For dissolving marriage, impregnating complainant’s wife, Lagos sacks Judge (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Government has sacked a Customary Court Judge, Ishola Adeyemi, who allegedly dissolved a marriage and snatched the wife of a complainant, Mr. Olayemi Ayeni.
Ayeni had In a viral video seen narrating how Adeyemi dissolved his marriage and denied him access to his children because of the judge’s interest in his estranged wife.
According to Ayeni, when he protested the development, Adeyemi got him arrested by the police and he was subsequently transferred to Kirikiri Prison in Lagos State.
The state government, through the Executive Secretary, Lagos State, Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Mrs, Titilola Vivour Adeniyi, in a statement, confirmed the sacking of the judge. Read more
Controversy surrounds Abba Kyari’s whereabouts after attack on Kuje prison (Punch)
Controversy has surrounded the whereabouts of suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, after bandits attacked Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, where he was kept.
The PUNCH had reported that gunmen attacked the Custodial Centre in the Kuje area council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Tuesday night.
During the attack which lasted hours, some inmates were said to have escaped.
The Kuje prison is famous for holding high-profile inmates and suspects, including former governors and ministers. Read more
Police warn cultists against 7/7 rally in Lagos (Guardian)
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, has warned members of the Neo Black Movement of Africa known as Black Axe against plans to rally in celebration of what it called 7/7 day.
The Lagos Police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the Lagos State Police Command based on credible intelligence at its disposal, gathered that some hoodlums and cultists have perfected plans to foment trouble in the state on Thursday.
Alabi warned the groups with the intent to scuttle the peace being enjoyed in the state to shelve their plans.
The Command said its tactical teams, Area Commanders and DPOs in collaboration with other sister agencies are fully prepared to clamp down heavily on organisers, leaders and progenitors of such sinister groups whose aim is to cause wanton violence in the state. Read more
Shake-up in power sector as Fidelity Bank, AMCON seize Kaduna, 3 other DisCos (DailyTrust)
Fidelity Bank and the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) have taken over the control of Kaduna, Benin, Kano and Ibadan Distribution Companies (DisCos) just as the federal government has restructured Port Harcourt DisCo to halt its crash.
Following the takeover, Fidelity Bank informed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) that it had activated the call on the collateralised shares of Kano, Benin and Kaduna DisCos with their acquisition loans in 2013, drawn from Fidelity and AFREXIM Bank.
Due to the payment defaults, the bank said it initiated action to take over the Boards of these DisCos and exercise the rights on the shares.
The authorities swiftly recognised the board and replaced Managing Directors of the DisCos as well as Ibadan and Port Harcourt DisCos too. Read more
It is time to debunk myths against women’s rights, parenting – Lagos First Lady (Channels)
Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday called for a deliberate effort to debunk the various myths against the rights of women and parenting, saying the reality of today has made it imperative for the modern woman to be adequately equipped and empowered.
The First Lady spoke at the 2nd edition of the Muslim Sisters’ Seminar hosted by her office at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja in line with the vision to impact lives and build legacies, and most importantly serve as the forerunner to the forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir Festival.
She said the seminar, with the theme: “Women: Nurturing Lives to Secure a Better Future,” was aimed at highlighting the strategic role of women in ensuring a better future for the younger generation and society at large.
Other sub-themes include: “The Rights of a Woman; Women’s Health: Total Wellness; and Security & Self Awareness in a Modern Society. There was also a Panel Session on “Parenting: The Role of a Mother/Grandmother in Molding a Contemporary Child.” Read more
I prefer younger running mate – Peter Obi (Punch)
The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, on Wednesday, opened up on his choice of running mate, saying he preferred a younger person as vice-presidential candidate.
The former Anambra State governor stated this while featuring on Arise TV Morning Show.
He added that he prefers a younger person who has something to offer to complement his ticket rather than recycling old hands who had been in the government before now.
When asked to clarify social media rumours that he had picked a businessman and politician, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, as his vice-presidential candidate, Obi noted that though consultations are ongoing, he was yet to pick a running mate. Read more
Katsina announces first monkeypox outbreak (Nation)
The Katsina State Government has announced its first monkeypox outbreak in the State with the first patient being treated and discharged.
The Commissioner for Health, Yakubu Danja, announced this during the launching of the distribution of medicare and free medicines to 34 local Government Areas and opening of a call centre.
He said the government has proactively activated all emergency response teams to curtail further spread of monkeypox in the State.
He said: “The State has about 15 suspected cases whose samples have been taken to Abuja, and are awaiting the results. Read more
Nigeria becoming leading cosmetic country — Mimi Whyte (Tribune)
The beauty industry is on a forward-march evolution to become one of the sectors with an improved contribution to Nigeria’s GDP.
Presently, many skincare and beauty companies have moved from service-only mode to manufacturing varieties of products that are in high demand and are replacing foreign products.
With a burgeoning young female population, it is projected that the beauty industry will be bullish for many years to come.
Some of the leading stakeholders in the industry who spoke in recent months expressed optimism that the beauty industry in Nigeria will ultimately produce global brands that would rival the world’s big four cosmetics companies. Read more
Sallah: FRSC deploys 700 personnel to Kogi highways (Punch)
The Federal Road Safety Corps has mobilised 700 personnel and 20 equipment to highways in Kogi State to ensure the free flow of traffic during the Sallah celebration.
The Kogi Sector Commander, Corps Commander Stephen Dawulung, stated this on Wednesday in a statement issued in Lokoja.
“We have deployed more than 700 FRSC Regular, Special Marshals, and Road Safety Club Members, 20 patrol vehicles, seven ambulances, and tow trucks to the roads for this special operation.
“The deployed personnel and equipment for the special operation within Kogi is to enhance hitch-free and safe travels during the forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebrations. Read more
Star Wars fans enraged after Taika Waititi admits forgetting film details (Newsweek)
Taika Waititi is in hot water with Star Wars fans after the New Zealand director admitted he forgets some key details from the early films in the franchise.
It was announced in 2020 that the Oscar-winning filmmaker will direct and co-write a new Star Wars feature film for theatrical release but he revealed that he “forgot” that Natalie Portman had starred in them.
In fact, Waititi revealed that he even asked Portman if she had ever wanted to be in a Star Wars movie.
“Natalie said to me, ‘What do you do next?’ And I said, ‘I’m trying to work on a Star Wars thing. Have you ever wanted to be in a Star Wars movie?’ She said, ‘I’ve been in Star Wars movies.’ I forgot about those ones,” he laughed in an interview with Rolling Stone. Read more
The Woman King Trailer: Viola Davis transforms for brutal historical warrior epic (Variety)
Viola Davis is no stranger to transformations. In the past couple years alone, she’s played DC’s Amanda Waller, Ma Rainey and even Michelle Obama. But in the warrior epic “The Woman King,” the trailer for which dropped Wednesday, Davis plays a character unlike any she’s played before.
Davis stars in the film as Nanisca, the general of the real all-female military unit known as the Agojie (also known as Amazons) in the West African Kingdom of Dahomey (present-day Benin) in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The story is inspired by true events and follows Nanisca and Nawi (Thuso Mbedu), an ambitious recruit, as they fight enemies who have enslaved their people and violated their honour. The unit is the inspiration behind the Dora Milaje in “Black Panther,” and its story has never been told on screen before.
Davis told Vanity Fair that she underwent serious training for the physically demanding role.
“We started intensely a few months before shooting — four hours a day, five days a week,” Davis said. “Weight training, sprinting, martial arts and weaponry training for the machete.” Read more
Bette Midler criticised for ‘racist’ tweet with photoshopped image of the Supreme Court (Independent)
Bette Midler has been criticised for sharing a photoshopped image of members of the Supreme Court wearing beards, turbans and a burka.
The tweet, made in apparent reference to the court’s recent decision to overturn Roe v Wade, was branded racist and Islamophobic by social media users.
The Republican-controlled Supreme Court ruled last month in favour of a Mississippi law that outlaws abortion at 15 weeks of pregnancy, while also overturning key precedents established by the 1973 decision in Roe v Wade.
Midler, who also caused controversy this week with posts deemed “transphobic”, did not share a comment alongside the Supreme Court image. Read more
Blackpink confirm comeback with new music and extensive world tour on the way (National)
After months of teasing fans, Blackpink have announced they will release new music, followed by an extensive comeback tour later in the year.
The K-pop girl band, made up of Jisoo, Jennie, Rose and Lisa, have not released any new material since their smash-hit first album, The Album, which made its debut in October 2020.
However, a press release from the group’s management YG Entertainment on Tuesday confirmed they would be back with new work in August, followed by a second album which will kick-start “a continuous large-scale project which will extend through the second half of the year”, offering previews of “a lot of Blackpink-esque music that has been prepared over a long period of time”.
It was also revealed the band will take part in a global tour, which YG said would be “the largest world tour in the history of a K-pop girl group”. Read more
Paolo Nutini performs at Montreux Jazz Festival 2022 (MusicNews)
The 56th edition of the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival is officially underway, with crowds flocking to the Lake Geneva shoreline for 16 days of unmissable music. Returning to full capacity for the first time in two years, Montreux is back with its biggest line-up yet, including performances from the likes of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Stormzy, Diana Ross and many more.
Following on from John Legend’s ebullient set on Monday, Paolo Nutini took to the 4000-capacity Auditorium Stravinski last night, just days after the release of his brand new record ‘Last Night In The Bittersweet’, which is on course for a UK Number 1 album.
Adorning the stage in a denim shirt and t-shirt, he proudly shows his stripes as a tenured performer, and the crowd welcomes him. The 35-year-old Scottish singer-songwriter’s fourth studio album marks his first release in eight years, showcasing a plethora of tracks from the comeback release. Beginning with the symphonic album opener ‘Afterneath’, Paolo stretches his yearning syllables over a fleeting fuzz guitar before his rhythm section kicks in and brings the whole crowd into an uproar. He continues the tour of his latest material with ‘Lose It’, ‘Acid Eyes’, ‘Echoes’ and ‘Petrified’, interspersing them with tracks from his 2007 album ‘These Streets’ including the fizzling title track preceded by a raucous transition from ‘Jenny Don’t Be Hasty’ into the ubiquitous ‘New Shoes’.
His hazy pop-rock is brought to life by the acoustics of the auditorium, catching each fleeting crack in his candid vocal delivery in full technicolour, allowing each phrase to breathe. Crowd pleaser ‘Candy’ is met with rapturous applause, whilst the reflective, teary ‘Iron Sky’ ebbs and flows before the coda utilises the full force of his supporting band. Nutini calls an end to the night with the near 6-minute epic ‘Shine A Light’ — a new mid-album track that serves as the perfect dessert to an outstanding performance. Nutini commands the audience into collective movement, rendering him not only a remarkable songsmith but equally a born performer. His comeback is welcomed by the zealous audience, who will no doubt be pulling the album off the shelves as they exit the lauded Stravinski. Read more
EU lawmakers support ‘green’ label for gas and nuclear energy (RFI)
The European Parliament on Wednesday gave its support for labelling gas and nuclear power as “green” under the bloc’s taxonomy rules. The move comes despite deep divisions on the issue between member states.
During a tight vote in parliament in Strasbourg, a majority of MEPs blocked an objection to the controversial proposal – which is now on its way to becoming EU law.
The green classification means certain nuclear and gas activities will be eligible for sustainable investment funding from 2023.
In order to be considered “sustainable”, though, electricity generated from nuclear or gas plants must use the most advanced technologies. Read more
Boris Johnson’s government crumbles after 7 more ministers quit in one go (Metro)
Five government ministers have resigned in one fell swoop in another huge blow to Boris Johnson’s authority.
Kemi Badenoch, Neil O’Brien, Alex Burghart, Lee Rowley and Julia Lopez signed a joint letter saying they no longer had faith in the prime minister and calling for him to resign.
They were quickly followed out the door by Employment minister Mims Davies and Safeguarding minister Rachel Maclean, who criticised the integrity of Boris Johnson’s operation.
It means the number of departures from ministers and aides has now reached 30 after the sensational resignations of former Chancellor Rishi Sunak and former Health Secretary Sajid Javid last night. Read more
Babatunde thrilled to join FK Laci (Punch)
Nigerian midfielder Michael Babatunde is thrilled to have signed a two-year deal with Albanian topflight division club FK Laci, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The 29-year-old, who has been without a club since August 1, 2021, last played for Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca.
He had previously featured for Qatar SC, Raja Casablanca, Dnipro, Volyn Lutsk, and Kryvbas all in Ukraine, and Heartland in the Nigerian Professional Football League.
“I’m very happy and proud to be here,” Babatunde told PUNCH Sports Extra. Read more
Džeko a target for 3 Serie A clubs (FootballItalia)
Inter forward Edin Džeko is a target for three Serie A clubs, according to reports.
The Bosnia forward is likely to find game time at Inter limited next season following the arrival of Romelu Lukaku, while the club are also pursuing free agent Paulo Dybala.
And FCInterNews.it report newly promoted Monza would be keen on signing Džeko should they fail to land first-choice target Mauro Icardi.
The ambitious club, owned by ex-Milan president Silvio Berlusconi, are keen to make a big-name signing in attack and are targeting Icardi. Read more
Euro 2022: England men’s stars send messages of support to Lionesses (GMS)
England are just hours away from kicking off Euro 2022 at Old Trafford.
The Lionesses will host the European Championships for the first time since 2005 and as they head into the tournament, they are listed as one of the favourites to win.
Ahead of the opening match against Austria tonight, stars from the England men’s national team have sent messages of support for Sarina Wiegman’s team.
The official England Twitter account posted a video of Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice of West Ham and Manchester United captain Harry Maguire wishing the Lionesses good luck for Euro 2022. Read more
Buick LPGA Shanghai canceled for 3rd straight year due to Covid in-19 restrictions in China
(ESPN)
The LPGA Tour has canceled its tournament in Shanghai later this year because of ongoing restrictions in China related to Covid-19.
The Buick LPGA Shanghai was to be held Oct. 13-16 at Qizhong Garden Golf Club. The tour said in a statement that it hopes to “compete in front of our fans at Qizhong Garden Golf Club in the future.”
The LPGA Tour announced its decision with the China Golf Association and the PGA Tour, which also canceled its Shanghai-based event — the WGC-HSBC Champions, scheduled for Oct. 27-30.
It marks the third straight year that both tours have canceled their respective events in Shanghai because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Danielle Kang won the most recent Buick LPGA Shanghai in 2019. Read more
Halep demolishes Anisimova to set up Wimbledon semi against Rybakina (StraitsTimes)
There has been no stopping Simona Halep at this year’s Wimbledon as the Romanian produced another eye-catching performance to surge into the semi-finals with a 6-2, 6-4 win over American Amanda Anisimova on Wednesday (July 6).
The 2019 champion did not exactly give the fans who had forked out £175 (S$293) for a Centre Court ticket value for money as she toppled a shell-shocked Anisimova in 63 minutes to reach her third semi-final at the All England Club.
“Definitely this is my best tennis,” Halep said.
“I am trying to build my confidence back, and it’s good.” Read more
Jake Paul v Tommy Fury: YouTuber calls off fight with Briton (BBC)
Jake Paul says his upcoming fight with Tommy Fury on 6 August has been cancelled.
Briton Fury, 23, was denied entry to the United States last month for a scheduled press conference to announce the fight.
YouTuber-turned-fighter Paul, 25, gave Fury until Wednesday to resolve his visa issues.
But he said on social media: “Fury’s received a termination notice. Second time in a row he has pulled out.” Read more
Paul Pogba set to rejoin Juventus on free transfer following Manchester United exit (BBC)
Paul Pogba is set to rejoin Juventus on a free transfer after his Manchester United contract expired.
It is understood the 29-year-old France midfielder will have a medical at the weekend before completing the move.
Pogba joined United from the Italian side in 2016 for a then world-record fee of £89m.
United and Pogba failed to agree on a new contract and the club confirmed at the start of June that he would leave as a free agent this summer.
It is anticipated Pogba will begin training with Juventus next week prior to their trip to the United States, where they will face Barcelona and Real Madrid on 27 and 30 July respectively. Read more