Bakers threaten to increase bread prices (Punch)
Bakers have vowed to react to price increase in baking ingredients by increasing the prices of bread.
The Premium Breadmakers Association of Nigeria and the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria gave this warning on Thursday at a press conference in Lagos.
The President, PBAN, Tosan Jemide, complained that businesses had been comatose due to the incessant increase in the prices of baking ingredients.
He noted that in the last six months, the prices of flour, sugar and other baking ingredients had skyrocketed without a corresponding increase in the prices of bread by member bakeries. Read more
Lady, 24, arraigned for false rape allegations against Twitter Influencer (Vanguard)
The police on Wednesday arraigned 24-year-old Bola Aseyan before a Yaba Magistrate Court on a five-count charge bordering on a false accusation, criminal defamation of character and offensive publication likely to cause a \breach of the peace.
The arraignment followed a running battle of a series of accusations and counter-allegations made by the said Bola Aseyan, against the UK based medical doctor and Twitter influencer, Dr Olufunmilayo Ogusanya, who she had accused of rape on social media.
Also read: Man sleeps with four daughters, says intercourse b/w fathers, daughters approved by God. Read more
Police arrest anti-fuel hike protesters in Lagos (Punch)
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested protesters expressing their displeasure over the recent increase in petroleum price and electricity tariff.
The protesters were arrested around the Ojuelegba area of Lagos on Thursday.
The PUNCH gathered that apart from the protesters who were arrested, gadgets of journalists were seized.
One of the leaders of the protesters, Hassan Soweto, said 18 persons were arrested, including four journalists.
“We have just been arrested alongside several members of the Socialist Party of Nigeria and journalists for protesting this morning against fuel price hike, electricity tariff, and deregistration of SPN. I am typing this message at the back of a police van taking us to Area C, Police Command, Lagos,” Soweto, who is the National Youth Leader of SPN, said. Read more
Customs intercepts Dubai-Bound passenger with 2886 ATM Cards (Nation)
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) at Murtala Mohammad International Airport (MMIA) command Thursday handed over a suspect with 2,886 Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
The Deputy Controller of MMIA, Abdulmumin Bako of MMIA in a media briefing added that four Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards were also found with the suspect.
According to him, the suspect, lshaq Abubakar Abubakar with Passport Number A08333717 from Kano State was intercepted when he was travelling to Dubai via Emirates Evacuation flight. Read more
Court hears no-case submission in Seun Egbegbe’s fraud trial (Punch)
The Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed October 6 to hear no-case submissions in the case of a former Lagos socialite, Olajide Kareem, alias Seun Egbegbe, who is answering charges for a series of alleged frauds.
Egbegbe, a Nollywood film-maker, was accused of scamming no fewer than 30 Bureau De Change operators in Lagos of various sums both in local and foreign currencies between 2015 and 2017.
The police said he swindled his victims out of total sums of N39, 098,100, $90,000 and £12,550. Read more
We‘re still evaluating school reopening – FG (Punch)
The Federal Government said it has not come to a point where it is convinced that schools should be re-opened for academic exercise after their closure due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at a meeting of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 with the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee (NTLC) on National Primary Health.
The meeting was presided over by the Minister of Information and Culture on behalf of the Chairman of PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha. Read more
New electricity tariff exploitative, consumers tell NERC (Guardian)
Some electricity consumers across the country, on Thursday, claimed that the electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) were not adhering to the terms of the new tariff regime they were implementing.
The customers, in an engagement with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on its official Twitter account, described the new tariff being implemented by the DisCos as exploitative.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the DisCos had announced the implementation of the new Service Reflective Tariff Plan (SRT) across their franchise areas from Sept. 1. Read more
How Malabu Oil, others violated money laundering law – Witness (Punch)
A prosecution witness, Mr Temitope Erinomo, told the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday how Malabu Oil and Gas Limited and six other companies charged with fraud in the Oil Prospecting Lease 245 transactions, had allegedly violated the money laundering law.
Erinomo is the Principal Compliance Officer at the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering in the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investments.
He appeared in court on Thursday as the first prosecution witness in the case of 67 counts of money laundering involving about $800m instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against Malabu Oil, the six other companies, and a businessman, Aliyu Abubakar.
Aside Malabu Oil and Abubakar, the rest of the defendants are A-Group Construction Company Limited, Rocky Top Resources Limited, Mega Tech Engineering Limited, Novel Properties, and Development Company Limited, imperial Union Limited and Carlin International Nigeria Limited. Read more
Denis Mukwege: UN guards DR Congo Nobel laureate after death threats (BBC)
Nobel peace laureate Denis Mukwege has been placed under the guard of United Nations security forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo after death threats against him.
The gynaecologist and his colleagues have treated tens of thousands of rape victims and he went on to share the Nobel Prize in 2018.
Dr Mukwege said he received death threats after condemning a massacre.
It prompted hundreds of people to protest, calling for his protection. Read more
Flawless 102-carat diamond could auction for $30 million at Sotheby’s (NYPost)
A Sotheby’s employee hold a 102.39-carat D Color Flawless Oval Diamond.AFP via Getty Images
This brilliant bling will bring in the big bucks.
Sotheby’s announced Thursday that the 102.39-carat diamond, a flawless white sparkler, is going up for auction next month and is expected to fetch between $12 million and $30 million, Reuters reported.
The giant gem — the second-largest oval diamond of its kind to go under the hammer — will be sold in a single-lot action at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong on Oct. 5.
Only seven similar diamonds, known as D color flawless or internally flawless white diamonds, over 100 carats have been sold at auction before, the news outlet reported. Read more
First woman appointed boss of a Wall Street bank (BBC)
Citigroup has named a woman to be its new chief executive in a first for a Wall Street bank.
The firm said it had selected Jane Fraser, its current president and head of global consumer division, to become its new boss when current chief Michael Corbat retires in February.
He is stepping down after 37 years at the bank, including eight as leader.
Scotland-born Ms Fraser has worked at the bank for 16 years, serving in her current role since 2019. Read more
Diana Rigg, star of ‘The Avengers’ and ‘Game of Thrones,’ dead at 82 (NYPost)
Dame Diana Rigg, of James Bond and “Avengers” fame, has died “peacefully” at 82.
The acclaimed actress known for her role as Contessa Teresa di Vicenzo, the only Bond girl to ever marry 007, Rigg was bestowed her “Dame” title in 1994 for her contributions to all things drama.
The iconic Brit suffered from cancer but died surrounded by her family Thursday morning.
“My Beloved Ma died peacefully in her sleep early this morning, at home, surrounded by family,” her daughter, “Bletchley Circle” actress Rachael Stirling, told the Sun. Read more
Disney Plus announces Frozen spin-off Once Upon A Snowman focused on Olaf (Metro)
Frozen fans are about to get another instalment to the franchise as Disney Plus has announced a spin-off based on Olaf. Once Upon A Snowman, which will be release in October, will look at the origins of the much-loved character Olaf. The spin-off will focus on the moment Olaf is created by Queen Elsa, who is voiced by Idina Menzel, and Deadline reports it will see his ‘first steps as he comes to life and searches for his identity in the snowy mountains outside Arendelle’. Olaf, who is voiced by Josh Gad, has previously been a bit of an enigma to fans but the synopsis confirms we will find out ‘what happened to Olaf within the moments after Elsa created him as she was “letting it go” and building her ice palace, and when Anna and Kristoff first meet him in the forest’. Read more
Harry Dunn’s parents sue American diplomat’s wife over deadly 2019 crash (NYPost)
The parents of a British teenager allegedly killed in a wrong-way crash by an American diplomat’s wife who fled England filed a wrongful death lawsuit this week in Virginia.
Anne Sacoolas and her husband, US intelligence officer Jonathan Sacoolas, are named as defendants in the lawsuit filed Wednesday in US District Court in Alexandria that seeks unspecified damages for wrongful death, negligence and other causes in the August 2019 crash that killed 19-year-old Harry Dunn.
“Fighting for justice for Harry has been and will remain our number one priority because of a promise we made to him the night we lost him,” Dunn’s mother, Charlotte Charles, said in a statement. Read more
Alien-hunting telescope scanned 10 million stars and found nothing (Metro)
The search for alien life has been dealt a bit of a rough blow after scientists admitted scanning 10 million stars in the night sky and finding nothing.
Astronomers have been using the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) telescope in Western Australia to search for signs of extraterrestrial life.
They’ve been focusing on the Vela constellation and looking to intercept anything like a radio wave that may indicate the presence of intelligent life. So far, nothing.
‘The MWA is a unique telescope, with an extraordinarily wide field-of-view that allows us to observe millions of stars simultaneously,’ explained Dr Chenoa Tremblay, a CSIRO astronomer who worked on the project. Read more
Rabat to host next year’s Caf presidential elections (BBC)
The Moroccan capital Rabat will host next year’s highly-anticipated Confederation of African Football (Caf) presidential elections.
In a video press conference on Thursday, current president Ahmad once again refused to be drawn on whether he will run for a second term.
“I am finalising with my team. Such a position in society in a continent is not about personal ambition, it is a commitment that is sought after by different interest groups,” said the Malagasy.
Candidates will be able to apply from 11 September to 12 November, with the elections themselves scheduled to take place on 12 March. Read more
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to sign new three-year contract with Arsenal (Metro)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has agreed a new three-year contract with Arsenal, according to reports. The 31-year-old’s current deal with the Gunners is due to expire next summer where he would then be able to leave on a free transfer. However, The Athletic now report that Aubameyang has agreed to extend his stay with the club and will sign a new three-year deal ‘imminently’. The report claims that Mikel Arteta played an instrumental role in convincing the striker to stay at Arsenal. Read more
LeBron James’ wife, Savannah, ‘not enjoying’ NBA bubble experience (NYPost)
Houston in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals on Tuesday was another milestone for LeBron James.
He passed Derek Fisher for most playoff victories, with 162, but the record apparently came with a cost.
“I’m not going to tell you exactly what I do,’’ James said about how he’s stayed successful for so long. “Because I would be giving my opponents a lot of my ingredients. But let’s just say my wife is not enjoying what I do on a day-to-day basis inside the bubble getting ready for a game. Let’s just say that. I spent a lot of time, a lot of time on my body.” Read more
US Open 2020: Serena Williams & Naomi Osaka target 2018 rematch (BBC)
Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka will be hoping to secure a rematch of the 2018 US Open final when both semi-finals take centre stage on Thursday.
Six-time champion Williams, 38, who lost that infamous match, faces former world number one Victoria Azarenka.
Japan’s Osaka faces 25-year-old American 28th seed Jennifer Brady.
“I think she’s a really amazing player, she has the variety that I wish I had so I’m a bit jealous,” said 22-year-old Osaka. Read more
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard provides Christian Pulisic fitness update ahead of Brighton clash (Metro)
Frank Lampard says Christian Pulisic is in contention to play against Brighton on Monday evening just over a month after pulling his hamstring in Chelsea’s FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal.
The American enjoyed a strong maiden campaign in the Premier League and was particularly impressive after the restart, scoring or assisting eight goals in nine games.
But his season came to an abrupt end at the start of last month when he pulled his hamstring as he raced through on goal at Wembley, making him a major injury doubt for this season’s Premier League opener. Read more
Napoli president De Laurentiis tests positive for COVID-19 (Punch)
Napoli’s football club president Aurelio De Laurentiis has tested positive for Covid-19, the club announced Thursday, a day after meeting other Serie A club officials.
“SSC Napoli can confirm that club president Aurelio De Laurentiis tested positive for Covid-19,” the club said on its website, but gave no further details.
Italian news reports said De Laurentiis showed symptoms of the disease when meeting other Serie A officials in Milan on Wednesday to discuss TV rights and the resumption of the Italy’s top professional league competition. Read more