Flight fury: Inside story of KWAM 1, Emmason’s pardon (Punch)
Fresh details have emerged on why the Federal Government backtracked on its earlier decision to punish popular Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde, aka KWAM 1, and a passenger on the Akwa Ibom-owned airline, Ms. Comfort Emmason, for misconduct.
Findings by Saturday PUNCH showed that KWAM 1 was compelled to apologise as part of conditions for intervention from the ‘powers that be’, just as the government withdrew charges against Emmason after reviewing the roles of the airline in the saga and the threats of multiple suits.
Hasty trial
On August 10, Emmason was removed from a flight from Lagos to Uyo after allegedly refusing to turn off her phone as instructed by crew members. Read more
From prison to perks: Comfort Emmanson receives phones, job & land (Guardian)
Comfort Emmanson, the air passenger whose altercation with Ibom Air crew on August 10 led to her detention in Kirikiri Prison, has received a series of offers from businessmen and public figures following her release.
Emmanson was freed after the case against her was withdrawn, and has since been taken off the airline operators’ no-fly list.
Businessman Oga Uby announced on Thursday that he had replaced the phone damaged during the incident with a new iPhone 16 Pro Max and signed her to a four-year brand ambassador contract with Tubex Logistics Services. Read more
By-elections: APC, ADC in show of strength (Sun)
The final outcome of today’s by-elections holding in 13 states to fill the vacant seats in the National Assembly, Senatorial and Federal Constituencies, as well as the State Houses of Assembly, is going to be a defining movement for both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition parties.
According to the list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the concerned states include Adamawa (Ganye State Constituency); Anambra (Anambra South Senatorial District and Onitsha North I State Constituency); Edo (Edo Central Senatorial District and Ovia North East/Ovia South West Federal Constituency); Jigawa (Babura/Garki Federal Constituency); Kaduna (Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency and Zaria, Kewaye, and Basawa State Constituencies).
Others are Kano (Bagwai/Shanono State Constituency); Kogi (Dekina/Okura State Constituency); Ogun (Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency); Oyo (Ibadan North Federal Constituency); Taraba (Karim Lamido I State Constituency), and Zamfara (Kaura Namoda South State Constituency) as well as Adamawa, Enugu and Niger States. Read more
Fire guts Fresh FM office in Ibadan (Nation)
A fire outbreak has been reported at a popular Ibadan radio station, Fresh FM, at Felele area in Ibadan South-West local government area of the Oyo State capital on Friday.
The incident, which started a few hours ago, has disrupted other related activities at the station.
A staff member of the station, @Arugboboisi, confirmed the incident on Friday evening in a post on his X handle. Read more
ADC to FG: You distorted Okonjo-Iweala’s message (Tribune)
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Federal Government for ignoring the core message in recent comments by the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on the state of the Nigerian economy, choosing instead to celebrate the headlines.
While acknowledging efforts by the Federal Government to stabilise the economy, the former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy challenged the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to create social safety nets to mitigate the suffering being experienced by Nigerians at the receiving end of its policy reforms.
She said: “The President and his team have worked hard to stabilise the economy. The reforms have been in the right direction. The next step is growth, and alongside that, building social safety nets so those feeling the pinch of reforms can get support.” Read more
Lamido empowers constituents with vehicles, scholarships (Leadership)
Senator Ibrahim Lamido has launched a wide-reaching empowerment initiative across his senatorial district, distributing over 100 brand-new vehicles.
Senator Lamido’s legislative aide, Lamir Amin, stated that the vehicles include Toyota Sienna vans, 18-seater buses, and tractors to support agricultural productivity and improve transportation for his constituents.
In an earlier phase of his intervention, the senator distributed 16 trucks of fertiliser and facilitated the drilling of boreholes across the eight local government areas under his jurisdiction, addressing both agricultural and water supply challenges. Read more
Benue, Plateau Leaders to Tinubu: Your marching orders not effective (Vanguard)
After the global outrage that greeted the June 13 massacre of over 200 innocent farmers by armed herdsmen in Yelewata community, Guma Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue state, it was expected that the people would have some respite particularly with the marching order issued to the security agencies by President Bola Tinubu to put a halt to the attacks and killings in the state.
The President, who visited the state on June 18, shortly after the bloody attack, did not mince words when he also directed that those behind the killings should be apprehended and prosecuted. He also stated that he was in a position to help the people achieve peace, which is vital to development. “We were not elected to bury people and have orphans and orphanages. We will work with you to achieve peace. We are here to work with the people. The people of Benue deserve peace,” he added. Read more
Blackpink: K-pop band make ‘epic Wembley dream’ come true (BBC)
South Korean pop band Blackpink reasserted their position as the world’s biggest girl group, with a riotous two-and-a-half hour show at Wembley Stadium.
The quartet – comprised of members Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa – became the first K-pop girl band to headline the venue, following in the footsteps of Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, BTS and Oasis.
They rewarded fans with a high-voltage set, full of delirious hooks and crisp choreography, while highlighting their sisterly bond. Read more
Trump reveals ‘no deal’ made with Putin after beaming at him & letting him speak first (Metro)
US President Donald Trump revealed that ‘no deal’ was made on Ukraine but beamed at his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and let him speak first in a historic joint news briefing.
In bleak news for Ukraine, neither leader mentioned the word ‘ceasefire’.
Trump and Putin on Friday said they agreed on several points but did not disclose them, and the two acted almost like old friends in the so-called press conference. Read more
Sudden, heavy rain in Pakistan, India-administered Kashmir and Nepal kills more than 300 people (CNN)
Sudden floods triggered by heavy rains have killed more than 300 people across parts of Pakistan, India-administered Kashmir and Nepal, authorities have said, as scores of people remain missing.
In northwestern Pakistan, at least 203 people were killed in the space of 24 hours, local authorities reported Friday. Separately, five crew members were killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province after a helicopter crashed during relief efforts, according to a local government official.
In India-administered Kashmir, at least 60 people have died and more than 200 are missing in the town of Chashoti on Friday, a popular pilgrimage destination for Hindu tourists, Reuters reported. Read more
Teyana Taylor found in contempt of court over divorce judgment (MusicNews)
Teyana Taylor has been ordered to pay her ex-husband Iman Shumpert $70,000 (£52,000) after being found in contempt of court.
The singer/actress and the basketball player, who were married between 2016 and 2023, both accused each other of being in contempt of court for allegedly violating the terms of their 2024 divorce judgment.
According to Us Weekly, the exes attended a court hearing in which they both gave testimony about the allegations on 25 July, and the judge issued his final order on 5 August. Read more
Cardi B drops video for Jay-Z sampling single “Imaginary Playerz” (Complex)
Cardi B is giving fans a little more drama with the video for her latest single, “Imaginary Playerz.”
The Jay-Z sampled track, which takes from his 1997 song of the same name and serves as the second pre-release single from her upcoming sophomore album Am I The Drama?, arrived on Friday alongside a visual.
On Thursday, Cardi revealed a moment of serendipity, explaining that Jay cleared the sample for her song at a time of day synonymous with one of the Brooklyn native’s most noteworthy albums. “When he texted back my manager, the record was clear, it was at 4:44 pm,” she explained during an Instagram Live session. Read more
Is this the A-list couple Sophie Turner accidentally broke up with her flirting? (PageSix)
Sophie Turner revealed this week that she accidentally broke up an unnamed celebrity couple back in 2014, but internet sleuths think they’ve cracked the code on whom the “Game of Thrones” star split up.
“The streets are saying it’s Emma Roberts and Evan Peters, which tracks,” one person commented in a Reddit thread about the juicy tale Turner shared on “Late Night With Seth Meyers” Thursday.
Another Reddit user agreed, “Sounds insane enough for Emma.” Read more
Afrobasket: D’Tigers smash defending champions Tunisia (Channels)
Nigeria’s D’Tigers recorded an emphatic win over Tunisia in the 2025 men’s Afrobasket, beating the North Africans 87-66 in a one-sided encounter on Friday.
D’Tigers began the game on the front foot and raced to a 10-0 lead with Houston Rockets star Josh Okogie dictating the pace in the one-sided match at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda in the Angolan capital.
At the end of the 1st quarter, the D’Tigers had 29 points against their opponents’ 16. When the first half ended, Nigeria outscored the Tunisians, having 48 points while the latter were on 33. Read more
Sevilla coach declares Ejuke fit for Athletico Bilbao clash (CompleteSports)
Sevilla head coach Matías Almeyda has confirmed Chidera Ejuke fit for the club’s league clash with Sevilla, reports Completesports.com.
Almeyda’s side will travel to San Manes for their opening league fixture of the season on Sunday.
Ejuke sustained a thigh injury during training last month. Read more
‘Diogo’s day’ – emotional Anfield tribute for Jota (BBC)
Liverpool winger Federico Chiesa dedicated his side’s dramatic win over Bournemouth in their Premier League opener to the late Diogo Jota, describing it as ‘Diogo’s day’.
Reds forward Jota died at the age of 28 in a car crash in northern Spain in July, alongside his brother Andre Silva, 25.
Emotional tributes were paid before, during and after Friday’s 4-2 victory at Anfield – sealed by two late goals for the defending champions – with Mohamed Salah in tears as he applauded the fans at full-time. Read more
MacIntyre extends lead over Scheffler through Round 2 of BMW Championship (CBS)
The 49-man field at the 2025 BMW Championship was greeted by a much friendlier course at Caves Valley Golf Club on Friday as the rain that caused a two-hour delay to open play created softer greens and fairways that allowed for some low scores. Robert MacIntyre came into Friday’s second round with a three-shot advantage, and the 29-year-old Scotsman picked up where he left off six more birdies to post a bogey-free 64, reaching 14 under for the tournament and pushing his lead to five shots over Scottie Scheffler going into the weekend.
MacIntyre leads the field in strokes gained putting and on approach after the first two rounds, which is an incredible feat given the field is comprised of the best players in the world. While his first round was fueled by a red-hot putter — rolling in nearly 200 feet of putts Thursday — it was the iron play that pushed him to a 64 on Friday as he was dialed with the approach game to take some of the stress off his flat stick. Read more
ESPN insider says there is ‘easy solution’ for Jonathan Kuminga and Golden State Warriors (NBAanalysis)
Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors remain at an impasse regarding his contract situation, prompting an ESPN insider to propose a potential resolution.
The standoff continues with neither side willing to compromise significantly. Jonathan Kuminga wants to leave and would happily join teams like Phoenix or Sacramento, both of which have shown interest.
However, the Warriors rejected offers from both franchises, seeking valuable assets like first-round picks or players of Bobby Portis’ caliber. Read more