Kyari defends self before police panel (Guardian)
The suspended deputy commissioner of police, Abba Kyari, on Tuesday, appeared before the special investigation panel headed by the deputy inspector-general of police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department, Joseph Egbunike.
The panel sat at the Force headquarters in Abuja and ended the session at 8 p.m.
According to a source, the panel began sitting on Monday.
The IGP Alkali Baba set up the panel following Kyari’s alleged involvement in a $1.1m Internet fraud allegedly perpetrated by suspected wire fraudster, Abbas Ramon, popularly known as ‘Hushpuppi’, and five others. Read more
Tinubu is alive and healthy, says Sanwo-Olu (Guardian)
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, described the trending report about the demise of the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as a rumour, saying “picture no dey lie.”
Sanwo-Olu made the revelation while speaking with State House correspondents at Alausa, shortly after commissioning 102 waste trucks and 100 double dino bins.
Before now there had been viral photos of Sanwo-Olu’s visit to Tinubu in London. Also, the Special Adviser on Media to Tinubu, Tunde Rahman had earlier confirmed that his principal is alive and without any medical problem. Read more
Lagos govt, celebs pay condolence visit to Rachael Oniga’s family (Leadership)
Lagos State government’s delegation and colleagues of a departed Nollywood actress, Rachael Oniga, have paid a condolence visit to the family of the deceased in Lagos on Tuesday.
The delegation who visited the home of Oniga in Magodo area, was led by the State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism and a Lagos Assembly member, Hon. Desmond Elliot.
Some celebrities like movie producer, Zeb Ejiro and COSON boss, Tony Okoroji were also seen writing their condolence messages. Read more
YABATECH plans N50bn endowment fund to improve facilities (Sun)
Rector of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Mr Obafemi Omokungbe, has revealed that the institution is planning a N50 billion endowment fund to improve facilities and restore the lost glory of the institution.
Omokungbe disclosed this, yesterday, when management of The Sun Publishing Limited led by the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Onuoha Ukeh, paid an official visit to the institution.
He said government cannot fund tertiary institutions alone, thus the need for an endowment fund to expand existing facilities and put up new ones.
“The management of YABATECH has come up with N50 billion endowment. Our plan is to restore the old glory of the college. That is why we are instituting the endowment fund. Another major reason we came up with the endowment fund is that the students population has increased. The facilities we used 30 to 40 years ago are the same. We can’t wait for government funds, so we need an endowment fund to carry out this task. Read more
Confusion as Emirates says Nigerian flights remain suspended (DailyTrust)
Emirates’ flights to and from Nigeria will remain suspended until 15 August 2021, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) carrier, has said.
This negates the earlier announcement by the UAE authorities, which announced a lift of the ban on Nigerian effect with effect from Thursday.
In a travel update posted on its website, Emirates said the suspension is “in line with government directives that restrict the entry of travellers originating from Nigeria into the UAE.”
“Customers who have been to or connected through Nigeria in the last 14 days will not be permitted on any Emirates flights bound for Dubai,” the airline further said. Read more
54-year-old man beaten to stupor for allegedly raping disabled teenager (NewTelegraph)
A 54-year-old man, who was caught sexually molesting a physically challenged girl, has been beaten to stupor in Ondo State.
The suspect was beaten by some residents of Aratusi area of Oke-Aro in Akure, the state where the incident happened.
According of sources in the area, the suspect was caught committing the act at an uncompleted building in the area.
The suspect was said to have been saved from the raging residents following the prompt arrival of policemen from the B-Division at Oke-Aro. Read more
Sokoto embark on 800-hectare pasture devt programme (Punch)
Towards reducing the challenges of farmers-herders clashes and pastoral nomadism, the Sokoto state government has embarked on the development of about 800 hectares of land, with an improved variety of top quality grains and pasture.
The initiative, aside from complimenting the feeding requirement of the animals, is also targeted to improve the yield of the national herd and turn around the economy of the rural poor who rely on livestock rearing and farming for their sustenance.
Aside from planting maize, sorghum, soya beans and other grains on the expanse of land, a feed mill will also be established to process animal feeds, as part of the state government reforms for the livestock sector. Read more
Court grants Sunday Igboho’s aides bail after 32 days with DSS (NewTelegraph)
After spending 32 days in the detention facility of the Department of State Services (DSS), in Abuja, a Federal High Court, Abuja, has granted bail to the 12 detained aides of Yoruba secessionist leader, Chief Sunday Igboho in line with their demand.
The detainees were admitted to bail by Justice Obiora Egwuatu in a ruling just delivered on their bail applications, filed and argued on their behalf by lawyer Pelumi Olajengbesi.
The judge ignored the fears and apprehension expressed by DSS lawyer, Mr Idowu Awo, that some of the detainees will flee the country as their leader, Sunday Igboho, has done if granted bail.
Justice Egwuatu said that the detainees are entitled to bail by the provisions of the Nigerian law having been held in custody beyond the time stipulated by law. Read more
Man jailed for assault on policeman (Punch)
A Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta, on Wednesday, sentenced a 25-year-old man, Olasunkanmi Soyobi, to one-year imprisonment for assaulting a Police officer and attempting to escape from Police custody.
Soyobi, of no fixed address, was convicted on three counts of assault and an attempt to escape from police custody.
In his judgment, Magistrate Dehinde Dipeolu said that all the evidence tendered in court proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant was guilty of the offence.
Dipeolu said that the sentence was without an option of fine. Read more
Barack Obama scales back 60th birthday party as Covid cases rise (BBC)
Former US President Barack Obama has scaled back plans for a big birthday party amid a rise in Covid infections nationwide.
Mr Obama turned 60 on Wednesday and had planned a major celebration on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts this weekend.
But as the highly contagious Delta variant has led to a surge in new infections, Mr Obama has announced plans to scale back the event.
Only close friends and family will now attend. Read more
Jennifer Aniston cut ties with ‘a few people’ over vaccination status (PageSix)
Jennifer Aniston is drawing a hard line between her and those who aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19.
The “Friends” alum revealed to InStyle magazine that she has cut ties with “a few people” who won’t receive the jab.
“There’s still a large group of people who are anti-vaxxers or just don’t listen to the facts. It’s a real shame,” she said in her InStyle September cover interview.
“I’ve just lost a few people in my weekly routine who have refused or did not disclose [whether or not they had been vaccinated], and it was unfortunate.” Read more
2022 Grammy awards to have ‘Inclusion Rider’ guaranteeing staff diversity (Variety)
The Recording Academy has announced that the 64th Annual Grammy Awards in 2022 will be produced with an inclusion rider, a contract addendum designed to help ensure equity and inclusion at every level of the production.
Originally developed to address systemic diversity and equity issues in film and television, inclusion riders are provisions in an actor’s or filmmaker’s contract that provides for a certain level of diversity in casting and production staff. The Recording Academy will add its rider as an addendum to a contract between itself and the production company for the Grammys Awards. According to the announcement, “This addendum is a contractual obligation for the production company to make its best effort to recruit, audition, interview, and hire on-stage and off-stage people who have been historically and systematically excluded from the industry.”
The full inclusion rider will be released publicly on Sept. 16, 2021. Read more
Rihanna is a billionaire and named the ‘richest female musician’ (PageSix)
It pays to sing “Bitch, better have my money.”
Rihanna has reached billionaire status, Forbes announced in a new report on Wednesday.
With an estimated net worth of $1.7 billion, the business magazine has dubbed the “Diamonds” singer, 33, the “richest female musician” and second to Oprah Winfrey as the “richest female entertainer.”
However, despite a bevy of chart-topping hits, Forbes credits the bulk of Rihanna’s fortune to her Fenty Beauty business. Read more
Delhi rape and murder: Indians protest over Dalit girl’s forced cremation (BBC)
Protests are continuing for the fourth day over the alleged gang rape, murder and forced cremation of a nine-year-old girl in the Indian capital, Delhi.
The girl’s parents have accused a Hindu priest and three others of attacking her when she had gone to fetch drinking water from the crematorium’s cooler.
Her mother said the gates were shut and she was threatened when she objected to her daughter’s cremation.
Police have registered a case of gang rape and murder and arrested the men. Read more
Blake Lively makes red carpet return in an ab-baring gown (PageSix)
Blake Lively’s first red carpet look in a year and a half was worth the wait.
The “Gossip Girl” alum, 33, joined husband Ryan Reynolds at Tuesday night’s “Free Guy” premiere in NYC, dressed in a sexy, sparkling dress by Prabal Gurung.
The backless sequin gown featured bold cutouts at the chest and sides, making the most of Lively’s curves and abs.
She accessorized with a smattering of Lorraine Schwartz jewels, and pulled her long blond hair back into a sleek ponytail wrapped in silver chains. Read more
Olympic boxer cries after winning silver medal, says he’s a ‘failure’ (NYPost)
British boxer Ben Whittaker refused to wear his silver medal on the podium Wednesday and instead stuffed it in his pocket and cried — calling himself a “failure” for losing to Team Cuba’s Arlen Lopez, reports said.
“You don’t win silver, you lose gold. I’m very disappointed – I feel like a failure,” the 24-year-old told reporters following his second place finish in the light-heavyweight contest, BBC reported.
“You’re in this game to win gold. I don’t want to feel like this again. I’m going to put this to the back of my mind. I’ll come back, trust me.”
While on the podium, Whittaker reluctantly took the silver medal out of his pocket and held it for photographers while athletes from the Russia Olympic Committee and Azerbaijan beamed with their prizes around their necks. Read more
Liverpool keeper Alisson signs six-year contract extension (France24)
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker signed a six-year contract extension with the Premier League club on Wednesday.
Brazil’s Alisson has established himself as one of the world’s top keepers since arriving at Anfield from Roma for £66 million ($91 million) in 2018.
He has won the Champions League, the Premier League and the FIFA World Club Cup with Jurgen Klopp’s side, earning UEFA’s Yashin Award for keepers for his performances during the Reds’ 2019 European campaign.
Alisson is the first keeper in Liverpool history to score a goal after heading the winner at West Bromwich Albion in May. Read more
Tokyo Olympics: Sydney McLaughlin smashes her 400m hurdles world record (BBC)
The USA’s Sydney McLaughlin smashed her own world record with a sensational run as she took Olympic gold in the women’s 400m hurdles at the Tokyo Games.
McLaughlin, 21, powered down the home straight to finish in 51.46 seconds as she shaved almost half a second off the old mark to reel in compatriot and rival Dalilah Muhammad.
Defending Olympic champion Muhammad, 31, claimed silver in 51.58secs.
The Netherlands’ Femke Bol took bronze behind the reigning world champion. Read more
Kemba Walker signing with Knicks after Thunder buyout (NYPost)
Kemba Walker is coming home.
The Bronx native has agreed to join the Knicks and form a point-guard tandem with Derrick Rose after being bought out by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, according to an NBA source.
The Thunder initially acquired Walker from the Celtics in June for the purpose of flipping him.
But there was no trade market for Walker given his max contract — a four-year, $140 million deal signed with the Hornets that has two years and $74 million left on it — and recent injury history.
The 31-year-old’s play slipped this past season as he dealt with a left knee injury, playing in 43 of 72 games with Boston. Read more
Another Belarus athlete says she won’t return to the country out of fear (NYPost)
A former Olympian from Belarus has become the second athlete from the country in days to say they do not want to return to their homeland out fear the country’s authoritarian regime will kill them.
Heptathlete Yana Maksimava, who competed in the Beijing and London Olympics and currently lives in Germany, made the announcement on Instagram Tuesday, after a sprinter from the country left the Tokyo Olympics to seek asylum in Poland.
“Thinking and thinking for a long time, we decided not to return to Belarus. To our great regret, now there you can lose not only freedom, but also lose your life,” Maksimava wrote alongside an image of her and her son.
“Here there is an opportunity to breathe deeply and be one of those who are fighting for the freedom of their people, friends, relatives and friends, we will definitely Win.” Read more
Tokyo Olympics: Andre de Grasse claims 200m gold (BBC)
Canada’s Andre de Grasse won his first gold and fifth Olympic medal overall as he overhauled world champion Noah Lyles in the final 50m of the 200m final.
The 26-year-old, who took bronze in the 100m final on Sunday, won in 19.62 seconds, making him the eighth-fastest man in history.
Lyles led into the final quarter but slowed as De Grasse and second-placed Kenny Bednarek ran him down.Seventeen-year-old Erriyon Knighton finished fourth in 19.93 seconds. Read more