LASTMA official killed in Lagos (Guardian)
An official of Lagos State Traffic Monitoring Agency has been killed by a truck at the Apapa end of Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, a security source told The Guardian via email on Sunday. The source said the killing of the traffic official “has paralysed movements and created panic and pandemonium at this point.” The official, a female, was identified as Arogundade Remilekun. Read more
National Assembly officials sell office equipment to outgoing lawmakers at giveaway prices (Independent)
The management of the National Assembly is disposing off office equipment to outgoing members of the National Assembly at rock bottom prices, The Nation has gathered. Payment for the equipment such as computers, scanners, photo copying machines, television sets and refrigerators will be deducted from the severance package of the beneficiaries. Some non-returning federal legislators were seen on Friday moving such office equipment into waiting trucks and Sport Utility Vehicles. Read more
IPOB slams Obasanjo over Fulanisation comment (Nation)
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has flayed recent comment by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on fulanisation and islamisation of the country. The pro-Biafran group described the comment as belated. Obasanjo was reported to have bemoaned the high level of insecurity in the country, regretting that the acts of violence being perpetrated by Boko Haram and herdsmen were being treated with kids gloves. Read more
Prepare for consequences of your action, DSS tells IPOB, others (Punch)
The Department of State Services has warned those behind the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra to have a rethink or be prepared to face the consequences of their action. According to the service, it is prepared to maintain adequate security across Nigeria, saying it will not allow any person or group to obstruct the freedom of law-abiding citizens. Spokesperson for the DSS, Peter Afunnaya, said this in a telephone interview with SUNDAY PUNCH, in Abuja, on Friday. Read more
‘You’re a shameless politician’, Okorocha replies Uzodinma (Nation)
Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, on Sunday, took a swipe at the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last general election, and Senator representing Imo West Senatorial zone, Senator Hope Uzodinma over his recent media attacks against him. The Imo governor, described Uzodinma as a “shameless” politician who, besides being engaged to destroy APC in the state, can do worst things to curry favour if given the opportunity. Read more
I didn’t mock Fayose, ex-deputy over loss at Supreme Court —Senate Minority Leader, Olujimi (Punch)
Senate Minority Leader, Mrs. Abiodun Olujimi, on Sunday denied mocking former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose and the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in the 2018 election in Ekiti State, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, over Friday’s Supreme Court judgment. The Supreme Court had, in the judgment, dismissed the appeal of PDP and Olusola and consequently validated the election of the All Progressives Congress candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. Read more
Arrested INEC staff: APC tells police to deepen investigation (Nation)
The All Progressive Congress, APC, Akwa Ibom State chapter has alleged that the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, is trying to sabotage police investigation on an alleged illegal possession of card readers by an INEC staff. The Chairman of the party, Mr Ini Okopido made this known at the weekend during a press briefing at the party secretariat, Uyo, the state capital. Okopido said that earlier last week, the INEC staff, Ejike Nwankwo was arraigned by the Akwa Ibom State police command with some card readers in the trunk of his car, believing that the devices were used during the last general elections. Read more
LASPOTECH security guard allegedly kills colleague, cuts off his hand (Punch)
Lagos State Police Command spokesman, DSP Bala Elkana, says the Command has arrested a Lagos State Polytechnic security guard who allegedly killed his colleague while they were both on night duty. Elkana, in a statement on Sunday, told the News Agency of Nigeria that, on May 24 at 7. 00a.m, operatives of Shagamu Road Police Station, in collaboration with the Chief Security Officer of Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, arrested one Cletus Williams, a security guard with the institution, for allegedly killing his colleague, Okoro John, while they were on night duty. Read more
Avoid pitfalls of Amosun, others if you must excel – Cleric tells Abiodun (Nation)
The Vicar of All Saints Anglican Church, Ilaro, Ven. Stephen Olamilekan Abiodun, on Sunday advised the Governor-elect in Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, to avoid the pitfalls of the out-going Governor Ibikunle Amosun, in order to stand out from the rest and excel in office. Ven. Abiodun urged Abiodun to meticulously study Amosun to ascertain why he came to governance in a blaze of glory at dawn only to start “rushing” to complete at Sunset what he could have easily accomplished in the morning. Read more
Kebbi to disburse N900m to Almajiri schools – Bagudu (Guardian)
Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, says N900 million will be disbursed to Almajiri schools to ensure every child in the state acquires both Western and Islamic education. Bagudu announced this at the Almajiri Initiative event organised by Mass Literacy Programme and Almajiris Initiative (MALPAI) foundation in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday. “My administration will continue to provide assistance to all Almajiri schools in the state.” Over N900 million will be disbursed through the Ministry of Basic Education in the state,” he said. Read more
Nigeria Leaders Since 1960 Are Clueless – Oloyede (Independent)
Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, the Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, has described those that have led Nigeria since independence as “clueless”. He called on political leaders to always govern with the fear of God. Oloyede, who is also the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB), made the call on Sunday in Osogbo at a Ramadan lecture organised to mark the 62nd birthday of a former governor of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola. Read more
137 pipelines points vandalised in February – NNPC (Guardian)
No fewer than 137 pipelines points were vandalised in February which represents a 40 per cent drop when compared to the reported incident in January, according to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The corporation made the fact known in its Monthly Financial and Operation report released in Abuja, on Sunday. It said: “A breakdown of the report indicated that in February 2019, a total of 137 pipeline points were vandalised which translated to 40 per cent drop from the 230 points vandalised in January 2019.” Read more
ICPC recovers N26bn in 4yrs – Chairman (Guardian)
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) said it recovered N26 billion from 2015 till date from public officials and companies. Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday, said the recoveries included cash and houses. He said during the process, monies were traced to houses, noting that recently, the commission recovered 32 houses from a civil servant. Read more
NAPTIP wants MoU to save Nigerian girls from sex slavery (Guardian)
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) is seeking an agreement between Nigeria and neighbouring West African countries to end the practice of Nigerian girls being used as sex slaves in Mali. At a presentation to the ECOWAS Parliament during its First Ordinary Session on Saturday, NAPTIP Director-General Julie Okah-Donli told members of parliament that Nigerian girls were being sold for between N210,000 and N240,000 to work as prostitutes. Read more
Four suspected cultists held for murder (Nation)
The Police in Ogun State have arrested for suspected cultists for alleged murder of a 26-year-old man identified as Saibu Azeez on Friday. The suspects, Opeyemi Olalekan, Azeez Ologundudu, Emanuel Omoboriowo and Anigilaje Babatunde were said to have stormed a birthday party at 34, Oyedele Close, Abule Lemode, Ijoko around 2am, where they stabbed the deceased on his stomach and also stabbed another man on the head. Read more
Sudan rebel leader returns despite death sentence (BBC)
A Sudanese rebel leader has returned to the country after years in exile despite having been sentenced to death in absentia. Yasir Arman was convicted for involvement in an uprising that began in 2011 in Blue Nile State. He is reported to have faced no problem from the authorities on his arrival. He returns six weeks after President Omar al-Bashir was ousted from power and observers speculate that he could take part in peace talks. Read more
Muslim women say Boris Johnson’s bid for PM ‘shows how little we matter’ (Metro)
A number of Muslim women have expressed alarm at the prospect of Boris Johnson becoming prime minister. The MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip is reported to be the favourite amongst Conservative Party members to succeed Theresa May, after she announced she would be stepping down on 7 June. However, a number of Muslim women have expressed their concerns about Boris’ commitment to racial and religious equality after he compared Muslim women who wear the burqa to letterboxes or bank robbers in a Daily Telegraph column last year. Read more
Islamic State: Iraq sentences French citizens to death (BBC)
Three Frenchmen have been sentenced to death by an Iraqi court after being found guilty of joining the Islamic State (IS) militant group. The men – named as Kévin Gonot, Léonard Lopez and Salim Machou by AFP news agency – have 30 days to appeal. They were among 12 French citizens captured in Syria by US-backed fighters. In February they were transferred to Iraq for trial. Read more
First black woman appointed to lead an Oxbridge college (Metro)
A businesswoman is to become the first black person to lead an Oxbridge college. Sonita Alleyne, 51, has been elected as the next master of Jesus College, Cambridge, and will also be the college’s first female appointee. Ms Alleyne will take up the role from October and said it was ‘an honour to be elected to lead Jesus College’. Read more
Nepal explosions kill three in capital Kathmandu (BBC)
At least three people have died in two explosions in the Nepali capital, Kathmandu, officials say. Five other people were injured in the blasts – one in the city centre and the other in the outskirts, KTV reported. The causes of the blasts are not yet clear but the Himalayan Times, quoting police, said they were “improvised explosive devices”. Read more
Groom glassed in face at pub quiz on night before his wedding (Metro)
A bride walked down the aisle to find her groom covered in stitches having been glassed in the face the night before their big day. Scott Richard, 31, nearly lost an eye and was left permanently scarred from the attack during a pub quiz a day before his wedding. The first time his bride Adele, 34, saw his mangled face was at the alter the next day. Read more
Over 600 people test positive to HIV in Pakistan (Independent)
Pakistan said on Sunday (May 26) over 600 people, most of them children, had tested HIV positive in a village in southern Sindh province. Concern grew after hundreds of people were allegedly infected by a doctor using a contaminated syringe in Rato Dero and the surrounding villages of Larkana district. “Some 681 people, of which 537 were children from 2-12 years of age, had been tested positive for HIV until yesterday in Rato Dero village,” special health advisor Zafar Mirza told a press conference in Islamabad. Read more
Beyonce and Kelly Rowland dance the night away at Janet Jackson’s show and it’s a whole mood (Metro)
Beyonce and Kelly Rowland are the gal pals you want to spend the the night with at a concert, judging by how much fun they were having at Janet Jackson’s show last night. The Destiny’s Child singers let loose at Janet’s latest Las Vegas show on her Metamorphosis Tour on Saturday, where they were spotted in the audience, dancing the night away like the rest of us regular mortals. Read more
James Blunt says his next album will be the ‘saddest’ yet because ‘misery sells’ (Metro)
He’s known for creating rather melancholy tunes, but James Blunt’s next album is set to be even sadder than ever. The You’re Beautiful hitmaker will be drawing inspiration from ‘a few people that have died, and a few [that] have been born’ to make his sixth studio album. And the star is already predicting for his LP in the making to do well because ‘misery sells’. Read more
2019 Women World Cup: Oshoala, Ihezuo arrive Super Falcons camp (Nation)
Spain-based Asisat Oshoala and China-based Chiwendu Ihezuo arrived at Nigeria’s women’s team camp at the Avita Resort in Austria on Sunday. The two Super Falcons forwards were named in the final 23-player squad for the 2019 Women’s World Cup on Friday. Oshoala made history in the Uefa Women’s Champions League final as she became the first African to play and score despite Barcelona losing 4-1 to Lyon two weeks ago. Read more
Sarri’s Chelsea future in spotlight as Europa final looms (Guardian)
Maurizio Sarri faces an uncertain future as Chelsea manager even if the much-maligned Italian leads his side to victory in the Europa League final against Arsenal. Sarri has endured a traumatic first season at Stamford Bridge and he heads to Baku with little clarity over his prospects of staying in charge beyond Wednesday’s final. Despite guiding Chelsea into next season’s Champions League, via a third-place finish in the Premier League, and reaching two cup finals, there remains a sense Sarri is on borrowed time whatever the result against Arsenal. Read more
‘He should leave’ – Boateng on brink of Bayern Munich exit (Punch)
Disgruntled defender Jerome Boateng is on the verge of leaving Bayern Munich after president Uli Hoeness told him to find a new club on Sunday. Boateng, 30, has appeared increasingly unhappy at Bayern this season, after losing his place in the team to Niklas Suele. Having remained on the bench as Bayern won the German Cup final on Saturday, Boateng immediately disappeared down the tunnel after the final whistle and did not join his teammates’ on-pitch celebrations. Read more
Emery seeks Europa League success to salvage Arsenal’s season (Guardian)
Unai Emery’s first season at Arsenal will be judged a success or failure depending on the outcome of a single game the Europa League final against Chelsea but the Spaniard has a habit of saving his best for Europe’s second-tier competition. Emery won the Europa League three years in a row between 2014 and 2016 when at Sevilla and would become the most decorated coach in the competition’s history with another victory in Baku. Read more
Deontay Wilder provides hope of fight with Anthony Joshua this year (Metro)
Deontay Wilder has offered hope a unification clash with Anthony Joshua could happen this year. The WBC champion has repeatedly insisted a showdown with Joshua will be sometime in 2020, with reports claiming Wilder will fight Luis Ortiz in his next outing. Joshua hit out at Wilder for killing hope of a fight in 2019, and the American has now insisted it remains possible he could take on his fellow champion before the end of the year. Read more
French Open 2019: Roger Federer into second round with straight-set win (BBC)
Roger Federer made a winning return to the French Open with a dominant first-round victory over Lorenzo Sonego. The Swiss 20-time Grand Slam winner, playing at Roland Garros for the first time in four years, beat the Italian 6-2 6-4 6-4. He arrived to a standing ovation on Philippe Chatrier court and left with the crowd on their feet in delight. Read more