Outrage as PH realtor strips female birthday celebrants naked at nightclub (Punch)
Two young women have narrated what could be summed up as a life-scarring ordeal after allegedly being assaulted by a popular Port Harcourt-based realtor, Maduba Okechi Christian, and his security details at a nightclub in the Rivers State capital.
Saturday PUNCH learnt that what was meant to be a night of carefree fun turned into a horror scene when they were allegedly beaten to a pulp, stripped naked, and one was left bleeding profusely from the head after the said Maduba reportedly smashed a bottle on her head.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday at Blacbox nightclub, has generated outrage on social media after the ladies shared videos narrating their ordeal.
‘He assaulted us for refusing love advances’ Read more
Onyemelukwe wins leadership award in environmental sustainability (Guardian)
The Senior Director of Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability at Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, has emerged winner of the Leadership Award in Sustainability at the recently held awards organised by The Industry Newspaper Limited.
Onyemelukwe was adjudged the winner of the category by the award jury led by Mr. Tolulope Ogunjobi, Business Editor at TVC News after a painstaking debate and analysis among the members.
Others in the category are Funder/CEO of the SERAs Awards, Ken Egbas, Chief Executive Officer of OVL Foundation and Kratos Sustainability Consults Ltd, Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, and CEO of CSR-in-Action, Bekeme Masade-Olowola. Read more
Democracy Day: Fireworks over Tinubu’s claims on security, economy others (Sun)
Reactions have continued to trail President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day speech in which he claimed that economic reforms introduced by his two-year-old administration are yielding results while inflation is easing, among others.
While speaking to the current security challenges in the country, the president also said that the nation’s highways have become safer. But in reaction to the appraisals made by the president, some regional and civil society groups have disagreed with him, pointing out that his claims are at variance with current realities.
On the contrary, a northern group aligns with the president, affirming that his administration has done well. Read more
Night of tributes as FG, govs, Olu of Warri, Soyinka, media icons, others celebrate Uncle Sam @ 90 (Vanguard)
President Bola Tinubu, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State and his Osun State counterpart, Senator Ademola Adeleke; former governors James Ibori (Delta), Donald Duke (Cross River), Aremo Segun Osoba (Ogun); nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka; media icons.among others, yesterday, showered enconmiums on the Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Uncle Sam Amuka-Pemu on his 90 birthday describing him as the guardian of national conscience and a sentinel of Nigeria’s democracy.
Speaking on behalf of the Federal Government during Amuka-Pemu’s 90th birthday celebration held at the Convention Center of the Eko hotel and suites in Lagos, the Minister of Information and Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, said the legacies of the Publisher of Vanguard newspapers remain immortal.
The Minister said Amuka-Pemu has etched his name in the conscience of the country. Read more
Rivers: Wike, Fubara in fresh reconciliatory meeting (Nation)
The suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has reached out afresh to his estranged godfather, Nyesom Wike, as part of ongoing effort to patch up their soured relationship.
Fubara is understood to have visited the Federal Capital Territory Minister in his Abuja residence on Monday for peace talks.
Details of their discussion were not immediately available, but the meeting came amid fresh calls from some quarters for the reinstatement of the suspended governor. Read more
Nigeria loses $1.1b yearly to outbound medical tourism — Kalu (Tribune)
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, expressed concern over the capital flight worth over $1.1 billion lost to outbound medical tourism yearly.
Kalu, who stated this in Abuja while addressing the President of Montefiore Medicine, New York, USA, Dr. Phillip Ozuah, however, reiterated the present administration’s resolve towards improved funding for the health sector.
He said, “Regardless of the quality of our laws or the scale of our budgets, if preventable deaths continue, if maternal mortality remains high, and if citizens cannot recover from treatable illnesses, our development remains incomplete. Read more
Osun Amotekun Corps mourn officer (Leadership)
The Osun Amotekun Corps has described the passing of the Provost of the ‘B’ Division, Ila Orangun division, Ogundiran Sheriff as untimely and a monumental loss.
Ogundiran Sheriff, one of its officers, collapsed unexpectedly on Friday, June 6, and was later confirmed dead.
The corps Commander, Dr. Isaac Omoyele, in a statement made available to journalists in Osogbo by the public relations officer of the corps, Mr. Yusuf Abass, said the leadership of the Amotekun Corps expressed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, friends, colleagues and the entire community of Ila-Orangun. Read more
Ananda Lewis, former MTV VJ & TV host, passes away at 52 (Ebony)
Ananda Lewis, a trailblazing media personality known for hosting programs on BET, MTV and her eponymous talk show, has passed away. She was 52.
Lewis’ passing was confirmed by her sister Lakshmi Emory, who posted a tribute on Facebook.
“She’s free, and His heavenly arms,” the post read. ‘Lord, rest her soul.” Read more
Global oil prices soar after Israel attacks Iran (BBC)
Global oil prices jumped after Israel said it had struck Iran in a dramatic escalation of tensions in the Middle East.
The price of the benchmark Brent crude rose more than 10%, reaching its highest level since January, before losing some gains.
Traders were concerned that a conflict between Iran and Israel could disrupt supplies coming from the energy-rich region. Read more
UN General Assembly votes overwhelmingly in favour of immediate ceasefire in Gaza (AfricaNews)
More than 20 months into Israel’s offensive against Gaza, the United Nations General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to demand an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages held by Hamas and unrestricted access to deliver food and aid to 2 million Palestinians in desperate need.
One hundred and forty-nine of the 193 member states voted in favour of the resolution. Drafted by Spain, it “strongly condemns any use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare.” Twelve member states voted against and 19 abstained.
Riyad Mansour, Palestinian Ambassador to the UN, addressed the assembly following the vote: Read more
How deadly Air India crash shattered dreams, wiped out entire families (AlJazeera)
For the Patel family, April was a month of answered prayers.
The news arrived in a simple email: their son, Sahil Patel, had won a visa lottery. He was one of 3,000 Indians chosen by a random ballot for a coveted two-year United Kingdom work visa, under the British government’s India Young Professionals Scheme.
For the 25-year-old from a middle-class family, it was a pathway from a modest home in Sarod village, 150km (93 miles) from Ahmedabad, the biggest city in the western Indian state of Gujarat, to a new life in London. For his family, the visa was the culmination of every prayer, a chance for the social mobility they had worked their whole lives for.
But less than two months later, that excitement has turned to grief: Sahil was one of the 241 people on Air India 171 who died when the plane crashed into a medical college’s hostel just outside Ahmedabad airport on Thursday, June 12, seconds after taking off. Read more
Iran launches missiles at Israel & some hit Tel Aviv (CBS)
Warning sirens sounded across Israel on Friday as Iran fired dozens of ballistic missiles in a retaliatory attack after Israel launched overnight airstrikes. A second round of missiles targeted Israel a few hours later. Some made it through Israel’s missile defense system, causing damage and injuries, though the full extent of the damage is not yet clear.
A little after 4:30 a.m. Saturday local time, the Israel Defense Forces wrote on social media that “Israelis are currently running for shelter in northern Israel as sirens sound due to another missile launch from Iran.” It was not immediately clear if this marked a third round of missiles or was still part of the second wave.
In the first round, about 100 missiles were fired from Iran in two salvos, officials said. Israel has a robust missile defense system known as the Iron Dome, which intercepted most of the missiles, the IDF said. The IDF reported a limited number of hits on structures, some from interception failures. Read more
Kendrick Lamar performs ‘Not Like Us’ in Drake’s hometown (HipHopDx)
Kendrick Lamar performed in Drake‘s hometown of Toronto for the first time since the beginning of their beef last year and did not pull any punches.
Taking his and SZA‘s Grand Central Tour to the Canadian city for the first of two nights, Kendrick did not save any special treatment for Drake nor make any changes to his set.
K. Dot performed now infamous diss track “Not Like Us” to a rapturous reception inside the Rogers Centre with fans vocally chanting for an encore by the end of the lengthy show. Read more
Boniface wants Leverkusen stay (Punch)
Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface wants to remain at the club despite the club’s willingness to sell him this summer, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Dutch coach Erik ten Hag has just taken over the former German champions but it’s been speculated that Boniface is not in the plans of the former Manchester United coach.
According to German outlet BILD, Ten Hag wants to keep Boniface’s competitor upfront, Patrik Schick and the club want to avoid having both players in the squad. Read more
Joshua’s knockout of Ngannou the best in Anglo-Nigerian’s boxing career, says promoter (ThisDay)
Eddie Hearn named Anthony Joshua’s KO of Francis Ngannou as the best he has ever seen while sitting at ringside.
Hearn has watched every step of Joshua’s career live from ringside, having promoted the two-time heavyweight world champion since his debut in October 2013.
Joshua is a notorious KO artist who has left some of the very best operators flat on their back using his notorious punching power. Read more
NPFL 2025/26 season to kick off August 22 – Elegbeleye (Guardian)
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), on Friday, announced that the 2025/26 season will officially commence on August 22, 2025, and end on May 24, 2026, as part of efforts to maintain a structured and stable football calendar.
The NPFL board reaffirmed its commitment to driving innovation, enhancing professionalism, and ensuring clubs meet modern football standards in administration, infrastructure, and player welfare.
NPFL Board Chairman, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, disclosed this in Abuja, during a press briefing, where he emphasised that maintaining a fixed league calendar is crucial for Nigeria’s improved participation in continental competitions organized by CAF. Read more
McLaren’s ‘worst Friday’ of season, says Norris (BBC)
Lando Norris said McLaren had their “worst Friday of the year so far” after finishing second fastest behind Mercedes’ George Russell in practice at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Russell was 0.028 seconds faster than Norris, with the second Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli 0.288secs slower than his team-mate in third place.
Norris’ team-mate Oscar Piastri, who leads the Briton by 10 points in the drivers’ championship, was sixth. Read more
Former Alabama track star Eliud Kipsang dies at 28 following cardiac arrest (People)
Eliud Kipsang, a track star who once held the NCAA record in the 1500 meters, died on Tuesday, June 10, the University of Alabama announced. He was 28 years old.
“Alabama track and field mourns the loss of former program great and collegiate record holder Eliud Kipsang, who tragically passed away Tuesday evening,” the school said in a statement.
Alabama’s track and field head coach Dan Waters said. “We are heartbroken by the passing of Eliud Kipsang, one of the most gifted athletes ever to wear crimson and white,” in a statement. Read more