MC Oluomo reacts to criticism over UNILAG invitation (Punch)
The Caretaker Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Lagos State, Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo, has reacted to the criticism that greeted his invitation to an event at the University of Lagos, Akoka. MC Oluomo, who travelled to Abuja and did not attend the student programme, said the organisers knew why they invited him. The University of Lagos had been attacked on the social media for inviting the transport union leader to the campus. Read more
Anambra Assembly wants FG to make Air Peace National Carrier (Guardian)
The Anambra State House of Assembly has urged Federal Government to make Air Peace Airline a National Carrier for its contributions in the evacuation of stranded Nigerians in South Africa. The lawmakers also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to confer on Chief Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace, a national honour for his philanthropic gestures and contributions to human development. Read more
Army bans NGO for ‘aiding Boko Haram’ (Nation)
For allegedly aiding terrorist group Boko Haram, a non-governmental organisation Action Against Hunger (AAH) has been blacklisted by the Nigerian Army (NA). AAH was declared persona nan grata for allegedly supplying food and drugs to Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a statement released by spokesman theatre command Operation Lafiya Dole Col Ado Isa on Thursday evening said. Read more
Gbajabiamila courts Bill-Melinda Gates Foundation (Punch)
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos), has asked the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to intensify its intervention programmes in areas of health care delivery services and agriculture. Gbajabiamila made the call while receiving members of the foundation’s delegation, led by its President, Global Development, Mr Chris Elias, in his office on Thursday in Abuja. Read more
Oyo-Ita’s exit, sign of Buhari’s zero-tolerance for corruption – BMO (Guardian)
The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) says the decision to relief Winifred Oyo-Ita of her position as Head of Service (HoS) of the Federation is a sign of President Muhammadu Buhari’s zero-tolerance for corruption. The organisation in a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju in Abuja on Thursday, added that the president’s decision had further demonstrated his commitment to fighting corruption. Read more
IPOB’s Kanu petitions UN over alleged human right abuses (Punch)
Leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, on Thursday, petitioned the United Nations and its relevant agencies over alleged human rights abuses suffered by its people at the hands of the Nigerian government. A statement signed by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Director, Comrade Emma Powerful, which was made available to The PUNCH, in Abakaliki, hinted that there was hope that the UN and officials in Geneva, were giving adequate attention to the various human rights abuses allegedly perpetrated against members of the group. Read more
Kidnapping, banditry, cultism dropping – IGP (Nation)
The Inspector General of Police, (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, on Thursday declared that the crime rate in the country has dropped drastically in comparison with two quarters ago. According to him, banditry, kidnapping and cultism have decreased. He said that President Muhammadu Buhari urged the security agencies to keep up the good work towards achieving a near-zero crime rate in the country. Read more
CAN raises alarm over govt’s quit notice order on Kaduna’s 110-year church (Punch)
The Kaduna State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria has raised the alarm over a purported quit notice handed to one of its churches in Zaria, Kaduna State. The Kaduna State Urban Planning Development Agency allegedly served the 110-year St. George Anglican Church, Sabon Gari, Zaria, a seven-day quit notice. The notice also claimed that compensation had been duly paid to the church. Read more
SGF, Ribadu, Adamu, Bindow, FCT Minister, others to reposition APC in Adamawa (Guardian)
The North-East zone of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated a 39-member Central Steering Committee to reposition the party in Adamawa State. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that part of the committee’s assignment was also to reconcile all the aggrieved aspirants and candidates for various positions during the 2019 general elections. Read more
CBN commits N30bn to oil-palm production —Emefiele (Punch)
The Central Bank of Nigeria says it has committed about N30bn to enhance oil-palm production in the country. The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, disclosed this at a meeting with some governors in Abuja on Thursday. Emefiele explained that the fund was disbursed through deposit money banks to six oil palm companies to support their expansion programmes. Read more
Flooding: NERC orders three hydro power plants ‘must run’ (Nation)
Following the forecast of the Nigerian Metrological Agency that there will be ravaging flooding resulting from long duration of rainfall this year, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Thursday in its “must run” order, directed the three Hydroelectric Power Stations; Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro, to as a matter of compulsion, operate their plants. Read more
Fintiri approves appointment of new First Class Chief of Lunguda Chiefdom (Guardian)
Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa on Thursday approved the appointment of Mr. Kuruhaye Dansanda as the new First Class Chief of Lunguda Chiefdom in Guyuk Local Government Area of the state. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the approval followed the selection of Dansanda by the kingmakers of the chiefdom, following the death of his predecessor, Late Wilfred Kimde, who passed away last month. Read more
Police arrest wanted Port Harcourt serial killer (Nation)
The Police in Rivers State have arrested an ex-militant Gracious David West, 26, alleged to be responsible for the murder of about 13 women. West was declared wanted by the police on Wedneaday after a Close Circuit Television Camera (CCTV) footage showed he had booked into a hotel with a young woman who was found dead on Tuesday. It was gathered that the suspect confessed to have killed five women in similar manner in Imo State and seven in Port Harcourt City. Read more
Jilted 25-year-old man drinks snipper, dies (Punch)
A 25-year-old man, Kehinde Muse, has committed suicide after his girlfriend, Rasheedat Animashaun, broke up with him. The PUNCH learnt that the deceased had sent a text message to 21-year-old Animashaun, informing her of his decision to kill himself. The girlfriend was said to have informed his family members, as they all rushed to his house on Modele Street, Surulere. Read more
Police arrest man for defiling neighbour’s six-year-old daughter (Nation)
The Police in Ogun State have arrested one Oluwole Bamidele (43) in Agoro area of Agbado for defiling six – year old daughter of his neighbour. Oluwole was said to have lured the victim into his room at noontime and raped her when her mother left home for her tailor’s shop. Read more
12 dead in attacks on DR Congo refugee camps (Guardian)
At least 12 civilians have been killed in renewed violence targeting refugee camps in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local officials said on Thursday. Three separate attacks in troubled Ituri province overnight Wednesday also left three people wounded and four missing, Abel Alingi, an administrator in Djugu territory, told AFP. Several buildings housing internally displaced people (IDPs) were burned down, he said. Read more
Canada’s Justin Trudeau cannot say how often he wore blackface (BBC)
Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau has said he cannot remember how often he wore blackface as a younger man, as a scandal deepened ahead of an election. He was speaking after more images of him wearing black make-up when he was younger emerged. “I am wary of being definitive about this because of the recent pictures that came out, I had not remembered,” he told reporters in Winnipeg. Read more
Trump denies promise that led to formal complaint from US spy (BBC)
Donald Trump has rubbished a report alleging he made a promise to a foreign leader, something that sparked a whistleblower’s formal complaint. The Washington Post said the intelligence official found the comment “so troubling” they went to the department’s inspector general. In a tweet, Mr Trump dismissed the claims as “fake news”. Read more
Hospice patient died in agony ‘after nurse stole his morphine and took it herself’ (Metro)
A US military veteran died in agony after a hospice nurse stole his morphine and took it herself, a court heard. Kathleen Noftle is said to have poured out some of the morphine intended for the unnamed man and other patients before getting high on it. She then mixed the remainder of the prescribed painkiller with water to dilute it, before giving it to patients, it is alleged. Read more
Khaseen Morris: Teen held in fatal knifing bystanders filmed (BBC)
A New York teenager has been charged with the fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old boy whom bystanders filmed bleeding to death. Tyler Flach, 18, is accused of second-degree murder in the deadly after-school brawl that broke out not far from the victim’s Long Island school. Police said that most of the “50, 60, 70” kids who witnessed the attack on Khaseen Morris did nothing to stop it. Read more
Footballer caught cheating on partner jumped out of hotel window in boxers (Metro)
A Premier League footballer was blackmailed after being filmed in a hotel room with a woman who was not his partner, a court heard. The player, who can’t be named for legal reasons, was set up by Natalie Wood, 28, as part of a plot to extort money from him. Wood met up with the star three times after he sent her a message on social media in 2017. Read more
Bird populations in US and Canada down 3bn in 50 years (BBC)
Bird populations in Asia and the US are “in crisis”, according to two major studies. The first concludes there are three billion fewer birds in the US and Canada today compared to 1970 – a loss of 29% of North America’s birds. The second outlines a tipping point in “the Asian songbird crisis”: on the island of Java, Indonesia, more birds may now live in cages than in the wild. Read more
Stormzy and Jorja Smith dodge reporters as they lead red carpet at Hyundai Mercury Prize (Metro)
Stormzy and Jorja Smith avoided reporters on the media run at the Hyundai Mercury Prize on Thursday night. Both artists were judges for the Best Album prize, but neither of them walked the red carpet, choosing instead to pose for photos before heading into the awards. Read more
Dave wins Mercury Prize for his debut album Psychodrama (BBC)
Rapper Dave has won the Mercury Prize for his debut album, Psychodrama. A thought-provoking reflection on his upbringing in London, it has been hailed as “the boldest and best British rap album in a generation”. The Streatham-born star beat the likes of Foals, Anna Calvi and The 1975 to win the prize, which recognises the best British album of the last year. Read more
90s boyband Westlife ‘approached to turn their career into West End musical’ (Metro)
Westlife may be set to turn their rags to riches story into a West End musical. The 90s boyband are about to make a comeback as their long-awaited reunion was met with delight from their legion of dedicated fans and their tour became their fastest-selling to date, shifting over 560,000 tickets in just hours of going on sale. Read more
Mason Greenwood strikes in limp Man Utd win over Astana in the Europa League (Metro)
Manchester United eventually broke down a stubborn Astana side to pick up a narrow 1-0 win in the Europa League thanks to a Mason Greenwood goal. It took until the 73rd minute for the home side to break the deadlock, but the strike was a memorable one when it eventually came as Greenwood became the youngest ever goal-scorer in Europe for United. The 17-year-old was given the ball on the right corner of the penalty area from where he beat a man before hammering home a low shot from a tight angle. Read more
Joe Willock and Bukayo Saka shine as Arsenal take control of Europa League group with 3-0 win against Frankfurt (Metro)
Arsenal kick-started their Europa League campaign with an impressive 3-0 win away at Frankfurt thanks to goals from Joe Willock, Bukayo Saka and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Gunners were on the back foot for much of the first half and looked nervous in the opening stages against a vibrant home side. The hosts went close through Andre Silva and Filip Kostic but Arsenal slowly made their way into the game and tested Kevin Trapp through Emile Smith-Rowe and Aubameyang. Read more
Arsenal teenager Bukayo Saka looks better than £72m signing Nicolas Pepe, reckons Martin Keown (Metro)
Martin Keown believes that Arsenal teenager Bukayo Saka looks a better player than £72m summer signing Nicolas Pepe after his superb display in the Europa League against Frankfurt. The Gunners secured a remarkable 3-0 victory away in Frankfurt on Thursday night and the 18-year-old Saka caught the eye with a sparkling performance. Read more
Callum Hudson-Odoi signs new five-year Chelsea deal (Metro)
Chelsea have confirmed Callum Hudson-Odoi has signed a new contract at the club until 2024. The 18-year-old handed in a transfer request in January and the Blues turned down three bids from Bayern Munich. Hudson-Odoi was unhappy at a perceived lack of playing time under Maurizio Sarri and his hand was strong given he had just 18 months left on his deal at the time. Read more
Neymar: Barcelona ‘did everything possible’ to re-sign Paris Saint-Germain forward (BBC)
Barcelona “did everything possible” to try and sign Neymar this summer but think his club Paris Saint-Germain “never wanted to sell him,” according to the Catalan side’s chief executive. The Brazil international was repeatedly linked with a return to Barcelona during the transfer window. The 27-year-old joined Paris St-Germain from Barcelona in 2017 for a world record fee of 222m euros (£200m). Read more
Ex-Spurs, United forward Berbatov retires (Guardian)
Dimitar Berbatov, Bulgaria’s joint all-time leading international scorer, said on Thursday that he was retiring as a player after more than a year without a club. “Although when I think about it, it’s never The End, because I will stay in the game in one way or another, the time has come to say that after almost 20 years playing football I am stoping with my professional ACTIVE football career!” he wrote in a long Instagram post accompanied by a video. Read more
On-loan Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius produces calamitous error for Besiktas in Europa League (Metro)
Loris Karius has not eradicated monstrous errors from his game since leaving Liverpool for Besiktas on loan, as he demonstrated on Thursday night in the Europa League. Besiktas were away to Slovan Bratislava on Thursday night and the score was still at 0-0 when a long punt from the home side’s goalkeeper bounced midway into the Besiktas half. Read more
Football Leaks: Suspected hacker charged in Portugal (BBC)
A man linked to the Football Leaks disclosures which prompted investigations into the Manchester City and Paris St-Germain clubs has been charged with 147 offences in Portugal. Rui Pinto, 30, is accused of crimes relating to unauthorised access to data and attempted extortion. He says he acted in the public interest and should not face trial. Read more