Man kills roommate, sells body parts for rituals (Guardian)
A 34-year-old man, Okpegboro Avwerosuo, has allegedly killed his roommate in Sagbama Town, Sagbama Local Government Area (SALGA) of Bayelsa.
Okpegboro was alleged to have sold the deceased’s vital organs to a pastor in Port Harcourt, who is currently at large, for ritual purposes.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Asinim Butswat, confirmed the story.
Butswat said that the suspect, who hails from Ugheli North Local Government Area of Delta, was being detained at the state Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation. Read more
Abuja-bound nutritionist missing for 18 days between Ogun, Lagos (Punch)
Eighteen days after Opeyemi Anifowose departed his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State, to board a flight to Abuja at the local wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State, the whereabouts of the nutritionist have remained unknown.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the father of two left his home for capturing under the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System in Abuja when he suddenly went missing.
Efforts by Opeyemi’s traumatised family members and friends to locate his whereabouts have since proved abortive.
His friend simply identified as Chuks said Opeyemi’s family had been thrown into mourning over the incident, adding that no one had contacted his family about his disappearance. Read more
21-year-old arrested for allegedly defrauding investors of over N2b (Guardian)
The Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigerian Police in Lagos, has arrested the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Brisk Capital Limited Dominic Ngene Joshua, for allegedly diverting over N2 billion in investor funds.
The 21-year-old was arrested following petitions from some of the investors he allegedly scammed in cash and cryptocurrency trading.
Joshua allegedly promised investors 60 percent return on investments in real estate, forex, oil and gas.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of the fraud unit, Anderson Bankole, said the funds which belong to over 500 investors were diverted to sponsor extravagant lifestyle, parties, exotic cars, luxury watches and real estates in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt. Read more
Northern elders accuse southern governors of building ethnic monsters (DailyTrust)
The Northern Elders’ Forum has accused governors in the Southern region of building “ethnic monsters” and hiding behind them to whip up sentiments.
The forum also alleged that the governors, who swore to protect the constitution and defend the unity and integrity of Nigeria, have surrendered to the secessionists.
In a statement made available to journalists by its spokesman, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the forum berated Southern leaders over the ban on open grazing, saying they are making a desperate but futile attempt to split the north.
“It is now clear that elected people who swore to protect the constitution and protect the unity and integrity of Nigeria have decided to surrender to deeply divisive or outrightly irredentist and secessionist tendencies and movements. Read more
Again, gunmen raze police station in Imo (Punch)
There was panic in Imo State on Tuesday as gunmen burnt Orji Divisional Police Headquarters situated on Owerri- Okigwe Road in Owerri.
As of the time of filing this report, security operatives made up of soldiers, policemen and Air Force are engaging the hoodlums.
The situation caused panic in the area as two banks situated close to the scene hurriedly shut down.
Businessmen ran away, vehicles diverted while motorists scampered for safety after running out of vehicles. Read more
No bomb explosion in Ebonyi but teargas on policeman on duty – PPRO (Guardian)
The Police Command in Ebonyi said there was no incident of suicide bombing in the state as being circulated in the social media.
DSP Loveth Odeh, Command’s Public Relation Officer (PPRO) told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abakaliki that the pictures were not in connection with a suicide bomber.
“There is no bomb explosion in Ebonyi, but regrettably, this morning, one of our mobile police personnel attached to Afikpo on special duty was wounded by teargas.
“The officer mistakenly hit a teargas hung on his belt, and unfortunately, the device exploded and wounded him and he died. Read more
Arrival date for next batch of vaccine uncertain, says NPCDA (Punch)
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib, on Tuesday, said it was not clear yet when the Federal Government will take delivery of the next batch of COVID-19 vaccine doses.
Shuaib said this in Abuja during a press conference organised to update the public on the status of COVID-19 vaccination.
He said, “As most people here know by now, the global community is facing challenges regarding vaccine supply.
“Like most nations, this impacts the clarity over Nigeria’s next shipment. Read more
Recovered £4.2m Ibori loot returned to Delta (Punch)
The Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Ahmed Idris, has said the £4.2m looted by a former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, which the Federal Government recently repatriated from the United Kingdom, has been returned to the state.
Idris made this known in Abuja on Tuesday when he appeared before the House of Representatives’ Ad hoc Committee on Assessment and Status of All Recovered Loots Movable and Immovable Assets from 2002 to 2020 by Agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria for Effective Efficient Management and Utilisation.
The Accountant-General, who was grilled by the committee for over one hour, stated that such funds looted from the treasury of a state are always returned to the state. Read more
Lindsay Lohan is returning to acting with a Netflix Christmas rom-com (Metro)
Lindsay Lohan hive, rise – she’s back. The woman behind classics such as Mean Girls, Freaky Friday and The Parent Trap has landed herself a Netflix Christmas movie, and we’re already wishing summer away. Netflix confirmed that Lindsay, 34, will take the lead in an as-of-yet unnamed romantic comedy ‘about a newly engaged and spoiled hotel heiress who finds herself in the care of a handsome, blue-collar lodge owner and his precocious daughter after getting total amnesia in a skiing accident’. Many, many people pointed out under the announcement on Twitter that this sounds very much like the plot of the 1987 Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell comedy Overboard, in which an heiress falls off a yacht and suffers amnesia, only to end up in the care of a local carpenter she ripped off. The roles were switched in the 2018 remake starring Anna Faris and Eugenio Derbez, and Netflix’s new film seems to have just switched the cause of the amnesia and the season. Read more
Israel-Gaza conflict: Blinken promises US support for Gaza reconstruction (BBC)
The US will help rebuild Gaza as part of efforts to consolidate the ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant groups, the secretary of state says.
After meeting Israel’s prime minister, Antony Blinken said it was necessary to tackle the grave humanitarian situation to prevent a return to violence.
But he added that the US would ensure the militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza, did not benefit.
Mr Blinken also reiterated US support for Israel’s right to defend itself. Read more
Woman stabs lover with screwdriver after she finds him watching porn (Metro)
A woman has avoided prison after stabbing her boyfriend with a screwdriver when she found him watching and downloading porn. Chantelle Parker, 31, flew into a rage, smashing her lover’s tablet before repeatedly thrusting a screwdriver in his back and shoulder on September 15 last year. She then grabbed his throat before kicking him down the stairs at their home. Carlisle Crown Court heard how Parker had attacked previous partners and ‘clearly’ had anger issues. Read more
Elliot Page: Actor wins praise for sharing swimming shorts image after top surgery (BBC)
Elliot Page has won praise for posing bare-chested for the first time since coming out as trans in December.
An Instagram post shared by the actor showed him smiling while posing in a pool in swimming shorts alongside the words #transjoy and #transisbeautiful.
Page, 34, previously described his top surgery – where breast tissue is removed – as “life-saving”.
Speaking to Oprah Winfrey last month he said it made him “feel comfortable” in his body “for probably the first time”. Read more
Countries urge deeper probe of Covid origins at WHO meet (Guardian)
The United States and other countries called Tuesday for a more in-depth investigation of the pandemic origins, after an international mission to China earlier this year proved inconclusive.
Addressing the World Health Organization’s main annual meeting of member states, representatives from several countries stressed the continued need to solve the mystery of how Covid-19 first began spreading among humans.
“We underscore the importance of a robust comprehensive and expert-led inquiry into the origins of Covid-19,” US representative Jeremy Konyndyk told the World Health Assembly (WHA).
Australia, Japan and Portugal were among other countries to call for more progress on the investigation, while the British representative urged for any probe to be “timely, expert-driven and grounded in robust science”. Read more
Rocco Morabito: Italian fugitive arrested in Brazil (BBC)
Brazilian police have arrested fugitive Italian mafia boss Rocco Morabito in the north-eastern city of João Pessoa.
Known as the “cocaine king of Milan”, the suspected head of the ‘Ndrangheta crime gang has been one of Italy’s most wanted fugitives since 1994.
Morabito was arrested in Uruguay in 2017, but escaped from jail two years later while awaiting extradition to Italy.
He has been sentenced to 30 years in absentia by an Italian court. Read more
NBA play-offs: Milwaukee Bucks crush Miami Heat to take 2-0 series lead (BBC)
The Milwaukee Bucks produced an exhibition of three-point shooting to crush the Miami Heat and take a 2-0 first-round play-off lead over last year’s NBA Finals runners-up.
The Bucks scored 22 out of 53 three-point attempts in the 132-98 win.
Bryn Forbes netted five threes in the first half and Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 31 points.
Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets bounced back to level their series 1-1 against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Nikola Jokic scored 38 points while Michael Porter Jr had 18 in the 128-109 victory. Read more
Hansi Flick to succeed Joachim Low as Germany boss after Euro 2020 (BBC)
Bayern Munich’s departing manager Hansi Flick will succeed Joachim Low as Germany boss after this summer’s European Championship.
Low is leaving the role following the delayed Euro 2020, having been in the post since 2006.
Flick has signed a contract to be Germany manager until 2024.
“I am hugely excited, because I see the class of players, and especially young players, which we have in Germany,” said the 56-year-old.
Akwa Utd reclaim top spot despite barren draw with Rangers (DailyTrust)
Akwa United yesterday played out a goalless with Enugu Rangers in Uyo in the 2021 Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL week 22 fixture but reclaimed the top spot with superior goal difference.
On Sunday, Kano Pillars who were forced to 1-1 draw at Katsina United moved to the top of the table with 41 points while Akwa United who were yet to play Rangers came down to second position with 40 points.
Therefore, the draw in yesterday’s ill-tempered tie with Rangers returned the ‘Promise keepers’ to the top of the table with 41 points as Pillars who have inferior goal diference of plus 8 dropped to second position.
Going by the recent performance of Rangers which saw them suffer a 0-1 loss at home against Rivers United last Sunday, Akwa United were favoured to win the maximum points. Read more
Gareth Southgate names 33-man provisional England squad for Euro 2020 (Metro)
Gareth Southgate has named an extended 33-man provisional squad for Euro 2020, with the Three Lions boss sweating over the availability of a number of players before making a final decision. England have a host of players involved in this week’s Europa League and Champions League finals, while several more are struggling with injuries – notably Manchester United’s Harry Maguire. Southgate has therefore taken the decision to pick an expanded squad before whittling it down to 26 players in time for UEFA’s deadline at midnight on June 1. Read more
Luka Modric extends Real Madrid contract till 2022 (Punch)
Veteran midfielder Luka Modric has signed a contract extension which will keep him at Real Madrid until the end of next season, the La Liga giants announced on Tuesday.
The 35-year-old Croatian international, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2018, has played 391 times for Madrid since joining from Tottenham in 2012.
“The Croatian midfielder will remain at our club until 30 June, 2022,” Real said in a short statement.
Modric has remained a key player for Zinedine Zidane’s men this season, scoring six goals in 48 appearances. Read more
Eddie Hearn reveals 4 potential opponents for Anthony Joshua’s next fight (Metro)Eddie Hearn has revealed Andy Ruiz Jr has made an approach for a rematch with Anthony Joshua. Joshua was on course for a showdown fight with Tyson Fury in August before negotiations collapsed last week. Fury has now committed to a trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder later this year after an arbitrator ruled that the Bronze Bomber, who lost his WBC heavyweight title to Fury 15 months ago, is entitled to a rematch. Hearn is now in talks to arrange Joshua’s next opponent and Oleksandr Usyk, who is the mandatory challenger for the WBO heavyweight title, is favourite to secure the fight. Read more