BDC operators charged with laundering $1.6m (Nation)
Two Bureau de Change (BDC) operators who allegedly laundered $1.6 million said to be proceeds of smuggling, were yesterday brought before the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court.
Chris Ogbonna and Sulaiman Jibbo, alongside two firms – Kur and Sule Nigeria Enterprises; and Sunchrist Trans Nigeria Ltd – were arraigned for the alleged offence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
They are standing trial on a five-count charge before Justice Ayokunle Faji.
The EFCC told the judge that the defendants ought to have reasonably known that the $1.6m, which they allegedly removed from jurisdiction sometime in 2017, “formed parts of proceeds of unlawful activity, to wit: smuggling.” Read more
Okadamen stone Lagos businessman to death for hitting partially sighted man (Punch)
A businessman, Usman Yamah, has been killed by a group of motorcyclists in the Elepe area of the Ikorodu North Local Government Area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the motorcyclists, acted in reprisal and allegedly killed Yamah for using his vehicle to hit a partially sighted man around the Ikorodu Garage last Monday.
After hitting the partially sighted man, it was learnt that the motorcyclists, out of annoyance, became violent towards Yamah, who reportedly zoomed off from the scene of the incident for fear of his life.
Angered by Yamah’s decision, the motorcyclists, who were said to be from the northern part of the country, mounted their motorcycles and gave the Edo State indigene a hot chase till he was intercepted around Elepe on the Ijede Road. Read more
Post COVID-19 challenges: Lagos to build, operate education radio station (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Government on Monday has unveiled plans to establish and operate a radio station solely dedicated to education of pupils in the state.
The radio station is being fashioned after Lagos Traffic Radio Station built by the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola, SAN, which is mainly dedicated to all traffic and vehicular issues.
The state Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, revealed this on Monday, during the official presentation of 5,000 transistor radios by Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials, COWLSO, in partnership with the Office of Lagos State First Lady, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu to the Ministry of Education, held at Lagos House, Marina. Read more
Two traffic robbers nabbed on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (Punch)
Personnel of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested two robbers on the Long Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of the state while dispossessing motorists of their belongings.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said this in a statement on Sunday.
Oyeyemi said the suspects – Ibrahim Nura, 27, an indigene of Kebbi State, and Isaac Kyegh, from Benue State, were arrested while dispossessing motorists of their valuables on the bridge. Read more
3 arraigned over alleged murder of 74-yr-old woman (Guardian)
Three men were on Monday arraigned in an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court over the alleged murder of a 74-year-old woman.
The defendants–Alex Peter, 25; Adeniyi Tosin, 25; and Adelola Adedapo, 23– are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy to murder and murder.
The prosecutor, Insp Caleb Leramo, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on May 29 in Ikere-Ekiti. Read more
UI students lead walk against rape, sexual violence (Nation)
Worried by incessant cases of sexual assault and violence against women, the Students Union, University of Ibadan has organized a sensitization walk against rape.
The walk, themed “Walk the Talk on Rape” witnessed many students of the varsity educating market vendors on importance of participating in the fight against rape.
The President, Students’ Union, University of Ibadan, Akeju Olusegun who led the walk, said, “The Union does not just want to join the agitation but make sure everyone concerned takes action.” Read more
COVID-19: PTF briefs Buhari as second phase of easing lock-down ends today (Guardian)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday received an update from the Chairman of Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, at the State House, Abuja
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the PTF briefed the president on the second phase of the gradual easing of lockdown announced four weeks ago, to check the spread of the deadly virus.
NAN reports that Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), was accompanied by Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, the Coordinator of the PTF on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu. Read more
Court reinstates 4 lecturers demoted in Otuoke Federal University (DailyTrust)
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state has ordered the reinstatement of four out of seven lecturers demoted by the management of the Federal University, Otuoke, in Ogbia local council area of the state and awarded N20 million fine to the school as damages to affected lecturers.
The University management had in 2018 demoted a Professor and 6 other lecturers with doctorate degrees over what it termed as “lack of requisite scholarship”
Those affected are; Dr. Steve Nwabuzor, who was downgraded from the rank of Professor to Lecturer 1; Dr. Leonard K Shilgba, downgraded from the rank of Professor to Senior Lecturer; Dr. Timothy Falade Obalade, downgraded from the rank of Associate Professor to Senior Lecturer; Dr. Felina Nwadike, downgraded from Associate Professor to Senior Lecturer. Read more
Regina Daniels, Ned Nwoko welcome baby boy (Vanguard)
Popular Nollywood Actress Regina Daniels and husband, Prince Ned Nwoko have welcomed a baby boy.
The good news was shared by Regina’s brother on his Instagram story.
Sharing a cute picture from Regina’s pregnancy shoot, her brother wrote “You have always been strong in all ramifications and I’m proud of you congrats @regina.daniels it’s a 👦” Read more
US Supreme Court rules to uphold abortion rights (AlJazeera)
The United States Supreme Court has struck down a Louisiana law regulating abortion clinics, reasserting a commitment to abortion rights over fierce opposition from dissenting conservative justices in the first big abortion case of the Trump era.
Chief Justice John Roberts joined with his four more liberal colleagues in ruling on Monday that a Lousiana law that imposes restrictions on abortion doctors violates the abortion right the court first announced in the landmark Roe v Wade decision in 1973.
In two previous abortion cases, Roberts had favoured restrictions. Read more
95-year-old daredevil sets new heli-skiing world record by conquering Canadian mountain (RT)
A 95-year-old thrill-seeker has admitted to doubts about making it down some of the world’s greatest mountains, but said he is looking forward to descending from a summit at 100 after becoming the world’s oldest heli-skier.
Gordon Precious celebrated his 95th birthday by taking a helicopter to the top of the Cariboo Mountains, the northernmost subrange of the Columbia Mountain in British Columbia, before breaking the record he set in 2019 down the vertiginous slopes.
The slaloming veteran was accompanied by an experienced guide and spent three days skiing with family members once he had reached the bottom. Read more
Despairing Russian doctors cast doubt on coronavirus tally (VOA)
President Vladimir Putin has compared Russian doctors to heroic Red Army soldiers battling the Nazis during World War II. Last week, the Russian leader signed decrees honoring doctors with special awards for their coronavirus efforts.
Many Russian medics, however, have voiced dismay at what they say is poor public appreciation for their sacrifices and are expressing anger with a government they say is failing them and their patients. They question the official figures the government has published for new cases and the death tally exacted by COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel virus which first emerged last year in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Read more
Bangladesh ferry crash: At least 32 dead as boat capsizes (BBC)
At least 32 people have died and many more are missing after a ferry capsized in Bangladesh, near the capital Dhaka.
Rescue officials said the ship, the Morning Bird, overturned after a collision with another vessel in the Buriganga river, close to the country’s largest river port, Sadarghat.
Local media reports said the ferry came from a village in the centre of the country and had about 50 passengers.
Ferry accidents are frequent in Bangladesh because of overcrowding. Read more
Germany investigates 30,000 suspects as online paedophilia probe widens (France24)
Germany is investigating 30,000 suspects as part of a probe into an online paedophile network, the latest in a series of child sex abuse scandals that prompted authorities to promise a crackdown.
The probe began last October with the arrest of a suspected perpetrator in Bergisch Gladbach, near Cologne.
But investigators digging into the case have turned up a far bigger paedophile network than expected.
“I did not expect, not even remotely, the extent of child abuse on the internet,” North Rhine-Westphalia’s justice minister Peter Beisenbach told reporters on Monday. Read more
François Fillon, former French PM, and wife guilty over fake job (BBC)
French ex-Prime Minister François Fillon and his Welsh wife have received jail sentences in a fake jobs case.
The conservative politician was found guilty of paying Penelope Fillon €1.156m (£1.06m, $1.3m) for work she never did as a parliamentary aide.
He was sentenced to five years in prison, three of them suspended. She was given a three-year suspended term. Read more
Elderly Buffalo Protester: $upport, gifts pouring in from all over the world (TMZ)
Martin Gugino remains hospitalised after that violent shove to the ground from cops in Buffalo but at least he’s getting showered with love and support.
Gugino’s attorney, Kelly Zarcone, tells TMZ the 75-year-old has received more than 1,000 messages of support, some even handwritten and delivered by snail mail. Supporters sent gifts too like an autographed book from an author, an original painting and some religious jewelelry.
Someone also made, by hand, a prayer blanket, which we’re told is on its way to the hospital. Read more
Osimhen named best African player in French League 1 (Guardian)
Nigeria’s Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has been named the best African player in the French League 1 for the 2019/2020 season.
The Lille forward won the award after spending a season (not completed due to coronavirus outbreak). The 21-year old scored 18 goals and provided eight assists in all competitions for the French Ligue 1 side.
Osimhen was picked ahead of his compatriot Moses Simon, Habib Diallo of Metz, Idrissa Gueye of Paris Saint Germain, Islam Slimani of Monaco, and Yunis Abdelhamid of Reims. Read more
Ighalo a real goal poacher – Solskjaer (Punch)
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has praised Odion Ighalo’s all-round abilities after the striker bagged his fifth goal in just four starts for the Reds in their 2-1 win over Norwich City in an Emirates FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday.
Ighalo was one of the eight changes Solskjaer made to the side and he performed his task with aplomb.
The Nigerian showed great awareness and composure to poke home the opener during the encounter and also played a part in the build-up to Harry Maguire’s winner. Read more
Basketball training set to begin in Egypt (BBC)
Basketball teams in Egypt will resume training this week as the country becomes the first in Africa to resume the sport.
From 1 July, outdoor training in small groups will begin, with a mid-August resumption of the league having been given the go-ahead from the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
“We’re looking to resume our season to give hope and sense to our people that life is back to normal,” Egypt Basketball Federation Vice President Mohamed Abdelmotaleb told BBC Sport Africa. Read more
Tyson Fury reveals he is a regular victim of racism for his traveling background (RT)
WBC heavyweight champion of the world Tyson Fury may be an internationally-renowned boxing superstar, but that hasn’t prevented him from being discriminated against because of his Traveling background.
Before he earned fame and fortune as arguably the best heavyweight on the planet, Fury used to live in a caravan on his father John’s land as part of a Traveler family. And the boxing colossus says that his status as world champion hasn’t changed the fact that he suffers abuse.
Speaking to Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain, Fury stated, “I am a white male and I suffered racism in 2020 as a white person, coming from a Traveling background. Read more
Xavi hopes to coach Barcelona in the future (Nation)
Former Barcelona great Xavi Hernandez says he hope to return to the Spanish club as head coach when the timing is right and that his technical team are already preparing for it.
Spanish media had reported that Xavi, who coaches Qatari club Al Sadd, had been approached by Barca to replace Ernesto Valverde before Quique Setien was appointed in January.
Barca are two points behind leaders Real Madrid with six matches remaining in the campaign. Read more
One Championship to resume MMA fights next month (Vanguard)
Asia’s largest mixed martial arts promotion, One Championship, will return behind closed doors in Thailand next month after a five-month break because of the coronavirus, officials said on Monday.
One, which promotes cards across the region in mixed martial arts, Muay Thai and kickboxing, last put on a major show at the end of February.
The Singapore-based company has since cancelled several events and slashed 20 percent of staff, although it has also revealed a $70 million funding boost from institutional investors. Read more