Hotel workers kill London returnee-owner, manager in Lagos (Punch)
The owner of Etashol Hotel and Suites, located on Budland Street in the Ojodu Berger area of Lagos State, Mrs Abimbola Olusola, and the manager, Tunji Omikunle, have been murdered. PUNCH Metro gathered that the deceased were drugged, tied up and strangled by a gang that included some workers at the hotel. Olusola, who had lived in London, the United Kingdom, for 35 years, was said to have returned to Nigeria recently and opened the hotel for business in March 2018. Our correspondent learnt that the 56-year-old had issues with some of the workers, who allegedly defrauded the hotel of millions of naira. Read more
Lagos Assembly insists Ambode must appear before it over ‘infractions’ (Nation)
The Lagos State House Assembly yesterday insisted that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and some of his commissioners it invited to explain infractions on this year’s budget must appear before it. The Assembly said should the infractions continue, it would apply constitutional provisions for punitive measure: impeachment. Majority Leader Sanai Agunbiade addressed reporters last night after an emergency parliamentary meeting by the lawmakers. The lawmaker said nobody was witch-hunting the governor, as being insinuated in some quarters, but that the infractions were serious issues the Assembly could not overlook. Read more
Onnoghen: Osinbajo, NBA ponder six-point resolution (Nation)
A Political solution to the Chief Justice of Nigeria Walter Onnoghen crisis of integrity rocking the Judiciary is in the works, The Nation has learnt. A 12-man Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) team has met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on how to resolve the row over Justice Onnoghen’s suspension. The session at the Presidential Villa was to seek a “soft landing” for the CJN, who is expected to resign in what a source described as a “win-win” situation. There is a six-point terms of resolution to be delivered to Justice Onnoghen through his confidants, relatives and friends, who will be expected to persuade him to quit. Read more
EFCC loses N450m fraud case against ex-minister, others (Punch)
The Federal High Court in Jalingo on Wednesday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to return the sum of N228m it forcefully collected from the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Taraba State, Alhaji Sani Danladi, former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Joel Ikenya, and former Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Mark Useni, within 72 hours. The defendants were charged by the EFCC with conspiracy and misappropriation of the sum of N450m presidential campaign fund in 2015. The presiding judge, Justice Stephen Pam, gave the order in his ruling in the case filed by the anti-graft agency against the trio. Read more
Oshiomhole lashes out at Obasanjo for ceding Bakassi (Nation)
National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Adams Oshiomhole yesterday lashed out at former President Olusegun Obasanjo for ceding Bakassi to Cameroon. He spoke at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar, the Cross River State capital, after handing over the governorship flag to Senator John Owan-Enoh. According to the party chair, the country will never forgive the past president for handing over Bakassi because he allegedly wanted a Nobel Peace Prize. According to him, such prize was not for traitors or opportunists, but for those who have worked hard for the development of humanity. Read more
Two dead, scores injured in Ojo tanker fire (Nation)
Two persons were killed yesterday when a fuel tanker exploded at Barracks bus stop, Ojo, near Mile 2, on Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Ojo. Scores were injured and five vehicles burnt in the incident. The 33,000-litre fuel-laden tanker fell on a bad portion of the road and exploded when a container truck and three other vehicles ran into it. An eye witness said passersby ran for safety. The incident, he said, occurred around 8am, adding that the area was deserted for over an hour. It was learnt that the fire was put out around 10am by Lagos State Fire Service, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and other security officials. Read more
$43.4m Ikoyigate cash: Ex-NIA boss, wife’s trial begins tomorrow (Nation)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will tomorrow arraign former National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Director-General Ambassador Ayodele Oke and his wife Folasade, before a Federal High Court in Lagos. Their arraignment is in connection with the $43, 449, 947, 000 intercepted in a flat. The cash was founded in Flat 7B, No. 16 Osborne Road, Osborne Towers in Ikoyi Lagos. A judge of the Federal High Court in Lagos, Justice Muslim Hassan, had on June 6, 2017 granted a final forfeiture order of the funds since no one appeared before the court to claim them. Read more
Sarah Sanders says ‘God wanted Trump to be president’ (BBC)
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders has told a religious television network that God “wanted Donald Trump to become president”. Ms Sanders made the claim in an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), saying it was the reason Mr Trump was in office. The press secretary also said it was “very hard” to take morality lessons from the Democratic Party. Democrats have attacked Mr Trump’s proposed border wall as immoral. US evangelicals strongly support the president. Read more
Nigeria clinches 42 medals at World Para Powerlifting Championships (Vanguard)
Nigeria on Wednesday emerged the overall winner of the concluded 2019 Lagos World Para Powerlifting Invitational Championships held at Oriental Hotel in Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria grabbed all the 20 gold medal on offer to assert its world dominance in the sport. The country also won 15 silver and 7 bronze medals, making it a total of 42 medals in all as the competition ended. Read more
Barcelona put six past Sevilla (BBC)
Barcelona overturned a two-goal first-leg deficit as they thrashed Sevilla to reach the Copa del Rey semi-finals. Sevilla, 2-0 winners in the first leg, went behind through Philippe Coutinho’s penalty, before Ever Banega had a spot-kick saved by Barca’s Jasper Cillessen. Ivan Rakitic prodded in a second, Coutinho headed in a third and Sergi Roberto gave Barca a 4-2 overall lead. Guilherme Arana pulled one back for Sevilla, but fine team goals from Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi sealed the win. Read more
Liverpool held but go five points clear (BBC)
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes snow on the Anfield pitch contributed to a frustrating night for his Premier League leaders as they were held to a draw by mid-table Leicester City. Liverpool extended their advantage over nearest rivals Manchester City to five points yet failed to build on Sadio Mane’s early goal on a pitch that Klopp believes made quick passing more difficult. “You saw that the ball didn’t roll really,” said the German, whose side were denied a second-half penalty when Naby Keita was fouled by Ricardo Pereira. “If you then have the ball pretty much for 70 to 80% of the time it makes life really uncomfortable. Read more
Dortmund’s Kagawa set for Monaco loan (Vanguard)
Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa is set to join Monaco for the rest of the season from Borussia Dortmund, according to German media reports. Several outlets report that Monaco are interested in signing the 29-year-old attacking midfielder, who has only made one start in the Bundesliga this season for league leaders Dortmund. Monaco are currently in the Ligue 1 relegation zone and fired coach Thierry Henry last week, bringing back Portuguese handler Leonardo Jardim, who led Monaco to the French title in 2017. Read more
Man arrested for stealing sister, brother wife’s pants (Punch)
The Ondo State Police Command, on Wednesday, arrested a man, Adojoh Ojonugwa, for allegedly stealing his brother wife’s pants in Akure. The suspect was arrested along with a pastor, Olajide Ogunleye, who was also alleged to be involved in the crime. Five ladies’ pants were found inside Ojonugwa’s bag, two of which reportedly belonged to his brother’s wife, while his sister owned the others. The 35-year-old Kogi State indigene was alleged to be planning to use the pants for money-making rituals. Read more
Man sues siblings over land (Nation)
A middle-aged man, Obed Umeojiaka, has sued his four siblings over his inheritance of the Obi and compound of his late father at Ifite village, Ezinifite, in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State. He said he sued his brothers, Emeka, Ifeanyi and two others, as the eldest son in accordance with the custom and tradition of the community. In Suit No.AG/7/2019, Obed claimed, among others, that while his father was alive, he (Obed) erected some buildings, including a warehouse and boys’ quarters, within his (father’s) compound and fenced them off with an entrance gate. Read more