Police link more casualties to dreaded criminal (Guardian)
The Lagos State Police Command has accused a dreaded murderer and robbery suspect, Wasiu Akinwande, popularly known as Olori Eso, of being responsible for the death of 23-year-old Ramadan and 30-year-old Bolakale, who were murdered in cold blood on July 31, 2024, in the Mushin area of Lagos.
The police also linked Akinwande to the death of a nine-year-old girl, Aminat, murdered on December 9, 2010, in the Fadeyi area of the state.
The command said numerous casualties have also been linked to the suspect’s brutal operations, details of which are being compiled during ongoing investigations and will be made available to the public. Read more
Senate gives conditions for Natasha’s return after court judgement (Punch)
The Senate has given conditions for the reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, after a Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the six-month suspension handed down on her by the Senate.
Justice Binta Nyako, in her judgment on Friday, ordered the Senate to reinstate the Kogi Central senator, describing her suspension as excessive.
In March, Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Red Chamber for six months for alleged gross misconduct, following her face-off with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over the sitting arrangement. Read more
Benue Women Block Highway, Demand Release Of Husbands, Sons (Leadership)
Women from Agan community of North Bank in Makurdi local government area of Benue State yesterday took to the streets in protest against rising insecurity and demanded the release of their husbands and sons.
Hundreds of the protesting women carrying green leaves and chanting solidarity songs blocked the busy federal highway at the Agan toll gate, disrupting traffic for several hours were demanding an end to what they called “unjust harassment” of their husbands and sons.
This came as the district head of Agan, Chief Zaki Agbaka who confirmed the arrests to our correspondent, said between Thursday and Friday, four farmers were killed by armed herders in separate attacks without any arrest. Read more
Tinubu departs Saint Lucia for BRICS Summit in Brazil (Tribune)
President Bola Tinubu has departed Saint Lucia for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to participate in the 2025 BRICS Summit.
The President left the Caribbean nation after a week-long state visit, during which he held a series of high-level meetings and engagements aimed at strengthening ties between Nigeria and Saint Lucia.
The Nigeria’s was seen off on Friday at the Hewanorra International Airport by Saint Lucian Prime Minister Philip Pierre.. Read more
South east, south south govs move against coalition (NewTelegraph)
The recent unveiling of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the preferred platform in which opposition political gladiators hope to challenge the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu in 2027 seems to be generating negative reactions from some regions of the country.
This is so because some governors and other political office holders in the South East and South South zones have resolved not to be part of the proposed arrangement by the opposition, just as they are perfecting plans to scuttle the coalition.
Saturday Telegraph reliably gathered that efforts would be made to ensure that Tinubu does not only win in the affected zones but defeat the opposition in a very convincing manner. Read more
World Bank appoints Verghis as new country director for Nigeria (Nation)
The World Bank has announced the appointment of Mathew Verghis as its new Country Director for Nigeria, effective July 1, 2025.
Verghis takes over from Dr. Ndiame Diop, who has assumed a new role within the institution.
A statement from the World Bank on Friday described Verghis as an Indian national who brings more than 20 years of experience in economic policy and development, having joined the World Bank in 1999.” Read more
Case of 21 Coal Miners Allegedly Killed by British Colonial Police to September 18 (ThisDay)
An Enugu State High Court has granted the motion for amendment in the case concerning the deaths of 21 coal miners allegedly killed by British colonial police during the November 18, 1949, Iva Valley massacre in Enugu.
In the suit, NO: E/909/2024, filed by Mazi Greg Nwachukwu Onoh on behalf of the victims’ families, the plaintiffs demanded accountability from the British Government, the Commonwealth, and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
They sought an acknowledgment of liability, a formal apology from the British Government, and comprehensive compensation for the loss of their loved ones. Read more
Mello Buckzz album release party ends with 4 dead (HipHopDx)
Mello Buckzz’s album release party ended in tragedy with four people killed and another 14 injured in a drive-by shooting.
The shooting took place outside Artis Restaurant and Lounge in Chicago’s River North neighborhood.
The rapper’s boyfriend and a close female friend were among the deceased. Read more
Texas flash floods kill at least 24 people, 23 girl campers missing (AlJazeera)
At least 24 deaths have been confirmed as a result of flash floods along the Guadalupe River in Texas, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said, nearly doubling the death toll reported earlier in the day.
“What I can confirm at this point, we’re at about 24 fatalities,” Lethia told an evening press conference on Friday, later confirming 24 people had died.
Thunderstorms and torrential rain in the United States triggered deadly flash flooding on along the Guadalupe River in south-central Texas, leaving more than 20 girls from a summer camp missing, according to local authorities. Read more
Senegal ditches Akon’s ‘unrealistic’ city project (AfricaNews)
Touted as a high-tech utopia powered by renewable energy and bankrolled by its own cryptocurrency, Akon City was ambitious as it was daring.
Designed with curvy skyscrapers and sleek modern infrastructure, early renderings of Akon City drew comparisons to Marvel’s fictional African metropolis Wakanda.
Bringing it to life would cost some $6 billion. Read more
Hamas says it delivered ‘positive response’ on Gaza ceasefire plan (BBC)
Hamas says it has delivered a “positive response” to mediators on the latest proposal for a new Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal put forward by the US.
The Palestinian armed group added in a statement that it was “seriously ready to enter immediately into a round of negotiations”.
A senior Palestinian official familiar with the talks told the BBC that Hamas accepted the general framework but had requested several key amendments, including a US guarantee that hostilities would not resume if talks on a permanent end to the 20-month war failed. Read more
Trump signs “big, beautiful bill” in July Fourth ceremony at White House (CBS)
President Trump brought pomp and circumstance to his signing of the “big, beautiful bill” on Friday, with an Independence Day ceremony at the White House that included a B-2 bomber flyover.
Some Republican members of Congress who voted to pass the legislation attended the event in which the president put his signature on his sweeping domestic policy bill. They stood around Mr. Trump with their thumbs up as he signed the bill.
The final bill hasn’t appeased all Republicans, but the president and Congress managed to pass it ahead of their self-imposed July Fourth deadline. Read more
Tyla teases new music is coming as she performs at Open’er Festival (Music-News)
Tyla will release new music “very soon”.
The 23-year-old singer released her eponymous debut album last year and a new single, Bliss, in May and she’s teased fans won’t have to wait too long for more fresh material.
Speaking on the Orange Main Stage at Open’er Festival in Poland on Thursday (03.07.25), she introduced Breathe Me and said: “The next song is my favourite song from my debut album. Have you listened to my album?
“You all need to catch up because there’s some new music coming very soon. Read more
Nigerian forward Udoh hospitalised after car crash (Punch)
Nigerian forward Mfon Udoh has been hospitalised after surviving a serious car accident that occurred on Thursday, with the former Super Eagles striker currently receiving medical care following the crash.
The 32-year-old footballer narrowly escaped death after being involved in a serious road accident.
The crash left his vehicle severely damaged, but Udoh miraculously survived and was immediately rushed to the hospital. Read more
Tammy Abraham joins Besiktas on loan from Roma (Guardian)
Turkish giants Besiktas said Friday they signed a deal to take English striker Tammy Abraham on loan from AS Roma with an option to buy.
The club said it had agreed a season-long loan for the 27-year-old, who passed a medical after arriving in Istanbul on Tuesday, which could become permanent for a 13-million-euro fee starting from the 2026-27 season.
“A loan fee of 2,000,000 euros will be paid to AS for the 2025-2026 season,” Besiktas said, adding that if contractual conditions were met, the move would be made permanent for “a transfer fee of 13,000,000 euros”. That fee would be paid in instalments until 2030. Read more
Chelsea and Barcelona fined by UEFA for financial rule breaches (AlJazeera)
Chelsea have been fined 31 million euros ($36.5m) by European football’s governing body UEFA for breaches of its financial rules, while Aston Villa, Barcelona and Olympique Lyonnais were also levied with large fines.
The punishments come with the potential for far harsher fines down the road, with Chelsea, who agreed to a four-year settlement with UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB), risking being hit with a further 60 million euros ($71m) if they do not get their finances in order.
Barcelona must pay a 15 million euro fine ($17.7m), but could potentially face 60 million in total, with UEFA fining Lyon 12.5 million and Aston Villa 11 million. Read more
‘Hard to take’ but Raducanu draws confidence from defeat (BBC)
The sense of disappointment on Emma Raducanu’s face as she exited Centre Court stemmed only from the knowledge that she had gone so close.
The British number one was under no illusion about her task as she stepped out under the roof to a raucous reception before facing the world’s best women’s player, Aryna Sabalenka, on Friday night.
After producing one of her best displays in recent times to sweep aside 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova in the previous round, Raducanu hit the heights she knew she must attain. Read more
Wimbledon: Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz extends winning streak to reach 4th round (CBC)
Defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz was put through the wringer again on Friday before moving into the fourth round but fellow Grand Slam winners Naomi Osaka and Madison Keys fell by the wayside at the All England Club.
Alcaraz pushed to the limit and taken to four sets by German Jan-Lennard Struff before the second seed prevailed 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-4 after some luck towards the end of the match.A missed volley with an open court in front of him halted Struff’s momentum after eight games and Alcaraz pounced shortly afterwards for the break he needed to lay the platform for a hard-fought victory. Read more