Businessmen docked for allegedly obtaining N220m under pretence (Guardian)
Two businessmen, Hyginus Eze and Matthew Enetomhe, were on Friday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly obtaining a total of N220 million under false pretence.
Eze, 53, of Okota area, and Enetomhe, 65, of Banko Estate, Irawo, both in Lagos State, were arraigned before Magistrate Lateef Owolabi on a three-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence and stealing.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecutor, Supol Josephine Ikhayere, told the court that the defendants committed the offences sometime in August 2024 at Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja. Read more
At 75, I have no regrets over the paths I chose – Charly Boy (DailyTrust)
Veteran showbiz maestro, Charles Oputa, popularly known as CharlyBoy, says he has no regret for ‘walking his own path’, including his involvement in activism, as he clock 75.
The all-time social activist stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
The Septuagenarian, who initially aspired to become a priest, left the seminary after one year. Read more
Benue: A true leader doesn’t make excuses — Peter Obi on Tinubu not visiting Yelwata (Sun)
President Bola Tinubu is facing criticism for failing to visit Yelwata in Benue State, the site of the recent massacre.
In his reaction on social media, Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, pointed out that a true leader does not make excuses.
Speaking via his Facebook page on Thursday, Obi said that Tinubu had enough time for the visit after the killings and could have arranged for transportation to the affected community. Read more
Group supports over 300,000 Nigerians with HIV treatment (Punch)
Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme, a non-profit organisation committed to deepening access to health and education, said it is currently supporting treatment for over 300,000 HIV/AIDS patients across the country.
It said over 142,000 of these patients are receiving treatment in Akwa Ibom State alone.
Addressing journalists in Uyo as part of activities marking the organisation’s 24 years of service to humanity on Friday, the Executive Director in Akwa Ibom State, Andy Eyo, said the intervention in health, education and, recently, agriculture has been very impactful. Read more
‘Cheaper Fuel at our Doorposts’, IPMAN welcomes Dangote’s distribution plan (Channels)
A combo of IPMAN spokesperson, Chinedu Ukadike and petrol tankers.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has welcomed the recently announced plan by the Dangote Refinery to distribute petrol and diesel free of charge to marketers across the country.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Friday, IPMAN’s National Publicity Secretary, Chinedu Ukadike, praised billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote for seeing a problem in the sector and deciding to tackle it.
“If you look at the Dangote statement, it is a strong policy statement, if you read down that statement you will understand that he foresaw a lot of problems in the oil and gas industry and also decided to tackle it. Read more
African, Caribbean Leaders To Headline Afreximbank’s 32nd Annual Meetings In Abuja (Leadership)
The 32nd Annual Meetings (AAM2025) of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is expected to bring together an influential coalition of global, African and CARICOM leaders in Abuja, Nigeria, from June 25–27, 2025.
The high-level forum will focus on advancing trade, investment, and innovation across the continent, with Heads of State, Prime Ministers, top business executives, academics confirmed to speak.
President Bola Tinubu; former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and Ambassador Albert Muchanga, African Union Commissioner for Economic Development, Tourism, Trade, Industry & Mining, are among the confirmed dignitaries, according to a statement that was issued by Afreximbank on Friday. Read more
Reps clear Togo, intensify crackdown on Benin Republic’s fake degree syndicate (Vanguard)
The House of Representatives has formally exonerated the Republic of Togo of any involvement in the issuance of fake academic certificates, shifting full investigative focus to the Republic of Benin, where disturbing evidence of widespread certificate racketeering has emerged.
Chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Bitrus Laori, disclosed this during a resumed investigative hearing in Abuja following Petition No. 445 of 2024 filed by Sovereign Legal Practitioners on behalf of key education stakeholders. The petition questions the Federal Ministry of Education’s sweeping pronouncement last year that implicated both Togo and Benin Republic in academic fraud.
According to Laori, diplomatic findings from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have cleared Togo of any wrongdoing, reaffirming the credibility of its educational institutions. “Of course, the Republic of Togo has been cleared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The outstanding issue remains with the Republic of Benin,” Laori stated. Read more
Cassie heard threatening man over freak off tape (HipHopDx)
Cassie once threatened a man after he revealed to her that he had seen one of the freak off tapes made by Diddy.
Diddy’s legal team played an audio clip in court of the singer confronting a man named Sugit who claimed her had seen the sexually explicit video.
Cassie can be heard saying to the man: “It’s my fucking life and I’ll kill you. If you don’t show me right now I will kill you, and I will hide you and I will cut you up and put you in the fucking dirt.” Read more
All 7 BTS members are now done with mandatory service (NBC)
Suga, a rapper and songwriter in the global K-pop sensation BTS, has been discharged from South Korea’s mandatory military service, marking the official return of all seven members from their enlistment duties.
The label confirmed that Suga completed his alternative service duties on Wednesday after using up his remaining leave. His official discharge date is Saturday.
BTS’ management agency, Big Hit Entertainment, had said earlier that no events were planned for Suga’s release out of concern for overcrowding. Read more
Telegram founder will leave $17b fortune to his 100+ kids (USMagazine)
Pavel Durov, the billionaire cofounder of messaging app Telegram, says he has fathered more than 100 kids – and plans to leave them his estimated $17 billion fortune.
In an interview with French magazine Le Point published on Thursday, June 19, the Russian entrepreneur, 40, said that he has six “official” children but has fathered dozens more through sperm donation.
“Six of whom I am the official father, whom I had with three different partners,” Durov explained. “The others come from my anonymous donation. The clinic, where I started donating sperm fifteen years ago to help a friend, told me that more than 100 babies had been conceived this way in 12 countries.” Read more
Chris Brown denies London nightclub assault (BBC)
US singer Chris Brown has pleaded not guilty to an assault charge after an alleged bottle attack at a London nightclub two years ago.
The 36-year-old is accused of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to music producer Abraham Diaw during an incident that prosecutors have described as “unprovoked”.
Brown also faces charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and having an offensive weapon – namely a tequila bottle. Both relate to the same incident, and were added to his indictment ahead of Friday’s hearing. Read more
Pope Leo XIV celebrates the 43rd anniversary of his ordination (CNA)
Pope Leo XIV celebrated the 43rd anniversary of his priestly ordination today. On June 19, 1982, Robert Prevost was ordained a priest by Belgian Archbishop Jean Jadot in St. Monica Chapel, located just outside the Vatican. He was 26 years old. He entered the Augustinian order in 1977 and took his first vows on Sept. 2, 1978.
St. Monica Chapel, located next to the Plaza del Santo Oficio — where the pontiff currently resides — holds particular symbolic value for Leo XIV. Not only was it the place of his ordination, but it was also the titular church assigned to him as a cardinal in September 2023, about a year and a half before his election to the papacy on May 8 of this year.
According to Vatican News, the commemorative holy card for his ordination includes an image of the Last Supper, taken from 15th-century Russian iconography, and words from St. Augustine that still resonate powerfully in his ministry today: “I cannot feed you with ordinary bread, but this Word is your portion. I feed you with the same table that feeds me. I am your servant.” Read more
Early ‘Superman’ reactions reveal if the DCU is off to a flying start…or comes crashing down (Movieweb)
Several early reactions to James Gunn’s highly anticipated Superman reboot, and the beginning of the newly emerging DCU on the big screen, have now hit social media. Some lucky fans were given the chance to see the first 30 minutes of the superhero movie and have revealed whether the DCU gets off to a flying start…or quickly comes crashing down to Earth.
According to the first reactions, the return of Superman has been hailed “damn beautiful” and “unique,” with those in attendance highlighting the flying sequences as truly special. “Needless to say, it was damn beautiful. Time absolutely flew by,” said X/Twitter user @migomegamig.
James Gunn has previously discussed his approach to Superman’s flight, likening it to Tom Cruise’s blockbuster smash-hit Top Gun: Maverick. And it seems this approach has paid off. “Holy… just saw 30 min of #Superman the fly scene is unique and you can feel the speed of Superman. IMAX is a must for this movie,” raved @goodjoeth. Read more
Ajayi joins Hull City (Punch)
Hull City have confirmed the signing of Nigeria international Semi Ajayi on a two-year contract, with an option for a third year, following his departure from West Bromwich Albion, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The experienced centre-back, who has amassed over 200 appearances in the Championship, will officially link up with the Tigers from July 1.
Known for his versatility, the 31-year-old can also operate as a holding midfielder and brings a wealth of experience in English football to The Tigers. Read more
Oshoala, Plumptre in as Madugu names Super Falcons’ WAFCON squad (Channels)
Super Falcons’ star striker Asisat Oshoala and experienced defender Ashley Plumptre are part of the list of players named by coach Justin Madugu for the 2024 Women’s African Cup of Nations.
The list released on Friday also has captain Rasheedat Ajibade, with 11 players set to make their debuts at the tournament which will take place in Morocco from July 5 to 26, 2024.
Three players from the local league are also included in the team, and will be hoping to make their mark and repay the coach’s confidence in them. Read more
1,664 Lagos public schools get sports equipment (DailyTrust)
The Lagos State Sports Trust Fund (LSSTF) yesterday distributed sports equipment to 1,664 public schools across the six educational districts.
The distributed equipment included table tennis boards, running vests and pants, spike shoes, footballs, basketballs, volleyballs, chess sets with clocks, scrabble boards with dictionaries, draught boards, tennis rackets, and fully stocked first aid kits.
Other equipment distributed were Ayo, ludo, tennis racket, dart board, and skipping ropes. These items were handed over to the tutor-generals and permanent secretaries representing the six educational districts in Lagos. Read more
Mikel Obi claims FA still owing him millions (Sun)
Former Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel has offered fresh insight into the challenges the Nigerian team faced ahead of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, revealing how he personally stepped in to ensure the squad made it to the tournament.
Mikel was named captain of Nigeria’s Olympic team after being included in the 35-man provisional squad. He went on to play a key role during the competition, scoring his first Olympic goal in a 2–0 quarter-final win over Denmark.
Although Nigeria fell short of the gold medal after a 2-0 defeat to Germany in the semi-finals, the team bounced back to claim the bronze with a 3-2 victory over Honduras. Read more
Botafogo upset PSG 1-0 at FIFA Club World Cup (AlJazeera)
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) suffered a shock 1-0 Club World Cup defeat against Brazilian side Botafogo in a hard-fought battle between the reigning champions of Europe and South America.
A first-half goal from Brazilian international Igor Jesus proved the difference on Thursday as Botafogo all but sealed a place in the knockout rounds in front of a 53,699 crowd at the Pasadena Rose Bowl.
French champions PSG are widely regarded as one of the favourites for FIFA’s 32-team tournament after a dazzling season which culminated with a scintillating 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final last month. Read more