Man, 42, docked for allegedly defiling neighbour’s 12-year-old daughter (Guardian)
A 42-year-old man, Joseph Ikegwu, on Thursday appeared in a Badagry Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly defiling his neighbour’s 12-year-old daughter.
The defendant is facing a three-count of defilement, unlawful touch of private part and assault.
The Prosecution Counsel, ASP Akpan Ikem, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on March 17, at about 3.00 p.m. at Chemist Compound, Idale, Badagry area of Lagos.
Nkem alleged that the defendant who resides in the same compound with the victim’s parents, had sexual intercourse with the 12-year-old girl without her consent. Read more
Pastors seek compensation for demolished Lagos churches (Punch)
Pastors of some churches demolished in the FESTAC area of Lagos State by officials of the Federal Housing Authority have urged the Federal Government to call for dialogue between them and the agency, and also compensate them.
PUNCH Metro had reported that officials of the FHA on Sunday demolished over 12 churches, two mosques, a market and a car mart on 2nd Avenue, FESTAC Town.
It was gathered that the demolition started around 5am and continued till around 3 pm.
According to the pastors during a press briefing on Tuesday, the agency served them a seven-day notice to vacate the area, however, before the expiration of the notice, their buildings were demolished. Read more
How bandits used a parent’s vehicle to evacuate abducted Kebbi students (DailyTrust)
The gunmen who struck at Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri in Kebbi State, conveyed their victims in a bus belonging to a parent.
The school came under attack on Thursday and students and staff were abducted.
A teacher, who did not want to be named, told Daily Trust that prior to the attack, they had received information on a plan to invade Birnin Yauri community.
He said to prevent an attack on the school, a detachment of mobile policemen were deployed last week.
The teacher said when the bandits finally struck, the security operatives engaged them in a shootout but they were overpowered. Read more
Buhari to security agencies: Give no breathing space to terrorists, criminals (Guardian)
President Muhammadu Buhari has charged the military and other security agencies not to give breathing space to terrorists and criminals operating in various parts of the country.
The president gave the charge when he visited personnel of the Armed Forces and security agencies of Operation Hadin Kai at the Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri, Borno, on Thursday.
Buhari spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu.
Buhari said the war must be concluded with restoration of peace and reconstruction of all the affected areas. Read more
Policeman killed as gunmen abduct expatriates working on Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line (DailyTrust)
A police escort has been shot dead while four Chinese expatriates working on the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway have been abducted.
Our correspondent gathered that the gunmen laid ambush for the victims at Adeaga/Alaagba village a border community between Oyo and Ogun, on Wednesday.
Nigerian Navy to establish Desert Warfare Institute in Kano
774,000 jobs: Thousands of participants yet to get stipend
The gunmen clad in black caftan, reportedly stormed the site of the rail project at Adeaga/Alaagba village in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident on Thursday morning.
He disclosed that the command had deployed tactical team to trail the gunmen. Read more
EFCC to prosecute Kalu again, says Bawa (Punch)
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, on Thursday said the commission would prosecute a former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, again.
He said Kalu “will be prosecuted all over again.”
Bawa said this while speaking with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Recall that Kalu had been convicted up to the Court of Appeal before the Supreme Court set him free on technical grounds. Read more
Okowa appoints 17 new commissioners (Guardian)
Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Thursday sent the names of fifteen commissioner designates to the State House of Assembly for confirmation.
The names of the nominees were read by the Speaker, Sheriff Oborevwor, at the plenary on Thursday, June 18, 2021.
Those nominated by the governor for appointment as commissioners are; Mr. Charles Aniagwu, Dr. Barry Gbe, Mr. Ifeanyi Egwuyenga, Chief Arthur Akpowowo, and Chief Festus Ochonogor.
Others are Mrs. Flora Alanta, Mr. Churchill Amagada, Engineer Jonathan Igworiwoh, Honourable Evelyn Oboro, Engineer Noel Omordon, Chief Fidelis Tilije, and Mrs Rose Esenwu. Read more
Kwara: 4 in NSCDC net for criminal conspiracy, theft (NewTelegraph)
Operatives of the Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have arrested four suspects for allegedly stealing 60 full lengths of iron rods.
The suspects, according to a statement by the Command’s spokesperson, Babawale Zaid Afolabi, are Peter Ovie, Abdulrahman Jamiu, Muyideen Tiamiyu and Adeleke Mathew.
The statement reads: “On the 15th of June, 2021 at about 1900hrs, the operatives of NSCDC Kwara State Command intercepted an 18-seater Toyota bus with registration no AAA-338XM Lagos through the help of the Corps intelligence network at Santa village in the University of ilorin premises conveying 60 full lengths of iron rods suspected to be stolen.
“After the preliminary investigations it was discovered that the Site Engineer, Peter Ovia, who is the prime suspect works with Poko 21 investment LTD, saddled with the responsibility to supervise and monitor a project awarded to the company in the school premises. Read more
Huge George Floyd statue unveiled at Newark City Hall sparks controversy (RT)
The City of Newark, New Jersey has set off controversy after unveiling a large statue of George Floyd — the African-American man who was killed by police during an arrest last year – outside its City Hall.
Newark and its mayor, Ras J. Baraka, posted a photo of the new 700-pound bronze statue on social media Wednesday and revealed that it had been donated to the city by the artist Stanley Watts. The larger-than-life statue sits on a large bench outside City Hall and shows Floyd in a sleeveless vest.
Though the announcement was welcomed by some, many social media users protested the new statue. Read more
Obamacare: US Supreme Court upholds affordable healthcare law (BBC)
The US Supreme Court has upheld the law which aims to provide affordable health insurance for all Americans, dismissing a legal challenge from Texas and two other Republican-governed states.
This is the third time since 2010 that the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the signature policy of former president Barack Obama, has survived a challenge.
It bans insurers from denying coverage due to pre-existing conditions.
The law gave millions of low-income Americans access to medical insurance. Read more
Total shutdown of brothels in German region ‘no longer constitutional,’ court says (RT)
A regional court has struck down a ban on the operation of brothels in one of Germany’s states, arguing that the improving Covid-19 situation allows for sex workers to return to work.
The High Administrative Court of Baden-Wurttemberg ruled that brothels can once again open their doors on Monday following a request filed by a brothel operator from the Karlsruhe region.
According to the description of the case on the court’s website, the plaintiff argued that the coronavirus-related ban on the operation of sex-work facilities in the state’s red-light district, which was put in place in November 2020, had violated her rights. The court noted that brothels were excluded from plans to relax restrictions in areas where the infection rate has dropped. Read more
“Mob beat domestic abuser to death after he gave his pregnant girlfriend a black eye” (Metro)
A 41-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death by an angry mob who believed him to be a domestic abuser.
Fred Ortiz was found dead behind a store in Magna, Utah, after six people chased him through the streets and at least two of them allegedly killed him with their bare hands, reports Fox 13.
According to an arrest report, the group had initially visited the home of Ortiz’s pregnant girlfriend, a dog breeder, to buy a puppy. While there the woman allegedly told the group that her eye was black because Ortiz hit her a few days prior.
As the group talked to the unnamed girlfriend, Ortiz rode by on a scooter, according to police, prompting the group to chase after him. Osyeanna Martinez, 19, who was driving a car with others as passengers, is accused of running over Ortiz. Read more
Manchester Arena Inquiry: Bomber ‘should have been identified as a threat’ (BBC)
Manchester Arena suicide bomber Salman Abedi should have been identified as a threat on the night of the atrocity by those in charge of security, a public inquiry into the 2017 attack has found.
Inquiry chairman Sir John Saunders found there were missed opportunities to prevent the “devastating impact”.
He said it was likely Abedi would have detonated his device if confronted but “the loss of life and injury is highly likely to have been less”.
Twenty-two people died in the bombing. Read more
All women of childbearing age shouldn’t drink alcohol, says WHO (Metro)
All women of childbearing age should avoid drinking alcohol, the World Health Organisation has apparently recommended.
A draft Global Alcohol Action Plan published on the organisation’s website said anti-drinking campaigns should target women in particular, regardless of whether or not they intend to get pregnant.
It is due to the risk of damaging a baby in the womb but critics have called the advice ‘paternalistic’ and ‘sexist’.
The move could mean that millions of women around the world are told to abstain from alcohol for several decades of their lives. Read more
Tokyo state of emergency to be lifted 5 weeks before Games (BBC)
The Olympics are due to begin on 23 July, while the Paralympics follow a month later, from 24 August
The state of emergency in Tokyo is to be lifted, five weeks before the start of the Olympic Games.
Emergency Covid-19 restrictions have been in place in Japan’s capital and other prefectures since late April amid a surge in infections, but will be lifted on Sunday.
However, some “quasi-emergency” measures will remain in some areas, including Tokyo, until 11 July.
These include limiting spectator numbers at big events.
The Olympics are due to begin on 23 July, while the Paralympics follow a month later, from 24 August. Read more
Christian Eriksen to have defibrillator implanted: Danish FA (Guardian)
Danish star Christian Eriksen, who suffered a cardiac arrest during his country’s Euro 2020 opener last weekend, will have a heart defibrillator implanted, the Danish Football Union (DBU) announced Thursday.
In a scene that shocked the sporting world and beyond, the 29-year-old Inter Milan midfielder suddenly collapsed on the field in the 43rd minute of Denmark’s Group B game on Saturday against Finland in Copenhagen.
Medical personnel administered CPR as he lay motionless on the field as some 16,000 fans in attendance watched.
This continued for about 15 minutes before he was carried off the pitch and rushed to hospital, and it was later confirmed that he had suffered cardiac arrest. Read more
Clip of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Coca Cola advert resurfaces days after he removes bottles from interview (Metro)
In an awkward turn of events, we’ve been reminded there was once a time when Cristiano Ronaldo was totally fine sharing the frame with a bottle of Coca Cola.
In a now-viral moment, earlier this week the footballer made headlines after he removed two bottles of Coke from an interview as he prepared to take to the pitch for Portugal’s first game at the Euros 2020.
Clearly not a fan of the fizz, Ronaldo went on to shout ‘drink water!’ as he placed his own bottle of sweet, sweet H2O on the table in front of him.
The move may have delighted fans who had a giggle at his dismissal of the drink, but it ended up slashing $4billion (£2.8bn) off Coke’s market value. Read more
Wimbledon 2021: Tournament looks to improve media operations (BBC)
Wimbledon is looking at ways to improve its media operations, according to its chief executive Sally Bolton.
Last month, world number two Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open after saying she would not do news conferences at Roland Garros to protect her mental health.
Osaka is due to play at Wimbledon, which starts on 28 June.
“We have started a consultation,” Bolton told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme. Read more
UEFA asks Euro 2020 players to stop removing sponsor bottles (AlJazeera)
Reacting to a bottle-snatching trend at the European Championship started by Cristiano Ronaldo, UEFA has asked players on the 24 teams to stop removing strategically placed sponsor drinks from the news conference platforms.
Ronaldo, Paul Pogba and Manuel Locatelli removed sponsor bottles away from the view of cameras when taking their seats at media briefings this week.
Euro 2020 tournament director Martin Kallen said on Thursday UEFA has “communicated with the teams regarding this matter”.
“It is important because the revenues of the sponsors are important for the tournament and for European football,” Kallen said in a briefing.
Pogba, who is Muslim and does not drink alcohol, objected to the distinctive green bottle of official Euro 2020 beer sponsor Heineken. The beer is marketed as non-alcoholic, with 0 percent alcohol. Read more
Fikayo Tomori joins AC Milan from Chelsea in £24m move (BBC)
Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori has joined AC Milan in a £24m move after a successful loan spell at the San Siro last season.
He joins the Italian club after they exercised an option to sign him permanently as part of his loan move from the Blues in January.
The 23-year-old England centre-back has signed a four-year deal with the Serie A side.Tomori made 22 appearances for Milan last season and scored one goal. Read more