IMN appeals against proscription order (Guardian)
The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), on Friday, approached the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, seeking an order of the court to vacate the exparte order of the court made on July 26 proscribing its activities in the country. Counsel to the IMN, popularly called the Shiites, Haruna Magashi, who brought the suit with number: FHC/ABJ/CS/876/2019, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the group also sought the order of the court to set aside the earlier order declaring the activities of IMN as amounting to act of terrorism and illegality. Read more
Five RCCG pastors abducted on the way to Convention (Punch)
The General Superintendent of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Friday announced the abduction of five pastors of the church on their way to the Annual Holy Ghost Convention. The five pastors, whose identity has yet to be revealed, were reportedly abducted at Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. “They were coming from the Southwest state of Ondo, or so,” said a senior pastor in the Church who did not wish to be named. Read more
Tricycles on highways, an indication of failure of intra-city bus system – FRSC (Guardian)
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says the influx of tricycles into city roads as a means of transportation, is an indication of failure of intra-city bus systems. Corps Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja, on Friday. Kazeem decried dominance of tricycles on busy roads, saying that it would have not been so, if intra-city bus systems were effective. Read more
Buhari’s ministers-designate to undergo retreat before inauguration (Punch)
The 43 ministers-designate confirmed by the Senate on Tuesday will undergo a retreat before President Muhammadu Buhari will inaugurate them and assign portfolio to them. They are also expected to study some government documents in other to be conversant with the Federal Government’s policies and programmes before they resume work. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Friday. Read more
EFCC arraigns 8 over €112, 800, $1,31m smelted gold (Guardian)
The EFCC Friday arraigned eight people in connection with the recovered 112, 800 Euros and smelted gold weighing 73kg with an estimated value of 1.131 million dollars (N1.127 billion) at Abuja airport. In a charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/80/2019 brought before Justice Nkeonye Maha, Counsel to the EFCC, Mohammed Abubakar, said the suspects attempted to transport the cash without making a declaration of the same to the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) as required by Section 12 of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap F34, LFN 2004. Read more
Plateau bye-election: Police warn against thuggery (Punch)
The Plateau State Police Command, on Friday, said it would not tolerate any act of thuggery from anyone during Saturday’s by-election in Pengana constituency of the state. Mr Aliyu Tafida, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, gave this warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Jos. NAN reports that the bye-election became necessary following the demise of Mr Ezekiel Afon of the All Progressives Congress, who died after he was declared the winner of the polls in March. Read more
DPR boss promises to drive private refinery initiative (Guardian)
Mr Ahmad Shakur, the acting Director of Petroleum Resources (DPR), has promised to drive the deepening of private refinery initiative in Nigeria by providing the necessary regulatory oversight collaboration with prospective investors. Mr Paul Osu, Head, Public Affairs of the agency, said in Lagos on Friday that Shakur made the assertion during his pre-commission visit to Niger Delta Petroleum Resources Refinery (NDPR) capacity expansion Train II project at Ogbele, Rivers. Read more
Flood: 2779 farmers get FG Agric intervention in Delta (Punch)
No fewer than 2,779 farmers impacted by 2018 flood are to benefit from the federal government agricultural intervention programme of in Delta State. The project which was designed and coordinated by the National Emergency Management Agency was targeted at achieving the National Food Security in line with the objective of the Committee on Food Security. Mr Chidi Ogundu, NEMA Supervisor in charge of the Agricultural Intervention programme in Delta stated this on inspection and assessment visit to some of the farms on Thursday in Oko communities of Asaba. Read more
South Africa parliament, ruling party slam police attacks (Punch)
South Africa’s parliament and ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Friday condemned this week’s attacks against police officers allegedly committed by informal street traders, labelling them an assault on the state. Police in the commercial hub of Johannesburg came under attack from rock-throwing rioters on Thursday while conducting raids and confiscating counterfeit goods in downtown, largely occupied by migrant workers. Read more
Benin court bans presidential rival from elections: judiciary (Guardian)
A court in Benin on Friday handed a top opposition politician a suspended six-month jail term over campaign breaches and banned him from standing for elections for five years, judicial sources said. Former prime minister Lionel Zinsou, who lives in France, was found guilty of using false documents and “exceeding” spending limits in his 2016 bid for the West African nation’s presidency. The judgement is the latest in a string of legal setbacks for rivals of President Patrice Talon, whom critics accuse of cracking down on opponents. Read more
Convicted child molester who abused girl, 11, is brutally drowned in prison toilet (Metro)
A convicted pedophile who molested an 11-year-old girl was brutally drowned in the toilet of his cell by his killer cellmate, police say. David Oseas Ramirez, 56, was found dead at Duval County Jail in Jacksonville, Florida, on Tuesday morning. Ramirez, who was sentenced to life for child sex abuse in 2013, reportedly exchanged insults with cellmate Paul Dixon, a convicted murderer, before the confrontation became physical. Read more
Syria at peace talks says ceasefire depends on Turkey (Guardian)
Syria’s representative at peace talks in Kazakhstan on Friday said the success of a ceasefire in the northwestern region of Idlib would depend on Turkey disarming rebels of heavy weapons and implementing a buffer zone. Syrian negotiator Bashar Jaafari attacked the Turkish military presence in the northwest of the country and called Syria’s ceasefire statement on Thursday “a test of Turkey’s intentions”. Read more
Nail salon employee ‘molested boy, 5, in front of child’s shocked mother’ (Metro)
A nail salon employee molested a five-old-boy right in front of his mother, police say. Minh Hoa Truong, 57, was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly abused the boy after his mother had her nails done at Premier Nails and Spa near Mesa, Arizona. The woman’s son went to the restroom, but when he left, Truong grabbed him and pulled him close to his body. Read more
Satirical rap pulled from Singapore social media in racism row (BBC)
YouTube, Facebook and Twitter have blocked a satirical rap video from being viewed in Singapore after the government requested its removal. The video was created by Preeti Nair – known as Preetipls on YouTube – and her brother Subhas Nair, a local rapper. It was a response to a much criticised ad featuring an ethnically Chinese actor in “brownface” and a hijab. Read more
Taiwan president’s bodyguard smuggling scam implicates 76: spy agency (Guardian)
More than 70 members of Taiwan’s presidential security detail have been swept up in a cigarette smuggling scandal, the island’s spy agency announced Friday, as its chief took the unusual step of appearing in public to vow a crackdown. The scandal first erupted last month when the customs administration said that an agent within President Tsai Ing-wen’s entourage tried to bring in 9,800 cigarette cartons as he returned from an official trip accompanying the island’s leader to the Caribbean. Read more
Ronald Reagan: No defence for ‘monkeys’ remark, says daughter (BBC)
The daughter of the late former US President Ronald Reagan has said there is “no defence” for racist comments he made in a 1971 phone conversation. Newly unearthed tapes reveal Reagan – then Governor of California – described UN African delegates as “monkeys”. His daughter Patti Davis condemned the remarks in a newspaper article. “There is no defence, no rationalisation, no suitable explanation for what my father said,” she wrote. Read more
Shawn Mendes deletes social media after Camila Cabello heat (Metro)
Shawn Mendes has revealed that he recently deleted all social media apps from his phone as his relationship with new girlfriend Camila Cabello gets serious. The singer, who appears on new hit single Senorita with Camila, told fans that they need to know when to take a break from their phones. When asked about social media at a pre-concert Q&A in Atlanta, Shawn said: ‘I struggle with social media a lot.’ Read more
Nigerian footballer, Samuel Chukwueze, joins JAY Z’s Roc Nation Sport (Punch)
Nigerian striker, Samuel Chukwueze has joined the sports management unit of American rapper, JAY Z’s company, Roc Nation. Chukwueze shared photos from the moment he signed the dotted lines on his verified Instagram handle. He captioned the photos, “Excited to announce that with @10manage, we are joining the @rocnationsports family! Big things coming.” Read more
We were not stranded after AfroCan –D’Tigers (Punch)
Two players from D’Tigers’ home-based team have refuted reports that the team were stranded on their way back from the FIBA AfroCan tournament in Mali last month, reports Sports Extra. Yahaya Abdul and Anthony Victor, who took part at the tournament in Mali, in separate posts on social media confirmed that D’Tigers were informed by the Nigeria Basketball Federation about their traveling plans and they agreed on embarking on the journey to Mali by road. Read more
AFCON 2019: Baxter quits as South Africa coach after flop (Punch)
England-born Stuart Baxter quit Friday as South Africa coach after a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Egypt during June and July. “I feel that I cannot continue to work with the required professionalism and passion as I have done,” the 65-year-old told a press conference at a Johannesburg sports club. Baxter was widely unpopular with the South African public, while the media welcomed his decision to leave a job reportedly worth 490,000 rands ($33,500/30,000 euros) a month. Read more
Harry Maguire: Man Utd agree £80m deal for Leicester defender (BBC)
Manchester United have reached an agreement to sign England centre-back Harry Maguire from Leicester for £80m – a world record fee for a defender. The 26-year-old is expected to complete a medical at the club at the weekend. He will become United’s third summer signing following Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James, who arrived from Crystal Palace and Swansea respectively. Read more
Mbappe urges Neymar to stay with him at PSG (Punch)
French World Cup-winner Kylian Mbappe urged troubled Brazilian Neymar to stay at Paris Saint-Germain on Friday as he apologised for sparking speculation about his own future at the club. Mbappe, speaking before the Champions Trophy against Rennes in Shenzhen, China, said Neymar was a key player for the French league-winners who are desperate for success in Europe next season. “Everyone loves him and I love him so much,” Mbappe said of Neymar, who has been linked with a return to his former club Barcelona. Read more
Christian Pulisic talks up partnership with new Chelsea teammate Ross Barkley (Metro)
Christian Pulisic has talked up his burgeoning partnership with Ross Barkley after the pair impressed during Chelsea’s win over Red Bull Salzburg in midweek. The America international earned praise from Frank Lampard for returning to pre-season early following his participation in the CONMEBOL Gold Cup earlier this summer and has already shown flashes of the ability that persuaded Chelsea £58million to buy him from Borussia Dortmund. Read more
Malcom: Brazilian winger joins Zenit St Petersburg from Barcelona (BBC)
Brazilian winger Malcom has joined Zenit St Petersburg from Barcelona in a 40m euro (£36.5m) deal. The 22-year-old scored four goals in 24 appearances for the La Liga champions last season, having joined in a “dream come true” from Bordeaux last year. His transfer to the Russian Premier League leaders also includes an extra 5m euro (£4.6m) in variables. Read more
Tennis: Kvitova withdraws from Toronto, Williams seeded (Punch)
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has withdrawn from next week’s Rogers Cup in Toronto after failing to recover from an arm injury which has dogged her season, organisers said Friday. Tennis Canada said in a statement that the 29-year-old Czech star’s withdrawal would mean former world number one Serena Williams is now given a top-eight seed. Venus Williams will take the available space in the main draw while a wild card spot would be handed to Svetlana Kuznetsova. Read more
Andy Ruiz Jr: Anthony Joshua rematch ‘will not be in UK’ (BBC)
Unified world heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr says he will not contest his rematch with Anthony Joshua in the UK. Ruiz stunned Joshua in New York on 1 June and is contractually obliged to face the Briton in a repeat bout. Cardiff’s Principality Stadium was the “frontrunner” to host the fight on 14 December, according to Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn. But speaking on the Joe Rogan Experience about a UK fight, Ruiz said: “That’s not going to happen.” Read more