Rape: Fatoyinbo returns to police for another round of questioning (Punch)
Founder and Senior Pastor of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, Biodun Fatoyinbo, has returned to the police for another session of interrogation over the rape allegations levelled against him by Mrs. Busola Dakolo, wife of popular singer, Timi Dakolo. He had spent the whole of Tuesday at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Garki Area 10, Abuja, where he was grilled by a team of detectives led by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Adaku Anya. The cleric had allegedly raped Mrs. Dakolo when she was a teenager at her parents’ residence in Ilorin, Kwara State. Read more
El-Zakzaky has Iran’s support to turn Nigeria to Islamic State —FG (Punch)
The Federal Government has alleged that the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, has the sole aim of establishing an Islamic State in Nigeria. The government also said the cleric had the full support of the Iranian government to achieve this aim. The government made these claims in a counter-affidavit it filed against IMN’s motion challenging the Federal High Court’s order of July 26 proscribing the group. Read more
EFCC urges FBI cybercrimes suspects to surrender (Nation)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has advised the 80 Nigerians indicted in massive cybercrime cases been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States of America to come out of their hiding and clear their names before its (EFCC) operatives get to them. The commission which noted that it is in their own interest to come out assures that in no time, its operatives will arrest those of them within the shores of the country, adding that the operatives have begun a background check on the suspects. Read more
Buhari’s absence stalls first post-inauguration FEC (Punch)
The meeting of the Federal Executive Council is not holding today due to the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari, The PUNCH has learnt. It would have been the first FEC meeting after Buhari inaugurated his cabinet for his second term on August 21. However, it was said to have been put off owing to the President’s absence from the country. Read more
Three ABU law students, four others kidnapped on Kaduna-Abuja highway (Nation)
Seven persons, including three final year students of law from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria have been kidnapped on Kaduna-Abuja highway. This was even as an unconfirmed report has it that, the armed bearing kidnappers numbering about 20, killed three other persons during the operation. The Nation gathered that, the incident took place around 6:00pm on Tuesday, about 40 kilometers away from the state capital. Read more
Plateau Assembly approves Lalong’s request to appoint 15 Special Advisers (Nation)
The Plateau House of Assembly has approved the request by Gov. Simon Lalong to appoint 15 special advisers to serve in his government. The approval followed a communication from the governor on Wednesday seeking the approval of the assembly to appoint 15 special advisers. The governor said that the governor’s request was in accordance with section 196 Sub-section 2 of the 1999 Constitution as amended. Read more
Widow of slain Abia motocyclist meets soldier who killed her husband (Punch)
The Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday arraigned in court a former Army officer that reportedly killed a motorcyclist in Obingwa, Abia State. The now dismissed former Corporal Johnson Ajayi is being arraigned for murder. Ajayi had, on August 7, shot and killed one Chimaobi Nwaorgu, an Okada rider in Umuokereke Ngwa in Obingwa local government area over N100 bribe. Read more
Woman drags three neighbours to court for calling her a witch (Nation)
A 25-year-old woman, Aisha Idris on Wednesday her neighbours, Maimuna Ahmed, Hauwa Shehu and Sa’adatu Abubakar, before a Shari’a court, sitting at Magajin Gari, Kaduna for allegedly calling her a witch. The complaint, who resides in Unguwan Rimi area of Kaduna, told the court that the defendants accused her and her mother of witchcraft and burying of charms in their kitchen. Read more
Three Nigerian women lure Iraqi man to Dubai apartment, rob him (Punch)
Three Nigerian women, aged 30, 33 and 34 are facing robbery charges in Dubai, after they allegedly lured an Iraqi national to their apartment and robbed him of Dh57, 000. According to Gulfnews, the victim, aged 45 had arrived in Dubai in January 2019 and met a woman, who he thought was a Swedish student, through a dating app. Read more
N’Faly Kouyate says BA responsible for broken kora (BBC)
A musician says his specially made instrument was badly damaged after he was forced to put it in a plane’s hold. N’Faly Kouyate says his electric kora, also known as an African harp, was designed so that it could be taken as hand luggage and stored in overhead lockers on flights. He says the instrument can no longer be played – and he wants British Airways to pay for its repair or replacement. BA says it is investigating what happened. Read more
Sudan to name first post-Bashir cabinet (Punch)
After months of unrest, Sudan’s newly-appointed prime minister is due on Wednesday to announce a cabinet that will be the first since veteran ruler Omar al-Bashir was deposed more than four months ago. Premier Abdalla Hamdok is set to name his key picks from a field put forward by the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) — a grouping born of a movement that initially took to the streets against Bashir’s 30-year rule and then forced the military rulers who deposed him to share power. Read more
Boris Johnson asks Queen to suspend Parliament (BBC)
The government has asked the Queen to suspend Parliament just days after MPs return to work in September – and only a few weeks before the Brexit deadline. Boris Johnson said a Queen’s Speech would take place after the suspension, on 14 October, to outline his “very exciting agenda”. But it means the time MPs have to pass laws to stop a no-deal Brexit on 31 October would be cut. Read more
Hundreds of displaced Iraqis transferred from camp (Guardian)
Hundreds of displaced Iraqis, mostly women and children, were transferred from a northern camp to their home areas Wednesday despite humanitarian concerns over what awaits them on their return. The civilians originally hailed from Hawija but had fled fighting against the Islamic State group years ago to Hammam al-Alil camp, about 150 kilometres (100 miles) north. Read more
Amazon fires: Brazil governors push Bolsonaro to accept aid (BBC)
The governors of the nine Brazilian states most affected by a record number of fires since 2010 have urged President Jair Bolsonaro to accept foreign aid to fight the blazes. Mr Bolsonaro had earlier refused a G7 offer of $22m (£18m) following a spat with French President Emmanuel Macron. But following a meeting between the governors and Mr Bolsonaro, the government shifted its position on aid. Read more
23 killed in Mexico bar fire, officials investigating ‘attack’ (Guardian)
At least 23 people were killed and 13 badly wounded in a fire at a bar in eastern Mexico that is being investigated as an attack, authorities said Wednesday. The fire in the city of Coatzacoalcos, which broke out Tuesday night, “may have been the result of a vile attack,” said a statement from prosecutors in the state of Veracruz, a flashpoint in the bloody turf wars between Mexico’s rival drug cartels. Read more
Greta Thunberg: Climate change activist sails into New York City (BBC)
Teenage environmental activist Greta Thunberg has landed in New York after a 15-day journey across the Atlantic by boat. She will be participating in UN climate summits in New York City and Chile. The 16-year-old Swede sailed from Plymouth in the UK on a solar-powered yacht in order to minimise the carbon footprint of her travel. Read more
Najib Razak 1MDB: Malaysia’s former PM faces biggest trial yet (BBC)
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has gone on trial again over an alleged multibillion-dollar fraud involving a government fund. Mr Najib is facing several trials over the state investment fund 1MDB – this is the most significant covering 21 counts of money-laundering and four of abuse of power. Prosecutors say he received and covered up illegal transfers of at least $550m (£448m) between 2011 and 2014. Read more
Naked teen filmed fleeing police ‘after killing his mother, sister, and her 1-year-old son’ (Metro)
A naked teen fugitive was filmed running from police as they tried to arrest him on suspicion of murdering his mother, sister, and one-year-old nephew. Authorities say Matthew Bernard, 19, killed Joan Bernard, 62, Emily Bernard Bivens, 24, and her one-year-old son, Cullen Bivens, in Pittsylvania County, Virginia on Tuesday. Read more
Spain ‘werewolf syndrome’ child cases linked to wrong drug (BBC)
A number of children in Spain have had abnormal hair growth similar to “werewolf syndrome” after receiving incorrect medication, officials say. Seventeen cases have been reported in Cantabria, València and Granada. The children developed the symptoms after receiving medicine for a stomach condition that contained a drug used to treat alopecia, health regulators said. Read more
Mass child sacrifice discovery may be largest in Peru (BBC)
Archaeologists in Peru have unearthed what is believed to be the largest single mass child sacrifice in history. The bodies of 227 victims, aged between five and 14, were found near the coastal town of Huanchaco, north of Peru’s capital Lima. The children were believed to have been sacrificed over 500 years ago. The discovery comes barely a year after 200 child victims of human sacrifice were found at two other sites in the country. Read more
Rihanna slid into Lizzo’s DMs after her VMAs performance with some seriously NSFW praise (Metro)
Lizzo was the woman of the hour during Monday night’s MTV Video Music Awards, smashing the show with an all singing, all rapping, all dancing performance. And it seems like the 31-year-old has one very famous fan in the form of Rihanna, who slid into Lizzo’s DMs with some pretty NSFW praise after the show. ‘She DM’ed me to tell me that I performed good,’ Lizzo told Entertainment Tonight. Read more
12th African Games: FG gives Team Nigeria medalists N46m (Punch)
The Federal Government has given cash rewards totalling about N46 million to the first batch of Team Nigeria medalists at the ongoing 12th African Games in Morocco. The rewards were handed over by the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development to 58 athletes and four officials, with $3,000 given to gold medalists. The ministry also gave 2,000 dollars to silver medalists and 1,500 dollars to bronze medalists. Read more
Benin: Striker Rudy Gestede back in squad after three-year absence (BBC)
Middlesborough striker Rudy Gestede is back in the Benin squad after a three-year absence. The 30-year-old has been included in the 23-man Squirrels squad for their upcoming friendlies. Benin play Ivory Coast on 6 September in the French city of Le Havre and African champions Algeria in Blida three days later. Read more
Juan Mata says it would have been easier to leave Man Utd over the summer after recent failures (Metro)
Juan Mata has admitted that it would have been an easier option for him to leave Manchester United this summer and admit defeat in his efforts to restore the club to former glories. The Spain international was out of contract this year but signed a new two-year deal to stay at Old Trafford under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Mata was signed by David Moyes at Man Utd and has since played under Ryan Giggs, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and now Solskjaer in a period of turbulence at the club. Read more
Isco set to miss Villareal match with thigh injury (Punch)
Real Madrid midfielder Isco is set to miss this weekend’s La Liga match against Villarreal after the club announced on Wednesday that he had picked up a thigh injury. “Isco has been diagnosed with a muscular injury in the right femoral biceps,” said Real in a statement. The club has not given a time frame for the midfielder’s return but said: “his recovery will continue to be monitored”. Read more
Dortmund’s Hazard out of action for ‘several weeks’ (Guardian)
Belgian international Thorgan Hazard will be out of action for several weeks after picking up a rib injury in the Bundesliga, his club Borussia Dortmund announced on Wednesday. “Thorgan Hazard suffered a rib injury following a collision with an opponent in the match away to FC Cologne,” said a statement on the club website. “The 26-year-old is now set for several weeks on the sidelines. Get well soon, Thorgan!” Read more
Liverpool youngster Bobby Duncan accuses the club of ‘bullying’ after refusing to let him leave (Metro)
Bobby Duncan has accused Liverpool of ‘bullying’ him and negatively impacting his mental health after refusing to allow him to leave the club this summer. The 18-year-old was included in Liverpool’s pre-season tour squad of the United States but is yet to feature for the first-team and has been the subject of interest from clubs overseas. Read more
Dean Saunders: Ex-footballer jailed for refusing breath test (BBC)
Ex-Liverpool striker Dean Saunders has been jailed for 10 weeks for refusing to provide a roadside breath test. The BT Sport pundit, 55, was stopped by police on suspicion of drink-driving in Boughton, Chester, on 10 May. Saunders, who was capped by Wales 75 times, was slurring and had to prop himself up against his Audi A8 car when he was asked to get out of the vehicle, Chester Magistrates’ Court heard. Read more
Wayne Rooney insists he did not cheat with girl at hotel in shock statement (Metro)
Wayne Rooney has broken his silence on pictures of him entering a hotel with another woman. The 33-year-old was pictured at 5.30am in a Vancouver hotel with a mystery woman following a night out with his DC United teammates. Wayne was snapped chatting to the woman at a lift in the hotel foyer at the Hyatt Regency. Now, the dad-of-four has denied cheating on his wife of 11 years, Coleen. Read more
US baseball player’s wife, son and mother-in-law ‘murdered by brother-in-law’ (BBC)
US baseball player Blake Bivens’ wife, one-year-old son and mother-in-law have been found dead at their home in rural Virginia on Tuesday, police say. Bivens’ brother-in-law Matthew Bernard was later arrested and charged him with three counts of first-degree murder. Mr Bernard, 18, was found running naked near the property in Pittsylvania County, officials say. Read more