Popular Nollywood actor confirmed amongst kidnappers killed in Lagos kidnapping heist (ThisDay)
Popular Nollywood actor and producer based in Port Harcourt, identified as Prince Henry Ode was confirmed to be amongst the nine kidnappers neutralised and killed weeks ago by the Lagos State Police Command in the Ladipo area of the state during a kidnapping heist.
While scepticism over the report continues to linger, it has been authoritatively confirmed that the actor and producer was one of the billionaire kidnappers killed by detectives from the Commissioner of Police Special Squad in the Ladipo area of Lagos state.
It was learnt that since the news broke online, detectives have been making frantic efforts and carrying out both discreet electronic and intelligence investigations to identify the nine kidnappers they confronted at the popular Ladipo auto spare parts market where they came to kidnap a wealthy businessman. Read more
Women group knock Akpabio over outburst against Akpoti-Uduaghan, demands apology (Sun)
A coalition of over 300 women’s rights groups, WOMANIFESTO, has condemned the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, for his derogatory remarks against Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan during plenary on Thursday 18th July, 2024
The group, while demanding for an immediate apology, said Akpabio’s comment, “we are not in a nightclub,” was perceived as an attempt to belittle female senators, suggesting that women should only speak in informal settings.
“This incident reflects a deeply rooted misogynistic attitude that has no place in our society,” stated a Womanifesto representative. The coalition demands an immediate apology from Akpabio, emphasizing that such language undermines women’s contributions in governance. They argue that as a prominent leader, Akpabio should exemplify respect for all, regardless of gender. Read more
Cocaine, Loud consignments hidden in incense candles, ladies’ clothing seized in Lagos (Nation)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has seized illicit shipments of Cocaine and Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, concealed in incense candles, game packs, dry hibiscus leaves, and ladies’ native wears at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA).
Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, who said suspects linked to them were also arrested, indicated this was a blow to the frantic bid of drug syndicates and some courier firms in Lagos to smuggle drugs in and out of the country. Read more
Edo petitions IGP, fingers Shaibu, Kabaka over violence (Channels)
The Edo State Government has petitioned the Inspector General Police,(IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, over the Thursday, July 18, 2024 breakdown of law and order in the state.
Earlier, the state government accused Philip Shaibu, the reinstated deputy governor of the State, of orchestrating the violence under the pretext of executing a judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja for which a stay of execution had been filed and an appeal entered.
In a recent twist of events, the government accused Shaibu of hiring armed thugs to unleash mayhem that resulted in the death of a police inspector, Akor Onuh, in Benin City. Read more
Parking slot: Lagos clarifies new policy, says not imposing fees on worshippers (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Government has clarified that the state’s parking policy will only affect motorists who intend to utilise the newly created 1,800 parking slots of the Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA).
Mrs Adebisi Adelabu, General Manager, LASPA, made the clarification in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.
Adelabu said the authority was concerned about a recent social media post regarding parking charges for churches and worshippers in Lagos State. Read more
FG, NURTW launch CNG initiatives in Lagos (Tribune)
In a bid to promote cleaner and more affordable energy solutions, the Federal Government, in collaboration with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), launched the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiatives in Lagos yesterday.
The launch follows the initial launch in Kaduna on Thursday, which targeted the northern zone.
Speaking at the event, Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin, Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of NURTW, commended President Bola Tinubu for initiating this project. He explained that the project, once fully functional, will significantly reduce transportation costs for citizens.
Lawmaker applauds JAMB for international presence, conduct of UME exam in UK (Independent)
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has completed its unified tertiary matriculation examination for prospective undergraduates in Nigerian universities for the 2024/25 University Matriculation Examination (UME) in the United Kingdom.
JAMB conducted the online examination last weekend at the Nigeria High Commission, Northumberland Avenue, London, and no less than 20 candidates sat for the examination.
Senator Dandutse Muntari Mohammed, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, who represents the Katsina South constituency, told journalists shortly after the examination that it was a huge success. Read more
Kalu advocates part-time legislature (Nation)
The chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatisation, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has backed calls for a part-time legislature at both federal and state levels.
Senator Kalu (APC-Abia North) said this would help the nation cut costs and enhance the citizenry’s trust in the polity.
The former Abia governor said this in an interview published on his verified Facebook page over the weekend. Read more
Cardi B reminds fans she was right about Joe Biden dropping out of the presidential race (Uproxx)
America woke up to some surprising news this morning: President Joe Biden has withdrawn from the 2024 Presidential election, and will not be seeking a second term. Well, most of America did; one person was unmoved by the announcement. Cardi B re-posted her original take on the election from June on Instagram to remind fans that she saw this coming well in advance.
“STOP PLAYING WIT ME!!!!” She wrote in the caption. “Check the date.. said this on JUNE 30TH! been told y’all Kamala should’ve been the 2024 candidate. Y’all be trying to play the Bronx education, baby this what I do!!! Been my passion.. don’t let my accent fool y’all.” Read more
4 names on Kamala Harris’ VP shortlist: CNN report (Newsweek)
Vice President Kamala Harris reportedly has four potential running mates in mind after President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed her to be his replacement on the 2024 ticket.
CNN’s Jamie Gangel reported that she was given some names that Harris’s campaign is potentially looking into to “put together a ticket” to “create excitement and to win.”
President Joe Biden announced Sunday afternoon that he would withdraw his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election. His decision follows weeks of mounting pressure from within his party and from key Democratic donors urging him to step aside for the sake of the party’s future. Read more
What happens next now that Biden has dropped out? (Politico)
President Joe Biden just announced he is dropping out of the presidential race, a seismic moment not only for this year’s presidential election but American history.
So … now what?
It isn’t totally unprecedented for an incumbent president to not seek another term, but the particularities around Biden — both concerns about his fitness to hold the office of the presidency and the sheer size of a modern campaign apparatus that he controls — pushes the country into uncharted waters. And it comes after he had already dominated the primaries to become the presumptive nominee. Read more
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s daughter to drop Pitt from name (FilmNews)
Shiloh Jolie-Pitt takes out a newspaper ad about name change.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s daughter Shiloh has taken the next step on her name-changing journey.
The 18-year-old announced her intention to drop Pitt from her name in a Los Angeles newspaper.
The teenager published an announcement in the Los Angeles Times that she had legally filed to change her name to Shiloh Jolie. Read more
Anna Faris would return to the Scary Movie franchise under 2 conditions: ‘‘Money’’ and Regina Hall (Variety)
Anna Faris would reprise her role as Cindy Campbell in the Scary Movie franchise, so long as a few conditions are met.
In an interview with People, Farris was asked what it would take for her to return to the franchise for a new installment, to which she emphatically replied, “Well, money!”
She went on to say that she’d “love to reprise her role” if she could star alongside her former Scary Movie co-star, Regina Hall, who played Brenda in the horror parody film series. Read more
Love Island’s Dani Dyer announces engagement (DigitalSpy)
Love Island’s Dani Dyer has shared an exciting announcement, as she revealed her engagement to footballer Jarrod Bowen.
Dani won the popular reality show back in 2018, alongside partner Jack Fincham. However the couple split up the following year.
The star has been in a relationship with Bowen since 2021, and the couple welcomed twin daughters together last year. Read more
Taiwan starts annual war games, aiming to closely mimic actual combat (StraitsTimes)
Taiwan started its annual Han Kuang war games on Monday, which this year aim to be as close as possible to actual combat with no script and simulating how to repel a Chinese attack.
China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its territory, has been staging regular exercises around the island for four years to pressure Taipei to accept Beijing’s claim of sovereignty, despite Taiwan’s strong objections.
Taiwan’s drills this year have cancelled elements that were mostly for show, like scripted firepower displays, while there will be intensified nighttime exercises and practising how to operate with severed command lines. Read more
Amusan finishes 2nd behind in pre-Olympics 100m hurdles race (Leadership)
Nigeria’s 100m hurdles world record holder, Tobi Amusan, finished in second position with a time of 12.60s (-1.7m/s) behind the USA’s Grace Stark, who won with a time of 12.58s on Saturday, July 20, at the pre-Olympics race in Florida.
Amusan, Team Nigeria’s medal hopeful for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics, began the race with a poor start but recovered early, increasing her speed and clearing the hurdles at the Mike Holloway Pro Classic.
The Nigerian sprinter’s quick recovery helped her secure second place, with Stark maintaining her lead and finishing slightly ahead of Amusan. Read more
Odemwingie: Don’t write off Super Eagles for 2026 World Cup (Nation)
Former Super Eagles star Osaze Odemwingie has warned that the country could still turn around its 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign despite a rather difficult start.
Nigeria languish second from bottom with three points from four matches, four points adrift of front runners Rwanda, South Africa, and Benin.
However, Osaze has recalled that Nigeria fought from an impossible position to qualify for the 2010 World Cup and could still do so now. Read more
Ex-Sporting Lagos’ Ladeinde narrates European experience (Punch)
Former Sporting Lagos left-back, Oluwafemi Ladeinde has narrated his bitter-sweet experience in Europe trying to secure a contract, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
In a post on X (Twitter) on Saturday, Ladeinde, who played for Inter Lagos FC after parting ways with Sporting Lagos, explained how fortunes smiled on him at his current club MFK Skalica of Slovakia after facing utter rejection in the Czech Republic.
He wrote, “I failed my first tryouts in the Czech Republic. But was given a one-week tryout at MFK Skalica in Slovakia. From the first day, everyone fell in love with me because they saw how good I was on the ball. I became a fan favorite in less than a month. I’m blessed.” Read more
Manchester United to renew Jarrad Branthwaite interest after Toffees takeover collapse (IrishIndependent)
Manchester United’s hopes of signing Jarrad Branthwaite could be resurrected following the collapse of Everton’s proposed takeover by the Friedkin Group while Matthijs de Ligt remains another centre-half option.
United appeared ready to accept defeat in their efforts to land Branthwaite after Aston Villa’s impending £50 million deal for the Everton midfielder Amadou Onana reduced the financial pressures on the Merseyside club. But news that the American billionaire Dan Friedkin has pulled the plug on his company’s prospective buy-out of Everton amid concerns about the level of debt at the club has created more financial uncertainty at Goodison Park.
United’s £58.8m Leny Yoro made his debut yesterday against Rangers but United are still in the market for another centre-back and may yet be encouraged to make another bid for Branthwaite in the wake of the latest unexpected developments. Read more
Fishcakes stop play: Match abandoned as fans join forces in bizarre VAR protest (Telegraph)
A match in Norway’s top flight was suspended on Sunday amid a flurry of fishcakes thrown in protest at using VAR.
Rosenborg’s match against Lillestrom was abandoned just 30 minutes in as both sets of supporters joined forces to vent their fury. In addition to fish cakes, tennis balls were also thrown onto the pitch and fans chanted “F—— hate VAR”.
The match was first interrupted after six minutes when Rosenborg fans threw tennis balls onto the pitch. Further stoppages resulted in the match referee ordering players to leave the field. A banner was unfurled which read “We will never give up — VAR will go away.” Read more
Piastri claims maiden win at quarrel-hit Hungarian GP (GulfTimes)
Oscar Piastri claimed his maiden Formula One victory yesterday when he finished ahead of his McLaren teammate Lando Norris, after a vexed radio argument produced an extraordinary finish to an incident-filled Hungarian Grand Prix.
In a race of fluctuating fortunes and many quarrels on and off the track, the McLaren duo secured a comprehensive one-two after starting from the team’s first front row lockout since 2012, Norris finally obeying team orders to hand his teammate his first career win. Piastri, 23, won by 2.141 seconds with seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton finishing third for Mercedes to claim his record 200th podium finish.
He survived a late collision with Red Bull’s three-time champion and series leader Max Verstappen, who flew off, but recovered to finish fifth. Charles Leclerc came home fourth and Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz sixth, sandwiching a grumpy Verstappen who was called to see the stewards to explain his collision with Hamilton. Read more