Lagos set to rehabilitate dilapidated public schools (Punch)
The Lagos State Government on Monday said it was set to embark on massive rehabilitation of some dilapidated public schools across the state to ensure conducive teaching and learning environment. The Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, made the disclosure during an inspection of some public schools in the state. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that some of the schools inspected were Maryland Nursery and Primary school in Maryland and Ahmad Memorial Muslim Nursery Primary in Agege. Read more
I didn’t hand over N20b court judgment debt to Ihedioha —Okorocha (Punch)
The Immediate past governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has denied the claim by the Attorney General of the state, Ndukwe Nnawuchi, that he (Okorocha) handed over a N20b judgment debt to the incumbent governor, Emeka Ihedioha. Okorocha, in a statement on Monday in Owerri, the state capital issued by his media aide, Sam Onwuemeodo, said that there was no document to prove that the claim of the Attorney General against his administration was true. Okorocha claimed that the N20b judgment debt was incurred when the Peoples Democratic Party held sway in the state between 1999 and 2011. Read more
Youth Council demands 55 per cent appointments from Cross River Gov. Ayade (Punch)
The National Youth Council of Nigeria, Cross River State Chapter, has demanded 55 per cent of political appointments for youths from Governor Ben Ayade. Chairman of the state branch of NYCN, Mr Ndiyo Ndiyo, made the demand in Calabar during a press briefing to outline activities planned to celebrate the 2019 International Youth Day billed for August 12. Ndiyo said Governor Ayade should consider youths between the ages of 18 to 35 and the other percentage to persons between ages 35 to 50 to complement his yet to be constituted cabinet. Read more
Killings: Fayemi talks tough, says hunters now to partner security agents in Ekiti (Guardian)
Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti on Monday vowed to tackle the incessant killings in the state. The governor spoke during a condolence visit to Orin Ekiti where a 65-year old rice farmer, Emmanuel Ilori, was killed by gunmen on Friday. He also said local hunters would henceforth be engaged to work with security agents in providing security in communities. Fayemi further assured the people of the state that “nobody coming from outside the state will be allowed to take over land from the people.” Read more
Ganduje appoints heads of govt agencies, departments (Punch)
Kano State Governor, Dr Abduallahi Umar Ganduje, on Monday, appointed Heads of Government Agencies and Departments in the State. According to a press statement, made available to newsmen in Kano, on Monday, by the Chief Press Secretary to Ganduje, said the appointments were with immediate effect. Also appointed, were Executives Secretaries, Directors-General and Managing Directors. Read more
Makinde to probe LGs, LCDAs accounts (Nation)
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Monday set up a seven -man committee to investigate and probe the accounts and finances of the 33 Local Governments (LGs) and 35 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state. The committee, which was given six weeks to submit its report has the mandate of the governor to look into the Council accounts from January 2018 to May 2019. It is to be chaired by retired Justice S. L Popoola. Read more
Court orders final forfeiture of funds linked to Patience Jonathan (Guardian)
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday ordered the final forfeiture of the 8.4 million dollars and N7.4 billion found in accounts linked to a former first Lady, Patience Jonathan. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had sought a final forfeiture of the sums found in various accounts linked to the former first lady. EFCC had secured an interim order for forefeture of the sums on April 20, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, following a motion exparte. Read more
I’ll always speak truth to power, says new TUC president (Punch)
The newly-elected National President of the Trade Union Congress, Mr Quadri Olaleye, has promised workers that he would always speak the truth to government at all levels. He said this shortly after he took over the mantle of leadership of the TUC from the ex-president, Bobboi Kaigama in Abuja. While he acknowledged that the challenges were daunting, he said he would rely on the contribution of everyone to build a labour movement for posterity. Read more
Five kidnap victims rescued by vigilance group (Punch)
Five kidnapped victims were on Saturday rescued by a local vigilance group at Egoro Na Oka Community, in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State. The victims who attended an overnight burial in Egoro Na Oka were abducted on their way back to Ekpoma town. It was gathered that their Toyota Camry car was blocked by about five gun-wielding men. Read more
Man stripped at Oba’s Palace for impersonation (Nation)
A member of the Ibiwe Society, Chief Okoro Idusere, has been stripped for parading himself as an Enogie (Duke) and using insignia of palace royalty in his car. Chief Idusere also wore beads only used by Enigies and top palace functionaries and must have been presented to them by the Oba of Bénin. In a viral video, the palace Ewaise (diviners) and Secretary of Bénin Traditional Council, Mr. Frank Irabor, were seen interrogating Chief Idusere. Read more
Nigeria, other West African countries adopt ECO single currency (Guardian)
The Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government on Saturday adopted ECO as the name of the single currency to be issued in January 2020. ECOWAS is made up of 15-member countries. They are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo. The leaders at their 55th Ordinary Session in Abuja endorsed the name while congratulating the Ministerial Committee on the Single Currency for the considerable progress recorded in the implementation of the revised roadmap. Read more
British PM hopeful Hunt unveils no-deal Brexit plans (Guardian)
British prime ministerial contender Jeremy Hunt on Monday pledged billions of pounds to mitigate the effects of a possible no-deal Brexit, but the country’s finance minister dismissed the plans as unaffordable. Hunt is vying with frontrunner Boris Johnson to win the support of predominately pro-Brexit Conservative Party members, who will vote this month for Theresa May’s replacement as prime minister. Read more
Jealous man ‘sent death threats to ex before murdering her new boyfriend’ (Metro)
A jealous love rival bombarded his ex-girlfriend with death threats before teaming up with eight other people to kill her new boyfriend, a court heard. Daniel Grogan, 20, is accused of getting close-knit family and friends together to murder Jay Sewell, 18, on 11 December last year. Grogan allegedly spread ‘poison’ among the group who were ‘armed to the teeth’ when they attacked Jay for dating Gemma Hodder. Read more
Police chief faces crimes against humanity charge over Sri Lanka attacks (Guardian)
Sri Lanka’s police chief and a top defence official should be tried for “grave crimes against humanity” over failure to prevent Easter bombings that killed 258, the state prosecutor said Monday. Dappula de Livera said Inspector-General of Police Pujith Jayasundara and Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando failed to act on advance warnings of the deadly April 21 suicide attacks. “The two officials should be brought before a magistrate for their criminal negligence to prevent the April 21 attacks,” de Livera said in a letter to the acting police chief. Read more
India arrests after mob attacks female forest officer (BBC)
Sixteen men have been arrested after a female forest official was brutally beaten with sticks by a mob as police officers watched in the southern Indian state of Telangana. The mob, led by a member of the state’s ruling party, was protesting against a tree plantation drive on Sunday. A video of the incident has gone viral, and the party has condemned the attack on Twitter. Read more
Member of public saw tiger maul zookeeper to death (Metro)
A member of the public called for help as he watched a zookeeper being dragged across a tiger enclosure before it mauled her to death, an inquest has heard. Rosa King, 33, was cleaning the windows of the public-facing enclosure at Hamerton Zoo Park in Cambridgeshire on 29 May, 2017. The keeper died of ‘traumatic injuries’ after the ‘freak accident’, which saw Malayan tiger Cicip attack her after the enclosure gates had been left open. Read more
Kim Kardashian West drops Kimono brand name (BBC)
Kim Kardashian West is to change the brand name for her latest fashion line following accusations of cultural appropriation. Some Japanese people on social media complained that the trademarked brand, Kimono Intimates – a play on her name – disrespected traditional clothing. Kardashian West initially defended the name in The New York Times last week, saying she wouldn’t change it. Read more
Court orders arrest of NFF President, Pinnick in alleged $8.4m fraud (Punch)
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Pinnick and four other officials of the football body. Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu issued the order of arrest following the refusal of Pinnick and others to appear in court to answer to the charges of misappropriation of funds belonging to NFF. Apart from Pinnick, other defendants whose arrests were ordered by the judge include, NFF Secretary, Sunusi Mohammed; the 1st Vice-President, Seyi Akinwumi; the 2nd Vice-President, Shehu Dikko and an Executive member, Yusuff Fresh. Read more
Mikel Obi joins Turkish club (Guardian)
Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has officially joined Turkish club Trabzonspor. “A 2 + 1-year agreement was signed with the free captain of the Nigerian National Team, Professional Footballer John Mikel Obi, with one-year option to transfer to our club,” a statement on Trabzonspor’s official website read. The 32-year-old midfielder, who is presently in Egypt with the Nigeria national team at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, has signed a contract for two years with an option for an additional year. Read more
Godin signs for Inter Milan, Juventus snap up Pellegrini (Punch)
Veteran Uruguayan central defender Diego Godin, who announced his departure from Atletico Madrid in May, signed a three-year deal with Inter Milan on Monday. In a busy day of Serie A transfer activity, Luca Pellegrini became reigning champions Juventus’ first summer signing after moving from Roma on a 22-million-euro ($25 million) four-year deal. The promising Pellegrini, 20, came through the ranks at Roma before spending last season on loan at Cagliari. Fellow defender Leonardo Spinazzola moved the other way as part of the deal. Read more
Chelsea make Kovacic move from Real Madrid permanent (Punch)
Chelsea secured the signing of Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic on a permanent deal from Real Madrid on Monday after he spent last season on loan at Stamford Bridge. Kovacic made 51 appearances as the Blues secured a return to the Champions League by finishing third in the Premier League and winning the Europa League. Chelsea is currently banned from registering new players for the next two transfer windows by FIFA but were able to make the deal permanent as they already held Kovacic’s registration from last season. Read more
Casillas present for pre-season, two months after heart attack (Guardian)
Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas reported for the first day of pre-season with Porto on Monday, two months after suffering a heart attack, but won’t train with the team for a while. “Back to work. The first day,” the 38-year-old tweeted alongside a photo that showed him arriving, smiling, with team-mates at Porto’s Olival training centre. The former Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper underwent emergency surgery on May 1 after suffering a heart attack during training. He left the hospital five days later, admitting that his professional future was uncertain. Read more
Southampton sign striker Adams from Birmingham (Punch)
Southampton has signed forward Che Adams from Birmingham City on a five-year deal, the Premier League club said on Monday. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed but British media reported Southampton paid Birmingham 15 million pounds ($18.95 million) for the 22-year-old forward, who was short-listed for the Championship player of the year last season. Adams registered 22 goals and six assists in 48 appearances for Birmingham last season. Read more
La Liga president Tebas fears Neymar return would damage image of the league (Punch)
La Liga president Javier Tebas has said he would rather Neymar does not return to La Liga if he cannot improve his behaviour. Neymar left Barcelona to join Paris Saint-Germain for a world record fee of 222 million euros in August 2017 but could make a surprise move back to Camp Nou this summer. “In my opinion, if Neymar behaves better, he can be a great player,” Tebas told Spanish radio station Onda Cero late Sunday. Read more
Andy Murray close to confirming mixed doubles partner and drops Serena Williams hint (Metro)
Andy Murray admitted he’s close to naming his mixed doubles partner at Wimbledon, while hinting Serena Williams is still in the running. The three-time Grand Slam champion will partner Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert – who crashed out to last year’s runner-up Kevin Anderson in singles earlier on Monday – in the men’s doubles but his team-mate in the mixed event has been a source of wonder for British fans. Read more
Simona Halep ‘lucky’ after injury scare at Wimbledon (Metro)
Simona Halep fell awkwardly during her first-round Wimbledon win over Aliaksandra Sasnovich and admitted she was ‘lucky’ to not be more seriously injured. The Romanian required treatment after overextending and slipping onto the turf in the ninth game of the first set and saaw her ankle strapped up on court. She was able to continue to defeat the Belarusian 6-4 7-5 to set up a second-round tie with compatriot Mihaela Buzarnescu. Read more
‘I have zero confidence right now’: Alexander Zverev reacts to Wimbledon exit (Metro)
Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas became the biggest casualties on the men’s side of the draw on Day 1 at Wimbledon, losing to Jiri Vesely and Thomas Fabbiano in another tough day for Next Gen stars at Grand Slams. With the ‘Big Three’ winning the last 10 majors, it was hoped that younger stars could start to make a dent in the draw, but two of the biggest names crashed out on Day 1. Read more