Sanwo-Olu appoints six Perm Sec (Vanguard)
..Gboyega Akosile as Deputy Chief Press Secretary
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has approved the appointment of six new Permanent Secretaries in Lagos State Public Service with effect from June 1, 2019. This is contained in a statement issued by the State Head of Service, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola, on Thursday.
He listed the appointed Permanent Secretaries to include Dr Eniayewun Benjamin, Medical Director Lagos Island Maternity; Mr Erinle Olufolami, Principal Apapa Senior High School, Education District IV; and Mrs Oludara Okelola, Principal Babs Fafunwa Millenium Senior Grammar School, Education District VI. Read more
ITF to partner Lagos on job creation (Nation)
The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the Lagos State Government to create employment for the youth.
About 300 youths have been trained and graduated by the Fund in various trades to breed new generation of entrepreneurs under its National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP). They include catering and event management, tiling and aluminum fabrication. Read more
Court acquits man accused of rape by divorcee lover (Punch)
A 30-year-old divorcee, on Thursday, lost her bid to send her lover to jail for alleged rape as the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja discharged and acquitted the lover, Yusuf Quadri.
Justice Abiola Soladoye discharged and acquitted 26-year-old Quadri of the one count of rape preferred against him.
It was gathered that Quadri and the supposed victim were teachers at a school in the Ikotun area of the state. Read more
Kuwait embassy lifts orphans, widows in Jigawa (Nation)
The Kuwait Embassy in Nigeria has distributed foodstuff to orphans and widows in Dutse, the Jigawa state capital.
The items were distributed under Project of Ramadan Iftar (breaking of fast) by Kuwait Awqaf Public Foundation and Kuwait Embassy in Nigeria.
The assistance was channelled through the state chapter of the Union of African Muslim Scholars, Jigawa state chapter. Read more
Firearms: Reps urge Buhari to reverse gun licence directive (NewTelegraph)
The advice was given following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance brought at yesterday’s plenary by Hon. Nnenna Ukeje (Abia, PDP). Read more
NUPENG congratulates, tasks Buhari on insecurity (Guardian)
The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently address the prevailing security challenges in the country for socio-economic growth.
Congratulating the president and his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on their successful inauguration for a second term in office, the union’s national president, Williams Akporeha, pointed out that the menace was adversely affecting supply of both cash and food crops, resulting in rural-urban migration. Read more
Bauchi distributes foodstuff, clothings to 2,000 children (Nation)
The Bauchi State Government has distributed foodstuff and clothing materials to 2,000 orphans and children across the state.
Head of Monitoring and Evaluation of the Bauchi State Orphans and Vulnerable Children Agency (BASOVCA) Malam Rilwanu Maidawa, explained that the distribution of the items to the vulnerable children by the agency was an annual event. Read more
Appeal Court clears Adeleke of certificate forgery in Osun State guber polls (Guardian)
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has dismissed the ruling of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Bwari Area Council which nullified the candidacy of Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 22, 2018 Osun State governorship election.
Justice Emmanuel Agim, who read the judgment, held that the defendant’s West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate was not forged, adding that the testimony of the official from the organisation was also valid.He stated that the suit was statute-barred and that the judgment delivered in 209 days by Justice Othman Musa ran foul of the constitutionally stipulated 180 days for adjudication on pre-election matters. Read more
Trader docked for allegedly posing with stolen car on Facebook (Guardian)
A trader, Ekene Mbonu, yesterday appeared before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly buying a stolen car, valued at N3 million and flaunting it on Facebook as his own. Mbonu, 31, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing to which he pleaded not guilty.
According to the police prosecutor, Sgt. Michael Unah, Mbonu allegedly purchased a Toyota Camry 2008 with registration number, KSR 665 CB, worth N3 million, property of one Alex Ewuzie. The car was stolen by Ewuzie’s housekeeper, one Peter, now at large. Read more
Court orders reinstatement of suspended SEC DG (ThisDay)
The National Industrial Court, Abuja on Thursday ordered the immediate reinstatement of Mounir Gwarzo, the suspended Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), back to his position.
Justice Sanusi Kado, in his judgment, held that the Minister of finance, named as second defendant in the suit, lacked the power to suspend the claimant. Read more
NPFL playoff: Mfon Udoh says theres no pressure for goals (Vanguard)
Mfon Udoh, the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) all-time highest goal scorer with record 23 goals, finished top on the scorers chart this season with 10 goals but dismissed suggestions that he may be under increased pressure to score more during the NPFL Championship Playoff.
The playoff kicks off June 4 in Lagos with Udoh’s Akwa United competing with five others to determine the 2019 Champions after teams played in two groups of 12 teams. The top three in each group qualified for the playoff.
“I think I have the capabilities to score goals, which I am used to…. Read more
Nigeria 1-1 Ukraine: Flying Eagles zoom to knockout stage (Nation)
Employing their tried-and-true strategy of congesting the middle with three central defenders, Ukraine frustrated the Flying Eagles attack for much of the first half. Danylo Sikan headed home from close range in the 30th minute to give Ukraine a 1-0 lead. Read more
Lineker’s Plaudits for Iwobi after Historic Goal against Chelsea (ThisDay)
England legend Gary Lineker had nothing but praise for Alex Iwobi after he netted the pick of the goals in Arsenal’s 4-1 loss to Chelsea in the final of the Europa League on Wednesday night.
The Nigeria international was one of the few bright sparks as the Gunners threw away another chance to qualify for the Champions League, and several fans questioned the decision to name him on the bench, especially as German playmaker Mesut Ozil struggled during the game. Read more
Osaka survives as big daddy Djokovic and Serena stroll (DailyTrust)
Naomi Osaka staged a second successive Roland Garros great escape yesterday as fellow top seed Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams strolled into the last 32.
World No 1 Osaka, bidding to add the French Open to her US and Australian Open titles, came back from a set and 2-4 down to defeat former world No 1 Victoria Azarenka 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. Read more
Masai Ujiri’s big leap and the NBA’s African digital push (Guardian)
“If you don’t want to dream big, then there’s no dream at all.” – Masai Ujiri
This week the Toronto Raptors begin a historical attempt at winning the NBA Finals title at the expense of the Golden State Warriors. It is the first time in the 24-year history of the Canada-based franchise that they have reached the Finals. Last week the Raptors eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks 4-2 to win their first ever Eastern Conference Finals courtesy of the massive work of superstar forward Kawhi Leonard. He got the best of the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokoumpo who struggled to make an impact during four of the six games. Read more
LMC blames production cost for no live broadcast of NPFL matches (Guardian)
The League Management Company (LMC) has identified infrastructure deficit as a major reason the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) is not being broadcast on television.
Responding to the clamour by fans for matches to be seen on television from next season, LMC Chairman, Shehu Dikko said the absence of required infrastructure has made it expensive to produce NPFL matches for live broadcast on television. Read more
Court case won’t affect AFCON plans – NFF (NewTelegraph)
Nigeria Football Federation Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, has declared that the on-going corruption allegations levelled against some top shots of the body and their potential appearance in court on July 1 2019 will not affect their programme for the Africa Cup of Nations.
In spite of palpable worry and trepidation now hogging Nigerian football, after confirmation emerged on Wednesday that the NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, and four other top shots must appear in court to answer to the charges, Olajire insists the Super Eagles’ build-up to AFCON 2019 is still on course and will not be affected in any manner at all. Read more
Tyson Fury’s hilarious guide to Anthony Joshua and the heavyweight division (Mirror)
Tyson Fury has poked fun at his heavyweight rivals including branding Anthony Joshua a “weightlifter” in a hilarious guide to the division.
A clip filmed by BT Sport showed the Gypsy King given a number of photos of boxers and asked to give his first thoughts.
The exercise threw up some revealed and hilarious results – including the prediction that when Fury faces Joshua he will “jab his nut in”. Read more
Agali: Rohr’s AFCON experience will favour Eagles (NewTelegraph)
Former Nigeria international, Victor Agali, has given Super Eagles Head Coach, Gernot Rohr, a ‘vote of confidence’ to do a good job for Nigeria at the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
While many Nigerians are critical of the Eagles’ chances at the expanded tournament following the nation’s absence in the last two editions, Agali is of the view that the three-time champions will restore their pride stressing the German gaffer knows how to set up a winning squad. Read more
Champions League Final: African stars take centre stage (ThisDay)
The power of African football will be on display on Saturday, when Liverpool take on Tottenham Hotspur in the final of the UEFA Champions League (UCL), the world’s most prestigious club competition.
The match billed for Atletico Madrid’s 67,000-capacity Wanda Metropolitano Stadium and scheduled for live broadcast on all DStv packages as well as GOtv Max and Plus packages, will see Africa’s biggest soccer exports on both sides. Read more
FIFA U-20: Haland scores historic nine as Norway thrash Honduras 12-0 (NewTelegraph)
Erling Haland scored nine times to shatter the record for goals in a FIFA U-20 World Cup match and help Norway thrash Honduras 12-0 in the biggest victory in the competition’s history. He outranked Adailton, who scored six for Brazil in a 10-3 win over Korea Republic in 1997.
Haland’s first came in the seventh minute, and by half-time he already had four to his name. The pick of the bunch was when Tobias Borkeeiet found Haland with a looping through ball, and the hulking centre-forward did the rest. Read more
AFCON security beefed after Cairo explosion (Punch)
Confederation of African Football president Ahmad Ahmad said a special committee has been set up to deal with security concerns at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt next month.
At least 17 people were injured when an explosion hit a bus carrying mostly South African tourists in Cairo 10 days ago. The rudimentary device containing nails and pieces of metal detonated on the perimeter of the Grand Egyptian Museum. Read more