Prophet, boyfriend to die by hanging for killing final year LASU student (Vanguard)
Justice Christiana Obadina of an Osun State High Court sitting in Ikire has sentenced Philip Segun of Cherubim and Cherabum Church, Solution Chapel, Ikoyi-Ile over the killing of Lagos State University final year student, Favour Daley-Oladele.
The court also sentenced her boyfriend, Owolabi Adeeko, 23, to death by hanging for the brutal murder of the final year sociology student after luring her to Ikire from Lagos while his mother, Bola, 46, was convicted for eating human flesh.
Owolabi and Favour had been dating for about a month before he lured her to Ikire under the pretence that she should come visit his uncle while Owolabi, his mother and Prophet Segun had concluded an arrangement to use her for a money ritual. Read more
Judge’s absence stalls cosmetic surgeon’s trial over client’s death (Punch)
Proceedings in the trial of a Lagos-based cosmetic surgeon, Dr Anuoluwapo Adepoju, whose services allegedly resulted in the death of one Mrs Nneka Onwuzuligbo, was stalled on Monday before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The matter, which was scheduled for adoption of final written addresses, could not go on due to the absence of Justice Mohammed Liman.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, which is prosecuting the surgeon, accused her of blocking investigation into customers’ complaints against her by allegedly shunning the agency’s summons and refusing to produce documents demanded from her. Read more
Tinubu returns from AU meeting in Kenya (DailyTrust)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Monday evening, returned to Abuja from Nairobi, Kenya, where he participated in the fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union (AU).
The President landed at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
He was received at the airport by top government functionaries, led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State; and a former governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. Read more
Our weapons against insecurity — Service chiefs (Vanguard)
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, said yesterday he will promote creativity within the nation’s Armed Forces.
He also said the Armed Forces will make Nigerians the focus of activities to truly put them at the centre of its actions towards promoting and safeguarding a secure environment for all.
The CDS equally said his leadership concept would be built on three pillars — being people-centric, prioritising troops’ welfare and deepening jointness and inter-agency collaboration. Read more
2023 poll: It’s up to Nigeria to decide what to do with our report – Isopi, EU envoy (Sun)
Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Samuela Isopi, has said it was up to Nigeria to decide what to do with the report of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Nigeria for the 2023 general election.
He stated this in Abuja while briefing journalists on the award of postgraduate scholarships to 135 Nigerians.
The statement by the EU envoy is coming after the recent harsh reaction of the presidency to the report presented by the EU EOM.The presidency had rejected the report, saying it was a product of a poorly-done desk job that relied heavily on few persons. Read more
Gani Adams commends Lagos monarchs’ call on Isese Day holiday (Independent)
Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams has commended the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs for keeping faith with their roles as custodians of culture and tradition.
Iba Adams’ applause came on the heels of the recent calls by the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs to impress it on the Lagos State Government to officially recognize and declare August 20
as Isese Day holiday in the state.
Aare Adams, who had earlier made the call said the Lagos traditional rulers spoke his mind, insisting that he had been an advocate of this cause. Read more
Confusion in Police Force over memo withdrawing operatives from politicians, VIPs (Nation)
The Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun has debunked the report of the removal of police aides from certain top politicians and their relatives.
Egbetokun said the report is fake and did not emanate from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) or any of its formations.
Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Monday clarified the letter purportedly originating from MOPOL 45 FHQ ABJ, which is: “fake and did not emanate from the NPF or any of its formations”. Read more
Nigerian Influencer Austa killed by boyfriend Killaboi (Guardian)
Nigerian influencer Augusta Osedion, better known as Austa, was killed by her boyfriend, Benjamin Best, also known as Killaboi.
Best confessed to the murder on his Instagram page, writing that he “mistakenly stabbed” Osedion during an argument. He said he then fled the scene and has been suicidal ever since.
Osedion’s body was found at Best’s apartment in Lagos. Police are investigating the murder, but no charges have been filed yet. Read more
Wike flags off construction of PH Ring Road project (Tribune)
On Monday, the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, performed the Port Harcourt Ring Road flag-off ceremony estimated to cost the State government about N195 billion.
This is as the former governor boasted that the current Governor, Siminialayi Fubara, would outclass his contemporary governors in delivering landmark projects under the current leadership dispensation in Nigeria.
Wike made the boast in Port Harcourt at the occasion of the groundbreaking for the 50.1km Ring Road to be constructed by the Fubara administration. Read more
Lindsay Lohan gives birth to her 1st child, a boy (ABC)
Lindsay Lohan has given birth to her first child.
The Parent Trap star and her husband, financier Bader Shammas, are the parents of a “beautiful, healthy son” named Luai, her rep told The Associated Press in a statement Monday.
“The family is over the moon in love,” the statement said.
Lohan, 37, gave birth in Dubai, where the couple lives, according to Page Six. Her son’s exact birth date was not released. Read more
Taylor Swift has more number 1 albums than any woman in history (BelfastTelegraph)
Taylor Swift officially has more number one albums than any woman in history.
Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), released earlier this month, is the third in her endeavour to re-record her first six albums, instigated by music manager Scooter Braun’s sale of her early catalogue.
It has officially debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming her 12th album to reach the top spot. Read more
Al-Shabab imposes blockade on Baidoa town in Somalia (VOA)
Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has condemned the militant group al-Shabab for imposing a weeklong blockade on the southwestern town of Baidoa. Authorities say the Islamist group has cut off supplies in and out of the area, worsening hunger caused by record drought and insecurity.
Al-Shabaab set up the blockade Tuesday, cutting off transport to and from Baidoa, the capital of South West state.
The blockade, which comes ahead of a planned government military offensive in the region, has affected businesses and resulted in price hikes as vehicles transporting goods from towns such as Mogadishu are stranded. Read more
Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez Split After 2 years of marriage (ET)
After two years of marriage, Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez have called it quits.
A source confirmed the news of the breakup to ET on Monday, adding that Grande, 30, and Gomez, 27, have “been quietly and lovingly working on their friendship.”
Another source told ET, “Ariana and Dalton’s friends have always been concerned by their whirlwind romance and felt their relationship would ultimately be short-lived. Their relationship has been rocky at different points, and they’ve had trouble making time for each other with scheduling issues.” Read more
US President Biden invites Israel Prime Minister to Washington (MEMO)
US President Joe Biden has invited Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to Washington for an official visit, a statement from the Prime Minister’s office said on Monday, Reuters reports.
The move marks a shift in US – Israeli relations as most Israeli prime ministers had already received an invitation to the White House this far into their terms.
The two leaders shared a “long and warm” conversation, the Israeli statement said, focused on curbing threats from Iran and its proxies and strengthening the alliance between the two countries. Read more
Tom Cruise asked studios to allow publicity work during strike (ScreenDaily)
Tom Cruise, whose Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part One has opened top of the global box office charts, urged studios to allow SAG-AFTRA members to publicise their projects during a strike.
The star spoke to studio and SAG-AFTRA negotiators on a Zoom call in June when he made the appeal, noting that promotional work was critical, especially at a time when the theatrical recovery is ongoing in the wake of the pandemic.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Cruise also addressed the controversial subject of generative artificial intelligence, one of the central topics of the contract renewal talks that ended without resolution last week, triggering Friday’s SAG-AFRA strike. Read more
Ukraine grain deal expires after Russia pulls out (BBC)
The deal allowing Ukraine to safely export grain via the Black Sea has officially expired after Russia pulled out of the crucial agreement.
Moscow notified the UN, Turkey and Ukraine on Monday that it would not renew the deal, accusing the West of not keeping its side of the bargain.
The decision has been condemned by world leaders, who say it will affect some of the planet’s poorest people. Read more
Adebayor tips Osimhen for African best player award (Punch)
Former Togo and Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor believes Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen should win the 2023 African Player of the Year award.
Osimhen played a pivotal role in Napoli winning their first league title in over three decades, scoring 26 goals and providing five assists as they were crowned champions of Italy.
The 24-year-old’s impressive performance last season placed him as one of the favourites for the award, alongside Man City’s Riyad Mahrez, who won the treble, and Sevilla’s Moroccan forward Youssef En-Nesyri. Read more
“Saudi League better than MLS’, Cristiano Ronaldo aims dig at Messi Vanguard)
Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed that the Saudi Pro League is better than Major League Soccer following Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami.
Since the move of Ronaldo to the Middle East, several high-profile players have followed in his footsteps this summer with Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Roberto Firmino and former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard among those who have made the move to Saudi Arabia.
Messi, however, xhose a differentcpath as he was unveiled as Inter Miami’s new signing on Sunday evening after the Argentine World Cup winner opted to leave Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer earlier this summer. Read more
Folarin Balogun responds as Mikel Arteta lays out Arsenal transfer decision deadline (Mirror)
Folarin Balogun has insisted he is “cool” over whatever decision is taken on his future as Arsenal demand a £50 million transfer fee for his services.
Inter Milan are leading the chase with RB Leipzig, AC Milan and Crystal Palace among the other clubs interested in the Arsenal striker. Inter had been pursuing a deal for Romelu Lukaku, but have now changed tack after seeing two bids rejected by Chelsea.
Balogun, 22, scored 22 goals in 39 matches while on loan at Reims last season and Arsenal could now be ready to sell at the right price. Yet it is a big asking price for a player who has not proved himself at Premier League level. Read more
Spain star Putellas exits training early, raising doubts on Women’s World Cup status (CBC)
Spain star Alexis Putellas quit training on Monday, raising doubts she will be fit to play against Costa Rica in their opening match at the Women’s World Cup on Friday.
The two-time Ballon d’Or winner has played only six matches as a substitute for Barcelona since April when she returned after a 10-month layoff with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee.
Putellas started in two of Spain’s World Cup warmup matches, against Panama and Denmark, but missed the match against Vietnam in New Zealand last week. Read more
Australia’s Victoria state cancels hosting 2026 Commonwealth Games due to cost (France24)
The Australian state of Victoria pulled out of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games on Tuesday citing major cost blow-outs, leaving organisers fuming as they scrambled to keep the multi-sport event afloat.
State Premier Daniel Andrews said the initial estimated Aus$2 billion (US$1.36 billion) needed to hold the Games would more likely be around Aus$7 billion, which he called “well and truly too much”.
“I’ve made a lot of difficult calls, a lot of very difficult decisions in this job. This is not one of them. Frankly, $7 billion for a sporting event, we are not doing that,” he said at a press conference in Melbourne. Read more
Novak Djokovic hit with record fine after furious Wimbledon racket smash (NYPost)
Novak Djokovic is losing more than just his racket after his outburst on Sunday.
After losing the third game in the fifth set of his epic match with Carlos Alcaraz during the Wimbledon final, Djokovic unleashed his fury on his racket.
He slammed it into the net post, destroying its frame in his disgust with his inability to hold serve. Read more