Lagos to divert traffic at Marina for rail project for over 7 months (Guardian)
The Lagos State Government has announced plans to divert traffic on the National Theatre and Marina axis for the next seven months for works on the Blue Line rail project.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, who made the announced in a statement on Tuesday, sàid that the road diversion would start from Monday Aug. 9, 2021 for a duration of 221 days.
Oladeinde said the diversion was part of the current administration’s mandate to ensure safety of motorists and construction personnel during the course of the construction of Blue Line rail project slated within seven months and a week. Read more
Evans: 2 ex-soldiers in court, deny being accomplices (Tribune)
Two former soldiers of the Nigerian Army, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba, on Tuesday, denied being accomplices to the crimes of alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike alias Evans.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ifeanyi and Aduba made the denials during the resumption of their trial at an Ikeja High Court over two counts of kidnapping and conspiracy.
The ex-soldiers, who had earlier been dismissed by the Nigerian Army, are facing trial alongside Evans, Uche Amadi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu and Ogechi Uchechukwu for the alleged kidnap of Mr Donatius Dunu, the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceuticals.
Ifeanyi, led in evidence by defence counsel, Mr A.A Uzoukwu, said he was acquainted with Aduba and had worked with him as a soldier. Read more
US vaccine lifeline: FG, states work out sharing formula, Lagos gets priority (Punch)
The federal and state governments on Tuesday began deliberations on how Moderna vaccine doses Nigeria received from the United States on Monday would be shared.
The PUNCH gathered that state commissioners of health held several meetings on Tuesday in Abuja with officials of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 as well as the Federal Ministry of Health.
It was learnt that the meetings also discussed the logistics for moving the doses to states.
Sources at the meetings, however, said the specific amount of doses that would be allocated to each state had yet to be finally decided. Read more
Court remands man for allegedly defiling 11-year-old girl (Guardian)
An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday remanded a 20-year-old unemployed man, Oriyomi Sanni, who allegedly defiled an 11-year-old girl.
Magistrate Mrs O.A Layinka, who did not take Sanni’s plea, ordered that he should be remanded in Kirikri Correctional Centre.
Layinka, however, directed the police to send the case file to the state Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.
She adjourned the case until Aug. 25 for DPP advice. Read more
Sustain your dad’s good legacy, Tinubu tells governor (Nation)
All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has commiserated with Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun on the passing of his dad, Dr. Emmanuel Adesanya Abiodun.
Dr. Abiodun died on August 2 in Iperu-Remo, Ogun State.
He was 89.
In an emotional condolence letter he personally signed, Asiwaju Tinubu said: “I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of your father and patriarch of the Abiodun Family, Dr. Emmanuel Adesanya Abiodun, on Monday, August 2, in Iperu-Remo, Ogun State.
“By way of this letter, I extend my deepest condolences to you and other members of your family. Read more
Fuel truck crushes motorcycles, kills two in Ondo crash (Punch)
A petrol-laden tanker crushed two persons to death and injured four others in the Likapala area of Ondo town, Ondo State, on Monday.
The tanker, whose driver was said to have lost control of the vehicle, also destroyed some motorcycles in the area.
According to an eyewitness, the incident happened while it was raining heavily in the town.
The eyewitness said, “The driver of the tanker lost control of the vehicle and faced the opposite direction and collided with all the motorcycles on the other lane of the road. It was a serious accident.” Read more
BBNaija Housemate: Why I joined US Army (DailyTrust)
Big Brother housemate, Pere, says he joined the US Army so he could become an American citizen.
The Warri-born 35-year-old said this when all the housemates gathered to discuss about their lives and career paths on Tuesday.
Pere served in the US Army for six years before returning to Nigeria.
Raised by a single mother, the actor and a real estate agent is the first born of two children. Read more
7 feared dead as okada riders clash in Ogun (Guardian)
No fewer than seven motorcyclists were reportedly killed in a clash among commercial motorcyclists in Ibese in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The clash, which started on Monday, snowballed into an ethnic crisis between the Hausas and the Yorubas on Tuesday, leaving about 7 people dead and about 12 motorcycles burnt.
It was gathered that the motorcyclists operating at Dangote Cement Factory junction at Ibese were at loggerheads with the union leaders over a hike in ticket fees from N600 to N800.
A community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said some soldiers have been mobilised to restore peace on Monday, but fighting resumed on Tuesday. Read more
Man, 40, faces N.7m theft charge
(DailyTrust)
A chief magistrate court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has ordered the remand of a 40-year- man, Samuel Ayodele, at the correctional facility in Ado-Ekiti, over alleged theft.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Johnson Okunade, told the court yesterday that on June 9, 2021 at Oke-Ureje Poly road in Ado-Ekiti, the defendant entered the shop of one Adu Annuoluwapo with intent to commit felony.
He said the defendant stole one Plasma TV set, Startimes decoder, Deck music system, perfume, earrings and necklace, estimated to be N700,000.
The prosecutor said the offence is punishable under sections 411(2) and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012. Read more
FBI used pictures of staff for undercover sex crime stings (BBC)
The US Department of Justice has found that FBI agents used photographs of female office staff as bait for sexual predators.
A watchdog report said the support staff members were not certified to work undercover in this manner.
It noted that the photos could potentially put staff in danger.
In response, the FBI has said it accepted the findings. The agency will change its policies and implement new guidelines. Read more
Brendan Fraser comeback on the cards as he ‘joins Martin Scorsese flick Killers of the Flower Moon’ (Metro)
Brendan Fraser is continuing to make his return to the limelight by boarding Martin Scorsese’s new film Killers of the Flower Moon.
Reports claim he will appear in the director’s latest Apple TV drama, starring Robert De Niro, based on the mysterious murders of members of the Osage tribe in the 1920s.
The actor is on a roll at the moment as he is also said to have landed a part in the comedy Brothers which is currently being filmed in Atlanta, according to Deadline.
The film’s plot is still being kept under wraps but Brendan joins a cast that includes Josh Brolin and Glenn Close. Read more
Vauhxx Booker: Black man condemns charges over alleged race attack (BBC)
A black man who alleges that he was the victim of a racist attack has himself been charged with assault in the US state of Indiana.
Criticising the move, Vauhxx Booker told reporters that he had been charged “in his own attempted lynching”.
Mr Booker said white men had threatened to “get a noose” while attacking him at a gathering in July 2020.
Partial video of the incident was widely shared on social media and two men were later charged with assault. Read more
People of the pandemic: A Parisian balcony lockdown quiz show goes global (France24)
When France first went into lockdown in March 2020, the general mood in the country was one of anxiety. To cheer himself and his neighbours up, Noam Cartozo, an actor living in Paris, decided to bring a lockdown version of one of France’s much-loved quiz shows, “Questions pour un champion” (Questions for a champion), to life from his balcony. This is the second instalment of a FRANCE 24 series about people who found fame during the pandemic.
It all started as a joke. In March 2020, Noam Cartozo, 31, found himself in lockdown like the rest of France, confined to his apartment in Paris’s 11th arrondissement (district).
The theatre production that he was a part of in Marseille had ground to a halt. To relieve himself of the boredom that had begun to set in, Cartozo broadcast live music from his apartment and organised guess-the-song games with his neighbours. Read more
Nicolas Cage’s new movie about a kidnapped pig currently has a 97% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes
(Metro)
Nicolas Cage’s new film Pig is being lapped up by critics with the flick scoring a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 83% on Metacritic.
The actor’s latest movie tells the tale of a truffle hunter who returns to Portland, Oregan to find his kidnapped pig.
The thriller’s trailer opens with Oscar winner Nicolas, 57, as his character Rob whistling for his prized pig which trots after him out the door and into the woods.
The pair can then be seen hunting for truffles together before they return home with the pig sitting comfortably on his bed. Read more
Gunmen attack home of Afghan defence minister in Kabul (BBC)
Four people have been killed after militants attacked the home of the Afghan defence minister.
Bismillah Khan Mohammadi was not at home on Tuesday as gunmen detonated a car bomb and fired shots near Kabul’s heavily fortified Green Zone.
His family was safely evacuated and the attackers killed.
The attack comes as fighting continues in other key Afghan cities, with the UN Security Council calling for an immediate end to the violence. Read more
Siasia sues FIFA in US court, wants ban overturned (Punch)
Former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia says FIFA ran afoul of his constitutional rights after he was convicted of bribery.
In a lawsuit filed Monday in New York federal court, the former Nigerian international claims only the US Government can charge him.
The 53-year-old was initially sanctioned in 2019 by FIFA for agreeing to “receive bribes in relation to the manipulation of matches.”
But after he appealed against the life-ban, it was reduced to five years by the Court of Arbitration for Sports. Read more
Ferrari discover that Leclerc’s engine was ‘irreparably damaged’ in the multi-car crash in Hungary (BBC)
Ferrari have discovered that Charles Leclerc’s power-unit was “irreparably damaged” in the first-corner pile-up at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Leclerc was hit from behind by Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin, becoming one of several drivers to retire at the first corner.
Drivers are restricted to three power-units over the course of the 2021 season.
Going over the limit automatically incurs a 10-place grid penalty.
Ferrari said in a statement that Leclerc was now almost certain to receive grid penalties later this season for using more than the permitted number of engines. Read more
Arsenal’s midfield transfer plans uncertain after receiving Thomas Partey injury diagnosis (Metro)
Arsenal will be without Thomas Partey for their Premier League season opener – and perhaps longer – and could be forced into a rethink over their transfer plans.
The Ghana international suffered an ankle injury in the first half of the north Londoners’ pre-season friendly defeat to Chelsea on Sunday, with manager Mikel Arteta not optimistic when asked about Partey afterwards.
‘I just had a talk with the doctor. He’ll have a scan tomorrow,’ explained the Spaniard. ‘At the moment it’s not looking good because he was in pain and he could not continue which for Thomas is pretty unusual.’ Read more
Malmo stun Rangers in Champions League (BBC)
Steven Davis’ “big moment” has given Rangers “an important lifeline” in their quest to reach the Champions League group stage despite defeat by Malmo, says manager Steven Gerrard.
Davis rattled the ball home from the edge of the box in the 95th minute of a difficult night for the Scottish champions in Sweden.
Soren Rieks and Veljko Birmancevic scored within two minutes of the restart to put Malmo in command, and they looked set to maintain their lead, but for Davis’ crucial intervention.
It puts Rangers in a stronger position for the return leg next Tuesday at Ibrox, where they boast a formidable record. Read more
Chelsea given major hope over Romelu Lukaku transfer as Inter Milan set £100m asking price (Metro)
Inter Milan will reluctantly accept a bid of around £100million from Chelsea for Romelu Lukaku after officials at the club privately admitted they need to sanction one more high profile departure this summer to balance the books.
Chelsea have had two bids rejected by Inter for the Belgian striker, who is open to returning to Stamford Bridge six years after his departure.
Inter’s resistance in discussions so far has left Chelsea reassessing their options but the Telegraph claim the Italians are merely playing hardball and that they may be forced into selling Lukaku because of their dire financial situation. Read more
Harry Redknapp says Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy ‘will not budge’ over Harry Kane transfer fee (BBC)
Harry Redknapp says Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy doesn’t “do emotions” and “will not budge” over his valuation of striker Harry Kane.
Kane, 28, failed to attend training for a second day on Tuesday as he looks to secure a move away from Spurs.
“You’re dealing with a very cold, calculated man when it comes to business,” Redknapp told BBC Radio 5 Live.”Daniel doesn’t do emotions. He doesn’t do feelings. I know what he’s like.” Read more