June 12 heroes should never be forgotten – Lagos Speaker (Punch)
As the country marks the Democracy Day today, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, has said Nigeria should not forget those who laid down their lives for the country’s democracy. Obasa, who is the Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, described as democracy heroes the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, and his wife, Kudirat. Popularly regarded as the freest and fairest since the country gained independence on October 1, 1960, Abiola defeated his contender, Alhaji Bashir Tofa, in the poll. Read more
Afe Babalola wants presidents, governors inaugurated on June 12 (Punch)
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Afe Babalola, on Tuesday, called on the Federal Government to work towards making June 12 the inauguration day of future presidents and state governors. He said President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day and recognition of the late MKO Abiola were good steps to the realisation of true democracy in Nigeria. Babalola made his position known in a statement issued in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital. Read more
Drunk driver crushes three siblings, motorcyclist to death in Lagos (Punch)
The driver of a sachet water producing factory, Ademola Awe, has allegedly crushed three siblings and a motorcyclist to death on Ekundayo Street in the Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State. The victims were identified as Esther Orimisan, 24; Kofoworola Orimisan, 17; two-year-old Emmanuel Orimisan; and the motorcyclist, Femi Shojedo. PUNCH Metro gathered that Awe, who was driving a Ford pick-up van with number plate GGE 42 XN around 11pm on Saturday allegedly under the influence of alcohol, had hit another vehicle on his way, but while attempting to escape from the scene, he allegedly drove without the vehicle’s headlights in order to avoid being apprehended. Read more
On Democracy Day, eminent citizens task Buhari on better Nigeria (Guardian)
Fraudulent. Not well-thought-out. Greek gift. Action smacks of desperation, hypocrisy. It’s for cheap political gains. These and more were some of the words and phrases that trailed Presdent Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration of June 12 as the nation’s new Democracy Day when he made the pronouncement on June 6, last year. President Buhari had said that his administration shared the view of most Nigerians that June 12th rather than May 29th or even October 1st was far more symbolic of democracy. Read more
President prays election tribunal to strike out Atiku, PDP petition (Guardian)
The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) has been asked to strike out the petition filed by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for being “fundamentally defective.”President Muhammadu Buhari made the prayer through his lead counsel, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), at the resumed sitting of the pre-hearing session of the petitions challenging his declaration as winner of the February 23, 2019 election. Read more
FG orders varsities to exempt disabled candidates from post-UTME (Punch)
The Federal Ministry of Education on Tuesday ordered universities and other tertiary institutions in the country to exempt blind and deaf people from the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. They were also instructed to exclude prisoners as well as foreign centre candidates from the exam. The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Sonny Echono, who gave the order, said such individuals were under the Special Needs category and should be considered for admission, provided they met the minimum requirements. Read more
Hoodlums attack Ebonyi family, kill two kids, injure one (Punch)
The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the killing of two children in the Umuogoakpu-Ngbo community, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state by yet-to-be-identified persons. PUNCH Metro gathered that the assailants attacked the family of Benjamin Oke and butchered his seven-year-old son, Chinonso, and his four-year-old brother, Chukwudi, in the presence of their mother on Sunday. The Ebonyi State Police Command’s spokesperson, Loveth Odah, said two persons had been arrested in connection with the incident. Read more
Protests over five-month detention of students who criticised Madonna varsity (Punch)
Scores of students, under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students, on Tuesday, blocked the entrance to the Federal High Court, Awka, Anambra State, in protest against the arraignment of six undergraduates of the Madonna University, Okija. The arraigned students, a member of the National Youth Service Corps and a lecturer of the institution were arrested and had been in detention since February this year over an opinion they posted on Facebook about alleged poor management in the institution. Read more
Hong Kong extradition: Debate over bill delayed amid protests (BBC)
Thousands of protesters and police in Hong Kong are engaged in a stand-off as anger grows over a bill which would allow extradition to mainland China. Early on Wednesday protesters, some wearing face masks and helmets, blocked key roads around government buildings. Police in riot gear responded by using pepper spray on protesters to disperse them and said they were prepared to use force. Read more
Trump reveals Mexico migrant plan by waving document around (BBC)
US President Donald Trump has inadvertently revealed some details of his immigration deal with Mexico. He refused to discuss the plans with reporters, saying they were “secret”. But he said this while waving around a sheet of paper that had the specifics of the deal written on it – which was then photographed by news media. It described a plan to designate Mexico a “safe third country”, among other plans that had already been revealed by Mexico’s foreign minister on Monday. Read more
Boy, 9, pays off entire class lunch debt with allowance (Metro)
A 9-year-old boy used his allowance money to pay off the lunch debts of his entire class. When Ryan Kirkpatrick learnt that others in his third-grade form were struggling, he decided to use money he had been saving for sports equipment to help. Ryan, a student at West Park Elementary School, told his mother Kylie Kirkpatrick that he wanted to make a difference. Read more
US mum seeks mercy for dad who killed five children (BBC)
A US mother of five children who were killed by their father has asked a jury to spare him the death penalty. Amber Kyzer told a court in South Carolina that Tim Jones Jr “did not show my children mercy by any means, but my kids loved him”. The 37-year-old was convicted in May of killing the siblings, aged one to eight, at his home near Lexington on 28 August 2014. Read more
Keanu Reeves praised for ‘respectfully’ not touching women in photos and it’s actually a thing (Metro)
Keanu Reeves may be ‘breathtaking’ to his adoring fans but he’s still not taking any chances in the midst of the #MeToo movement, as it’s come to light the Hollywood icon doesn’t touch women when taking photos. The Matrix actor has been getting a lot of love recently after releasing the latest John Wick movie, Chapter 3 – Parabellum, and announcing his role in CD Projekt Red’s upcoming Cyberpunk 2077. Read more
LMC beefs up security for final NPFL playoffs (Punch)
A probe into the cause of the violence that erupted on Monday at the Agege Stadium, Lagos after a playoff match between Kano Pillars and Enugu Rangers has begun. Salihu Abubakar, Secretary of the League Management Company, organisers of the Nigeria Professional Football League, made this known on Tuesday. He confirmed to our correspondent that the LMC was looking into the invasion of the stadium and assured that security would be beefed up in subsequent NPFL matches. Read more
Agege violence: Fans want Ali banned (Punch)
Football fans want Kano Pillars captain Rabiu Ali banned for his unruly behaviour in Pillars’ 1-1 draw against Enugu Rangers during their Nigeria Professional Football League Playoff clash at the Agege Stadium, Lagos. The midfielder, who grabbed the opener for Pillars in the 58th minute, accosted referee Adebimpe Quadri after the end of the game. The ref had awarded Rangers a late penalty, which was converted by Godwin Aguda. Ali’s reaction reportedly incited the fans of the club, who invaded the pitch in numbers wielding dangerous objects, after the encounter. Read more
We are 90 minutes away from winning NPFL’s title, says Abdullah (Guardian)
Coach Usman Abdullah of Enyimba says his team is looking forward to beating hard-fighting Akwa United to win the on-going Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Play-Off, which enters the last day today at the Agege Stadium in Lagos. Enyimba currently top the Super Six table with nine points, followed by Kano Pillars on eight points, Akwa United with six points, Rangers International five points, the defending champions, Lobi Stars with four points, and Ifeanyi Ubah, which is yet to record a point. Read more
Falcons face Korea in make or mar clash (Punch)
Nigeria’s Super Falcons face a daunting task of progressing to the Round of 16 of the Women’s World Cup in France when they face Korea Republic at the Stade des Alpes in Grenoble, on Wednesday. The Falcons were beaten 3-0 in their opening match by Norway and are well aware that another defeat could be fatal to their hopes of progressing to the next round. Francisca Ordega, who was slammed for her hairdo and make-up after the first game on Saturday, is still hopeful that the Nigerians will qualify from the group. Read more
Women’s World Cup: USA head coach Jill Ellis ‘in tears’ as side register record win (BBC)
USA head coach Jill Ellis says she was “in tears” as her team recorded the biggest ever victory in the Fifa Women’s World Cup against Thailand. The USA were 3-0 up at half-time but struck 10 times in the space of 40 second-half minutes, with Alex Morgan scoring five in the 13-0 win. “It was awesome,” Ellis said. “You want your forwards hot in a tournament and it’s a great start, especially for Morgan. Hopefully she carries it on through the finals.” Read more
France get back on track in Andorra (BBC)
France got their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign back on track with an easy win in Andorra to move top of Group H. Manager Didier Deschamps made seven changes to the team that lost in Turkey and was rewarded with a dominant display. Goals from Kylian Mbappe, Wissam Ben Yedder, Florian Thauvin set them on their way with Kurt Zouma rounding off the scoring. Read more
Callum Hudson-Odoi ready to sign new Chelsea deal on one condition (Metro)
Chelsea star Callum Hudson-Odoi wants assurances over playing time next season before agreeing to sign a new deal at Stamford Bridge. The 18-year-old is currently sidelined with an Achilles injury that has scuppered Bayern Munich’s hopes of signing him this summer. The Bundesliga giants had three bids rejected for the winger in January and Hudson-Odoi handed in a transfer request in a bid to force through a move to the Allianz Arena. Read more
Romelu Lukaku hints at Manchester United exit by predicting ‘busy summer’ (Metro)
Manchester United forward Romelu Lukaku has hinted he’ll leave the club in the transfer window after predicting it will be a ‘busy summer’. The Belgian lost his place to Marcus Rashford when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed as interim boss in December and he’s been told he’s surplus to requirements at Old Trafford. Inter Milan are keen on signing Lukaku after long-term admirer Antonio Conte made the Belgian his first choice transfer target. Read more
Pakistan ad ‘mocking’ India pilot ups ante ahead of World Cup clash (Guardian)
India and Pakistan “tensions” are high again. But this time it’s over cricket. The two sides are set to meet each other on Sunday in what is arguably the most highly-anticipated clash so far of the World Cup. Pakistan has upped the ante with a TV ad, satirising an Indian pilot who became a national hero after he was captured in February when tensions between the two countries were high. Read more