Lagos, Chinese construction company sign Lekki-Epe link bridge MoU (Punch)
In a move to improve the quality of the road network system in Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a Chinese construction company, China Civil Engineering Construction Company, in Beijing, China.
This is according to a statement and photos shared on X.com by the Governor of Lagos State on Wednesday.
The statement disclosed that the project centres on a commitment to the lives of citizens in the state. Read more
Group accuses UK Gov’t of injustice, racism over conviction of 4 Nigerians for fake marriage certificates (Leadership)
A non-governmental organisation, the Centre for Social Justice Advocacy (CSJA) has reacted to the conviction of four Nigerians in the United Kingdom over fake marriage certificates, describing it as injustice and racism.
LEADERSHIP reports that four Nigerians – Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41; Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38; Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31, and 54-year-old Adekunle Kabir – were all convicted and sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday.
They were sentenced to a total of 13 years in prison after being convicted of procuring over 2,000 fake marriage certificates to support the applications of Nigerian citizens seeking to remain in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme. Read more
Tricycle riders protest fuel price hike in Delta (DailyTrust)
Tricycle riders took to the streets on Wednesday to protest against fuel price hikes, disrupting business activities and vehicular movement in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
The protesters, who are heavily reliant on fuel for their operations, blocked major junctions including the Deco Road Junction, First-Marine Gate Junction and the popular Hausa Quarters, Igbudu, causing significant disruption to both vehicular movement and local business activities.
The demonstration began early in the morning, as hundreds of tricycle operators converged on key intersections, creating severe traffic bottlenecks. Read more
Fresh attacks claim lives in Plateau communities (Vanguard)
Fresh attacks on Tuesday night in the Daffo and Kwatas communities of Bokkos local government area of Plateau State have claimed not less than seven lives, sources say.
Natives had gone on many social media platforms calling for assistance to repel the attackers whom they say were lurking around the communities in the evening of Tuesday. They succeeded in carrying out the attacks at about 7 pm.
The Media Officer of Operation Safe Haven, Major Samson Zhakom said at the time of this report that he was awaiting details of the incident before he could comment. The natives under the aegis of Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) Vanguard confirmed that the area has been under persistent attacks since May 2024. Read more
Gunmen shoot security guard in Rivers APP secretariat (Channels)
Gunmen have reportedly shot a security guard at the Action People’s Party (APP) secretariat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The attack which was reportedly carried out at midnight comes less than a month after the party’s secretariat in the New GRA of Port Harcourt was bombed.
The state chairman of the party, Sunny Wokekoro who addressed journalists at the party’s secretariat on Wednesday said details surrounding the shooting remain unclear. Read more
Sanwo-Olu congratulates IGP Egbetokun on 60th birthday (Tribune)
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on his 60th birthday, describing him as a committed public servant and a seasoned administrator.
Governor Sanwo-Olu expressed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, praising Egbetokun’s commitment and dedication to public service as a vibrant, trustworthy, and diligent police officer.
According to the governor, Egbetokun is a seasoned administrator who has used his knowledge and experience to bring about positive developments in the Nigeria Police since taking over as IGP. Read more
Your comment irresponsible, PDP Governors reply Wike (DailyTrust)
Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have described a recent comment by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, as unacceptable and irresponsible.
The PDP Governors after their meeting declared support for the Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the leader of the party in Rivers State.
The governors also promised to liaise with the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to ensure that the governors take pride of place in the politics of the state. Read more
Koleoso’s demise, significant loss to Oyo, Nigeria – Senator Alli (Independent)
Senator Sharafadeen Alli (APC-Oyo South) has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of a former Secretary to Oyo State Government and Babalaje of Saki land, Chief Michael Adeniyi Koleoso.
This is contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Akeem Abas, and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Ibadan.
Senator Alli described the death of the 86-year-old political leader, Chief Koleoso, who passed away on Monday, as a significant loss to Oyo State and Nigeria at large. Read more
Shakira compares Spanish tax office to “Inquisition’’ (RTE)
Colombian pop star Shakira has accused Spain’s tax office of confiscating all the income she earned when she lived there, comparing the institution to “The Inquisition” in a letter published in the Spanish daily El Mundo.
The Hips Don’t Lie singer reached a settlement in 2023 to avoid a trial in Barcelona over alleged tax fraud.
“The Spanish state kept more than all my income for those years,” she wrote in her letter to El Mundo. Read more
Colorado mum drugged, fatally shot and stabbed her 2 kids before fleeing to UK, prosecutors say (NBC)
A Colorado mom who is fighting extradition from Britain to the United States allegedly drugged her children and told them to close their eyes before fatally shooting and stabbing two of them, a court heard on Wednesday.
Days after the lifeless bodies of her children, aged 7 and 9, were found at her home in Colorado Springs on Dec. 19, Kimberlee Singler was arrested London on Dec. 30 after flying to the U.K.
Singler, 36, is resisting American attempts to extradite her on the grounds that her alleged crimes — which she denies — carry an automatic sentence of life without parole, which her legal team argue is a breach of the European human rights law. Read more
Remy Ma goes topless in racy ‘Outta Control’ video with Fat Joe (HipHopDx)
Remy Ma has debuted a risqué new look in her new “Outta Control” video with Fat Joe and Cool & Dre.
In the boxing and strip club-themed video, Remy appears topless while delivering her verse, with her breasts only covered by her long hair.
“They said I shot a friend over a band, and? / Imagine what I’d do to a bitch that I can’t stand / Right now, I’m on the edge, so don’t push me / Need my dick sucked so bad, but all I got is this good pussy,” she raps. Read more
Suspect, 30, charged with murder after four shot ‘‘execution-style’’ while sleeping on Chicago train (Independent)
A 30-year-old man has been charged with murder after four people were killed “execution-style” in a mass shooting on a train in Chicago on Labor Day.
Rhanni Davis, 30, from Chicago, was charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Margaret Miller, 64, and three men including Simeon Bihesi, 28, and Adrian Collins, 60.
Forest Park Police Department were called to reports that three people had been shot while asleep on a CTA Blueline train at around 5.30am local time on Monday morning. Read more
Lukashenko pardons 30 convicted in Belarus antigovernment protests (AlJazeera)
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned 30 people convicted for antigovernment protests, four years after huge demonstrations that prompted a massive crackdown on dissent and spurred a new wave of emigration.
Lukashenko’s office said in a statement on Wednesday that the move was a “humane gesture” that affected seven women and 23 men.
“Most are parents of … small children,” it said, without elaborating on their identities. Read more
Joaquin Phoenix says Joker 2 weight loss ‘felt a bit more complicated’: ‘Probably shouldn’t do this again’ (People)
Joaquin Phoenix put himself through the ringer for Joker: Folie à Deux.
The actor discussed the training involved in his new musical thriller, costarring Lady Gaga, during a press conference at the Venice Film Festival on Wednesday, Sept. 4, ahead of the Todd Phillips-directed sequel’s world premiere.
As Phoenix told reporters in the press room, “I’m not going to talk through specifics of the diet … but this time it felt a bit more complicated just because there was so much dance rehearsal that we were doing, which I didn’t have last time.” Read more
A Russian missile strike has killed over 40 people in Ukrainian city of Poltava (NPR)
Two Russian ballistic missiles struck a military training facility and nearby hospital in a central-eastern region of Ukraine, killing at least 41 people and wounding 180 others, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday.
The strike occurred in the city of Poltava, the capital of the region of the same name, officials said. Poltava is located about 350 kilometers (200 miles) southeast of Kyiv. The city is on the main highway and rail route between Kyiv and Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, which is close to the Russian border.
The strike appeared to be one of the deadliest carried out by Russian forces since the war began more than 900 days ago on Feb. 24, 2022. Read more
Sunshine Stars captain Abe retires from football (Punch)
Sunshine Stars’ long-serving captain and former Nigeria junior international, Sunday Abe, has retired from football after 18 years as a professional.
The 33-year-old defender announced his retirement on Wednesday in Akure, Ondo State.
“After thoughtful consideration, I’m announcing my immediate retirement from professional football after about two decades of active service as a player,” Abe said on Wednesday. Read more
England star Jack Grealish warned he faces ‘abuse’ from supporters during Ireland clash (Metro)
Republic of Ireland forward Callum Robinson has warned Jack Grealish can expect abuse from Irish fans when the two nations meet in the Nations League this weekend.
Birmingham-born Grealish represented Ireland at Under-17, Under-18 and Under-21 level, qualifying through his grandparents. In 2015, he officially declared for the Three Lions, recalled this month after being left out of the Euro 2024 squad in the summer.
Cardiff City star Robinson, who represented England as a youngster before making the switch to Ireland, knows Grealish well having come through the Aston Villa academy together. Read more
Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn defends record amid Paris Olympics criticism (ABC)
Rachael “Raygun” Gunn, the Australian breaker who became an overnight sensation at the Paris Olympics, has defended her breakdancing skills and suggested much of the criticism she received for her performance last month was born of ignorance of the sport.
Gunn lost all three of her round-robin battles by a combined score of 54-0 when breaking made its Olympic debut at the Place de la Concorde.
A university lecturer, Gunn was mocked online and in the mainstream media for everything from her moves to her green official team uniform in a frenzy of criticism she described as “alarming.” Read more
Jack Draper: Victory against Tomas Machac has shown us why he’s a genuine US Open contender (SkySports)
Jack Draper has always loved playing at the US Open, where the fast courts help his style, and he will now be dreaming of following in Andy Murray’s footsteps. Without a doubt, he’s a genuine title contender in New York.
This is arguably Draper’s best chance yet of winning a Grand Slam. With Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic already out and only Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner having previously won major titles, the young Brit has played himself into title contention.
He will have to overcome much bigger obstacles than the one unseeded Czech player Tomas Machac presented on Louis Armstrong Stadium as Draper swept to a 6-3 6-1 6-2 victory, underpinned by a run of 16 games out of 19. Read more
Frances Tiafoe-Taylor Fritz set up All-American U.S. Open semifinal (UPI)
Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe will fight for the right to be the first American to play in the men’s singles final of a Grand Slam since 2009 when they meet Friday in the semifinals in Flushing, N.Y.
“I think we’ve all been knocking on the door,” Tiafoe told reporters Tuesday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. “Taylor has been in and out of the Top 10. … It was only a matter of time. If you put yourself in position, it’s only a matter of time.”
The Americans secured their spots in the semifinal with respective quarterfinal victories Tuesday at the 2024 U.S. Open. Tennis Hall of Famer Andy Roddick was the last American man to reach a Grand Slam finale (Wimbledon 2009). Read more
Usain Bolt’s reaction to Oscar Pistorius murder charge says it all about Olympics legend (Express)
Usain Bolt was left in utter disbelief after learning about Oscar Pistorius killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius was a global Paralympic icon with six gold medals to his name and had etched his name in history as the first double-leg amputee participant in the Olympics at London 2012.
But his fame turned to notoriety less than a year later for the events, which occurred on Valentine’s Day 2013. Claiming he thought there was an intruder in their home, Pistorius shot four times through their bathroom door – which Steenkamp was on the other side of.
He was convicted of culpable homicide the following year, which was upgraded to murder on appeal. The South African spent nine years behind bars before his release on parole in January. Read more
