Rape: Police invite Dakolo, wife over alleged falsehood (Punch)
The Police have invited popular singer, Timi Dakolo and his wife, Busola, a celebrity photographer, for interrogation over alleged falsehood. The couple was asked to report to DSP Ibrahim Agu in Abuja on Tuesday for an “interview.” The invitation letter, which was reportedly delivered to the Dakolos on Saturday may not be unconnected with the allegation of rape by Busola against the founder of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo. Read more
State of the nation: Obasanjo is not neutral, says Presidency (Nation)
Despite his letter on the state of the nation, the Presidency on Friday said ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo is not neutral. It said since Obasanjo’s has a political position, his opinion cannot be taken as the gospel truth any longer. It said political Fulani herdsmen were on rampage to de-market the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. He said Nigeria will not break because “it is very solid, it will remain solid.” Read more
Obi urges Nigerians to remain hopeful (Guardian)
Mr. Peter Obi, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Vice Presidential Candidate in the last general elections, has urged Nigerians to keep hope alive as the party will reclaim its mandate through the tribunal. Obi made the call when he addressed the 8th Stakeholders Meeting of the Anambra Chapter of PDP in Awka on Saturday. The former two-time governor of Anambra, who said PDP was the solution to Nigeria’s political and economic challenges, said the party had a good case at the ongoing tribunal. Read more
Suicide: Don’t have unrealistic expectations from children – FG tells parents (Nation)
The Federal Government on Saturday called on parents to be patient with their children and wards in their academic performances to reduce the wave of suicide. The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Sonny Echono, made the call at the 11th annual Speech/Prize Giving Day and Valedictory Service of the Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba, Lagos. “We must make deliberate efforts to stem the tide of suicide that is rising in our society. Read more
NAFDAC officials, policemen escape lynching in Onitsha Market (Punch)
Officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and policemen escaped getting lynched during an enforcement exercise at Head Bridge Drug Market, Onitsha, Anambra State. NAFDAC said in a statement by its Director-General, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, that the combined team of officials and policemen had visited the market sequel to credible intelligence obtained from concerned members of the public. Read more
Osinbajo confers with Ogun monarchs (Guardian)
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday held consultations with the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, as well as other monarchs in Ogun. The consultations were on the way out of the security challenges currently confronting Nigeria. Osinbajo was accompanied to the palace of Ajayi by Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun. The vice president, who fielded questions from newsmen after the meeting, said the meeting was on the instruction of President Muhammadu Buhari. “As you know, there are many significant security concerns all over the country, and there are concerns also in the Southwest. Read more
Buhari condoles with victims of Sokoto bandit attacks (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari has strongly condemned the killing of 37 innocent people by bandits in the Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State. Commiserating with the victims of the unfortunate attacks, the government and people of Sokoto State, the President vowed to respond fiercely against “these brutal and remorseless enemies of humanity.” In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said: “This frequent and large scale killings of poor villagers by gangs of mass murderers must be met with the fiercest force the government can mobilise. Read more
Villagers drop dead body at Zamfara government house in protest of killings (Guardian)
Over 100 villagers from Jirrawa community in Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara on Saturday besieged Government House, Gusau with a dead body alleged to have been killed by bandits earlier in the day in the village. Spokespersons of the community, Muntari Abdullahi and Muhammadu Sani told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the bandits invaded the village around 10am and shot sporadically in the air. “We later realised that they have already killed Shafiu Inusa on his farm while he was trying to apply fertilizer on his plants after the rains of last night,” Abdullahi narrated. Read more
Bagudu pledges support to investors (Guardian)
Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, on Saturday, reiterated the commitment of his administration to support indigenous entrepreneurs to invest in the state. Bagudu said at the inauguration of a hotel in Birnin Kebbi that the government would support genuine ventures aimed at boosting the economy of the state. The governor commended the proprietor of the hotel for investing in the state, noting that such investments would generate employment and enhance social and economic activities. Read more
Polio: 50,000 North East children yet to benefit from polio vaccine – NPHCDA (Guardian)
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) says no fewer than 50,000 children are yet to be reached with wild polio vaccine in some parts of North-East due to security challenges. Dr Faisal Shuaib, the Executive Director of NPHCDA, made this known during the investiture of the 11th District Governor of Rotary International, District 9125, on Saturday in Abuja. The NPHCDA boss was part of the dignitaries who received special award from the organisation at the ceremony. Shuaib said: “We still have almost 50,000 children that we are trying to reach in the next few months. Read more
BA suspends flights to Cairo on security grounds (Punch)
British Airways said Saturday it had suspended flights to Cairo for seven days as a precautionary measure following a security review. The flag carrier said it would not operate its aircraft unless it felt it was safe to do so. “We constantly review our security arrangements at all our airports around the world, and have suspended flights to Cairo for seven days as a precaution to allow for further assessment,” the airline said in a statement. Read more
Tanker seizure: Jeremy Hunt urges Iran to release Stena Impero (BBC)
The foreign secretary has urged Iran to reverse its “illegal” seizure of a British-flagged tanker in the Gulf. Jeremy Hunt said it “raises very serious questions” about the security of British and international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. It comes as Iran released new footage of the capture on Friday of the Stena Impero. Read more
Missing child found 18 years after being kidnapped (Metro)
The search for Madeleine McCann may have received a boost, after a FaceApp-style AI was used to reunite a Chinese man with his family 18 years after being abducted. Yu Weifeng, 21, was reunited with his family yesterday after police were able to use the technology to predict what he would look like as a grown man, before searching a huge database. Read more
Australian police chief’s son found dead in Canada (Punch)
One of two young homicide victims found this week in western Canada is the son of a high-ranking Australian police official, Canadian police said. The bodies of Lucas Robertson Fowler, a 23-year-old Sydney native, and Chynna Noelle Deese, 24, from the US state of North Carolina, were found Monday along a remote stretch of highway in northern British Columbia province, the police said in a statement late Friday. Read more
Man made fake bomb to get flight attendant to date him (Metro)
A 65-year-old man made a fake bomb threat, in the hope of getting a date with a flight attendant. As a result of the Serbian man’s telephone call, Lufthansa’s flight LH1411 had to be evacuated on Thursday before its take-off from Belgrade to Frankfurt. All 130 passengers and five crew members had to leave the aircraft while it was searched by a special police squad and sniffer dogs. Read more
Polish Gay Pride marchers defy stone-throwing hooligans (Punch)
The first-ever Gay Pride parade was held in the eastern Polish city of Bialystok on Saturday, but the march was marred by violence from soccer hooligans and conservative campaigners staged counter protests, local police said. Some 800 supporters of LGBT+ rights marched through the city some 200 kilometres (124 miles) northeast of Warsaw, waving rainbow-coloured flags and banners with slogans such as “love is not a sin”. Read more
Beyoncé’s dad Mathew Knowles is now in the marijuana farm business (Metro)
Beyoncé’s dad is far from a one-trick pony – previously the manager of Destiny’s Child, he’s now branched out into the world of weed farms. Mathew Knowles has revealed that he has partnered with Bangi Inc who buy and rent land for people to grow their medicinal marijuana on. ‘We are buying land… We’ll lease it back to the growers, the dispensaries, the extraction companies,’ he said, adding that he would be ‘leveraging his extensive network’ to help him put together Bangi’s ‘global marketing campaign’. Read more
Rohr laments Mikel, Ighalo exit from Super Eagles (Nation)
Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr has described the retirement of Captain Mikel Obi and striker Odion Ighalo from international football after the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as a bitter pill to swallow. He however commended both players for their meritorious services to the Super Eagles. While Mikel called it quit with the Super Eagles after the national team claimed the AFCON bronze medal following Ighalo’s solitary winner in the third place match on Wednesday, Ighalo amidst wide speculations formally announced his retirement on Friday after what he described as ‘an amazing five-year journey.’ Read more
Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gives update on Victor Lindelof and Tahith Chong injuries (Metro)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seems relaxed about the fitness of Victor Lindelof and Tahith Chong despite both men limping out of Manchester United’s friendly with Inter Milan on Saturday. Lindelof was substituted in the 57th minute in Singapore, while Chong only came off the bench in the 63rd but was replaced in injury time. United are still over three weeks away from the start of their Premier League season, and the Norwegian is not too concerned about either player at this stage. Read more
Rhian Brewster backed for Liverpool impact by Jadon Sancho who hails their ‘special connection’ (Metro)
Rhian Brewster is enjoying a fabulous pre-season with Liverpool and Jadon Sancho is backing his good friend to make a serious impact in the upcoming season. The 19-year-old has scored four goals in three friendlies this summer, including netting against Borussia Dortmund from the penalty spot on Saturday in the States. Read more
The Open 2019: Shane Lowry’s incredible 63 puts him in control ahead of final round (BBC)
Ireland’s Shane Lowry produced one of the great major championship rounds with a sensational eight-under-par 63 that sees him take a four-shot lead into Sunday’s final round of The Open. Lowry, who called it “one of the most incredible days of my life,” carded eight birdies to finish on 16 under overall at Royal Portrush. England’s Tommy Fleetwood is Lowry’s closest rival on 12 under after a 66. Read more
Netball World Cup 2019: Australia beat South Africa in thrilling semi-final (BBC)
Australia reached their eighth successive Netball World Cup final after edging a 55-53 win against South Africa in Liverpool. The 11-time winners squandered an eight-goal half-time lead as the Proteas stormed back to within one with four minutes remaining. But the Diamonds held on to reach Sunday’s gold-medal match. Read more
Tour de France 2019: Pinot wins stage 14 as Thomas loses time (BBC)
Defending champion Geraint Thomas lost more time to Tour de France leader Julian Alaphilippe as Thibaut Pinot won stage 14 on the Col du Tourmalet. Britain’s Thomas was dropped by the lead group with around 1km to go before Frenchman Alaphilippe crossed the line six seconds after compatriot Pinot. Thomas stays second overall, but is now two minutes and two seconds behind Alaphilippe with seven stages left. Read more
