Alleged Rape: Lagos Police go after accused as 14-year-old victim’s mother uncooperative (Leadership)
The Lagos State Police Command has said that it was unable to find a landlord’s son accused of raping a 14-year-old daughter of his father’s tenants at a residence in Alakuko area of Lagos.
LEADERSHIP earlier reported on Tuesday that a viral video clip on X showing the aftermath of the alleged rape, had sparked outrage, with many social media users demanding that the police bring the perpetrator to justice.
However, the police spokesperson hours later took to his X handle, saying operatives of the command could not arrest the suspect at the provided address as he was not found as at the time of their visit. Read more
Tinubu arrives in Equatorial Guinea for 3-day official visit (Vanguard)
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday afternoon arrived in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, for a three-day official visit.
President Tinubu, who arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Malabo International Airport at about 2:07 pm, was received by the Prime Minister of the country, Manuela Roka Botey, on arrival.
The President’s visit according to his spokesman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale is on the invitation of his Equatorial Guinean counterpart, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. Read more
Thugs cart away Ganduje’s corruption trial documents – Kano Govt (Channels)
Following the nationwide protest that turned violent in Kano State, the state government has confirmed that thugs stormed and severely damaged the premises of the Kano State High Court, carting away crucial documents related to corruption charges against the former governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, confirmed this to journalists when he paid a visit to the court for an on-the-spot assessment of the damages.
He was accompanied by the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Isah Dederi, the Chief Registrar of the High Court, Abdullahi Ado Bayero, and other high-ranking judiciary officials. Read more
Petrol sells for N950 per litre in Kano (Punch)
Fuel marketers in Kano State have jerked up their prices as a litre is being sold at between N900 and N950 per litre.
Following the increase, commercial tricycle operators within the metropolitan local government areas have also increased their fares by about 100 per cent.
This is coming just a few days after the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria# nationwide protest. Read more
Lagos, Ogun partner to end open defecation (NewTelegraph)
The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and its Ogun state counterpart on Tuesday held a sensitisation workshop against open defecation along the Lagos/Ogun State corridor.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sensitisation programme started at OPIC inward Lagos to the end of Otedola bridge.
Speaking at the event, Dr Tunde Ajayi, the General Manager, LASEPA, described open defecation as a problem that had bedeviled communities globally. Read more
Only 150 out of 6000 private schools certified –Benue (DailyTrust)
The Benue State Education Quality Assurance Agency (BEQA) has expressed worry that only 150 out of 6000 private schools operating in the state are certified.
Director General of BEQA, Dr. Terna Francis, made the disclosure on Wednesday during a meeting alongside the General Manager, Benue State Urban Development Board, Ternongo Mede and the Board of Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) Chairman, Emmanuel Agema, with critical stakeholders at the BEQA headquarters in view of the planned closure of schools and demolition of substandard structures.
Francis said the meeting was another vital step in his continuous commitment to improving educational standards in the state and engaging with educational stakeholders. Read more
Speaker Abbas makes U-turn, withdraws counter subversion bill (Nation)
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen has ordered the withdrawal of the Counter Subversion bill sponsored by him which tends to proscribe harsh punishment for those accused of engaging in activities regarded as subversive.
The bill sought to punish between two and twenty-five years imprisonment or a fine of between N2 million and N15 million both on individuals and organizations or both on those found guilty.
The objective of the bill, a copy of which was sighted by The Nation is to (a) Provide for a legal and institutional framework to detect, prevent, investigate, criminalize, prosecute, and sanction subversive and related activities; and regulate the procedure and determine how the provisions of this Act shall be carried out”. Read more
Obaseki’s wife flags off sale of 500k prepaid metres in Edo (Tribune)
The wife of Edo State governor, Mrs Betsy Obaseki has flagged off the sale of 500,000 pre-paid meters to residents across local government areas in the state.
She said the initiative was geared to make electricity meters affordable for residents, eliminate estimated billings and boost Small and Medium Scale businesses.
Betsy who disclosed this during the flag off ceremony held in Benin City, noted that the Edo State Government was passionate about ending the sufferings of people, hence the initiative. Read more
Madonna to celebrate 66th birthday with a visit to the famed archaeological site at Pompeii (ABC)
Madonna will celebrate her 66th birthday with a private evening tour of the famed Italian archaeological site at Pompeii, officials said.
Naples Prefect Michele Di Bari denied Italian media speculation the singer was planning a big birthday bash at the ancient city, destroyed in A.D. 79 when Mount Vesuvius erupted. But he confirmed Madonna was planning a private evening tour on Friday that was purely cultural in nature.
“She loves Pompeii, loves the archaeological park, and can’t wait to come,” he told reporters Tuesday. Read more
Rosalia joins Blackpink’s Lisa in ‘New Woman’ music video teaser (UPI)
Thai singer and rapper Lisa is teasing her new single and music video with Spanish music star Rosalía.
Lisa, a member of the K-pop group Blackpink, released a preview Wednesday of her video for the song “New Woman” featuring Rosalía.
The “New Woman” teaser shows Lisa sport both platinum blonde and black hair as she hangs out with Rosalía. The clip ends with a shot of Lisa and Rosalía dressed in all white and black, respectively, as they pose in a way that evokes a yinyang. Read more
Sudanese peace talks get underway despite boycott by the army (AfricaNews)
United States-initiated peace talks aimed at stopping Sudan’s 16-month war are due to get underway in Switzerland on Wednesday.
The negotiations take place at a time of growing alarm at the plight of the Sudanese people, caught in the middle of fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
It is hoped the discussions in Geneva will see an agreement on an end to the violence, broader humanitarian access, and a mechanism to monitor and ensure implementation. Read more
Snoop Dogg joins Adele and Jimmy Fallon in mocking Raygun (DailyMail)
Snoop Dogg has joined Adele in discussing the story of the Olympic Games, Raygun.
The Australian became an overnight sensation following her disastrous breakdancing performance in Paris, in which she failed to score a single point from her three routines. showcasing what can only be described as unique moves.
Raygun, who goes by the name Rachael Gunn in everyday life, has been relentlessly mocked online in the aftermath of the inaugural women’s competition, with fans finding her kangaroo, snake and sprinkler moves amusing. Read more
Japan’s PM Fumio Kishida quits to save his party after years of scandal (Independent)
Fumio Kishida has announced he will step down as Japan’s prime minister after three years in office marred by political scandals, saying his exit is “what is best for the public”.
The 67-year-old’s surprise departure paves the way for a new leader of his governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which currently controls both houses of parliament but has seen support dwindle.
“I will devote myself to supporting the new leader … as a foot soldier,” he said, urging party unity to rebuild public trust. “We need to clearly show an LDP reborn. In order to show a changing LDP, the most obvious first step is for me to bow out.” Read more
Family targeted during riots forced to hide upstairs as car is destroyed by far-right thugs (Mirror)
Carer Rupa Barua, 31, said the riots have left them stranded and without a car – as the damage caused by far right thugs is not being covered by their insurance
A family targeted during the riots says it has been a “curse” on their lives and left them “emotionally and financially exhausted.”
Carer Rupa Barua, 31, who has an 18-month old baby, said the disorder that hit Middlesbrough has left them stranded. They now have no car as they’ve been told the damage caused by the far right thugs was not covered under their third party insurance. And they’re home is still boarded up after thugs launched bricks into their windows. Read more
George Clooney claims David O. Russell ‘made his life hell’ on Three Kings set (FilmNews)
George Clooney has claimed director David O. Russell made his life “hell” on the set of their 1999 movie Three Kings.
The Out of Sight actor only ever works with “people who like what they do” following his experience with the “miserable” director because he believes no film is “worth” spending months with someone who makes his “life hell”.
“The older you get, time allotment is very different. Five months out of your life is a lot,” he told British GQ in a joint interview with Brad Pitt. “And so it’s not just like, ‘Oh, I’m going to go do a really good film, like Three Kings, and I’m going to have a miserable f**k like David O Russell making my life hell. Making every person in the crew’s life hell.’ It’s not worth it. Not at this point in my life. Just to have a good product.” Read more
Sodje blasts NFF for delaying appointment of new head coach for Super Eagles (Leadership)
Sam Sodje has voiced his displeasure over the delay in the appointment of a new head coach for the Super Eagles.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is still foot-dragging on the appointment of a new head coach for the three-time African champions.
Former Ajax winger, Finidi George left the post in June following NFF’s decision to employ a foreign technical adviser for the team. Read more
Football Supporters’ Association says Premier League is ‘in denial’ over fans’ concerns on use of VAR (IrishIndependent)
The Premier League is “in denial” about fans’ concerns around VAR, the Football Supporters’ Association has said.
An independent survey commissioned by the league has found 77 per cent – almost four in five – of those questioned support keeping VAR with improvements to the way it is used, in stark contrast to an FSA survey of almost 10,000 supporters from last summer.
That survey found almost two-thirds (63.3 per cent) wanted to scrap the use of the technology, and only one in 20 who had experienced VAR in stadiums rated their experience of it as good or very good. Read more
Atalanta vs Real Madrid: Gasperini banks on Lookman for victory (CompleteSports)
Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini is rooting for Ademola Lookman to be the hero again when La Dea face Real Madrid in the Super Cup.
Lookman inspired La Dea’s victory over Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Europa League final in May.
The 27-year-old scored all three goals to help the Serie A club win the competition. Read more
Botswana welcomes Tebogo home with stadium spectacular (BBC)
Tens of thousands of people packed a stadium in Botswana to welcome sprinter Letsile Tebogo home, with the country’s first ever Olympic gold medal.
Rapturous supporters waved the country’s blue-and-black national flag as the Olympic team touched down in the capital, Gaborone, on Tuesday.
The athletes paraded around the National Stadium on a rooftop bus, waving at fans enjoying a half-day holiday declared by the president to celebrate Tebogo’s success. Read more
Dana White gives big update on Conor McGregor’s return to the Octagon (DAZN)
Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler was supposed to headline UFC 303 back in June before the former broke his toe in training, postponing the bout even further.
But in a press conference Tuesday night, Dana White revealed that he had a recent conversation with McGregor and even gave a potential timetable for the “Notorious” one’s return to the Octagon.
“We talked, we didn’t meet up but we talked,” White told reporters. “He wants to fight so we’ll figure it out.
“Not this year,” White added on. “He won’t fight this year.” Read more
Olympic marathon runner reveals she broke her leg at start of Paris 2024 race — But still crossed finish line (People)
Team GB’s Rose Harvey was hit with every runner’s worst fear during the women’s marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The 31-year-old suffered a broken leg during the race on Sunday, Aug. 11, in an agonizing experience that she struggled to get through before finishing in 78th place.
“It was really tough,” Harvey told the BBC. “The hills didn’t help at all, the downhills were just agony and it just got worse and worse. At the halfway mark, I knew it was going to be incredibly painful.” Read more
