Confusion as pastors, bishops attend Shettima’s unveiling (Punch)
Journalists assigned to cover the official presentation of former Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima as the running mate of the presidential flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, watched in amusement as pastors and Bishops from different Christian denominations showed up at the venue.
Their presence seemed to cause a stir as onlookers and guests stared hard at them as they walked into the reception of the Musa Yar’Adua Centre dressed in their cassocks and habits, amid heavy security at the venue.
Earlier, the media had been awash with reports from religious bodies urging Christian leaders to boycott the unveiling to drive home the point of their grievances.
Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the Christians Association of Nigeria’s President, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, had a few weeks ago condemned the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket. Read more
Police launch manhunt for jealous wife who set husband ablaze (DailyTrust)
The police in Osun State have launched a manhunt for a housewife, Ifeoluwa Bamidele, who allegedly set her husband, Bolu, ablaze in Osogbo on Sunday.
The Osun command’s spokesperson, SP Yemisi Opalola, made this known in a statement in Osogbo.
The police said that a case of attempted murder was reported at about 11.30pm on Sunday.
“At about 11:30pm, one Bolu, was allegedly set ablaze by his wife.
“The victim was rushed to the Osogbo Central Hospital where he was referred to the University College Hospital, Ibadan (UCH) for better treatment,’’ she said. Read more
We hid like rats when terrorists took over Kuje Prison, Abba Kyari tells court (Vanguard)
The suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Abba Kyari, who is facing drug trafficking charge, on Wednesday, gave an insight into what transpired on the night insurgents attacked the Kuje Correctional Facility in Abuja.
The attack, which occured on July 5, led to the escape of about 879 inmates, including all 68 imprisoned Boko Haram members.
Kyari, who was inside the prison facility when the insurgents that were later identified as members of the Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, a breakaway faction of the Boko Haram terrorist sect, struck, told the court that he hid himself like a rat.
He told the court that though the terrorists had after they seized the prison facility for over three hours, opened all the gates and forced inmates to escape, he declined to run away, along with four other members of the Police Intelligence Response Team, IRT, that were also remanded with him. Read more
Lagos records 847 emergency cases in 6 months as fire disasters, building collapse rage (DailyTrust)
Lagos State recorded no fewer than 847 cases of disaster in the last six months covering January to June, 2022, according to a report from the state emergency management agency (LASEMA).
The cases cut across road accidents, Tanker accidents, fire incidents, building collapse, pipeline explosion, among others.
The figures released by LASEMA revealed that 331 Road accidents were recorded in the year under review followed by fallen/faulty trucks and tankers with 303 cases recorded.
94 fire disasters were also recorded in the year under review followed by building collapse with 23 cases recorded. Read more
2023: Lagos APC chieftain holds roundtable for Tinubu presidency, other candidates (Tribune)
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and executive chairman of Itire-Ikate LCDA, Hon (Dr) Ahmed Olanrewaju Apatira, on Tuesday, held political roundtable to mobilise support for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu presidency and other candidates of the party in the 2023 general elections.
The roundtable, mainly political, according to the council helmsman was targeted at bridging the gaps and solidifying the relationship between all the three arms of government, elected and appointed officers and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos state and by extension the electorate.
He stressed, it is to mobilise support for the presidency of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other candidates of the party in the state ahead of the forthcoming polls.
While describing the year 2023 as an all-important election year for the All Progressives Congress and Nigerians, Apatira advised party executives and members to work in unity to ensure victory for the party. Read more
Surgery: Doctors reveal Osinbajo recovering on crutches (Punch)
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is now “receiving physiotherapy and mobilising quite well on crutches,” doctors overseeing his condition at the Duchess International Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, have revealed.
This is according to a statement signed by the hospital’s Medical Director, Dr. Adedoyin Dosunmu-Ogunbi, titled ‘Duchess International Hospital, Ikeja gives update on VP Osinbajo’s condition.’
The PUNCH reports that Osinbajo, on Saturday, July 16, 2022, successfully underwent a surgical procedure on his thigh bone to correct injuries linked to playing squash.
The statement read, “The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, continues to make good progress at the Duchess International Hospital, Ikeja. Read more
‘I feel victorious’, Davido says as INEC issues Adeleke certificate of return (Vanguard)
Afrobeat singer, David Adeleke, aka Davido, has reacted as his uncle, Senator Ademola Adeleke received his certificate of return Wednesday from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Recall that Adeleke was declared winner of the Osun State governorship election after he garnered the highest vote to beat his major contender, Governor Gboyega Oyetola who polled 375,027 and Action Democratic Party (ADP) Kehinde Atanda as the second runner-up.
Davido had on Tuesday via a Twitter post raised the alarm that 48 hours after the election, INEC was yet to issue a Certificate of Return to his uncle, warning that no illegal act should be done against the will of Osun people who came out massively to vote for his uncle.
However, Wednesday, INEC presented the certificate to Adeleke who was the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Read more
MKO Abiola never traded drugs while alive, says family (Guardian)
The family of late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (MKO) has denied a report that the late philanthropist and June 12 hero traded drugs while he was alive.
A journalist David Hundeyin authored an article titled: “Bola Ahmed Tinubu: From Drug Lord To Presidential Candidate” where he alleged that Abiola traded hard drugs when he was alive.
But in a statement signed by Yushau Olalekan Abiola, on behalf of Kudirat Abiola’s children, the late MKO’s family said Hundeyin’s unfounded allegation exposed him as a hack journalist who had engraved his name in the sand of fake news.
The statement added that the journalist was only rabble-rousing and intended to drag the legacy of the acclaimed winner of the June 12 presidential election in the mud. Read more
ASUU Strike: NANS backs NLC on planned nationwide protest (Sun)
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has thrown its weight behind the decision of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to shut down the country in protest next Tuesday and Wednesday over a prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
NANS said that since their own protest did not yield the expected result, it will be wise to join the proposed protest by a larger national union in order to compel the government to take action on the prolonged ASUU strike.
NANS President Sunday Asefon, in a statement on Wednesday, directed all NANS structures across the country to mobilise and join the NLC protest and ensure the success of the exercise.
He explained that NANS will only be involved in the mobilisation of students to the protest sites and will act based on the direction provided by the NLC, promising that NANS structures across the country shall submit to the leadership of NLC all through the protest. Read more
5 members of same family including 3 children killed in attack in France (Metro)
A man has been shot dead after he reportedly killed five members of his family he had been holding hostage since last night.
The attack happened in Douvres, a town in eastern France.
Local media reported the man in his twenties killed his father, his stepmother and three siblings.
The man had been entrenched in a house with his family since around 11.30pm yesterday, according to reports.
Le Progres said that the victims were his father, who ran a building company in Ain, his stepmother, originally from Gironde, his 17 -year-old sister, his half brother, 15, and his half-sister, aged five. Read more
Jamie Lee Curtis on final time playing Laurie Strode in Halloween Ends (People)
Jamie Lee Curtis is saying goodbye to Laurie Strode after more than four decades.
While chatting with PEOPLE about the third and final season of her Audible podcast series Letters from Camp, the actress, 63, also opens up about the forthcoming last installment in the Halloween film franchise, Halloween Ends, which debuted its trailer Tuesday.
Speaking about closing out her last chapter as Laurie in the upcoming finale, Curtis tells PEOPLE, “Well, you know, endings are a bitch, and endings are very difficult to do in a very satisfying way.”
Detailing that she wrapped filming on the project while in Georgia earlier this year, the actress says, “The last shot [filmed] was [part of] a night shoot and I was in a car — it was a close-up of me in the car. And when we got out of the car, it was 4:30 in the morning and there was the picture of my face on the screen.” Read more
Amanda Seyfried auditioned for ‘Wicked’ movie after hating her ‘Les Misérables’ singing voice (Variety)
Amanda Seyfried revealed to Backstage that she auditioned for the role of Glinda the Good Witch in Jon M. Chu’s upcoming “Wicked” musical film adaptation, but the production went for pop star Ariana Grande instead. Oscar-nominated Seyfried has no regrets. Quite the contrary. Auditioning for “Wicked” proved to Seyfried that her musical singing voice was strong, something she needed to know after hating the way she sounded in Tom Hooper’s “Les Misérables” adaptation.
“I have dreams that I’m still auditioning for ‘Wicked,’” Seyfried said. “Last summer while I was playing Elizabeth [Holmes on ‘The Dropout’], on the weekends I was auditioning in person to play Glinda in the movie version of ‘Wicked’ — because I wanted it that much that I was like, ‘You know what? Yeah, I have to play the last scene of ‘The Dropout’ on Tuesday. I’ll give my Sunday to you.’ I literally bent over backwards while playing the hardest role of my life.” Read more
Olivia Colman, Luke Evans, Jessie Buckley, Johnny Flynn join voice cast of Netflix’s ‘Scrooge: A Christmas Carol’ animation (THR)
Netflix has unveiled an impressive lineup of stars set to lend their voices to its upcoming animated feature Scrooge: A Christmas Carol from director Stephen Donnelly and Timeless Films.
Luke Evans (voicing Scrooge), Olivia Colman (Past), Jessie Buckley (Isabel Fezziwig) and Johnny Flynn (Bob Cratchit) have joined the film, alongside Fra Fee (Harry Huffam), Giles Terera (Tom Jenkins), Trevor Dion Nicholas (Present), James Cosmo (Mr Fezziwig) and Jonathan Pryce (Jacob Marley).
Landing on Netflix in December, the CG animation gives the Charles Dickens classic a musical spin, with re-imagined songs from two-time Oscar and Grammy winner Leslie Bricusse (Doctor Dolittle, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Superman, Home Alone).
The film is produced by Timeless Films in association with Axis Studios, with producers including Ralph Kamp, Andrew Pearce and Bricusse. Rebecca Kamp and Gareth Kamp will serve as co-producers. Read more
Commonwealth Games: Duran Duran to headline opening ceremony in Birmingham (BBC)
Duran Duran will headline the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in their home city of Birmingham next week, organisers have announced.
The 80s pop group will perform on the same bill as fellow local musician Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO).
Singer Simon Le Bon said he was “honoured” to play the homecoming gig.
Peaky Blinders director Steven Knight will executive produce the event, which will be broadcast live on the BBC. Read more
Louis Tomlinson teases second solo album as he admits music is coming ‘very soon’ (DailyStar)
Louis Tomlinson has revealed his upcoming second album is set to be released “very soon”.
The former One Direction star, 30, has been busy in the studio since the release of his first solo album in 2020.
Released on January 31, 2020, the album debuted at No 4 on the UK Albums Chart and featured singles such as Don’t Let It Break Your Heart.
Now, Louis has teased the release of new music during an appearance on Australian show The Project. Read more
Russia says its military in Ukraine expanding focus, cites Western weapons supply (TimesOfIsrael)
Russia’s military aims in Ukraine are no longer focused “only” on the country’s east, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, adding that supplies of Western weapons had changed the Kremlin’s calculus.
“The geography is different now. It is not only about the DNR and LNR, but also the Kherson region, the Zaporizhzhia region and a number of other territories,” Lavrov told state media in an interview published Wednesday.
“This process is continuing, consistently and persistently.”
The pro-Moscow breakaway so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DNR and LNR) are in east Ukraine. Read more
Super Falcons miss out of N2.25b CAF largesse (Sun)
Nine time Africa champions, Super Falcons missed out from amassing the princely sum of over N2 billion after they crashed out in the semi final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations to host Morocco on Monday.
Had the team made it to the final, they would have been in contention for the winning prize of $500 000, a 150 percent increase from the earlier $200,000 the team won in the last edition.
The adjustment of the prize money is in line with the federation’s new policy of making the women’s competition in Africa globally competitive.
“The winner of this year’s edition will pocket $500 000 – a 150 per cent increase of $300,000.” Read more
Barcelona sign Lewandowski for £42.6m (BBC)
Barcelona have signed Poland striker Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich on a four-year contract worth 50m euros (£42.6m).
The 33-year-old had one year left on his contract with the German champions but in May said: “My story with Bayern is over.”.
He has joined his new team-mates in Miami as part of Barcelona’s four-match tour of the United States.
“I’m finally here. I’m delighted to be at Barca,” Lewandowski said.
“The last few days have been very long, but the deal is done and now I can focus on a new chapter and challenge in my life. Read more
Mamelodi Sundowns sign Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams (IOL)
Following week’s of speculation and negotiations, Mamelodi Sundowns have reportedly landed the signature of Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen William on a five year deal.
According to the SABC, the 30 year old shot-stopper will leave SuperSport United after spending 18 years at the Pretoria based club.
Williams has reportedly been looking to leave Matsatsantsa as he looks to challenge for trophies, and it appears he has found his new home at current DStv Premiership champions Sundowns.
“Indications are that the deal has been concluded, with Williams signing a long-term contract, while his former club have successfully negotiated the transfer of another goalkeeper in Ricardo Goss as well as young striker Thabang Sibanyoni to join coach Gavin Hunt’s side for the upcoming season,” SABC Sport reported on Wednesday. Read more
Former Premier League striker Charlie Austin makes his highly-anticipated debut for Brisbane Roar (DailyMail)
It took a while before Premier League outfit Aston Villa broke down the resistance of A-League Men’s side Brisbane Roar to secure a 1-0 win in their friendly on Wednesday.
Frustrated by a combination of stout Roar defending and a lack of creativity at North Queensland Stadium, England youth international Cameron Archer secured a frustrating but deserved win for Steven Gerrard’s side with a 76th-minute strike.
With the two-game Queensland jaunt now complete, the Villans head west for a game against Manchester United at Perth Stadium on Saturday.
The Roar will now turn their attention to an Australia Cup meeting against NPL Victoria side Heidelberg United on July 27. Read more
French GP: Max Verstappen eyes 2021 Paul Ricard repeat (GMS)
Max Verstappen says he is looking to get himself back to winning ways in France this weekend, and is aiming to use last year’s result as inspiration.
Red Bull’s winning run came to an end back in Silverstone as Carlos Sainz earned victory for Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc then doubling up for the Scuderia in Austria last time out.
Verstappen still has a healthy lead in the championship despite that, of course, but he knows that things can quickly turn around in F1, as we head into the second half of the season.
That said, he’s looking forward to getting going at Paul Ricard this weekend, and is hoping that the performance that yielded him victory here in France last year can be repeated this time around Read more
Stenson stripped of Ryder Cup captaincy as LIV rumours swirl (France24)
Henrik Stenson was Wednesday stripped of the captaincy of the European Ryder Cup team, with the Swede understood to be on the verge of joining the Saudi-funded rebel LIV Golf series.
Following discussions with Ryder Cup Europe officials, the decision was made to effectively sack the 46-year-old as skipper of the team for the event in Italy next year.
The move will deepen the rifts in a sport wracked by internal division, with a growing number of major stars defecting to the lucrative new circuit.
Ryder Cup Europe said in a statement that Stenson’s tenure as skipper for the competition against the United States in Rome next year had been brought to an end “with immediate effect”. Read more
Max Burgin draws inspiration from David Rudisha in 800m dream (Standard)
Max Burgin has set his sights on becoming Britain’s answer to David Rudisha.
The 20-year-old has become known for his front-running style in the 800 metres in the mold of the world record holder and London 2012 gold medallist.
And Burgin has become a marked man as the fastest person globally over the distance this season heading into the World Athletics Championships.
“I’d be happy to win even if it meant changing tactics but I think Rudisha proves that it is very viable to win and run these fantastic times from the front,” he said. Read more