Residents accuse policeman of killing motorcycle rider (Punch)
Controversy has trailed the death of a motorcycle rider, Aliu Rafiu, on Ago Palace Way, Okota, in the Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos State.
While some residents blamed the death on a policeman who allegedly attempted to extort money from the victim, the state police command said Rafiu died in a crash. Read more
EFCC: How Atewe transferred N35m to Winners’ Chapel (NewTelegraph)
The trial of a former Commander of the Military Joint Task Force, operation Pulo Shield in the Niger Delta, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe and three others over alleged N8.5 billion fraud continued yesterday at a Federal High Court in Lagos.
A prosecution witness narrated how Atewe transferred the sum of N35 million out of the alleged looted fund to the Living Faith Church, popularly known as Winners’ Chapel. Read more
Unemployed man jailed for touching bust (Punch)
An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday sentenced a man, Ilias Mudashiru, to six months’ imprisonment for touching a girl’s bust indecently and stabbing her relatives.
It was gathered that Mudashiru committed the offences on April 21 around 8.20am at Bombata Market, Oroyinyin Street, in the Adeniji Adele area of Lagos Island, Lagos State. Read more
Seven suspected car snatchers arrested in Lagos (Independent)
The suspects were said to belong to one of the robbery gang that has been terrorising Lagos State.
One of the syndicates the police said specialised in car snatching within the South West region of the country, while the other specialise in house-to-house robbery within Orile-Agege area of the state. Read more
Expert trains Lagos school principals on UPC (Vanguard)
Lagos State government has been tasked to implement policies on the appointment of a teacher or an administrative staff as a drug controlled officer in every primary and secondary school in the state.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of a 6-day Training of first batch of Principals of Lagos State on the “Universal Prevention Curriculum (UPC) for Substance Use Disorders” which was held yesterday at Lagos State Model College, Meiran, Agbado, Lagos, the National Co-ordinator, Universal Prevention Curriculum (UPC) and the Founder, Global Initiative on Substance Abuse (GISA), Dr. Martin Agwogie, said such officer will be adequately trained on how to develop and implement evidence based substance abuse prevention interventions in their respective schools. Read more
NSITF: 9 hospitalised as thugs attack labour leaders at Ngige’s residence (Vanguard)
The disagreement between Organised Labour and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, over the replacement of Chief Frank Ovie Kokori as the Chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, yesterday degenerated into violence as suspected thugs attacked and injured labour leaders, and others at the private residence of the Minister of Labour.
Nine of the protesters are currently receiving treatment at the Trauma section of the National Hospital, Abuja. Read more
Ekiti landlords sue BEDC for alleged ‘crazy bills’, illegal disconnection (Guardian)
Ekiti State Landlords’ Association has sued the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) for alleged over-billing and illegal disconnection of electricity source in the state.
In an originating summons filed at the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti, the landlords, under the auspices of Ado-Ekiti Electricity Consumers’ Association, alleged that BEDC contravened the Electricity Reform Act 2005, which recommended that consumers must be metered within two years of connection. Read more
Ethnic politics destroying Nigeria – Jega, Nnamani (DailyTrust)
A former Senate President, Dr. Ken Nnamani and a former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Wednesday, said that Nigeria was being destroyed by ethnic politics.
The duo, who spoke at the 13th convocation lecture of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, agreed that ethnic politics had greatly contributed to the destruction of the country. Read more
Edo primary schools now ‘well organised’, says Obaseki (Nation)
Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has said the 75 per cent of public-run primary schools in the state being managed under the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo-BEST) programme are now well organised.
Speaking while inspecting primary schools under the Edo-BEST programme in Benin City, the Edo State capital, the Governor said the schools were being provided with books, furniture and other resources to promote teaching and learning. Read more
Ganduje reduces Sanusi’s influence, breaks Kano emirate into five (Punch)
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State on Wednesday signed a bill that sought to split the Kano emirate into four into law.
With the signing into the Kano State Emirs’ Appointment and Deposition Amendment Bill 2019 into law, the state now has five emirates – Gaya, Rano, Karaye, Bichi and Kano. Read more
Netherlands to support Nigeria on Ogoni clean-up, says envoy (Nation)
The Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms. Marion Kappeyne, yesterday pledged her country’s readiness to support the Federal Government to clean-up decades-long oil spills in Ogoniland, Rivers State.
Ms. Kappeyne spoke in Ebube while inspecting ongoing remediation of one of the polluted sites in Ebube community, Eleme Local Government Area of the state. Read more
Passenger removed from flight after refusing to watch safety instructions (Independent)
A passenger was removed from a flight after refusing to look at the safety instruction card and then putting her fingers in her ears when the steward asked her to pay attention to the briefing, according to reports.
The woman was sitting in the emergency exit row with a male companion who was also removed from the plane after it turned back from the runway at Wellington Airport in New Zealand, according to stuff.nz. Read more
Brexit: May ridiculed for summoning Liverpool football spirit (Independent)
British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday compared her Brexit battle with Brussels to Liverpool footballers’ stirring Champions League comeback against Barcelona — risking ridicule from the left-leaning city.
The English club lost the first leg of the semi-final clash 3-0 in Spain and seemed headed for certain defeat after their injured stars Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino were ruled for Tuesday’s return fixture at Anfield. Read more
Europa League: Iwobi could set record with Arsenal (Nation)
Alex Iwobi has been named in Arsenal’s provisional squad for tonight’s Europa League semifinal clash against Valencia at the Estadio de Mestalla, the only player of Nigerian descent in the travelling party to Spain.
Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, defenders Tolaji Bola, Joseph Olowu, Tobi Omole, and wingers Xavier Amaechi and Bukayo Saka, who have been registered for the knockout rounds of the Europa League, have not been selected by Coach Unai Emery. Read more
Harrington to reduce Ryder Cup wild cards (DailyTrust)
European captain Padraig Harrington has decided to cut his wild card selections from four to three for next year’s Ryder Cup in the United States.
Nine of Harrington’s players will qualify automatically for the 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits as a result of points earned on the European Tour – a process that will start with the 2019 PGA Championship at Wentworth, southwest of London and finish at the 2020 edition of the flagship tournament. Read more
How Lucas hat-trick took Tottenham to Champions League final (Vanguard)
Lucas Moura’s last-gasp strike took Tottenham Hotspur to the Champions League final for the first time in their history on Wednesday, completing his hat-trick and sealing an incredible 3-2 win over Ajax to leave the Dutch side heartbroken.
Ajax’s improbable European run seemed set to go on all the way to the final as they led 3-2 on aggregate deep in stoppage time in the second leg of the semi-final at the Johan Cruyff Arena. Read more
FIFA Women World Cup: Super Falcons to earn $2m (Sun)
Ahead of the 2019 FIFA Women World Cup in France, world football governing body, FIFA, has announced the prize money for all the participating teams.
Super Falcons coach, Thomas Dennerby has said that the team target is to play in the semifinals of the tournament. If everything goes according to his plans, the Nigeria Super Falcons will smile home with $1.6 million for playing in the semifinals but will earn $400,000 more if they emerge third best team in the competition. Read more
Rivers Utd end Enyimba’s unbeaten run (Independent)
Rivers United, on Wednesday, snapped Enyimba’s 12-match unbeaten run in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) with a 1-0 win in Port Harcourt.
United could have won more handsomely but for some impressive goalkeeping heroics by the Enyimba goalkeeper, Theophilus Afelokhai, who produced a stunning double save late on to keep the score respectable. Read more
Awoniyi eyes Liverpool return next season (Nation)
Nigeria’s Taiwo Awoniyi, who plays at Royal Excel Mouscron, has hinted that he would love to get the chance to prove himself under parent club, Liverpool, AOIFootball.com reports
Awoniyi has arguably been one of the best loan players this term for the Kops and will be willing to create an encouraging display when he returns at the end of the season to Liverpool. Read more
Suarez: Barca looked like schoolboys (Punch)
Barcelona striker Luis Suarez said his side “looked like schoolboys” for Liverpool’s winning goal in the Champions League semi-final second leg.
The Reds won 4-0 at Anfield, with DivockOrigi scoring the winner from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s quick corner, to overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit. Read more
Yekini tips Super Eagles for victory in 2019 AFCON (DailyTrust)
A former Green Eagles player, Fatai Yekini has expressed confidence that with the right motivation, the Super Eagles will emerge victorious at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. The three time African champions are highly favoured to progress from the group B where they are to fight for one of the group tickets with Burundi, Madagascar and Guinea. Read more
Rohr targets double for Chukwueze (NewTelegraph)
Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, is looking forward to Samuel Chukwueze doing the double for the country as the youngster is thorn between representing Nigeria at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland or the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. Flying Eagles coach, Paul Aigbogun, has invited the 19-year-old to the U-20 team currently in Germany for the final preparation of the team for the World Cup, while Rohr is expected to extend a call up to the Villarreal of Spain’s star ahead of the AFCON. Read more