Democracy Day: Tinubu’s nationwide broadcast cancelled (DailyTrust)
President Bola Tinubu has broken away from the tradition of nationwide broadcast in commemoration of Democracy Day.
Earlier, the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Democracy Day had rolled out a series of events to commemorate 26 years of unbroken democracy.
Among the programmes were: Presidential National Broadcast on June 12, 2025, at 7am; the President’s address of a joint session of the National Assembly at 12 noon; Public Lecture on Democracy Day Celebration at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. Time: 4pm. Read more
Petrol tanker catches fire near NASFAT camp on Lagos-Ibadan expressway (Punch)
Panic erupted on Wednesday as a petrol-laden tanker burst into flames along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, directly in front of the NASFAT Camp.
The tanker, which reportedly fell while in motion, caught fire shortly after tipping over, sending thick smoke into the sky and triggering panic among motorists and residents in the area.
An X user SegunOladejo_ who identifies as #EndSARS Segun | Legal said, “A tanker is burning on Lagos-Ibadan expressway just opposite NASFAT praying ground. The fire is horrible.”
As of the time of filing this report, emergency responders are yet to arrive at the scene. Read more
32 Years After June 12: Democracy declining under APC — PDP, Afenifere, Ohanaeze, ACF, others (Vanguard)
As Nigerians celebrate 32 years after the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, mixed reactions greeted the state of democratic governance in the country yesterday.
On June 6, 2018, former President Muhammadu Buhari declared June 12 as the new date to mark Democracy Day in commemoration of Abiola’s election.
The June 12 election was annulled by former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd).
In 2019, Buhari assented to the Public Holiday Act Amendment Bill, which made June 12 Democracy Day in Nigeria and a public holiday. Read more
CP detains inspectors for alleged extortion during patrol (Guardian)
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Ikioye Orutugu, has ordered the detention of three police inspectors following allegations that they extorted a man during a patrol operation.
This was made known in a statement released Wednesday night by the Anambra State Police Command spokesperson, Superintendent Tochukwu Ikenga.
While the identities of both the inspectors and the victim were not revealed, the statement detailed how the alleged misconduct unfolded. Read more
Bandits impose restriction on Niger community, bar residents from market (Sun)
The people of Kuduro community in Shiroro Local Government, Niger State, have sent save-our-souls (S0S) to Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago to come to their rescue over the imposition of restriction of movement by bandits.
The community said the bandits have barred them from accessing the only market in the area, the Saturday market in Zumba and were threatening to kill anyone who violates the instruction until their condition is met.
The bandits were said to have imposed the restriction following continuous seizure of cattle suspected to be stolen from members of the community by the security agents,who usually lay siege to the market. Read more
CBEX Ponzi Scheme Restores Subscribers’ Balance
Asks victims to make fresh deposits (Leadership)
Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX), a Ponzi scheme that disappeared with subscribers’ funds earlier in the year restored depositors’ balance on Tuesday amidst intensified investigation by the Nigerian authorities.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) launched investigations into the disappearance of deposits by Nigerians with a pledge to recover the losses.
However, while subscribers said on Tuesday that they were able to view the amounts in their wallets prior to the platform’s alleged crash in April, victims were being asked to pay additional fees to retrieve their lost investments. Read more
APC women decry removal of female candidate (Nation)
Women leaders and members of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Eti-Osa East LCDAhave called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in ‘‘the unjust substitition of Balogun Fadewe, the only female candidate for vice chairmanship.
Speaking at a news conference, APC members decried the removal of Fadewe’s name from the list of candidates.
Jerry Ogunyemi, a member, urged Central Senatorial District Reconciliation Committee to re-examine circumstances surrounding her substitution. Read more
At least 49 people have died in flooding in South Africa, officials say (AfricaNews)
At least 49 people have died in flooding in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province after an extreme cold front brought heavy rain and snow to parts of the country, officials said Wednesday.
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane said police provided the death toll.
The dead include six high school students who were washed away when their school bus was caught in floodwaters near a river on Tuesday, Mabuyane told journalists. He said four other students were missing. Read more
Music icon Brian Wilson’s death evokes heartfelt celebrity tributes from John Stamos, daughter Carnie Wilson (FOX)
John Stamos, Nancy Sinatra and John Cusack were among the celebrities paying tribute to musician Brian Wilson after his death was announced Wednesday.
Wilson’s family announced the Beach Boys founder had died in an Instagram post on his account.
After news of his death broke, his daughter, Carnie, of the band Wilson Phillips, shared a tribute to her father on Instagram alongside a photo of her and her sister posing with Brian, writing “I have no words to express the sadness I feel right now.” Read more
Disorder breaks out in Northern Ireland for 3rd straight night (CNN)
Public disorder broke out in Northern Ireland for the third successive night on Wednesday with videos and pictures on social media purportedly showing a fire in a leisure center in the town of Larne after masked youths smashed the building’s windows.
Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity of the clips.
Hundreds of masked rioters attacked police and set homes and cars on fire 33 kilometers (20 miles) west in Ballymena during the previous two nights in what police condemned as “racist thuggery.” Thirty-two officers were injured. Read more
Mahmoud Khalil Cannot Be Detained or Deported, Judge Rules (Newsweek)
New Jersey District Court Judge Michael Farbiarz has granted Mahmoud Khalil’s request for a preliminary injunction, temporarily blocking federal officials from deporting him.
The judge said in his Wednesday filing that he had granted the Columbia University graduate’s request for a preliminary injunction, stating Khalil could not be detained based on Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s determination that his actions as a pro-Palestinian activist went against U.S. foreign policy.
The government has been given until 9:30 am Friday to file its response.
Newsweek reached out to the Department of Justice for comment via contact form Wednesday evening. Read more
Human-sized Labubu doll sells for more than $150k (BBC)
The life-sized doll was sold at an auction in Beijing this week
A human-sized Labubu doll was sold this week for a record 1.08m yuan ($150,324; £110,465), according to a Chinese auction house.
The 131cm (4ft 4in) figurine was sold at the Yongle International Auction in Beijing. The auctioneer said it is now the most expensive toy of its kind in the world.
Labubu dolls are quirky monster characters created a decade ago by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, which have increased in popularity in recent years after a number of celebrity endorsements. Read more
James Gunn expects a new ‘The Batman II’ script “shortly”: “still really important” (Deadline)
With a new onscreen DCU taking shape in Metropolis, Matt Reeves‘ Batman is still lurking around in the shadows of Gotham City.
DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn recently assured fans that Robert Pattinson‘s iteration of the Dark Knight “is still there” as writer/director Reeves nears completion on a new draft of the sequel to 2022’s The Batman.
“What Matt’s doing is still really important, despite all stories to the contrary,” Gunn told Entertainment Weekly. “We’re supposed to see that script shortly, and I can’t wait.” Read more
Top African golfers set for N50m eTranzact Golf Classic in Lagos (DailyTrust)
Golfers from over 10 African countries will compete for a share of the N50 million purse at the 2025 eTranzact Golf Classic, scheduled for June 12–14 at Lakowe Lakes Golf Club, Lagos.
The event, now in its third edition under the Professional Golf Development (PGD) Tour, continues to gain prestige across the continent.
Organisers confirmed that the prize purse has already drawn entries from elite golfers across Ghana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya, Cameroon, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire. Notably, the tournament will, for the first time, feature lady professionals, signalling a new era of inclusivity in African golf. Read more
World’s fastest hurdlers lock horns in Bislett Games (Guardian)
The three fastest men’s 400m hurdlers in history will race each other twice within three days when they compete in Oslo and the Diamond League meeting in Stockholm, on Sunday, reports worldathletics.org.
First up is the 300m hurdles in Oslo and it will be the first time that Warholm, Benjamin, and Dos Santos have all clashed in the discipline, following its introduction as an official event earlier this year.
As well as being the world 400m hurdles record-holder and a three-time world champion, home favourite Warholm holds the world best for the 300m hurdles having improved his global mark to 33.05 at the Diamond League season opener in Xiamen in April. Read more
Mikel slams Chelsea’s snub of proven Osimhen (Punch)
Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has criticised the club’s decision to overlook Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen in favour of a less proven option ahead of their Club World Cup campaign, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Speaking to The London Standard, Mikel, who spent over a decade at Stamford Bridge, expressed disappointment that Chelsea have opted to sign 22-year-old Liam Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m rather than invest in an established goalscorer like Osimhen.
Chelsea will travel to the United States on Friday to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup, buoyed by their recent UEFA Conference League triumph. However, Mikel believes that to truly compete for global honours, Chelsea must prioritise proven firepower. Read more
Ryding to retire in 2026 after fifth Olympics (BBC)
Dave Ryding, Britain’s most successful alpine ski racer, is to retire at the end of the 2025-26 season.
Known as ‘the Rocket’, in 2022 slalom specialist Ryding became the first British alpine skier to win World Cup gold.
Earlier this year, he sealed the nation’s best men’s World Championship result since 1934 by finishing sixth. Read more
Canada’s Mathurin scores 27 off the bench as Pacers rally past Thunder in Game 3 of NBA Finals (CBC)
Bennedict Mathurin of Montreal scored 27 points off the bench, Tyrese Haliburton added 22 and the Indiana Pacers reclaimed the lead in the NBA Finals by beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 in Game 3 on Wednesday night.
Haliburton also had 11 assists and nine rebounds for the Pacers, who got 21 points from Pascal Siakam and enjoyed a whopping 49-18 edge in bench points. The Pacers, who lost Game 2 in Oklahoma City, improved to 10-0 since mid-March in the game immediately following a loss.
“So many different guys chipped in,” Haliburton said. Read more