Home teacher arrested for defiling six-year-old pupil in Lagos (Punch)
A 50-year-old old teacher, Uzor Anthony, has been apprehended by the police for allegedly defiling a six-year-old girl he was teaching at her parents’ home in the Olodi Apapa area of Lagos.
Anthony reportedly committed the crime while he was teaching the girl identified as Bimpe (not real name) when her parents were not around.
It was learnt that the victim narrated what happened to her mother when she returned home and the case was reported at the Tolu Police Station.
A police source disclosed to Sunday PUNCH that the suspect denied having sex with Bimpe who consistently said she was defiled. Read more
Low turnout as Lagos mosques reopen (Nation)
Some sections of the Muslim community in Lagos heaved a sigh of relief, yesterday, as they worshipped at various mosques for Jumat service.
The last time they were opportune to observe the special weekly prayer was in March before the Lagos State government suspended all religious activities due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus.
Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Anofiu Elegushi, in March, announced the suspension after a meeting with religious leaders.
Elegushi said, “We met with religious leaders, both Christians and Muslims. We discussed, argued and realised that the lives of Lagosians are important to us. We prefer to offend people than to kill our people.” Read more
COVID-19: Lagos discharges 27 Nigerians, 5 foreigners (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Government has announced the recovery and discharge of 32 COVID-19 patients, consisting of 27 Nigerians and five foreigners.
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu said in a statement on Saturday in Lagos that the patients were discharged after testing negative twice to the disease.
”Good people of Lagos, today, 32 #COVID-19 Lagos patients; 12 females and 20 males, including five foreign nationals were discharged from the isolation facilities to reunite with society.
”The patients – one from Agidingbi; eight from Onikan; five from Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba; nine from Gbagada, four from Vidic Centre and five from LUTH Isolation Centres were discharged after full recovery. Read more
Tanker drivers’ strike: Fuel scarcity imminent in South-West, says IPMAN (Punch)
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has said the withdrawal of service by petroleum tanker drivers in Lagos State as from Monday (tomorrow) will cause fuel scarcity in the entire South-West and beyond.
The Chairman of IPMAN, Ore Depot, Mr Shina Amoo, said this on Saturday in an interview with our correspondent in Ibadan.
Amoo urged the government to address the issue of extortion of tanker drivers which forced the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers to direct its members to begin an indefinite strike from Monday. Read more
Why pregnant women should donate umbilical cord, by expert (Nation)
The Medical Representative and Director, Bentoluene International Health Concept, Toluwalope Ogunleye has advised pregnant mothers to donate umbilical cord to a blood bank and potentially save a life.
He said this at the cord blood awareness campaign webinar by Bentoluene International Health Concept in Lagos.
He said the placenta has been found to be the richest sites for stem cells, which are highly instrumental in the treatment of over 85 known diseases, including autism, brain injury, cerebral palsy and hearing loss. Read more
Buruji Kashamu dies of COVID-19 (Vanguard)
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain, and former lawmaker, who represented Ogun East Senatorial District, Senator Buruji Kashamu, has died of COVID-19 complications at a Lagos hospital, as disclosed by Senator Ben Murray-Bruce in a tweet on Saturday.
A close aide of Kashamu, who’s referred to as Arabambi also confirmed the death of the business mogul.
Kashamu was said to have been on ICU weeks before his death. Read more
Aisha Buhari not sick, says aide (Nation)
A Senior aide to the First Lady, Hajia Aisha Buhari, on Saturday denied reports that she was ill.
A section of the media had reported that following the illness Aisha was flown to Dubai, United Arab Emirates , for treatment.
The nature of her purported illness was not disclosed but the reports seemed to suggest that the First Lady’s alleged ill-health might have been caused by her visit to the widow of the former Oyo State, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, in Lagos, over a week ago. Read more
Senate President sponsors wedding of 100 spinsters in Yobe, 200 more in line (Vanguard)
The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, on Saturday, in Gashua, Bade Local Government Area, sponsored the wedding of 100 less-privileged spinsters, while 200 more are in line to benefit.
The beneficiaries were drawn from Bade and Jakusko Local Government areas.
Lawan, represented at the ceremony by the Speaker, Yobe State House of Assembly, Alhaji Ahmed Mirwa, said the gesture was in aid of parents who could not shoulder the financial burden involved.
He said the exercise would also discourage social vices such as rape, child abuse, and child abandonment, among others. Read more
Brazil’s COVID-19 death toll tops 100,000 as outbreak show no signs of relenting (CBC)
Brazil surpassed a grim milestone on Saturday — 100,000 deaths from COVID-19. And five months after the first reported case, the country is showing no signs of crushing the disease.
The nation of 210 million people has been reporting an average of more than 1,000 daily deaths from the pandemic since late May, and 905 were recorded in the latest 24-hour period to put Brazil above 100,000. The Health Ministry also said there have been been a total of 3,012,412 confirmed infections.
The totals are second only to the United States. And experts believe both Brazil numbers are severe undercounts due to insufficient testing. Read more
Lebanon PM Hassan Diab to call for early vote after port blast (Aljazeera)
Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab has said he will request an early parliamentary election in a bid to defuse a worsening crisis following a devastating explosion at the port of the capital.
Diab’s comments on Saturday came as security forces clashed with protesters angry at the country’s ruling class which they hold responsible for Tuesday’s explosion that ripped through Beirut, killing more than 150 people and wounding some 6,000. Read more
Belarus election: President Lukashenko faces toughest test in years (BBC)
President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus is seeking a sixth term in office in an election he is both tipped to win but which is also likely to be his toughest challenge yet.
He won previous elections by a landslide but the votes were condemned by election observers.
This time though he has a prominent rival in a 37-year-old who is running in place of her jailed husband.
Belarus has also seen large opposition protests and a row with Russia. Read more
Over 350 cars stopped at random NYC checkpoints to enforce quarantine rules (NYPost)
New York officials have stopped 353 cars at entrances to the Big Apple to warn travelers of the mandatory two-week quarantine rule.
The stops were made from Wednesday through Friday at bridges and tunnels, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office, which also said that 1,100 masks were distributed.
Cars were stopped randomly and occupants asked if they spent more than 24 hours during the previous 14 days in any state on New York’s restricted list.
Anyone who answered yes had to fill out a traveler health form. Read more
Trump bypasses Congress, signs executive orders extending some coronavirus benefits (CBC)
US President Donald Trump signed executive orders Saturday to extend some coronavirus relief measures. (Susan Walsh/The Associated Press)
Seizing the power of his podium and his pen, U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday moved to bypass the nation’s elected lawmakers as he claimed the authority to defer payroll taxes and extend an expired unemployment benefit after negotiations with Congress on a new coronavirus rescue package collapsed.
At his private country club in Bedminster, N.J., Trump signed four executive orders to act where Congress hasn’t, contending Washington’s gridlock had compelled him to act as the pandemic undermined the country’s economy and imperilled his November re-election hopes. Read more
11 die in Czech Republic tower block fire (BBC)
Police in the Czech Republic are investigating a fire that killed 11 people, including three children.
Saturday’s blaze, in a block of flats in the north-eastern town of Bohumin, has been described as the worst fire in the country’s history.
Six people died in the blaze and another five were killed after jumping from an 11th floor balcony in an attempt to escape the flames.
Ten people, including two firemen and a police officer, were injured. Read more
Nick Cannon supports Kanye’s presidential bid: ‘We need another black man in power’ (PageSix)
Kanye West will have at least one vote for president.
Mariah Carey‘s ex, Nick Cannon, is supporting Kanye West’s run for president, saying America needs another black man in office.
“I love it!” Cannon said about Kanye’s run for president to TMZ, during a recent visit to Los Angeles International Airport.
“Yeah. We need another black man in power,” Cannon said, affirming that he would vote for Kanye. Read more
Bayern crush Chelsea to set up Barca quarter-final (BBC)
Bayern Munich will meet Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals after Robert Lewandowski inspired them to a crushing 7-1 aggregate win over Chelsea.
Having established a commanding 3-0 first leg lead at Stamford Bridge back in February, Bayern quickly made it 5-0 on aggregate when Lewandowski – from the penalty spot – and Ivan Perisic scored inside 25 minutes at the Allianz Arena.
Chelsea pulled a goal back through Tammy Abraham after a rare mistake by keeper Manuel Neuer, but Bayern’s class shone through. Read more
Sarri sacking costs Juve €20m (Punch)
Juventus sack the Scudetto winner for the second year running, but Maurizio Sarri’s contract means this decision will cost €20m.
After Max Allegri was dismissed last year, despite becoming the first coach to secure five consecutive Serie A titles, Sarri has also been officially axed this afternoon.
While Allegri still had one year left on his contract and was therefore paid to take a Sabbatical last term, the situation is different for Sarri. Read more
Former world No 1 Johnson leads going into US PGA Championship final round (BBC)
Former world number one Dustin Johnson charged into the lead on a thrilling third day at the 2020 US PGA Championship in San Francisco.
The lead changed hands several times during the penultimate round, with the American hitting eight birdies in a five-under 65 to move to nine under.
Scottie Scheffler also shot a 65 at TPC Harding Park to trail by one with Cameron Champ, who hit a 67. Read more
Juventus appoint Andrea Pirlo to replace Maurizio Sarri (BBC)
Juventus have appointed Andrea Pirlo as manager to replace the sacked Maurizio Sarri, a week after hiring the former midfielder as Under-23 boss.
The Italian giants sacked Sarri after just one season despite winning Serie A following the club’s Champions League last-16 defeat by Lyon on Friday.
Pirlo, 41, has signed a two-year deal until June 2022. Read more
Brighton reject £22m bid from Leeds for defender BenVanguardVanguard)
Brighton have rejected a £22 million bid from Leeds United for defender Ben White, according to Sky Sports.
The bid is Leeds United’s second in recent weeks. Their first bid, rumoured to be worth around £18.5 million, was quickly rejected by the Seagulls.
White played in every Championship game while on loan at Leeds last season, helping them to earn promotion to the Premier League. Read more
Messi and Suarez help Barca into quarter-finals (BBC)
Barcelona set up a Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich after overcoming Napoli on a night of high VAR drama at the Nou Camp.
Quique Setien’s hosts scored three times through Clement Lenglet, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in an incident-packed first half, during which Messi was also denied a second for handball.
With the tie evenly poised at 1-1 after February’s first leg, Messi produced a mazy run and sublime finish to double his side’s lead on the night following Lenglet’s headed opener.
The Argentine had a possible second disallowed by VAR for handball but was later awarded a penalty by the video referee after being brought down by Kalidou Koulibaly, allowing Luis Suarez to step up to make it 3-0 on the night. Read more