El-Zakzaky planned asylum in India, FG alleges (Nation)
The federal government has alleged leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zakzaky planned to seek asylum while on medical treatment in India. El-Zakzaky’s other plan, according to the government, was to get an India Court grant him leave to relocate to another country. To achieve this plan, he was said to have engaged lawyers and some human right groups to help execute his agenda. Read more
Lagos Assembly completes screening of cabinet nominees (Punch)
The Lagos State House of Assembly’s ad hoc committee for the screening of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Commissioners and Special Advisers on Friday completed screening of the second batch of the nominees. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 16-man committee, headed by Mr Rotimi Abiru, the Chief Whip of the House, commenced the exercise for the second batch of 13 nominees on Thursday. The committee screened six of the 13 nominees on Thursday and the remaining seven on Friday at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium of the Assembly Complex in Ikeja. Read more
Senate will pass 2020 budget in December, says Lawan (Punch)
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan on Friday, said that the Senate will pass the 2020 national budget before this year’s Christmas. He made the disclosure during an interview with newsmen shortly after he visited Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari at Government House. Governor Masari’s Deputy, Alhaji Mannir Yakubu, the Secretary to the state government, Alhaji Mustapha Inuwa and other senior government officials were among those who welcomed the Senate President during the visit. Read more
MOSOP to Military, Police: ensure peace returns to troubled Ogoni communities (Nation)
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has urged the military and the police to ensure the return of peace to the troubled Ogoni communities. It also admonished the security agencies to go after the perpetrators of the barbaric and retrogressive killings and arson in Ogoni communities, but without hurt on innocent persons. The umbrella organisation of Ogoni people also pleaded with the traditional rulers, opinion leaders and other influential stakeholders in Ogoni to put their differences aside and work for the peace and security of the area. Read more
23,834 traders benefit from TraderMoni in Enugu —Osinbajo (Punch)
No fewer than 23,834 small-scale traders in Enugu State have benefitted from the Trader Moni scheme of the Federal Government, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said. Osinbajo disclosed this on Friday in Enugu during the disbursement of the Trader Moni to beneficiaries of the scheme in the state. The vice president said “Trader Moni is very important to us. This is because if small businesses prosper, the nation will prosper.” Read more
Flood ravages seven LGAs in Yobe (Nation)
Flood has washed away several houses and farmlands in seven Local Government Areas of Yobe, threatening harvests this cropping season, an official has said. Dr Mohammed Goje, the Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Damaturu. He said some communities in Fika, Fune, Machina, Nguru, Geidam, Damaturu and Bursari local government areas lost their houses and farmlands to the flood. Read more
Cross River REC’s resignation unacceptable —INEC (Punch)
The Independent National Electoral Commission says the process through which the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Cross River, Mr. Frankland Briyai, resigned to join partisan politics, is unacceptable. The commission, in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, quoted INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye, as making the clarification. Read more
INEC to announce time table for PVC collection, others in Bayelsa, Kogi (Nation)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in the next few days, will announce the time table for collection of Permanent Voter Card (PVC) and other activities ahead of the November 16th 2019 governorship poll in Bayelsa and Kogi states. According to the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Commission’s Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Barrister Festus Okoye, the time table for the collection of PVC will be announced at a stakeholders engagement to be organsied in some few days’ time. Read more
PDP warns aspirants against hijacking delegates in Bayelsa (Nation)
The Bayelsa State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) said it has taken decision to accommodate all delegates of the party in the forthcoming primaries in designated hotels in Yenagoa, the state capital for security reasons and easy access. The State Chairman and Secretary of the Party, Chief Moses Cleopas and Godspower Keku, respectively, said that the decision was taken in line with the exemplary conduct of the national leadership of the party concerning the management of delegates in the last presidential primaries in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Read more
Varsity non-teaching staff to commence warning strike Monday (Nation)
The Non-academic staff of Nigerian universities may ground the nation’s university system from Monday barring any last minute changes as the federal government failed to meet the demand of the workers and implement agreements reached between them and the government. The National leadership of the Non Academic Staff Union of Universities and Educational institutions, NASU and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU have placed the various branches on stand by for eventual strike. Read more
NBC appoints new spokesperson (Punch)
The Board of National Broadcasting Commission has approved the appointment of Franca Aiyetan as its new spokesperson. A statement issued on Friday said a thespian by training and passion, Aiyetan, has a Bachelors degree in Performing Arts from the University of Ilorin, a Masters degree in Media Arts from the University of Abuja and an Advance Diploma in Marketing from the University of Lagos. Read more
Customs intercepts N5bn tramadol, other illicit drugs in Lagos (Nation)
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) Friday announced its interception of 21 contraband drugs including tramadol valued at over N5 billion. The National Public Relations Officer (NPRO) of NCS, Assistant Comptroller Joseph Attah, told newsmen in Ikeja that the drugs were intercepted when the smugglers of the items were attempting to move them from Lagos to other parts of the country. The smugglers, according to him,had intended to seize the opportunity of the festive mood of the last Eid-el-Kabir to play a fast one on the Customs. Read more
32 missing after boat sinks in DR Congo (Guardian)
Thirty-two people are missing, feared dead, after a boat carrying more than 70 passengers capsized on Lake Kivu in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, officials said Friday. Initial reports after the motorised piroque a large canoe sank Thursday evening “indicate that 46 people were rescued and 32 are missing,” local authorities in the province of South Kivu said in a statement. It did not give a death toll but said each affected family had been given money to organise “funeral arrangements worthy of our drowned countrymen.” Read more
Zimbabwe police beat protesters defying regime ‘worse than Mugabe’ (Guardian)
Riot police in Zimbabwe on Friday fired teargas and beat demonstrators who defied a protest ban, as the opposition accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government of surpassing Robert Mugabe’s regime in brutality. Scores of people gathered in a square in the capital Harare to demonstrate against the country’s worsening economy, despite massive police deployment and a ban upheld by a court the same morning. Read more
US congresswoman rejects Israel’s offer of visit (BBC)
US congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has rejected Israel’s offer to allow her to make a “humanitarian” visit to her grandmother in the occupied West Bank. Ms Tlaib said that she could not comply with the “oppressive conditions” being imposed. A critic of Israeli policy towards the Palestinians, she had been blocked by Israel from making an official visit. But it said a private visit could go ahead after she agreed “not to promote the boycott of Israel during her stay”. Read more
Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in cell, rules medical examiner (Metro)
Billionaire businessman Jeffrey Epstein’s death has officially been ruled as suicide in his prison cell, said a medical examiner. Epstein was found unresponsive in his prison at the Manhattan Correctional Center on Saturday, while he was being held on sex trafficking charges. The well-known financier had been arrested on July 6, accused of conspiracy and sex trafficking underage girls in the early 2000s. Read more
‘Fake’ Amazon ambassadors baited on Twitter (BBC)
Amazon workers praising their working conditions on social media are being accused of lying by other users. Twitter users are pointing to apparent inaccuracies and “robotic” or “scripted” language as evidence that employees are being “paid to lie”. A number of parody accounts have been set up mocking the tweets by the staff, who are called Amazon ambassadors. Read more
Mother who gave eerily calm TV interview after toddler’s death is arrested for his murder (Metro)
A mother who went on TV to calmly recount the moment her toddler son died has been arrested on suspicion of his murder. Kimberly Compass, 23, spoke in a flat, even tone during an on-camera interview in June, shortly after her two-year-old-son Zayden Jaynesahkluah died. She claimed that the boy had suffered seizures, and that she had been unable to revive him using CPR. Read more
Farmers jailed after smuggling pig semen in shampoo bottles (Metro)
Two Australia-based farmers have been jailed after smuggling boar semen in shampoo bottles through customs. Pork producer boss Torben Soerensen and his production manager, Henning Laue, were caught trafficking Danish pig semen in their passenger luggage. They had intended to use it to impregnate their animals at a piggery in the town of Pinjarra, in Western Australia, reported ABC Australia. Read more
Liu Yifei: Mulan boycott urged after star backs HK police (BBC)
Disney’s live-action remake of the animated film Mulan is facing calls for a boycott, after its star voiced support for Hong Kong’s police force. Chinese actress Liu Yifei, a naturalised US citizen, reposted a viral pro-police comment on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The territory has been convulsed by sometimes violent pro-democracy protests over the past 10 weeks. Rights groups and the UN have accused the police of a heavy handed response. Read more
Never-before-seen pictures of Ed Sheeran on display in Made In Suffolk exhibition (Metro)
Never-before-seen photos of Ed Sheeran have been put on display in a brand new exhibition. The Ed Sheeran: Made In Suffolk exhibition is set to open in the singer’s hometown of Ipswich on 20 August, showcasing a series of memorabilia that documents the life and career of the British musician. For the first time ever, fans will get a glimpse of previously unseen photos of Ed, as a range of photos and sculptures on display depict the singer over the years. Read more
Nicki Minaj changes Twitter name to Mrs. Petty amid speculation she married Kenneth Petty (Metro)
Nicki Minaj has changed her Twitter name – and it seems as if she has gotten married already. The rap superstar has changed her Twitter name to ‘Mrs. Petty’, whilst her official Twitter handle remains the same (@NICKIMINAJ). As we already know, Nicki has been in a relationship with Kenneth Petty for some time now, and the fact she has changed her Twitter name to ‘Mrs. Petty’ seems to suggest that the couple has tied the knot. Read more
Siasia to address press conference over FIFA ban (Guardian)
Banned former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia has said he will address a press conference over the ban handed to him by world football authority, FIFA. The press conference is scheduled for 12 noon on Saturday at the National Stadium, Abuja. The former Nigeria U23 coach expressed shock at the decision by FIFA stating he was not invited to defend himself. He said he will fight to clear his name from the bribery scandal. Read more
Manchester United remain keen on Sean Longstaff transfer despite Newcastle’s £50m asking price (Metro)
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has not given up hope of signing Sean Longstaff, despite Newcastle’s extortionate valuation of the midfielder. The 21-year-old was identified by the Red Devils towards the end of last season as a replacement for Ander Herrera, who was allowed to join Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer. Longstaff has made just 10 Premier League appearances for the Magpies but Michael Carrick vouched for the midfielder’s quality and character. Read more
Coutinho close to Bayern loan move (BBC)
Barcelona attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho is close to joining Bayern Munich on a season-long loan. The Brazil international, 27, was left out of Barcelona’s squad for their La Liga opener against Athletic Bilbao on Friday. “We can confirm that there is an agreement in principle for the loan of Coutinho to Bayern,” said Barcelona club director Guillermo Amor before the match. Read more
Unai Emery denies Nicolas Pepe, David Luiz and Kieran Tierney have improved Arsenal’s squad (Metro)
Arsenal boss Unai Emery admits he’s unsure if the club’s transfer business this summer has improved his squad. The Gunners were surprisingly active in the transfer market and signed a total of six players, including Nicolas Pepe for a club record £72million. However, Arsenal sold Laurent Koscielny and Alex Iwobi, as well as losing the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Aaron Welbeck at the end of last season. Read more
Guardiola backs Sterling to reach 30-goal mark (Punch)
Pep Guardiola wants to see the on-form Raheem Sterling break the 30-goal barrier for the first time in his career this season, but will only judge England forward on his overall contribution to the Manchester City team. Sterling has started the new campaign in prolific form, scoring in the Community Shield against Liverpool before netting a hat-trick in the 5-0 win at West Ham to start the Premier League season last Saturday. Read more
Aduriz, 38, scores stunning goal as Athletic Bilbao beat Barcelona (BBC)
Champions Barcelona suffered a defeat on the opening day of the La Liga season after a sublime winner by Aritz Aduriz handed Athletic Bilbao victory. Barca produced a lacklustre performance and were punished when substitute Aduriz, 38, found the net with a stunning 89th minute scissor-kick. Luis Suarez and Rafinha both hit the woodwork for Barca but the visitors struggled to impress despite fielding new £107m signing Antoine Griezmann. Read more
Bayern held to surprise 2-2 draw by Hertha Berlin in Bundesliga opener (Punch)
A brace for Robert Lewandowski was not enough to save Bayern Munich from making a spluttering start to the new Bundesliga season as the reigning German champions were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Hertha Berlin on Friday. Hertha, who finished 11th last season, frustrated Bayern and took a shock lead in the first half after Lewandowski’s opener. The Polish striker then saved a point with his second-half penalty. Read more
Jan Siewert: Huddersfield Town sack head coach after one win in seven months (BBC)
Huddersfield Town have sacked boss Jan Siewert, who led the Terriers to just one win in his seven months in charge. The 36-year-old German told BBC Radio Leeds on Tuesday that he did not fear for his job after they lost to Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup first round. However, a 2-1 defeat by Fulham on Friday left him with a record of just one victory from 19 games as boss. Read more
Felice Gimondi: Italian cycling legend dies at the age of 76 (BBC)
Italian cycling legend Felice Gimondi, one of only seven riders to have won all three Grand Tours, has died at the age of 76. Gimondi suffered a heart attack while swimming in Sicily on Friday. After a late call-up, he won the 1965 Tour de France in his first season as a professional at just 22 years old. By winning the Giro d’Italia in 1967 and the Vuelta a Espana in 1968, he became the second cyclist after Jacques Anquetil to win all three Grand Tours. Read more