Navy nabs 10 suspected vandals, recovers 210,000 litres of AGO (Vanguard)
A syndicate which specialised in smuggling petroleum products from Nigeria to other parts of Africa has been smashed by operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS BEECROFT, Apapa, Lagos.
Arrested , were 10 suspected members of the syndicate, with the recovery of 210,000 litres of AGO.
The operatives who were on routine patrol around Lagos anchorage, intercepted the suspects who concealed the smuggled products inside some water tanks, in their wooden boats.
They were subsequently taken to the Base, where they confessed during interrogation to be conveying the product to Benin Republic.
The Base Information Officer, Sub Lieutenant Veronica Effiong, who confirmed the arrest, said it attested to the determination of the Navy to rid the nation’s maritime space of all forms of criminality , for legitimate businesses to thrive. Read more
Chinese restaurant’s manager, four other workers die, Filipino injured in Lagos explosion (Punch)
Anxious family members stormed the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital on Friday in search of their loved ones, following a gas explosion in Ikeja that claimed five lives, while nine, including a Filipino, sustained injuries.
The tanker, conveying liquefied petroleum gas on the ever-busy Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way around 10pm on Thursday, spilled its flammable content into nearby OPIC Shopping Plaza, beside Sheraton Lagos Hotel.
Two businesses situated in the plaza, New China Restaurant and Oasis Supermarket, suffered extensive property damage with about 22 burnt vehicles sighted in the parking lot of the plaza.
According to eyewitnesses, most of the casualties were workers at the Chinese restaurant. Our correspondents observed that the restaurant occupies the rear of the four-storey building, downhill from the gate. Read more
Ejigbo Roads… unending pain for motorists, commuters (Guardian)
Ejigbo, a suburb of Lagos, is notorious for dilapidated roads, the major reason the area is always in the news.
Motorists and commuters have continued to suffer unending pain travelling from their homes through the bad roads in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) to other parts of Lagos.
As motorists drive daily through some of the major roads in the community, including Moshalashi Street, Nurudeen Obe Street, Ifoshi Road, Ailegun Road and Pipeline Road, they contend with potholes and craters that dot the supposedly affluent neighbourhood where one of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depots is nestled. Read more
Bus driver, conductor in court over alleged stealing of flour worth N5.2m (Vanguard)
A bus driver, Kamoru Oladimeji, on Friday, appeared before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing 350 bags of flour, valued at N5.2 million.
Oladimeji, 30, was arraigned along with his conductor, Nofiu Ibrahim, 26, on a two-count charge of stealing and fraudulent conversion.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Prosecutor, Insp Doney Raphel, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on March 25 at Ojo area of Lagos. Read more
LASG urges youths to embrace entrepreneurship, vocational skills (Guardian)
Lagos State government has implored youths to embrace entrepreneurship and vocational skills, as it would help them contribute to the economic growth of the state, aside being self-reliant and employers of labour.
Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Education, Tokunbo Wahab, stated this in his keynote address at the graduation ceremony for the 703 youths trained in various vocations and entrepreneurship skills across the six education districts of the state. He stated that the nine-month vocational and entrepreneurship training programme engaged the youths in activities that would make them contribute to the socio-economic development of the society and shun vices capable of undermining the development efforts of the state government.
Congratulating the 248 graduating trainees of Igbogbo and 113 graduands of Surulere and Sabo vocational centres, Wahab, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Adeniran Kasali, disclosed that other participants also graduated from the state’s vocations centres, which had a total of 703 students completing their competency development vocational training programmes across seven locations. Read more
#EndSARS: Lagos, Bayelsa, Imo, Kwara award N1.1b as judicial panels settle police brutality victims (DailyTrust)
Judicial panels of inquiry set up to determine the extent of human rights abuses by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) have been turning in their verdicts, with compensations paid to victims in some states.
The National Executive Council (NEC), chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, with state governors as members, had passed a resolution for the setting up of the panels in the wake of the #EndSARS nationwide protest.
The panels, which were mostly set up between December 2020 and January 2021, include personnel from the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Human Rights Commission, Ministry of Justice, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and police community relations committees. Read more
Viral video shows traditionalist chasing cows out of Ondo community (Punch)
Hundreds of cows were on Friday allegedly chased out of Idanre community in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State by some youths suspected to be traditionalists in the town.
In a 30 seconds video watched by our correspondent, the traditionalists were seen tying white wrapper in front of the cows, which gave the impression that they were leading the cows out of the town.
A female voice in the video said in Idanre dialect, “These are the cows in the town. They are too many. God, thank you. Idanre has gained freedom.” Read more
Sanusi: I have no intention of going into politics (DailyTrust)
Former Emir of Kano and new caliph of the Tijaniyya sect in Nigeria, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has said he has no intention of running for any political position in the country.
Sanusi, who stated this in Kaduna on Thursday, said he will continue to educate the public on the right candidates to vote for during elections.
BBC Hausa reported that Sanusi made the remarks at a meeting of the Muqaddimai and Shaykhs of the sect for the first time since his appointment as Caliph.
He said his views did not mean that he would go into politics. Read more
Peaceland College Enugu to represent Africa at Commonwealth Inter-Tertiary Debating competition in UK (Vanguard)
The Peaceland College of Education, Enugu Nigeria is to represent Africa at the Commonwealth Inter-Tertiary Schools Debating Championship slated for September 2021 in the United Kingdom.
The College qualified for the global championship after emerging winner of the keenly contested championship at the African level held in Abuja.
Participants from Peaceland College won first prize at the preliminary round, National level, African round to qualify as representatives of the African continent at the global level coming up in the United Kingdom by September 2021, where they will compete with six other continents. Read more
John Legend defends Chrissy Teigen as he labels Michael Costello DM messages ‘completely fake’ (Metro)
John Legend has spoken out in defence of his wife Chrissy Teigen as he accused fashion designer Michael Costello of ‘faking’ an Instagram exchange between the pair.
The former Project Runway star made headlines earlier this week after he shared messages the Cravings author reportedly sent to him over Instagram years ago, stating her attacks caused him to have suicidal thoughts.
However, Grammy-winner Legend took to Twitter on Friday to refute the designer’s claims.
Sharing a link to an article by Business Insider which higlighted alleged discrepancies with the screenshots, Legend wrote: ‘Chrissy apologized for her public tweets, but after her apology, Mr Costello fabricated a DM exchange between them. This exchange was made up, completely fake, never happened.’ Read more
Portland riots: Police crowd-control team resigns after officer indicted
(BBC)
Every member of a police crowd-control unit in the US city of Portland has resigned after one of its officers was indicted on an assault charge.
The charge stemmed from violent anti-racism protests that rocked the city, in the state of Oregon, last year.
Prosecutors allege the officer used “excessive and unlawful use of force” against a protester in August 2020.
But Portland’s police union described the decision to prosecute the officer as “politically driven”. Read more
iPhone boss says Android is littered with dangerous malware (Metro)
Apple boss Tim Cook has taken a swipe at the company’s main rival to the iPhone, suggesting Android phones are littered with malware.
During an interview this week, the 60-year-old CEO of Apple was discussing privacy and security on mobile phones.
Getting in a dig at rival Google, which makes Android, Cook said there was almost 50 times more malware on the competing platform.
‘Android has 47 times more malware than iOS does,’ Cook said over a video call to the VivaTech conference, one of Europe’s biggest startup events. Read more
Milkha Singh: India’s ‘Flying Sikh’ dies from Covid (BBC)
One of India’s greatest athletes, Milkha Singh, has died from Covid-related complications, aged 91.
Popularly known as “the Flying Sikh”, Singh won four Asian gold medals and finished fourth in the 400m final at the 1960 Rome Olympics.
In 2013, his story was turned into the Bollywood film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag – Run Milkha Run.
Singh’s wife, Nirmal Kaur, a former volleyball captain, also died with Covid earlier this week, aged 85. Read more
Foo Fighters to release disco album as the Dee Gees (BBC)
The Foo Fighters have unveiled their new musical direction – transforming from stadium rock heroes to a Bee Gees tribute band for their next album.
As the Dee Gees, a nod to frontman Dave Grohl’s initials, the band will release an LP including four Bee Gees covers.
Hail Satin will see the Foos take on the Gibb brothers’ 1970s disco classics Night Fever, Tragedy, You Should Be Dancing and More Than a Woman.
It will be released on vinyl for US Record Store Day on 17 July. Read more
At least 27 miners killed in Peru bus accident (Guardian)
A bus carrying miners plunged into a ravine on a mountain road Friday in southern Peru, killing at least 27, their employer said.
The Ares Mining Company said the bus was headed from a pit near the Nasca Lines archeological site to the city of Arequipa.
The bus fell all the way to the bottom of a 400-meter (1,300-foot) ravine, leaving bodies scattered across the slopes of a hill in the desert region, press reports said.
One official said the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel. Read more
Myanmar coup: UN calls for arms embargo against military (BBC)
The UN has issued a rare call to halt to arms sales to Myanmar in response to this year’s violent military coup.
The General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning the military junta, which overthrew the country’s elected government in February.
The UN also called for the release of political detainees, such as elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and an end to violence against peaceful protesters.
While not legally binding, the resolution is politically significant. Read more
Sports ministry appoints Mikel youth ambassador (Punch)
Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has named former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi as the country’s youth ambassador to help promote sports in the country.
The appointment marks Mikel’s return to national duty since his retirement from the national team after the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in 2019 where he led the team to a third-place finish.
Dare, while addressing journalists at the National Stadium, Lagos on Friday said the appointment of the former Chelsea midfielder would benefit the country’s youths.
He said, “The details of Mikel’s position is what we will be working out very soon with him and his team. We have our team at the ministry, we will draw up an MoU and work on the details. We are excited about him accepting to be a youth ambassador because beyond football he can mentor them about sports and about the lessons he has learnt as a young person and as a legend.” Read more
Nigerian athletes won’t disappoint – Okowa (Guardian)
President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Tonobok Okowa says his board is working hard to ensure that the nation breaks the long jinx by winning gold medals in the fast approaching Tokyo Olympic Games.
Team Nigeria left Rio 2016 Olympics with only a bronze medal won by the men’s football team.
The country’s third and last gold medal came at Sydney 2000 in the men’s 4x400m. The first two gold medals were captured at Atlanta ’96 Olympics through Chioma Ajunwa in the long jump and men’s football team.
Okowa told The Guardian shortly after sprinter Blessing Okagbare ran a wind assisted world lead of 10.63second in the 100m event on the first day of the National Trials at Yaba College of Technology in Lagos that Nigeria would shock the world in Tokyo. Read more
Jurgen Klinsmann wants to become Tottenham manager and reveals Daniel Levy call (Metro)
Jurgen Klinsmann has declared his interest in becoming Tottenham’s new manager and has revealed that he has already spoken to Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.
Tottenham are still searching for the permanent replacement for Jose Mourinho, who was sacked in April.
Brendan Rodgers, Julian Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte, who is out of work after winning the Serie A title with Inter, have all turned down an approach from Spurs.
Former Roma manager Paulo Fonseca appeared to be on course to take the job before talks broke down on Thursday, while negotiations with Gennaro Gattuso have also been ended. Read more
NFF fines Remo Stars N.9m over Ikenne violence (Punch)
The Nigeria Football Federation’s Disciplinary Committee on Friday fined Remo Stars N900,000 after finding the club guilty of breaking COVID-19 protocols, encroachment of pitch and discontinuation of game by fans in the Nigeria National League game against Bendel Insurance in the week 21 NNL match on June 6.
The PUNCH had reported that Remo fans encroached the pitch with the game goalless and chased the visiting Insurance players away, with 10 members of the Insurance squad, players and officials, reportedly sustaining varying degrees of injuries.
After a visit to the injured players and officials at the Central Hospital, Benin City, Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, withdrew the club from the NNL, adding that his administration would take legal action against Remo for the “dastardly act.” Read more
Max Verstappen fastest in French Grand Prix second practice (BBC)
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen set the pace ahead of the Mercedes cars of Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton in second practice at the French Grand Prix.
The Dutchman led Bottas by just 0.008 seconds, with Hamilton 0.253secs off the pace and complaining that there was “something not right with the car”.
Verstappen and Hamilton set their fastest times – as expected – on the soft tyre while Bottas was on mediums.
Alpine’s Fernando Alonso was fourth from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Read more
Dismal England held to Wembley stalemate by battling Scotland (Metro)
England were handed a sobering reality check at Wembley on Friday night as Scotland earned a highly creditable goalless draw in their Euro 2020 Group D clash.
Gareth Southgate’s side got their campaign off to a winning start last weekend against Croatia, but failed to build on that platform and delivered a nervous, tepid performance against a resilient Scotland who were arguably unlucky not to leave will all three points.Having made four changes to their starting line-up and emboldened by the return of Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney, Scotland made the brighter start and carried the greater threat in the opening period. Read more