Mass Burial: Amnesty International investigation not objective – Gbenga Omotoso (Vanguard)
Former Commissioner for Information in Lagos state, Gbenga Omotoso said the investigation of the Amnesty International on the alleged killing of 103 persons linked with the #EndSARS protest was not objective.
Omotoso stated this while speaking in an interview with Arise Television on Tuesday.
He said, “In this matter, Amnesty International is not the Amnesty International that I used to know. They are not objective. They are not backing whatever they are saying with any scientific evidences or reasoning. Read more
DSS re-arrests Emefiele after tussle with Prison officials (Channels)
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), on Tuesday, re-arrested suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, after a tussle with officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS).
Emefiele’s re-arrest occurred on the premises of a Federal High Court in Lagos sitting in Ikoyi after Justice Nicholas Oweibo admitted the embattled and suspended apex bank chief to bail in the sum of the N20m.
The judge also ordered that Emefiele be remanded at the correctional center pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions. Read more
Embattled APC chairman, secretary meet Tinubu in Aso Villa (Sun)
President Bola Tinub on Tuesday met with the embattled national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdulahi Adamu and the national secretary, Iyiola Omisore respectively, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Both men who came together for the meeting in the president’s office, were seen exiting after the session at about 1.30 pm.
Both former leaders of the ruling party were said to have resigned about a week ago following a meeting of its National Working Committee (NWC). Read more
Lagos court remands dismissed cop linked to missing baby (Punch)
A dismissed policeman, Samuel Ukpabio, has been remanded following his arraignment in court by the Lagos State Police Command for his involvement in the disappearance of a newborn, Joseph, at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, in the Yaba area of the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the development to our correspondent on Monday, said Ukpabio was arraigned in court last week.
“He (Ukpabio) was charged to court last Monday, remanded in prison and couldn’t meet the bail conditions. The case was adjourned till October 4,” Hundeyin said. Read more
Tinubu to send ministerial list to Senate in 48hrs – Senate Leader (Independent)
The Senate leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele on Tuesday disclosed that the much expected Ministerial list will be received by the Senate in the next 48 hours.
Speaking at his 60th birthday anniversary lecture and book presentation in Abuja, Bamidele said that President Bola Tinubu told him this morning when he called to greet him on his birthday lecture, adding that the President said he will not be able to come to the birthday lecture because of the communication he needed to submit to Senate in the next 48 hours.
Speaking at the birthday lecture, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio lamented that governors in Nigeria always fight their predecessors immediately they resumed office. Read more
Property destroyed, residents stranded as rain ravages Ibadan (Guardian)
Motorists and residents of Lalupon, Ejioku, Olodo Garage, and Olodo Bank along Ibadan/Iwo road were, yesterday, stranded, following the collapse of a connecting bridge during a heavy downpour on Sunday.
The resultant flood, which ravaged Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, also destroyed property worth millions of naira.
The Guardian gathered that the downpour, which started Sunday afternoon till late night, left many areas flooded in Ibadan, while vehicles and houses were submerged in the deluge, compelling residents to abandon their homes. Read more
Police rescue 2 Bayelsa children stolen, sold for N1.8m (Vanguard)
Police operatives of the Gender Unit, State Criminal Investigation Department, Bayelsa State Police Command have busted a child trafficking syndicate and rescued two children stolen from Bayelsa in Enugu and Abia states.
The rescued kids were identified as Success, a girl, aged four and Prince, a male, aged two.
Spokesperson of the Bayelsa State police command, Asinim Butswat, confirmed their rescue, yesterday, in Yenagoa. Read more
BTS’ Jimin reacts to Ryan Gosling wearing his ‘‘Permission to Dance’’ outfit in Barbie (NME)
South Korean singer Jimin, a member of K-pop boyband BTS, has reacted to Ryan Gosling wearing his ‘‘Permission to Dance’’ outfit in the new film Barbie.
Last week, Ryan Gosling offered an acoustic guitar from the movie Barbie to Jimin as a way of apologising after he “broke the Barbie Cardinal rule”. The actor had worn the same outfit in Barbie as the K-pop idol had on in the video for BTS’ song ‘‘Permission to Dance’’.
Jimin has since reacted to Gosling in a video on Instagram. “Hi Ryan and hi Ken, it’s Jimin,” he said while holding the guitar from the movie. “Congrats on your big release. My fans are excited to see your video so thank you so much. I could see that you look great in my outfit.” Read more
Bradley Cooper and Sofia Coppola’s new movies to compete at 2023 Venice Film Festival (FilmNews)
Bradley Cooper and Sofia Coppola will premiere their latest movies in competition at the 2023 Venice Film Festival.
Despite fears that the actors’ and writers’ strikes would impact the Italian film extravaganza, Venice organisers unveiled a star-studded line-up on Tuesday morning.
Those competing for the Golden Lion for Best Film, among other prizes, include Cooper’s Leonard Bernstein biopic, his latest directorial effort, and Coppola’s Priscilla, starring Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla Presley. Read more
Kenya’s Odinga denounces ‘unprecedented police brutality’ against protesters (AfricaNews)
Veteran Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga on Tuesday denounced “unprecedented police violence” during the anti-government and anti-expense protests that have been taking place in the East African country in recent months.
Since March, the opposition coalition Azimio has organized nine days of action against the policies of President William Ruto, sometimes resulting in looting and clashes with the police. According to Azimio, at least 50 people have been killed since March, some 20 according to official figures.
“We are witnessing unprecedented police violence,” said Raila Odinga at a press conference for foreign media in the Kenyan capital Nairobi. Read more
Thomas Haden Church talks “rumours” of another Tobey Maguire “Spider-Man,” cameo possibility (USAToday)
If Tobey Maguire is the star of “Spider-Man 4,” you can count on Thomas Haden Church to reprise his role as Sandman.
Church, who starred as Flint Marko, also known as Sandman, appeared in Maguire’s Spider-Man 3 and the Tom Holland-led Spider-Man: No Way Home.
The actor teased the possibility of director Sam Raimi continuing Maguire’s Spider-Man, telling Comic Book, “I’ve heard rumors…that Sam Raimi was going to do another (“Spider-Man”) with Tobey and if that happens, I would probably campaign to maybe at least do a cameo.” Read more
Dwayne Johnson donates ‘‘historic’’ amount of money to US actors’ strike foundation (Guardian)
Dwayne Johnson, star of Black Adam and the Fast and Furious franchise, has made a “major, historic” financial contribution to the Sag-Aftra Foundation Relief Fund, which provides emergency assistance to union members during strike action.
According to a report in Variety, Johnson’s “seven-figure donation” arrived in response to a letter sent by the foundation’s president Courtney B Vance to 2,700 of the highest-earning actors in the film industry.
Sag-Aftra Foundation’s executive director Cyd Wilson said: “It’s the largest single donation that we’ve ever received from one individual at one time. And what is amazing is that that one cheque is going to help thousands of actors keep food on their table.” Read more
China’s foreign minister Qin Gang ousted (Telegraph)
China’s foreign minister Qin Gang was removed from office on Tuesday, state media reported, after not being seen in public for a month.
“China’s top legislature voted to appoint Wang Yi as foreign minister… as it convened a session on Tuesday,” the news outlet Xinhua said.
“Qin Gang was removed from the post of foreign minister.”
The report did not give a reason for Mr Qin’s removal, but said President Xi Jinping had signed a presidential order to enact the decision. Read more
Plane fighting wildfires in Greece crashes on island of Evia (ITV)
A firefighting plane crashed in southern Greece on Tuesday as authorities battled fires across the country amid a return of heat wave temperatures.
The crash occurred on the island of Evia and was aired in a state television broadcast that showed the low-flying aircraft disappearing into a canyon before a fireball was seen moments later.
There was no immediate information about the plane’s crew. Read more
Chukwueze undergoes Milan medicals (Punch)
Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze’s much-anticipated move to Milan is nearly done, as the Italian giants have successfully concluded negotiations with Villarreal and the Nigeria international has landed in Italy for his medicals on Wednesday.
Sky Sport Italia reports that the deal is all but finalised, with only minor administrative formalities remaining to be resolved within the next few hours.
Milan are set to confirm the signing of Chukwueze soon and he will become the seventh player that Milan have signed this summer. Read more
CAF Champions League: Enyimba draw Al-Ahly Benghazi, Remo face Ghanaian Side (Channels)
Nigerian champions Enyimba have been drawn against Egyptian club Al-Ahly Benghazi in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League while Remo Stars face Ghana’s Medeama Sporting Club.
This followed Tuesday’s draw for the preliminary round of the 2023/24 edition of the competition held at the CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.
The first leg of the tie will be played between August 18-20 in Libya while the return fixture takes place a week later in the Nigerian city of Aba, Abia State. Read more
Anthony Elanga leaves Man United to join Nottingham Forest (ESPN)
Nottingham Forest have signed Sweden forward Anthony Elanga on a five-year deal from Manchester United, the two Premier League clubs announced on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old came through United’s youth ranks before making 55 appearances across all competitions for the club. Elanga has been capped 12 times for Sweden.
The two clubs are reported to have agreed a deal worth £15 million ($19.27m). Read more
BBC apologises for LGBTQ+ question to Morocco’s football captain (Guardian)
The BBC has apologised after one of its reporters asked Morocco’s football captain an “inappropriate” question before the team’s World Cup match against Germany on Monday.
Morocco’s debut at the tournament made it the first Arab and North African team to qualify for the Women’s World Cup. But it was an “unethical” and “dangerous” question directed at the team’s captain, Ghizlane Chebbak, about LGBTQ+ rights that has since taken centre stage.
“In Morocco it’s illegal to have a gay relationship. Do you have any gay players in your squad, and what’s life like for them in Morocco?” the BBC reporter asked. Read more
Nico Hulkenberg advised to leave Haas ‘‘for any other F1 cockpit’’ (PlanetF1)
Ralf Schumacher is eager to see Nico Hulkenberg race for another team in F1 – anyone at all, except for Haas.
Hulkenberg has proven that he’s lost none of his speed during his time away from F1, having returned to the sport with Haas this year after last racing as a full-timer in 2019.
The German has constantly had the measure of Kevin Magnussen, particularly in qualifying, although Haas’ lack of race pace has meant he’s only had one points finish in 11 races. Read more
Emma Raducanu “will change coaches the rest of her career,” says agent Max Eisenbud (Sky)
Emma Raducanu’s agent Max Eisenbud has defended her high turnover of coaches, saying it is something she is likely to do “for the rest of her career.”
Raducanu, 20, has worked with five different coaches over the last two years, since winning the US Open in 2021 as an 18-year-old.
Such a situation has led to criticism, particularly as the Brit has failed to perform to the same level since that sensational Grand Slam victory. Read more