LASG impounds 3,000 motorcycles in 5 months (Guardian)
The Lagos State Task-Force on Environment and Special Offences (Enforcement) said it had impounded more than 3,000 commercial motorcycles for various traffic offences in the state between January and May. Mr Adebayo Aribidesi, the Spokesman for the Task-Force, told the News Agency Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos that the motorcycles were impounded at various restricted corridors and inner routes. “The Task-Force has impounded over 3,000 commercial motorcycles within the state in all 475 restricted routes including the highways and bridges. Read more
WAEC apprehends supervisors, candidates involved in exam malpractice (Punch)
The West African Examinations Council has said that it has arrested some supervisors and candidates, who tried to undermine the integrity of its ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination. The council’s Head, National Office, Mr Olu Adenipekun, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Lagos. NAN reports that the May/June WASSCE began on Monday, April 8 nationwide and in all the member countries. Read more
Use EFCC to recover looted funds, properties, Imo lawmakers tell Ihedioha (Punch)
The Imo State House of Assembly, on Monday, asked the State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha, to employ the services of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other anti-graft agencies in recovering state “looted funds, government properties including government house generator which was carted away.” The lawmakers also asked the governor to suspend all board appointments including the promotion of permanent secretaries by the immediate past governor, Rochas Okorocha from March 2019. Read more
Zamfara APC expels Sen Kabiru Marafa, others (Guardian)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara state has expelled Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa for alleged anti-party activities. Senator Marafa represents Zamfara Central in the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly. Others expelled along with the Federal lawmaker for the same alleged offence are Hon Aminu Sani Jaji, and Mal Ibrahim Wakkala Liman. Read more
Plateau pastor still in kidnappers’ custody, says CAN Chairman (Punch)
A Pastor in Quanpan Local Government Area of Plateau State, David Dalugat, who was kidnapped by gunmen is still being held in captivity by his abductors. Our Correspondent learnt on Monday that the gunmen stormed the house of pastor Dalugat in Namu community of the LGA on Friday night and took him away to an unknown destination. Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the area, Mr Isaac Tali, confirmed Dalugat’s abduction to our correspondent in Jos on Monday. Read more
Former NIMASA boss bags 42-year jail term (Guardian)
Former acting director-general of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA Callistus Obi, has been sentenced to 42 years imprisonment after been found guilty of misappropriating N111 million. Also sentenced to 42 years imprisonment is Alu Dismas, an aide to Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former Director-General, NIMASA, EFCC said in a statement on Monday. Justice Olatoregun found the defendants guilty on counts two, three, four, six, seven and eight and sentenced them to seven years imprisonment each on each count. Read more
Eid-Fitri: Emir Sanusi settles Kano prison inmates’ fines (Punch)
The Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi II, on Sunday, paid N5 million, for the settlement of fines imposed on some inmates of Kurmawa and Goron Prisons, within Kano metropolis, so they could regain their freedom. In his remarks during his visit to the Prison, the monarch urged the inmates to regard their stay in the prison as the will of God and use the period to reflect on their conduct and learn some lessons. However, the Emir advised them to make good use of the remaining period of Ramadan to seek Allah’s forgiveness and intervention. Read more
Okowa Swears in Chiedu Ebie as Delta SSG (Guardian)
Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa Monday sworn in Chiedu Ebie as the new Secretary to State Government (SSG). The ceremony took place at the state Government House, Asaba in the presence of the Governor’s Wife, Edith Okowa, Deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro, House of Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, his Deputy Rt. Hon Osanebi Ossai Friday and other Dignitaries. Ebie hails from Agbor-Alidinma in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State. Read more
Gombe State to set up task force on water scarcity (Guardian)
Gov. Muhammad Yahaya of Gombe State on Monday said he would set up a seven-man task force to address water scarcity in the state. Speaking during a visit to the state Water Cooperation and Water Treatment Plant in Dadinkowa, Yahaya said the state government would take measures to tackling water scarcity. The governor said although the dam had the capacity of providing portable water to the people, its major challenge was inadequate power supply. Read more
Italy pledges closer ties with Nigeria (Punch)
The Consul-General of Italy in Lagos State, Dr Maurizio Busanelli, has restated his home government’s commitment to strengthening ties with Nigeria in the years ahead. Busanelli gave the reassurance in Lagos State at the celebration of the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the Italian Republic on Saturday night. The consul-general said that the anniversary’s celebration in Lagos State was not only an opportunity to celebrate the identity of Italians but to strengthen the bonds that joined Italy and Nigeria. Read more
Sudan crisis: Security forces ‘move against protesters’ (BBC)
Sudanese security forces have attacked a pro-democracy protest outside the military headquarters in the capital, Khartoum, activists say. Gunfire has been heard, and medical sources say at least 13 people were killed and dozens others injured. Sudan has been governed by a Transitional Military Council (TMC) since President Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in a coup in April. Read more
Court rejects request to detain Assange over 2010 rape case (Punch)
A Swedish court on Monday said it considered Julian Assange a suspect in a 2010 rape case but rejected a request to detain him, dashing the prosecutor’s hopes of having him swiftly extradited from Britain. The Uppsala district court said that the fact that Assange was currently in prison in Britain meant he did not need to be formally detained in Sweden to be questioned by Swedish prosecutors. Read more
Donald Trump meets Queen at start of UK state visit (BBC)
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have met the Queen on the first day of their state visit to the UK. The pair went to Buckingham Palace for a private lunch and welcome ceremony. Mr and Mrs Trump laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknown warrior in Westminster Abbey and are due to attend a state banquet this evening. Read more
Woman ‘lit 5-year-old girl’s face on fire to punish her for yelling’ (Metro)
A woman lit her 5-year-old stepdaughter’s face on fire to punish her for yelling, police said. Dalia Jimenez, 20, allegedly doused the girl’s face in rubbing alcohol before igniting it with a lighter on May 11 in Grand Prairie, Texas. The girl, who police have not named, reportedly suffered burns on her cheeks, just below her jawline, as well as well as on her shoulders, Grand Prairie Police said. Read more
Nanda Devi: Bodies spotted in hunt for climbers missing in India (BBC)
A helicopter crew searching for eight climbers who went missing in the Indian Himalayas has spotted five bodies, Indian sources say. Four Britons, two Americans, an Australian and an Indian made up the missing group who disappeared on India’s second highest-peak. “They were on the same route as the climbers had taken,” a source told AFP, referring to the bodies seen. Read more
Cardinal Pell appeals landmark child sex conviction (Guardian)
The Vatican’s former number-three, Cardinal George Pell, will on Wednesday begin his appeal against convictions for “brazen” sex attacks on two choirboys in the 1990s. Pell, who managed church finances and helped elect two popes, argues the verdict was “unreasonable”, that jurors were not shown vital evidence, and that he was not asked to enter a plea in front of the panel. The most senior figure in the Catholic church to be convicted of historical child sexual offences, Pell was sentenced in March to six years in prison. Read more
Teacher went into premature labour ‘because of bullying at school’ (Metro)
A pregnant teacher was allegedly under so much stress at school that she went into premature labour. An investigation is taken place into complaints of a culture of bullying at a Catholic school where three senior staff members quit in a single day. One of the teachers told the Liverpool Echo she was pregnant while working there and felt so unwell with the stress and pressure in the school that she went into very premature labour. Read more
German mystery over Kassel politician’s ‘gun death’ (BBC)
Investigators have begun a criminal inquiry into the death of a political leader in the German city of Kassel. Walter Lübcke, the 65-year-old head of the regional council, was found shot in the head with no weapon at the scene, German media reported. Police said only that the circumstances of the death were unclear and that the crime bureau was leading the inquiry. Read more
Man tasered after carrying two huge knives through Gatwick Airport security (Metro)
A man was tasered by police after openly carrying two kitchen knives through the security area at Gatwick Airport. CCTV shows the man with a knife in each hand before officers brought him to the ground. The airport had to be evacuated after the man, 30, started making threats to kill in the airport’s South Terminal at just before 2am. Read more
YouTuber faces jail for prank on homeless man (BBC)
A YouTuber who tricked a homeless man into eating an Oreo biscuit filled with toothpaste has been given a 15-month jail sentence. Spanish vlogger Kanghua Ren “violated the moral integrity” of the victim of his 2017 prank, the New York Times reported the Barcelona court as saying. The court also ruled Ren’s YouTube channel, ReSet, must be shut down – and he must not post any videos until 2024. Read more
Britain’s Got Talent’s Jonathan Goodwin almost died when live hanging stunt went wrong (Metro)
Britain’s Got Talent finalist Jonathan Goodwin almost died when a live television stunt went scarily wrong over a decade ago. The escapologist, who had health and safety staff rush onto the stage during his performance on the ITV competition last night, had to be cut down when the trick named ‘Cheating the Gallows’ didn’t go according to plan on E4 show Death Wish Live. Horrific scenes saw Jonathan attempt to free himself in 30 seconds as he was suspended from the gallows with a noose tied around his neck and his hands cuffed. Read more
Kim Kardashian revealed as descendant of Scottish Royalty (Metro)
She’s already queen of reality TV, but now Kim Kardashian can also add descendant of Scottish royalty to her list of titles after digging into her family tree. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star discovered that she’s a relative of Scottish outlaw turned folk hero, Robert Roy MacGregor, and can even trace her lineage down to one of Scotland’s first kings. The 38-year-old’s link to Rob Roy gives the reality star a direct claim to royal descent, with the star’s family tree stretching as far as the first King of Scots Kenneth MacAlpin. Read more
FIFA’s Boban ‘not in favour’ of stadium closures for racism (Punch)
Former Croatia international Zvonimir Boban says he is against football matches being suspended if players are racially abused by a small number of fans, days before England play for the first time since their black players were targeted by Montenegro supporters. England takes on the Netherlands in the Nations League semi-final on Thursday three months after a 5-1 Euro 2020 qualifying win in Podgorica that was overshadowed by monkey chanting from some home supporters, which sparked a call from Manchester City striker Raheem Sterling for stadium closures in the event of racist abuse. Read more
Missing Liverpool fan found in Madrid was arrested (BBC)
A Liverpool fan reported missing in Madrid following the Champions League final was arrested, his family has confirmed. Macauley Negus, 23, from Plymouth, went missing in the Goya area of the Spanish capital after the game on Saturday. Spanish police said a man was arrested for “trying to assault” an officer. Mr Negus’s family told Plymouth Live they were still waiting to “find out the facts of why he was detained by police”. Read more
Former Arsenal player Reyes laid to rest in Spain after car crash (Guardian)
Hundreds of mourners attended the funeral in Spain on Monday of former Real Madrid and Arsenal forward Jose Antonio Reyes, who was killed in a weekend car crash. Reyes’ coffin, drapped in the flag of his boyhood club Sevilla, was carried through the streets of his hometown of Utrera before the funeral service at a local church. The 35-year-old former Spanish international died Saturday in an accident on the main road from Sevilla to Utrera. Read more
French Open 2019: Novak Djokovic beats Jan-Lennard Struff to move into quarter-finals (BBC)
Top seed Novak Djokovic created a piece of French Open history by becoming the first man to reach a 10th consecutive quarter-final after a routine win over Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff. The 32-year-old Serb, aiming to hold all four Grand Slams at the same time, won 6-3 6-2 6-2 in one hour 33 minutes. Djokovic, who has not dropped a set at this year’s Roland Garros, said he was happy to be “cruising along”. Read more
Louis van Gaal criticises Manchester United transfer structure and aims dig at Solskjaer appointment (Metro)
Louis van Gaal has criticised the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – and the prospective arrival of Rio Ferdinand as technical director – in a withering assessment of how Manchester United is run. The 67-year-old has not coached since his two-year spell at Old Trafford came to a premature end in 2016 and has never hid his frustration at being replaced by Jose Mourinho. Read more
Andy Murray to make competitive return in doubles at Queen’s Club (BBC)
Andy Murray is planning to make his return to competitive tennis in the doubles at the Fever-Tree Championships at Queen’s Club later this month. The Briton, 32, has not played since the Australian Open and had a hip resurfacing operation in January. The former world number one, who has since said he is “pain-free”, aims to play alongside Spain’s Feliciano Lopez. Read more
Goran Ivanisevic criticises Nick Kyrgios for Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal comments (Metro)
Nick Kyrgios caused a stir by taking aim at Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal last month, and former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic has now criticised the controversial Aussie for attacking fellow members of the tennis ‘family’. The 24-year-old told the No Challenges Remaining podcast that he ‘can’t stand’ world No. 1 Djokovic, while he finds his post-match celebration ‘cringeworthy’, and called ‘super salty’ Nadal a bad loser. Read more
‘I want to see Klopp at Bayern’ – Beckenbauer (Guardian)
German football legend Franz Beckenbauer said Monday that he wants to see Liverpool coach Juergen Klopp in the Bayern Munich dugout. As Germany celebrated Klopp’s success in last Saturday’s Champions League final, Beckenbauer told Bild newspaper that he was desperate to see the former Dortmund coach join Bundesliga champions Bayern. “I want nothing more than to see Klopp come to Bayern one day, it would be a good fit,” said the 73-year-old, who won five German titles with Bayern as a player and a coach. Read more
Thomas Meunier snubs Arsenal and Manchester United by declaring he wants to stay at Paris Saint-Germain (Metro)
Thomas Meunier has dealt a blow to Arsenal and Manchester United by revealing that he wants to stay at Paris Saint-Germain. The 27-year-old has been heavily linked to both Arsenal and United in recent weeks, with Unai Emery particularly keen on signing the Belgian for the Gunners. Meunier has just one year left on his contract with PSG, which means he could leave the club on a free transfer next year. Read more
Bayern boss Hoeness plays down club’s chances of signing Sane (Punch)
Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has played down his club’s chances of signing Manchester City winger Leroy Sane, saying that the cost of bringing the 23-year-old to Munich would be “crazy”. Sane is yet to extend his contract at City amid rumours of an impending move to recently crowned Bundesliga champions Bayern. Yet Hoeness told Kicker magazine on Monday that he thought it was “unlikely” that Bayern would secure Sane’s signature. Read more
Stephan Lichtsteiner confirms he’s leaving Arsenal in emotional message to fans (Metro)
Stephan Lichtsteiner has confirmed that he’s leaving Arsenal in a heartfelt letter to supporters, players and staff. The 35-year-old defender signed a one-year deal with Arsenal last summer after joining on a free transfer from Juventus and made 23 appearances in all competitions under Unai Emery. Hector Bellerin’s season-ending injury in January appeared to open up an opportunity for Lichtsteiner, but Shkodran Mustafi and Ainsley Maitland-Niles were favoured at right-back. Read more
Caster Semenya: Olympic 800m champion can compete after Swiss court ruling (BBC)
Caster Semenya will not need to take testosterone-reducing medication to compete after a Swiss court temporarily suspended a new IAAF ruling. The Olympic 800m champion, 28, last month lost her challenge to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) against the implementation of a restriction on testosterone levels in female runners. The ruling would have affected women competing from 400m to the mile. Read more