Ondo club raid: Viral video ‘stage-managed’, EFCC denies brutalising suspects (Punch)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has denied that its operatives brutalised or dehumanized suspects during a raid on two nightclubs in Akure, Ondo State.
Operatives of the commission had on June 8 stormed the night clubs and arrested 127 suspected internet fraudsters.
But an eyewitness at one of the raided nightclubs accused the commission’s operatives of tear-gassing, beating, and arresting people. Read more
Lagos set to unveil 20 roads, bridges (Leadership)
Lagos State government yesterday disclosed that it has concluded plans to unveil about 20 road projects and some bridges across the various parts of the state.
The special adviser to Lagos State governor on Infrastructure, Engineer Olufemi Daramola revealed this when he led the technical team to the Office of Infrastructure to inspect some of the strategic sites to check the progress of work on site.
According to him, it is important to monitor the progress in line with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s mandate concerning the completion of ongoing road infrastructure projects across the state. Read more
NDLEA intercepts codeine shipment from India, US and UK-bound opioids in ladies’ hair (Channels)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have again intercepted another consignment of 175,000 bottles of opioid imported from India.
This is coming barely a week after seizing a shipment of 175,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup at the Port Harcourt Ports complex in Onne, Rivers state.
The two seizures, according to a statement by the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, followed earlier intelligence, which made the Agency request that the shipment be stepped down for 100 percent examination. Read more
Govt should lift Nigerians out of hunger to avoid anarchy – Bishop Onuoha (Sun)
President and founder, Vision Africa International, Bishop Sunday Ndukwo Onuoha, has called on government at all levels to come up with life-changing policies and programmes to lift people out of hunger, hardship and starvation.
He said this has become necessary because the faces of Nigerians are scary due to hardship they face.
In a statement entitled, “Listen to the Cries of the Poor Now to Avert Anarchy” released on Sunday, Bishop Onuoha urged government to go beyond rhetorics and work hard to reposition the economy to give succour to dying masses.
He said that it was not an exaggeration that the masses are hungry as the look on their faces suggests that they are in dire need of help. Read more
Nigerian college students shine in Chinese language proficiency test (Leadership)
Nigerian college students have displayed their proficiency in Chinese language tests aimed to boost participants’ enthusiasm for learning Chinese and deepen their cultural understanding.
The global contest was the 23rd edition of the “Chinese Bridge – Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students” which was held at the China Cultural Center in Abuja and co-hosted by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation and the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria.
The contestants showcased their proficiency in the Chinese language, knowledge of Chinese national conditions, and Chinese cultural skills during the thrilling event, which was held on Saturday. Read more
Nigerian pilgrim allegedly commits suicide in Saudi Arabia (DailyTrust)
Hajia Hawawu Mohammed, a Nigerian pilgrim from Kwara State has reportedly committed suicide.
According to Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Board, she was suspected to have killed herself from the rooftop of her apartment in Madina.
The board said Saliu Mohammed, another pilgrim, died in an intensive care unit of a public hospital in Madina. Read more
Gunmen abduct 30 in Nasarawa (Vanguard)
No fewer than 30 occupants of two commercial vehicles have been reportedly abducted by people suspected to be kidnappers along Nasarawa-Keffi road in Nasarawa state.
The gunmen who reportedly abducted their victims and took them into the bush are said to have contacted families of two of their victims demanding for N10m ransom for the release of each of victim.
It was gathered that the passengers were abducted last Friday night within the axis of Keffi and Karu local governments of the state. Read more
Edo reads riot act to cultists, other criminals (Tribune)
Edo State Government has vowed to make the state uncomfortable for cultists and other criminal elements, assuring that it would spare no efforts at flushing them out of the state.
The state government stated this on Sunday while reading the riot acts to the cultists and criminals terrorising the residents, including those who attacked military men in the state.
Disclosing that efforts and in top gear to clear the state of all undesirable elements, the state government vowed that criminals operating under the guise of Okaigheles (youth leaders) in the various communities across the state would not be spared either. Read more
Bad Bunny’s dancer suffers wardrobe malfunction as her tights get stuck to rapper’s crotch area during concert (People)
Bad Bunny got a bit caught up in one of his recent performances.
During the three-time Grammy winner’s concert in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Friday, June 7, one of the backup dancers at the show suffered a wardrobe malfunction when her tights got stuck to the artist’s crotch area.
Bad Bunny, 30, and the dancer handled the situation smoothly, and everyone onstage laughed off the minor glitch, as seen in a video shared on X (formerly Twitter) that has since gone viral. Read more
Box Office: ‘Bad Boys 4’ rides to $56m in opening weekend (Variety)
Turns out, Bad Boys are good for ticket sales.
Sony’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die, the fourth entry in the Will Smith and Martin Lawrence-led buddy cop series, started strong with $56 million from 3,885 theaters in its domestic debut. The film also opened at the international box office with $48.6 million, bringing its worldwide tally to $104.6 million.
The sequel to 1995’s Bad Boys, 2003’s Bad Boys II and 2020’s Bad Boys for Life is notable as Smith’s first major film to grace the big screen since he assaulted Chris Rock on stage at the 2022 Oscars. So what should Hollywood take away from “Bad Boys” in its fourth go-around? Well, audiences haven’t soured on Smith — though it helps that he returned to theaters in a time-tested and generally well-received franchise. Read more
Mountain highway collapses in landslide (UPI)
A huge chunk of twisting mountain highway in Wyoming that connects Jackson with nearby communities gave way in a massive landslide Saturday, leaving a huge chasm in one of the main arteries to neighboring Idaho.
Footage from an aerial drone shows a section of the pavement completely gone and the Teton Pass road hobbled by deep cracks. Portions of the guardrail along the mountain pass road were twisted, connected only at one end, and dangling in a chasm created when the road gave way.
Dangerous conditions had prompted transportation officials to close the highway when it became clear on Thursday that danger was imminent before the landslide. No casualties were reported. Read more
King Charles ‘not content’ with Archie and Lilibet video calls and ‘wants to be present in lives’ (Mirror)
The monarch, who has been having treatment for cancer since February, has told friends he is not content with only seeing them on video calls from their US home
The King has committed himself to building a relationship with Prince Harry ’s children and to be present in their lives, sources say.
The monarch, who has been having treatment for cancer since February, has told friends he is not content with only seeing them on video calls after meeting Archie, five, only a handful of times and two-year-old Lilibet once. Read more
Pope Francis appeals for ceasefire, aid (AfricaNews)
Pope Francis called Sunday for humanitarian aid to urgently reach Palestinians in Gaza and for Israel and Hamas to immediately accept proposals for a cease-fire and release of hostages.
During his Sunday noon blessing, Francis also thanked Jordan, which this week will host an international humanitarian aid conference for Palestinians.
“I encourage the international community to act urgently, with all means, to help the war-exhausted population of Gaza,” Francis said. “Humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach those in need, and no one can prevent it.” Read more
Germany and France’s far right make gains in EU elections (AlJazeera)
Far-right parties have made major gains at the European Union parliamentary elections, dealing stunning defeats to two of the bloc’s most important leaders: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron.
In Germany, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) was on track to take second place in Sunday’s EU election, according to projections from public broadcaster ARD, underscoring the party’s resilience ahead of next year’s federal election.
The Eurosceptic party was set to secure a record 16.5 percent of the vote on Sunday, according to an exit poll published by ARD. Read more
Modi is sworn in for a rare 3rd term as India’s prime minister (ABC)
Narendra Modi was sworn in Sunday for a rare third consecutive term as India’s prime minister, relying on his coalition partners after his party failed to win a parliamentary majority in a surprise outcome.
Modi and his Cabinet ministers took the oath of office, administered by President Droupadi Murmu, at India’s presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
The 73-year-old popular but polarizing leader is only the second Indian prime minister after Jawaharlal Nehru to retain power for a third five-year term. Read more
Bafana stalemate: Lawal backs Finidi, slams Eagles’ ‘super-overrated’ stars (Punch)
Former Nigeria winger Oladimeji Lawal has called on critics breathing down the neck of Super Eagles coach Finidi George following Friday’s 1-1 draw against South Africa to allow the gaffer work, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The former Enyimba coach has come under scathing criticisms after the team’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in Uyo on Friday, which put their hopes of qualification for the 2026 World Cup in jeopardy.
After match-day 3 of the qualifiers, the Eagles are fifth in Group C with three points from three games. Lesotho lead with five points while Rwanda, Benin Republic and South Africa are joint-second with four points respectively. Zimbabwe are bottom with two points. Read more
Carlos Alcaraz outlasts Alexander Zverev to win French Open (ABC)
Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest man to win Grand Slam titles on all three surfaces after defeating Alexander Zverev in five sets to win the French Open on Sunday.
The two battled for 4 hours, 19 minutes, but it was Alcaraz who came through, 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2. His 2024 French Open title sits alongside his triumphs at the 2022 US Open and at Wimbledon last year.
“Winning a Grand Slam is always special,” Alcaraz said afterwards. “Winning your first in every Grand Slam is always super special. Read more
Sebastian Soderberg hands Linn Grant victory after squandering 8-shot lead at Scandinavian Mixed (SkySports)
Sebastian Soderberg blew an eight-shot lead in a final-round collapse to hand fellow Swede Linn Grant victory at the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed in Helsingborg.
Soderberg was looking for a first DP World Tour win since 2019, but carded a five-over-par 77 to see the chance of victory fall from his grasp and leave him finishing a stroke back in tied-second at Vasatorps Golfklubb.
A front-nine wobble saw Soderberg’s advantage cut to four strokes at the turn, while further bogeys at the 13th and 15th left him just one ahead of Grant – who had already set the clubhouse target after a bogey-free 65 – heading to the par-four last. Read more
Liverpool and Scotland legend Alan Hansen ‘seriously ill in hospital’ as Reds issue statement (Independent)
Liverpool legend Alan Hansen is “seriously ill in hospital” according to a statement released by the club on Sunday afternoon.
The defender made over 600 appearances for the Reds between 1977 and 1990 and also won 26 Scotland caps before going on to a successful broadcasting career – arguably becoming Match of the Day’s most recognisable pundit during his time on the programme from 1992 to 2014.
According to Liverpool’s statement, he has now been hospitalised due to illness and they asked for privacy for his family. Read more
GB’s Asher-Smith claims European 100m gold in Rome (BBC)
Dina Asher-Smith claimed 100m gold at the European Athletics Championships as British team-mates Georgia Bell and Lizzie Bird also achieved medals in Rome.
Asher-Smith took victory in 10.99 seconds, crossing the line ahead of Poland’s Ewa Swoboda (11.03secs) and Italy’s Zaynab Dosso to celebrate her first major international medal since winning European 200m silver in 2022.
Bell clinched women’s 1500m silver in four minutes 05.33 seconds to achieve her first major international medal behind Ireland’s Ciara Mageean. Read more
Boxer Ryan Garcia arrested in Beverly Hills for alleged damage to hotel, police say (NBC)
Boxer Ryan Garcia was arrested in Beverly Hills on Saturday and has been accused of causing damage to the Waldorf Astoria hotel, where he was staying as a guest, according to police.
Beverly Hills police responded to the Waldorf Astoria at around 5:15 p.m. local time Saturday for a call of an “intoxicated person,” according to a statement shared by Lt. Andrew Myers with the Beverly Hills Police Department.
Hotel management told responding officers that Garcia was a registered guest and that he had caused damage to a room and the hallway of the hotel, Myers said. It was hotel management who requested Garcia be arrested for property damage. Read more