Court to hear application on ownership of Eko Atlantic City July 5 (Guardian)
A Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, will on July 5, 2022, hear a motion challenging the court’s jurisdiction in a suit filed by Lagos State government and South Energyx Nigeria Ltd against Ocean City Lagos Ltd over ownership of all parcels of land measuring 1,037.763 hectares, known as Eko Atlantic City.
Justice Kayode Ogunjobi had fixed yesterday for hearing of the application but the case was stalled due to the absence of the judge.
Lagos State governor and South Energyx Nigeria Ltd had in the suit claimed ownership of the parcel of land in dispute and urged the court to declare the allocation and vesting of rights, which Ocean City Lagos Ltd possessed a nullity.
Besides, the claimants are seeking a declaration that by virtue of the provisions of the Land Use Act 1978 Cap. L5 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, the 1st Claimant (Governor of Lagos State) is the appropriate authority to grant Statutory Right of Occupancy over state lands situated in Lagos State. Read more
Aggrieved Ogun politicians challenge Lagos Senator’s victory in court (Punch)
Some aggrieved politicians have sued a Lagos West Senator, Olamilekan Adeola, asking the court to stop him from parading himself as the winner of the All Progressives Congress primary in Ogun West Senatorial district.
Adeola was declared the winner of the APC Ogun West Senatorial ticket after he defeated the current senator representing the district, Senator Tolu Odebiyi at the party primary held in Ilaro on Saturday.
The aggrieved politicians; Adebiyi Tajudeen, Olajumoke Ibrahim, and Muideen Akintade had on Friday, approached an Abeokuta division of the Federal High Court, obtaining an interlocutory injunction, restraining Adeola from parading himself as the candidate.
They argued that Adeola contested an election in Ogun West Senatorial District without having stayed in Ogun State for the number of the times required by law. Read more
Lagos Task Force arrests 9 armed robbery suspects, clears Olusosun dumpsite (Guardian)
The Lagos State Taskforce has arrested nine armed robbery suspects at Olusosun in Ojota axis of the state.
Also, the agency has, in conjunction with the Ministry of the Environment carried out a cleanup exercise of the refuse dumpsite.
The activity, spearheaded by the Chairman of the Task Force, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Shola Jejeloye, was in furtherance of the state’s resolve to rid the city of all forms of environmental hazards and ensure that the citizenry lives in a clean, serene and pollution-free environment.
Jejeloye said that the dumpsite has been a known haven for criminal elements that engage in criminal activities, one of which is traffic robbery Read more
Adegoke: CCTV monitor was removed before I resumed duty — 7th defendant (Vanguard)
A receptionist on duty at the Hilton Hotel Honours, Ile-Ife, Osun state, on the day Timothy Adegoke, the OAU’s postgraduate student checked into the hotel, Adesola Adedeji, yesterday, told Chief Justice Adepele Ojo of Osun High Court that a CCTV monitor in the reception was removed before she resumed duty the following week.
Timothy was said to have lodged in the hotel on Friday, November 5, 2021, and was later found in a grave in Ile-Ife, after he had been declared missing on November 7.
At the resumed murder trial, yesterday, Adesola said the hotel had a CCTV camera functioning till November 6, 2021, but she did not know why the monitor at the reception was removed on November 9, 2021, when she resumed duty at the hotel. Read more
Kidnapped head of Nigeria’s Methodist Church freed (BBC)
The head of the Methodist Church in Nigeria, Samuel Kanu, has been freed after being abducted on Sunday, a church official confirmed to the BBC.
He was travelling with two other priests on a highway in the south-eastern state of Abia when they were kidnapped, police told the BBC.
It is unclear how they were freed, but separatist groups frequently carry out abductions in the region.
His release has led to jubilation in Nigeria’s Christian community.
Soon after the news of the abduction came out, members of the Methodist Church in the country started hourly chain-prayers for the release of Dr Kanu and the other priests. Read more
Beer parlour owner, 10 others hospitalised in Kabba explosion (DailyTrust)
The management of the General Hospital Kabba in Kogi state has stated that the owner of the beer parlour, Mrs Omofemi Oyehunwa and ten other victims were rushed to the hospital for treatment shortly after an explosion.
Dr Ibrahim Sule, head of the X-Ray unit of the hospital disclosed this to journalists on Monday evening in Kabba.
However, Dr Sule added that other victims had received medication and had been discharged, but Mrs Oyehunwa remained in the hospital for further tests.
“We have to take her into the X-Ray unit for her to undertake a test on her buttocks, to be sure there is no foreign object in her body. Read more
Equities market begins week with N169b loss (Leadership)
Activities in the domestic equities market resumed the week yesterday on a sour note, as investors took profit off Presco Plc and 16 others, resulting in N169 billion loss.
The All Share Index (ASI) decreased by 313.16 absolute points, representing a dip of 0.58 per cent to close at 53,772.14 points. Similarly, the market capitalisation lost N169 billion to close at N28.989 trillion.
The downturn was impacted by losses recorded in medium and large capitalised stocks, amongst which are; Presco, MTN Nigeria Communications (MTNN), Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Lafarge Africa and University Press.
Going into the week, analysts at United Capital Plc expected sentiments to remain soft and could support further profit taking, particularly if fixed income yields continue to surge in light of the MPR rate hike, saying, “nevertheless, we advise investors not to panic and rather take advantage of the dip to increase positions in attractively priced fundamental stocks.” Read more
Train attack: Terrorists release fresh video, Osinbajo’s classmate pleads for help (Punch)
The terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna bound AK9 train on March 28 have released a fresh video where some captives, among them, a classmate of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Gladys, fought back tears while pleading with the Federal Government to come to their aid.
She said she was a classmate of the Vice President in the 1978/1979 Law school class and noted that she had a sickly child being taken care of by her.
She said, with her current stay in the terrorists’ den, she was disturbed by the plight of her son.
The latest video is surfacing few days after the terrorists withdrew their threat to start killing the passengers in their custody should the Federal Government fail to meet their demands within seven days. Read more
Arrest/Detention: Okorocha drags EFCC to court, demands N1b damages (Vanguard)
Detained former governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, has filed suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja, demanding N1billion from the Economic and Finance Crimes Commission, EFCC, alleging gross violation of his fundamental human rights.
Okorocha, in the suit he filed through a team of lawyers led by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and sighted by Vanguard on Monday night, had aside from asking for monetary compensation as examplary damages against the anti-graft agency, equally demanded a public apology, to be published in at least three national dalies.
He cited the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, as the 2nd defendant in the matter.
The applicant, is among other things, praying the court to declare that the seige the EFCC laid on his house without any legal justification, was unconstitutional and a flagrant abuse of his fundamental human rights. Read more
I feel disappointed delegates from my state didn’t vote for me – PDP Presidential Aspirant (DailyTrust)
A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Samuel Ohuabunwa, has expressed disappointment that delegates from his state didn’t vote for him at last Saturday’s 2023 Presidency Special PDP National Convention of the party.
He disclosed this while speaking about the party’s presidential primary election on a Channels TV programme on Monday morning.
Abia State, the state of origin of the politician, had 17 delegates but he got only one vote in the primary conducted in the velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Ohuabunwa said, “I thought more people were going to vote for me, people from my state.”
The pharmacist said he was disappointed delegates went for money rather than vote for aspirants based on merit. Read more
A$AP Rocky hopes to raise ‘open-minded children’ with Rihanna (PageSix)
A$AP Rocky says he hopes to raise “open-minded children” with his girlfriend, Rihanna.
“I hope to raise open-minded children. Not people who discriminate,” the rapper, 33, said in an interview with Dazed published Monday. “And I’m not trying to describe a saint, but realistically, I just want a cool child with cool parents.”
He elaborated, “Things like diversity and versatility are important, and they’ll be embedded in the household.”
Rocky and Rihanna welcomed their first child, a baby boy, on May 13. The hip-hop star and the Fenty Beauty mogul, who began dating in 2020, announced in January that they were starting a family together.
Though Rocky sings an inclusive tune today, that hasn’t always been the case. He admitted to being “homophobic” in the past during a 2011 interview with Pitchfork. Read more
Russian oil: EU agrees compromise deal on banning imports (BBC)
European Union leaders have agreed on a plan to block more than two-thirds of Russian oil imports.
The ban is a compromise that will not affect pipeline oil imports for now, following opposition from Hungary.
European Council chief Charles Michel said the deal cut off “a huge source of financing” for the Russian war machine.
It is part of a sixth package of sanctions approved at a summit in Brussels, which all 27 member states have had to agree on.
Mr Michel said the EU had also agreed hard-hitting measures targeting Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, and three state-owned broadcasters. Read more
Harry Styles’ ‘Harry’s House’ debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 with half-million-plus first week in US (Billboard)
Harry Styles’ Harry’s House debuts atop the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated June 4) with a massive 521,500 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending May 26, according to Luminate.
It’s the largest week of 2022 for any album and only the fourth album in the last 18 months to earn at least 500,000 units in a single week. It logs the biggest week for an album since Adele’s 30 debuted with 839,000 units in the week ending Nov. 25, 2021 (chart dated Dec. 4, 2021). (Styles and Adele also are labelmates — both are on Columbia Records.)
Harry’s House is Styles’ third No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — the entirety of his solo releases. And all three have bowed at No. 1. He also topped the list with 2019’s Fine Line and his 2017 self-titled debut. Harry’s House was released on May 20.
Harry’s House also logs a modern-era record for single-week vinyl album sales, as it sold 182,000 copies on vinyl in the U.S. That marks the largest week for an album on vinyl since Luminate began tracking music sales in 1991. It beats the previous high, set last year, when Taylor Swift’s Red (Taylor’s Version) sold 114,000 vinyl copies in the week ending Nov. 18, 2021. Read more
Dwayne Johnson’s daughter Simone responds to criticism of WWE name (USAToday)
Dwayne Johnson’s daughter Simone is facing backlash ahead of her WWE debut over her professional wrestling name.
Simone, 20, changed her name to Ava Raine on Twitter Sunday.
She was quickly met with criticism by some who believed her WWE moniker should connect to her father, formally known by the WWE as “The Rock.”
“Giving Simone Johnson, the daughter of THE ROCK, a new name is completely nonsensical,” a critic tweeted. “Will hold (judgment) until she debuts, but if WWE doesn’t acknowledge her dad is The Rock that’s ridiculous.” Read more
Looking for connections in a less-than-dazzling Cannes lineup (Variety)
This year, the Cannes Film Festival kicked off with a restoration of Jean Eustache’s 1973 ménage à trois scandal “The Mother and the Whore” and concluded with a screening of controversial Palme d’Or winner “Triangle of Sadness,” creating an odd kind of symmetry for the event’s 75th anniversary edition, between which I somehow managed to screen all 21 films in competition. Made half a century apart, Eustache and Östlund’s rhyming triangles were hardly the only parallels to be found at Cannes — though anyone who’s ever binge-watched movies at a major festival knows the feeling of such connections, often just a fluke of the order in which you see movies whose images and ideas inevitably resonate with one another.
Consider this could-be coincidence: Roughly midway through Östlund’s influencer-skewering satire (a fitting follow-up to 2018 Palme d’Or winner “The Square”), a black-tie dinner aboard a posh ocean cruise goes sideways, touching off an outrageous sequence in which the disgraced attendees, puking every which way, wind up swimming in their own effluvia. Read more
Future electric cars could be made from the remains of old petrol bangers (Metro)
Electric cars could be made with plastic – from old bangers, according to new research.
Bumpers, carpets, mats, seating, seals and door casings have been turned into graphene – the world’s lightest material.
Invented by British scientists almost two decades ago, it is set to revolutionise the automative industry.
The metal will increase vehicles’ strength while reducing weight, improve fuel efficiency and create rust-free paint.
It will make self-driving cars safer with sensors just one atom thick – enabling detection of obstacles even in difficult weather conditions. Read more
Canada proposes total freeze on handgun ownership (BBC)
Canada should introduce a total ban on the buying and selling of all handguns, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said.
His government is proposing a new law that would freeze private ownership of all short-barrelled firearms.
The legislation would not ban the ownership of handguns outright – but would make it illegal to buy them.
Mr Trudeau’s proposal comes days after a deadly shooting at a Texas primary school, in the neighbouring US, killed 21 people.
The bill, which was presented to Canada’s parliament on Monday, makes it impossible to buy, sell, transfer or import handguns anywhere in the country. Read more
Fans urge Peseiro to keep promise on NPFL players (Punch)
Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, has been urged to keep his promise of fielding players from the Nigerian Professional Football League in the senior national team in subsequent games, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Peseiro called up eight players from the NPFL for the friendlies against Mexico and Ecuador and in his first game and the Portuguese coach paraded four of the in his team’s 2-1 defeat to Mexico at the iconic AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
The quartet of Ishaq Rafiu, Sani Faisal, Victor Mbaoma and Chiamaka Madu were introduced at half time – decision which delighted fans of the three-time African champions.
Reacting to Peseiro’s tweet on after the game where he applauded the four players who made their debut saying ‘A special mention to the four NPFL players who had the chance to debut with the national team’. Read more
Roman Abramovich era officially over as Chelsea confirm sale to Todd Boehly consortium (Metro)
Roman Abramovich’s time as owner of Chelsea football club is officially over after a £4.25 billion takeover led by Todd Boehly was finally completed on Monday.
The west London club was put up for sale in March after Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government over his links to Russian president Vladimir Putin following the invasion of Ukraine earlier this year.
Since then, Chelsea have been operating under a special license which was due to expire on 31 May – with Monday’s deal rubberstamped just in time to beat the deadline.
A statement from the club on Monday read: ‘Roman Abramovich has completed the sale of Chelsea Football Club and related companies to an investment group led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. Read more
Zenith Bank/Delta Headmasters’ Cup kicks off June 3 (Guardian)
The 2022 Delta State’s Headmasters’ Cup will start on June 3 at St. Patrick’s College, Asaba.
Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, is expected to take the official kick-off of the yearly competition, a developmental initiative of the governor, with Zenith Bank coming in to make it bigger.
Preliminary matches will be played across all councils of the state between June 13 and June 17.
There will be screening for all the registered players from June 20 to 24, while the zonal matches at eight designated venues across the state hold on June 27 and 28. Read more
Celtics reach NBA Finals for first time since 2010 (BBC)
The Boston Celtics reached the NBA Finals for the first time in 12 years as they held off a determined Miami Heat for a 100-96 game-seven win.
Boston failed in their last five play-off runs and almost did so again as Jimmy Butler missed a late three-point attempt which would have given Miami the lead.
But the Celtics go on to face the Golden State Warriors in the Finals.
“This is a typical Celtics win,” coach Ime Udoka said.
“We fought through a lot of adversity this year. We’re a resilient group and tonight seemed to signify our season. We can’t ever seem to shut the door and have to grind it out.” Read more
Basketball stakeholders pay tributes to Aboderin (Punch)
Four years after his demise, the basketball community continues to pay tribute to former Chairman, PUNCH Nigeria Ltd and Founder of Dolphins Female Basketball Foundation, late Mr. Gbadebowale Wayne Aboderin.
A sports enthusiast and philanthropist, Aboderin died May 30, 2018 after heart surgery at the First Cardiology Consultants, Ikoyi, Lagos, aged 60.
He was also a former Chairman, Lagos State Basketball Association and one-time Vice President, Nigerian Basketball Supporters Club.
Speaking at the memorial basketball game in honour of the icon at the Dolphins Basketball Court, Ikeja, Lagos, Chairman, Nigerian Basketball Supporters Club, John Faniran, praised Aboderin for his strides in female basketball. Read more
French Open 2022: Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas suffer shock exits at Roland Garros (BBC)
Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas suffered surprise fourth-round exits on a day of shocks in the men’s draw at the French Open.
World number two Medvedev was thrashed 6-2 6-3 6-2 by Croatian Marin Cilic in a one-sided evening session.
Fourth seed Tsitsipas lost in four sets as teenager Holger Rune reached a maiden Grand Slam quarter-final.
The Dane, 19, punished a lacklustre display from the 2021 Roland Garros runner-up to triumph 7-5 3-6 6-3 6-4.
Rune meets Casper Ruud in the last eight after the Norwegian also won in four sets, beating Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz. Read more
Robert Lewandowski says his Bayern Munich career is over and urges club to let him leave (Metro)
Robert Lewandowski says his time at Bayern Munich is ‘over’ and has urged the club to let him leave, with the striker eager to make a move to Barcelona this summer.
The 33-year-old has already made it clear he will not be signing a new contract with the Bavarians – with his current deal expiring in 2023 – and is believed to have agreed personal terms with Barcelona.
But Bayern are adamant they will not let their top scorer leave despite the Catalan club being prepared to stump up €25million (£21.3m).
Robert Lewandowski says his Bayern Munich career is over and urges club to let him leave
The Polish forward scored 50 goals this season for Bayern (Picture: Getty)
Lewandowski has now gone public with his desire to leave the Allianz Arena this summer and has asked Bayern’s hierarchy not to stand in his way. Read more