Lagos establishes LASRERA to regulate real estate sector (Vanguard)
Lagos State Government has set up an agency, Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority, LASRERA, to monitor activities of estate agents and tenancy transactions in the state.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, said with the agency, it’s no longer business as usual, saying no one can practise as a real estate agent and company without been licensed, as failure to comply would lead to sanctions.
Speaking at a briefing to unveil LASRERA, it’s portal and logo, she said the need to have such an agency had become necessary following a series of complaints about fraudulent estate agents and companies. Read more
Woman arrested for aiding son’s escape after raping 9-year-old girl (Tribune)
The police command in Lagos State has arrested a woman, who aided her son’s escape, after he raped a 9-year- old primary 4 pupil in the Epe area of the state.
The woman, a resident of Sade Street prevented her son from being arrested by youths of the area and community leaders, who wanted to arrest him.
Tribune Online gathered that the runaway suspect reportedly defiled the primary school pupil on Wednesday.
The mother of the victim of the rape incident raised the alarm, which attracted residents to Sade Street in Epe. Read more
Oluwa hails Tinubu, congratulates Nigerians on Democracy Day (Vanguard)
As the nation marks the celebration of June 12 as Democracy day, the Baale Oluwa kingdom, Ibeju-Lekki Area of Lagos State, Alh. Chief Baale Adewale Rosullulahi Oluwa, has said that the contribution of APC National leader in the struggle to recognise the day as democracy day will forever remain evergreen in the minds of progressives across the country.
Chief Rosullulahi Oluwa who stated this in a chat with Vanguard recently hailed President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC National leader on the enduring legacies they have laid describing the latter as true leader and icon of democracy.
“He stood firm when others chickened out of the struggle and pitched tent with those who out of pride and arrogance, chose May 29 instead of June 12 as Democracy day. Read more
Student bags 1 year jail term for theft (DailyTrust)
An Abuja Magistrates’ Court sitting at Life Camp, on Thursday, sentenced a 26-year-old student, Richard Kure, to one year imprisonment for stealing his roommate’s mobile phone valued at N67,000.
The Magistrate, Chinyere Nwecheonwu, sentenced Kure, a resident of Kuje, Abuja, to one year in a correctional centre after he pleaded guilty to the charge of theft and begged the court for leniency. Nwecheonwu, however, gave the convict an option to pay a fine of N40,000. Read more
Govt: schools to remain shut (Nation)
Pupils and students will stay longer at home because schools cannot reopen soon, the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 said on Thursday.
The government cited the need to protect the vulnerable and halt the spread of the virus in communities as reasons.
Besides, the government is worried about the rising cases of the virus pandemic in the country.
School children were sent home in March to prevent Coronavirus spread. Read more
Kaduna lawmaker beaten as leadership crisis rocks Assembly (DailyTrust)
Kaduna State House of Assembly There was serious confusion in Kaduna State House of Assembly on Thursday as the Member Representing Makera constituency, Dahiru Liman snatched the mace.
Daily Trust observed that few minutes after the announcement of the new Deputy Speaker, Isaac Auta Zankai by the clerk, Honourable Liman walked into the hall alongside the impeached deputy Speaker, Honorable Muktar Hazo and attempted to disrupt the plenary session chaired by the Clerk of the House, Bello Idris. Chimamanda Adichie loses father Kaduna assembly removes deputy speaker. Read more
Democracy Day: Bauchi governor pardons 73 inmates (Tribune)
Not less than 73 inmates have been granted pardon by Bauchi State governor, Sen. Bala Mohammed as part of the celebration of the 2020 Democracy Day in the state.
The governor announced this at the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed Special Adviser on Legal Affairs, Barrister Kefas Magaji at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Bauchi.
Bala Mohammed said that the release of the inmates is part of his administration’s desire to deepen democracy in the state. Read more
Senate passes N10.8trn revised budget for 2020 (Vanguard)
The Senate on Thursday passed the sum N10.805 trillion as a revised budget for the 2020 fiscal year.
The passage followed consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Appropriations on the Appropriation Act (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
The Bill was read the third time and passed by the Senate. Read more
COVID-19: FG gives update on Madagascar herb (DailyTrust)
The federal government said it is yet to receive a report from research centres about efficacy of the purported coronavirus herbal cure imported from Madagascar.
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire said, “We do not have any information yet. We have given them to our research centres and they are working on them. None of them has reported back yet.
FG denies knowledge of €170,000 cost for Madagascar Covid-19 remedy COVID-19: Madagascar herb will be subjected to regulatory process before use in Nigeria -FG “The time it will take for all these researches is not what we know, but I think after a period, I will reach out to them to find out if they can give me an interim report” he said. Read more
Statue of Boy Scouts founder Robert Baden-Powell will be ‘temporarily’ removed (NYPost)
A statue of worldwide Boy Scouts founder Lord Robert Baden-Powell will be “temporarily” removed in southern England amid topplings of controversial monuments, officials said.
Amid the surging worldwide anti-racism movement, Baden-Powell, who served in the British Army, founded the Scouting movement in 1908 and died in 1941 at age 83, has been accused of racism, homophobia and support for Adolf Hitler.
Officials in the southern seaside town of Poole said the statue would be under 24-hour guard until it can be transported to a secure location. Read more
Fears of second coronavirus outbreak hit global shares (BBC)
Global stock markets have fallen amid fears that an uptick in coronavirus cases could cause more economic damage.
The declines came after the US Federal Reserve warned that the American economy faces a long road to recovery.
In the US, the three main share indexes saw their worst day in weeks, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down almost 7%.
Stock markets in Asia also fell on Friday with benchmark indexes losing ground in Japan, Hong Kong and China. Read more
UN horrified by reports of at least eight mass graves discovered in Libya (France24)
The United Nations voiced “horror” after reports of the discovery of eight mass graves in an area recently seized by the unity government after forces loyal to eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar withdrew.
“UNSMIL notes with horror reports on the discovery of at least eight mass graves in past days, the majority of them in Tarhuna,” the UN mission said in a statement on Twitter.
“International law requires that the authorities conduct prompt, effective & transparent investigations into all alleged cases of unlawful deaths,” it added. Read more
Woman falls in love with punk rocker 30 years older than her after listening to his record (Metro)
They say music is the food of love, and that is certainly true for Laura and David who fell for each other despite a 29-year age gap.
Laura-Marie Jenks, 23, has been dating David Oliver, 52, ever since she tracked him down on Facebook after hearing him sing on a punk rock song, and now they live together in Mere, Wiltshire.
Laura said: ‘I would definitely say it was love at first sight. Love at first sound for me because I heard [David] first and loved him.’ The couple, who have been together for over a year, say they are blissfully happy, even in the face of judgement from family and strangers. Read more
Kamala Harris advances as top contender for Biden’s Vice President (France24)
Amid the nationwide protests over racism and police brutality, US Senator Kamala Harris may have found the powerful and lasting moment that eluded her failed presidential bid but could now land her the No. 2 spot on the Democratic ticket.
Harris, the only black woman serving in the U.S. Senate, has marched in the streets and sponsored new police reform legislation on Capitol Hill. She has been a forceful proponent of sweeping social change and a fierce critic of President Donald Trump. Read more
Coronavirus: Fracas on Brazil’s Copacabana over Covid-19 ‘graves’ (BBC)
Activists angry at Brazil’s response to Covid-19 have created 100 graves on Rio’s Copacabana beach to remember the more than 40,000 people who have died.
However, organisers said supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro mocked the event with one man pulling out crosses.
The president’s opposition to lockdowns and his downplaying of the virus have deeply divided the nation. Read more
Countries, clubs discriminate against black coaches – Finidi (DailyTrust)
A former Super Eagles winger, Finidi George has claimed that black football professionals are usually discriminated against while applying for coaching jobs in Europe.
The Ajax legend in an interview cited former Manchester United legend, Dwight Yorke as one of the blacks who has been unable to secure a coaching job because of the colour of his skin. “It is so sad that Dwight Yorke couldn’t get a club because of the colour of his skin.
If you see the players from his generation that are whites, they were given opportunities to train and if they failed, they give it to other persons and give them job. Read more
Bernd Leno rates Arsenal’s top-four chances ahead of Manchester City clash (Metro)
Bernd Leno is refusing to rule out the possibility that Arsenal could still qualify for the Champions League, despite being eight points behind fourth-placed side Chelsea.
The Gunners will resume their Premier League campaign next week in ninth position and face a tricky test against Manchester City as their first game back. The north London club’s results have slightly improved since Mikel Arteta took over from Unai Emery in December and they remain the only Premier League side not to have succumbed to defeat in 2020. Read more
Juve host tense Milan as Italian season finally resumes (DailyTrust)
The Italian season resumes after a three-month suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic on Friday when Juventus, still chasing a possible league, cup and Champions League treble, host AC Milan in the return leg of their Coppa Italia semifinal. The match, to be played behind closed doors at the Allianz stadium, should have been played on March 4 but was postponed by the Turin city government at 24 hours’ notice as the virus began to spread. The season was suspended altogether one week later. Juventus are favourites to reach next Wednesday’s final after a 1-1 draw in the first leg on February 13. Read more
PGA Tour’s first day back goes off without a hitch (NYPost)
The first day of the PGA Tour’s anticipated restart went off without a glitch. If it were a golf score, it would have to be considered a bogey-free, under-par round. The happiest person in the state of Texas has to be PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan.
Before Thursday’s opening round of the Charles Schwab Challenge began at Colonial Country Club, all 148 players and their caddies tested negative for COVID-19.
That left the week to be about the golf and the restart of the sport, with everyone following the safety protocols. Read more
La Liga threatens quarantine for players who breach health guidelines (Vanguard)
The president of Spain’s La Liga says players could be forced to go into quarantine as the season restarts after its coronavirus-induced suspension, following reports that Barcelona’s Nelson Semedo had breached strict health protocol.
Barcelona said on Thursday that Portuguese defender Semedo “did not train as per protocol established by La Liga”.
That was after reports emerged in Spanish media that he had attended a gathering of more than 20 people in Castelldefels, a beach resort just outside the Catalan capital, going against the country’s strict regulations as it eases out of lockdown. Read more
2020 FA Cup final renamed Heads Up FA Cup final to promote mental health (BBC)
This season’s FA Cup final will be renamed the Heads Up FA Cup final to raise mental health awareness, says the Football Association.
Title sponsor Emirates has agreed to the name change for the final, which is scheduled for 1 August at Wembley.
The Dubai-based airline has sponsored football’s oldest knockout competition since 2015. Read more