Hushpuppi paid Abba Kyari N8m to detain Chibuzo, FBI alleges (Punch)
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has alleged that money laundering suspect, Abass Ramon, aka Hushpuppi, paid N8m or $20,600 to the embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, to arrest and detain a “co-conspirator,” Chibuzo Kelly Vincent.
A document issued by the United States District Court for the Central District of California and dated February 12, 2021, alleged that Hushpuppi contracted the services of Kyari after Chibuzo allegedly threatened to expose an alleged $1.1m fraud committed against a Qatari businessman.
“Kyari provided the account information for a bank account at a Nigerian bank, Zenith Bank, in the name of a person other than Kyari himself,” Page 59, item 145 of the document stated.
FBI Special Agent, Andrew John Innocenti, made the allegation in the ‘Criminal Complaint By Telephone Or Other Reliable Electronic Means’ filed before the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Read more
IGP appoints DCP Disu to replace suspended Abba Kyari (Nation)
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Usman Baba has appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Tunji Disu as the new head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
The posting of Disu, the IGP said, is on the heels of Management’s decision to fill the leadership gap within the IRT and refocus the Unit for better service delivery.
DCP Abba Kyari, who occupied the post, was suspended at the weekend following his alleged involvement in the sharing of $1.1m loot by internet fraudstar Hushpuppi, according to an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
A statement on Monday by the Force Police Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba said: “The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc has today, 2nd August, 2021 approved the posting of DCP Tunji Disu as the new Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT). Read more
Alleged manslaughter: LASTMA, police testify against driver (Guardian)
Hearing continued at an Ikeja High Court on Monday, before Justice Oyindamola Ogala, on the involuntary manslaughter charges against Elijah Shokoya.
Officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Nigeria Police Force testified for the state at the continued hearing.
Shokoya, is standing trial for allegedly causing the death of a LASTMA officer, Mr Olawale Akinmade, on Jan. 26.
He was accused of mowing down the LASTMA officer, who was directing traffic on the Ikorodu Expressway by Demurin Junction, Ketu, Lagos, with his Opel Car with Lagos registration number AAA 74 GG.
Shokoya faces a charge of involuntary manslaughter. Read more
Sanwo-Olu: Lagos councils must deliver (Nation)
Joy was bold on the faces of the new local government chairmen as they were inaugurated, following their victory at the polls.
Many of them were returning for a second term. Some are new on the job. But, all were seized by excitement at the Government House, Alausa, Ikeja, venue of the event. Decked in colourful attires, the chairmen were not accompanied by huge crowd, due to the rampaging Covid-19 pandemic.
It was nevertheless, a solemn ceremony as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu highlighted the challenges of grassroots administration and expectations by Lagosians across the 20 local governments and 37 local council developmental areas.
The governor emphasised the need for them to replicate his achievements at the local government level. He is conscious of the fact that local government is the closest to the people. If the state government is performing wonders and the effort is not complemented by the council administrations, the huge gap will impact negatively on development. Therefore, Sanwo-Olu said they must justify their administrative and financial autonomy. Read more
Residents decry resurgence of wastes in Lagos (Guardian)
There are concerns over resurgence of waste on major roads and medians in Lagos metropolis. With various initiatives by Lagos State Government, residents had thought the days of refuse heaps were gone.
These included the incorporation of the Private Sector Participation, PSP, operators to collect and dispose refuse on behalf of residents, introduction of highway managers by Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), to sweep highways and the ban of cart pushers, to ensure proper disposal of refuse in the state.
However, the city is fast descending to its old ways as it is not uncommon to see heaps of refuse dotting major highways, markets and open places, thereby making nonsense efforts at making Lagos a clean city. Read more
FG doesn’t negotiate until we go on strike – Resident doctors (Punch)
The President of the Association of Resident Doctors at the National Hospital, Abuja, Dr Akanimo Ebong, on Monday said the Federal Government barely negotiates with health workers until an industrial action is introduced.
Ebong, who is also the Senior Registrar at the hospital’s Department of Obstetrics And Gynaecology, made the remark while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily monitored by our correspondent.
NARD had on Monday resumed its industrial action over unpaid salaries and benefits.
The doctors are also demanding the immediate withdrawal of a circular removing House Officers from the scheme of service. Read more
Police rescue kidnapped wife of Benue Commissioner, another; kill 3 suspects (Vanguard)
The wife of Benue State Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals, Mrs. Ann Umenge was Monday morning rescued by the State Police command after a gun duel that left three of the kidnap gang members dead in Makurdi.
Mrs. Unenge was kidnapped last Thursday alongside her driver at the High Level Area of Makurdi town shortly after returning from Daudu a neigbouring town in Guma Local Government Area of the state.
Her abductors had demanded a N51million ransom to ensure her release.
Vanguard, however, gathered that one of the victims of the gang who was kidnapped last Saturday but released on Sunday after paying his ransom provided relevant information that led to the tracing of the hideout of the gang at the Nyiman Layout area of Makurdi town. Read more
Labourer gets 6 strokes of cane for stealing 2 generators (Guardian)
A 31-year-old labourer, Abubakar Usman, got six strokes of the cane for stealing two generators.
The police charged Usman who resides in Gwarinpa, Abuja, with joint acts, criminal trespass and theft.
Delivering judgment, Mr Gambo Garuba, an Upper Area Court judge in Zuba, Abuja, sentenced Usman after he pleaded guilty to
the charge and begged the court for leniency.
Garuba charged the convict to desist from committing crime. Read more
Mother, daughter, motorcyclist killed as truck rams into building in Ijebu-Ode (Tribune)
Three persons, including a mother, her daughter and a motorcyclist were killed on Monday afternoon, at the Imepe area of Ijebu-Ode.
The incident happened when the driver of a Mack Truck loaded with granite reported to be travelling from Ago-Iwoye, lost control of the vehicle due to overspeeding.
The ill-fated vehicle was said to have rammed into a building where the deceased were standing.
The driver of the truck and his motor boy were said to have fled the scene for fear of being attacked by an angry mob. Read more
Kathy Griffin: US comedian has surgery after lung cancer diagnosis (BBC)
US comedian and actress Kathy Griffin is having surgery after being diagnosed with lung cancer.
The 60-year-old wrote on social media that she was “about to go into surgery to have half of my left lung removed”.
She said doctors were “very optimistic” and that the cancer had not spread beyond her left lung.
“I should be up and running around as usual in a month or less,” said the star, known for her stand-up routines and TV shows like Suddenly Susan. Read more
Heidi Klum’s daughter Leni, 17, sparkles for red carpet debut in Italy (PageSix)
The family that sparkles together, stays together.
Heidi Klum’s daughter Leni, 17, made her red carpet debut at a Unicef benefit on Sunday, looking every bit her mum’s twin in a shimmering gown.
“This is my first red carpet,” the budding model admitted on Instagram Stories, before stepping out in Capri, Italy alongside mum Klum, 48, and her husband Tom Kaulitz, 31.
The teenager proved fashion runs in the family, donning a gold Versace gown with a cut-out back and plunging neckline. Read more
China Covid: Concerns grow as Delta outbreak spreads (BBC)
A fresh Covid outbreak in China has spread to more locations, raising concerns over the country’s vulnerability to the highly contagious Delta variant.
More than 300 cases have been detected within a span of 10 days.
Chinese media is dominated by news on the outbreak, and the country’s top respiratory diseases specialist has reportedly expressed grave concern..
The government has imposed fresh travel restrictions and is testing millions. Read more
“Friends” cast models new merch collection for charity (PageSix)
Call it “The One Where Everyone’s a Model.”
On Monday, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer joined forces on Instagram to announce the first-ever official “Friends” merch collection.
Priced from $19.99 for mugs to $49.99 for hoodies, the line is inspired by iconic scenes and quotes from the sitcom’s first three seasons — from “Smelly Cat” to “We were on a break!”
Aniston, Cox and Schwimmer also shared that half of their proceeds from the collection will go to causes they care about: Americares, The Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research Foundation (EBMRF) and The Rape Foundation, respectively. Read more
Covid-19: First people arriving into UK after rules relaxed for fully jabbed (BBC)
The first passengers have been arriving in the UK after rules changed to allow people fully vaccinated in the US and EU to avoid quarantine.
The change, which came in at 04:00 BST, affects those arriving from countries on the UK’s amber list – except France.
The UK government said the change would help to reunite family and friends whose loved ones live abroad.
Airline bosses have welcomed the move but are calling for more countries to be added to the UK’s green travel list. Read more
Kit Harington ‘really happy’ he went to rehab after ‘Game of Thrones’ (PageSix)
Kit Harington believes he made the right choice to take a step back from acting and enter rehab after “Game of Thrones” came to an end.
“I went through some mental health difficulties after ‘Thrones’ — and during the end of ‘Thrones,’ to be honest — and I think it was directly to do with the nature of the show and what I’ve been doing for years,” the actor, 34, said on SiriusXM’s “The Jess Cagle Show” Friday.
Harington, who played Jon Snow on the hit HBO series for eight years, explained that he realized he needed to pump the brakes on acting to focus on his own well-being.
“I think I took a sort of break after ‘Thrones’ where I said, ‘I don’t want to work for a year. I want to really kind of concentrate on myself,’” he said. “I’m really happy I did that.” Read more
Oborududu becomes first Nigerian to reach wresting final in Olympics (Punch)
Commonwealth champion Blessing Oborududu on Monday made history as the first Nigerian to reach the final of a wrestling event at the Olympics, after recording an impressive 7-2 victory against 2012 bronze medallist Battsetseg Soronzonbold of Mongolia in the last four clash.
The Nigeria Wresting Federation confirmed this in a statement by its media officer, Emeka Dennar, on Monday.
The 10-time African champion Oborududu will face top seed Tamyra Stock Mensah in Tuesday’s final, after the American World champion overpowered Ukraine’s Alla Cherkasova 10-4 in the first semi-final.
Following her passage to the final, the 32-year-old is guaranteed a silver, at least – the first wrestling medal in the country’s history at the Olympics. Read more
Tokyo Olympics: Sifan Hassan recovers from fall to keep record bid on track (BBC)
Sifan Hassan recovered from a dramatic fall to win her 1500m heat and keep her pursuit of an unprecedented Olympic treble on track.
The Dutchwoman is bidding for a medal in that event as well as the 5,000m and 10,000m in what would be a first.
At the start of the final lap of her 1500m heat in Tokyo, she tumbled after tripping over Kenya’s Edinah Jebitok, who had just fallen in front of her.
She swiftly picked herself up and came from 11th to reach the semi-finals.
The 28-year-old does not have long to recover as she races in the 5,000m final later on Monday (13:40 BST). Read more
Tokyo Olympics: Elaine Thompson-Herah stays on course as Laura Muir progresses (BBC)
Jamaican Elaine Thompson-Herah is on course to complete a sprint double after equalling her personal best to qualify for the women’s 200m final.
The 100m champion clocked 21.66 seconds to lead the qualifiers for the final with silver medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce also safely through.
British pole vaulter Holly Bradshaw reached her final after a rain-interrupted qualification.
Laura Muir and Katie Snowdon advanced to the semi-finals of the 1500m. Read more
62-year-old Australian Hoy becomes oldest Olympic medallist since 1968 (Punch)
Australian Andrew Hoy became the oldest medallist at the Olympics since 1968 when he took silver in the equestrian eventing team competition at the Tokyo Games on Monday.
It was the 62-year-old’s fifth Olympic medal in total — three of them gold — but his first since Sydney 2000.
Hoy was not done there, following up soon after with bronze in the eventing individual competition.
“I’m actually grateful people can still say how old I am because when I started in the sport I used to be really proud of being the youngest person in the team,” said Hoy, whose first Olympic medal stretches back to 1992. Read more
Belarus Olympian given Polish visa after refusing ‘forced’ flight home (BBC)
A sprinter from Belarus who refused her team’s order to fly home early from the Olympics has been granted a humanitarian visa by Poland.
Krystina Timanovskaya, 24, is at the Polish embassy in Tokyo after spending the night secured in a hotel under protection from Japanese police.
She said she was forcibly taken to the airport for criticising coaches, and voiced fears for her safety.
Belarus says she was removed from the team because of her emotional state. Read more
Former England winger Downing retires (Guardian)
Former Liverpool and England winger Stewart Downing announced his retirement on Monday.
Downing’s decision to hang up his boots ended a 20-year career in which he made more than 700 club appearances.
He also played 35 times for England and was a part of the Three Lions squads at the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2012.
“After some time to relax and reflect with my family over the summer, I have decided the time has come to retire,” the 37-year-old wrote on Twitter.“As a kid, I could only have dreamed of playing for the clubs I played for and getting to share a pitch with some of the players I shared a pitch with. Read more
