Ambode not embattled, says Oshiomhole as APC govs rally in support (Vanguard)
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has said that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State was not in any way embattled over the contention for the governorship ticket of the party. Oshiomhole’s assertion came as he rallied governors of the party in support of Ambode. Read more
APC does not trust defectors from PDP, says Dogara (Punch)
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, has said that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress does not trust those who joined the party from the Peoples Democratic Party. He said that at every discussion or meeting, the defectors were always told that they were the problems of the ruling party. Read more
Osinbajo visits Anambra, Delta, sympathises with flood victims (Punch)
The Vice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday visited some flood-ravaged areas of Anambra State to sympathise with the affected residents. He assured them that the Federal Government would intervene by supplying them with food and other relief materials. Read more
Court stops police from arresting Adeleke (Punch)
An Osun State High Court sitting in Ejigbo has granted an order restraining the police from arresting the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Senator Ademola Adeleke. The police had on Wednesday asked Adeleke to appear at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on the allegation of certificate forgery but President Muhammadu Buhari’s intervention stopped the police’s summon on the candidate. Read more
IPOB to sue Orji Kalu over Kanu’s whereabouts (Vanguard)
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, yesterday revealed its plan to drag the former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu to court over comment on the whereabout of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu.The lawyer to IPOB, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, told Vanguard in Owerri, that Kalu’s statement was a script written by the Federal Government and acted by him (Kalu). Read more
Obasanjo Farms’ closure not political– Oyo (Punch)
The Oyo State government on Thursday said the closure of Obasanjo Farms in the Oluyole Estate area of Ibadan was not political. It said more than 400 other businesses were also sealed for their failure to pay the state’s Environmental Development Levy after several notices were served on them. Read more
N7.6bn fraud: Orji Kalu’s firm loses bid to suspend trial (Punch)
The Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday dismissed applications seeking a stay of proceedings in the trial of a former Governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, for alleged N7.6bn fraud. The applications seeking a stay of proceedings were filed by Kalu’s firm, Slok Nigeria Limited; and Ude Udeogu, who are co-defendants with the ex-governor in the criminal case. Read more
Police recover $470.5m, N8bn NNPC funds hidden in commercial banks (Punch)
The police said they had recovered $470.5m belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s Brass Liquefied Natural Gas hidden in some commercial banks in violation of the directives of the Federal Government on Treasury Single Account. The force disclosed that another N8.8bn belonging to the NNPC/LNG which was also not remitted to the TSA Account was equally recovered. Read more
Terrorism keeping girls out of school in North-East – Report (Punch)
An organisation based in the United Kingdom, known as Plan International, has said in a report that female pupils in the North-East states of Borno and Adamawa have been unable to continue their education due to the fear of terrorist attacks and kidnappers, as well as poverty. According to the report, titled, ‘Adolescent girls in crisis: Voices from the Lake Chad basin’, only a few girls, who still attend government-owned schools in the North-East, do it in fear, while others lack the financial means. Read more
Old pupils beg Akeredolu to rehabilitate Ondo school (Punch)
Members of the Old Students Association of Uso Community Grammar School, Uso in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State have appealed to the state government to save the school from imminent collapse. The former pupils lamented the deplorable condition of the school and urged the state government to ensure its quick rehabilitation. Read more
W’Bank approves $60m for Ogun rural projects (Punch)
The World Bank Group, through the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, has approved $60m grant for the implementation of rural and marketing projects in Ogun State. It was learnt that the approval was for the World-Bank assisted Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project in the state, which is being done in conjunction with the state government through its counterpart funding. Read more
Lake Victoria, Tanzania: Dozens drown in ferry capsize (BBC)
At least 40 people have died after a ferry carrying hundreds of people capsized on Lake Victoria, Tanzania. One official told the Reuters news agency the number who drowned could be more than 200. Rescue efforts have been halted until dawn on Friday. Read more
Mother of 7-year-old rape victim in India says attacker should be hanged (CNN)
After raping the 7-year-old girl with a water hose in New Delhi, the attacker handed her 10 rupees and a piece of chocolate in exchange for her silence, according to her mother. He then left her — a towel around her waist and bleeding — near her home. The 26-year-old mother scooped up the frightened child and asked her to point out the man, she told CNN Thursday. Read more
California to limit use of plastic straws in restaurants
California restaurants will soon stop providing plastic straws unless customers explicitly ask for them, under a new law signed on Thursday by the state’s environment-friendly governor. Governor Jerry Brown said he hoped the measure — which goes into effect next year and is the first of its kind nationwide — would spur people to “pause and think” about an alternative before requesting a straw. Read more
Soyinka advises banks to invest in Nollywood (Punch)
Nobel Laurate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has urged banks to promote entrepreneurs in the art industry by investing in them. In a statement, he said this during a programme for senior management and top performing employees of Sterling Bank Plc, in Lagos. Read more
CONFED CUP: Aba set for Enyimba, Rayon Sports clash (Vanguard)
Enyimba International preparation for the return leg of the CAF Confederation Cup Quarterfinals against Rayon Sports of Rwanda has hit top gear with security and crowd control top on the bill. CAF are also set to have their representatives present to monitor proceedings closely in the match as the Africa Football Body looks to eliminate any discrepancies. Read more
FIBA unveils D’Tigress World Cup squad (Punch)
Former Dallas Wings forward Evelyn Akhator tops the list of the final 12 players named for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, which begins in Spain on Saturday. D’Tigress, who are returning to the tournament for the first time since 2006, are in Group B along with Argentina, Australia and Turkey. They play Australia in their first match on Saturday. Read more
Willian’s strike helps Chelsea beat PAOK (CNN)
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri said the Europa League could “be a problem” later in the season after his side began their campaign with a 1-0 win at PAOK Salonika. Willian’s early goal from Ross Barkley’s lay-off was enough for a much-changed Blues side to maintain their winning start to the season in Greece, despite playing in front of a raucous sold-out crowd in Thessaloniki.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice as Arsenal opened their Europa League Group E campaign with a comfortable win over Ukrainian side Vorskla Poltava. Until Aubameyang’s opening goal it had been a laboured performance from the Gunners, who had struggled to break through well-drilled opponents. Read more
Neymar, Mbappe and Cavani are not heroes – Papin (Punch)
PSG trio Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani have to put their personal ambitions aside if the club is to win the Champions League, 1991 Ballon d’Or winner Jean-Pierre Papin has said, Goal reports. The three stars are the most expensively assembled frontline in the history of football, yet their impact on Tuesday’s Champions League clash was negligible as the Parisians suffered a 3-2 defeat to Liverpool. Read more
Croatia FA denies W’Cup ticket touting (Punch)
Croatia’s football federation says its leaders were not involved in suspected touting of World Cup final tickets, ESPN reports. Prosecutors in Zagreb asked police to investigate the illegal re-sale of tickets for Croatia’s 4-2 loss against France in Moscow in July. Read more
Emre Can apologises (Punch)
Juventus midfielder Emre Can has apologised for his “we’re not women” comments made in the aftermath of Cristiano Ronaldo’s red card against Valencia on Tuesday, Skysports reports. Ronaldo was shown red on his Champions League bow for Juventus after tussling with Valencia’s Jeison Murillo and appearing to put his hand on the centre-back’s head. The 33-year-old left the pitch in tears, while Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri said the forward would have avoided a red card if VAR was in use in the Champions League. Read more
Septugenarian defiles 2 teenagers in Ogun
Men of Ogun State Police Command have arrested a septuagenarian, Sunday Tugbobo, for allegedly defiling two underage girls, aged seven and eight. The Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Abimbola Oyeyemi in a statement said the arrest of the septuagenarian followed a complaint by one John Oru, a resident of 10, Ondo road Ijebu-Ode and the father to one of the affected girls. Read more