Man, 33, remanded for allegedly defiling 5-year-old girl (Vanguard)
An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Friday remanded a 33-year-old unemployed man, Riliwan Salim, in a correctional facility for allegedly defiling a five-year-old girl.
The Magistrate, Mrs E. Kubeinje, who did not take the defendant’s plea, directed the police to send the case file to the state Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.
She ordered that the defendant be kept in the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, pending the DPP’s advice.
The defendant, who resides at Ikotun area of Lagos, is being tried for defilement.
The Prosecutor, ASP Bisi Ogunleye, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on June 20 at his residence. Read more
Police rescue abducted Syrian, arrest four suspects in Lagos (Guardian)
A kidnap syndicate, which specializes in abducting foreigners and traders on Lagos waterways, has been smashed by the police in Lagos following the arrest of four suspected members.
One of the abducted foreigners, a Syrian identified as Lungyn Camal, was also rescued by the police.
During investigation, it was discovered that some workers of the company where the Syrian works connived with the kidnappers. The foreigner, according to the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, was abducted on the waterways around Eko Atlantic in Lagos Island four months ago. Read more
AIB probes jet accident at Lagos airport (Punch)
The Accident Investigation Bureau has commenced an investigation into an accident that occurred at the General Aviation Terminal of the Lagos Airport on Friday.
The PUNCH gathered that brake failure caused a private charter airline, King Air Jet, to ram into a fence while the pilot was reparking it.
The accident was said to have occurred around 10 am at a tarmac beside Bristow Helicopters.
However, no one was aboard the jet and the pilot suffered no injury. Read more
Senate uncovers alleged multi-billion naira fraud in NTA (Guardian)
The Nigerian Senate has uncovered an alleged multi-billion Naira fraud in the joint venture operations between, the Nigerian Television Authority(NTA) and a Chinese Satellite Pay TV, StarTime.
The allegation came up when the Senate Joint Committee on Finance and National Planning scrutinized the spending and expenditure of the Nigerian Television Authority for 2021 with the details of the 2021-2023 MTEF & FSP documents,
The Senate panel said it was stunned to discover that the multi-billion naira deal with StarTimes was not captured anywhere in the documents submitted to it as presented by the Director-General, Mallam Mohammed Yakubu. Read more
Insecurity: FG moves to revive abandoned $470m CCTV project (Punch)
The federal government has said the plan to resuscitate the abandoned $470 million National Public Security Communication System was in high gear in response to the security challenges facing the country.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi, said technicians were already inspecting the vandalised Abuja and Lagos Closed Circuit Television Cameras for repairs, adding that they were expected to present a report on their assessment soon.
The contract for the CCTV project was awarded in 2010 to a Chinese firm, ZTE Nigeria Ltd., to provide audio, video and data information for use by the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies. Read more
SEC partners stakeholders to resolve multi-billion Naira unclaimed dividends, says Yuguda (Guardian)
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Friday said it would work with all capital market stakeholders to tackle the issue of unclaimed dividends, valued at N158.44 billion as at December 2019.
Dr Lamido Yuguda, SEC Director-General, disclosed this at the post-Capital Market Committee news briefing organised by the commission virtually.
Yuguda said the commission would work with the registrars, stockbrokers as well as the Central Securities Clearing System to resolve the issue of unclaimed dividends in the market.He noted that SEC would work with the registrars to make it easier for shareholders to be unbundled into e-dividend system. Read more
Edo 2020: DSS invites 10 APC chieftains (Vanguard)
The Department of State Service has invited ten leaders of the APC for a meeting Saturday in its office in Benin City.
The letter by the secret service dated 20th Augusts 2020 with reference No 171/B/122 addressed to Tony Adun (Aka Kabaka) reads: “I am directed to invite you to an important meeting with the State Director of Security.
“You are to come with the following persons: Osakpamwan Eriyo, National Chairman, RTEAN, Ehis Adams, APC Leader Oredo, Osaro Idahosa, APC Leader, Ikpoba-Okha, Okunbor Roberts, APC Leader, Ovia South West LGA, Atarodo, APC member, Kingsley Amedo, APC member, Richard Obe, APC member, Osarobo Idehen, APC member, Dr Emma, APC member.”
Edo 2020: DSS invites 10 APC chieftains. Read more
106 persons escape from Boko Haram (Punch)
One hundred and six persons who reportedly escaped from Boko Haram captivity have found their way into the hands of the troops of the Multinational Joint Taskforce.
Ninety-four of the escapees who are Nigerians were said to have been released to representatives of the Borno State Government, led by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, KakaShehu Lawan.
A statement shared on the verified social media handles of Borno State Government said the MNJTF on Tuesday received 106 civilians who escaped from the Boko Haram terrorists. Read more
Libya crisis: Rival authorities announce ceasefire (BBC)
Libya’s rival authorities have announced an immediate ceasefire.
The Tripoli-based and internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) published a statement that also calls for elections in March next year.
The truce was also agreed by an ally of Gen Khalifa Haftar, who controls large parts of the east and south of Libya.
Libya has been riven by violence since Col Muammar Gaddafi was deposed by Nato-backed forces in 2011. Read more
Steph Curry and family endorse Joe Biden during last night of DNC (NYPost)
Steph Curry and his family speak during the fourth night of the DNC Thursday.
Steph Curry and his family speak during the fourth night of the DNC Thursday.Democratic National Convention via AP
NBA All-Star Stephen Curry and his family endorsed Joe Biden in a unique 2020 Democratic National Convention segment Thursday.
The Golden State Warriors guard and his wife Ayesha appeared in a pre-recorded video with daughters Riley, 8, and Ryan, 5, on the final night of the convention.
“We want to ensure that our kids live in a nation that is safe, happy, healthy and fair,” Ayesha said. “And so this election…”
“We’re voting for Joe Biden,” Steph continued. Read more
Brayden Harrington says Joe Biden helped him with stutter in ‘inspiring’ speech at Democratic National Convention (news.com.au)
A boy’s speech at the 2020 Democratic Convention has brought viewers to tears and inspired others, as he explained how Joe Biden bonded with him over having a stutter.
13-year-old Brayden Harrington addressed the convention, and whatever your politics, I think you can agree he was the most inspiring speaker of the night.
Like Joe Biden, Brayden stutters, but he fought through that to deliver his speech. Read more
UK government spending on virus measures pushes debt to £2t (BBC)
UK government debt has risen above £2 trillion for the first time amid heavy spending to support the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Spending on measures such as the furlough scheme means the debt figure now equals the value of everything the UK produces in a year.
Total debt hit £2.004tn in July, £227.6bn more than last year, said the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Economists warned the situation would worsen before improving. Read more
Fly repeatedly lands on Michael Bloomberg’s face during DNC speech (NYPost)
Twitter was abuzz Thursday night after an insect twice landed on Michael Bloomberg’s face during his speech at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
The flying bug, presumably a fly, first came to rest above the billionaire’s right eye before briefly stopping above his upper lip as the former Big Apple mayor ripped President Trump’s business acumen.
Some Twitter users considered the unexpected bug landing the highlight of the night.
“The fly on Bloomberg’s face stole the show tonight,” wrote one user. Read more
At least one person killed, multiple hospitalised, as Spanish hotel consumed by fire (RT)
At least one person was killed and 10 people were treated for smoke inhalation, four of which were hospitalized, after a major fire at a hotel in Puerto Banus, Spain.
Responding firefighters discovered the remains of a tourist in their room while carrying out a search of the building after the fire had been brought under control. A police spokesperson said the as yet unidentified man died “while trying to escape the flames.”
Some media are reporting guests were forced to leap from balconies following an explosion. Read more
Airline bans man who killed Osama bin Laden after anti-mask tweet (news.com.au)
The ex-navy SEAL who killed Osama bin Laden and bragged on Twitter about not wearing a “dumb-ass” mask on a Delta flight has now been banned from the airline, he said on Thursday.
Earlier this week, 44-year-old Robert O’Neill tweeted “I’m not a p — y” — alongside a photo of him smiling in his plane seat.
The only other person clearly in the shot is an elderly man wearing a mask and United States Marine Corps hat, and followers took it as a direct attack on his fellow passenger — with some even noting it was the same slur as he had used for the al Qaeda leader. Read more
Ex-Super Falcons star Mmadu laments effect of COVID-19 on female football (Guardian)
Former Super Falcons midfielder Maureen Mmadu says the negative toll of the coronavirus pandemic on football activities has greatly affected female football.
Mmadu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that a number of professional players have stayed back in Nigeria because of the lull in football abroad.
The former Super Falcons’ Assistant Coach said it was painful that those who were in the country had continued to train without any form of competitive matches or tournaments.
“Even though I have been trapped in Nigeria for now, but I am hoping that the pandemic will soon be over so that I can return to my base in Norway.
“I came back from Norway when I had the assignment of coaching the Super Falcons, and that assignment finished last year.
“I don’t know what will happen in the next few months but I hope to return to my base to continue my coaching job. Read more
Nice coach Vieira ‘worried’ after two players contract virus (Guardian)
Nice coach Patrick Vieira says he is concerned about the impact two COVID-19 cases could have on the club ahead of the start of the new French season this weekend.
A number of Ligue 1 clubs have reported positive tests in recent days and Nice announced Friday two of their players were held out of training and placed in quarantine after contracting the virus.
“I felt on the pitch the rest of the squad is worried. I am too, for the match against Lens on Sunday and for what happens next,” Vieira said at a news conference on Friday. Read more
Kane in quarantine after Bahamas trip but expected to be fit for England (BBC)
England captain Harry Kane should be available for the Nations League games next month despite being in quarantine following a trip to the Bahamas.
Tottenham striker Kane, 27, was on holiday in the Caribbean when the island was added to the UK quarantine list on 7 August.
He is now in self-isolation for 14 days after returning home.
Kane is expected back in Spurs training next week before their Premier League opener against Everton on 12 September.
How’s it turned out for your side? Club-by-club Premier League fixture list. Read more
Teams with 2 positive coronavirus cases will be banned from the Tour de France (RT)
The spectre of COVID-19 looms large over the teams preparing for the Tour de France, with team staff confirming that organizers will rule out any teams with two or more positive cases of coronavirus.
The news that teams with two positive cases would be removed from the field was first reported by cycling news site Velonews, and their story was subsequently confirmed to news outlet Reuters by two team directors ahead of the race.
“The measure was announced to us at the Criterium du Dauphine,” one unnamed sports director told Reuters. Read more
Defending champion Shibuno set to miss cut at Women’s Open (BBC)
Defending champion Hinako Shibuno is set to miss the cut at the Women’s Open, finishing 12 over par after two rounds.
The Japanese 21-year-old captured the hearts of golf fans as she won at Woburn in 2019 when playing outside her home country for the first time.
But she struggled in blustery, wet conditions at Royal Troon, hitting a seven-over-par 78 in the second round.
It leaves her well outside the projected cut of six over. Read more
Europa final: 10 players to watch out for as Sevilla, Inter clash tonight (Punch)
Tonight’s match-up between Sevilla and Inter is the 11th Europa League final since it was renamed from the UEFA Cup in 2009. The final in Cologne will be Antonio Conte’s first European final since Jose Mourinho walked out on the high of securing the only ever treble of Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia in 2010.
It is nine years since Inter won any trophy, but Conte has developed a habit of making an instant impact in his managerial career.
The Spanish side are the most successful club in UEFA Cup/Europa League history, making the final on six occasions and winning the competition five times. Read more