N118b, $309m fraud cases concealed under Magu – Panel (Punch)
The presidential panel that probed former acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, has revealed that 14 fraud cases involving N118 billion and $309 million were abandoned by the anti-graft commission under his watch, TheCable reports.
In July 2020, as acting chairman of the EFCC, Magu was arrested, detained, and suspended. He was brought before the Justice Ayo Salami-led panel on allegations of gross misconduct.
The panel headed by Ayo Salami, former president of the court of appeal, was set up to probe the EFCC from May 2015 to May 2020, when Magu was in charge of the agency.
He was further accused of suppressing high-profile cases involving four ex-governors, one of whom is currently a senator. Read more
NSCDC trains squad for schools protection (Guardian)
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has trained a specialised female squad for school protection.
The squad would be deployed to schools nationwide as part of measures to curtail security threats on educational institutions.
A statement by the NSCDC Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Olusola Odumosu, said that the Commandant General (CG), Ahmed Audi, made the disclosure at a train-the-trainer workshop on Tuesday in Abuja.
The CG advised the unit to remain focused, resilient and committed to the security of schools, the protection of students, teachers and other workers.
Audi, represented by Nnamdi Nwinyi, Deputy Commandant General, Crisis and Disaster Management, said the corps had developed strategic plans to enhance security nationwide.
He charged the trainees to expand their capacity by engaging in critical thinking, so as to come up with more robust ideas and solutions to achieve safety in schools. Read more
Lagos AAC to unveil governorship, legislative candidates, blueprint Saturday (Independent)
The African Action Congress (AAC), Lagos State Chapter will on Saturday unveil its gubernatorial and deputy gubernatorial candidates ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The party will also announce its candidates for legislative seats as well as its blueprint at Ikeja, Lagos.
The party’s State Publicity Secretary, Osatohamhen Ebhohon, in a statement issued on Tuesday, named Akeem Olayiwola and Ben Eze as the party’s candidates.
He disclosed that both would be coming into the governorship contest with a unique and distinctive blueprint titled ‘The Lagos We Want.’ Read more
Fans react as Tonto Dikeh ‘mimics’ Bobrisky’s voice in new Instagram video (Vanguard)
Nollywood actress and politician, Tonto Dikeh has been called out by fans for mimicking Bobrisky’s voice in a new Instagram video she posted early Tuesday morning.
Recall that the friendship between the duo suddenly went bad and they both unfollowed each other on social media.
It all started after Tonto shared a post on her Instagram account about jealous friends who present themselves as though they are supportive. Responding, Bobrisky accused Tonto of living a fake life and owing him five million Naira, ever since then, they have been enemies.
However, seeing the video shared on her official Instagram page, Netizens accused Tonto Dikeh of throwing major shade at her ex-bestie and cross-dresser. Read more
Roadblock: Lagos council boss silent on extortion (Punch)
The Chairman of the Egbe-Idimu Local Council Development Area, Kunle Olowoopejo, has remained silent on the alleged extortion and brutality being perpetrated by suspected officials of the council.
Calls and repeated text messages to the chairman on Sunday and Monday seeking his reaction to the matter were not replied to.
PUNCH Metro had reported that some men who claimed to be working for the council mounted a roadblock at the Isheri Roundabout in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Our correspondent, who was an eyewitness, noted that some truck drivers were assaulted by the officials for not paying a certain levy without any form of receipt. Read more
Techno Oil group bags ISO 9001: 2015 Certification (Sun)
Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has awarded ISO 9001: 2015 Certification to Techno Oil Limited for complying with best practices and international standards.
ISO 9001:2015 Certification is a quality management systems award, bestowed on companies by SON for full compliance with quality standards and best practices in management.
The award ceremony is slated to take place at Techno Oil Head Office in Lagos on August 16, 2022, where the presentation of the certificate to the company will be performed.
Speaking on the latest SON certification clinched by her company, Mrs Nkechi Obi, the Group Managing Director of Techno Oil said: “With this award, Techno Oil will continue to ensure and sustain compliance with both local and international standards at every level of our operations. Read more
1 killed, another abducted as gunmen invade Kogi market (Leadership)
Suspected gunmen invaded Orie market, killed one person, abducted another and demanded N20 million ransom.
The incident occurred in Agbedo community -Akpayan in Igalamela/Odolu local government area of Kogi State.
This came a few days after an attack on the convoy of a ceramic company in Ajaokuta LGA of the state.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the hoodlums in their large numbers stormed the market on Sunday at 2pm and started shooting sporadically to scare the people in the market. Read more
NCDC reports 60 suspected monkeypox cases (ThisDay)
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported 60 new suspected cases of monkeypox in its latest situation report covering August 1 to August 7 in 18 states of the federation and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In its epidemiological report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja, the centre stated that in the same week, the country recorded 15 confirmed new cases.
NAN reports that Monkeypox is a virus similar to smallpox, but symptoms are less severe. It was discovered in 1958 after outbreaks occurred in monkeys kept for research. The virus is primarily found in parts of Central and West Africa, but recently spread to dozens of countries and has infected tens of thousands of people, overwhelmingly men who have sex with men.
The NCDC listed the affected states as: Ebonyi, FCT, Abia, Adamawa, Ondo, Taraba, Imo and Lagos. Others are: Ogun, Edo, Anambra, Gombe, Kwara, Rivers, Cross River, Oyo, Kano, Nasarawa and Niger states. Read more
Matawalle signs death penalty for kidnappers, bandits, others in Zamfara (Nation)
Zamfara Governor Bello Matawalle has signed into law a death penalty on anybody found guilty of banditry, cattle rustling, cultism, or serving as a bandits’ informant.
Matawalle announced this in a broadcast to the people of the state on Tuesday morning.
He said: “On the 28th of June this year, I assented to the bill on Prohibition and Punishment for Banditry, Cattle Rustling, Cultism, Kidnapping and Other Incidental Offences, 2022.
“The law provides a legal instrument for prosecuting banditry-related offenders.
5 arrested for blowing up oil pipelines in Bayelsa (DailyTrust)
Police in Bayelsa State have arrested five suspected pipeline vandals in Bayelsa State who allegedly blew up a trunkline carrying crude oil from Omoku to Brass Terminal at Etiama, Nembe Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects were said to have also blown up a crude delivery pipeline at Obama Tekere River, which supplies crude oil to Brass terminal, with an improvised explosive device (IED) on August 11, a few weeks after the previous attack.
Police spokesman in Bayelsa State, SP Asinim Butswat, told newsmen on Tuesday that all the suspects had confessed to their involvement in the recent attack on a crude oil delivery pipeline at Obama Tekere River and a trunkline at Etiama.
He said the suspects would be arraigned at the conclusion of the investigation. Read more
Nigeria will save N2t from malaria elimination – Buhari (Sun)
Appoints Dangote chair of 16-man council to eradicate disease; Health ministry needs N1.89trn to implement 2022-2025 plan
President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that the elimination of malaria will save Nigeria about N687 billion in 2022 and N2 trillion by 2030.
This is even as the Minister of State, Joseph Ekumankama, has disclosed that the ministry needs N1.89 trillion to fully implement the Nigeria National Malaria Strategic Plan 2021-25, aimed at achieving a parasitic prevalence of less than 10 per cent and reducing mortality attributable to malaria to less than 50 deaths per 1000 live births by the year 2025.
President Buhari made the declaration Tuesday in Abuja at the inauguration of the Nigeria End Malaria Council (NEMC), projecting that the successful implementation of the Council’s agenda will save the country from the economic burden of the disease. Read more
Sons of Anarchy star in first look at new Apple show (DigitalSpy)
A first look at Sons of Anarchy star Charlie Hunnam in Apple TV+’s Shantaram has been unveiled.
The new show is based on the novel by Gregory David Roberts, and focuses on a fugitive who reinvents himself in the slums of Bombay.
The first look picture shows Hunnam in character as the main role of Lin Ford as he sits on a motorbike in the slums.
The show’s synopsis continues: “Alone in an unfamiliar city, Lin struggles to avoid the trouble he’s running from in this new place. Read more
Bryce Dallas Howard says Chris Pratt fought to get her equal pay on ‘Jurassic World’ trilogy (NME)
Bryce Dallas Howard has revealed that Chris Pratt fought to get her equal pay on the Jurassic World trilogy.
In 2018, it was reported that Howard was paid $2million (£1.6million) less than Pratt for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, earning $8million while her co-star received $10million.
However, in a recent interview with Insider, the actress claimed the pay gap between the two of them was, in fact, much bigger.
“The reports were so interesting because I was paid so much less than the reports even said. So much less,” she said. Read more
Salman Rushdie is awake and ‘articulate’ after stabbing attack in New York, official says (CNN)
Award-winning author Salman Rushdie is awake and “articulate” in his conversations with investigators as he remains hospitalised for severe injuries following a stabbing attack in western New York Friday, a law enforcement official with direct knowledge of the investigation told CNN Monday.
Rushdie, 75, underwent emergency surgery after a man allegedly stabbed him several times before his scheduled lecture at the Chautauqua Institution, officials have said.
The writer whose books have garnered him awards was conscious Monday and able to respond to questions from investigators, according to the law enforcement official.
It’s unclear what Rushdie told investigators following the attack that shook the literary world and prompted immediate condemnation from around the globe. Read more
Zayn Malik sings One Direction’s ‘Night Changes’ in nostalgic video (PageSix)
Zayn Malik revisited One Direction’s 2014 single “Night Changes” in a nostalgic black-and-white Instagram video Monday.
The 29-year-old “X Factor” alum, who was a member of the boy band from 2010 to 2015 alongside Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan, sang the song a capella in the social media upload.
“Everything that you ever dreamed of / Disappearing when you wake up,” Malik crooned.
“But there’s nothing to be afraid of / Even when the night changes,” he continued. “It will never change me and you.” Read more
Snoop Dogg launches ‘Snoop Loopz’ breakfast cereal (NME)
Snoop Dogg has announced the launch of his very own breakfast cereal, ‘Snoop Loopz’.
Announced by Master P over the weekend (August 13), the gluten-free cereal promises “more corn, more flavor and more marshmallows”, and features a spoon-wielding blue dog on its technicoloured box.
“The best tasting cereal in the game,” Master P wrote in the accompanying Instagram announcement, “[Snoop Dogg], we’re taking over grocery stores”.
The cereal will be released under Broadus Foods, a venture founded by Snoop Dogg (real name Calvin Broadus), which elsewhere sells a variety of Snoop-branded breakfast products including oatmeal, pancake mix and syrup. Read more
US First lady Jill Biden tests positive for COVID-19 (USAToday)
First lady Jill Biden has tested positive for COVID-19.
The White House announced Tuesday that Jill Biden, 71, tested positive after testing negative Monday. According to the statement, the first lady “began to develop cold-like symptoms late in the evening.”
Biden’s positive test comes nine days after her husband President Joe Biden ended his isolation following a re-infection of COVID-19 after recovering from a rebound case.
The first lady initially tested negative on a rapid test but tested positive on a PCR test. Read more
Olivia Newton-John’s songs get a 614% streaming bump following her death (Variety)
She’s the one that they still want — the millions of Olivia Newton-John fans who were prompted by news of her death to revisit her hits on streaming services.
On-demand audio and video streams for Newton-John’s music amounted to 11,267,494 for the week ending Aug. 11, Luminate Data tells Variety. How big an uptick was that? It marked a 614% increase from the prior week, which ended Aug. 4.
That’s particularly impressive given that the performer’s death was announced well into the chart week, on Aug. 8, meaning the figures really represent just four days of heightened activity atop the norm. In the previous week, Newton-John had had 1,577,978 on-demand streams. That, itself, was still a considerable amount for someone who last commanded the U.S. charts in the early 1980s.
Her airplay saw a bigger percentage increase, rising 1481% from one week to the next. Her audience airplay figure in the week ending Aug. 4 was a modest 382,500. But for the week that began three days before her death, airplay audience rose to 6,048,300. Read more
Iran responds to ‘final’ nuclear talks proposal, after urging US ‘flexibility’ (TimesOfIsrael)
Iran has responded to the European Union’s “final” draft text to revive its 2015 nuclear accord with world powers, according to a European official, after Tehran urged the United States to be flexible in resolving three outstanding issues.
Speaking to Reuters, the official provided no details on the substance of Iran’s response to the draft on the landmark deal, which aimed to curb Iran’s nuclear program in return for sanctions relief.
The deal has been moribund since the 2018 withdrawal of the United States under then-president Donald Trump. The major powers have been awaiting Tehran’s response to a proposal submitted on July 26 by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.
According to a Politico report citing a senior Western official, the Iranian response was received Monday evening Brussels time and focused on remaining questions related to sanctions and “guarantees around economic engagement.” Read more
Big names don’t scare us –Falconets’ Onyenezide (Punch)
Following the Falconets’ 1-0 win over South Korea in their second Group C match of the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica, thanks to a superb goal from Esther Onyenezide that sent Nigeria into the quarter-finals of the tournament, creative midfielder Esther Onyenezide is confident about the chances of the team winning the tournament.
The Falconets defeated France 1-0 on Friday in Group C’s opening match with striker Flourish Sabastine grabbing the winner, while Onyenezide’s strike on Sunday helped the side to another 1-0 win over Korea, to book their ticket to the last eight.
“We are the giants of Africa, we are not scared of any country. From our training and the last qualifiers, we know that we can beat any team in this tournament.”
“Big names don’t matter to us, I trust my teammates that we can do it, we did it in the qualifiers and we will make Nigerians proud. Read more
Harvey Elliott warns Liverpool teammates ahead of Manchester United fixture (MEN)
Harvey Elliott says facing Manchester United at Old Trafford on Monday will be a “tough game”, despite the Reds’ abysmal start to the season.
Erik ten Hag has got off to a horrible start as the new Reds boss, losing both opening matches to Brighton and Brentford. There are fears among United fans that their team could ship a host of goals against Liverpool following Saturday’s 4-0 horror show against the Bees.
Some concerns may have been lessened by Darwin Nunez’s red card against Crystal Palace last night, which meant he’ll miss the trip to Manchester. Jurgen Klopp’s ten men had to settle for a 1-1 draw and thus have only picked up two points from their opening two games.
Elliott – who has played in all three Liverpool games this season and signed a new long-term contract last week – described the result as “a sucker punch.” However, he said his teammates are determined to make amends at Old Trafford next week, although said it wasn’t going to be an easy task. Read more
Patrick Vieira explains Crystal Palace gameplan that led to Liverpool frustration (LiverpoolEcho)
Patrick Vieira admits Crystal Palace had a plan to cope with Liverpool after inflicting more frustration on Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Palace ended a run of 10 successive defeats against the Reds with a 1-1 Premier League draw at Anfield on Monday evening.
Wilfried Zaha fired the visitors into a first-half lead before Luis Diaz equalised on 61 minutes shortly after Darwin Nunez had been dismissed on his home debut for a headbutt on Palace defender Joachim Andersen.
And a pleased Vieira said: “We are really happy with a point. Overall I think Liverpool had the chances, we had a couple of good ones. But I’m happy with the point. Read more
Graeme Souness has no regrets over ‘man’s game’ comments (IrishIndependent)
Graeme Souness has doubled down on his “man’s game” comments amid an escalating sexism row, saying he does not regret “a word of it” despite uproar among England women’s players.
The former Liverpool manager launched a staunch defence of his remarks on Sky Sports as he appeared on his TalkSport radio slot with Simon Jordan, who dismissed the furore as “cobblers”.
Souness had prompted a backlash from the likes of Eniola Aluko and Bethany England after declaring that fiery scenes between Chelsea and Tottenham showed “it’s a man’s game all of a sudden now”.
When asked whether he regretted making the comment, Souness said: “Not a word of it”. Read more
Andy Murray pulls out 3-set win over Stan Wawrinka in 1st round of Western & Southern Open (ESPN)
Andy Murray pulled out a 7-6 (3), 5-7, 7-5 win over Stan Wawrinka on Monday in the first round of the Western & Southern Open in a matchup of three-time Grand Slam champions trying to put injuries behind them.
Murray and Wawrinka both have a US Open title among their Slam championships, and both required multiple visits from trainers to treat leg problems during the 2-hour, 57-minute match at the hard-court tournament that serves as a tuneup for the US Open.
Wawrinka, 37, of Switzerland, had two surgeries on his left foot in 2021 and has lost in the first round in each of his last four events. Murray, 35, of Britain, suffered an abdominal strain two weeks before Wimbledon but reached a second round for the first time in his last three tournaments.
“I was hanging on in the third set,” Murray said in an on-court interview. “I was struggling a bit. So was Stan. We’re not young any more.” Read more
Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers settle his grievance over salary (USAToday)
Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers have settled the grievance he filed to recoup a portion of last season’s salary, a person with knowledge of the details said Monday.
Simmons was seeking a portion of the nearly $20 million that was withheld after he refused to suit up for the 76ers last season. The star guard was eventually traded to the Brooklyn Nets in February for a package headlined by James Harden.
The person confirmed the settlement to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because terms were to remain confidential. The agreement was first reported by ESPN.
Simmons was the No. 1 pick by the 76ers in 2016 and became an All-Star. But he was heavily criticized after he struggled when the top-seeded 76ers were upset by Atlanta in the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals. Read more
Tiger Woods to meet with group of players at BMW Championship, rally support for PGA Tour against rival LIV series (ABC)
Tiger Woods is scheduled to meet with several of the top golfers in the world Tuesday in an effort to rally support around the PGA Tour in its ongoing battle with the rival LIV Golf series, sources confirmed to ESPN on Monday.
The meeting between Woods, a 15-time major champion, and the group of players is set to take place at the BMW Championship in Wilmington, Delaware, host of the second FedEx Cup playoff event that begins Thursday.
A player who was invited to attend the meeting told ESPN that it will include many of the top 20 players in the world and a handful of other influential PGA Tour members who haven’t defected to LIV Golf. It will take place shortly after a previously scheduled PGA Tour Player Advisory Council meeting at Wilmington Country Club.
“It’s a meeting to get the top 20 players in the world on the same page on how we can continue to make the PGA Tour the best product in professional golf,” a player who was invited to the meeting told ESPN on Monday. Read more