FG stops Niger Speaker from marrying off 100 orphans (Leadership)
In a surprising turn of events, the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, has withdrawn his support from a controversial wedding ceremony planned for 100 female orphans in his constituency.
The girls are said to be orphaned IDPs in Niger State.
The decision came after a legal challenge initiated by the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Ohannaya. Read more
DSS invades court, arrests defendants despite judge’s warning (DailyTrust)
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have invaded a State High Court sitting in Ilaro, Ogun State, arresting two defendants.
Our correspondent reports that the development has generated outrage.
The defendants , Alhaji Isiaka Fatai and Samuel Oyero, were tried in a suit marked HCP/IC/2023 between the State vs Awode Oladosu & 13 others. Read more
Reps panel pushes trust fund for correctional services (Nation)
The House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions says it is pushing legislation to ensure the establishment of a trust fund to manage correctional services across the country.
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The committee’s chairman, Hon Chinedu Ogah, said this in an interaction with reporters at the National Assembly in Abuja on Tuesday, May 14.
He said that the trust fund would mandate the three tiers of government where a statutory amount would be deducted from local, state, and federal governments, for this purpose. Read more
Suspect arrested in failed Plateau bank robbery (Channels)
A suspect who tried to rob one of the banks in the Dadinkowa area of the Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State has been apprehended.
The suspect, currently in police custody, was apprehended by neighbourhood vigilance when he bolted from the bank premises after the failed robbery attempt on Monday.
Channels Television gathered that the hooded suspect threatened to detonate a device strapped to his chest if the sum of N100m was not provided to him through a written document. Read more
CUSTECH kidnapping: 6 more students rescued, 4 still missing — Kogi govt (Tribune)
The Kogi State Government disclosed on Tuesday that six more students of the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) Osara had been rescued, bringing the total number of kidnapped students rescued to twenty, while four students are yet to be found.
Kingsley Femi Fanwo, Hon. Commissioner for Information and Communications, made this known in a press statement.
According to him, the fierce gun battle between security agents and the kidnappers forced the kidnappers to succumb to superior firepower and abandon the kidnapped students, as some of the kidnappers escaped with severe injuries. Read more
Court remands Lagos father for allegedly defiling own 13-yr-old daughter (Vanguard)
A Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, remanded a 58-year-old man, Joseph Gamor in Awarjigoh Correctional centre for allegedly defiling his 13-year-old daughter.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Patrick Adekomaiya refused to take his plea.
Adekomaiya ordered the defendant to be remanded until July 29, pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). Read more
Military confirms killing of soldiers in Katsina, says scores of terrorists neutralised (DailyTrust)
The military high command, on Tuesday, confirmed killing of four soldiers attached to the Operation Hadarin Daji.
Daily Trust had reported how the terrorists attacked a military camp in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State on Sunday, killing soldiers and injuring 11 others in the process.
Reacting to our correspondent’s enquiry on Tuesday, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, clarified that the military recorded four casualties contrary to five reported in the media. Read more
Nigerian father mourns doctor son killed by drunk driver in America (Punch)
A grieving father identified as Ikb Igboanugo on Facebook took to the platform on Monday to mourn the death of his son, Uzochukwu Igboanugo, a 32-year-old ophthalmologist based in America.
According to the grieving father, Uzochukwu lost his life in a fatal car accident allegedly caused by a drunk driver.
He wrote, “I lost this my son 3 weeks ago, I have been crying like a baby. A medical doctor (ophthalmologist) in America. Read more
Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” claims No. 1 spot on Billboard Hot 100 (Vibe)
Kendrick Lamar has been crowned the victor in his beef with Drake and is experiencing major wins elsewhere. “Not Like Us,” his West Coast-influenced record that has taken over the country, claimed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100.
“Not Like Us” marks the Compton, Calif. rapper’s first solo No. 1 single since 2017’s “Humble,” his fourth No. 1 single overall, and his 15th top 10 entry on the popular chart. K. Dot didn’t stop there, though; “Euphoria,” which debuted at No. 11 last week, shot up to No. 3 on the same chart. Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That” from the end of March, which hosted Lamar’s fiery feature verse that sparked this entire feud, climbed up to No. 6. It originally held the No. 1 spot for three weeks and last week clocked in at No. 8. Read more
I punched a crocodile in the face to save my twin sister’s life (Metro)
A British woman has spoken about how she saved her sister’s life when she was attacked by a crocodile.
Georgia Laurie, 31, punched the reptile in the face when it attacked her twin Melissa when they went for a swim in a lagoon in Puerto Escondido, Mexico.
Georgia, who fought off the crocodile three times, is now being rewarded for her bravery and will become the first to receive the King’s Gallantry Medal from King Charles.
Georgia said: ‘I feel really privileged, it’s a silver lining to have come out of the terrible ordeal… it kind of softens the whole traumatic experience. Read more
Kevin Spacey’s Alleged Victims Detail ‘Cold’ and ‘Inhuman’ Sexual Abuse and Harassment in Spacey Unmasked Docuseries (People)
Kevin Spacey’s once illustrious reputation in Hollywood has been tarnished by scandal and infamy after multiple allegations of sexual assault and harassment. Now, new names and accusations are coming forward in Investigation Discovery’s docuseries, Spacey Unmasked.
In 2017, Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp became the first person to publicly accuse the House of Cards actor, 64, of sexual assault. In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal — in which multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment and assault surfaced in bombshell reports by the New York Times and The New Yorker — several more accusers were inspired to come forward about similar alleged instances involving Spacey.
In response to the claims, which the actor denied, Spacey came out as a gay man — a reaction which was criticized by numerous stars due to the timing. At the time, GLAAD noted that his declaration shouldn’t “deflect” from the allegations. Read more
Cannes film festival hopes for ‘no controversies’ as wars, scandals rage (AlJazeera)
The world’s most popular film festival opens on Tuesday with a French comedy, The Second Act, by prolific film director and musician Quentin Dupieux.
It is among 58 films of the official selection in the next 12 days which are likely to set the agenda of the global cinema industry for the year to come.
Kevin Costner, Uma Thurman, Demi Moore and Chris Hemsworth are among the international stars expected to walk the red carpet this year. Read more
8 dead, 37 hospitalised in severe bus crash in Florida (NBC)
Eight people are dead and another eight are critically injured after a bus overturned and crashed early Tuesday morning in Florida, officials said.
The “severe accident with fatalities” unfolded along Florida State Road 40 at Rainbow Springs Boulevard at around 6:45 a.m., the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol said.
Eight people were killed and 37 hospitalized — eight of whom are critically injured, the Florida Highway Patrol told NBC affiliate WESH of Orlando. Read more
American singer Stevie Wonder granted Ghanaian citizenship (AfricaNews)
Music legend Stevie Wonder has become a Ghanaian citizen, taking the Oath of Allegiance and receiving his Certificate of Citizenship at a ceremony in Ghana’s Jubilee House.
Wonder’s decision to become a citizen of Ghana follows his announcement three years ago, citing a desire for a brighter future amidst political turmoil in the US.
His passion for Ghana was evident in a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, where he expressed his wish to see the nation smile again before relocating there. Read more
France to send extra military aid to Ukraine shortly, says Elysee (StraitsTimes)
France will deliver extra military aid to Ukraine in coming days and weeks, the Elysee said on Tuesday, after President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
“The President of the Republic reiterated France’s determination to provide all the necessary support… He was also able to detail the deliveries for the coming days and weeks in support of the Ukrainian military effort,” it said in a statement.
An Elysee official declined to elaborate on what the deliveries might include. Read more
U-17 WWCQ: Olowookere optimistic Flamingos will beat Burkina Faso to final round ticket (CompleteSports)
Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos, are back in the country following their FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifying match against Burkina Faso’s U17 girls in Bamako, Mali on Saturday that ended in a 1-1 draw.
Head Coach Bankole Olowookere said on arrival in Abuja on Tuesday that the support of Nigerians based in Bamako helped put the Flamingos in the spirit during the first leg, and the tactician is calling on Nigerians based in Abuja and environs to storm the MKO Abiola National Stadium this Saturday to support the girls as they aim to stroll past the Burkinabes into the final round of the race.
“We appreciate the support of Nigerians for the Flamingos over the years, but we are calling specially for their support this weekend when we take on the Burkina Faso girls in the return leg of our qualifying fixture. The Flamingos will be ready to do the nation proud by winning to reach the last round of the qualification series. Read more
Qualifying Nigeria for 2026 World Cup my goal – Finidi (Leadership)
Super Eagles head coach, Finidi George, has declared his immediate target is to qualify Nigeria for the 2026 World Cup slated for Canada, Mexico, and U.S.
He made the declaration after he was officially unveiled to the press as the new head coach of the Nigerian senior men national team by the minister of sports development, John Enoh and president of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, yesterday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
“For me, my first target is to make sure we are in line to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, the AFCON qualifiers will also be coming up soon,” Finidi George declared. Read more
Varane to leave Man Utd at end of season (BBC)
Manchester United defender Raphael Varane will leave the club when his contract runs out at the end of the season.
The 31-year-old joined from Real Madrid in July 2021 for an initial fee of about £34m and has made 93 appearances.
The former France international helped United win the Carabao Cup in 2023 when manager Erik ten Hag’s side beat Newcastle United in the final. Read more
Andy Roddick makes radical proposal for tennis calendar to help players “cash paychecks’’ (Express)
Andy Roddick has proposed an interesting change to the tennis calendar that would help lower-ranked players “cash paychecks”. The former world No. 1 wants to see the last six months of the year dedicated to helping players gain much-needed money and ranking points ahead of the new season, instead of making the top names compete for a longer period.
There have been talks of reforms to the tennis circuit with talks of a Premium Tour model or a merger between the ATP and WTA. While it remains unclear what changes, if any, tennis bosses will agree on, Roddick has come up with a radical proposal of his own. Read more
Chelsea defender returns to Lionesses squad after injury for summer Euro 2025 qualifiers (SkySports)
Defender Millie Bright will return to the England fold for back-to-back Euro 2025 qualifiers against France, as well as games against Republic of Ireland and Sweden in July.
Vice captain Bright has been recovering from a lengthy knee injury but recently returned to competitive action for Chelsea, having not featured for England since last October.
She is joined by uncapped Blues team-mate Aggie Beever-Jones, chosen as the forward to replace Rachel Daly, who announced her retirement from international football in April. Read more
Leclerc-Hamilton relationship at Ferrari ‘tricky’ with old Lewis (F1i)
Jenson Button says he is intrigued to see how Lewis Hamilton adjusts to Ferrari’s environment next season, although he doesn’t expect his former McLaren teammate to have any issues with his future teammate Charles Leclerc.
F1 fans and indeed the entire racing community were taken aback ahead of the start of the 2024 season by Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes at the end of the year and switch his allegiance to Ferrari.
The sensational move, facilitated by a release clause in his contract with the Brackley squad, represents a major shift for the seven-time world champion. Read more