Scores narrowly escape death as another building collapses in Lagos (Vanguard)
Tragedy occurred in Lagos again in the early hours on Thursday, when a storey building at No 3 Sadiku Street, Alaggba, Iyana Ipaja, suddenly collapsed during a heavy downpour leaving scores injured in the process.
The incident came barely 24 hours after a similar incident occurred at Ogudu area of the state on Wednesday, in which two teenagers, a girl and a boy lost their lives when a building collapsed on them.
The ill-fated storey building which collapsed partially on Thursday consisted of 8 rooms, 23 shops and 1store.
The prompt intervention by the emergency responders to scene saved some injured occupants who were a later taken hospital for treatment. Read more
Insecurity: Your best not enough, Buhari tells security heads (Vanguard)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday told heads of security agencies including the service chiefs that he will no longer tolerate the worsening security situation in the country.
President Buhari at the meeting with the security heads told them that their best was not good enough and charged them to redouble efforts to ensure that all the security challenges in the country were tackled headlong.
Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, the National Security Adviser, NSA, Major General Babagana retd, said, “Mr. President has expressed great concern over the declining security situation in the country. Read more
Why we are yet to clear bandits – Military (DailyTrust)
The Coordinator, Defence Media Operation, Major General John Enenche, has said avoiding collateral damage is a major constraint for the military, fighting bandits in the North West and North Central parts of the country. He spoke on Wednesday in Abuja, during an interactive session at a press briefing on the regular update of major military operations across the country. Buhari to Service Chiefs: Your best not good enough Service chiefs’ appointments must reflect federal character — Senate He said the bandits have a knowledge of armed conflict and international humanitarian Laws. He explained that they leverage on this, knowing the military can not fire on them when they mingle with the civilian populace. Read more
APC must collapse for Nigeria to have peace – Fayose (Punch)
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, says Thursday that the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress is a show of God’s anger against the governing party.
Fayose said the crisis was a price for the role the APC played in impoverishing Nigerians and promoting the rigging of elections, adding that things would get worse for the party.
The former governor spoke in a statement by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, said the APC had been treating Nigerians with contempt, said, “For Nigeria to return to the path of progress that it was before the APC took over power, more confusion will still hit the party till it goes into oblivion. Read more
Mob kills carpenter mistaken for robber in Ekiti (Nation)
An angry mob on Wednesday reportedly lynched a 45-year-old carpenter at Olujoda Area of Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
The Nation gathered that the father of three, was allegedly killed around 5pm when some youths in the area, who suspected him for a robber, descended on the deceased for roaming the streets in a suspicious manner.
An eyewitness told our correspondent the deceased, who was resident with her family at llawe road, Ado Ekiti metropolis was allegedly hit with deadly weapons making him to pass into coma before dying. Read more
Police record 42 rape cases in Kano (Guardian)
The Police Command in Kano State said it has recorded 42 rape cases in the state between January and May.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abdullahi Haruna, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Thursday in Kano.
Haruna disclosed that the command investigated 42 alleged rape cases within the period, adding that the suspects had been charged to courts in the state. Read more
Okada rider’ remanded for raping 6-year-old girl twice (Vanguard)
A 28-year-old commercial motorcycle operator (also known as Okada rider), Terver Awuha, of Idye community in Makurdi town has been remanded by a Chief Magistrate Court for allegedly raping 6-year-old Bella Omachi, twice.
Arraigning the suspect, the Police Prosecuting Officer, Sergeant Friday Kanshio told the court that the mother of the victim, Mr. Deborah Omachi had on June 5, reported the matter at the ‘B’ Division Police Station in Makurdi.
She reported that “on June 3, at about 7:30 pm, she sent her daughter to buy noddles from a neighborhood shop, and while on her way the accused allegedly stopped her and dragged her into his room and forcefully had sexual intercourse with her without her consent. Read more
Borno court jails woman 16 years for defrauding 194 widows (Punch)
A Borno State High Court has convicted a former court official in the state, Ramat Mohammed, alias Gaddafi, of N781,800 fraud and sentenced her to 16 years’ imprisonment.
The court, in a judgment on Tuesday by Justice Umaru Fadawu, said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission proved beyond reasonable doubts the fraud charges against Mohammed.
The anti-graft agency had in the two counts filed against the convict told the court that she obtained a total of N781,800 from 194 widows in a fake food scheme.
Mohammed was said to have, in the name of a non-governmental organisation, Action Against Hunger, sold fake Food Collection Cards to the 194 widows. Read more
Nigerian Journalist shines at international award (Nation)
Investigative journalist, ‘Fisayo Soyombo, a former editor of TheCable, on Thursday, got recognised at International Journalist of the Year award organised by the One World Media (OWM).
Soyombo made the finalist list through his undercover investigation on Nigeria’s criminal justice system, which highlighted the rot after spending two weeks in detention — five days in a police cell and eight as an inmate in Ikoyi Prison.
He reported from the moment of arrest by the police to release from prison. Read more
Burundi’s new president Ndayishimiye takes power in troubled nation (Guardian)
Burundi’s new president, Evariste Ndayishimiye, took the oath of office at a colourful ceremony in the capital on Thursday, assuming the helm of a troubled nation after the sudden death of his predecessor.
Elected in May in a vote disputed by the opposition, Ndayishimiye was meant to take office in August, but his inauguration was brought forward after outgoing president Pierre Nkurunziza died from what authorities say was heart failure.
In his oath Ndayishimiye, 52, pledged to “devote all my force to defending the superior interests of the nation and ensure the national unity and cohesion of the Burundian people, peace and social justice.” Read more
Sudan says talks on Ethiopia’s Nile dam did not produce deal (AlJazeera)
The latest round of talks among three key Nile River Basin countries failed to resolve a contentious dispute over construction of a giant $4.6bn hydroelectric dam in Ethiopia, Sudan’s irrigation minister said Wednesday.
Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan resumed negotiations on June 9 via video conference after months of deadlock.
Officials from the US, EU and South Africa, the current chairman of the African Union, attended the talks as observers. Read more
Judge rejects plea deal for Idaho woman accused of having sex with teenage boys (NYPost)
A plea deal agreed upon by an Idaho woman accused of having sex with teenage boys was reportedly rejected by a district judge on Wednesday.
Amanda Katherine Steele, 34, had struck up an agreement with prosecutors over the case stemming from her November 2019 arrest for allegedly sleeping with teens who would skip school to see her, East Idaho News reported.
The teens reportedly consented to the encounters. But Steele was charged under a state law that says 16- and 17-year-olds cannot consent to sexual relations with adults at least five years older in age, the report said. Read more
Dame Vera Lynn, beloved British singer, dead at 103 (CBC)
Dame Vera Lynn, the endearingly popular “Forces’ Sweetheart” who serenaded British troops abroad during the Second World War, has died at 103.
During the war and long after, Lynn got crowds singing, smiling and crying with sentimental favourites such as ‘We’ll Meet Again’, and ‘The White Cliffs of Dover’.
“The family are deeply saddened to announce the passing of one of Britain’s best-loved entertainers at the age of 103,” her family said in a statement. “Dame Vera Lynn, who lived in Ditchling, East Sussex, passed away earlier today, 18 June 2020, surrounded by her close family.” Read more
Iran test-fires newest anti-ship missile during Indian Ocean drills (RT)
The Iranian military has tested a new homebuilt anti-ship cruise missile, successfully hitting a naval target during drills in the Indian Ocean.
The new munitions are said to boast a range of at least 280km.
The large-scale drills, dubbed ‘Ramadan Martyrs,’ were held in the northern part of the Indian Ocean and in the Sea of Oman. Footage of the exercise, released by state media on Thursday, shows multiple cruise missiles launched from ground-based and ship-borne launchers.
The imagery also shows a missile scoring a solid hit on a floating dummy target. The targets are said to have been around 280km from the launchers. Read more
Supreme Court overturns Trump decision to rescind DACA, saving DREAMers for now (DailyBeast)
Chief Justice John Roberts joined the Supreme Court’s liberals to rebuke President Donald Trump’s decision to immediately rescind President Obama’s Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals programme, in a 5-4 decision.
In the ruling in Department of Homeland Security et al. v. Regents of the University of California et al., Roberts was joined by Justices Ginsburg, Breyer, and Kagan in full, and partially by Justice Sotomayor.
The chief justice wrote that the Trump administration can’t proceed with its move to kill the programme that protects more than 700,000 young immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children from deportation. Read more
Man fined for ‘provocative’ fart in front of police officers (Metro)
A man in Vienna has been fined nearly £500 for farting provocatively in front of police officers. Austrian police were forced to defend the penalty after the Österreich newspaper revealed the man had been punished for ‘offending public decency’ on June 5.
Officers argued that the offender was uncooperative and behaving provocatively with officers leading up to the incident.
They wrote on Twitter that the man had been sitting on a park bench before getting up, looking at them and letting go a ‘massive intestinal wind apparently with full intent’. Read more
US Open gets show on road to mixed response (BBC)
The US Tennis Association played its trump card at the very first opportunity.
At a news conference to confirm the US Open will go ahead in New York this summer, Serena Williams popped up on the screen to say she cannot wait to take part.
The six time champion, who has had the Flushing Meadows surface shipped to her home for practice, will be trying once again to tie Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.
Canadian Bianca Andreescu followed hours later with confirmation that she will defend her US Open title.
The USTA is hoping their confidence will rub off on others. Read more
Chelsea complete Timo Werner signing from RB Leipzig (Metro)
Chelsea have completed the signing of Timo Werner from RB Leipzig. The Germany international had appeared destined to join Liverpool and had spoken with Jurgen Klopp on several occasions.
The Premier League champions in waiting pulled out of the deal last month, however, leaving Chelsea in a position to swoop.
Werner’s excellent strike against Fortuna Dusseldorf on Wednesday night was his 26th Bundesliga goal of the season and gave Chelsea fans a taster of what they can come to expect. Read more
Aston Villa skipper Jack Grealish charged by police after allegedly fleeing scene of lockdown car smash (RT)
Manchester United summer target Jack Grealish has found himself in legal hot water after being charged by police for allegedly being involved in a collision with two parked cars during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Grealish, 24, appeared to disregard the United Kingdom’s lockdown laws in March after being pictured exiting an apartment just feet from the scene of an accident in which two unoccupied parked cars had been damaged.
Aston Villa’s creative talisman apologized for attending the gathering, which was hosted by former teammate Ross McCormack, and spoke of his embarrassment following the incident. Read more
Cristiano Ronaldo is planning MLS switch after leaving Juventus, reveals Nani (Metro)
Cristiano Ronaldo expects to end his playing career in America, his former Manchester United teammate Nani has revealed.
The 35-year-old is showing few signs of ever leaving his prime at current club Juventus, where he has scored 53 goals in 76 games since arriving from Real Madrid in 2018.
The Portuguese legend remains under contract in Turin until 2022 and Nani believes he will then make the move to MLS. Read more
UEFA relaxes financial fair play rules amid coronavirus crisis (DailyTrust)
UEFA has opted to temporarily soften its financial fair play (FFP) rules to help clubs impacted by the economic fall-out of the coronavirus crisis, European football’s governing body announced on Thursday.
FFP rules mean that, over a three-year period, clubs competing in European competition are not permitted to lose more than 30 million euros ($33.7m).
Stop interfering in Sanusi’s probe, CSO tells Ganduje Buhari to Service Chiefs: Your best not good enough However, given the damage done to the footballing economy by the interruption to the sport caused by the pandemic, UEFA has agreed to a loosening of the rules which, it says, “aim at addressing the actual problem which is revenue shortfall due to COVID-19 and not financial mismanagement”. Read more
Solskjaer praises campaigning Man Utd star Rashford (Guardian)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer heaped praise on Marcus Rashford for his work to help feed vulnerable families during the coronavirus crisis, saying it was more important than anything he would do on the pitch.
The Manchester United striker has helped raise around £20 million ($25 million) for charity and this week persuaded the British government to provide free school meal vouchers during the summer holidays.
Solskjaer, whose team return to action at Tottenham on Friday, said it had been “fantastic” to follow Rashford during the coronavirus lockdown. Read more