Man regains freedom after 18 years as ghost prisoner (Guardian)
In a heartwarming and emotional turn of events, Gospel Uebari Kinanee, a man who was wrongly imprisoned for 18 years, has finally regained his freedom.
Kinanee, who was taken away by policemen at the age of 14, was recently reunited with his family, having been one of the freed 21 awaiting trial inmates at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre, in a bid to reduce the congestion in correctional facilities in Rivers State.
The exercise was part of the Rivers State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadiโs efforts to address the issue of overcrowding in the stateโs correctional facilities, which has become a major concern. Read more
Task force impounds 63 motorcycles in Lagos (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Task Force) has impounded 63 motorcycles as part of its ongoing efforts to enforce the ban on motorcycles in certain areas of the state.
Its Chairman, CSP Adetayo Akerele, disclosed this in a statement issued by the agency spokesperson, Mr Abdulraheem Gbadeyan, on Friday in Lagos.
Akerele said that the agency had launched a comprehensive operation targeting recalcitrant motorcycle (Okada) operators, who persist in violating the ban on restricted routes, highways, and bridges across the state.
โThis exercise, which has been reinforced in areas where recralcitrant okada riders were noticable in the state, has led to the seizure of 63 motorcycles,โ he said.
He stated that the latest. Read more
Police confirm killing of UNIMED registrar (Channels)
The Ondo State Police Command has confirmed the killing of the Registrar of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo (UNIMED), Mr Ezekiel Imoleayo Adeniran.
The Public Relations Officer of the command, Olusola Ayanlade, confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation with Channels Television.
According to Ayanlade, the university Registrar died in the early hours of Thursday, July 17, adding that the incident was reported at Fanibi, Akure Division, of the Command. Read more
Donโt come to Edo again without telling me, Okpebholo warns Peter Obi (Tribune)
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State on Friday issued a stern warning to the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, saying he could not guarantee the LP chieftainโs security in the state if he failed to seek and obtain prior permission before visiting.
Governor Okpebholo, speaking at a defection rally held in Uromi, headquarters of Esan North-East Local Government Area, gave the warning while celebrating the defection of the former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and current PDP lawmaker representing Esan Central/Esan West/Igueben Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Marcus Onobun, to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the governor, Obi would be held responsible for whatever happens to him in Edo State should he ignore the directive. Read more
Nigeria in bondage, needs true leader โ Obasanjo (NewTelegraph)
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has declared that Nigeria is currently in bondage and urgently in need of a true nationalist leader to rescue it from its deepening woes.
Speaking on Friday at his Abeokuta residence while receiving the Southern leadership of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Obasanjo said the countryโs problems stem largely from a lack of visionary leadership and an overemphasis on tribal loyalties.
โWe are in bondage, and we should pray that God should free us,โ Obasanjo said. โUntil we have a true Nigerian as President someone who thinks beyond tribe, religion, or region our problems will persist.โ Read more
PCNGI facilitates $800m investments, as converted vehicles exceed 100,000 in 1 year (Leadership)
The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) has announced a major milestone, revealing that its efforts have led to over $800 million in private and public investments and created more than 100,000 direct and indirect jobs since the programmeโs inception.
Also, the agency noted that in just one year, the number of CNG-powered vehicles operating in Nigeria has soared past 100,000โa fivefold increase attributed to the Initiativeโs rapid deployment and widespread adoption of cleaner, more affordable energy alternatives.
PCNGI brand & corporate communications manager, Matilda Johnson, who disclosed these on Friday, in response to recent โmisleading media reports,โ also added the recent landmark deployment by Dangote Group, featuring 4,000 CNG-powered trucks, 100 virtual pipeline vehicles, and multiple daughter stations, is just one high-profile testament to the Initiativeโs impact. Read more
Tinubu names IBBโs son, Muhammad Babangida Bank of Agriculture chairman (ThisDay)
President Bola Tinubu has appointed the son of the former military President, Muhammad Babangida, as chairman of the revamped Bank of Agriculture.
According to a statement issued by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the President approved the appointment yesterday, along with eight others some of whom will serve as Chairmen or Directors General of federal agencies.
Babangida, 53, an alumnus of the European University in Montreux, Switzerland, where he earned a Bachelorโs degree in Business Administration and a Masterโs degree in Public Relations and Business Communication, later attended Harvard Business Schoolโs Executive Program on Corporate Governance in 2002. Read more
Wet Leg react to beating Oasis to Number 1 album with piss-take t-shirt (NME)
Wet Leg have reacted to beating Oasis to a Number One album by posting a picture while wearing a piss-take t-shirt.
The band, which consists of Rhian Teasdale, Hester Chambers, Henry Holmes, Josh Mobaraki and Ellis Durand, released their second album โMoisturizerโ on July 11.
Wet Legโs new album has topped the Official Vinyl Albums Chart and the Official Record Store Chart, which has named it the biggest seller of the previous seven days in UK independent record shops. Read more
Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock reunite on Practical Magic 2’s first day of filming (EW)
Celebratory midnight margaritas are in order!
Practical Magic 2 has begun production, and we have a spellbinding clip of Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock on their first day on set to prove it.
Kidman has shared a video on Instagram from what appears to be a graveyard, where she and her big-screen sister Bullock, both clad in autumnal dresses, warmly embrace before the cameras start rolling. Read more
Israel and Syria agree to ceasefire, US ambassador to Turkey says (CNN)
Syria and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire, US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said on Friday.
The deal was โembracedโ by Turkey, Jordan and other neighboring countries, the ambassador, who also serves as the US special envoy to Syria, said in a post on X.
โWe call upon Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to put down their weapons and together with other minorities build a new and united Syrian identity in peace and prosperity with its neighbors,โ Barrack said. Read more
Astronomer launches investigation into Andy Byron and Coldplay kiss cam drama (Metro)
The company whose CEO is at the centre of a kiss cam story that set the internet alight has launched a formal investigation into the drama.
Astronomer, whose boss Andy Byron is now accused of having an affair with head of HR Kristin Cabot after the pair appeared to be caught off guard with their arms wrapped around each other, said further details would be revealed โvery shortlyโ.
They also confirmed Byron has not released any statement and reports suggesting otherwise โare all incorrectโ. Read more
Katy Perry vows to keep composure during split song (MusicNews)
Katy Perry vowed to “hold” her composure as she performed a song about heartbreak on Tuesday evening.
The singer, who recently split from Orlando Bloom, was on stage in California with her Lifetimes Tour when she admitted she was feeling emotional.
During a segment where fans vote for the tracks Katy will perform live, she introduced Not Like the Movies, a song about the end of a relationship. Read more
Microsoft stops relying on Chinese engineers for Pentagon cloud support (CNBC)
Microsoft on Friday revised its practices to ensure that engineers in China no longer provide technical support to U.S. defense clients using the companyโs cloud services.
The company implemented the changes in an effort to reduce national security and cybersecurity risks stemming from its cloud work with a major customer. The announcement came days after ProPublica published an extensive report describing the Defense Departmentโs dependence on Microsoft software engineers in China.
โIn response to concerns raised earlier this week about US-supervised foreign engineers, Microsoft has made changes to our support for US Government customers to assure that no China-based engineering teams are providing technical assistance for DoD Government cloud and related services,โ Frank Shaw, the Microsoftโs chief communications officer, wrote in a Friday X post. Read more
Super Falcons thrash Zambia 5-0 in WAFCON quarters (Guardian)
The Nigeria Super Falcons secured a dominant 5-0 victory over Zambia in their Womenโs Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarter-final match at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium on Friday, July 18, 2025. The win propels Nigeria, a nine-time champion, closer to their aspiration for a tenth title, a goal they have termed โMission X.โ
The encounter, which some football analysts had anticipated would be a closely contested affair between Zambiaโs Barbra Banda, the current African Womenโs Best Player, and Nigeriaโs Asisat Oshoala, a six-time African Womenโs Footballer of the Year, quickly shifted as the Super Falcons took firm control of the game.
Nigeria wasted no time in establishing their dominance, with Osinachi Ohale scoring the opening goal in the second minute with a header. The Super Falcons continued to press, generating multiple scoring opportunities throughout the initial half. Esther Okoronkwo extended Nigeriaโs lead in the 33rd minute. Read more
Madueke gets No.20 shirt, wants to win all competitions with Arsenal (Vanguard)
Arsenal have completed the signing of winger Noni Madueke from Chelsea in a deal worth ยฃ52 million.
The Gunners will pay an initial fee of ยฃ48.5 million, with an additional ยฃ3.5 million in performance-related add-ons.
The 23-year-old has penned a five-year contract with the North London club, becoming Arsenalโs fourth acquisition of the summer following the arrivals of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, and Christian Norgaard.
Madueke, who has seven England caps, is known primarily as a right winger but is also comfortable operating from the left. Read more
Distressed DโTigress worried as flight tickets trickle in from NSC (ThisDay)
Reigning African basketball champions, DโTigress of Nigeria, are worried about their ability to successfully defend their title in Abidjan when the 2025 Afrobasket takes the tip-off on July 25.
It was learnt yesterday that the National Sports Commission (NSC) has started to buy flight tickets for the players called to camp on Wednesday, July 16. โThese tickets that were purchased on Wednesday are coming more than one month behind schedule,โ an informed source said yesterday, stressing that the NSC officials were meant to have delivered the ticket to the players in May.
By the programme of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) as approved by the NSC, the players were meant to have received their flight tickets to Abuja for the national camp latest in June. Read more
Will Carlos Alcaraz & Emma Raducanu pull out of the US Open? Leading coach predicts mixed doubles withdrawals (Tennis365)
The US Open mixed doubles tournament has been one of the most talked-about events in tennis in 2025, but the coach of new Wimbledon doubles champion Julian Cash has suggested the winnerโs of next monthโs glitzy event at Flushing Meadows next month should not be hailed as Grand Slam champions.
A host of big-name stars have been announced as participants in a new-look mixed doubles competition that will be contested over short four game sets, with a deciding point at deuce and a 10-point match tiebreak instead of a third set.
Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz were one of the eye-catching pairings announced for an event that is also due to see new Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner team up with Americaโs Emma Navarro and Novak Djokovic play with Olga Danilovic. Read more
Chelsea fans predict 16-year-old will become โclub legendโ just like his dad (Metro)
Chelsea fans have tipped Thiago Silvaโs son to become a โclub legendโ after he was signed as a scholar ahead of the upcoming 2025-26 season.
The Blues unveiled their latest group of first-year scholars on Friday, with Isago Silva one of 16 young players announced before the new campaign.
The 16-year-old mainly features as a left-back but can also be deployed as a central defender and Blues supporters are already getting behind him. Read more