#RevolutionNow protest, ill-timed – Police (Nation)
The Nigeria Police Force has said the #RevolutionNow protest conceived by Omoyele Sowore is ill-timed. The Police while warning the protesters to shelve the idea stated that the march had treasonable felony and acts of terrorism written all over it. Speaking during a morning programme on television monitored by the Nation, the Force Spokesman, DCP Frank Mba admitted that law enforcement is becoming challenging. Read more
FG reschedules ministers’ induction retreat, swearing-in (Guardian)
The Federal Government Tuesday rescheduled its 2-day induction retreat and swearing-in programme for ministers-designate from Aug. 15 to Aug.16 to Aug 19 to Aug. 20. Mr Babatunde Lawal, the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation made the announcement in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja. According to Lawal, the venue of the programme still remains State House Conference Centre, Presidential Villa, Abuja at 9.00 a. m. Read more
Eid-el-kabir: FG declares Monday, Tuesday public holidays (Nation)
The Federal Government has declared Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th August as Public Holidays to mark the 2019 Eid-Al-Kabir celebrations. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Barr. Georgina Ehuriah, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated the Muslim faithful on the occasion. She called on all Nigerians, at home and in diaspora, to use the period of this year’s Eid-Al-Kabir celebration to embrace the virtues of love, humility, peace and sacrifice as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Mohammed. Read more
Insecurity: No end in sight, Catholic bishops say (Punch)
Catholic Bishops on Tuesday expressed fears that there appeared to be no end in sight to the insecurity problems confronting the country, alleging that the Federal Government was merely paying lip service to the issue of security. The Archbishop of Ibadan Archdiocese and President, Catholic Bishops Conference of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin, lamented that “it is, unfortunately, a commonplace phenomenon that Nigerians wake up each day to lament woes of killings, lynching, kidnappings and brigandage in the country”. Read more
Nigeria to become global food basket soon – Osinbajo (Nation)
Committed to development of a thriving agro-industrial sector, the Federal Government will welcome partnerships and initiatives that would make Nigeria actualize its potential of being the food basket of the world. This was disclosed on Tuesday by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. He spoke while receiving a delegation of Chinese investors and officials from the African Development Bank (AfDB), at the Presidential Villa. Read more
We’re ready to defend Biafraland – MASSOB (Punch)
The Movement for the Actualization the Sovereign State of Biafra on Tuesday condemned the killing of a Catholic priest of Enugu Diocese, Reverend Fr. Paul Offu, by suspected herdsmen. Fr Offu was killed along Ihe-Agbudu Road in Awgu Local Government Area of the state on Thursday night by yet-to-identified gunmen. A statement by the separatist’s National Director of Information, Comrade Edeson Samuel said MASSOB and other pro-Biafra agitators were already on the ground to protect the people. Read more
EFCC secures order to freeze N9.9b in three accounts linked to Ambode’s Perm Sec (Nation)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a court order freezing N9.9billion in three accounts linked to a Permanent Secretary who worked with ex-Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State. It said only about N300 million was left in the said accounts. It claimed that the accounts were uncovered in First City Monument Bank (FCMB)5617984012; Access Bank(0060949275) and Zenith Bank 1011691254, respectively. Read more
We have recovered over 70 vehicles, properties – Imo gov’s aide (Punch)
The chairman of the committee on the recovery of stolen movable assets belonging to the Imo State government, Jasper Ndubuaku, has said that the committee had recovered over 70 vehicles since its inauguration by the State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha. Ndubuaku, who spoke to our correspondent in Owerri, the state capital on Tuesday, said that the committee had equally recovered two asphalt plants. The governor’s aide said that the committee had recovered properties worth N1bn. Read more
Release political prisoners, Secondus tells Buhari (Nation)
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to release ‘political prisoners’. Addressing newsmen on Tuesday on the side of a visit to Governor Ahmadu Fintiri at the Government House in Yola, Secondus said there should be no room for political prisoners in a democracy. Read more
Makinde approves N500,000 each to Oyo indigenes at Law School (Nation)
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday approved the sum of N500,000 each as bursary to the 120 Oyo State indigenes in the Nigerian Law School. Makinde, who received an audience of the Law School students in his office, charged them to persevere in the face of ongoing economic challenges. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary(CPS) to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as saying that he was approving the sum of N60 million to cater for the 2019/2020 backlog of Oyo state indigenes in the Nigerian Law School. Read more
NAFDAC warns populace against use of pesticides in homes (Guardian)
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians against use of pesticides and other agro chemicals in homes for domestic purposes. The Director General of the Agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, gave the warning on Tuesday at a one-day sensitisation workshop organised by the agency for agro dealers in Kano. Adeyeye, represented by the Head, Veterinary and Agro Allied Department, Malam Bukar Usman, said the sensitisation was imperative due to the increasing number of cases of abuse of such products. Read more
Don’t drag NNPC to politics under FOI guise, Kyari warns (Guardian)
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has urged the public to be wary of attempts to drag the corporation into politics in the guise of requests for information under the Freedom of Information law. The Group Managing Director of the Corporation disclosed this in a statement signed by Mr Ndu Ughamadu, the spokesman for the corporation, in Abuja on Tuesday. Kyari made the call during a courtesy visit by the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, (NEITI), Mr Waziri Adio, to the NNPC Towers. Read more
UN intervenes as millions of Zimbabweans face food crisis (Punch)
The UN food agency on Tuesday launched a $331-million appeal for aid donations to feed millions of people in crisis-hit Zimbabwe, which is reeling from a drought and the high cost of food. Around five million people, or a third of the 16 million Zimbabweans, are in need of aid and at least half of them are on the cusp of “starvation”, according to the World Food Programme. Read more
El Paso residents tell Trump to stay away after shooting (Guardian)
Residents in majority-Hispanic El Paso told US President Donald Trump Tuesday to stay away amid fury over his anti-immigration rhetoric as he struggles to unite the country in the wake of mass shootings that killed 31 people. Trump is scheduled to travel Wednesday to the Texan border city where 22 died in a weekend gun massacre, and to Dayton, Ohio where a second mass shooting hours later left another nine dead. Read more
FBI opens terror probe into California festival shooting (Punch)
The FBI has opened a domestic terrorism investigation into a mass shooting at a California festival last month after finding evidence of “violent ideologies” on the gunman’s digital devices, officials said Tuesday. Santino William Legan killed three people including two children at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in northern California on July 28 before being confronted by police and shooting himself. The 19-year-old had compiled a list of potential targets including religious institutions, federal buildings, courthouses and both the Democratic and Republican political parties, as well as the festival, said special agent John Bennett. Read more
Trump sues California over candidates’ tax return law (BBC)
US President Donald Trump and the Republican Party are suing California over recent legislation requiring presidential candidates to file tax returns in order to stand in primaries. State Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, signed the law last week. In two lawsuits, the plaintiffs said it was unconstitutional as it added an extra requirement to run for president. Read more
‘Killer caught 40 years after he raped and murdered 14-year-old girl’ (Metro)
A suspected killer was caught nearly 40 years after he allegedly raped and murdered a 14-year-old girl. Robert Adkins, 62, was arrested on Friday and charged with brutally killing Ronda Blaylock in August 1980 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Authorities say Adkins offered Blaylock and a friend a ride home. He then took the friend home unharmed, but disappeared with Blaylock. Neither youngsters knew the driver who told them his name was ‘Jimmy.’ Read more
Lawsuit alleges Boy Scouts failed to stop hundreds of sex abuse claims (BBC)
Lawyers representing nearly 800 former Boy Scouts have filed a lawsuit alleging the youth organisation failed to prevent hundreds of sex abuse cases. The lawsuit identifies 350 abusers who were not listed in Boy Scouts of America (BSA) files, claiming the group was negligent in vetting volunteers. The suit’s plaintiff, only identified as SD, alleges a scout leader assaulted him “hundreds” of times in the 1970s. Read more
White cops on horseback leads handcuffed black man through streets on rope (Metro)
A photo of a white police office on horseback leading a handcuffed black man through the street with a rope has sparked outrage. Galveston Police Department in Texas has apologized to the man, 43-year-old Donald Neely, after officers were condemned for the incident that was branded offensive, unnecessary, and racist. Neely was reportedly arrested for misdemeanor criminal trespassing on Saturday. The mounted officers handcuffed him, then ‘clipped’ a ‘line’ to the cuffs and led him to a police staging area eight blocks away. Read more
Pakistan vows to fight India’s ‘illegal’ Kashmir move (BBC)
Pakistani PM Imran Khan has vowed to fight India’s decision to revoke Indian-administered Kashmir’s autonomy, including at the UN Security Council. Mr Khan said the move was in breach of international law, adding that he feared ethnic cleansing by India. The region remains locked down, a day after India announced the move. Read more
Student’s body ‘found in remote jungle’ after ‘she jumped from plane’ (Metro)
The body of a missing British woman, 19, has been found by a tribe in Madagascar, according to reports. Cambridge student Alana Cutland died after she forced open the door of an aircraft she was travelling in and jumped to her death in Madagascar, police have claimed. Authorities now say her corpse has been recovered by villagers following a search mission. Read more
Arsenal remain focused on signing centre-back amid Philippe Coutinho speculation (Metro)
Arsenal may be interested in signing Philippe Coutinho on loan, but their priority is bringing in a central defender rather than bolster their attack. Barcelona have offered Coutinho to the Gunners on a season-long loan, and according to reports in France, a deal is close to being done for the Brazilian. However, other clubs, including Tottenham, are also interested in the former Liverpool man and a switch to Arsenal is not as close as previously thought. Read more
Lukaku trains with Anderlecht amid transfer speculation (Guardian)
Manchester United forward Romelu Lukaku trained with his boyhood club Anderlecht on Tuesday, a source close to the Belgian side confirmed to AFP, amid speculation over his exit from Old Trafford. The Belgium striker has not played a single minute of United’s pre-season campaign with talk of a transfer to Serie A. Inter Milan are one Italian team in hot pursuit. The 26-year-old turned up for a second successive day training at Anderlecht. Read more
Ajax held away to PAOK in Champions League qualifier (Punch)
Last season’s Champions League semi-finalists Ajax recovered to earn a 2-2 draw on their trip to PAOK Thessaloniki in Tuesday’s first leg of the third qualifying round. Dutch champions Ajax came within seconds of reaching the final last term but again must come through a series of qualifiers despite landing a 34th national title in May. Hakim Ziyech put Ajax ahead on 10 minutes in Greece when his devilish free-kick grazed the head of a defender and flashed beyond PAOK goalkeeper Alexandros Paschalakis. Read more
AFC Champions League: Xavi’s Al Sadd hold Duhail to 1-1 draw (Punch)
Qatar giants Al Sadd and Al Duhail produced a tense 1-1 draw as they squared off for the very first time in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday. The round of 16 match was played at the brand new Al Janoub Stadium built for the 2022 World Cup. It saw Spain and Barcelona legend Xavi helming Al Sadd after ending his playing career with the 2011 Asian champions a couple of months ago. Read more
Everton see improved bids for Wilfried Zaha and Abdoulaye Doucoure rejected (Metro)
Everton have seen improved bids for both Wilfried Zaha and Abdoulaye Doucoure rejected by Crystal Palace and Watford respectively. The Toffees made ambitious offers of £70m plus Cenk Tosun and James McCarthy for Zaha and £36.7m for Doucoure, but both proved unsuccessful. The Mail reports that Everton upped their bid for Zaha by £5m plus the two players after seeing a bid of £65m up front turned down earlier on Tuesday. Read more
Man City, PSG ‘a danger football hasn’t seen before’- La Liga chief (Punch)
La Liga president Javier Tebas says Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain represent “a danger that football has not seen before” as he stepped up his attacks on the big-spending superpowers. Tebas, who has strongly criticised City before, said the money pumped into the Premier League champions and Ligue 1 winners PSG by their Abu Dhabi and Qatar-based owners had distorted the football landscape. Read more
World number one Ashleigh Barty loses to Sofia Kenin in Rogers Cup (BBC)
World number one Ashleigh Barty lost to American Sofia Kenin in the second round of the Rogers Cup in Toronto. The French Open champion was beaten 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-4 in one hour 56 minutes in her first match since a fourth-round defeat by Alison Riske at Wimbledon. The Australian, 23, forced a first set tie-break from 5-3 down but Kenin took the second with three breaks of serve. Read more
Thorbjorn Olesen: Ryder Cup winner charged with sexual assault (BBC)
Ryder Cup winner Thorbjorn Olesen will appear in court on 21 August after being charged with sexual assault, being drunk on an aircraft and common assault. The Dane was arrested on 29 July after returning from the WGC St Jude Invitational on a flight from Nashville to London. Police were waiting for the 29-year-old when the aircraft landed at Heathrow. Read more