Senator apologises for assaulting nursing mother (Punch)
The Senator representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, Senator Elisha Abbo on Wednesday apologised for assaulting a nursing mother. The senator, during a media briefing in Abuja, wept as he apologized to mothers, Nigerians, his party; the Peoples Democratic Party, the National Assembly, his family, the victim and her family as well as all people who were embarrassed by his conduct. He stated that he has never been known or associated with assault in the past. Read more
Lagos State releases N784m for pension payments (Guardian)
The Lagos State Government (LASG) has released N784,690 million to offset the Accrued Pension Rights (ACR) of its retirees. This is contained in a statement released by Mrs Ajoke Lawal, the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) spokesperson, on Wednesday in Lagos. She said the state government released funds every month to ensure the ACR gradually got cleared and said the last release of fund was for June and in respect of 266 retirees. Read more
Ruga suspension: Ohanaeze Ndigbo hails FG (Punch)
The apex Igbo cultural organization, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has commended the Federal Government for suspending the Ruga settlements project in the country. A statement by the President General of Ohanaeze, John Nnia Nwodo on Wednesday through his Special Adviser on Media, Emeka Attamah said it was a piece of heartwarming news. The statement said, “It is heartwarming to observe that for the first time the current leadership at the federal level has deferred to people’s opinion on public issues.” Read more
We’ve Nigerians interest at heart, says Army (Nation)
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, has stated that the personnel of the Nigerian Army have Nigerians’ interest at heart. He spoke Wednesday at the Primary Healthcare Centre, Rumuokwurusi-Port Harcourt in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, during the free medical outreach, which was part of the activities to mark this year’s Army Day celebration. Read more
Abacha loot: Apologise to Nigerians, Falana, HEDA tell Buhari (Punch)
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana and the Chairman, Human Environment Development Agenda, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju on Wednesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to apologise to Nigerians for saying in the past that the former Head of State, Late General Sani Abacha did not loot the country. They stated that with facts available and also given that Buhari’s administration has recovered part of the Abacha loot, it was necessary for Buhari to apologise to Nigerians for his statement. Read more
Minimum Wage: Lawan appeals to NLC over planned strike (Guardian)
The President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan on Wednesday appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)to shelve its proposed industrial action over alleged delay in implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage. Lawan made the appeal when the executives of the NLC and the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, (PASAN) led by Mr Ayuba Waba and Sunday Sabiyi paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja. Lawan called for further understanding and patriotism, adding that some states had started paying the agreed minimum wage. Read more
Ekiti ex-deputy Speaker escapes alleged assassination (Nation)
Suspected assailants on Tuesday night besieged the Erinjiyan-Ekiti residence of a former deputy speaker of Ekiti House of Assembly, Hon. Olusegun Adewumi in Ekiti West Local Government Area. The bandits, who forced their way into the residence around 2am, didn’t meet Adewumi who reportedly travelled to Canada with his family. It would be recalled some bandits had on March 30, 2013 attacked the former deputy speaker’s residence in Erinjiyan where his mother, Mrs. Juliana Adewumi and aides Mr. Ayo Jeje aka Murphy were murdered. Read more
How to solve Lagos’ traffic jam problem –FRSC boss (Punch)
Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, has advised the Lagos State Government to redouble efforts on its inter-modal system of transportation, as a solution to the gridlock in the state. Oyeyemi spoke on Wednesday while delivering the first distinguished lecture of the School of Transport, Lagos State University, Ojo. The theme of the lecture was, ‘Transportation and Road Safety Management: Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria,’ the News Agency of Nigeria has reported. Read more
Imo CP declares fleeing killer cop wanted (Nation)
Mr Rabiu Ladodo, the Commissioner of Police in Imo, has declared Insp. Okechukwu Nwanefi wanted for allegedly shooting 25-year-old Ikenna Ukachi to death in Umuokeh community, Obowo Local Government Area of the state. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the police inspector was alleged to have shot Ukachi dead at a popular restaurant in the area on Monday over a minor argument and fled the area. Ladodo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Owerri that the command had commenced a manhunt for the killer cop. Read more
Boeing to give $100 mn to 737 MAX crash victims’ families, communities (Guardian)
Boeing announced Wednesday it would give $100 million to communities and families affected by two crashes on its 737 MAX planes that claimed 346 lives. Describing the sum as an “initial investment” over multiple years, the company said it would work with local governments and non-profit organizations to provide “hardship and living expenses” and boost economic development in regions affected by crashes of planes operated by Ethiopian Airlines and Lion Air. Read more
Libya migrants: UN says attack could be war crime (BBC)
An attack which killed more than 44 migrants at a detention centre outside the Libyan capital could constitute a war crime, a UN official said. At least 130 people were injured in the attack, which the Libyan government blamed on an air strike by forces loyal to a warlord, General Khalifa Haftar. Gen Haftar’s forces accuse the government side of shelling the centre. Read more
Three accomplices given long sentences for Kenya university attack (Guardian)
A Nairobi court Wednesday sentenced three men to terms ranging from 41 years to life in prison for abetting the massacre of 148 people by Somali jihadists at Garissa University in northeast Kenya in 2015. Judge Francis Andayi said he considered the “helpless” nature of the victims — mostly students, rounded up at dawn on their campus by gunmen and shot point blank — when determining sentences for the trio. “In this attack, many lives were lost and members of the public left in a panic,” he told the conspirators, who were present in the courtroom as were family members of the victims. Read more
Four Vietnamese drug traffickers get death sentence (Punch)
Four Vietnamese people on Wednesday were sentenced to death and two others got jail terms of 18 years and 20 years respectively for trafficking over 3.4 kg of heroin. The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court passed the sentences on the six defendants, including three men and three women, who were members of a ring which transported heroin from northern Nam Dinh province to southern Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam News Agency reported on Wednesday. Read more
Stromboli: One dead as volcano erupts on Italian island (BBC)
A volcano has erupted on the Italian island of Stromboli, killing one person and sending frightened tourists fleeing. The victim is a male hiker who was hit by a falling stone, while other people were injured. The navy has been deployed for a possible mass evacuation, with 70 people already evacuated. The volcano is one of the most active on the planet and has been under a regular state of eruption since 1932. Read more
Meghan and Harry won’t reveal the identity of Archie’s godparents (Metro)
Meghan and Harry plan to keep the identity of baby Archie’s godparents a secret, it was revealed. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are planning a private christening this weekend in Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace confirmed. If you were waiting to find out who the godparents will be, however, you’ll be disappointed. Read more
Manslaughter charges dropped against shot pregnant mum (BBC)
An Alabama district attorney has dropped manslaughter charges against a pregnant woman whose unborn child died after she was shot in the stomach. Marshae Jones, 28, was allegedly shot by a co-worker while five months pregnant. She was charged after police alleged that she had started the fight, endangering the child’s life. “There are no winners in this case, only losers in the sad ordeal,” said prosecutor Lynneice Washington. Read more
R Kelly’s lawyers requests ex-wife Andrea be jailed for ‘breaking terms of their divorce’ (Metro)
R Kelly’s lawyers have requested the singer’s ex-wife Andrea be jailed and fined for ‘breaking a confidentiality agreement’ against him. In court documents filed Tuesday (2 July), Kelly’s lawyers have claimed that speaking out against the star was in breach of the agreement she signed amid their divorce battle in 2009. According to the papers, acquired by Chicago Sun Times, part of the agreement was that they were to not criticise each other in public, and his lawyers argue that not only has Andrea done that, but she’s earned a profit in the process. Read more
Netherlands beat Sweden to reach World Cup final (BBC)
The Netherlands reached their first Women’s World Cup final after Manchester United midfielder Jackie Groenen’s sweet extra-time strike settled their cagey semi-final against Sweden. The European champions will face holders the United States in Lyon on Sunday, after Jill Ellis’ side’s win over England. The 48,452 fans inside the Stade de Lyon had looked set to endure a nervy penalty shootout, before Groenen’s crisp low shot sunk the Swedes’ hopes of reaching their second final. Read more
Megan Rapinoe dismisses Donald Trump criticism: ‘He should have better things to do’ (Metro)
Megan Rapinoe has hit back at Donald Trump after the US President suggested the World Cup star had disrespected her country. The USA winger, who is a vocal figure in the LGBT community, dismissed the idea of attending the White House were her team to win the World Cup. The comments, made weeks before the tournament, sparked an angry response from President Trump, but Rapinoe insisted she would continue to speak her mind. Read more
Man City re-sign Angelino from PSV Eindhoven (Guardian)
Manchester City re-signed Spanish defender Angelino from PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday after the Premier League champions activated his £5.3 million buy-back clause Angelino left City last year but boss Pep Guardiola was impressed enough with his progress in the Netherlands to decide to bring him back to the Etihad Stadium. The 22-year-old, who has signed a four-year contract, will compete for City’s left-back role with Oleksandr Zinchenko and the often-injured Benjamin Mendy. Read more
15-year-old Cori Gauff continues Wimbledon winning run by seeing off Magdalena Rybarikova (Metro)
Teen tennis sensation Cori Gauff followed up her stunning Wimbledon win over Venus Williams with another straight sets victory, this time against Magdalena Rybarikova. Although the Slovak is ranked 95 places lower than Williams, she is a grass-court specialist and made the semi-finals of the Championship five years ago and was expected to provide another tough test. But Gauff, who also goes by the nickname ‘Coco’, once again showed her precocious talent and calmness under pressure in a ruthless performance, winning 6-3 6-3. Read more
John McEnroe says it will be ‘extremely tough’ for anyone to beat Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon (Metro)
John McEnroe believes it will be very hard for anyone to beat Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon this year as the world No.1 cruised into the third round after another dominant display. The reigning champion is yet to drop a set, seeing off Denis Kudla 6-3 6-2 6-2 on Wednesday evening, and will take on Hubert Hurkacz in the next round on Friday. Djokovic has won three of the last four Slams, only faltering at the French Open, and McEnroe says it will take a huge performance – or massive serve – to stop the Serb from adding another. Read more
Federer, Nadal and Djokovic on a ‘totally different level’ to Next Gen, says Henman (Metro)
Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are operating on a ‘totally different level’ to the younger generation hoping to replace them. That’s the view of former British No. 1 Tim Henman, who expects the ‘Big Three’ domination to continue at Wimbledon. The trio are already the top three men on the all-time Grand Slam leaderboard, holding a remarkable 53 majors between them, and have shared the last 10 Slams among themselves. Read more
Ricky Hatton backs Anthony Joshua to beat Andy Ruiz in rematch (Metro)
Ricky Hatton is backing Anthony Joshua to get revenge over Andy Ruiz in their rematch – if the beaten champion can shake off the mental scars of defeat. Ruiz shocked the world by stopping Joshua at Madison Square Garden and a host of boxing experts are backing the new champion to successfully defend his title. Joshua vs Ruiz 2 is expected to happen at the end of the year and Hatton delivered his prediction for the rematch. Read more