EFCC arraigns 10 over alleged unlawful deal in 100 metric tonnes of fuel (Guardian)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arranged 10 men before a Federal High Court in Lagos, over alleged illegal deal in petroleum products.
The defendants were arraigned on Thursday alongside a vessel, MV CX Fleet, before Justice Nicholas Oweibo on a three-count charge bordering on illegal deal in petroleum products to the tune of 100 metric tonnes of Automative Gas Oil (AGO).
The defendants are: Christopher Ewgeregor, Emeka Chidiebere, Erekedomene Lawrence, Collins Okorie, Julius Makingbene, Ededeni Bassey, James Joshua, Kingsley Tamumobelema, Iyobasogie Victor and Ajenu Michael. Read more
Lagos APC threatens member over case against Buni-led committee (DailyTrust)
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday threatened to sanction any member who institute any case against the National Caretaker Committee (NCC) of the party led by Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State.
The party issued the threat in response to a court case allegedly instituted at a Federal High Court in Lagos against the NCC.
APC crisis: The titanic battles before Buni committee APC NEC dissolves NWC, appoints Buni to head caretaker committee The NCC was inaugurated penultimate week after the dissolution of the National Working Committee (NWC) at a special National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja. Read more
Court adjourns suit challenging Akindele, others’ conviction (Guardian)
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday adjourned until July 21, to hear a suit challenging the legality of the conviction of Funke Akindele, her husband, Abdu-rasheed Bello, and 236 others.
A Lagos-based Lawyer, Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje, had approached the court seeking a declaration that the law upon which Akindele and others were convicted was inconsistent with the 1999 constitution.
Recall that Akindele, a popular actress; Bello, and others were arrested, tried and convicted for violating the Lagos State Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020. Read more
Impeachment: Ondo Chief Judge declines Assembly’s request to set up Investigative Panel (ThisDay)
The Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Oluwatoyin Akeredolu, has declined the request by the House of Assembly mandating him to set up a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations levelled against the Deputy Governor, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, which could culminate in Ajayi’s removal from office.
The House had on Tuesday began the process of impeaching Ajayi.
The Chief Judge premised the rejection of the letter on the fact that the action of the Assembly did not comply with the provisions of Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). Read more
Police want special court for rape, SGBV cases (DailyTrust)
The Police in Nigeria are advocating for the creation of a special court to handle cases of rape and other Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the country. The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of force intelligence, Ibrahim Lamorde, made this call when he hosted the executive secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Tony Ojukwu, in his office in Abuja. Alleged rape: Court remands man for raping, impregnating 19-year-old physically challenged lady ‘Domesticate Child Right Act to check rising rape cases in Katsina’ He said the special court will help ensure accelerated hearing, provide enabling environment to ensure privacy for survivors and encourage them to speak out freely when they present their cases during hearing. Read more
Buhari signs revised 2020 Budget (ThisDay)
President Muhammadu Buhari Friday signed the revised N10.8 trillion 2020 budget passed by the National Assembly in June.
The president, who said the budget had to be reviewed downward from the initial N10.59 trillion to N10.8 trillion because of the adverse effects of Covid-19 pandemic on the nation’s economy, said the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) would receive 15 per cent of their capital allocations at the end of the month.
At the signing ceremony, which took place in the Council Chambers of the State House, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha and Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, were present.
Also present were the Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila and other principal officers of the National Assembly. Read more
Buhari appoints Umar EFCC acting Chairman (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Mohammed Umar as acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Umar, who is the Head of Operations of the anti-graft agency, is to overseer the commission pending conclusion of investigation against erstwhile chair, Ibrahim Magu, over 22 allegations.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) stated these on Friday in a statement by his spokesman, Umar Gwandu. Read more
Magu writes IGP, seek bail from detention (Guardian)
The suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has applied to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to be released on bail.
Magu, who is facing a probe panel set up by President Muhammadu over allegations of corruption and insubordination, requested to be granted bail through a letter sent on his behalf by one of his lawyers, Oluwatosin Ojaomo, Friday in Abuja.
His lawyer’s letter dated July 10 with the IGP office’s acknowledgement stamp bearing the same date, and obtained, requested the embattled acting EFCC chairman be granted bail “on self-recognisance”. Read more
Oxygen already runs low as COVID-19 surges in South Africa (VOA)
The coronavirus storm has arrived in South Africa, but in the overflowing COVID-19 wards the sound is less of a roar than a rasp.
Oxygen is already low in hospitals at the new epicentre of the country’s outbreak, Gauteng province, home to the power centres of Johannesburg and the capital, Pretoria.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, visiting a hospital Friday, said authorities are working with industry to address the strained oxygen supply and divert more to health facilities. Read more
Scientists create revolutionary mitochondrial DNA editing tool (RT)
A multidisciplinary group of teams from across the US have developed an extremely precise technique to edit inside the mitochondria of the cell for the first time in history.
Previously scientists could only make changes to the cell’s nucleus, but not to the mitochondria or the “powerhouse” of the cell, as gene-editing tools were simply too bulky to deploy in the confined space.
However, researchers have developed a revolutionary gene-editing tool which could one day be used to modify the instructions behind mitochondria and treat or prevent several nasty, degenerative diseases in the process. Read more
Venice test brings up floodgates for first time (BBC)
For the first time a system of 78 mobile floodgates has been tested in Venice, after years beset by delays and corruption.
The 1.5km (one-mile) Mose system of yellow dams was a “powerful project that has taken years to complete”, said Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.
Venice was hit by the worst floods in half a century in November 2019. Read more
Facebook used extensively to spread neo-Nazi music (Aljazeera)
Facebook has removed several pages belonging to music groups espousing white supremacist ideology following an investigation by Al Jazeera into the prevalence of such bands on the social media platform.
Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit identified more than 120 pages from mostly heavy metal groups and record labels with direct ties to white supremacy. Read more
US hospital ICUs Filling Up After Another Record-Breaking Day of COVID Infections (VOA)
The U.S. reported more than 64,000 cases of the coronavirus Thursday, a record high number, filling up intensive care units in hospitals in the country’s hard-hit West and South, including Arizona, California, Florida and Texas.
Anthony S. Fauci, the nation’s top infectious-disease official, has urged governors to delay their re-opening plans in order to bring a halt to the surges in the virus. Read more
Turkish president Erdogan signs decree turning Istanbul’s Hagia Sofia into a mosque (RT)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signed a decree opening the world-famous Hagia Sophia as a mosque, after a court ruled that its conversion to a museum in the 1930s was unlawful.
The court ruled on Friday that the 1934 decree converting the ancient Byzantine cathedral into a museum was not lawful. Immediately after the ruling, Erdogan shared a copy of a decree on Twitter, mandating that the site be turned over to the country’s religious directorate and reopened for worship. Read more
Why Hollywood needs computer games tech more than ever (BBC)
Kim Libreri, an award-winning visual effects artist based in Northern California, has worked on movies including Artificial Intelligence and War of the Planet of the Apes.
For nine years he has been working with a piece of technology better known for computer games, in particular the smash-hit Fortnite.
The Unreal Engine, owned by Epic Games, provides the building blocks and tools that a computer game developer needs, but is increasingly an attractive technology for TV and film producers. Read more
Ogbene dumps Nigeria for Ireland (Nation)
Rotherham United winger Chiedozie Ogbene has expressed his desire to represent the Republic of Ireland at international level.
The FAI have begun the paperwork on the eligibility process for 23-year-old Ogbene who was born in Lagos, Nigeria, but moved to Cork aged seven with his family in 2005.
He played schoolboy football in Cork with College Corinthians, Kilreen Celtic, Tramore Athletic and Everton before he was signed by Cork City in 2015 and then moved to Limerick in January 2017. Read more
Champions League to resume behind closed doors in August (Aljazeera)
The Champions League, Europe’s top football club competition, will resume behind closed doors next month after being halted in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all the quarter-finals being played in Portugal’s capital, Lisbon.
UEFA, European football’s governing body, held the draw for the one-leg quarter-finals and semi-finals at their headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, on Friday.
Four quarter-finalists were confirmed before the COVID-19 pandemic suspended the season, while the remaining four last-16 second legs will be played at the respective clubs’ home stadiums. Read more
Chelsea midfielder Gilmour suffers major injury blow (Guardian)
Chelsea teenager Billy Gilmour could be sidelined for up to four months after undergoing knee surgery, Chelsea boss Frank Lampard said on Friday.
The 19-year-old midfielder has enjoyed a fine breakthrough campaign at Stamford Bridge but will not feature again this term.
The Scot started Chelsea’s 3-2 Premier League win at Crystal Palace on Tuesday but was replaced in the closing stages by Jorginho. Read more
EPL award: Fernandes equals Ronaldo’s record at Man United
Manchester United’s Bruno (Punch)
Fernandes won the Premier League player of the month for June. He also won the award in May.
With this, Bruno has equalled Cristiano Ronaldo’s 14-year record of being the only United player to emerge POTM for two months in succession.
Bruno beat off competition from team-mate Anthony Martial, as well as Danny Ings (Southampton), Conor Coady, Raul Jimenez (both Wolves) and Allain Saint-Maximin (Newcastle United), to come out on top of the voting. Read more
Champions League: Man City could face Juventus or Lyon in quarter-finals (BBC)
Manchester City will face Lyon or Juventus in the Champions League quarter-finals if they hold on to their first-leg advantage over Real Madrid.
City hold a 2-1 lead after the first leg of their last-16 tie, which was played before the tournament was suspended because of coronavirus.
The quarter-finals, semis and final will be held over 12 days in Portugal. Read more
More than 160 cases of British coaches having sex with teen athletes revealed (RT)
After the Larry Nassar scandal rocked American sport, a similar row seems set to explode on the other side of the Atlantic with British coaches facing accusations of sexual assault.
According to the BBC, a number of British sports coaches engaged in sexual activity with 16 and 17-year-old athletes over the past four years, with more than 160 cases being uncovered.
The shocking revelation has triggered a wave of initiatives to change the Sexual Offences Act which prohibits certain professions, including teachers and doctors, to have sexual relations with teenagers even if they reach the age of consent. Read more