Keke rider charged with attempted murder of policewoman in Lagos (DailyTrust)
A magistrates’ court sitting in Ejigbo, Lagos, has ordered the remand of a 19-year-old tricycle rider, Sodiq Oluwapupo, after he admitted pushing a policewoman, Inspector Gloria Akanigo, out of his moving tricycle while avoiding arrest.
Though, the accused pleaded guilty to the charges of attempted murder and trying to incite the public against a policewoman, the Magistrate, Mrs A. K. Dosumu said she found the action of the accused absurd and punishable under the state’s criminal law.
The prosecutor, Inspector Samuel Njue, told the court that the policewoman was on traffic duty at the Jakande Gate Bus Stop on Ipaja-Ayobo Road in Ipaja when the incident occurred.
He said the police woman apprehended Oluwapupo for a traffic violation and was taking him to the station when he pushed her out of his tricycle, sustaining severe injuries in the process. Read more
Wreck Removal: NIMASA to conduct post impact assessment on Badagry Creek (Tribune)
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA has commenced preparatory works to deploy high-resolution magnetometer to validate the ongoing wreck removal exercise of all identified wrecks listed for removal along the Badagry Creek in Lagos.
The Agency’s Director General Dr Bashir Jamoh who disclosed this during a review session of the ongoing wreck removal exercise by the Agency also stated that the impact of the entire exercise on the marine environment is being assessed by the Agency.
“We shall also conduct a full bottom sweeping operation by deploying sonar imagery system with a view to establishing any existing natural or artificial obstacles lying on the seabed within the area of survey for this phase of the wreck removal exercise. NIMASA is also taking into consideration, the impact of the entire operations on the marine environment with a view to ensuring safety of marine lives. We are monitoring the entire exercise closely to guarantee total removal of all identified wrecks,” he said.
Amongst those already removed include a completely submerged Barge which was lying over 10 meters deep along the Badagry channel on coordinates 711006.1 Easting and 535294.9 Northing. The Agency has also successfully removed two other completely submerged barges beneath the water at 530924.9 Northing and 710608.3 Easting. Read more
Lagos, firm train youths in tech skills (Punch)
As part of efforts to tackle unemployment in the state, the Lagos State Government in collaboration with an Information Technology start-up firm, SkillPaddy, has organised training for youths.
The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Innovation and Technology, Mr Olatunbosun Alake, according to a statement on Wednesday, disclosed this during the inauguration of the online platform in Lagos.
He said, “There is a need to encourage private sector involvement in capacity building for the youth and I express my desire to work with SkillPaddy to train youths as part of an already existing programme with Lagos State.
“In response to the high rate of unemployment in Nigeria, along with incessant university strikes keeping millions of young people generally idle, intelligent innovations such as this online up-skilling platform would be an advantage.”
Sultan declares Thursday Dhul Hijjah 1, Saturday Eidul Adha (DailyTrust)
The Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has declare Thursday 30 June as Dhul Hijjah 1, 1443AH.
This means that Saturday 9 July is the Eidul Adha or sallah day, coming after Friday 8 July, which is Arafat Day.
A statement from the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC), said that Sultan Abubakar has declared Thursday 30th June as the first day of Dhul Hijjah.
“Eidul Adha will be on Saturday, 10th Dhul Hijjah 1443H (9th July 2022) In Sha Allah.
“His Eminence, the Sultan hereby calls upon the Muslim Ummah to intensify efforts in acts of worship during the first 10 days of the blessed month of Dhul Hijjah. Read more
Court restrains Oyo Assembly from impeaching deputy governor (Nation)
The Oyo State High Court in Ibadan yesterday ordered that the impeachment process against Deputy Governor Rauf Olaniyan be put on hold.
Justice Ladiran Akintola said the status-quo must be maintained by all the parties pending the hearing of the application for interlocutory injunctions before it.
The case was adjourned on Tuesday due to the absence of a lawyer to the House of Assembly, speaker and clerk of the House.
Olaniyan approached the court to challenge the ‘faulty process’. He was represented by a team of lawyers led by Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), while Director of Legal Services in the House of Assembly, A. A. Olabiyi, appeared for the three defendants. Read more
Indomie to discover new child-heroes as 2022 IIDA begins (Sun)
Dufil Prima Foods Plc, makers of Nigeria’s noodles brand, Indomie Instant Noodles, has announced the kick-off of the nationwide field search exercise for the 2022 edition of its corporate social responsibility initiative: Indomie Independence Day Awards (IIDA) for young heroes of Nigeria.
The search exercise signals the kickoff of the 14th Edition of the prestigious initiative that seeks to identify, recognise, celebrate and reward the positive efforts of the Nigerian child.
Children with a strong character from the ages of 15 years and below who have exhibited an act of bravery/heroism anywhere in Nigeria will have to be nominated by their parents, guardians or a third party for this laudable initiative.
According to a statement by Dufil, the field search exercise started in the first week of June 2022. The exercise will run till the last week of July 2022. Read more
Imo police arrest suspects in foiled abduction of Japanese returnee (Guardian)
Operatives of Imo State Police Command have foiled the abduction of a Japanese returnee (name withheld) by suspected members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the outlawed security outfit of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
The victim, who hails from Umutei Mgbele in Oguta Local Council of the state, The Guardian gathered, recently returned from Japan, where he is officially based.
Speaking to newsmen in Owerri, yesterday, the Command’s spokesman, Michael Abattam, said the Command also arrested one Ogbuerie Chinwendu, who connived with the sister of the victim and her husband, one Nwachukwu Chikezie, to perpetrate the crime.
According to Abattam, the suspects planned an N100 million ransom for the victim’s release, had their plan succeeded. Read more
Road to 2023: God hasn’t told me to support Atiku yet – Ortom (Sun)
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has said he is still praying for divine guidance from God before he decides whether or not to support Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections.
Ortom who granted Arise TV an interview on Wednesday where he said he will only support Atiku’s presidential bid if God directs him, also expressed disappointment that the former Vice President didn’t choose Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State as his running mate.
Governor Wike had in May come second to Atiku during the PDP’s presidential primary and following Atiku’s victory, a committee was set up by the party to choose his running mate. It was reported that among the three nominees that were presented to the committee, Wike scored the highest votes but Atiku eventually chose Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as running mate. Atiku’s decision has since created some division amongst all individuals involved and their supporters.
Ortom praised Wike as “somebody who stood for the party and made sure that things worked”, adding that “some of us believed in him” as the party’s best choice for the vice-presidential candidate. Read more
R. Kelly given 30 years in jail for sex abuse (BBC)
US singer R. Kelly has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for using his celebrity status to sexually abuse children and women.
The R&B artist, 55, was convicted last September in New York of racketeering and sex trafficking crimes.
He had faced years of allegations and the judge on Wednesday said he had an “indifference to human suffering”.
Lawyers for the singer, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, say he will appeal.
Ahead of his sentencing, a handful of women took the stand to confront Kelly. Read more
Rina Sawayama releases new single Catch Me In The Air (Standard)
Rina Sawayama has released a new single titled Catch Me In The Air. The track comes in advance of her highly anticipated new album Hold The Girl, which is dropping in September.
Described by NME as a “soaring pop cut”, the track has been penned as a celebration of Sawayama’s mum, who raised her as a single parent.
“Catch me in the air, the air, the air, the air, the air, the air (Mama, look at me now, I’m flying),” says one of the chorus lyrics. “Twenty years all alone, bound together to the phone / Was it fate?” says another line.
In a statement about the song, Sawayama said: “I really wanted to write about this weird relationship with single parents. You do catch each other in the air.” Read more
Iconic Rap quotes from LL Cool J, Ice Cube & more pop up all over NYC ahead of Rock the Bells festival (HipHopDX)
With LL COOL J’s inaugural Rock The Bells Festival right around the corner, New York City-based artist Jay Shells is building anticipation for the event with his viral “Rap Quotes.” Originally launched in 2013, Shells gained national recognition for the project when he placed over 30 street signs with lyrical references to Hip Hop songs at their appropriate Big Apple locations.
Now, Shells is back, posting iconic quotes from the full Rock The Bells lineup around New York City, including LL COOL J, Ice Cube, Rick Ross, Lil’ Kim, Cam’ron, Jim Jones and Juelz Santana from The Diplomats, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Jadakiss, Scarface, Trina, N.O.R.E, Digable Planets’ Ladybug Mecca and Butterfly Digable Planets and Roxanne Shanté.
The Rock The Bells Festival is a day-long celebration of Hip Hop culture taking place Saturday (August 6) in Queens, New York, the week of Hip Hop’s 49th anniversary. The experience features live performances, interactive experiences, art exhibits, food, fashion and more.
As for the “Rap Quotes,” Shells explained in a press release, the campaign has become “a creative journey that’s allowed me to discover a deeper understanding and connection to some of my favorite Hip Hop artists by providing additional context to their lyrics. Read more
Garth Brooks to be honoured at Nashville Songwriter Awards (UPI)
Country music singer Garth Brooks will be honoured at the 2022 Nashville Songwriter Awards.
The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) said in a press release Tuesday that Brooks, 60, will receive the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award at the 5th annual awards show in September.
The Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an individual whose works have made a significant contribution to the American songbook and one who has inspired the careers of others.
Previous recipients are Loretta Lynn, Bill Anderson and Willie Nelson. Brooks was chosen personally by Kristofferson to receive the award. Read more
Barbara Broccoli says next James Bond film is two years away from production (Deadline)
James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli has revealed that it will be “at least two years“ before the next 007 movie begins filming and that the task of finding an actor to replace Daniel Craig hasn’t begun “because it’s a reinvention of Bond.”
Speaking to us at a star-studded private event in central London to honor Broccoli and her brother Michael G. Wilson for their BFI Fellowships, Broccoli wouldn’t be drawn on who would play Bond next but did offer an update on the decision-making process.
“Nobody’s in the running,” she disclosed. “We’re working out where to go with him, we’re talking that through. There isn’t a script and we can’t come up with one until we decide how we’re going to approach the next film because, really, it’s a reinvention of Bond. We’re reinventing who he is and that takes time. I’d say that filming is at least two years away.”
The private dinner was held at Claridge’s Hotel in central London and was hosted by British Film Institute chairman Tim Richards. Read more
Zachary Levi opens up about overcoming suicidal thoughts (People)
Zachary Levi is sharing his vulnerable side in a very powerful way.
Ahead of the release of his first memoir Radical Love: Learning to Accept Yourself and Others (out June 28), the 41-year-old actor opened up to PEOPLE about his mental health struggles, overcoming suicidal thoughts and eventually finding peace.
“Anybody looking from the outside might think, ‘This guy’s stoked. He’s been a lead on a TV show, he’s done Broadway and this and that—he’s checked off a lot of boxes,’ ” Levi tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue.
But, as he reveals in his new memoir, Levi — who rose to fame as goofy spy Chuck Bartowski on the NBC drama Chuck in 2007 and suited up as a superhero in the film Shazam! in 2019 — has privately struggled with personal demons during his time in the spotlight. Read more
Mexican groups boost efforts to help US women who are seeking abortions (NBC)
Abortion pills smuggled into the United States from Mexico inside teddy bears. A New York home used as a pill distribution hub. A small apartment just south of the U.S.-Mexico border converted into a safe place for women to end their pregnancies.
Networks of Mexican feminist collectives working with counterparts in the United States are ramping up their efforts to help women in the U.S. who are losing access to abortion services to end their pregnancies.
With the U.S. Supreme Court overturning the landmark decision that gave women the right to access abortion last week, these networks of activists are preparing to be busier than ever. So far this year, according to the organizations, they have helped at least 1,700 women living in the U.S. who have sought their help.
The number may seem anecdotal, but it’s exponentially higher than what they saw before. With a number of U.S. states already enacting abortion bans since the court overturned Roe v. Wade last week, the activists expect the pace to continue increasing. Read more
I waited 17 years to win 1st league title – Ighalo (Punch)
Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo has stated that his wait for a league title in his professional career took 17 years.
Ighalo won the Saudi Pro League with Al-Hilal on Monday night finishing as the league’s highest goal scorer with 24 goals.
Expressing his gratitude for winning his first league title, the former Manchester United striker took to his Instagram page to share the win with words of encouragement.
“I waited 17 years before winning my first league title, it doesn’t matter how long it takes, if you keep working hard and never give up, you will get it right one day. God is the greatest,” he wrote. Read more
Ibrahim Galadima appointed Kano Pillars acting chairman (DailyTrust)
Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has appointed Ibrahim Galadima to replace Surajo Shuaibu Yahaya ‘Jambul’ as chairman of the state owned NPFL side, Kano Pillars in acting capacity.
In the statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Abba Anwar, Ganduje said the replacement is part of the routine exercise in sports administration.
“As Kano Pillars are facing more competition in the National Premier League (NPL) it will be good to have leadership that could perfectly lead the Club.”
“Ibrahim Galadima, Chairman of Kano State Sports Commission, will now replace Surajo Shu’aibu Yahaya, in an acting capacity, before the appointment of a substantive Chairman,” said Ganduje. Read more
Stoke City: Leeds United winger Liam McCarron joins Potters on a three-year deal (BBC)
Stoke City have signed versatile winger Liam McCarron from Leeds United for an undisclosed fee.
The 21-year-old, whose only first-team appearance for Leeds was as a substitute in a 4-1 Premier League defeat by Arsenal in December, joins the Potters on a three-year deal.
McCarron, who also plays at left back, joined Leeds from Carlisle in 2019.
“He’s hungry to learn and progress his career,” Stoke boss Michael O’Neill told the club website. Read more
Frank Lampard gets transfer boost as Everton takeover edges closer with ‘funds available’ (DailyStar)
Frank Lampard has been handed a transfer boost as Everton’s £500million takeover edges closer.
A consortium, spearheaded by former Manchester United and Chelsea chief Peter Kenyon and bankrolled by Maciek Kaminski, is expected to reach an agreement to buy the club in the next month. According to The Telegraph, a deal could be reached by the time Lampard’s team arrives in Minneapolis, USA for their pre-season tour.
Kaminski is said to be hopeful of being introduced to Lampard as the new Toffees custodian or at least prospective new owner by that point. The report claims those involved in the consortium have met Farhad Moshiri in person, while also visiting Finch Farm and the new stadium project at Bramley-Moore Dock.
It is unknown whether Moshiri will retain a stake in Everton following the sale, while it is suggested that Kenyon will take up a role if the takeover goes ahead. Read more
Nelson Piquet apologises for making racial slur about Lewis Hamilton (ABC)
Nelson Piquet has apologised for a racial slur he used to describe Lewis Hamilton and said the word he used has been taken out of the context he intended.
A Formula 1 source told ESPN Piquet, a three-time world champion, has been banned indefinitely from visiting the F1 paddock in future as punishment for the comments.
The 69-year-old, used a racial slur about Hamilton while blaming him for his collision with Max Verstappen, boyfriend of Piquet’s daughter Kelly, at last year’s British Grand Prix. The comments were made in Portuguese on a podcast last November, but only came to light this week.
Hamilton tweeted in response to it on Tuesday, saying “these archaic mindsets need to change”, while F1, several teams and drivers all issued statements in support of the British driver and condemning racism. Read more
Pat Perez and Brooks Koepka shrug off Saudi human rights record in LIV press conference (Mirror)
Pat Perez and Brooks Koepka have played down Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the breakaway LIV Golf Invitational Series when quizzed about the state’s appalling human rights record.
LIV – which has former World No.1 Greg Norman as its CEO – is financed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, which is controlled by the state’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. The series has been widely condemned as an attempt at sportswashing, but Perez and Koepka sidestepped questions about Saudi involvement when speaking to reporters ahead of LIV’s second event in Portland.
“I don’t have any concerns,” Perez said when questioned on Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. “I’m playing golf.
“This group has provided me with an opportunity to play golf and have a different schedule. That’s my only concern. Read more
Scotty Pippen Jr. says dad would ‘fake injuries’ during one-on-one duels (NYPost)
Basketball Hall of Fame forward Scottie Pippen and his son Scotty Pippen Jr. don’t appear to see eye to eye on the basketball court.
Pippen Jr. — who recently signed a two-way contract with the Lakers after going undrafted — revealed he and his father stopped playing one-on-one a few years ago because things were getting petty.
“My dad stopped playing me. I was wearing him out,” a smiling Pippen Jr. told reporters Tuesday, after a Summer League practice with the Lakers. “I used to beat him, and he would fake injuries and stuff. He wouldn’t give me the credit so we stopped playing a while ago.”
Pippen Jr., who made First Team All-SEC last season with 20.4 points per game for Vanderbilt, said he and his dad stopped playing together while at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more
