Lagos bishop allegedly rapes female pastor twice, threatens victim (Punch)
The founder of a church in Lagos State, identified only as Bishop Daniels, has been accused of raping an assistant female pastor at his house in the Lekki area of the state.
PUNCH Metro gathered from the victim that Daniels, who is married with children, allegedly raped her on two separate occasions, adding that she bled during the incident.
Our correspondent learnt that the victim, who was based outside Lagos, was summoned to the Lagos headquarters of the church where the incident happened.
She said, “He wanted me to attend a meeting and the date clashed with my brother’s wedding. So, I didn’t attend the meeting and as punishment, he ordered church members at my branch not to celebrate my birthday and instructed me to report to the church’s headquarters in Lagos for punishment. Read more
Ban: Riders on rampage as enforcement team impounds Okada in Surulere, Mushin (Vanguard)
Hundreds of commercial motorcyclists popularly known as Okada riders went on rampage in Surulere/Mushin, Lagos State, on Tuesday, as the enforcement on Okada entered Day 7 in the state.
Despite the rampage, several commercial motorcycles were successfully impounded at about 9am, at Ojuelegba Road down to Idi-Araba area, a boundary between Mushin and Surulere in Lagos.
Eyewitnesses’ accounts said nobody died during the incident but some persons sustained minor injuries in the cause of scampering for safety.
A plantain seller in the area, Mama Ibrahim, said the vicinity was calm before the incident though some riders were battled ready in case the enforcement was extended to the area. Read more
Forex trader bags two years jail for stealing N20m (Punch)
The Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos State, on Tuesday, sentenced a forex trader, Shola Henry, to two years’ imprisonment for stealing.
The convict had been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after it received a petition from a businessman, Anyasi Matthew, who claimed that Henry defrauded him of the sum of N20m in the guise of investing the money in forex with 20 per cent profit in 30 days.
The defendant was subsequently arraigned on August 8, 2020, on amended six counts bordering on obtaining by false pretences and stealing contrary to Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006, and Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges. Read more
Man kills wife, stabs self in Lagos (Sun)
Candid Estate community, Araromi Ale, in Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State was thrown into pandemonium yesterday, when a man identified as Wasiu allegedly slit the throat of his wife, simply identified as Fathia, in the presence of their only son. The late Fathia was said to be pregnant when disaster struck.
A witness said Wasiu had called his relatives, his wife’s relatives, and his Landlady that his wife was dead.
When the Landlady got the information, she was said to have immediately called on the CDA Chairman, who immediately sent a distress call to the Nigeria Police station, Morogbo. When the police arrived and forcefully opened the door of the deceased’s apartment, they found the lady semi nude in a pool of her own blood with her neck slit.
Wasiu was also found on the floor with his intestine gushing out of his stomach.
Police immediately took the couple to Badagry General Hospital, where the wife, Fathia, was pronounced dead on arrival, while the husband was taken to emergency section where he is recuperating under close police watch. Read more
Voting continues after disruption at APC convention (DailyTrust)
Voting was temporarily suspended at the convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Eagle Square, Abuja, on Wednesday.
The exercise was put on hold as Kano delegates were casting their ballot in the keenly contested exercise.
Chairman of Kano APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, was seen arguing with some officials before voting was suspended.
Less than 20 of the 127 delegates from Kano had voted before the exercise was suspended.
Some of the aspirants reportedly had more than one agent at the voting points, leading to protest.
To douse tension, the Election committee ordered some persons to leave the voting area after which the exercise continued.
The voting began at past 2am amid tight security, and watch of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and aspirants’ agents. Read more
APC convention: Ogbonaya Onu decries marginalisation of Ndigbo over governance in Nigeria (Guardian)
Presidential aspirant, Dr Ogbonaya Onu has decried the marginalisation of the South East geopolitical zone as far as the occupant of the exalted seat of the presidency is concerned.
Only who was visibly angry over the development wondered why the ruling elites have not thought it wise to cede power to the zone since the demise of Gen Aguiyi Ironsi in 1966.
He said the south West have had one of its own in the person of Gen Olusegun Obasanjo for 8 years on the saddle, the Vice president Prof Yemi Osinbajo for another 8 years since the return to democratic rule in the country.
He further stated that former president Goodlick Jonathan from the south South geopolitical zone have also had six years on the saddle before he was defeated at the 2015 poll by the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.
He thereby queried why the south East have remained sidelined in the power equation of the country.
“Where is the justice, where is the justice here,” he said. Read more
Nwajiuba absent from APC convention (Vanguard)
In a curious twist of event, one of the presidential aspirants and immediate past Minister of state for Education, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba was absent from the All Progressives Congress (APC) convention.
He was called upon at last three times to come and address the delegates, but he was nowhere to be found. There was no official explanation as to his absence. Read more
VP Yemi Osinbajo defies pressure to step down for Tinubu (Guardian)
The vice president and presidential aspirant Prof Yemi Osinbajo has defied the pressure mounted on him to withdraw from the ruling All Progressives Congress’s presidential primary in favour of his political benefactor Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
Osinbajo came under intense pressure from party stalwarts, particularly from the southwest, to step down for Tinubu.
But at the ongoing national convention of the party in Abuja, Osinbajo urged delegates to consider his aspiration to emerge as the standard-bearer of the party in the 2023 poll.
Osinbajo, who was welcomed to the podium by the deafening chants of “We want you” by his youthful supporters which rented the air for about 10 minutes, said his position in the last seven years had accorded him the opportunity of having a first-hand experience on the nuances and complexities of running the country.
“You cannot wish the country well and vote for somebody you don’t believe in,” Osinbajo said. “To our dear delegates when you vote tonight know that your votes have the answer to your prayer for our country and the future.” Read more
Nicholas Felix steps down for Osinbajo, warns against Muslim -Muslim ticket (Guardian)
All Progressives Congress’s presidential aspirant Mr Nicholas Felix has stepped down for the Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo at the ongoing presidential primaries of the party in Abuja.
Felix said his decision was based on the need to have a well qualified and focused Christian from the southern part of the country to lead Nigeria in 2023.
In a veiled reference to the prospect of having Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu as flagbearer of the party, he warned against a Muslim-Muslim joint ticket ahead of the 2023 poll.
The aspirant, who is in his early 40s, expressed gratitude to the party’s northern governors over the decision to throw their weights behind the clamour for a power shift to the southern part of the country. Read more
Amber Heard responds to Johnny Depp’s TikTok message about moving ‘forward’ (PageSix)
Amber Heard has responded to Johnny Depp’s first TikTok, in which he boasted about moving forward following their defamation trial.
“As Johnny Depp says he’s ‘moving forward,’ women’s rights are moving backward,” a spokesperson for Heard said in a statement (via People).
“The verdict’s message to victims of domestic violence is … be afraid to stand up and speak out.”
Heard, 36, also addressed the future of women’s rights in her immediate statement following her loss to Depp, 58, in court last week.
“The disappointment I feel today is beyond words. I’m heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence and sway of my ex-husband,” Heard said at the time. Read more
US woman led all-female ISIS battalion (USAToday)
A US woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to organizing and leading a female military battalion in Syria, which experts said is rare.
Allison Fluke-Ekren, 42, a former resident of Kansas, traveled overseas and engaged in terrorism-related activities in Syria, Libya and Iraq from September 2019 through May 2019, according to prosecutors.
She eventually served as leader and organizer of a military battalion known as Khatiba Nusaybah, where she trained women to use AK-47 assault rifles, grenades and suicide belts, according to prosecutors. More than 100 women and children as young as 10 were trained by Fluke-Ekren.
Fluke-Ekren pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema set sentencing for Oct. 25, when she faces 20 years in prison. Read more
Mum’s harrowing words to drunk driver who killed her ‘innocent’ son (Metro)
A mum has told a courtroom of the heartbreak caused when her teenage son who dreamed of becoming a lawyer was killed by a drunk driver.
James Biscoe, 21, was three times over the drink-drive limit when he ploughed into aspiring lawyer Junior Alexander, 16, in Bromley, southeast London, on July 18, last year.
He hit the schoolboy at nearly 50mph in a 30mph zone while driving his Fiat Punto on the wrong side of the road, in a bid to avoid a speed camera, the Old Bailey heard.
After realising he had struck Junior, Biscoe did not return to help him and fled the scene. Read more
‘Tainted blood’ victims should receive £100,000 in damages, review says (DailyMail)
Victims of the tainted-blood scandal should be urgently compensated £100,000 each as many are ‘worryingly unwell’ and running out of time, a review has said.
Sir Robert Francis QC urged ministers to immediately make the interim payments to those who contracted HIV and hepatitis in what has been called ‘the worst treatment disaster in NHS history’.
Up to 30,000 Britons were infected in the Seventies and Eighties after being treated with cheap US blood products. Some 3,000 have died but, as the Government never admitted liability, victims did not receive compensation.
Sir Robert, who led the Government-ordered review, said he had recommended the measure since many victims fear ‘they will not survive long enough to see… the fruits of [compensation]’. Read more
Search continues for Indigenous expert, British writer in Brazil (AlJazeera)
A British journalist and an Indigenous affairs official are still missing in a remote part of Brazil’s Amazon, as authorities said they were expanding search efforts in the area, which has seen violent conflicts between fishermen, poachers, and government agents.
Dom Phillips, a regular contributor to British newspaper The Guardian, and Indigenous expert Bruno Araujo Pereira were last seen early on Sunday in the Sao Rafael community, according to the Univaja association of people in the Vale do Javari Indigenous territory, where Pereira has been an adviser.
The pair was returning by boat to the city of Atalaia do Norte, about an hour away, but never arrived.
Guilherme Torres, the head of the interior department of Amazonas state’s civil police, said Pereira had recently received a threatening letter from a local fisherman who police are trying to locate. Read more
Why I risk my life to provide aid in Ukraine (BBC)
At first glance they are an unlikely line up for aid workers in a war zone – a dog trainer from Kent, a farmer from Cornwall, and a technology executive from Sussex.
But these three British volunteers were drawn – separately – to Ukraine. They teamed up here and have spent months in harm’s way evacuating the elderly and the frail from areas near front lines. They fund themselves and prefer not to be named.
“I know my parents worry,” says the dog trainer who, at 21, is the youngest. “I have had phone calls with my mum where she has been in tears, but they are just really proud of what I am doing. They know I will be out here for a while, and they don’t know when I will be coming home.”
As we speak, air raid sirens wail and explosions thud in the distance now and then. Read more
Apple forced to switch to common mobile charging ports by 2024 (Metro)
It’s the end of an era for Apple’s Lightning cable as European countries agree to a single mobile charging port for mobile phones, tablets and cameras.
On Tuesday, the European Commission announced the decision to adopt a common charging port in the EU, to make life easier for consumers and save them money.
‘By autumn 2024, USB Type-C will become the common charging port for all mobile phones, tablets and cameras in the EU,’ the European Parliament said in a statement.
Apple will now have to change the Lightning connector on iPhones sold in Europe by 2024. Read more
Beloved Japanese manga ‘One Piece’ heads into final chapter (France24)
After 25 years and 490 million copies sold worldwide, the beloved Japanese manga “One Piece” is entering its final chapter, according to its creator Eiichiro Oda.
The manga, which follows the adventures of the swashbuckling pirate Monkey D. Luffy, has captivated millions of fans worldwide as its characters hunt for One Piece, the treasure coveted by all pirates.
In a tweet on Tuesday, Oda announced he would be taking a month off from his usual publishing pace of one instalment per week, citing various demands, including his work on the last part of the long-running series.
“A break for me!” he wrote in a handwritten announcement posted on the series’ official Twitter account. Read more
Brume, Amusan Team Nigeria’s medal hopefuls (Punch)
Olympics bronze medallist Ese Brume and hurdler Tobi Amusan are Nigeria’s medal hopefuls as the 22nd African Athletics Championships begin at the Côte d’Or National Sports Complex in St Pierre, Mauritius Wednesday (today).
Heptathlete Kemi Francis begins the country’s chase for medals when she takes to the tracks today for the 100m hurdles in the women’s heptathlon.
Not ranked as the favourite for the event, the 29-year-old will be hoping to become the fifth Nigerian woman to mount the podium as African champion in the event after Bella Bell-Gam (1979 as Penthatlon), Patience Itanyi (1998), Patience Okoro (2008) and Uhunoma Osazuwa, who set a new 6,153 points Championships record six years ago in Durban, South Africa. Read more
Harry Kane celebrates 50th England strike after draw with Germany (Metro)
Harry Kane celebrated reaching 50 England goals as the Three Lions earned a 1-1 draw against an impressive Germany team in Munich on Tuesday.
The home side dominated the first half with Gareth Southgate’s men unable to cope with Germany’s energetic and high-pressing system.
And it looked like Hansi Flick’s team would take home the win after, an otherwise excellent, Jordan Pickford failed to save Jonas Hofman’s shot in the 50th minute.
However, as the game neared its conclusion, Jack Grealish and Jarrod Bowen were subbed on to great effect, revitalising England’s attack and eventually the visitors earned themselves a penalty after VAR deemed that Kane had been brought down in the box by Nico Schlotterbeck. Read more
Tiger Woods to miss US Open to give himself time to ‘get stronger’ (BBC)
Tiger Woods has confirmed he will not play at next week’s US Open, but still plans to compete at the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews next month.
It follows the 15-time major winner’s withdrawal from the US PGA Championship in May after three rounds.
“I will not be competing in the US Open as my body needs more time to get stronger for major championship golf,” Woods, 46, said on Twitter.
However, the event will include players from the LIV Golf Invitational Series.
The US Open begins on 16 June in Brookline, Massachusetts. Read more
2023 AFCON Qualifiers: Super Eagles seek redemption against Sierra Leone (Vanguard)
The Super Eagles have vowed to put things right ahead of their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches against Sierra Leone and São Tomé and Príncipe.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Eagles confront familiar foes Sierra Leone at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on Thursday.
The game, expected to be played behind closed doors, is one of the day one matches in Group A of the qualification series.
The team will afterwards fly to Marrakech in Morocco on Saturday for a day two game against São Tomé and Príncipe which will take place on Monday. Read more
Assault: UFC champion Israel Adesanya wants Costa freed (Punch)
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya on Monday night broke his silence on accusations being hurled against his arch-rival and former middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa.
The Brazilian was preparing for his next fight against former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, before landing himself in a pool of trouble. Just a few days ago, news came out that Costa was questioned by authorities for ‘striking’ a nurse.
However, the Brazilian has dismissed all the accusations and demanded an apology from the nurse.
“A false accusation of physical aggression was levelled against me and I will show for you guys the facts, the proofs and you guys will know what I’m talking about. I’m being accused of elbowing a woman who is supposed to be a nurse on her face,” Costa said. Read more
Emma Raducanu suffers fresh injury blow ahead of Wimbledon (Metro)
Emma Raducanu’s Wimbledon preparations got off to a worrying start as she retired injured in her first-round match at the Nottingham Open.
The teenager needed a medical timeout in the early stages of her clash with Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic after suffering a problem to her left side as her injury problems continue.
She received treatment on her left side and took painkillers in an attempt to carry on, but had pull out of the match trailing 4-3 in the first set – the third time she has had to do so since winning the US Open in September.
Emma Raducanu had to pull out of her match against Viktorija Golubic, trailing 4-3 in the first set
It was not the UK homecoming Raducanu would have had in mind as her first match on home soil since taking the world by storm lasted only 33 minutes. Read more
LeBron James’ trading card expected to fetch millions (BBC)
An exclusive LeBron James trading card is expected to sell for more than $6m (£4.78m) at an auction this week.
The one-of-a-kind card featuring the 18-time NBA All-Star, 37, includes patches taken from jerseys James has worn in his career.
The card was found after a year-long hunt among collectors during a live social media event.
It came after Canadian rapper Drake bought 10 cases of the basketball cards to try to locate it. Read more