Bye-election: Gbadamosi emerges PDP candidate for Lagos East (Punch)
The Peoples Democratic Party has announced Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi as its candidate for the Lagos-East senatorial bye-election, scheduled for October 31.
The Secretary of the PDP Electoral Committee, Mr Abiante Awaj-Imombak, made this known on Saturday in Lagos while announcing the results of the party’s primaries.
NAN reports that accreditation and voting by delegates from wards in the five Local Government Areas of Somolu, Kosofe, Ibeju- Lekki, Ikorodu and Epe started about 1.30 p.m.
Declaring the results, Awaj-Imombak said that 638 delegates were accredited with a total number of 624 votes cast, while 14 votes were voided. Read more
Group tasks government on training of teachers (Guardian)
With the new normal situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the government at all levels must train teachers and key-in into new technologies for teaching if Nigerian students must compete globally.
The Executive Director, Human Development Initiative, Mrs. Olufunso Owasanoye, stated this at a training for Head of Education Departments in local councils, officials from Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB), headteachers and teachers, with the theme: ‘Post COVID-19: Effective and efficiency in delivering quality basic education in Lagos.’
She said: “Government needs to train more teachers for this new normal and resource into new technologies. Some schools have about a thousand students, but with just four computers. I know Lagos State is trying, but it can still improve and do more. Read more
Ogun resident doctors suspend strike (Punch)
The Association of Resident Doctors, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital has suspended its ongoing industrial action.
This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the President of the associatuon, Dr. Popoola Abiodun, and General Secretary, Dr. Osundara Adewale, on Saturday.
The statement was titled “Suspension of ongoing industrial action”.
It stated that the strike was suspended for two weeks to allow for negotiation and development of a Memorandum of Understanding as requested by the Ogun State House of Assembly. Read more
EFCC orders former N’Assembly commissioners to return vehicles (Thisday)
The Economic Financial and Crimes Commission (EFCC) has directed former National Commissioners of National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) to return all official vehicles that they went away with after the expiration of their tenure of office.
The implication, it was gathered is that the EFCC was questioning the propriety of the presiding officers’ approval that directed the former National commissioners to retire and go away with their official 508 Peugeot vehicles.
An Abuja High Court had earlier in July issued a warrant of arrest on the former Clerk of National Assembly, Ataba Sani Omolori following an exparte motion by the EFCC alleging non response to their invitation and indictment in a statement of the former chairman and secretary of the NASC. Read more
Tension in Rivers as govt, labour disagree on industrial action (Nation)
Tension has heightened in Rivers State following a disagreement between the organised labour and the state government over industrial actions.
The government at the weekend accused the state chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) of conniving with its national leadership to force industrial action on workers in the state.
The Rivers State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, who spoke in Port Harcourt, said NLC abandoned a subsisting court case reserved for judgment on September 29, 2020 to embark on its threatened strike. Read more
Flight resumption: Over 15,000 passengers from China, US, UK to arrive Nigeria weekly (Punch)
Following the resumption of international flights in Lagos and Abuja airports from Saturday, investigations by Sunday PUNCH have revealed that there will be about 15,000 passengers flying into the country weekly.
The Federal Government had after shifting the resumption of international flights from August 29 to September 5 noted that only the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos would be opened for operations.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, also said 14 international airlines had been granted approval to operate in the country while eight others were not given approval, for different reasons. Read more
‘How we killed nursing mothers, snatched their babies’ (Nation)
Two suspected members of a notorious child trafficking gang have told the police how they killed a mother of a three-month-old child, sold the baby and shared the proceeds before luck ran out on them shortly after.
The duo, Mary Ishmael (68) and her foot soldier, 23-year-old Chinedu Nwachukwu, were among the 15 suspects paraded by the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Thursday as part of the achievements recorded by the police command in the last three weeks.
Mukan said that Nwachukwu was arrested by men of 48 PMF who were on stop-and-search duties at Omerelu Nipping Point near Owerri, Imo State while carrying a five-month-old baby he allegedly could not explain how he came about. Read more
Anyiam-Osigwe NEC is validly elected to lead movie producers, says AMPEC (Thisday)
The Association of Movie Producers Electoral Committee (AMPEC) has confirmed the validity of the Peace Anyiam-Osigwe-led National Executive Committee (EXCO) of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP), saying it was the only legally recognised executives that were elected at the national election that held in Asaba on August 29, 2020.
The Chairman of AMPEC, Sunny Macdon W., in a statement dated September 2, 2020, said the clarifications became necessary in order to draw the attention of the public to the activities of some individuals who “are parading themselves as newly-elected national excos of the association.”
He said that while the association was aware of the development, it was calling on the general public to disregard their claims, “as the only legally-recognised executives are those that were voted for and sworn in after the election in Asaba, Delta State.” Read more
Mali coup leaders open transition talks in Bamako (Aljazeera)
Mali’s military government has begun talks with opposition groups on its promised transition to civilian rule after mounting pressure in recent weeks to yield power.
The military government’s leaders, who overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in a coup in August, pledged to step down after an undefined transition period, but the putsch prompted Mali’s neighbours and former colonial ruler France to demand a swift transfer of power to civilian rule, with fears the crisis could affect other states in the region.
The talks in Bamako on Saturday were to be held under the military government chief, Assimi Goita, but he was not present, a military source told AFP news agency. Read more
Donald Trump attacks ‘slimeball’ reporter in war dead row (BBC)
US President Donald Trump has described as a “slimeball” a journalist who quoted him as saying dead US soldiers were “losers” and “suckers”.
He likened the Atlantic magazine report to unproven accusations made against him of colluding with Russia to win the presidential election of 2016.
The damning quotes were corroborated independently by The Associated Press.
Veterans’ groups are among those condemning Mr Trump, less than two months from the 2020 election. Read more
Man attempting to kidnap baby caught by supermarket surveillance camera (Newshub)
Supermarket surveillance footage has revealed a man attempting to steal a mother’s shopping cart with her baby inside.
The attempted kidnapping occurred at a Bashas’ supermarket in Arizona at 9:30am on Thursday (local time).
When the man finished using a nearby self-checkout, he took the woman’s shopping cart – with the baby in it – and attempted to leave the store, Flagstaff Police said in a statement.
The mother quickly noticed and confronted the man, who then left the store. The suspect, identified as 59-year-old Jeffrey Roholt, has been arrested and charged with one count of kidnapping. Read more
Maisie Williams says The New Mutants delays meant ‘free promotion for three years’ (Metro)
Maisie Williams has likened headline-generating delays to her latest movie The New Mutants to ‘free promotion’. Well, she’s not wrong. The Game of Thrones actress stars in the horror-superhero film, released yesterday in the UK, alongside the likes of Anya Taylor-Joy and Blu Hunt. It was originally to be released in April 2018, but had to be re-shot – leading many to wonder about its quality. Read more
John Cage: Music changes chord for first time in seven years (BBC)
Fans have flocked to a church in Germany to hear a chord change in a music which lasts for 639 years.
It is the first chord change to As Slow As Possible in seven years.
The work by avant-garde composer, John Cage, is one of the world’s longest and slowest pieces of music.
The piece began 19 years ago with a pause lasting nearly 18 months. The change of chord took place on the specially-built organ on which the composition is being performed. Read more
Facebook vetoes incurably ill man’s bid to livestream death (RNZ)
Facebook says it will block a Frenchman suffering from an incurable condition from livestreaming his own death.
Alain Cocq, 57, planned to broadcast his final days after starting to refuse food, drink and medicine yesterday.
President Emmanuel Macron had earlier denied his request for euthanasia.
Cocq wants the law changed in France to allow terminally ill people to die as they wish. Some groups, including the Catholic Church, oppose euthanasia on moral grounds.
“The road to deliverance begins and believe me, I am happy,” Cocq posted on Facebook from his bed at home in Dijon, after announcing he had “finished his last meal”.
“I know the days ahead are going to be difficult but I have made my decision and I am calm,” he added. Read more
Professor who pretended to be black ‘skipped mum’s funeral to avoid being found out’ (Metro)
A college professor who pretended to be black for her entire career may have skipped her own mother’s funeral to avoid being ‘caught out’, a family friend has claimed. Jessica Krug, 38, didn’t attend the service when her mum, Sherry Krug, died from pneumonia in 2013, Mail Online reports. The family didn’t understand why at the time but, after Krug admitted in a blog post this week that she’s been falsely assuming black identities, they are now speculating that she was worried about the truth coming out. Read more
Dare hails President, PTF on start of sporting activities (Guardian)
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, yesterday hailed the decision to commence football and team sports by the President Muhammadu Buhari and the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, saying that all sports are to be completed behind closed doors in line with the guidelines.
The ministry also thanked President Buhari for also reopening the NYSC Orientation camps.
The National Coordinator of the PTF on COVID-19, Dr. Sani Aliyu, had, on Thursday, announced the start of sporting activities without fans under the close supervision of the sports ministry and the National Centre for Disease Control.
In a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary of the Sports Ministry, Mr. Gabriel Aduda, the minister said: “We commend President Muhammadu Buhari, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 for reopening football and team sports and the NYSC Orientation, which has been in the cooler since the outbreak of COVID-19. Read more
NPFL won’t resume until basic conditions are met – FG (Punch)
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Gabriel Aduda, has warned that the Nigeria Professional Football League will not resume until basic conditions are fulfilled.
Aduda stated this on Saturday, following the Federal Government’s approval for sports activities to resume nationwide behind closed doors.
The FG, through the implementation guideline for phase three of the eased lockdown on September 3, granted permission for the resumption of sporting leagues without fans. Read more
NNL Demands clubs provide certificate of incorporation (DailyTrust)
The Nigeria National League (NNL) has directed its clubs to ensure the provision of Certificate of Incorporation from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as part of the efforts of the league body to hold the clubs more accountable in their operations and responsibilities.
The evidence of the clubs in moving forward as a limited liability company is a major prerequisite for the 2020-2021 season.
This time around, the certificate which is an essential document must be forwarded to NNL for sighting and domiciliation during registration. Read more
Serena Williams through to US Open last 16 after battle with Sloane Stephens (BBC)
Six-time champion Serena Williams fought back from a slow start to beat fellow American Sloane Stephens and reach the last 16 of the US Open.
Third seed Williams, 38, was sluggish in the opening set before raising her intensity to win 2-6 6-2 6-2 against 26th seed Stephens in New York.
“It was intense, we always have some incredible matches,” she said.
Williams, aiming for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title, faces Greek 15th seed Maria Sakkari next. Read more
Yaya Toure issues grovelling apology after Soccer Aid prostitute ‘joke’ backfires (Metro)
Yaya Toure has offered a grovelling apology after he was axed from Sunday’s Soccer Aid event after he boasted he could hire 19 prostitutes to entertain his team-mates at their Cheshire hotel.
The 37-year-old former Manchester City star was due to represent the World XI alongside the likes of the likes of Patrice Evra and female players Julie Fleeting and Lianne Sanderson.
Toure, however, was given the boot by ITV chiefs after they were alerted to his wildly inappropriate suggestion, while reports claim he also posted a pornographic video in the team’s WhatsApp group chat. Read more
US Open: Coronavirus restrictions force Kristina Mladenovic & Timea Babos out of doubles (BBC)
Top seeds Kristina Mladenovic and Timea Babos have been withdrawn from the US Open women’s doubles because of coronavirus restrictions in New York.
Mladenovic, 27, has been told to quarantine after being in close contact with fellow French player Benoit Paire, who tested positive for coronavirus.
She has already played two singles matches and a doubles match this week.
But the US Tennis Association said the quarantine now prevented her moving from her hotel to Flushing Meadows. Read more