Lagos Assembly slashes pension of Tinubu, Ambode, others (Guardian)
Lagos State House of Assembly, yesterday, approved the report of its Committee on Establishment, which recommended the reduction of pensions to former governors and other officials by 50 per cent.
The committee, which also expunged the provision of houses in Abuja and Lagos for former governors as stipulated in an earlier law operated by the state, further reduced the number of vehicles to be made available to former governors and their deputies.
Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, who suggested that former governors should get two vehicles (a car and a van) instead of three as recommended by the committee, urged that the amended bill should provide that the cars be changed every four years instead of the three years recommended by the report.
While some of the lawmakers, at plenary, had suggested an upward review of the pension for the affected public office holders by 75 per cent, others urged that the pension remains as stipulated in the old law. Read more
Woman arraigned for locking up 5-year-old nephew for 6 months (Punch)
The police in Lagos State have arraigned one Sharon Williams before the state Magistrates’ Court in Ogba for allegedly locking up and assaulting her five-year-old nephew (name withheld) for six months.
PUNCH Metro had reported that 43-year-old Williams allegedly used a cutlass to inflict injuries on the boy’s head.
It was gathered that a neighbour reported the matter to the state Ministry of Women Affairs, which transferred the case to the Ministry of Youths, Sports and Social Development, while the Deputy Coordinator for Child Protection, Lateef Akinborode, said it took about five hours for the suspect to surrender herself for arrest after security agents tried to gain access into her apartment around 8pm on July 14, 2021. Read more
Court restrains woman from running late doctor’s firm (Guardian)
A Federal High Court, Lagos, yesterday, restrained Mrs. Oluwayemisi Ajayi from dealing with or running the affairs of her estranged husband’s firm as a sole surviving director/shareholder pending the hearing and determination of the main suit.
The firm, First Foundation Medical Engineering Company Ltd, was owned and registered in accordance with the law, by the late Dr. Tosin Ajayi.
The judge, Tijjani Ringim, made the order following an ex-parte application by Dr. Ajayi’s daughter, Miss Tomisin Ajayi, and his widow, Mrs. Helen Prest-Ajayi.
Their application sought to restrain Oluwayemisi from running the affairs whatsoever of the first respondent company. Read more
Oro Festival: 5 traditionalists remanded for attacking Muslims in Ogun (DailyTrust)
A Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ota, Ado Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, on Thursday remanded five traditionalists in prison custody for allegedly attacking some Muslims at Idiroko.
Traditionalists and Muslims had clashed over the annual Oro festival at Idiroko in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Daily Trust reports that during the annual festival, Oro adherents imposed a daylight curfew on the residents of the area, thereby paralysing socioeconomic activities in the communities.
Our correspondent gathered that the traditionalists had on Saturday imposed a curfew on the community preparatory to this year’s Oro festival, but the development led to a clash on Tuesday. Read more
Relief for Secondus as PDP BoT tackles Wike, rejects interim exco (Punch)
The Peoples Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees on Thursday opposed moves to sack the Uche Secondus-led National Working Committee and replace it with an interim caretaker committee.
It was gathered that at a meeting, which started at 11am and presided over by the board Chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, members insisted that the National Chairman, Secondus, should be allowed to complete his tenure which would soon end.
It was also learnt that the party leaders faulted what they termed as uncomplimentary remarks by some party leaders, including the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, against the NWC.
The board, according to sources, also berated Secondus over his handling of crises in some state chapters of the party.
The PUNCH had on Thursday reported that the national chairman was battling to retain his position as Wike spearheaded moves to ensure his removal before the party’s National Executive Council meeting and the national convention. Read more
Robbers raid Osun banks, kill 2 (Guardian)
Hoodlums, yesterday, robbed two new generation banks in Iree, Boripe Local Council of Osun State.
Sources said the heavily armed bandits stormed the community around 3:40 p.m. and raided both financial institutions located around Poly Junction within the town.
They were said to have operated for about 15 minutes unhindered.
Two persons – a student and an indigene – were shot dead while others sustained injuries, as the robbers were escaping from the scene of the incident.
The polytechnic community was tense, as traders and passers-by scampered for safety following the indiscriminate release of gunshots into the air, while the bandits were exiting the area. Read more
Exposed: How bankers siphoned millions from dead customer’s account (DailyTrust)
Two bankers, Daniel Akpan Eno and Mbuk Idongesit, who diverted millions of naira from the account of a dead customer have been exposed.
According to investigation by detectives, one Utibe George hinted the duo about the death of Godfred Osso, owner of the account.
George had reportedly said the deceased customer was his step-father and there was money they could get from his account.
Eno and Idongesit was said to have agreed to carry out the illegality.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the trio first carried out the illegal operation on May 23, 2021. Read more
Illegal deductions: Bank customers lodge 23,526 complaints, recover N89.2b (Punch)
The Central Bank of Nigeria has facilitated the recovery of N89.2b for 23,526 bank customers as of June 2021 following their complaints over illegal charges and withdrawals.
This was disclosed on Thursday by the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, represented by the Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mr Osita Nwanisobi.
He spoke at the CBN Fair in Calabar on the theme: ‘Promoting financial stability and economic development’.
Nwanisobi said, “The money was based on the complaints individuals raised. Often times, there have been issues on charges. Read more
1.3m write NECO exam nationwide (Leadership)
No fewer than 1.3 million candidates sat for National Examination Council (NECO) Senior Secondary Certificate (SSC) examination.
The permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Arc Sonny Echono, stated this during the monitoring of the ongoing SSC examinations in some schools in Abuja yesterday.
Echono, during a tour at Government Secondary School, Garki and Federal Government Boys College, Apo, commended the progress recorded and measures taken to curtail incidences of examination malpractice. Read more
Lalibela: Ethiopia’s Tigray rebels take Unesco world heritage town (BBC)
Rebels from Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region have taken control of the town of Lalibela, a Unesco world heritage site in neighbouring Amhara region.
Lalibela, home to 13th Century churches hewn from rock, is a holy site for millions of Orthodox Christians.
Residents have been fleeing the rebel advance, local officials told the BBC.
Thousands have been killed since war broke out last November. Fighting is now spreading into Amhara and Afar, another region bordering Tigray. Read more
Val Kilmer going through ‘grueling’ recovery after cancer battle (PageSix)
Val Kilmer is doing as well as can be expected after his battle with throat cancer, his kids say.
Kilmer’s daughter, Mercedes, and son, Jack, gave an update on the actor’s health Wednesday, approximately five years after he beat the disease that has left him with long-term complications.
“He’s doing well. … Still recovering,” Mercedes, 29, told Extra. “The recovery process is just as grueling as the actual disease.”
Jack, 26, added, “Everyone has been so supportive; it makes me emotional. It’s really beautiful to see people come together.” Read more
X-rays show how Covid damages lungs of unvaccinated patients (Metro)
X-ray images have shown for the first time how much of a difference getting a Covid vaccine can make to a patient’s lungs.
Doctors have shared side-by-side pictures of Covid positive people, with the lungs of the patient who had been vaccinated far less cloudy than those of the patient who hadn’t had the shots.
The white seen in the unvaccinated person’s lungs in the X-ray shows the damage done by the virus and could be bacteria, mucus, or other secretions, Dr Ghassan Kamel told the St Louis TV station KSDK.
While still ill, the vaccinated patient has more black areas, demonstrating healthier-looking lungs filled with air. Read more
Apple to scan iPhones for child sex abuse images (BBC)
Apple has announced details of a system to find child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on customers’ devices.
Before an image is stored onto iCloud Photos, the technology will search for matches of already known CSAM.
Apple said that if a match is found a human reviewer will then assess and report the user to law enforcement.
However there are privacy concerns that the technology could be expanded to scan phones for prohibited content or even political speech. Read more
Addison Rae builds a prom king as “He’s All That” trailer drops (Metro)
Addison Rae’s acting debut is officially on its way, with the trailer for He’s All That dropping – and it looks…interesting.
The TikTok star plays Padgett, a social media obsessed high schooler who finds her not-so-perfect boyfriend cheating on her, while she’s livestreaming.
Humiliated and heartbroken, she decides to build a boyfriend, with her friends selecting outcast Cameron Kweller (Tanner Buchanan).
‘I will create the next Prom King!’ Padgett declares. Read more
Amazon delays office return until 2022 as Covid spreads (BBC)
Amazon has told its US corporate staff not to return to the office until next year as Covid continues to spread.
The online shopping giant previously asked staff to work from home until 7 September, but will now extend this until 3 January 2022.
It comes as new Covid infections surge across America, with with daily cases at an average not seen in months.
Two US financial institutions, Wells Fargo and Blackrock, also said they would push back their office returns. Read more
Nigeria’s medal chase ends as Enekwechi, women relay team crash in Tokyo (Guardian)
Nigeria’s search for more medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games did not yield any fruit yesterday as a shot putter, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, and the women’s 4×100 metres relay team could not make the podium.
Nigeria had earlier in the competition won a silver medal through wrestler, Blessing Oborodudu and long jumper, Ese Brume.
Followers of the events in Tokyo always knew that it would take a miracle for Enekwechi and the relay girls to add to Nigeria’s medals due to their low ranking among the contestants.
Enekwechi was eliminated in the final round of the men’s shot put after throwing 19.74 metres to finish last in the 12-man contest, while the relay team could not go beyond the second preliminary round of the 4×100 metres. Read more
NPFL: Wikki Tourists beat Adamawa United 2-0 to escape relegation (Punch)
Wikki Tourists Football Club of Bauchi, on Thursday, snatched a 2-0 win at home over Adamawa United Football Club of Yola, to escape relegation from the ongoing 2020/2021 Nigeria Professional Football League.
Wikki Tourist beat the visiting Adamawa 2-0 at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi, to maintain its 25th position on the table, with 45 points from 38 matches.
Tourists’ Hassan Mustapha gave his team the lead through a header in the 21st minute of the game and in the 38th minute, Nazifi Yahaya of the Tourists utilised a counter-attack to make it two for the home side.
The second half saw a defensive Wikki Tourists, as the visitors piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser that never came, as the match ended in favour of the Tourists. Read more
Lionel Messi: Barcelona say Argentina forward will not stay at club (BBC)
Barcelona say Lionel Messi will not be staying at the club “because of financial and structural obstacles”.
Messi, 34, has been a free agent since 1 July when his contract expired.
He agreed a new deal on reduced wages with the club two weeks later, but it was dependent on Barca selling players to afford his salary.
“Both parties deeply regret that the wishes of the player and the club will ultimately not be fulfilled,” the club said. Read more
Roger Federer doubt for US Open after Toronto & Cincinnati withdrawals (BBC)
Roger Federer has withdrawn from this month’s Toronto and Cincinnati Masters events with a knee injury – putting his US Open participation in doubt.
The 39-year-old missed the Tokyo Olympics due to a “setback to his knee” after being knocked out of the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam champion, had double knee surgery last year.
The Toronto Masters starts on 9 August, Cincinnati is a week later and the US Open begins on 30 August, in New York. Read more
Steelers rip Cowboys in first NFL preseason game in two years (NYPost)
The Pittsburgh Steelers followed a stumbling first half with a strong final 30 minutes to beat the Dallas Cowboys 16-3 on Thursday night in the first NFL preseason game in two years.
Matthew Sexton’s 36-yard punt return early in the third quarter jump-started the Steelers, and the Cowboys never challenged after it.
Last season’s exhibition games were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So maybe the enthusiastic crowd was an indication that even for a match between teams using few regulars, the hunger for pro football has not faded.
Or maybe it was simply a matter of two of the league’s most popular franchises being on the field in the Hall of Fame game, regardless of how many backups were in action. Read more
Premier League: Man City are favourites but title race is open, says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. (BBC)
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes that whoever finishes above Manchester City will be crowned Premier League champions.
Before the new season United have spent £107m on England winger Jadon Sancho and France defender Raphael Varane.
City have responded by smashing the British transfer record in paying Aston Villa £100m for Jack Grealish.
Chelsea may go even higher to sign former United striker Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan. Read more