Rape: Busola Dakolo lists Ashimolowo as witness in case against Fatoyinbo (Nation)
Mrs Busola Dakolo, wife of Nigeria’s inspirational singer, Timi Dakolo, has finally dragged the Founder and Senior Pastor of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Biodun Fatoyinbo, to court over her rape claims. An FCT High Court in a writ of summons obtained on Monday by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) dated Sept. 6 and served on Fatoyinbo, ordered the Pastor to appear before it within 14 days of the service or judgment may be given in his absence. Read more
Xenophobia: Evacuation exercise may involve more than one flight (Nation)
The evacuation exercise of Nigerians in South Africa may take more than one flight as the number of Nigerians indicating interest to return home is on the increase, it has been learnt. Though over 400 Nigerians have indicated interest to return home following the recent xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals and their businesses by South Africans, it was gathered many more may eventually opt for the evacuation exercise. Read more
NYSC bars 8 foreign-trained graduates over inability to defend degrees (Punch)
The National Youth Service Corps Coordinator in Kano State, Ladan Baba, says no fewer than eight foreign-trained graduates were refused registration due to incomplete and inconsistent documents. Baba revealed this on Monday during the passing out parade of the 2019 Batch ‘B’ Corps members after three-week orientation course at the NYSC permanent camp in Kusalla, Karaye Local Government Area of the state. Read more
Tribunal sacks Senator Orji Kalu (Guardian)
The National Assembly petitions tribunal sitting in Abia state Monday sacked Orji Uzor Kalu as senator representing Abia north. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Mao Ohuabunwa challenged Kalu’s victory at the tribunal. The tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a supplementary election within 90 days in eight wards in Arochukwu Local Government Area and several polling units in Ohafia and Isukwuato LGAs where votes were cancelled during the poll. Read more
EFCC’s intervention gave credibility to 2019 elections —INEC (Punch)
The Independent National Electoral Commission on Monday said the intervention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission gave credibility to the 2019 general elections. Resident Electoral Commissioner in Oyo State, Mr. Mutiu Agboke, said this in Ibadan during a thank-you visit to the Ibadan Zonal Office of the anti-graft agency. Read more
Dialogue: Bandits release five, surrender weapons in Katsina (Nation)
Repentant bandits on Monday in Katsina released five abducted victims, including women detained in their custody from Danmusa Lcocal Government Area, while four others surrendered their AK 47 weapons to Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina state during a dialogue with them in Shinfita in Jibia Local Government Area. Read more
Children not detained as terrorism suspects –DHQ (Punch)
The Defence Headquarters has said that children are not being held as terrorism suspects in any military detention facility in the northeastern part of Nigeria. The Acting Director of Defence Information, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement on Monday. Nwachukwu disclosed that a group known as Human Rights Watch was set to release a report accusing the Armed Forces of arbitrarily detaining children in its detention facilities in the North East. Read more
Resumption: Kogi government satisfied with teachers’ attendance (Guardian)
The Kogi Government on Monday expressed satisfaction over the impressive attendance of teachers in the state as schools resumed for the first term 2019/2020 academic activities. Mr Eric Aina, the Permanent Secretary Kogi Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, made the remark after monitoring some schools for resumption on Monday in Lokoja. Read more
Gbajabiamila appoints Ganduje’s daughter as aide (Punch)
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has appointed Fatima, daughter of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, as his Special Assistant on Non-Governmental and Civil Society Organisations. Fatima’s husband, Idris, who is a son of the immediate past Governor of Oyo State Senator Abiola Ajimobi, made the announcement on his Instagram page. Read more
Government must publish no-deal plans and advisers’ messages, MPs decide (Metro)
Parliament has voted in favour of publishing government communications relating to the prorogation of parliament. Independent MP Dominic Grieve’s application for an emergency debate was granted by John Bercow earlier this evening. The motion called for all correspondence, whether formal or not, relating to prorogation after July 23 to be released – including those sent by WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Facebook and private email accounts. Read more
Commons Speaker John Bercow to stand down (BBC)
John Bercow says he will stand down as Commons Speaker and MP at the next election or on 31 October, whichever comes first. Speaking in Parliament, Mr Bercow said his 10-year “tenure” was nearing its end and it had been the “greatest honour and privilege” to serve. If there was no early election, he said 31 October would be the “least disruptive and most democratic” date. Read more
Brits urged to prepare homes for ‘worst winter in decades’ (Metro)
British people have been urged to prepare their homes amid fears one of the worst winters in 30 years lies ahead. Freezing Arctic conditions are expected to send temperatures plunging to their lowest in decades. Climate experts at University College London have predicted the extreme weather over the next four months after studying current sea temperatures and a North Atlantic weather system. Read more
Netanyahu fights for political life a week before Israel votes (Guardian)
Israel moved into its final week of campaigning Monday for an unprecedented second general election in five months with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu battling for political survival while facing a potential corruption indictment. With the September 17 vote looming, Netanyahu and his right-wing Likud drew outrage from opposition parties with a push for last-minute legislation that would allow party officials to bring cameras to polling stations. Read more
Afghan peace deal: Trump says Taliban negotiations are ‘dead’ (BBC)
US President Donald Trump says talks with the Taliban aimed at ending the 18-year war in Afghanistan are “dead”. “As far as I’m concerned, they are dead,” he told White House reporters on Monday. Over the weekend Mr Trump cancelled secret plans to host a Taliban delegation in the US after the militant group admitted killing a US soldier. Read more
Tributes to ‘wonderful’ mum-of-one knifed to death ‘while sticking up for friend’ (Metro)
Friends and family have paid tribute to a mother-of-one who was fatally stabbed in north London. Police are investigating the death of Shakira Mercedes, 23, who was attacked in Camden at around 11.15pm on Sunday. Despite treatment from paramedics, she was pronounced dead at the scene just before midnight. Read more
Woman, 73, ‘beat 83-year-old neighbor to death with a brick’ (Metro)
A 73-year-old woman has been arrested after she reportedly beat her 83-year-old neighbor to death with a brick, police said. Chun Yong Oh is charged with murdering her longtime neighbor, Hwa Cha Pak, on Sunday morning in Bladensburg, a suburb outside of Washington DC. Price George County Police responded to a senior living facility on Emerson Street and found Pak in a garden behind the building suffering from severe injuries to the upper body. Read more
Policeman ‘shot two dead before taking own life’ at Netherlands home (Metro)
A policeman has reportedly killed two people before taking his own life at a home in The Netherlands. Police launched a huge operation after the shooting at a property in Dordrecht. According to local media reports, the victims were family members, although it is unknown whether they were related to the officer. Read more
Stalker copied victim’s key and climbed into bed with her (Metro)
A stalker who cut himself a copy of his victim’s key and climbed into bed with her has been handed a restraining order. Stuart Cosgrave, 45, repeatedly let himself into the woman’s flat to watch her while she slept, Portsmouth Crown Court heard. One evening the frightened victim ‘woke up thinking someone was rubbing her head’ before discovering Cosgrave had got into her bed. Read more
Uber driver fired for forcing lesbian couple out of car because they were gay (Metro)
An Uber driver has been fired after she kicked two women out of her car for being gay, the rideshare company said. Kristen Michele filmed the homophobic encounter that occurred on Friday as she and Jenn Mangan were on their way to a concert in Camden, New Jersey. According to the couple, the unnamed driver demanded they get out of her car after Michele gave Mangan a kiss on the cheek. Read more
Google: 50 US states and territories launch competition probe (BBC)
A group of 50 states and territories in the US have launched an investigation into Google’s dominance of the online advertising market. The coalition warned that the search giant may be threatening competition and consumers. They also raised concerns over the way Google ranks its search results and protects users’ personal data. Read more
Angelina Jolie admits she’s ‘vulnerable’ but has ‘more fight’ following Brad Pitt divorce (Metro)
Angelina Jolie may come across as fierce and confident in her action-packed movies, but the actress insists she’s ‘vulnerable’ deep down like the best of us. The Maleficent actress has been portrayed as headstrong in the midst of her divorce from Brad Pitt, which was finalised earlier this year. But Angelina has revealed there’s a softer side to her, which is brought out by her six children behind closed doors. Read more
Sierra Leone fans attack player’s house after penalty miss (BBC)
Angry fans of Sierra Leone’s national football team have attacked a player’s house after he missed a decisive penalty. Captain Umaru Bangura failed to convert a stoppage-time spot kick in front of a huge crowd on Sunday. It meant Sierra Leone failed to get through to the next stage of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. Read more
Kane to start but Southgate plans changes against Kosovo (Guardian)
Gareth Southgate will start with in-form striker Harry Kane against Kosovo on Tuesday, but the England manager plans to make several changes for the Euro 2020 qualifier. England captain Kane hit a hat-trick in the 4-0 rout of Bulgaria on Saturday as Southgate’s men made it three successive Group A victories.The Tottenham striker looks back to his best after recovering from the ankle injuries which plagued him last season. Read more
De Bruyne masterclass as ruthless Belgium trounce Scotland (BBC)
Kevin de Bruyne inspired Belgium to a brutal defeat of hapless Scotland to all but end hopes of reaching Euro 2020 via their qualification group. The Manchester City man set up Romelu Lukaku, Thomas Vermaelen and Toby Alderweireld and netted the fourth. Steve Clarke’s side must now look to next year’s play-offs as their best hope of ending a 22-year wait for an appearance at a major finals. Read more
Why Arsenal’s Europa League clash against Vitoria has been rescheduled by UEFA (Metro)
Arsenal have announced that their Europa League group stage fixture away to Portuguese side Vitoria has been rescheduled to Wednesday 6 November. Europa League matches are generally played on Thursday at either 17.55 (BST) or 20.00, however, Arsenal’s game in Guimares will take place on a Wednesday at 15.50pm. An Arsenal statement read: ‘As mentioned in previous communications, this match has been switched by Uefa from Thursday to Wednesday due to other matches taking place in close proximity in Portugal.’ Read more
Northern Ireland 0-2 Germany (BBC)
Northern Ireland’s Euro 2020 qualifying hopes suffered a major setback as they lost 2-0 to Germany in a pulsating qualifier at Windsor Park. Marcel Halstenberg’s stunning half-volley early in the second half and a stoppage-time goal by Serge Gnabry gave Joachim Low’s men victory. Germany go top of Group C, above Northern Ireland on goal difference. Read more
Umtiti suffers foot injury, adding to Barcelona fitness woes (Guardian)
Barcelona centre-back Samuel Umtiti has suffered a bruised foot while on international duty with France and could miss this weekend’s clash with Valencia, the injury-plagued Spanish champions said on Monday. Ernesto Valverde’s men, who host Valencia on Saturday, are already without star forwards Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez due to foot and calf problems respectively. Read more
Babel nets twice as Dutch thump Estonia (BBC)
The Netherlands upped the pressure on Northern Ireland in Group C by thumping Estonia in Euro 2020 qualifying. Ronald Koeman’s side – who have a game in hand – moved within three points of second-placed Northern Ireland, who lost 2-0 against Germany. Ryan Babel scored twice, converting Daley Blind’s cross from close range, as well as heading in at the far post. Read more
Daniel James continues fine start to the season with emphatic finish for Wales against Belarus (Metro)
Manchester United winger Daniel James has maintained his electric form by scoring his fourth goal of the campaign during Wales’ 1-0 friendly win against Belarus. The 21-year-old has been one of the success stories of United’s indifferent start to the season, top-scoring for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side with three goals in four Premier League matches. Read more
Declan Rice explains how Frank Lampard has got in-form Mason Mount firing at Chelsea (Metro)
West Ham midfielder Declan Rice believes that in-form Mason Mount has benefited from playing in a ‘second striker’ role for Chelsea under Frank Lampard this season. Mount, 20, has enjoyed an impressive start to the Premier League season, scoring twice in four Premier League matches for Lampard’s youthful, new-look Chelsea side. Lampard has ditched the 4-3-3 formation used by his predecessor Maurizio Sarri in favour of a 4-2-3-1 system with Mount acting as the centrepiece of the attack in a No.10 position. Read more