indefinite suspension of flights to Nigeria.
The UAE authorities had initially fixed Wednesday, June 23, 2021, for resumption of flights to Nigeria.
But in a statement on its website on Monday, the airline said, “In line with government directives, passenger flights to and from Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) are suspended with effect from 21 June 2021 until further notice.”
Daily Trust reports that the airline had on Saturday announced resumption of flights, which were suspended in March over diplomatic row on COVID-19 protocols. Read more
Estate agent docked for allegedly duping client of N220,000 (Vanguard)
An Estate Agent, Olugbenga Awoyemi on Monday appeared before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan for allegedly obtaining N220,000 from his client by pretense.
Awoyemi, 40, of Awoyemi area in Ologuneru, Eleyele, Ibadan, is being tried on two-count charge of obtaining by pretense and stealing.
The Prosecutor, ASP Sunday Fatola alleged that the defendant obtained the money from one Adenike Akinkuade on May 27, 2021 about 12 noon at Awoyemi area of Ibadan,
Fatola said the defendant collected the money on pretense of renting a two-bedroom apartment for Akintunde, knowing same to be false. Read more
Ebonyi Attacks: Police parades teenager, 60 others (Guardian)
The Police Command in Ebonyi on Monday, paraded 60 suspects including a teenager over alleged attacks on its personnel and public facilities, among other offences.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Aliyu Garba, while parading the suspects, remarked that over 50 of them were directly involved in various attacks on police personnel, facilities and public infrastructure across the state.
Garba said that several AK 47 and AR rifles with live ammunition, locally made pistols, locally-fabricated improvised explosives, machetes, jack-knives, charms among other items were recovered from the suspects. Read more
JAMB directs candidates in delisted CBT centres to reprint slip (Punch)
The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board has directed candidates scheduled to take examinations in the 24 delisted centres to print their notification slips for new dates and time of examinations.
The JAMB Head of Protocol and Public Affairs, Dr Fabian Benjamin, gave the directive in a statement in Abuja on Monday.
The board had delisted 24 Computer-Based Centres across the country over their poor performance at the commencement of the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
“Candidates scheduled to take the examination in delisted centres can proceed to print their examination notification slips from June 2020 for their new schedule dates and time,” the statement quoted Benjamin as saying. Read more
Marketers call for improved safety in handling, distribution of LPG (Guardian)
The Nigeria Association of Liquefied Natural Gas Marketers (NALPGAM), has called for improvement in the handling and distribution of LPG to ensure safety.
Mr Bassey Essien, Executive Secretary, NALPGAM, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, following Thursday’s gas tanker explosion that killed five persons in Lagos.
He said the incident highlighted the need to improve safety in handling and distribution of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
According to him, the frequency of such incidents is becoming alarming, which is not good for the image of Nigeria and the gas business itself. Read more
How fake bureau de change operator swindled businessman of N12.7m, witness narrates (Vanguard)
A prosecution witness, detective Dalyop Davou on Monday told an FCT High Court, Kubwa how Mr Nura Amadi allegedly swindled a businessman, Alhaji Garba Ibrahim of N12.7 million, claiming to be a Bureau de change operator.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Amadi with two counts bordering on fraud.
Davou, made the allegation while being led in evidence by the EFCC prosecution counsel, Yetunde Alabi.
He said the complainant’s lawyer, Shipi Rabo wrote a petition to the EFCC on Ibrahim’s behalf sometime in July 28, 2017. Read more
James Michael Tyler: Friends’ Gunther reveals cancer diagnosis (BBC)
Friends star James Michael Tyler, who played Central Perk waiter Gunther, has said he has stage four prostate cancer.
In an interview with NBC’s Today show, the 59-year-old revealed he was diagnosed in September 2018 after a routine physical examination.
It has since spread to the actor’s bones and he can no longer walk. He is undergoing chemotherapy.
“Eventually, you know, it’s gonna probably get me,” he told host Craig Melvin. Read more
Nigeria, South Africa, others considered as vaccine production hubs – WTO (Guardian)
World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Monday said Africa is working with the European Union and other partners to help create regional vaccine manufacturing hubs in South Africa, Senegal and Rwanda,
“We have now seen that over-centralisation of vaccine production capacity is incompatible with equitable access in a crisis situation,” Okonjo-Iweala said on Monday during a virtual meeting, Reuters reported.
“Regional production hubs, in tandem with open supply chains, offer a more promising path to preparedness.”
In January, the Nigerian government announced the release of N10 billion to support domestic vaccine production. Read more
Spain’s Sanchez announces pardons for jailed Catalan separatist leaders (France24)
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said his government would pardon the nine jailed leaders of Catalonia’s failed 2017 independence bid on Tuesday as a first step towards ending the political conflict over the wealthy region.
As he spoke in Barcelona’s opera house, several hundred separatists protested outside, demanding still more concessions, and one member of the audience interrupted him for a few seconds shouting “Independence”.
“I am convinced that getting these nine people out of prison … is a clear message of concord,” Sanchez said on Monday at the event in the region’s main city attended by around 300 members of Catalan civil society.
“Catalonia, Catalans we love you,” Sanchez said in Catalan at the end of his address, with the Spanish, Catalan and EU flags behind him. Read more
Curfew forgotten as France holds Fête de la Musique, but street concerts banned (RFI)
France on Monday celebrates the second Fête de la Musique since the beginning of the Covid-19 epidemic. As per last year, it will be subject to strict health regulations, and the usual improvised street concerts will be banned – but small concerts in bars and restaurants are allowed.
France has marked Fête de la Musique on 21 June, the summer solstice, every year since 1982. The 2021 edition will be another year with particular restrictions, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Strict health protocols have been put in place to accompany the event.
They include:
a ban on the customary improvised street concerts which characterise the event
a ban on gatherings of more than 10 people in the street
compulsory face masks when gathering in enclosed areas. Read more
Swedish government toppled in no-confidence vote (BBC)
Sweden’s parliament has passed a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Stefan Lofven.
A total of 181 of the 349 MPs voted in favour of the motion, with 51 abstentions. It is the first time in Swedish history that a prime minister has been ousted in such a vote.
The Social Democrat leader has a week to resign or call a snap election.
The decision came after a dispute over rent controls led the Left party to withdraw its support for the coalition. Read more
In its 60th year, the Annecy International Animated Film Festival spotlights African talent (France24)
Africa may not be the place that springs to mind when thinking of animation, but the Annecy International Animated Film Festival shows that there is serious talent on the continent.
The first international event of its kind to be held in France since the beginning of the Covid pandemic, the festival shows the progress that has been made in African animation. “Not just because of Covid but because of the internet, the playing field has been flattening for a very long time,” said festival juror Naddya. “Some tools which could only be accessed by some people who could go to some place to study are now readily available by groups of people all over the world.”
The films in the festival address specifically African themes, such as the false beliefs surrounding Albinism on the continent.
Disney has spotted the potential of African animation and is collaborating with a pan-African studio for the first time. Read more
France’s international Fipadoc film festival finds place in the sun at last (RFI)
Chilean film The Mole Agent (El Agente Topo) directed by Maite Aberdi has walked away with the Grand Prix Ciné+ at the Fipadoc International Documentary Festival. A treat for the audience in Biarritz, able to enjoy an event long-delayed due to the Covid pandemic. Among the 150 documentaries shot in places as diverse as DRC, Norway and Romania, many films chose to walk a fine line between real-life and fiction.
Usually a cool January fixture, the Biarritz-based French documentary festival took place under the scorching June sun, pushed back due to Covid lockdowns.
Determined the festival should go ahead, the organisers cast care to the ocean wind, to the delight of the local film buffs who kept their social distance and wore masks throughout.
In the face of pandemic adversity, the festival organised screenings for some 150 films from the world over. Some filmmakers from abroad even made it to exchange with audiences. Read more
CAS reduces Siasia’s FIFA life ban to five years, cancels $50,000 fine (Punch)
Former Super Eagles coach Samsom Siasia’s life ban from football has been reduced to five years by the Court of Arbitration for Sports.
In August 2019, world football body FIFA banned Siasia for life and fined him $50,000 and for agreeing to ‘the manipulation of matches’ for betting purposes.
According to FIFA, the Olympic silver medallist’s former Super Eagles coach’s ban emanated from an extensive investigation into matches that Wilson Perumal attempted to fix.
A statement from FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee said, “Siasia was found guilty of having accepted that he would receive bribes in relation to the manipulation of matches that Perumal attempted to manipulate for betting purposes.”
But Siasia denied the charges and appealed the ban at CAS. Read more
Euro 2020: France forward Ousmane Dembele ruled out of tournament by injury (BBC)
France forward Ousmane Dembele will miss the rest of Euro 2020 after suffering a knee injury.
Dembele came on as a second-half substitute during his team’s 1-1 draw with Hungary on Saturday but had to be replaced after 30 minutes.
“Ousmane Dembele had an X-ray at the Budapest hospital on Sunday night,” the French Football Federation said in a statement on Monday.
“The recovery time is incompatible with him staying in the squad.” Read more
Cavendish back in Tour de France after 3-year absence (RFI)
Mark Cavendish will return to the Tour de France for the first time since 2018 after he was named in Deceuninck-QuickStep’s squad for the race which begins on Saturday.
Cavendish, whose 30 Tour stage wins are second only to Eddy Merckx, was included after Irish rider Sam Bennett was ruled out through injury, meaning he will be unable to defend the green jersey that he won in last year’s race.
After a patchy few years, 36-year-old Cavendish has enjoyed a resurgence this year, winning four stages of the Tour of Turkey in April and the final stage of the Belgium Tour this month.
Cavendish said: “I am delighted to be going back to the Tour de France with Deceuninck-QuickStep. Read more
England duo Mount, Chilwell isolating after Gilmour contact (France24)
England suffered a Euro 2020 blow on Monday as Chelsea duo Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell were forced to self-isolate following contact with Scotland’s Billy Gilmour, who has tested positive for the coronavirus.
England’s 26-man squad all returned negative Covid-19 results after the news of Gilmour’s positive test broke earlier on Monday.
But Mount and Chilwell are likely to miss England’s Euro 2020 Group D clash with the Czech Republic at Wembley on Tuesday as a result of their contact with Gilmour.
Chelsea team-mates Mount and Gilmour were on opposing sides in England’s 0-0 draw against Scotland on Friday, while their club colleague Chilwell was an unused substitute. Read more
Tokyo 2020: Up to 10,000 Japanese fans will be permitted at Olympic venues (BBC)
The Olympics are scheduled to begin on 23 July, while the Paralympics follow a month later, from 24 August
Up to 10,000 Japanese fans will be permitted at Tokyo 2020 Olympic venues, despite warnings from health bosses.
Overseas spectators are already banned but organisers said domestic fans could attend providing crowds did not exceed 50% of a venue’s capacity.
Fans will not be allowed to shout or speak loudly, and must wear face masks at all times while in venues.
The Olympics are scheduled to begin on 23 July, while the Paralympics follow a month later, from 24 August. Read more
US Supreme Court backs payments for student athletes (RFI)
The US Supreme Court ruled Monday that America’s top university athletics body cannot use its monopoly power to block student-athletes from getting extra benefits for playing sports, eroding its power over the multi-billion-dollar college sports industry.
The high court sided unanimously with student-athletes in a narrow case focused on whether they can receive limited cash or non-cash benefits from their schools related to their education, which the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) current denies them.
While it did not weigh in on whether student-athletes should be able to cash in completely on their performances on football fields and basketball courts, the Supreme Court made it clear it did not accept the NCAA’s claim that its strict ban on their earning any money, to retain “amateur” status, was important to the business.
The court called the NCAA an effective monopoly in its control over the lucrative industry of college sports. Read more
Safety concerns to keep Shapovalov from Olympic tennis (France24)
World number 12 Denis Shapovalov said Monday that he will not play tennis for Canada at the Tokyo Olympics, citing safety issues even as Covid-19 remains a global concern.
Shapovalov did not specify the deadly coronavirus in a tweet announcing his decision.
“Hey everyone, after careful consideration I wanted to let you know that I will not be participating in the Olympics this year,” Shapovalov said.”Representing Canada means the world to me, but due to the current situation my team and I have decided this is the best decision for everyone’s safety.” Read more