Robbers kill 2 Lagos Okada riders, steal motorcycles (Punch)
The families of two motorcyclists, Sheriff Sulaiman and Sanni Abubakar, have called on the Lagos State Police Command to track down the robbers who allegedly shot them dead around the Abule Ijesha and Yaba College of Technology Bus Stop areas of the state.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the victims were together at the Abule Ijesha Junction waiting for passengers when the assailants shot Sulaiman in the head.
Sulaiman’s relative, Abu Tairu, said the father of one died on the spot, adding that his corpse was transported to his hometown in Katsina, where he was buried.
He said, “I was at my shop when people came to inform me that armed robbers shot Sulaiman to death at Abule Ijesha Bus Stop. They shot him in the head and stole his motorcycle around 6am. When I got there, I saw his corpse on the road and blood was gushing out of his body. Read more
Commuters groan as auto crash compounds Lagos-Ibadan gridlock (Guardian)
A few seconds of madness by a truck driver on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, yesterday, cost motorists and commuters several hours of agony.
The driver of a truck fully loaded with granite, was heading towards Lagos, but suddenly made a detour near Kara and an unsuspecting tanker rammed into it.
An eyewitness, Emeka Mordi, said the intensity of the crash forced the engine of the tanker to drop and the tanker crossed the entire road, leading to a day of agony for motorists and commuters.
Mordi, who works on the Island, said he escaped by a whisker. Read more
Estate agent in court for alleged N15m fraud (Vanguard)
A 58-year-old Estate agent, Ahmed Abdullahi, on Wednesday appeared before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Tinubu, Lagos, for allegedly defrauding Instant Housing and Rental Apartment company of N15 million.
Abdullahi, whose address was not provided, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and stealing.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Ajaga Agboko, told the court that the defendant committed the offences with some others, still at large, on March 15 at Tokunbo Adesanya Close, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. Read more
UNILORIN student’s murder: Judge orders lawyer’s arrest for attacking court (Punch)
Justice Ibrahim Yusuf of the Kwara State High Court on Wednesday issued a bench warrant on Mr Sikiru Solagberu, the counsel for one of the eight accused persons facing trial in the murder of Blessing Olajide, a student of the University of Ilorin.
Olajide was raped and murdered in the Tanke area of Ilorin on June 2, 2021.
The eight accused persons being prosecuted on 11 counts are Abdulazeez Ismail, Ajala Oluwatimileyin (aka Jacklord), Oyeyemi Omogbolahan, Abdulkarim Shuaib (aka Easy), Kareem Rasheed (Rashworld), Abdullateef Abdulrahman, Daud Adebayo (aka Bashman), and Akande Taiye Oladoja.
The case, however, took a dramatic turn when the presiding judge ordered the police to arrest Adebayo’s lawyer, Solagberu, for making uncomplimentary remarks about the Tuesday proceedings on television and social media. Read more
NUC approves University of Medical Science in Ebonyi (Vanguard)
The National Universities Commission (NUC), has approved for academic activities the King David University of Medical Science in Ebonyi State.
The University, which was built under the administration of Engr. David Umahi is situated in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Governor David Umahi, had penultimate week, announced that academic activities would commence at the university, in September 2021.
According to a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation in Abakaliki, the Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof Abubakar Rasheed, gave the approval in Abuja, on Tuesday. Read more
IPOB cautions police, Imo govt against parading innocent youths (Guardian)
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused the police and the Imo State government of allegedly parading innocent youths as members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), insisting that the people being exhibited were not involved in ESN or IPOB activities.
It said the youths were being paraded based on trumped up charges in a bid to incriminate IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The group disclosed this yesterday in a statement signed by its media and publicity secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful.
The statement reads: “We, the IPOB, under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, have noted with great amusement, the desperation of the Imo State Commissioner of Police (CP), Abudu Yaro, in collaboration with Imo State government, to implicate the ESN and IPOB through trumped up and laughable allegations. Read more
Court jails widow, pleading for forgiveness, for killing ailing husband (Punch)
The Ondo State Magistrate’s Court sitting in Akure, the state capital, has sentenced a woman, Mrs Toyin Olusa, to one year imprisonment for causing the death of her husband, Mr Adeyinka Olusa, at the Ijoka area of the capital city.
PUNCH Metro has been following the case of the late Adeyinka, a former auditor at the School of Health Technology, Akure, who died at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, in 2017.
He was said to have had some marital issues with his wife of 23 years and later became ill.
In November 2017, the late Adeyinka collapsed at his house and his wife poured hot water on him, which caused severe burns on his body and aggravated his health condition. Read more
NIMASA commences issuance of new certificates for ship registration (Guardian)
To prevent the entry of unseaworthy and substandard ships into Nigeria, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on July 1 commenced the issuance of new certificates of registration while phasing out the old permits.
The Director-General of the Agency, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, explained that the introduction of the new registration was part of an effort to ensure that the Ship Registry complies with international standards. The certificates are being enhanced with more security features.
Jamoh stated: “We are restructuring the Nigerian Ship Registration Office to serve you more efficiently and effectively. We are determined to grow our national fleet and tonnage to an enviable height. Read more
PIB: Niger Deltans won’t accept three, five per cent -PFN (Vanguard)
The immediate past National Vice Chairman (South-South) of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Bishop Simeon Okah, has said the people of the Niger Delta region would not accept the three and five per cent approved by the National Assembly as Host Communities Development Trust Fund in the recently passed Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB.
Okah, who stated this while speaking to newsmen, frowned at the three and five per cent approved by the lawmakers, adding that the least percentage that should have been approved by the lawmakers would have been ten per cent in the interest of fairness, justice and unity of the country.
He warned Nigerian lawmakers to stop treating the people of the region as ‘beggars’ despite generating revenues the country currently survives on. He, however, commended the lawmakers for the passage of the bill but noted that the people of the region were angry with certain sections of the passed PIB. Read more
Jacob Zuma: South Africa’s former president hands himself over to police (BBC)
South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma has handed himself in to police to begin serving a jail sentence for contempt of court.
He travelled to a prison near to his home in KwaZulu-Natal province late on Wednesday, his foundation said.
Police had warned they were prepared to arrest the 79-year-old if he did not hand himself in by the end of the day.
Mr Zuma was given a 15-month jail term last week after he failed to attend a corruption inquiry. Read more
Huge explosion rocks Dubai as fireball seen shooting through sky (Metro)
A huge explosion rocked Dubai tonight as a fire tore through a container ship at the biggest port in the Middle East.
Locals said the blast shook windows, with a fireball seen shooting into the sky above Jebel Ali Port.
Emergency vehicles could be seen racing south of Dubai on the main road that leads to Abu Dhabi tonight.
The blaze is now said to be ‘under control’, with no deaths or injuries reported. Read more
Jovenel Moïse: Police kill four after Haiti’s president assassinated (BBC)
Four people suspected of assassinating Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse have been shot dead by the security forces, police say.
Two others have been detained, while officers are still in combat with some remaining suspects in the nation’s capital Port-au-Prince.
“They will be killed or captured,” police chief Leon Charles said.
Mr Moïse, 53, was fatally shot and his wife was injured when attackers stormed their home early on Wednesday. Read more
Robert Downey Jr pays tribute to ‘maverick’ dad Robert Downey Sr after his death aged 85 (Metro)
Robert Downey Jr has paid tribute to his father Robert Downey Sr after his death aged 85.
The filmmaker died in his sleep on Wednesday morning at home in New York, having battled Parkinson’s Disease for the last few years of his life.
His death was announced by his third wife Rosemary Rogers.
The Iron Man star shared a heartfelt message about Downey Sr., his namesake, describing him as a ‘maverick’ filmmaker. Read more
Nintendo unveils new Switch game console (Guardian)
Nintendo on Tuesday announced its updated Switch hand-held game console would be available in October, after a pandemic year in which gaming activity surged.
The new Switch OLED model will feature a larger, seven-inch screen and launch at a suggested price of $350 on October 8, the Japanese firm said in a statement.
The device will feature upgraded graphics and memory and include an adjustable stand to allow for play in “tabletop mode” with multiple players,
The new console “is a great option for players who want to experience the new vibrant screen when playing in handheld and tabletop mode,” said Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser. Read more
Halsey looks powerful cradling baby on golden throne for cover of new album (Metro)
Halsey revealed the striking artwork for their new album If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, and the star looked positively regal perched on a golden throne.
The singer, who is pregnant with their first child, released a special film of themselves wandering the empty rooms of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York which ended with them pulling off a red curtain to unveil the cover.
In the image the Without Me singer, in a giant, ornate crown, poses with a baby on their knee, the front of their blue gown open to reveal one of their breasts. Read more
Zambia’s first president Kaunda buried (Vanguard)
Zambia’s first president, Kenneth Kaunda, was on Wednesday buried after a 21-day mourning period, with President Edgar Lungu declaring April 28, his day of birth a National Holiday.
Kaunda, who was in office from 1964 to 1991, was buried at the Embassy Park, a burial place for the country’s presidents, in Lusaka, the country’s capital.
He died on June 17, at the age of 97.
The private burial ceremony was preceded by a church service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. Read more
Oduduru will run faster time at Tokyo Olympics, says Ogba (Guardian)
Former President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Solomon Ogba, has described as ‘heart warming’ the 20.38 seconds race by Divine Oduduru at Istvan Gyulai Memorial meeting in Budapest, Hungary.
Oduduru, who travelled from his base in the United States on Sunday, competed a few hours after arrival in Budapest. It was his first race since May 31 this year. In Budapest, the Nigeria’s 200m record holder looked to be coasting home after leading for all of 150m until South Africa’s Akani Simbine came from behind and ran past him to win the 200m race at 20.25 seconds. Oduduru was third in 20.38 seconds.
Ogba, who is the first vice president of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), commended Oduduru for the feat, saying: “I am very optimistic he (Oduduru) will run a faster time in Tokyo. This is his first race since May, and we are very impressed considering the fact that he travelled a long distance from the U.S. and competed soon on arrival. Let us not count our chicks before they are hatched, but I see Oduduru running better than he just did when we get to Tokyo. Oduduru lost to Simbine in Budapest because he suffered jet lag,” Ogba stated. Read more
Fasuba lauds new African sprints king Simbine (Punch)
Former African record holder Olusoji Fasuba has lauded Akani Simbine after the South African shattered the Nigerian’s 15-year men’s 100m African record on Tuesday.
Simbine ran 9.84secs to win at the World Athletics Continental Tour in Hungary, taking one hundredth seconds off Fasuba’s previous record of 9.85secs set in 2006 in Doha, Qatar.
Speaking with our correspondent, Fasuba said Simbine’s feat showed that sprints in Africa was moving forward after being stagnant for a long time.
He also said the South African, who has ran over 20 legal sub 10secs in his career, has the capabilities to run 9.7secs. Read more
England beat Denmark in extra time to book Euro 2020 final against Italy (BBC)
England’s 55-year wait to reach a major men’s final is over at last after victory against Denmark at Euro 2020, on a night of nerve-shredding tension then unconfined joy at Wembley.
Gareth Southgate’s side were on a mission to travel one step further than any England side had done since the 1966 World Cup final win against West Germany, and they finally achieved the long-cherished goal as they came from behind to triumph in extra time.
In front of 66,000 fans and in a frenzied, thunderous atmosphere this newer Wembley has not experienced before, England battled their way out of adversity to secure a meeting with Italy in the final at the same venue on Sunday (20:00 BST kick-off).
They had to fight for victory against steely opponents – who had an inspired keeper in Kasper Schmeichel – especially after conceding their first goal of the tournament to Mikkel Damsgaard’s stunning free-kick after 30 minutes. Read more
EURO 2020: Italy stalwart Bonucci describes Spain clash as toughest game of career (Vanguard)
Leonardo Bonucci described Italy’s Euro 2020 semi-final win against Spain as the “toughest game” of his career and urged his team-mates to complete the job by lifting the trophy.
The Azzurri beat Spain 4-2 on penalties in a gripping contest at Wembley on Tuesday that finished 1-1 at the end of extra time.
Alvaro Morata was introduced from the bench to cancel out Federico Chiesa’s brilliant opener 10 minutes from time, but the striker’s miss proved crucial in the shoot-out. Read more
Arsenal send message to Emile Smith Rowe as Aston Villa prepare third transfer bid (Metro)
Arsenal’s official Twitter account sent a clear message to Emile Smith Rowe by welcoming him ‘home’, amid mounting speculation surrounding the youngster’s future.
The England Under-21 international’s emergence last season represented one of the few sources of encouragement for Mikel Arteta, who became the first Arsenal manager in 25 years to fail to qualify for Europe.
Smith Rowe has just two years left to run on his current contract and although Arsenal remain confident he will eventually sign a new deal, ambitious Villa have sensed an opportunity. Read more
Fans outraged as Conor McGregor drags Dustin Poirier’s wife into UFC 264 feud (RT)
They say all is fair in love and war, and this is an assertion to which Conor McGregor appears to subscribe to after he posted a screengrab to social media showing a supposed direct message request from Dustin Poirier’s wife.
The seven-year rivalry between McGregor and Poirier will see its third chapter this weekend in Las Vegas and if January’s first rematch between the two warring lightweight standouts was marked by a trash-talk ceasefire then it appears that any such accord has run its course this time around.Just a day after McGregor posted a bizarre voice note to Poirier in which he said he was “coming for” him and referred to the Louisiana native as a “hillbilly”, McGregor fired another shot on social media after going public with the apparent message request sent to him on Instagram by Poirier’s wife, Jolie. Read more