Man gets death sentence for killing three-year-old girl (Guardian)
After seven years of trial, Justice Maryam Sabo of a Kano State High Court has sentenced one Aminu Muhammad to death by hanging for the gruesome murder of a three-year-old girl.
The victim, Rafi’atu Junaidu, was murdered in 2018 after Mohammad lured her to Jibga village in Bebeji Local Government Area.
Delivering the Judgment on Wednesday, Justice Sabo found Mohammad guilty as charged and convicted him, bringing to a close a protracted legal battle. Read more
Stray bullet kills 12-year-old boy during attack on Lagos community (Punch)
A 12-year-old boy identified simply as Wasiu has been killed by a stray bullet during a cult clash in the Mushin area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro learnt on Thursday that the incident occurred around 8 pm in the Olosha area of the community when rival cult groups engaged in a violent confrontation on Wednesday.
Our correspondent gathered that Wasiu had gone to buy food from a local vendor, popularly known as Iya Ibeji, when gunshots suddenly rang out. Read more
PDP, APC, LP bigwigs currently in ADC coalition against Tinubu (Tribune)
The recent adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) by prominent political figures in Nigeria has made the party a powerful opposition force aimed at unseating the incumbent President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
While the ADC as a coalition platform continues to draw in prominent politicians from across Nigeria’s major parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), and Labour Party (LP), the group to be united in their bid to oust the flag of the ruling APC which came to power similar strategy in 2015.
Aside their promises of good governance and seemingly ideological stance, many politicians within the alliance are critic of different policies of the present administration, including mode of subsidy removal, Naira floating, among others. Read more
Kachikwu wrong, David Mark-led coalition didn’t hijack ADC – Dalong (Channels)
A former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, says due process was followed in the opposition coalition’s adoption of the African Democratic Party (ADC).
The presidential candidate of the ADC in the 2023 election, Dumebi Kachikwu, had accused the coalition of hijacking the party and not carrying stakeholders along.
However, Dalung, while recalling that talks about a coalition had been on for about 18 months, said key stakeholders of the ADC were carried along and they had also attended the unveiling ceremony. Read more
Mambilla: EFCC files fresh N31bn charge against ex-power minister, Mamman, 7 others (Sun)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a fresh criminal charge against the former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman and seven others before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, bordering on alleged advance fee fraud to the tune of N31 billion.
Other defendants charged alongside Mamman in the charge marked FCT/CR/ 375/2025 are Mustapha Abubakar Bida, Joseph Omotayo Adewunmi, Ben Nsikak, Stephen Ojo, Oladipo Adebowale and Ogunjobi Olusola.
While the prime suspect, Bida, is director of finance and account, Federal Ministry of Power, Nsikak is director, Federal Project/Financial Management (in charge of deployment of projects). Ojo is of the Account Department at the Federal Ministry of Power, Michael Achua is the assistant project accountant while Olusola is an assistant accountant in the Federal Ministry of Power. Read more
INEC receives 12 additional applications for party registration (DailyTrust)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that it has received 12 fresh applications from associations seeking registration as political parties, bringing the total number of pending applications to 122.
This comes just days after the commission’s earlier announcement on June 23 that it had received 110 applications.
Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, in a statement issued on Thursday, reiterated that the review process remains transparent and fair to all applicants. Read more
ADC coalition, alliance of displaced politicians — Presidency (Vanguard)
Following the takeover of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, by leading opposition figures, the Presidency, yesterday, mocked the newly-formed opposition coalition, describing it as a hollow alliance of displaced politicians.
Also, the All Progressives Congress, APC, described the ADC as a coalition of self-obsessed merchants of vendetta, saying it remains unperturbed by the development.
Similarly, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mr. Nyesom Wike slammed the anti-Tinubu coalition, describing them as a gang of failed and expired politicians. Read more
Nelly reveals his favourite Ashanti song (HipHopDx)
Nelly has revealed just what his favorite Ashanti song is.
Sitting down for a chat on Cocoa Butter with his wife, Nelly was asked to pick between various Ashanti records and in the end he picked “Baby” over the likes of “Foolish” and “Always on Time”.
He explained why he picked “Baby” over “Rain on Me”: “‘Rain on Me’ was at a different time in our relationship. We gon’ slide ‘Rain on Me’ along like that and stick with ‘Baby.’” Read more
Stephanie Beatriz Can’t Keep Quiet (Inverse)
There’s something so comforting about a post-apocalypse.
Maybe it’s the hopeful depiction of humans persevering in the face of the end of the world, or maybe it’s just seeing a world that’s undeniably worse off than our own, but it’s something we keep coming back to, especially recently. We’ve seen a whole new apocalyptic renaissance, from The Last of Us and Station Eleven to Fallout and Silo, and we’re getting every version of the end of the world.
That includes the goofy, no-holds-barred version. Twisted Metal, Peacock’s adaptation of the demolition derby video game of the same name, shows a skewed vision of a wasteland full of psychopathic clowns and cars with rockets. But even the most lighthearted of series needs a human side, and that’s exactly the role Stephanie Beatriz serves as Quiet, the lone wanderer who proves how important connection and family are, even in an uncaring world. Read more
Michael Madsen death: tributes pour in for legendary ‘Reservoir Dogs’ actor (Farout)
Following the death of Michael Madsen, the iconic actor best known for his work in Kill Bill and Reservoir Dogs, tributes from the film world have united to share their condolences.
Madsen first made his name in the 1980s in WarGames before becoming a prominent figure in Quentin Tarantino movies, including Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill, and The Hateful Eight.
With an expansive filmography spanning hundreds of acting credits, Madsen became one of the most prolific figures in contemporary cinema, celebrated for his versatility in roles and as a mainstay of gritty, realist storytelling. Read more
Japan seeks 8th round of tariff talks next week in US (JapanToday)
The Japanese government wants to send its chief tariff negotiator to the United States for an eighth round of ministerial-level talks early next week, a source close to the matter said Thursday.
Tokyo is believed to have sounded out the administration of President Donald Trump for another round of negotiations ahead of next Wednesday’s deadline for its 90-day pause on country-specific tariffs.
With Trump appearing to harden his stance, Japan’s last-ditch efforts will hinge on whether Ryosei Akazawa can secure a deal that includes a reduced tariff rate on cars, the source said. Read more
Congress hands Trump major victory as it passes his ‘big, beautiful bill’ after days of debate (LBC)
Donald Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ has been passed by Congress.
The megabill was passed by a vote of 218-214.
Only two Republicans voted against the bill, which will see at least 11 million Americans lose access to healthcare.
All Democrats voted against the bill.
The bill will now go to Trump’s desk for signing into law, which is expected to happen on Friday. Read more
British tourist among two killed by elephant during Zambia safari trip (Metro)
Two elderly tourists from the UK and New Zealand have been killed by an elephant.
The victims, named by police as Brit Easton Janet Taylor, 68, and Alison Jean Taylor, 67, were attacked by an elephant with its calf at South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia.
The pair were on a walking safari when the animal charged at them around 6.20am local time this morning. Read more
Tributes as Eagles legend Rufai dies at 61 (Punch)
Nigerian football was thrown into mourning again on Thursday following the death of former Super Eagles goalkeeper and 1994 AFCON winner Peter Rufai, who passed on at the age of 61, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Rufai was said to have died in Lagos in the early hours of Thursday following a brief illness.
Former Nigerian midfielder Waidi Akanni confirmed that the body of Rufai had been deposited at a Lagos hospital. Read more
Weightlifting federation releases timeline for 2025 elections (Guardian)
As preparations intensify for the 2025 federations’ elections across the country, the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), yesterday, released the official timeline for its electoral congress.
The federation, in a statement by its Media Officer, Amaechi Agbo, noted that the timetable outlines the process for electing new members into its executive committee.
Agbo said that candidates were open to pick up nomination forms yesterday, adding that the exercise would end on July 9. Read more
Djokovic Routs Evans To Step Up History Bid At Wimbledon (Channels)
Novak Djokovic crushed British wildcard Dan Evans in the Wimbledon second round as he stepped up his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title, while defending women’s champion Barbora Krejcikova seeks to prolong her love affair with the All England Club.
After three days of stunning upsets at Wimbledon, Djokovic avoided becoming the latest star to crash out in second-round action.
The Serb needed just one hour and 47 minutes to dispatch Evans with a ruthless 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 victory on Centre Court. Read more
Some fans question US readiness for 2026 World Cup after Club World Cup experience (JapanToday)
Lifelong soccer fan Victor Dumois expressed concern about the United States co-hosting the 2026 World Cup after attending a recent Club World Cup match in Miami.
“I think after the Copa America, a weird phenomenon has occurred here,” said Dumois, who is from Spain. “There’s people that don’t like the World Cup being in the United States.”
The Copa America championship game last year in Miami was a security nightmare, with overheated and ticketless fans breaking down the barriers at Hard Rock Stadium to get inside. Eventually the game was played, although some paying customers never were able to get to their seats because they were occupied. Some cited the debacle as one example of how unprepared the United States is to host soccer’s biggest tournament. Read more
Diogo Jota’s funeral to be held where he got married less than two weeks ago (Metro)
Diogo Jota’s funeral will be held on Saturday morning after a wake on Friday in the same place he got married less than two weeks ago.
Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, lost their lives in a car crash in northern Spain in the early hours of Thursday morning.
As the brothers overtook another vehicle the Lamborghini they were in crashed due to a tyre blowout and caught fire. Read more