Lagos PDP: Bode George, others vow to resist external interference (Punch)
Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State including Chief Olabode George and a former deputy governor of the state, Senator Kofo Bucknor-Akerele have decided to forthwith block any external interference that disrupts the unity of the party in the state. The leaders at the end of a crucial meeting in Lagos also resolved to sanction any member of the party who flouts the rules and regulations as stipulated in the PDP constitution. This was contained in a communiqué made available to PUNCH on Saturday. Read more
Former Lagos PDP Organising Secretary, Defects to APC (Guardian)
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday said it had received Mr Mutiu Okunola, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), into its fold. Mr Abiodun Salami, state APC Assistant Publicity Secretary made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. NAN reports that Okunola, a former Organising Secretary of the PDP in the state, was the party’s candidate for Ikeja Federal Constituency in the last elections. Read more
Fayemi, Dangote broker peace between Ganduje, Emir of Kano (Guardian)
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Africa’s richest man Alhaji Aliko Dangote are mediating in the crisis between Governor Abdullai Umar Ganduje and Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II. The last-minute intervention is coming after several efforts towards mediating between the two failed to halt the plan to dethrone Sanusi. Ganduje already queried emir Sanusi over the alleged N3.4bn fraud with less than 48 hours ultimatum to respond. The action follows recommendations made for the suspension of the monarch. Read more
Okorocha’s victory proves judiciary as constitutional defender —Nwosu (Punch)
The governorship candidate of the Action Alliance in Imo State, Uche Nwosu has described the judiciary as the greatest defender of Nigeria’s constitution and democracy. He said this against the background of the judgement of the Federal High court, Abuja, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue a Certificate of Return to the immediate past governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, as the Senator-elect for Imo West constituency. Nwosu who spoke with journalists in Owerri, said that the judiciary had continued to “preserve our democracy.” Read more
Police bans rallies in Kano over Ganduje, Sanusi rift (Guardian)
The Kano State Police Command has banned any form of rally, demonstration, procession or assembly in the state until further notice. The order was contained in a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abdullahi Haruna, and made available to newsmen in Kano on Saturday. Similarly, he said, the command had withdrawn permission given to members of the public, civil society organisations, political parties, NGOs and other groups. Read more
Kogi NYSC gets new Coordinator (Punch)
Mr Olayiwola Lasaki has been appointed the new Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps in Kogi State. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the former NYSC Coordinator, Mrs.Oludolapo Ahile, died on May 17, in a road accident on Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia highway in Nassarawa State. Mr Adedapo Tayo, the Assistant Director, Public Relations Unit of NYSC, in a statement on Saturday in Lokoja, said that the new coordinator assumed duty on June 6. Read more
Niger gets new CP (Guardian)
Mr Adamu Usman, formerly of the finance and administration department in the Force Headquarters, Abuja has assumed office as Commissioner of the Police Command in Niger, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports. Usman replaces Mr Sabo Ibrahim who retired recently after 35 years of service. A statement by Mr Mohammed Abubakar, spokesman of the Niger command of the Force, said that Usman joined the Niger Police Force as a cadet ASP on 15 March, 1988 after bagging a B.A. Degree in Public Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1985. Read more
18 persons burnt to death in Ondo road accident (Punch)
No fewer than 18 people reportedly lost their lives in a road accident which occurred on Saturday on Akure-Owo Expressway at Oba Ile town in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State. It was gathered that the accident, which was said to have occurred around 3:30 a.m on Saturday, involved an 18-passenger bus with a registered number; YLA25XU and a truck with the registration number; GG873XM. According to an eyewitness, the driver of the truck lost control of the vehicle and collided with the passenger bus, coming from the opposite direction. The two vehicles were said to have caught fire immediately. Read more
Hippopotamus kills another in Gombe (Punch)
A male hippopotamus has been killed by another hippo in Dadinkowa River of Gombe State on Friday. Around 7:00 p.m., when our correspondent got to the Local Government Area, attempts were being made by youths to pull the dead animal out of the river. A fisherman, Abubakar Ruwa, told The PUNCH that the hippos were fighting over territory and that the fight had lasted for days. Read more
Egypt says four suspected Islamists killed in Sinai (Guardian)
Egyptian security forces killed four suspected jihadists in restive North Sinai allegedly involved in a deadly attack this week on a police checkpoint, the interior ministry said Saturday. It said the suspects were killed in a shootout as security forces raided a building used as a hideout in the town of El-Arish, and three assault rifles and an explosive vest were seized. Since Wednesday’s attack claimed by the Islamic State group on a checkpoint, southwest of El-Arish, the capital of North Sinai, in which eight policemen died, operations by security forces have killed a total of 26 “terrorists”, according to the ministry. Read more
Syria war: Abdel Basset al-Sarout dies after Hama clashes (BBC)
A Syrian footballer who became a symbol of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad has died of wounds sustained in clashes in the north-west. Abdel Basset al-Sarout, 27, died in the Hama province, his rebel faction says. A promising goalkeeper for Syria’s youth team, he sprang to prominence in his home city of Homs in 2011 as one of many who staged street protests. Read more
Meghan makes first public appearance since son’s birth at Queen’s birthday (Punch)
Prince Harry’s wife Meghan made her first public appearance on Saturday since giving birth last month, joining a host of British royals to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s official birthday in London. The Duchess of Sussex joined her husband at the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony, in her only official royal engagement since she gave birth to their son Archie in early May. The occasion sees Britain’s most prestigious regiments stage a centuries-old spectacle of military pomp and pageantry. Read more
US-Mexico talks: Trump hails deal on migrants to avoid tariffs (BBC)
President Donald Trump has hailed a deal reached with Mexico to help stem the flow of migrants to the US after he threatened to impose trade tariffs. Under the deal, in which Mexico agreed to take “unprecedented steps”, the duties that were due to come into effect on Monday have been suspended. “Mexico will try very hard, and if they do that, this will be a very successful agreement,” said Mr Trump. Read more
Woman arrested for forcing 13-year-old daughter into prostitution (Punch)
A homeless Romanian woman has been arrested in Sicily for forcing her 13-year-old daughter into prostitution, in return for which she would obtain money, cigarettes, drinks, the use of a shower or a place to sleep. In a statement, Italian police said they also apprehended four men who sexually abused the teenager, including a 90-year-old. “They will all face rape charges as the age of consent in Italy is 14,’’ police said. Read more
World Cup: Falcons’ Ordega targets redemption against Norway (Punch)
Super Falcons forward, Francisca Ordega is confident they will get a favourable result when they battle European giants Norway in their opening Group A match of the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France on Saturday (today) in Reims. Nigeria last played Norway in a competitive game at the World Cup in 1995 with the Norwegians humbling the Africans 8-0 on their way to winning the trophy. Norway are ranked 12th in the world ahead of the Falcons, who are ranked 38th. Read more
CAF boss Ahmad accused of sexual harassment (Punch)
The President of the Confederation of Africa Football Ahmad Ahmad has been accused of sexual harassment a day after he was released by the French Police on Friday. A public relations consultant from Mali, Mariam Diakite, told The New York Times that she was fired by Ahmad for rejecting his advances. Diakite, 34 said she had a confrontation with Ahmad in a hotel suite during a conference she was hired to organise in Rabat, Morocco in 2017. Read more
Dominic Thiem reacts to famous win over Novak Djokovic to reach French Open final (Metro)
Dominic Thiem came through one of the matches of his life in the semi-finals of the French Open, downing world No. 1 Novak Djokovic to set up a final meeting with Rafael Nadal. Thiem is the only man to defeat the Spanish ‘King of Clay’ in each of the past three years on his favoured surface but this victory will hold a special place in his heart. Competing against a man who had won the past three Grand Slam titles, Thiem dug in deep during a 6-2 3-6 7-5 5-7 7-5 win over the top seed and booked his spot in a second French Open final. Read more
French Open 2019: Ashleigh Barty beats Marketa Vondrousova to win title (BBC)
Australian Ashleigh Barty has beaten Czech teenager Marketa Vondrousova in the French Open final to win her first Grand Slam title and complete a fairytale return to the sport. The eighth seed won 6-1 6-3 against 19-year-old Vondrousova on the Paris clay. Barty, 23, quit tennis to play professional cricket in 2014, but returned to the sport 17 months later. Read more
Spain and Portugal eye hosting 2030 World Cup (Guardian)
Spain and Portugal’s football associations announced on Saturday they are looking into the idea of bidding to stage the World Cup in 2030, without Morocco who had earlier been cited as a potential partner. “After holding several meetings in recent weeks, the football federations of Spain and Portugal confirm that they will begin a thorough process of analysis on the possibility of presenting a joint bid to organise the 2030 World Cup,” a statement said. Read more