LG poll: Voters with temporary cards can vote –LASIEC (Punch)
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission says voters in possession of the Temporary Voter Cards are eligible to vote in Saturday’s local government election in the state.
Justice Ayotunde Phillips (retd.), LASIEC Chairman, said this at a news conference on Friday at its headquarters in Yaba, Lagos.
Phillips said voters in possession of either the Permanent Voter Cards and TVCs would be allowed to cast vote across the state.
She also reiterated that the commission was ready to conduct a free, fair and credible poll. Read more
Tension as Lagos, Ogun hold council polls today (Vanguard)
After months of preparations, Lagos and Ogun states will hold local council polls, today (Saturday).
No fewer than 6,570,291 registered voters are expected to exercise their franchise across 13,323 polling units in 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs in Lagos
In Ogun, the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has pulled out of the exercise, accusing the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission, OGSIEC, of undermining it and trying to factionalise the party.
Meanwhile, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has deployed police personnel and ordered them to ensure that the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC’s facilities, sensitive materials, polling units and collation centres are adequately protected. Read more
10 pirates bag 48-year imprisonment, NIMASA hails ruling (Punch)
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Friday, sentenced 10 pirates to a total of 48 years each in prison under the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act for hijacking a Chinese fishing vessel, FV Hai Lu Feng II, in May 2020.
This was disclosed by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency in a statement by its Assistant Director, Public Relations, Osagie Edward, titled ‘Maritime Security: 10 pirates bag 48 years imprisonment under SPOMO Act’.
It said Justice Ayokunle Faji convicted the defendants 12 years each on all four counts as charged, adding that the 48 years imprisonment is, however, to run concurrently.
In addition to each of the convicts spending 12 years behind bars, they would also pay a cumulative fine of N10m, the statement said. Read more
UNILAG alumni to offer free cervical, Eye screenings (Guardian)
Ahead of the yearly public lecture in honour of the late Prof. Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe, slated for Thursday, July 29, 2021, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Alumni Association will conduct free medical screenings in Lagos.
The exercise, which will hold on Wednesday, July 28, will include free cervical test for women, eye test and dental check up for interested individuals.
The association will also hold a Walk for Life programme in the morning of July 29, 2021 before the commencement of the public lecture. Speaking at a press conference, the chairman of the Lagos State branch of the association, Dr. Benjamin Oluwatosin Olowojebutu, described the late erudite scholar as an agent of change in the university. Read more
Julius Berger announces major road diversion on Lagos-Shagamu Expressway (Guardian)
Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, yesterday, announced a major road diversion on Lagos–Shagamu Expressway to allow for detailed work on sections of the project.
According to the project team in charge, there will be traffic diversion at two locations of the expressway for the continuation of the ongoing bridge works at Eldorado and Lotto Junctions. This will take place between July 26, 2021 and July 30, 2021 for the installation of cross beams on both sides of the expressway, after which both sides of the expressway will be reopened to traffic.
In addition, beginning from August 9, 2021 through to November 9, 2021, Phase 2 of the diversion will be implemented for the installation of deck slabs, parapets and hand railings on both sides of the Eldorado flyover. Also, from July 30, 2021, Lagos bound traffic will be diverted to the Ibadan bound carriageway, from a section before Lotto Junction to a section at Deeper Life Conference Centre with two lanes each in opposite direction using temporary median dividers. The purpose of the diversion is to allow for safe installation of cross beams, bridge deck slabs and parapets on the ongoing bridge works on the Ibadan bound carriageway, which will last for 12 weeks. Read more
Over 300 Nigerians languishing in Italian prisons for trumped-up charges –Edo ex-commissioner (Punch)
Former Edo State Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Osaze Osemwingie-Ero, has raised the alarm over the illegal detention of over 300 Nigerian youths in Italian prisons for trumped-up charges on mafia-related offences.
Osemwingie said he learnt about the plight of the innocent young Nigerians during his wrongful detention in Italy as a result of a “very corrupt and complex system.”
The former commissioner, who spoke during an interview on Arise TV, on Friday, said the youths were committed to maximum prisons in Italy because they did not have the resources to access an independent lawyer.
“They don’t have money to get lawyers; the prosecutor gives them government lawyers that he uses to manipulate them,” the ex-commissioner noted. Read more
Death row inmates now 3,008 as FG urges quick action by states (Vanguard)
The Federal Government has asked sub-national entities in the country to hasten measures to decongest the custodial centres especially with regards to summoning the political will to do the needful on death row convicts.
Disclosing that Nigeria now has 3,008 condemned criminals consisting of 2,952 males and 56 females, the federal government also urged states to build holding centres for awaiting trial suspects to decongest custodial facilities.
Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, gave the charge on Friday at the commissioning of the Osun State Command office complex of the Nigerian Correctional Service NCoS, Osogbo. Read more
Court convicts mother, son, girlfriend for defrauding American of $902,935 (Guardian)
A Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State has convicted and sentenced a woman, Dora Animam; his son, Gift Kenneth and girlfriend, Spice Chimzi Dandy to prison for internet fraud.
The Benin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the convicts before Justice F. A. Olubanjo on one-count charge each for offences bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretences.
They were said to have conspired to defraud an American lady, Lucinda Ann Garnes Henrichson, of a total sum of $902,935. Upon arraignment, they all pleaded guilty to the charge. Read more
China imposes sanctions on US officials (BBC)
China is imposing sanctions on several US individuals and organisations in response to recent US sanctions on Chinese officials in Hong Kong.
Those targeted include former US Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross.
The counter-sanctions come days before US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman is due to visit China.
The US sanctions on Chinese officials in Hong Kong were because of their role in the security crackdown in the territory. Read more
Harry’s memoir ‘part of four-book deal with one released after Queen dies’ (Metro)
Prince Harry’s upcoming memoir will be part of a lucrative four-book deal, with the second not being released until after the Queen’s death, it has been claimed.
The Duke of Sussex’s chronicle, which he promises will cover ‘the highs and lows’ of his life growing up in the Royal Family, is just the ‘tip of the iceberg’, according to an industry insider.
The deal is thought to be worth as much as £29 million following a bidding war between publishing houses which is said to have been overseen by Harry himself.
The first book is expected to be released by Penguin Random House in late 2022, coinciding with Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee. Read more
Haiti holds funeral for slain president Moise under tight security (France24)
Pallbearers in military attire carried late Haitian President Jovenel Moise’s body in a closed wooden coffin as his funeral got underway on Friday, two weeks after he was shot dead at home in an assassination still shrouded in mystery.
The bearers placed the polished casket on a dais garlanded with flowers. A Roman Catholic priest blessed the coffin and a Haitian flag was unfurled.
Foreign dignitaries including U.S. President Joe Biden’s top advisor for the Western Hemisphere flew to Cap-Haitien to pay their respects to Moise, joining mourners who have taken part in a series of commemorations in Haiti this week.
Moise was gunned down in his home in Port-au-Prince before dawn on July 7, setting off a political crisis in the Caribbean country already struggling with poverty and lawlessness. Read more
Jeff Bezos and Sir Richard Branson not yet astronauts, US says (BBC)
In a move that pours cold water on the dreams of a few billionaire space explorers, the US has tightened its definition of the word “astronaut”.
New Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules say astronaut hopefuls must be part of the flight crew and make contributions to space flight safety.
That means Jeff Bezos and Sir Richard Branson may not yet be astronauts in the eyes of the US government.
These are the first changes since the FAA wings programme began in 2004. Read more
Dwayne Johnson will not star in any more Fast & Furious films amid Vin Diesel beef (Metro)
It seems that feud between Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Vin Diesel is still simmering away in the background.
Dwayne Johnson has confirmed that he won’t star in any more Fast & Furious films while laughing at his co-star’s claims he improved his acting.
Since 2016, there have been rumours of a feud between Johnson, who plays Luke Hobbs in the franchise, and Diesel, who plays Dominic Toretto, after Johnson hit out at ‘candy a**es’ on set.
In comments believed to have been aimed at Diesel, the former wrestler said: ‘Some conduct themselves as stand-up men and true professionals, while others don’t. Read more
Las Vegas murder case cracked with smallest ever amount of DNA (BBC)
The 1989 murder of a 14-year-old girl in Las Vegas has been solved by using what experts say is the smallest-ever amount of human DNA to crack a case.
Stephanie Isaacson’s murder case had gone cold until new technology made it possible to test what little remained of the suspect’s DNA: the equivalent of just 15 human cells.
Police on Wednesday said they had identified the suspect by using genome sequencing and public genealogy data.
Her alleged killer died in 1995. Read more
‘United need Ndidi, not Rice’ (Punch)
Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has been seen as a better option for Manchester United than the highly sorted Declan Rice, according to a report in England.
The Nigeria international, who has three years left on his current deal, helped Leicester City lift the English FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history last season.
It was the first trophy win for the team after they won the Premier League back in 2016.
Since the arrival of Jadon Sancho at Old Trafford on Friday, Rice has been another name rumoured to be joining United before the close of the transfer window. Read more
Chinese shooter Yang claims first gold medal of Tokyo Olympics (France24)
Chinese shooter Yang Qian won the first gold of the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday, snatching a dramatic last-shot victory from Russia’s Anastasiia Galashina in the women’s 10m air rifle final.
Yang claimed gold with an Olympic record score of 251.8, edging ahead of Russian Anastasiia Galashina on 251.1 and Switzerland’s Nina Christen on 230.6.
Galashina had looked poised to claim gold heading into the last shot, but stumbled with 8.9 on her final effort to allow Yang to seal victory.
The event took place the morning after the Olympics opened in a nearly empty stadium, following an unprecedented postponement and a build-up marred by scandal and controversy. Read more
3 students get American Basketball, education scholarship at OBN Academy (Guardian)
After three months of unveiling the Organised Basketball Network Academy (OBN), Mount Zion Christian Academy in USA has awarded education scholarship worth millions of dollars to three outstanding students for their outstanding performance in the academy. The recipients are David Obinna, Ngo Nadi Chinemerem and Prince Iwuno.
Speaking at the signing of the acceptance documents at the OBN academy located at Lekki Ajah, Lagos, which was witnessed by parents, friends and well wishers of the three lucky students, CEO of OBN, ex-NBA star, Obinna Ekezie stated that the discovery of Chinemerem, Iwuno and Obinna is a testimony to the fact that Nigeria have abundant basketball talents on the streets.
He noted that OBN academy quest to continue training and discovering young talented basketball players, male and female across Nigeria, would continue to be its main objective. Read more
Gender disparities still vex Tokyo Olympic Games (BBC)
At the first Olympic Games of the modern era, Athens 1896, International Olympic Committee (IOC) founder Baron Pierre de Coubertin barred women from competing.
In Paris four years later, 22 female athletes were invited in five ladies sports, while nearly 1,000 men took on the rest of the events.
This year, the Games have nearly reached gender parity.
Of the almost 11,000 Olympic athletes in Tokyo almost 49% are women, according to the IOC, marking the first “gender-balanced” games in its history. Read more
Naomi Osaka savours her ‘greatest achievement’ after lighting Olympic cauldron at Tokyo 2020 opening ceremony (Metro)
Naomi Osaka savoured her ‘greatest athletic achievement’ after having the honour of lighting the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony of the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games.
The four-time Grand Slam tennis winner followed in the footsteps of a long line of iconic atleted who have been chosen to light the Olympic cauldron ahead of the Games.
Former football star Michel Platini was given the privilege in 1992, legendary heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali in 1996 and Australian sprinter Cathy Freeman in 2000.
Japanese tennis player Osaka won her first Grand Slam at the US Open in 2018, and triumphed at the Australian Open just a few months later. Read more
A long-time street favourite, 3×3 basketball makes its Olympic debut (France24)
Three-on-three basketball has long been played on street courts in cities around the world. In Tokyo, it’s joining a half-dozen new Olympic sports — and basketball’s governing bodies are hoping its newfound recognition is just the beginning.
According to a study commissioned by the International Olympic Committee, 3×3 basketball is the most widely played urban team sport in the world. Yet it’s only recently joined the ranks of international pro sports. It wasn’t until 2007 that the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) established universal rules for 3×3, which premiered at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.In Tokyo, it will share the limelight with five-on-five basketball, an Olympic favourite since at least 1992, when the US “Dream Team” took gold in Barcelona. Read more