Lagos man, 32, allegedly rapes teenager, gets bail (Punch)
A 32-year-old man, Abiodun Olalekan, has been arraigned before Chief Magistrate Patrick Adekomaiya of the Badagry Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly defiling an 18-year-old girl.
Olalekan was charged with two counts of rape, an offence contrary to sections 261 and 260 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
During Wednesday proceedings, the prosecution counsel, ASP Ikem Uko, said, “The defendant committed the offence on July 15, 2022, around 8pm at Muyanrin Ibiye, in the Badagry area of Lagos.” Read more
Terrorism scare: Okada riders resist ban as FCT police begin enforcement (Guardian)
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Police Command on Tuesday, commenced the execution of the Federal Government nationwide ban on motorcycle transportation system across the country.
The commissioner of police, FCT Police Command, Abuja, CP Sunday Babaji, ordered the seizure of 20 motorcycles found to have violated the order on Tuesday, in Durumi area of the city.
The Command said it had several meetings with the leadership of motorcycle units across the territory culminating into taking such actions.
According to the FCT police, following the ban on motorcycles in parts of the FCT by the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA), the FCT Command after several meetings with the various heads of motorcycle units across the territory, activated an enforcement exercise at the various divisional and Area Commands (AORs). Read more
ASUU strike: Labour continues protests, slams politicians again (ThisDay)
Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress on Wednesday took their protest in solidarity with the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
They called on the Federal Government not to deny the children of the less privileged quality education in the country.
The PUNCH reports that the NLC had declared a two-day protest in solidarity with ASUU, and other sister unions whose continued industrial action had grounded activities in the Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Workers in various states of the Federation began the protest on Tuesday, warning the Federal Government to accede to the demands of ASUU in order for the academic union to reopen Nigerian universities that have been closed down for over five months. Read more
Foundation sensitises Ajegunle residents on literacy (Guardian)
To reduce the number of out-of-school children in the country and promote learning, a non-governmental organisation, Ibironke Adeagbo Foundation (IAF), has created awareness on enrolling children in school.
The group also seeks partnership with privileged individuals to fund enrolment of children in schools. The foundation staged a walk in Ajegunle, Ifelodun LCDA, Lagos, to create awareness and campaign for support to get the children back in school.
The walk attracted volunteers, IA foundation members and security men from Ifelodun LCDA. The group marched through the streets of Ajegunle, sharing fliers, key rings, air fresheners and wristbands to motorists, local business dealers and commuters to sensitise them on the importance of literacy for children.
The group also visited LCDA office, where its chairman, Olorunfemi Okeowo, commended the initiative and encouraged the foundation not to relent in its efforts at reducing the number of out-of-school children in the country. He pledged to support the foundation’s cause generously, starting with the volunteers. Read more
Tin-Can Customs generates N274.320b revenue in 6 months (Tribune)
The Tin-Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) recently said it intercepted 300 rounds of live ammunition, one pistol and two empty magazines alongside one suspect at the port.
It also said it recorded a collection of N274.320 billion revenue in the half year of 2022 and seized 145 kilograms of Colorado (Indian Hemp) concealed in two units of Ridgeline trucks.
Speaking during a press briefing held recently at the Tin-Can Island Ports to showcase the seizures, the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller, Adekunle Oloyede, said the revenue generated between January 1 to June 31, 2022, was a 27.50 increase from last year’s collection of N229.322 within the period under review.
According to him, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) valuation has helped the command to achieve an expedited clearance process due to predictability of value-assessment, increase in revenue generation, improved ease of doing business, generation of accurate statistics for the Federal Government and a host of others. Read more
Insurgency: Troops rescue 2 Chibok girls abducted over 8 years ago (Channels)
The Nigerian Army has said it found and rescued two women who were part of the female students abducted by Boko Haram terrorists from Government Girls Secondary School in Chibiok, Borno State, more than eight years ago.
In a statement on Wednesday, the army disclosed that troops of 202 battalion during clearance operations on 25 July 2022 intercepted four abducted women including two girls kidnapped by Boko Haram from GGSS Chibok on 14 April 2014.
According to the brief statement, the military said the intercepted Chibok girls and their children are currently in a military medical facility.
On the night of the attack in April 2014, 276 female students mostly Christians aged from 16 to 18 were kidnapped by the Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram from the Government Girls Secondary School at the town of Chibok in Borno State. Read more
Olanipekun breaks silence, says ‘Body of Benchers doesn’t supervise LPDC’ (Vanguard)
A senior advocate of Nigeria and Chairman, Body of Benchers (BOB), Chief Wole Olanipekun, has explained that the BOB does not supervise the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
Chief Olanipekun spoke on Wednesday against the misconception that the BOB has oversight over the LPDC and interferes in its proceedings.
His clarification also followed a letter written by the NBA President, Olumide Akpata, at the weekend asking that he (Olanipekun) step down as BOB chairman.
According to Akpata, this was to avoid undue interference in a petition against a partner in Olanipekun’s firm, Ms Adekunbi Ogunde, before the LPDC. Read more
After backlash, Gbajabiamila tenders apology over Harvard classroom post (DailyTrust)
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has apologised to Nigerian students and their parents for circulating photos of himself receiving lectures at Harvard University in the United States amid the lingering strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
On Tuesday, the Speaker posted a picture of himself in the classroom, studying for a leadership course at Harvard.
However, his tweet didn’t gather praises or compliments from the general public as he expected.
Gbajabiamila, in a tweet on Wednesday, said his post was not sensitive to the present feelings of fellow citizens especially students who are currently on strike due to the unresolved issues between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government. Read more
INEC receives voters cards found in Bayelsa Forest (ThisDay)
The Bayelsa State Independent National Electoral Commission has received 320 Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) found in Bayelsa forest.
Receiving the PVCs on behalf of the Bayelsa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, the Administrative Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Okop Umobong thanked the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service for bringing the cards to the commission and for keeping the neighborhood safe.
Umobong said that he would hand over the cards to the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Alex Hart, and assured that the commission would investigate the circumstances that led to the cards being found in the forest.
He noted that the investigation would determine whether the PVCs were abandoned in the process of printing or they belong to genuine voters. Read more
Beyoncé fans enraged by ‘full album leak’ of Renaissance two days before release (Mirror)
Beyoncé fans have been left fuming after her forthcoming album Renaissance was reportedly leaked online and in store two days before the official release date.
The pop megastar’s highly-anticipated seventh studio album is due to come out at midnight on Friday morning ( July 29 ) and leaks of the 16-song album were instantly shared online, according to Variety.
The media outlet also reported that CDs were already being sold in Europe, with fans on Twitter also claiming physical copies of the album were in stock in the US but not available until Friday.
Hit single Break My Soul, which is the only song from the album to be released to date, surged to the summit of the Sky VIP Official Big Top 40 for four weeks and is currently sat in its highest position to date in seventh place in the Billboard Hot 100. Read more
Pusha T, Busta Rhymes and Latto among those set to appear on Calvin Harris’ new album (HipHopDX)
Pusha T, Busta Rhymes and Latto are just a few of the big names set to appear on Calvin Harris’ forthcoming new album Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2.
The sequel to 2017’s Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1 is set to drop on August 5 and, according to a tweet from the DJ and producer, the new album will also feature appearances from 21 Savage, Young Thug, Normani, Tinashe, Offset, Pharrell, Lil Durk, 6LACK, Snoop Dogg and Swae Lee among others.
Although Calvin Harris specializes in electronic music, the first installment of his Funk Wav Bounces series was very heavy on Hip Hop features.
The 10-track project featured appearances from Young Thug, Nicki Minaj, Future, ScHoolboy Q, Snoop Dogg, Travis Scott, Big Sean, Lil Yachty, Frank Ocean, Kehlani, Migos, John Legend, PARTYNEXTDOOR, D.R.A.M. and Pharrell. Read more
Donald Trump threatens to sue CNN for branding his false 2020 election claims as ‘lies’ (Metro)
Former President Donald Trump has threatened to sue CNN for calling his false claims around the 2020 election ‘lies’ and labeling him a ‘liar’.
‘I have notified CNN of my intent to file a lawsuit over their repeated defamatory statements against me,’ said Trump through his Save America PAC on Wednesday afternoon.
‘I will also be commencing actions against other media outlets who have defamed me and defrauded the public regarding the overwhelming evidence of fraud throughout the 2020 Election.’
Dated July 21, the 282-page letter from Trump’s lawyers to CNN executives demands that the TV network retract and correct multiple stories and on-air statements about the ex-president that they claim are defamatory. Read more
Faye Marlowe, actress in the film noir classic ‘Hangover Square,’ dies at 95 (THR)
Faye Marlowe, a 1940s starlet best known for her turn opposite the doomed Laird Cregar, Linda Darnell and George Sanders in the film noir classic Hangover Square, has died. She was 95.
Marlowe died May 5 in Cary, North Carolina, her daughter Karen Joseph told The Hollywood Reporter.
In her brief Hollywood career, the dark-haired Marlowe also starred alongside Richard Conte in The Spider (1945), another excellent film noir; with Richard Crane in Johnny Comes Flying Home (1946); and, as the title character, with Eddie Albert in Rendezvous With Annie (1946).
After she appeared on the stage for John Brahm, the German director gave her a key role in her first movie, Fox’s Hangover Square (1945). She played the pianist girlfriend of a mild-mannered composer (Cregar) who suffers from blackouts and becomes a serial killer in the turn-of-the century, London-set thriller scored by Bernard Herrmann. Read more
Regé-Jean Page learned ‘valuable’ lessons as extra in Harry Potter (FilmNews)
Regé-Jean Page learned “valuable” lessons while working as a background actor on one of the Harry Potter movies.
Soon after the British actor found fame as the Duke of Hastings on Netflix period drama Bridgerton in late 2020, Page hit headlines after fans spotted him in the background in the seventh film of the wizarding franchise, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.
During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday night, the host asked Page if he enjoyed working on the 2010 movie and he explained why he would recommend being an extra to all budding actors.
“Hugely,” he replied. “I mean, the best thing about background acting, particularly on big movies like that and I recommend it to every actor out there – is essentially, no one pays attention to you in the background, so you get to be the best actor spy. I was like watching how these directors work with these actors, where Emma Watson hides her phones between takes… and this is the valuable stuff.” Read more
Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna reunite for Spanish-language series on Hulu (DailyMail)
Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna will reunite for a Spanish-language series on Hulu after starring together in the 2001 film ‘Y tu mamá también’.
The Mexican actors will star in ‘La Máquina’ while also serving as producers under their La Corriente del Golfo production company.
Gael, 41, and Diego, 42, starred together in the coming-of-age Spanish-language film ‘Y tu mamá también’ along with Maribel Verdú, 51.
‘La Máquina’ will follow an aging boxer, portrayed by Gael, and his crafty manager, played by Diego, who secures him a title fight. Read more
In DC, Abu Akleh’s family says no help from US for full probe into killing (TimesOfIsrael)
A relative of slain Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh said Wednesday that the Biden administration’s top diplomat refused her face-to-face appeal to push for a full US investigation into the killing of the veteran television correspondent.
Niece Lina Abu Akleh also said Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US officials declined in meetings with her this week to provide any more information than they had already made public about how Americans reached the findings about the killing that they released this month.
A July 4 statement issued by the State Department concluded that Israeli forces likely fired the shot that killed Shireen Abu Akleh in May, but that there was no indication Israelis intentionally shot the veteran Al Jazeera correspondent. The 51-year-old reporter, an American citizen, was highly respected in the Arab world for her decades covering Palestinians and other Arab communities.
“I felt like we left the meeting with more questions. And our questions were still not answered,” her 27-year-old niece told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday at the Capitol, where she pressed lawmakers for help obtaining more answers. Read more
Big challenge for Nigeria’s male athletes in Birmingham (Guardian)
In today’s sports, Nigeria’s male team seem to have taken the back seat, allowing the women to dominate the stage. From football to athletics, male competitors are no longer the force they used to be in major sporting events.
This year, Nigerian women have made major headlines by bringing more honours to the country than their male counterparts.
Before the just concluded Oregon 2022 World Athletics Championships, where Nigeria made history by picking her first ever gold medal, the ladies had been the ahead in sports, leaving the male as ‘mere spectators.’
The gap seems to be widening on daily basis.
• Sprint hurdler, Tobi Amusan, set World Record and won gold medal at Oregon 2022, the first Nigerian to do so.
• Ese Brume grabbed a silver medal at Oregon 2022 to set a record as the only Nigerian athlete (male or female) to win two medals at the World Championship. Read more
Amusan turns ‘new bride’ of Nigerian men (Punch)
New world record holder in the 100m women’s hurdles, Tobi Amusan, has attracted a lot of suitors on social media to profess their love for her, following her heroics at the just-concluded World Athletics Championships in Oregon, The PUNCH reports.
Amusan broke the 100m hurdles record with a stunning semi-final time of 12.12secs to erase Kendra Harrison’s 2016 effort by 0.08secs and even ran faster in the final – but her 12.06secs was ruled ineligible by an illegal tailwind.
Prior to her feat in Oregon on Monday, the athlete had less than 3,000 followers on her Twitter handle, but her followers suddenly spiked to over 80,000 followers as of Wednesday evening.
While several congratulatory messages poured in for the new champion, some men took the opportunity to profess their love for the Nigerian hurdler. Read more
Germany defeat France 2-1 to advance to sold-out women’s Euro final against England at Wembley (ABC)
Germany have set up what looms as an historic and record-breaking women’s Euros final against hosts England at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
Tickets to the final at London’s Wembley Stadium — with a capacity of 87,200 — are sold out. The stadium is the largest sports venue in the UK and second-largest stadium in Europe.
Anything near a capacity crowd for the final would comfortably beat the highest-ever women’s Euros attendance number, which currently sits at 68,871 for the opening game of this tournament between England and Austria at Old Trafford.
The highest-ever attendance for an international women’s football match is 90,185, for the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup final between the USA and China. Read more
Ogu opens up on World Cup regrets (Punch)
Super Eagles midfielder, John Ogu, has opened up on not attending the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the disappointment of being left on the bench for the entire 2018 edition of the Mundial in Russia.
Ogu was not listed by late coach Stephen Keshi in the Eagles squad for the World Cup in Brazil, but he made the list under Gernot Rohr for the in Russia four years ago.
The 34-year-old made his senior debut in 2013 against Kenya during the qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup, coming on as a substitute for the injured Victor Moses in the 51st minute.
He also featured in two other qualifiers against Kenya in the reverse fixture and against Namibia. Read more
Juventus fear Pogba could miss World Cup (FootballItalia)
Paul Pogba will have a specialist consultation to decide on treatment for his knee injury, as the Juventus midfielder fears he could be forced to miss the 2022 World Cup with France.
The former Manchester United man was diagnosed with the lesion of the lateral meniscus in his right knee after a training session sprain in Los Angeles last week.
He was expected to have surgery in the United States, but has instead flown back to Italy on Wednesday.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport, it’s because there are two potential approaches to take to this injury and one could see him miss out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Read more
Perez calls for lifetime bans for abusive behaviour (PlanetF1)
Sergio Perez is another driver to have called for lifetime bans for fans who have been found to have been abusive at race weekends.
Multiple reports of unacceptable fan behaviour were reported at the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, including sexual harassment, misogyny, racism and homophobia among certain sections of people in attendance.
Sebastian Vettel is among the drivers to call for lifelong bans, while Lando Norris feels bans should be “for a while” rather than completely, and Perez’s Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen voiced his disgust in the media after the race, but decided against reaffirming the message on social media in the aftermath of the weekend.
“I think it’s certainly important. We all do our bit: drivers, teams, media, fans – there are a lot of good fans in Formula 1,” Perez told reporters in France. Read more
United States offers deal to Russia for release of WNBA star Brittney Griner (ABC)
The Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday.
In a sharp reversal of previous policy, Blinken also said he expects to speak with his Kremlin counterpart for the first time since before Russia invaded Ukraine.
Blinken’s comments marked the first time the U.S. government has publicly revealed any concrete action it has taken to secure the release of Griner, who was arrested on drug-related charges at a Moscow airport in February and testified Wednesday at her trial.
Blinken did not offer details on the proposed deal outlined to the Russians, but a source familiar with the matter said the U.S. government has offered to trade convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for Whelan and Griner. Read more