Man, 35, defiles two-year-old daughter, sexually harasses maid in Lagos (Punch)
A 35-year-old man, Kingsley Achugbu, has been arrested by police operatives attached to the Festac Division of the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly defiling his two-year-old daughter and sexually harassing his wife’s maid.
A statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the maid reported the matter to the police, adding that the two-year-old victim had been taken to hospital for examination.
The statement read in part, “The housemaid had reported the matter to the police at Festac Division in company with one Mrs Justina Nelson of the Children and Vulnerable Persons Network and the police swung into action immediately. The two-year-old victim has been taken to hospital for medical examination and expert report for further investigation.
“The Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has, however, ordered that the matter be transferred to the Gender Unit of the command for further investigation and possible prosecution.” Read more
Night club promoter allegedly swindles man of N4.3m (Vanguard)
A 28 year old night club promoter and event planner, Baba Williams, who allegedly swindled a man of N4.3million, under false pretence of exchanging it in to US Dollars,was yesterday arraigned before a Lagos Magistrates’ Court, sitting in Tinubu.
Williams is facing a three count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, fraud and stealing preferred against him by the Police.
The defendant who resides at Idejo Street Victoria Island, was arraigned before Magistrate Mrs T.O. Omoyele.
The Prosecutor, Inspector Micheal Unah, told the court that the defendant and others still at large, committed the offence sometimes in March 2021, at Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. Read more
How ISWAP commander’s errand boy was nabbed in Borno market (DailyTrust)
Troops have arrested Wida Kachalla, an “errand boy” to Modu Sulum, a notorious commander of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), according to PRNigeria.
Sulum was said to have been killed by troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Borno State.
Kachalla is a native of Murguba Settlement, a stronghold of the terrorists in the North East.
According to PRNigeria, troops from FOB Ngamdi, led by acting Commander 154 Taskforce Batallion, Major DY Chiwar, arrested the suspect at Benisheikh Market in Borno.
He and an ISWAP logistic supplier were arrested. Read more
FRSC confirm 2 dead, 13 vehicles burnt in Tuesday’s tanker explosion on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (Guardian)
FRSC has confirmed the death of two persons and the destruction of six tankers, five trucks and two cars in Tuesday’s tanker explosion at Ogere on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
FRSC Sector Commander in Ogun, Mr Ahmed Umar, had earlier told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the tanker explosion happened at about 6.20 a.m. on Tuesday.
NAN reports that the explosion occurred in front of Romona trailer park on the expressway.
“The fire is serious, six tankers, five trucks and two cars were burnt in the explosion,’’ Umar said. Read more
Woman found dead in Kwara hotel (Leadership)
An unidentified woman has been found dead in a hotel in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The deceased was said to have lodged at Premium Diamond Hotel, Adewole area, Ilorin with a man who registered with fake name, address and telephone number.
The spokesman of Kwara State Police Command, Ajayi Okasanmi said the incident happened on 27th of May, 2021 but was reported to the police on 28th May, 2021.
He said the hotel manager, Olalekan Anafi reported that one Adeboye James of 12, Okelewo street, Ede Osun State, had on May 27th, 2021 lodged in the hotel with the deceased.
According to the manager, James left the hotel the following day without the knowledge of any of the hotel’s staff.
“In the morning of the following day when nothing was heard from the room occupied by the said lodger, a spare key was used to open the room and we were confronted by the dead body of the lady,” Okasanmi quoted the hotel manager to have said. Read more
National Assembly roof leaks as rain falls (Nation)
Most affected was the foyer of the White House.
Cleaners in the National Assembly were immediately deployed to place containers at the leaking spots to collect the flowing water into buckets.
The cleaners were equally seen mopping and drying up the arena which was becoming flooded.
Some Senators already in Chambers came out to have a view of the development. Read more
FG disobeys own law, flouts workers pension remittance (Punch)
Seven years after the Federal Government amended the Pension Reform Act, which stipulated that employers should remit 18 per cent of workers’ monthly emoluments into their RSAs, the government is yet to comply with its own law.
The Pension Reform Act promulgated in 2004 had stipulated that workers and employers should contribute 7.5 per cent each of the monthly emoluments into the workers’ RSAs with their respective Pension Fund Administrators.
The amended PRA 2014 mandated all employers under the CPS to raise workers’ pension remittance to 18 per cent.
According to the amended law, eight per cent of the workers’ monthly salaries should be the employees’ contribution, while the employers should contribute the remaining 10 per cent. Read more
Medical doctor, ex-soldier arrested for dealing in drugged cookies, cocaine (Guardian)
Following intelligence and surveillance, narcotic officers of the Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a medical doctor, Jane Chioma Ofoma, in Auchi, Edo State, for allegedly dealing in drugged cookies.
Ofoma was arrested on Saturday, June 19 on allegation of operating an online catering service, through which she sells drugged cookies and biscuits.
She was arrested at No. 1, Winners Way, Auchi, and at least 94 pieces of cookies produced with cannabis sativa were recovered. Read more
Employers must demand certificates –NYSC (Punch)
The National Youth Service Corps has directed employers in the public and private sectors to demand the certificate of national service or exemption certificate duly issued by its authorities before offering employment to any degree or Higher National Diploma holder.
The organisation, which said it would to check presentation of fake certificates in workplaces, also advised employers to present the NYSC certificates of their existing employees to the scheme for authentication. Read more
Tanzania to allow young mothers to restart education (BBC)
Tanzania has announced that school-age mothers can be enrolled back into education from next year.
In 2017, Tanzania’s former President John Magufuli was condemned for comments that girls who give birth should not be able to return to school.
He was highlighting a measure that was in fact introduced in 2002.
In 2018, the World Bank withdrew a $500m (£359m) loan to Tanzania meant for education because of the policy, which women’s groups and educationalists said breaks international human rights conventions. Read more
Senate Republicans shoot down sweeping voting reform bill as Democrats prepare for battle to end filibuster (RT)
A major Democrat-backed voting reform bill has failed to advance through the Senate, with Republicans closing ranks to block debate on the far-reaching measure as opponents across the aisle gear up for a fight over the filibuster.
Dubbed the ‘For the People Act,’ the huge 800-page legislation fell short of 60 votes needed to advance to a floor debate on Tuesday, seeing a 50-50 split evenly along party lines, with Republicans voting unanimously to block the bill.
Designed to overhaul election rules in states across the country, the bill has been touted by Democrats as an urgently needed reform that would make voting easier for marginalized communities, limit the sway of money in politics and restrict partisan influence over how congressional districts are drawn, among other things. Republican critics, however, say the bill represents a massive federal overreach, arguing that it will infringe on states’ authority to conduct their own elections and that the law is ultimately intended to help Democrats. Read more
Google unveils new programmes for African innovation, female entrepreneurs (Guardian)
Google has renewed its commitment to grow Africa’s startup ecosystem through its Google for Startups Accelerator (GFSA) Africa class, applications for $3 million Black Founders Fund (BFF) Africa programme and Google.org-backed $3 million grant to the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF).
The gesture is aimed at empowering young entrepreneurs in 54 African countries, with special focus on supporting female entrepreneurs on the continent.
The three-month online programme, which includes virtual training bootcamps, mentorship and Google product support, is designed to support emerging businesses through their early growth phases. Read more
Turkmenistan’s capital tops list of most expensive cities for expats (BBC)
The capital of Turkmenistan in Central Asia has been named as the world’s most expensive city for foreign workers.
Ashgabat, a city of about one million people, topped a 2021 cost-of-living survey by consultancy firm Mercer.
The ranking puts Ashgabat above last year’s priciest city, Hong Kong, which was placed second, followed by Beirut in Lebanon and Tokyo in Japan.
The annual report ranks 209 cities based on the cost of expenses such as housing, transport and food. Read more
James Bond fan with cancer begs to see “No Time To Die” after being given ‘weeks to live’ (Metro)
A life-long James Bond fan has made a desperate plea to watch No Time To Die after being given ‘weeks to live’.
The highly-anticipated next instalment of the Bond franchise, starring Daniel Craig, has suffered a string of delays due to the coronavirus pandemic but is finally due to hit cinemas on September 30.
James Millar has loved the iconic action movies since he was a small boy and, like almost every Bond fan, has been anticipated the release of No Time To Die. However, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May and told he has ‘weeks to live’.
His daughter Remy has now launched a campaign for Bond producers to grant Millar special access to an early screening of the blockbuster. Read more
Liberal celebrities George Clooney, Eva Longoria & others opening school to push for more ‘diversity’ in Hollywood (RT)
Lefty celebrities including George Clooney, Eva Longoria and Don Cheadle are teaming up to help to create a public school that will help “underserved communities” train for jobs in the entertainment industry.
The Roybal School of Film and Television Production, set to open in the fall of 2022, is supported by other prominent artists including Mindy Kaling and Kerry Washington, both of whom have also supported President Joe Biden and other Democrats.
The school will offer a high school education to students, beginning with grades nine and 10, and adding 11 and 12 over the next two years. What will make the education different is that internships within the industry will also be offered, presumably giving students a path to careers after high school. Read more
Millions become millionaires in Covid pandemic (BBC)
More than five million people became millionaires across the world in 2020 despite economic damage from the Covid-19 pandemic.
While many poor people became poorer, the number of millionaires increased by 5.2 million to 56.1 million globally, Credit Suisse research found.
In 2020 more than 1% of adults worldwide were millionaires for the first time.
Recovering stock markets and soaring house prices helped boost their wealth. Read more
D’Tigers coach names Morris, Anunoby, 10 other NBA stars for Olympics (Punch)
D’Tigers coach, Mike Brown, has named 12 NBA players in his 49-man provisional list for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, which begins next month.
The men’s basketball squad has opened camp in California.
Headlining the list of NBA players is Denver Nuggets’ point guard Monte Morris, who recently declared his intention to represent Nigeria.
Also included in the list are Miye Oni (Utah Jazz), OG Anunoby (Toronto Raptors), KZ Okpala (Miami Heat), Precious Achiuwa (Miami Heat), Udoka Azubuike (Utah Jazz), Jahlil Okafor (Detroit Pistons). Read more
Dayana Yastremska’s doping ban lifted after independent tribunal (BBC)
Dayana Yastremska reached the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2019
Dayana Yastremska’s doping ban has been lifted after an independent tribunal accepted that her positive test was the result of contamination.
Ukrainian Yastremska, 21, was provisionally banned in January for failing an out-of-competition test.
The tribunal, under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme, said she “bore no fault or negligence for the violation”.
“I’m glad and relieved to announce that I have been cleared of any wrongdoing,” Yastremska said on Twitter. Read more
Nigeria Olympians hold inaugural forum, banquet, awards ceremony in Abuja (Guardian)
The Nigeria Olympians Association’s (NOA) inaugural forum, banquet and awards ceremony will begin today with various activities at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
According to NOA, the two-day event, which has former international tennis star, Prof. Sadiq Abdullahi, as the co-chairman, will feature a walk to the National Assembly complex, where the sportsmen will enlighten members of the House of Representatives and Senators on their programme aimed at developing Nigerian sports.
The NOA will also visit some stakeholders in the city, hold media interviews and meet with chieftains of sports federations before holding its annual general meeting in the evening.
The NOA forum and banquet ceremony will hold tomorrow at the NAF Conference Centre and Suites, Abuja. In a letter made available to The Guardian, the NOA explained that it works “to bring together past and current Olympians, who have represented the country with dignity and honour” and also help former Olympians to transition to life beyond competitive sports after retirement. Read more
LaLiga chief says Barcelona ‘will have to make cuts’ to agree terms with Lionel Messi (RT)
LaLiga president Javier Tebas says that Barcelona must make cuts before agreeing a new contract with Lionel Messi, with the club facing the prospect of the league refusing to register his deal unless financial guidelines are met.
Messi’s contract with the Catalan club is set to expire in nine days and no official announcement has yet been made by the player or the club itself regarding an extension, despite speculation in the Spanish media suggesting that talks between Messi and the club have proceeded satisfactorily.
It is expected that Messi will agree terms to a new deal with his boyhood club before his current contract expires, but if Barcelona manage to convince their one-time wantaway star player to remain in Catalonia, it may open up a can of financial worms elsewhere in the club. Read more
Scotland’s Euro hopes ended by Croatia (BBC)
Scotland’s dream of making history by progressing at Euro 2020 came to a sobering end with a heartbreaking defeat by Croatia at Hampden.
With both sides knowing a win would grant passage to the last 16, Nikola Vlasic arrowed the World Cup finalists into an early lead to silence the national stadium in Glasgow.
However, a thundering drive just before half-time from Callum McGregor caused the 12,000 fans to explode in a cacophony of hope.
But Luka Modric’s sumptuous first-time shot after an hour broke Scotland and Ivan Perisic glanced in a third from a corner to record Croatia’s first-ever win over the Scots. Read more
UK government grants go-ahead for Wembley Stadium to host 65,000 fans (RT)
The final three matches at Euro 2020 will feature the largest crowds to attend sporting events in the UK in 15 months after Boris Johnson’s government confirmed that Wembley will host 65,000 fans in the tournament’s latter stages.
The famous stadium in the heart of London is set to host the semi-finals and final of the European Championships next month. Following confirmation from the UK government on Tuesday, the iconic setting has been permitted to allow 65,000 fans for each of those three games attend – meaning that the stadium will effectively be at around 75% capacity.The three games will therefore be the largest public gatherings, at least in a sporting context, to have taken place in the United Kingdom since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic last year. Read more