Govt kicks as semi-nude women dance on display in Lagos advert truck (Punch)
A video showing half-naked women dancing in a transparent outdoor display truck in Lagos has caused an uproar on social media. The truck, with number plate APP 713 XL, showed the women dancing on a stripper pole wearing only bra and underpants. The truck was seen around the Toll Gate Plaza along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos, on Friday night. The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency strongly condemned the act, even as it threatened to take action against the owner of the truck. Read more
No Nigerian will regret Buhari’s re-election, DSP Omo-Agege (Nation)
The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, on Saturday, said that no voting age of any Nigerian will regret re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term, saying that Mr President was committed to solving myriads of problems confronting the country. Omo-Agege said his emergence as Deputy Senate President was made possible through the efforts of President Buhari and other key leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Omo-Agege said this at his Orogun country-home, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta on Thursday evening, when he received a heroic welcome at the Osubi Airstrip in Okpe Council Area of the state. Read more
Calls for ‘Revolution’ march is treasonable felony —Police (Punch)
The police on Saturday said that the calls for a “Revolution” protest scheduled for August 5 amount to a treasonable felony. In a statement shared on its verified Twitter handle, the force said that it would not fold its arms in the face of such calls. Police said, “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a video circulating on the social media by the ‘Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria and others’, inciting Nigerians, home and abroad, to join a planned ‘revolution’ march against the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Monday, 5th August, 2019 with the sole aim of forcing a regime change in the country. Read more
Pengana bye-election: PDP accuses APC of vote-buying (Punch)
The Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party on Saturday accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of buying votes in the ongoing bye-election in Pengana constituency in Bassa Local Government Area of the state. The party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. John Akans, made the allegation in Jengre town of Bassa Council of the state in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria. NAN reports that the bye-election is to replace Mr Ezekiel Afon of APC who died after he was declared the winner of the March 23 polls. Read more
NIM demands release of Sowore, to go ahead with planned protests (Nation)
The Nigeria Intervention Movement (NIM), otherwise known as the Third Force Movement of Nigeria, has condemned the arrest and detention of the leader of one of its affiliate groups, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, who was whisked away from his home at about 1.25am on Saturday by operatives of the Department of State (DSS). A statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Olusegun Obe, said the arrest and detention of Sowore, who is the leader of the “Take It Back Movement”, an NIM affiliate group, would not deter it and that it would go ahead with its planned nationwide mass protests against bad political system and mal-governance in Nigeria tagged “#Revolution Now!” scheduled to start on Monday, August 5, 2019. Read more
Alleged student’s rape: Akeredolu calls for soldiers’ prosecution (Punch)
Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, on Saturday condemned the alleged rape of a student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, by some soldiers attached to a military checkpoint in Ikare-Akoko, Akoko North-East Local Government Area of the state. The student, who is in 300-level in the Department of Religious and African Studies of the AAUA, was allegedly gang-raped by some soldiers at the checkpoint in Ikare-Akoko on Wednesday evening. Read more
Abducted RCCG member rescued (Nation)
The Ogun State Police Command on Saturday morning said it rescued one of the five members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) abducted at the Ogbere (Ogun state) stretch of the Lagos – Ore expressway on August 1. The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a statement gave the name of the rescued person as Deaconess Ibelegbo Chidinma. Abimbola, a Deputy Superintendent of Police(DSP), added “efforts are on top gear to rescue the remaining victims as the kidnappers who kept them in separate locations were changing their locations from time to time within the forest.” Read more
Wike sacks Rivers varsity VC, DVC (Punch)
The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has sacked the Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University, Prof. Blessing Didia, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. Magnus Oruwari with immediate effect. Wike also suspended the ongoing recruitment at the university and set up an investigation committee over the exercise. The committee, was, however, mandated to report to the governor in two weeks. Read more
Don’t issue fresh proclamation to Edo Assembly, court orders Obaseki (Nation)
The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has restrained the Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki from issuing a fresh proclamation letter, as directed by the Senate. The court also restrained the Clerk of the National Assembly, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, their servants, agents, officers or privies from interfering or taking over the legislative functions of the Edo State House of Assembly. Read more
60 homes submerged as flood ravages Imo community (Nation)
Not less than 60 houses have been submerged in Orsu Obodo in Oguta Council Area of Imo State, as flood ravaged the riverine community on Friday night. No fewer than 2000 people including, women and children have been displced following the incident. It will be recalled that most communities in Oguta Council Area were submerged in 2012 during the flood that ravaged most part of the country. Read more
Smugglers have gone deadly, says Customs Comptroller (Nation)
As Federal Operation Unit (FOU) Zone ‘B’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) made 623 seizures, including 153 vehicles and other items, Comptroller in charge of the unit has said that, smugglers have gone sophisticated and deadly. Comptroller FOU Zone ‘B’ Kaduna, Mustafa M. Sarkin-Kebbi who addressed newsmen in Kaduna on the activities of unit from January to June, 2019 said, the seized items worth Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.05bn. He disclosed that, 14 suspects were equally apprehended during the months under review. Read more
Sudan crisis: Military and opposition agree constitutional declaration (BBC)
Sudan’s ruling military council and main opposition coalition have agreed on a constitutional declaration which will pave the way for a new period of transitional government. African Union mediator Mohamed Hassan Lebatt made the announcement early on Saturday, without giving any details. Sudan has been in turmoil since the military ousted President Omar al-Bashir in April. Read more
DR Congo tests 12 more patients for Ebola (Guardian)
Twelve people were ordered to undergo testing for possible Ebola infection in Goma in DR Congo on Saturday, only days after three patients in the densely populated city tested positive for the disease, the country’s presidency said. “A total of 12 people from various centres on the outskirts (of Goma) are undergoing testing after the response team triggered the alert protocol,” it said in a statement. Six others suspected of carrying the virus were discharged after testing negative on Friday, the presidency added. Read more
Hong Kong protests: Police fire tear gas at activists (BBC)
Hong Kong police have fired tear gas at protesters who are demonstrating for the ninth weekend in a row. Groups rallied in the Mong Kok district before starting their march. They called on others to join a city-wide strike planned for Monday. Beijing and the Chinese army have issued stern warnings about the unrest. Two months of demonstrations sparked by a controversial extradition bill show no signs of abating, with both sides hardening their stance. Read more
Trump invited Iran FM to White House (Guardian)
US President Donald Trump invited Iran’s foreign minister to the White House last month at the height of tensions between the two countries, a magazine reports. The invitation, extended by Senator Rand Paul with permission from the president, was turned down for now, The New Yorker reported Friday. The minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, said it was up to Tehran to decide on accepting it. Neither the White House nor the State Department responded to AFP requests for comment on the report, which quoted US and Iranian sources and what the magazine called a well-placed diplomat. Read more
Seven men held over Italy nightclub stampede deaths (BBC)
Italian police have arrested seven young men in connection with a stampede at a nightclub last year which killed six people. Six of those held are accused of manslaughter. The men, aged between 19 and 22, are suspected of sparking panic by using pepper spray to rob people inside the Blue Lantern club in Corinaldo. Five of the victims were 14 to 16 years old. The sixth was a 39-year-old woman who was at the venue with her daughter. Read more
Erdogan lays stone for modern Turkey’s first new church (Guardian)
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday laid the foundation stone for the first new church in Turkey since it became a modern republic in 1923. The church in the Istanbul suburb of Yesilkoy will serve the 17,000-strong Syriac Christian community, which is also paying for the new building. “It is the Turkish republic’s duty to meet the need for space to worship for the Syriac community, who are the ancient children of this geography,” Erdogan said during the stone-laying ceremony. Read more
Three journalists slain in Mexico in a week (Punch)
Two journalists were shot dead in Mexico Friday, bringing to three the number of journalists killed in the country this week, officials say. Jorge Celestino Ruiz, who worked for the newspaper El Grafico de Xalapa, was killed on Friday night in the violence-plagued state of Veracruz, the mayor of the state’s capital Paulino Dominguez told AFP. Ruiz’s house was shot at in October and bullets were also “fired at his vehicle to intimidate him,” said a police source, who asked for anonymity, and did not give further details. Read more
Four dead, several injured after powerful quake rocks Indonesia (Guardian)
Four people died and several were injured after a powerful undersea earthquake rocked Indonesia’s heavily populated Java island, triggering a brief tsunami warning, the national disaster agency said Saturday. The 6.9 magnitude quake on Friday evening sent residents fleeing to higher ground, while many in the capital Jakarta ran into the streets. An official from Indonesia’s national disaster agency warned the quake could generate a tsunami as high as three metres (10 feet), but the alert was lifted several hours later. Read more
Russia protests: Hundreds detained during unauthorised demonstration (BBC)
Russian opposition leader Lyubov Sobol is among more than 600 people detained over an unauthorised protest in Moscow. Ms Sobol was in a taxi about to set off for the rally when police officers dragged her into a black van, which swiftly sped off. Protesters are gathering in the Russian capital after authorities disqualified a number of opposition candidates from standing in local elections. Read more
Woman travels across the world for free with nothing but the help of kind strangers (Metro)
A british model has travelled 10,000 miles cross the world to Australia for free – blagging rides on planes, tractors, cars, ferries, buses, bikes and tuk tuks – all to raise money for a charity. 38-year-old mum-of-two Elaine Harris got all the way to Sydney thanks to kind strangers who helped her get there from the UK. Elaine, who was a finalist on the UK’s Top Model, started the adventure on a tractor, leaving her home in Forfar, Angus, on 21 July. Read more
Taron Egerton ‘would love’ to join Marvel Cinematic Universe – maybe not as Wolverine (Metro)
Taron Egerton says he would love to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, although he’s still casting doubt on the role of Wolverine. The 29-year-old’s name was first thrown into the mix when Marvel writer Mark Millar casually wrote on Twitter: ‘Taron Egerton will be the next Wolverine.’ Hugh Jackman was the original actor to take on the superhero, but since Taron’s name was dropped, fans have been speculating over who would be the right person to replace the 50-year-old. Read more
WWE star Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson officially announces his retirement from wrestling (Metro)
WWE legend The Rock has announced his retirement from wrestling. We’ve seen it coming for a while now, but it seems Dwayne Johnson wanted to make things official by letting his fans know he’s finally hung up his boots. When chatting on Live with Kelly and Ryan, the 47-year-old spoke about his career, and how he’s called it a day on the sport that propelled him into stardom. Read more
NAPTIP to use sports to tackle human trafficking (Guardian)
The Director-General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Julie Okah-Donli has pledged to use sports as an effective instrument to combat the menace of human trafficking in the country. Okah-Donli disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday at the IBB Golf club as part of activities to commemorate the 2019 World Day against Human Trafficking. The NAPTIP boss who tee-ed-off the monthly IBB International Golf and Country Club tournament said the activity was part of ways to create awareness against human trafficking. Read more
Eric Bailly sends bizarre welcome message to Nicolas Pepe after sealing Arsenal transfer (Metro)
Nicolas Pepe received a rather odd message of support from Ivory Coast teammate Eric Bailly, who wished the new Arsenal star good luck after his £72million move. The 24-year-old winger completed his move from Lille to the Emirates this week, becoming the most expensive player in the club’s history in the process. He took part in his first full training session on Friday, brutally nutmegging Granit Xhaka, and is in line to make his debut in Sunday’s pre-season friendly against Barcelona. Read more
Rodgers regrets impending departure of ‘special’ Maguire (Guardian)
Harry Maguire, described as a “special player” by Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers, is set to become the world’s most expensive defender after Manchester United agreed to pay a reported fee of £80 million ($97 million). The 26-year-old central defender –coveted by United since he starred as England reached the World Cup semi-finals — is to undergo a medical at United over the weekend. “The clubs have agreed (a fee) and there’s still some work for it to go through,” Rodgers told Sky Sports. Read more
Kylian Mbappe shoves Neymar out of PSG trophy celebrations after Trophee des Champions win (Metro)
There were strange scenes after PSG’s Super Cup win over Rennes on Saturday, with Kylian Mbappe appearing to get annoyed with teammate Neymar and push him out of the team photo. The French champions made a winning start to the new season, coming from behind to beat Coupe de France holders Rennes 2-1 in the Trophee des Champions – the French equivalent of the Community Shield. Mbappe was on the scoresheet, netting from close range, while Angel Di Maria buried a brilliant free-kick to decide the contest. Read more
Brighton break transfer record to sign Webster (Punch)
Adam Webster became Premier League side Brighton’s record signing on Saturday when they agreed to pay a reported £20million ($24million) to Championship outfit Bristol City for the central defender. The 24-year-old — who only joined Bristol City from Ipswich Town last year — signed a four-year contract with last season’s FA Cup semi-finalists. “He is a quality defender, comfortable on the ball and fits the profile of the player we want to bring to the club,” said Brighton manager Graham Potter. Read more
Kieran Tierney’s Arsenal transfer in jeopardy as Celtic star faces two months out (Metro)
Arsenal’s hopes of signing Celtic star Kieran Tierney could be in jeopardy with the Scot facing two months on the sidelines. The Bhoys have been locked in negotiations with the Gunners for the last six weeks and are refusing to accept less than their £30million valuation of the left-back. Tierney is keen on a move to the Emirates but will not hand in a transfer request as he’s a boyhood Celtic fan and is settled north of the border. Read more
Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United and Tottenham transfer speculation (Metro)
Bruno Fernandes has hit back at reports that he’s set to walk out on Sporting Lisbon in the next 48 hours. The 24-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League this summer with both Manchester United and Tottenham interested in the midfielder. Reports on Friday claimed Fernandes had agreed to make a farewell appearance for Sporting in the Super Cup against Benfica on Sunday before completing a move to England. Read more
Max Verstappen takes first career pole position in Hungary (BBC)
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took his first Formula 1 pole position in a thrilling qualifying session at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Dutchman beat Valtteri Bottas’ Mercedes by 0.018 seconds, with Lewis Hamilton third and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel next. Verstappen was 0.9secs quicker than team-mate Pierre Gasly in sixth. Read more