Renewal: No need to visit any Drivers Licence Centre, use Bypass Capture – FRSC (Punch)
The Federal Road Safety Corps has urged drivers seeking to renew their licences to make use of the corps’ Bypass Capture scheme. FRSC made the call in a statement issued by Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Public Education Officer. Kazeem said FRSC introduced the Bypass Capture functionality on the National Drivers License portal to improve ease of obtaining the licence and also save applicants’ time. Read more
Otedola sells off stake in Forte Oil (Nation)
Business mogul, Femi Otedola, has sold off his 75 per cent stake in Forte Oil. The billionaire businessman hinted in 2018 the plan to sell off his 75 percent stake to “maximise the opportunities in refining”. In a message he posted on Wednesday, Otedola said the process had been completed. He stated he is prepared to focus on his investment in the power sector. Read more
Acting CJN reassures telecom players of fairness, transparency in adjudication (Punch)
Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad on Wednesday reassured players in the telecommunication industry of the commitment of the Nigerian judiciary to the development of the sector by ensuring fairness and transparency in adjudication. The Acting CJN, gave the assurance while delivering a keynote address at the Nigerian Communications Commission 2019 Annual Workshop for Judges on Legal Issues in Telecommunications held at Best Western Hotel, Enugu State. Read more
National interest will guide decision on AFCFTA, says Buhari (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday said Nigeria will be guided by ‘‘national interest’’ in taking any decision on the agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He made the remark while receiving National Council of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) led by its president, Engr Mansur Ahmed, at the State House, Abuja. The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said he is ready to receive the report of a Committee set up to assess the potential costs and impact of signing the agreement establishing the AfCFTA for Nigeria. Read more
Ogun to leverage on Lagos ‘push factor’ for investments, says Abiodun (Guardian)
Ogun State governor Dapo Abiodun has said the state will leverage on its proximity to Lagos State to deepen investments in the state. “Ogun today is like New Jersey to New York,” Abiodun said after he and other All Progressives Congress (APC) governors met with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Tuesday. “We benefitted from what you call the push factor from Lagos.” Read more
Bayelsa electoral commission: Dickson appoints new acting Chairman (Nation)
Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has appointed Remember Ogbe as acting Chairman of the Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission (BYSIEC). The governor charged members of the commission to conduct free, fair and peaceful local government poll that would be acceptable to all. A statement by his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei quoted the governor to have spoken during the swearing-in ceremony of two members of the State Independent Electoral Commission in Yenagoa. Read more
Gov. Okowa appoints 5 Special Advisers (Nation)
Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has appointed five Special Advisers, including Prof. Sylvester Monye as Senior Policy Adviser. The Secretary to the State Government, Mr Chiedu Ebie, announced this in a statement he made available to newsmen in Asaba on Wednesday. According to the SSG, Dr. Kingsley Emu, former Commissioner for Economic Planning in the immediate past administration, has been appointed Chief Economic Adviser. Read more
Masari swears in SSG, 7 Perm Secs (Nation)
Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State Wednesday swore in the re-appointed Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Mustapha Inuwa and seven Permanent Secretaries in the State’s Civil Service, with a warning to Civil Servants to shun partisanship in the discharge of their service to the people. He said the reappointment of the SSG and 6 out of the 7 permanent secretaries was a demonstration of the confidence the government has on their past performances alluding further that it is wrong to change a winning team during a competition. Read more
Court grants ex-IGP Ehindero leave to file no-case submission (Nation)
An FCT High Court Apo, on Wednesday granted a former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Sunday Ehindero, leave to file his no-case submission out of time. The former police boss and a Commissioner of Police in charge of finance and budget at the Force headquarters, John Obaniyi, are being tried by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) before Justice Sylvanus Oriji, on an amended 10-count charge bordering on fraud, giving false statement and conspiracy. Read more
Ortom promises to donate N50m to victims of burnt market (Punch)
Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom on Wednesday promised to release the sum of N50 million to traders whose shops were razed by fire at the Makurdi Modern Market on Tuesday night. No fewer than 200 shops were burnt by the fire which also destroyed goods. The fire started around 7:30 p.m., shortly after the traders had closed for the day. Ortom, who visited the market for an on-the-spot assessment lamented the extent of damage and called on the affected traders to have faith in God saying, “When there is life, there is hope. Read more
Niger bandit attack: 69 people killed, Ex-senator insists (Nation)
Former Senator of the Niger East Senatorial District, Senator David Umaru has insisted that 69 people were killed by armed bandits in the Shiroro Attack. He called out the state government for lying about the figure declaring that the government is not being truthful to the people on the exact figure of death. Umaru stated this in a press statement personally signed by him and made available to newsmen in Minna. Read more
Return my virginity, good health, if you want dissolution —Wife tells husband (Punch)
A 28-year-old woman, Suliat on Wednesday told her husband, Lateef, that she would only consent to his request for the dissolution of their marriage if he returns her virginity and good health, as she was two years ago before the union. Suliat stated her conditions before an Iseyin Grade C Customary Court, where the husband had gone seeking for the dissolution of the marriage over “frequent public embarrassment.” He told the Court that Suliat was in the habit of harassing him at his workplace and social functions attended by his friends and relatives. Read more
South African MP punches man during alleged racist incident (BBC)
A black South African MP says she punched a man in self-defence after he allegedly hurled racial abuse at her. Phumzile van Damme from the opposition Democratic Alliance said she got into a row with a white woman at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront when the man intervened. She said the man, who was white, was “threatening violence” and used vulgar language to tell her to get out, referring to her as “you black”. Read more
Olomide concerts cancelled in South Africa over rape verdict (Punch)
Two South African venues have cancelled concerts by Congolese singer Koffi Olomide, who was recently convicted of the statutory rape of one of his former dancers when she was 15. Olomide, 62, whose real name is Antoine Agbepa Mumba, had been due to play the Gallagher Convention Centre outside Johannesburg on June 28 and the Shimmy Beach Club in Cape Town two days later. But protesters launched a social media campaign to stop the concerts due to his conviction. Read more
Erdogan says Egyptian ex-president Morsi was ‘killed’ (Guardian)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday said his close ally Mohamed Morsi was “killed” and accused Egyptian authorities of failing to intervene to save the ex-president. “Morsi was struggling on the floor in the courtroom for 20 minutes. Authorities, unfortunately, did not intervene to save him,” Erdogan said during a televised speech in Istanbul. “Morsi was killed, he did not die of natural causes.” Read more
Egypt Morsi TV gaffe puts spotlight on control of media (BBC)
The death of a former president in most countries around the world would normally make headline news domestically. But not the case for Egypt, where ex-President Mohammed Morsi died at the age of 67 on Monday after collapsing in a courtroom during his trial on spying charges. His sudden demise barely registered in Egyptian media – in fact, papers there prioritised Egypt’s hosting of the forthcoming 2019 African Cup of Nations on its front pages, and instead relegated Morsi’s death to the inside pages usually designated for criminal affairs. Read more
‘I feel well,’ says Merkel a day after health scare (Punch)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel sought to assure journalists and citizens Wednesday she was well, a day after sparking concern by visibly trembling at an official ceremony. “I feel well,” she told school students during a visit to Goslar in the Harz mountains after Tuesday’s health scare blamed on dehydration on a hot summer’s day. Merkel, 64, had a glass of water nearby and said that, with scorching temperatures, one “should not drink too much coffee but lots of water,” national news agency DPA reported. Read more
MH17: Four charged with shooting down plane over Ukraine (BBC)
For the first time since Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down in July 2014, prosecutors have announced charges against suspects in the case. Three Russians and a Ukrainian have been charged with bringing a missile into the area in eastern Ukraine and with murdering 298 passengers and crew. The passenger flight was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down over conflict-hit Ukraine. Read more
Pedophile told single mother he’d marry her if she let him rape her 9 year-old daughter (Metro)
A pedophile was jailed for 20 years for telling a single mother he’d marry her if she let him rape her nine-year-old daughter. Randall Keith Midkiff, 37, was jailed for 30 years Tuesday for making the abusive proposition after he began chatting to the woman on an online dating site. She immediately refused, and contacted Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Mobile, Alabama. Read more
Jamal Khashoggi killing: Saudi crown prince ‘should face investigation’ (BBC)
There is credible evidence that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other high-level officials are individually liable for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a UN expert says. A report by special rapporteur Agnes Callamard says the evidence merits further investigation by an independent and impartial international inquiry. Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul by Saudi agents. Read more
Van Gogh ‘suicide gun’ sold at auction (BBC)
The gun which Vincent van Gogh may have used to kill himself has sold for a €162,500 (£144,000; $182,000) – almost three times more than expected. The rusty revolver was purchased by a private collector via telephone. It was found by a farmer in 1965 near the village where the artist spent his final days. It was approximately the right age, and used the same calibre of bullet van Gogh shot himself with. Read more
Sandra Bullock refuses to play matchmaker for Speed co-star Keanu Reeves but for good reason (Metro)
Sandra Bullock has revealed the real reason she won’t play matchmaker for Keanu Reeves but it’s not because she doesn’t want her Speed co-star to be happy. Keanu, 54, recently revealed that he’s open to finding love again after being most recently linked to Jamie Clayton back in 2015. While the Matrix actor is hardly short of female attention – he’s the internet’s newest boyfriend, FYI – Sandra won’t be giving him a helping hand on the dating front but for good reason. Read more
Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler’s new comedy Murder Mystery breaks Netflix records (Metro)
Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler’s new film has given Netflix their biggest opening weekend ever, with over 30 million accounts watching the comedy. Netflix, who are notoriously cagey about releasing their data, have revealed that ‘30,869,863 accounts watched Murder Mystery’ in the first three days, which os officially ‘the biggest opening weekend ever for a Netflix Film’. Those figures are broken down into ‘13,374,914 accounts in the US and Canada, and 17,494,949 more worldwide’. Read more
Enrique steps down as Spain coach, replaced by assistant Moreno (Punch)
Luis Enrique has stepped down as Spain coach for personal reasons and will be replaced by his assistant Roberto Moreno, the Spanish Football Federation announced on Wednesday. Moreno has been in charge for Spain’s last three matches and will now lead the team through Euro 2020 qualifying and the final tournament. He will be Spain’s fourth head coach in 12 months after Luis Enrique was appointed following last year’s chaotic World Cup, which saw Julen Lopetegui sacked and Fernando Hierro installed in his place. Read more
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer explains reason for Manchester United’s U-turn over Juan Mata contract
Juan Mata has signed a new contract which will keep him at Manchester United until 2021. The Spanish midfielder’s previous deal expired earlier this month and he looked likely to depart on a free transfer having declined the chance to sign a 12-month extension. Mata had been holding out for a two-year contract and ultimately got his wish with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hopeful that the 31-year-old can play a prominent role in nurturing the clutch of youngsters who have already made a first team breakthrough at Old Trafford. Read more
Hummels rejoins Borussia Dortmund from Bayern Munich (Punch)
Bayern Munich confirmed on Wednesday that veteran defender Mats Hummels is to rejoin Borussia Dortmund, as Bayern continue to overhaul their squad ahead of next season. Bayern confirmed Hummel’s departure to AFP subsidiary SID on Wednesday afternoon, after German magazine Kicker reported that Dortmund had signed Hummels on a three-year deal for an estimated fee of 38 million euros ($43.6m). The 30-year-old defender twice won the Bundesliga title with Dortmund before joining Bayern for 35 million euros in 2016. Read more
Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang heaps praise on two Liverpool players (Metro)
Arsenal striker Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang is a big fan of the two men he shared the Premier League Golden Boot with, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. All three men scored 22 league goals this season and shared the prize as a result, the first time it has been split three ways since 1998-99 when Michael Owen, Dwight Yorke and Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink finished level. Winning the award for the first time was a proud moment for Aubameyang and sharing it was not an issue, especially as it was with his fellow African stars Salah and Mane. Read more
Philippe Coutinho unsure of future at Barcelona amid transfer interest from Manchester United (Metro)
Philippe Coutinho has cast further doubt over his future at Barcelona amid reports Manchester United want to sign the playmaker. Barcelona are thought to be prepared to offload Coutinho after a difficult first full season in Spain. Coutinho is on international duty with Brazil and has been his country’s star man in the absence of the injured Neymar. Read more
Scholes fined for breaching betting rules (Punch)
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has been fined £8,000 by England’s Football Association after accepting a charge of breaching betting rules. Scholes was charged by the FA in April for placing 140 bets on matches between August 2015 and January this year. The period covers when Scholes was a part-owner of non-league side Salford City, but before his appointment as Oldham manager in February 2019. Read more
Eddie Hearn downplays Tyson Fury’s win over Tom Schwarz, calls it an ‘exhibition’ match (Metro)
Eddie Hearn has played down the significance of Tyson Fury’s win over Tom Schwarz on Saturday night and says the bout – which was ended inside two rounds – was not competitive. The Gypsy King stepped back into the ring in Las Vegas for the first time since his dramatic draw against Deontay Wilder and stopped his young, unbeaten opponent in the second round. Read more
Tennis: Barty makes winning start on grass (Punch)
French Open champion Ashleigh Barty got her grass court season off to a winning start with a comfortable 6-3, 6-4 win over Donna Vekic at the Birmingham Classic. Croatia’s Vekic had reached the final of the Nottingham Open last weekend and understandably looked sharper on the grass early on as she broke the Barty serve in the third game. Read more