‘Badoo boys’ is creation of media, killings exaggerated, says Ex-Police boss (Nation)
A former Commissioner of Police in Lagos and Benue states, Mr Fatai Owoseni said the news of the dreaded ‘Badoo boys’ is a mirage and creation of the media, adding that the issue of incessant killings in the Southwest is exaggerated. Owoseni who is currently the Special Adviser (Security) to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde made the assertion during an enlightenment talk on security matters at an event organized by the Ibadan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Ibadan. Read more
FG blames opposition, says no bomb explosion in Abuja (Punch)
The Federal Government on Saturday debunked the report being circulated on social media of a bomb explosion at the South African High Commission in Abuja. The government described the report as “fake” news orchestrated by the desperate opposition to cause panic and chaos among the populace.” A statement by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the video of the purported bomb explosion, which is being circulated on social media, was that of the bomb explosion at Emab Plaza, near Banex, in Abuja on June 25, 2014. Read more
Governorship election: El-Rufai to know fate September 9 (Guardian)
The Kaduna State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal will on Monday, Sept 9, rule on the petition challenging the re-election of Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna state. The Tribunal Secretary, Mrs Hafsat Suleiman, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Kaduna. Suleiman said the Tribunal concluded its sitting on Aug. 19 and has fixed Monday, Sept. 9, to pass its verdict on the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Read more
We’re lighting up Oyo to fight crime, says Makinde (Nation)
Governor Seyi Makinde has flagged-off the light-up Ibadan project, where he said Oyo State embarked on the deployment of smart LED street lighting technology to fight crimes in the state capital and other parts of the state. He said that the project would improve the security of lives and position the state for socio-economic drive. Governor Makinde stated this at the flag-off of the Light Up project, which took place at the Challenge interchange near the old Ibadan Toll Gate of the Lagos/ Ibadan Expressway. Read more
Ondo senator escapes death in road crash (Punch)
The senator representing the Ondo South Senatorial District of Ondo State, Nicholas Tofowomo, escaped death on Friday as his vehicle was involved in a road accident on Ilesa-Akure Expressway in Igbara Oke, the headquarters of Ifedore Local Government Area of the state. The accident also involved a governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, in the state, Mr. Banji Okunomo and two other members of the party, who were said to be with the senator. Read more
Obaseki affirms trust in Edo SSG (Nation)
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has affirmed his trust in the Secretary to the Edo State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie. Governor Obaseki said Barr. Ogie remained the recognised leader of Ikpoba-Okha local government area. Obaseki stated that only God makes leaders and not men. Read more
EFCC operative dies of suspected suicide, police await autopsy (Punch)
The Edo State Police Command has commenced an investigation into the death of an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Benin, the Edo State capital. Although investigations have not been concluded, it is suspected that the deceased, Williams Oyibogare, died of suicide because two bottles of a pesticide, Sniper, were found in his home located at the Giwa Amu area along the Airport Road. Read more
My victory in court, an act of God – Abia Lawmaker (Nation)
The lawmaker representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency at the National Assembly under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Rtn. Hon. Ossy Prestige has attributed his victory at the National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, the Abia State capital as an act of God. Read more
Police recover kidnapped Ondo varsity lecturer’s official car (Guardian)
The Edo State Police Command on Saturday said it had recovered the official car of Prof. Gideon Okedayo, a lecturer with the Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH), Okitipupa who was kidnapped on Thursday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecturer was kidnapped along with his driver in his official car, a Toyota Corolla marked 06X 47 OD, at Akoko junction on Auchi-Igara road while going to his hometown in Igara in Edo state. Read more
7-year-old abducted victim identifies alleged kidnapper from group photograph (Punch)
A seven-year-old kidnap victim in Katsina State has identified his kidnapper from a group photograph the latter once took with his friends. Although the victim regained his freedom after his father, Alhaji Hamisu Alolo, paid one hundred thousand naira(N100,000) as ransom, the alleged kidnapper, Muhammed Shaibu was arrested due to the ability of the victim to identify him from the photograph. Read more
Police arrest soldier for allegedly stabbing man to death (Nation)
The Niger Police Command has arrested a Soldier, Lance Cpl. Attahiru Jibril, for allegedly stabbing one Ali Mohammed to death, in Lambatta Market, Gurara Local Government Area of the state. Alh. Adamu Usman, Commissioner of Police in Niger, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Minna on Saturday. Read more
Police arrest prophet for killing Imo graduate (Punch)
The operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Imo State Police Command have arrested a prophet, Michael Mbonu, for allegedly killing one Princewill Ezeji. The state Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Ladodo, said that apart from the prophet, four other suspects were arrested by the SARS operatives for allegedly murdering the graduate of philosophy. Read more
Angolan ex-president’s son fraud trial to start on Septmeber 25 (Guardian)
The trial of the son of former Angolan president Jose Eduardo dos Santos for allegedly trying to steal $1.5 billion (1.3 billion euros) from the country’s sovereign wealth fund will start on September 25, a court said Saturday. This is the first time that a member of the former president’s family, which controlled the oil-rich southern African nation for nearly four decades, will be in the dock. Read more
Iran tanker row: Released ship wanted by US ‘seen off Syria’ (BBC)
The Iranian oil tanker at the centre of an international incident has been sailing just off the Syrian coast, satellite images appear to show. The Adrian Darya-1 was seized by Gibraltar in July with the aid of British forces over fears it was bound for Syria, violating EU sanctions. It was eventually released after assurances were given that it would not head for the war-ravaged country. Read more
Two Israelis wounded in West Bank stabbing (Guardian)
An Israeli man and his teenaged son were wounded in a stabbing attack in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, the army and medics said. “An assailant stabbed two Israeli civilians after they had entered Azzun in order to receive medical treatment,” the army said, referring to a village east of Qalqilya in the north of the territory. “Security forces are operating to apprehend the assailant” in a suspected “terror attack”, the army said. Read more
Boris Johnson could go to jail if he refuses to delay Brexit (Metro)
Boris Johnson could end up in prison if ignored a bill requiring him to delay Brexit, the former Director of Public Prosecutions has said. Lord MacDonald said the PM could be found in contempt of court for ignoring the bill, which rapidly passed through Parliament this week and is expected to become law on Monday. The legislation will give Johnson a mandate to ask for an Article 50 extension to stay in the European Union up to January 31. Read more
Typhoon Lingling: North Korea on alert as storm threatens crops (BBC)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has chaired an emergency meeting of government officials as a powerful typhoon began to batter the country. Typhoon Lingling has caused widespread disruption across South Korea, with at least three people killed and thousands of homes left without power. There are fears that the storm could damage crops in the North, which suffers severe food shortages. Read more
Prince Andrew attends first major international event since Jeffrey Epstein death (Metro)
Prince Andrew has attended his first major international event since the death of his disgraced friend Jeffrey Epstein. The Duke of York was present at the memorial celebrating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Bruges in Belgium in World War Two. He was attending in his role as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards and laid a wreath at the Charles II memorial on Saturday morning. Read more
Ukraine and Russia exchange prisoners in landmark deal (BBC)
Russia and Ukraine have completed a long-awaited exchange of prisoners. Those freed include 24 Ukrainian sailors and – controversially – a “person of interest” over the downing of flight MH17 which killed 298 people. The swap is hoped to ease tensions between the two neighbours. Read more
British dad ‘stabbed and bludgeoned to death by son’ at Brazil home (Metro)
Police have arrested a 19-year-old boy found with a hammer and blood-stained knife in his bag after his father was brutally killed. Joseph John Dempsey, 57, was an English language teacher living in Belo Horizonte, Brazil with his son Joseph. Neighbours reportedly heard shouting coming from the family apartment at about 10pm on Thursday and called the Military Police. Read more
Muslim rebels hand over guns in Philippines peace deal (Guardian)
Muslim rebels in the mainly Catholic Philippines began handing over their guns to independent foreign monitors Saturday, as part of a treaty aimed at ending a decades-long separatist insurgency that has left about 150,000 people dead. Just over a thousand guerrillas in the country’s restive south were turning in 940 weapons in a single day, the start of a graduated decommissioning process that aims to turn the country’s largest rebel force into a regular political party. Read more
‘Drug driver’ hurtles into car leaving funeral parlour wall destroyed (Metro)
Shocking pictures show the aftermath of a car crash when a suspected drug driver ploughed into another vehicle – with one smashing through a funeral parlour wall. The black Mitsubishi and silver Nissan Qashqai both ended up rolled on their sides following the crash which happened in Oldham, Greater Manchester. One of the cars finished up knocking down a funeral parlour’s garden wall, before coming to a stop, after they collided shortly before 7am this morning. Read more
El Salvador seeks third trial for mother cleared of baby’s death (BBC)
El Salvador wants to put a woman who was cleared of murdering her newborn child on trial for a third time. Evelyn Hernández, 21, was freed from prison last month after a retrial which gained international attention. Her baby was found dead in a toilet in 2016 after she fainted. But she said she had been raped by a gang member and had not known she was pregnant. Read more
Boy, 6, ‘thrown 100ft’ from Tate modern balcony is making ‘amazing progresses’ (Metro)
The parents of a six-year-old boy who plunged five floors from the Tate Modern art gallery say their ‘incredible fighter’ is getting better. The French tourist was allegedly thrown from the 10th floor viewing gallery on August 4, by a teenager who has since been charged with attempted murder. Read more
Mick Jagger blasts Trump for bad manners, lies, environment (Guardian)
Rock legend Mick Jagger attacked US President Donald Trump for his rudeness and lies Saturday and for “tearing apart” environment controls when America should be setting the standard for the world. The Rolling Stones singer said he was “absolutely behind” young climate change activists who had earlier occupied the red carpet at the Venice film festival, where he was starring in the psychological thriller, “The Burnt Orange Heresy”. Read more
NFF owes Eagles AFCON third-place bonus (Punch)
Super Eagles goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, has confirmed that the Nigeria Football Federation is yet to pay players their third-place win bonus and 10-day camp allowance at the last Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. UK-based journalist Osasu Obayiuwana on Friday tweeted that the Eagles were yet to get their third-place money despite the Federal Government releasing money to the Nigeria Football Federation to pay bonuses for the entire tournament. Read more
Jesse Lingard returns to Manchester United after being sent home by England due to illness (Metro)
Jesse Lingard has returned to Manchester United early after missing England’s Europ 2020 qualifier against Bulgaria on Saturday. The 26-year-old has been unable to train this week due to illness and was not named in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the match at Wembley. ‘We’ve decided to send him home today,’ Southgate told ITV. Read more
Olivier Giroud sends message to Frank Lampard after losing Chelsea place to Tammy Abraham (Metro)
Olivier Giroud insists he is determined to win his place back in the Chelsea starting line-up after dropping behind Tammy Abraham in the pecking order. French striker Giroud has started just one of Chelsea’s four Premier League matches so far this season, with Frank Lampard instead putting his faith in 21-year-old Abraham. The youngster has not let his new manager down, scoring four goals already to emerge as Chelsea’s first-choice forward. Read more
Arsenal, Man Utd or Chelsea? Arsene Wenger names the team with the potential to challenge Premier League top two (Metro)
Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal are the club with the most potential to challenge the Premier League’s established top two but fears Chelsea’s pursuit of Manchester City and Liverpool will be undermined by a lack of experience. Wenger’s old club carried out a significant rebuilding process during the summer, recruiting the likes of Dani Ceballos, Nicolas Pepe and David Luiz but have already dropped five points from their opening four matches following a convincing defeat at Anfield and a 2-2 draw in a pulsating north London derby ahead of the international break. Read more
Kosovo win to boost Euro 2020 dream (BBC)
Kosovo beat the Czech Republic to go above England at the top of Euro 2020 qualifying Group A and boost their hopes of reaching a first tournament. The Balkan country only gained Uefa and Fifa recognition three years ago. RB Leipzig’s Patrik Schick gave the Czechs an early lead with a tidy first-time finish from 16 yards. Read more
Rhian Brewster tells Chelsea star Callum Hudson-Odoi to join Liverpool (Metro)
Rhian Brewster has playfully told Chelsea star Callum Hudson-Odoi to join him at Liverpool. Hudson-Odoi, 18, is rated as one of the most promising young players in Europe, having enjoyed a breakthrough season at Chelsea last year. The teenage forward made 24 first-team appearances for the Blues before his season was cut short due to a serious ankle injury. Read more
Gabriel Martinelli explains the influence of Unai Emery and Edu on him at Arsenal (Metro)
Arsenal striker Gabriel Martinelli is enjoying his new life in north London and has high praise for Gunners boss Unai Emery and technical director Edu. The 18-year-old signed from Ituano in Brazil this summer and has already made his Premier League debut, coming off the bench in the opening game of the season against Newcastle. Read more
‘Big Three’ era quickly coming to an end, Nadal warns fans (Punch)
Rafael Nadal warns men’s tennis fans that the “Big Three” era is coming to an end very soon, and he’s not all that worried about it. The 33-year-old Spaniard, an 18-time major champion, will try to add to his trophy haul Sunday when he faces Russia’s fifth-ranked Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final. Read more
Italian GP: Charles Leclerc takes bizarre Italian GP pole (BBC)
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took pole position following a farcical end to qualifying at the Italian Grand Prix. All drivers except Leclerc and Carlos Sainz of McLaren failed to get around to start a final lap after waiting to catch a slipstream at high-speed Monza. The unlikely climax left Leclerc on pole with his first lap, beating Lewis Hamilton by 0.039 seconds. Read more
