Bamidele pays tributes to Buhari, Oba Adetona (Nation)
In a statement by the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Office of the Leader of the Senate on Monday, Bamidele reflected on how Buhari and Oba Adetona patriotically served their fatherland, states and communities before they were both called home respectively at full ripe ages of 82 and 91.
He, therefore, observed that their passage was not just a huge loss to their immediate families, communities and states, but also to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, West Africa, Africa at large and the black nations worldwide, which they served in different capacities until Sunday, 13th July 2025.
As a Military Head of State (January 1984 – August 1985), Bamidele noted that Buhari was an embodiment of discipline and self-control, leading with personal integrity “to rid the country’s public of all forms of malfeasance and set our fatherland on the track of justice and rectitude. Read more
Pastor remanded over rape of housewife (DailyTrust)
An Edo State High Court has ordered the remand of Pastor Simeon Okehielem (38) of the Synagogue Prayers Ministry in a correctional center for allegedly raping a married woman (name withheld).
The pastor was also accused of engaging in sexual relationships with married women within his congregation.
He allegedly committed the offense in 2022 in the Uholor community of Benin City, where he reportedly drugged and raped the woman, leading to the birth of a child. Read more
FG declares Tuesday as public holiday to honour Buhari (Channels)
The Federal Government has declared Tuesday, 15 July, 2025, as a public holiday in honour of the late former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari.
According to a statement released by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Magdalene Ajani, the holiday is furtherance to the seven days of national mourning declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The statement said the Honourable Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, following the approval of His Excellency, President Tinubu. Read more
Court stops Ibas from inaugurating Rivers service commission members (Punch)
A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Monday stopped the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), from inaugurating the newly confirmed Chairman and members of the Rivers State Services Commission pending the court’s judgment on the substantive suit.
The presiding Judge, Justice Frank Onyiri, issued the order after the parties addressed and adopted their final written addresses on the suit.
The suit was filed by the chairman and members of the Rivers State Services Commission, initially appointed by the suspended Governor, Siminialayi Fubara, challenging their suspension by Ibas. Read more
Africans will develop Africa, Dangote tells visiting global CEOs (Guardian)
President/Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has urged African entrepreneurs, business leaders and wealthy individuals to invest in the development of the continent.
Speaking while hosting participants of the Global CEO Africa Programme from Lagos Business School and Strathmore Business School, Nairobi, after a tour of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, Dangote emphasised that with the right investments, Africa had the potential to grow and compete globally.
He asserted that what the continent needed were bold and transformative projects capable of addressing its long-standing challenges. Citing the successful construction of the world’s largest single-train refinery, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, as proof that nothing was impossible, he maintained that similar achievements could be replicated across sectors to drive economic growth. Read more
I still sweep, clean my house – Peter Obi (DailyTrust)
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, has said he lives a modest lifestyle without house help and personally performs chores including sweeping, cleaning, and serving guests.
Obi made the revelation in a post on his X handle while reacting to viral photos and videos showing him serving food at a recent charity event in Imo State.
Obi’s austere lifestyle has long been a subject of public interest. Read more
Buhari’s burial set for Tuesday in Daura (Sun)
The remains of the late President Muhammadu Buhari will be laid to rest at his Daura residence, Katsina State, on Tuesday, July 15.
A statement on Monday by Governor Umaru Dikko Radda said, “The burial arrangement for our father, the late President who passed on yesterday in a hospital in London. We have made consultations with the family and people around in London and we concluded that the body will arrive in Katsina tomorrow by 12 noon and burial is going to take place in Daura at about 2 pm.
“On behalf of myself, the people and government of Katsina State, we condole the family and the people of Nigeria, especially his Excellency, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, over the demise of his predecessor.
“May Almighty Allah give us the fortitude to bear the loss.” Read more
Rita Ora wants to celebrate her ‘sexiness’ on new music (People)
A new Rita Ora era is in full effect. The singer and actress, 34, entered the 2025 song of the summer conversation with her latest single “Heat” last month, and now she’s opening up about how the sexy dance banger is just a taste of what’s to come on her upcoming fourth studio album.
“The whole theme of this record is really about being instant [and] really direct with my messaging and stripping everything back behind me, production wise,” Ora tells PEOPLE at The Hill in New York in Brooklyn Bridge Park, where she performed in celebration of Wimbledon on Friday, July 11.
“This energy with ‘Heat’ was so perfect just to get people ready for the new character,” she continues. The steamy, anthemic track was co-written by Troye Sivan, and Ora says they “have a lot in common.” Read more
French bishops reveal 12 new abuse allegations against Abbé Pierre (CNA)
The Bishops’ Conference of France this week said a dozen new accusers have come forth with allegations of abuse against deceased Capuchin priest Abbé Pierre.
The famed French priest has already been accused by several dozen people of inflicting abuse over the course of several decades. Pierre founded the Emmaus movement, an international charity effort, after World War II.
In a July 10 press release the French bishops said they were “shocked to receive the testimony of 12 new victims of Abbé Pierre, including 7 minors at the time of the events.” Read more
Teddy bear wrapped in ‘human skin’ discovered (Newsweek)
Law enforcement is investigating a teddy bear found outside a California gas station encased in what looks like human skin.
The item, described by witnesses as grotesque and alarming, was found at a bus stop near the entrance of the ARCO/AMPM station on Bear Valley Road in Victorville, and reported to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department (SBCSD). SBCSD Public Information Officer Mara Rodriguez told the press: “A coroner investigator has taken possession of the object, and the investigation is continuing.”
South Carolina-based artist Robert Kelly—who goes by the name DarkSeedCreations and sells toys wrapped in a skin-like exterior on Etsy—has claimed responsibility for the bear saying: “Yes I made the bear in the news video.” Read more
Disappointment as Drake’s final Wireless show ends after 40 minutes (BBC)
Drake’s three-day residency at London’s Wireless Festival concluded on a sour note after the rapper’s headline slot ended after 40 minutes.
Appearing on stage ten minutes earlier than scheduled, he told the crowd he would perform until his microphone was cut off – referencing the strict 21:30 curfew.
Fans were also left feeling shortchanged after the 38-year-old’s set featured just three special guests – Popcaan, Rema and Vybz Kartel. Read more
South Africa’s Ramaphosa removes police minister over criminal link allegations (CNN)
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa placed police minister Senzo Mchunu on immediate leave of absence on Sunday, following accusations by a top police official that he had colluded with a criminal syndicate and interfered in high-profile investigations.
Mchunu denied the allegations by Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, police commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal province, at a media briefing last Sunday. He said the accusations were baseless and in a statement issued by his spokesperson last week said he was committed to upholding the rule of law.
Ramaphosa, whose rise to the highest office was built on promises to fight corruption, has been under pressure to act swiftly as political parties and citizens said the allegations called into question the integrity of the criminal justice system. Read more
Syrian boy goes on trial over alleged role in Taylor Swift concert bomb plot (Guardian)
A Syrian teenager has gone on trial in Berlin accused of involvement in an Islamic State-inspired plot to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna last summer.
The case brought by federal prosecutors against the 15-year-old defendant, identified only as Mohammad A in keeping with German privacy rules, includes charges of preparing a “severe subversive act of violence” and supporting a terrorist organisation abroad.
He is accused of translating a video on bomb-building from Arabic and sending it to a then 19-year-old man, named as Beran A, who was allegedly behind the plot in Austria. Mohammad A is also alleged to have helped to establish contact with a member of Islamic State. Read more
Why I chose Bayer Leverkusen over English clubs – Victor Boniface (Punch)
Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface has opened up about his career decisions and preference for clubs with the right playing style, emphasising that he deliberately avoids teams that struggle or face excessive pressure.
Speaking in a podcast session posted on Saturday by Webek Studios, Boniface explained that throughout his professional journey, he has never played for a team that struggled significantly.
“No, me, I don’t think so,” he said when asked if he had experienced playing in a struggling side. Read more
Super Falcons’ gear trapped in Moroccan ports, says Gusau (Guardian)
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has blamed the bureaucracy at the Moroccan ports for Super Falcons’ resort to their old kit and improvised equipment at the ongoing Morocco 2025 African Women’s Cup of Nations.
The Super Falcons won Group B of the championship to qualify for the quarterfinals of the competition, but Nigerians were alarmed when pictures of the girls wearing their old kit, personal clothing and even using improvised shin guards in Morocco.
The NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau, has explained that the federation’s kit partner, Nike duly supplied the official tournament gear, adding that they were stuck at the Moroccan ports. Read more
Jannik Sinner wins Wimbledon, Italy’s first singles champion (NPR)
Italy’s Jannik Sinner won the Wimbledon men’s singles championship Sunday, in the first Wimbledon victory for the 23-year-old. He also became Italy’s first singles champion at the tournament.
The No. 1-ranked Sinner defeated two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz of Spain three sets to one in a tough match on Centre Court of the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club. Alcaraz won the first set 6-4.
The men’s final was a rematch of the French Open for the two best men’s tennis players in the world. Just over a month ago, Sinner lost to Alcaraz in Paris in an epic five-and-a-half-hour match, where Alcaraz mounted a stunning comeback after losing the first two sets. Read more
Portrush win would be ‘as emotional’ as Masters – McIlroy (BBC)
Rory McIlroy says winning this week’s Open Championship on home soil at Royal Portrush would be “just as emotional” as his career Grand Slam-clinching Masters victory.
McIlroy became just the sixth man to win all four majors when he beat Justin Rose in a nerve-shredding play-off at Augusta in April.
The five-time major winner missed the cut when Royal Portrush staged The Open in 2019, but he regards himself as a “completely different person” and feels better equipped to navigate the intensity of the occasion. Read more
Merlier doubles up as Van der Poel denied epic win at Tour de France (JapanToday)
Tim Merlier won stage nine of the Tour de France at Chateauroux on Sunday after a heroic long-range escape from Mathieu van der Poel was caught in the final kilometer.
There was no change atop the overall standings with Tadej Pogacar now holding a 54-second advantage over Remco Evenepoel in second with French starlet Kevin Vauquelin third.
This was a second Tour win for Soudal Quick-Step sprinter Merlier this year, who was first across the line on stage three at Dunkirk. Read more