Commuters stranded as commercial bus drivers shutdown activities in Lagos(Guardian)
It was a harrowing experience, yesterday, for commuters along Iyana-Iba and Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos, as they trekked long distances to their destinations, following the refusal of commercial bus drivers to ply the route.
The bone of contention was an alleged murder of a commercial bus driver by men of Lagos State Environmental and Enforcement and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce), on Monday evening at Iyana Ipaja.
Another report alleged that the boycott was a protest against high ticket fees imposed on them by transport unions and extortions by task force members.
The protest grounded commercial buses and motorcycles operations in Iyana Ipaja, Idimu, Igando, Iyana Iba, and Ikotun, while hoodlums took advantage of the situation to harass stranded passers-by. Read more
Lagos one-chance robbers arrested after breaking traffic rule (Punch)
Men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority have arrested two one-chance robbers, one Taye and Sunday Olawunmi, in the Lekki-Ajah area of the state.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the suspects usually disguised as commercial transport workers by using a white minibus with number plate, APP 405 YA, to rob unsuspecting members of the public of their valuables in the area.
The suspects, however, met their Waterloo on Monday around 11am when some LASTMA officials accosted them for picking up unsuspecting passengers at an unauthorised location around the Chisco area of Lekki-Ajah.
Consequently, their minibus was impounded.
But things took another turn when one of the LASTMA officials revealed that the suspects had robbed him of his phone and Money on July 14, 2021.Read more
Christian lawyers advocate ecclesiastical court in Lagos State (Guardian)
The Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria (CLASFON) has urged the Lagos State House of Assembly to establish an Ecclesiastical court for Christians just as an Islamic court has been established for Muslims through the instrumentality of the Customary Law of the state.
This was made known during the body’s recent visit to the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa.
Leader of the delegation and Lagos CLASFON Co-ordinator, Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, said: “Section 22 (3) of the Customary Law of Lagos State provides that Lagos State Judicial Service Commission may designate a court to adjudicate on Islamic Law and Matters in relation to marriage, divorce, custody, and inheritance as it deems fit. Mr. Speaker, we equally appeal for legislation that will establish Ecclesiastical court in Lagos to adjudicate on the issues of marriage, divorce, custody, and inheritance on behalf of Christians.” Read more
Certificate: Man fights YABATECH for 41 years, dies after victory (Punch)
OYO State-born pioneer President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Sunday Oladele, who secured victory after 41 years battle with Yaba College of Technology in Lagos, was planning big for his convocation before he died, his son, Olalekan said on Tuesday.
According to him, the 72-year-old activist was celebrating his victory against YABATECH after the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges in June 2021, ordered that his certificate be given to him after 41 years seizure.
Olalekan stated these in an interview with The PUNCH in Abuja on Tuesday on the sidelines of a press conference addressed by the Chairman of Pa Oladele’s Burial Committee, Senator Dino Melaye, and NANS President, Sunday Asefon.
Oladele, alongside a few others, had in 1980 led the rebirth of the students’ movement from the proscribed National Union of Nigerian Students after the military government of Olusegun Obasanjo had, during the ‘Ali Must Go struggle’ led by Olusegun Okeowo, banned student unionism, which was firmly organised under NUNS. Read more
Open defecation poses environmental crisis in Oshodi-Isolo
(Guardian)
There are concerns over inadequate public toilet facilities and sanitation in several parts of Lagos. It is not uncommon to see residents defecate in open spaces as nature calls.
In Oshodi, home of the $70 million Transport Interchange and arguably, busiest ports of call in Nigeria, the situation is getting worse as there are a limited number of public toilets to cater for thousands of commuters on transit.
Expectations are that a place like Oshodi should have several quality public toilets.
But that is not the case as open defecation is becoming the norm.Read more
Unilorin Rape Murder: CCTV Captures Suspect Withdrawing Money From Victim’s Account (DailyTrust)
A staff of Guarantee Trust Bank, Babatunji Lawal, on Tuesday narrated how the bank’s CCTV captured one of the suspects withdrawing money from the account of the slain Olajide Omowunmi Blessing, a 300 level student of the University of Ilorin.
Lawal, who was led in evidence by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Salman Jawondo, informed the court that bank CCTV footage captured the image of the 6th defendant, Abdullateef Abdulrahman, during the withdrawal.
According to the banker, aside from the ATM instance, the suspect further used Kuda Microfinance bank in the Opay application to also withdraw money from late Blessing’s account amounting to N50,000.
“The bank CCTV captured the suspect while withdrawing the money from the ATM while putting on a head warner in the process. Read more
Despite PIA, FG to retain subsidy, sell petrol at N162 (Guardian)
Contrary to expectations that the signing of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) would automatically commence the deregulation of the downstream sector, especially the removal of subsidy, the Federal Government, yesterday, said the retail price of Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise called petrol, will remain at N162 per litre until a feasible framework is developed.
The Guardian had earlier reported that the government spent N438.37 billion on subsidy payments as of June 2021. The removal of subsidy will lead to an upward review of petrol retail price, rising to at least N400 a litre.
The Group General Manager in charge of Public Affairs Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Garba Deen Muhammad, confirmed yesterday that fuel subsidy would remain, pending the outcome of the current negotiations with labour unions in the country.
He said there would be chaos in the country if the subsidy was removed now. “The government is discussing with labour to find a lasting solution to the concern,” he said. Read more
CBN freezes four fintech firms’ accounts (Guardian)
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has secured a court injunction to freeze the bank accounts of four financial technology (fintech) firms for operating as asset management companies without licence.
The affected companies are Rise Vest Technologies Limited, Bamboo Systems Technology Limited, Chaka Technologies Limited, and Trove Technologies Limited.
According to reports, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted an ex parte motion seeking the temporary freezing of the companies’ bank accounts yesterday.
Michael Aondoakaa (SAN) filed the motion on behalf of CBN to probe the activities of the four firms. Read more
Haiti earthquake: Death toll reaches nearly 2,000 (BBC)
At least 1,941 people are known to have died in Haiti in Saturday’s powerful earthquake – a rise of more than 500 on the previous figure, officials say.
Nearly 10,000 people have been injured, and many are still missing after the the 7.2-magnitude tremor.
Rescue work has been hampered by heavy rains brought this week by Tropical Storm Grace to the Caribbean nation.
The UN says about 500,000 children now have limited or no access to shelter, safe water and food. Read more
Eminem returns to acting with role in 50 Cent’s new drama ‘BMF’ (USAToday)
Eminem will make a brief appearance on the show as Richard Wershe Jr., the former teenage drug dealer from Detroit nicknamed White Boy Rick, in 50 Cent’s new Starz series ‘BMF.’
May we have your attention, please?The “Real Slim Shady,” aka rapper Eminem, is back in the acting game.
The upcoming Starz series “BMF,” inspired by two real-life brothers from Detroit who were powerful figures in drug trafficking, will feature Motor City’s very own as a guest star.
Eminem will make a brief appearance on the show as Richard Wershe Jr., the former teenage drug dealer from Detroit nicknamed White Boy Rick, according to The Wrap. “I’m honored and appreciative of my good friend Em for supporting my new show ‘BMF.’ We couldn’t do a show in Detroit without incorporating the legend that is Eminem,” 50 Cent, a “BMF” executive producer, said in a statement to the publication. Read more
“Fast and Furious 10” Set for April 2023 Release (Variety)
The 10th installment of the “Fast and Furious” franchise is set to speed into theaters in 2023.
“Fast and Furious 10” will debut on April 7, 2023, Variety has confirmed. The film, which is the second to last movie in the “Fast and Furious” franchise, will be directed by Justin Lin. It was originally scheduled for release on April 2 of this year, but that spot was taken by “F9” due to delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and later pushed back to June 25.
Though the cast has not been revealed yet, it is expected that franchise star Vin Diesel will return, along with Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, Chris Bridges, Jordana Brewster and Michelle Rodriguez. According to Entertainment Weekly, Dwayne Johnson is not set to return to the franchise, and it is unclear whether John Cena will reprise his role as Jakob Toretto.
The release of “F9” in June certainly helped to liven up the box office during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the film grossing over $170 million in the U.S. and over $500 million globally. Read more
Taliban vow to Respect Women’s Rights ‘Within Islamic Law’ (VOA)
The Taliban vowed to respect women’s rights “within Islamic law” and form an “inclusive Islamic” government as the radical movement consolidates its hold over the war-torn country.
The group stunned the world over the weekend when they retook power in the Afghan capital, conquering almost all the country’s 34 provinces in just over a week’s time.
Their lightening battlefield advances were primarily the outcome of the largely unexpected surrender or retreat by U.S.-trained Afghan security forces in the face of Taliban attacks.
Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said Taliban leaders are engaged in “hectic” discussions with other rival groups and U.S. special peace envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, in Doha, Qatar, which houses the Taliban’s political office. Read more
Johnny Depp scores big win over Amber Heard as judge rejects her bid to throw out his defamation suit (USAToday)
Johnny Depp’s two-year-old defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife Amber Heard will not be dismissed, a Virginia judge ruled Tuesday, meaning the case is set to proceed to a trial next year.
Fairfax County Chief Judge Penney Azcarate rejected Heard’s motion to dismiss the case – Heard’s third such motion since Depp filed his lawsuit in March 2019 – on various grounds set out in an opinion obtained by USA TODAY.
Heard tried to get the Virginia lawsuit thrown out citing the ruling of a London judge last year in a libel lawsuit Depp filed against the publisher of The Sun tabloid and subsequently lost following a contentious legal showdown in an English courtroom.
The London judge concluded that the 2018 article branding Depp a “wife beater” was not libelous and that “the great majority” of Heard’s claims of domestic abuse “could be proved to the civil standard.” Read more
US lab stands on threshold of key nuclear fusion goal (BBC)
A US science institute is on the verge of achieving a longstanding goal in nuclear fusion research.
The National Ignition Facility uses a powerful laser to heat and compress hydrogen fuel, initiating fusion.
An experiment suggests the goal of “ignition”, where the energy released by fusion exceeds that delivered by the laser, is now within touching distance.
Harnessing fusion, the process that powers the Sun, could provide a limitless, clean energy source. Read more
Brume, Ofoku lead chase for medals as Ajayi, others battle for 4x400m mixed relay gold (Guardian)
Athletes from over 200 countries have arrived in Nairobi for the championship, which begins today at the Kasarani Stadium, Nairobi, and will run till August 22.
Team Nigeria will begin its chase for medals this morning with the duo of Godson Brume and Ashe Oghenetejiri Favour joining the contest for qualification tickets in the men’s 100m event.
In the women’s 100m event, Team Nigeria’s duo of Tima Godbless and Ofoku Praise will contest for qualification to the next round.
Also today, U.S.-based Nigerian junior sprinter, Dubem Amena, and Bamidele Ajayi, will compete in the 400m heat event for men, just as Oke Opeyemi and Imaobong Nse Uko will race for qualification tickets in the women’s category. Read more
Galatasaray loan Ozornwafor to Denizlispor (Punch)
Turkish Super Lig side Galatasaray have loaned Nigerian defender Valentine Ozornwafor to fellow Turkish league side Denizlispor.
The former Enyimba man’s stay with the Turkish giants is blocking FC København’s Victor Nelsson, as his position in the team is one of the foreign quotas allowed in the league for every team.
Meanwhile, Nelsson has started training with his new club and he was not part of the team that played against Giresunspor in their first game of the season.
Turkish newspaper Aksam reports that as Fatih Terim’s side are short of foreign quota, they had no choice but to lease the former Almeria player out to Denizlispor to make space for Nelsson.Read more
Africa Cup of Nations: Draw made for delayed 2021 event in Cameroon (BBC)
Holders Algeria have drawn former winners Ivory Coast in the group stage of the delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon next year.
At a star-studded ceremony in Yaounde on Tuesday, Algeria were drawn in Group E where they will also face Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea.
The tournament, which features 24 teams and runs from 9 January to 6 February, will see the winners and runners-up in each of the six groups, plus the best four third-placed teams, reach the knockout phase. Read more
German Supercup: Lewandowski double sinks Dortmund as Nagelsmann seals first silverware (DW)
Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring during the German Supercup
Bayern Munich have won the German Supercup again, sweeping Dortmund aside in an absorbing contest. Robert Lewandowski was the hero on a night when Julian Nagelsmann won the first trophy of his career.
It’s not exactly the Champions League, but Julian Nagelsmann has got the monkey off his back. The German Supercup becomes the coach’s first trophy on the same night that he oversaw his first victory with his new club – and surely it’ll be the first of many.
This helter-skelter, full-blooded Klassiker contest bodes well for the rest of the Bundesliga season. Nagelsmann and his opposite number, Marco Rose, have enjoyed several intense and high-quality battles at their previous clubs, and this one served up a treat too. Read more
Cristiano Ronaldo: Juventus striker says transfer rumours are ‘just talk’ (BBC)
Cristiano Ronaldo has criticised media reports linking him with a move away from Juventus.
In a post on social media he did not outright deny a move was possible or commit his future to the Italian side.
But the 36-year-old forward said he was “focused on his work” despite reports linking him with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.
The Portugal captain called rumours “a disrespect for me as a man and as a player”. Read more
Revitalised Ko eyes glory at Women’s British Open (France24)
Lydia Ko hopes to make it third time lucky in the Women’s British Open at Carnoustie this week after the New Zealander ended her poor run of form.
Following a disappointing spell, South Korea-born Ko is back on track and she goes into Thursday’s final major of the season on a hot streak.
The 24-year-old finished third at the Olympic Games in Tokyo and then second at the Women’s Scottish Open.
Now she wants to get her hands on the trophy in Scotland.”It’s been a tough few weeks and it would be nice to end on a real high before taking a break,” she said. Read more