Police discover oil well in Ejigbo area of Lagos where residents siphon, sell petroleum products (Vanguard)
Operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team, IRT, have discovered two wells, at Ejigbo area of Lagos State, which they said is being used in siphoning and selling petroleum products from a pipeline belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
Police sources disclosed to Vanguard, that two suspects, identified as Vitoria Ogunsomi and Shafe Abayomi, who are believed to be owners of the wells located in No. 4 and 2, Surprise Avenue Ejibgo, Lagos, were arrested when operatives of the IRT headed by deputy Commissioner of Police got wind of their activities.
It was gathered that a team of operatives discovered that Ogunsomi and Abayomi dug 75-foot wells in their compound, which is located few meters away from the NNPC pipeline, and they connected pipes with submissive pumping machines into the well linking with the pipeline. Read more
Our plight, by ‘neglected Lagos streets’ residents (Nation)
Prior to the construction of the Abule-Egba Link Bridge on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, residents of Jibowu Road, Karimu Alabi, Adewuni Adu, Wilson Aghedo to Olaniyi and Sani Balogun streets, including a few others, enjoyed a good road network.
The residents were happy and praised the government when their roads were fixed. But, their joy was short-lived with the commencement of the construction of the bridge.
They are lamenting that the bridge which they thought would enhance their lives has become a killjoy as their streets which were in tip-top state prior to the bridge construction are now in shambles. This they claimed is taking a toll on their health and business activities. Read more
Kudos for Lagos on judges’ welfare (Nation)
Former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State Mr. Adeniji Kazeem (SAN) has praised the Lagos State Government for leading in the promotion of judicial officers’ welfare.
Kazeem also enjoined whoever wins the forthcoming Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) elections as president to always stand up and defend the judiciary.
Speaking during a media chat, Kazeem said: ”As a child of the judiciary of some sorts, I will always be sympathetic to their plight. Read more
Police arrest 179 interstate travellers, impound 43 vehicles (Tribune)
The Lagos State police command has arrested 179 people, who allegedly violated the interstate movement restriction in the state.
The police in the state also impounded 43 commercial buses and also arrested their drivers.
The image maker in charge of the state police command, Bala Elkana, confirmed the arrest and impoundment in a statement signed by him on Monday and made available to Tribune Online. Read more
COVID-19 kills three, infects 24 medics in Ebonyi (Guardian)
The COVID-19 pandemic has killed three persons and infected 24 health workers in Ebonyi. The new deaths bring to five the casualty figure in the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Daniel Umezurike, who made the announcement yesterday in Abakaliki, said of the latest bereavements, one of them was a retired permanent secretary from the central senatorial district of the state. Read more
Okpambor’s demise, great loss to Ika nation – Okowa (Vanguard)
Delta Governor, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, has expressed deep sadness on the passing of his Executive Assistant on Community Development and Youth Matters, Mr Christian Okpambor.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, on Tuesday in Asaba said the Governor described the demise of Okpambor as “a great loss to Ika nation”.
He condoled with the deceased’s family and the people of Owa-Oyibu in Ika North East where he hails from.
The governor revealed that the late Okpambor was philanthropic, a virtue, which earned him the sobriquet “King of the boys”. Read more
Nigeria reduces fees for statutory marriage services (Guardian)
The Federal Government has approved a downward review of the fees chargeable for services related to the Statutory Marriage under the Marriage Act CAP M6 LFN 2004 to commence from Wednesday, July 1.
Mr Mohammed Manga, Director Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Interior, made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
Manga said the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola made the disclosure in a Public Notice signed by the Permanent Secretary and Principal Registrar of Marriages in Nigeria, Georgina Ehuriah. Read more
Nigeria postpones planned hike in electricity tariffs (DailyTrust)
The leadership of the National Assembly on Monday waded into the controversy on the planned hike in electricity tariffs from July 1st, 2020 and succeeded in convincing the Distribution Companies(DISCOs) to defer the plan till the first quarter of 2021.
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and other principal Officers of the two Chambers met at the National Assembly with the Chief Executives of the government electricity regulatory body and DISCOs across the country. Read more
Director Christopher Nolan bashed for ‘no chair’ rule on set (RT)
Filmmaker Christopher Nolan has stoked rage online after it emerged that he doesn’t allow actors to use chairs on his sets. Apparently running out of stars to denounce, cancel-happy netizens did not take the news sitting down.
The director’s name came up during a webchat for Variety’s ‘Actors on Actors’ on Monday, in which stars Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman discussed the style of various filmmakers, eventually coming to rules on set, with Hathaway noting that Nolan allows neither phones nor chairs.
“Chris also doesn’t allow chairs. I worked with him twice,” she said. “His reasoning is, if you have chairs, people will sit, and if they’re sitting, they’re not working.” Read more
China’s parliament passes controversial national security law for Hong Kong, according to reports (France24)
China’s parliament passed national security legislation for Hong Kong on Tuesday, the city’s Cable TV reported, setting the stage for the most radical change to the former British colony’s way of life since it returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
Cable TV, citing an unidentified source, said the law was passed unanimously by the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress.
Beijing introduced the law in response to last year’s often-violent pro-democracy protests in the city. It will tackle subversion, terrorism, separatism and collusion with foreign forces, officials have said. Read more
Coronavirus: Leicester lockdown tightened as cases rise (BBC)
Media captionMatt Hancock says the extended lockdown measures are “profoundly in the national interest”
Stricter lockdown measures have been announced in Leicester because of a rise in coronavirus cases in the city.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said non-essential shops will shut on Tuesday, and schools will close for most pupils on Thursday.
The loosening of restrictions for pubs and restaurants in England on Saturday will also not be taking place. Read more
Interpol says it can’t act on Iran’s request to arrest Trump (RT)
Interpol’s own rules would not allow it to act on an Iranian request to arrest US President Donald Trump for the murder of Qassem Soleimani, the international police cooperation body said.
Tehran on Monday announced it will seek the arrest of 36 people in connection with the US assassination of General Soleimani in January. A request for assistance will be sent to Interpol, Tehran’s chief prosecutor said, adding that President Trump tops the list of suspects.
The Lyon-based organisation told RIA Novosti if it receives a request to arrest Trump, its own rules will not allow it to act on it. Read more
New swine flu found in China has pandemic potential (VOA)
Researchers in China have discovered a new type of swine flu that is capable of triggering a pandemic, according to a study published Monday in the U.S. science journal PNAS.
Named G4, it is genetically descended from the H1N1 strain that caused a pandemic in 2009.
It possesses “all the essential hallmarks of being highly adapted to infect humans,” say the authors, scientists at Chinese universities and China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Read more
Venezuela’s Maduro gives EU ambassador 72 hours to leave the country (France24)
Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro on Monday gave the head of the European Union mission in Caracas, Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa, 72 hours to leave the country after the bloc announced sanctions against 11 Venezuelan officials.
“Who are they to try to impose themselves with threats?” said Maduro.
“We will sort it out in 72 hours… she will be given a plane to leave, but we will arrange our things with the European Union.”
Venezuela’s airspace is currently closed to commercial airplanes due to the coronavirus pandemic. Read more
Coronavirus-hit Arizona reverses course on reopening (BBC)
Arizona has abruptly reversed course on reopening its economy as coronavirus cases spike there and nationwide.
The state’s governor has ordered the closure of bars, nightclubs, gyms, cinemas and water parks.
Florida and Texas have also performed U-turns on relaxing restrictions as the whole US Sun Belt region becomes a new virus epicentre. Read more
Footballer in stable condition after stabbing in robbery incident (Vanguard)
Derby County defender Andre Wisdom is in a ‘stable’ condition after he was stabbed during an incident of robbery while visiting a relative at the weekend.
The 27-year-old former Reds youth-team graduate, who made 22 first-team appearances before joining Derby on a permanent deal in 2017, was reportedly attacked while getting out of his car in Toxteth, Merseyside.
An initial report from The Sun claimed that the incident came ‘hours’ after Derby’s Championship win over Reading on Saturday, as he went to visit a family member. Read more
Simba CEO relieved ‘to win title on the pitch and not in the boardroom’ (BBC)
Simba’s chief executive, Senzo Mbatha, says he is ‘relieved’ that the players won the Tanzanian title ‘on the pitch’ and ‘not in the boardroom’ following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Simba were crowned champions on Sunday despite being held 0-0 by mid-table Prisons, after the league was able to restart two weeks ago following the three-month shutdown.
The point they picked up took Simba to 79 points, 19 more than their great rivals Young Africans, with six games remaining. Read more
Club Owners Association is an illegal body – Baribote (DailyTrust)
A former Chairman, Nigeria Premier League, Chief Victor Rumson Baribote has said the famed ‘Club Owners Association’ is an illegal body and alien to Nigeria’s football laws.
The Club Owners association is the umbrella body of the 20 clubs participating in the Nigeria Professional Football League, (NPFL) “The Club Owners Association is an illegal body. Article 33 of the NFF statute is very clear,” Baribote said on Sunday night. Read more
Rivers United ‘meet’ FIFA’s conditions, want ban on players’ recruitment lifted (Guardian)
Rivers United, which FIFA recently banned from the transfer market for three windows because of their outstanding liabilities to a former player, Samuel Akurugu, yesterday said they have cleared the debts.
Rivers Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye, said the payment has freed Rivers United from the ban, adding that FIFA had stated that the sanction would be lifted
“immediately and prior to its complete serving, once the due amount, plus interest is paid.”
Iyaye told the chairman of Ikwerre Local Council, Samuel Nwanosike, who was on a courtesy visit to his office in Port Harcourt, that “With this clause in the letter from FIFA, it is our hope that it will be lifted immediately as the club prepares for continental and domestic football calendars.” Read more
Mercedes say black car livery & race suits support ‘basic human rights’ (RT)
Mercedes have announced they will race in cars with black livery and drivers including champion Lewis Hamilton will wear black suits this season, but have been accused of “virtue signaling” in a mixed reaction on social media.
Mercedes have been synonymous with a silver color scheme since the 1930s but will switch their livery and race suits to black when the new season starts this weekend.
The halo of both cars used by the team will feature the words “End Racism”, while the mirrors of the F1 car will contain the sport’s new #WeRaceAsOne message after new research by Mercedes bosses found that only 3% of their workforce belong to minority ethnic groups and 12% are women. Read more
Juventus: Gianluigi Buffon signs year-long contract extension with Serie A side (BBC)
Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has signed a year-long contract extension with the Serie A leaders.
The former Italy international, who will be 43 when his new deal expires, returned to Juventus in 2019 after a season at Paris St-Germain.
Buffon has made more than 500 league appearances for Juventus since joining the club in 2001, having made his professional debut with Parma in 1995. Read more