Senator Osinowo’s death should not deter us in defeating COVID-19, says Sanwo-Olu (DailyTrust)
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has expressed sadness over the sudden death of Senator Sikiru Adebayo Osinowo, representing Lagos East Senatorial District at the Upper Legislative Chamber of the National Assembly. Sanwo-Olu in a condolence message, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile described Senator Osinowo’s death as a rude shock. Lagos seals 22 buildings, threatens to seal more without planning permit Disquiet in Lagos APC as Tinubu dissolves ‘all political groups’ The governor said his death came at a time the government was consolidating on the successes recorded in the fight against COVID-19. The statement led credence to earlier report that the Senator might have died of COVID-19. Read more
Two men bag 42 years jail term for robbery (Vanguard)
Justice Adedayo Akintoye of an Igbosere High Court in Lagos on Monday sentenced two men, Kingsley Baba and Bashiru Musa to 21 years in prison each, for robbery.
The duo were charged by the Lagos State Government on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and armed robbery.
Delivering judgment during the virtual court proceedings, the judge found the defendants guilty as charged.
Justice Akintoye said that the evidences given by three prosecution witnesses established that a robbery was actually committed on Dec. 8, 2015. Read more
Multi-million naira fraud rocks Lagos waste agency (Punch)
Fraud running into hundreds of millions of naira has been reportedly uncovered in the Lagos State Waste Management Authority.
It was gathered that the beneficiaries were some contractors, who engaged street sweepers for the cleaning of Lagos roads.
It was learnt that due to the connection of some of the culprits, who are mostly politicians, there was fear nothing would be done about the discovery.
A former Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, was said to have been removed as storms gathered on allegations of fraud in the system. Read more
Alleged armed robbery: Nine years later court discharges five men for lack of evidence (Vanguard)
An Ikeja High Court on Monday discharged five men who have been incarcerated in the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre for nine-years for armed robbery due to lack of evidence.
Delivering judgment, Justice Adenike Coker, discharged Ramon Ganiyu, Alex Azubuike, Yusuf Maboreje, Sanya Adetunji and Akeem Akintoye of the 15-count charge filed against them by the state.
Freeing the defendants, the judge noted that the office of the Lagos Sate Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) had issued a Notice of Discontinuance due to non-viability of the case. Read more
Lagos woman allegedly assaulted by expatriate lovers cries for help (Punch)
A mother of two, Victoria Marcus, who was allegedly assaulted by her German neighbour, Knoop Jens, has called on the federal and Lagos State governments to come to her aid as her life is no longer safe.
It was gathered that Jens and his lover, Ehehiye Marayah, had on December 16, 2018, attacked Marcus and stabbed her in her left palm after she complained about a contribution in their estate in the Apapa area of the state.
PUNCH Metro learnt that after Victoria reported the incident at the Trinity Police Station, the lovers were charged but the matter was stalled due to the lockdown imposed on the state by the Federal Government as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more
Oyo reopens schools for final year students (DailyTrust)
The Oyo State COVID-19 Task Force, on Monday, announced the resumption of classes for Primary Six pupils as well as Junior Secondary School III and Senior Secondary School III students from June 29.
The Chairman of the task force, Gov. Seyi Makinde also announced the relaxation of the curfew imposed on the state, following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. The curfew will now run from 10 pm. to 4 am. as against the earlier period of 8 pm. to 5 am.
“The schools are to observe the COVID-19 protocols as released by the taskforce; schools are to provide hand washing points, with the support of Parent/Teachers’ Associations (PTA), while all students are to compulsorily wear face masks. Read more
FG declares N1.689b as public support donations for COVID-19 (Guardian)
Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) has declared that the public sector raised N1.689b for the months of April and May 2020 to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
It said the money had been kept in designated banks, the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris, explained that the amount represented donations and support from the government and development partners for April and May. Read more
Naira Marley Abuja Concert: FG suspends airline, pilot (DailyTrust) The Federal Government has announced the indefinite suspension of the ExecuJet, the flight company that conveyed controversial Nigerian singer, Naira Marley, on Saturday, to perform at a concert in Abuja despite the interstate travel ban and social distancing rules aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19.
The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, said this on Monday in Abuja at the 43rd joint national briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.
He said the government took that action as the company supplied false information to get approval. According to him, the company will also be fined, the Flight Captain will also be sanctioned for providing false information. Read more
Black Lives Matter activist found dead one week after she went missing (CNN)
A 19-year-old Black Lives Matter activist from Florida has been found dead one week after she went missing.
Tallahassee police found the bodies of Oluwatoyin “Toyin” Salau, along with 75-year-old Victoria Sims, on Saturday. Their deaths are being investigated as homicides.
Police arrested a suspect, Aaron Glee, 49, the Tallahassee Police Department said.
Salau was last seen on June 6. Earlier that day, she’d tweeted that she was sexually assaulted. Her friend Chynna Carney confirmed the Twitter account belonged to Salau. Read more
Primark worker describes first day of reopening as ‘hell’ (Metro)
A staff member at Primark says she is concerned about how social distancing will work in practice, as it relies on customers following the rules.
The employee, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: ‘I’m not working today thank god. The manager has said it’s already been hell. ‘People were queuing from 3am. I know the people nearer the front camped out all night and apparently there’s already been near fights. ‘We have no new stock yet but that’ll come. It’s just how we left it before lockdown. Across the country, there have been long queues on high streets as people wait to get inside shops reopening for the first time since March. Read more
Voice of America top directors resign amid Trump clash (DW)
The top two directors at Voice of America have resigned as President Donald Trump’s appointee takes charge of the organization overseeing VOA, sparking fears about the independence of the government-funded media outlet.
Voice of America (VOA) director Amanda Bennett and her deputy Sandra Sugawara jointly quit on Monday following sharp criticism from President Donald Trump and the confirmation of his ally, Michael Pack, as the new head of the organization which oversees the US media outlet.
The state-funded broadcaster is directed at audiences outside the US and produces news in 47 languages. Read more
North Korea threatens to send army into demilitarised border zone (BBC)
North Korea’s army has warned it is ready to enter the demilitarised zone dividing the two Koreas.
The threat is partly in response to defector groups in the South sending propaganda material north.
Over the weekend, Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, said she’d ordered the army to prepare for the step.
And the military now says it is ready to “turn the front line into a fortress and heighten military vigilance”. Read more
Trudeau promises to extend Canada emergency relief benefit (CBC)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Sunday that the federal government will extend the Canada emergency response benefit (CERB), with details to follow in the days ahead.
The CERB is due to run out soon for people who have been on the benefit since it was first launched in April, at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
People can only claim the benefit for 16 weeks — four eligibility periods — and the end of the program’s fourth eligibility period is early July. Read more
NYPD disbands controversial plainclothes ‘anti-crime’ unit (RT)
The New York Police Department has liquidated its anti-crime unit, reassigning some 600 plainclothes cops to neighbourhood policing and detective work as protesters nationwide demand reforms in the wake of the George Floyd killing.
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea announced the disbanding of the unit in a press conference on Monday, calling it “a seismic shift in the culture of how the NYPD polices this great city.” Heralding the move as “closing one of the last chapters of ‘Stop, Question and Frisk’” – the controversial policing tactic beloved by ex-Mayor Michael Bloomberg and criticized by civil rights groups for its wildly disproportionate targeting of black men – Shea suggested it was time for the force to “move forward.” Read more
Brad Pitt gives $1m to fight racism (MSN)
Just a few days after Jennifer Aniston made a $1 million donation to Color of Change, an anti-racism organization, her ex-husband Brad Pitt has reportedly matched it.
“Brad is really involved with the charity because of Jen and said he would match her donation,” a source told The Mirror. “He went to the protests this week and was at her home the day after.
They are both very passionate and want to help as much as they can.”
Color of Change is aimed at helping advance the causes of black communities and “ending the injustices black people face.” Read more
Awoniyi regains consciousness after collision with Uduokhai (DailyTrust)
Mainz 05 striker, Taiwo Awoniyi Mainz manager Achim Beierlorzer has revealed Taiwo Awoniyi has regained consciousness in hospital following a nasty head collision with Felix Uduokhai.
The Nigeria youth international was forced off in the 23rd minute and was replaced by Karim Onisiwo in his side’s 1-0 loss to Augsburg in Sunday’s Bundesliga game at Opel Arena. Beierlorzer confirmed the 22-year-old forward suffered a severe concussion but has recovered from the problem.
“We have received the all-clear from the doctors. He has regained consciousness and can remember the things that happened,” Beierlorzer was quoted as saying by AFP. Read more
Moses Simon signs permanent deal with Nantes (BBC)
FC Nantes took up their option on Monday to sign Nigeria international Moses Simon on a four-year deal after he impressed while on loan at the French club.
Simon, 24, scored nine goals and provided eight assists in 30 games for Nantes after joining on a year-long loan from Spanish side Levante.
The club’s website has described Moses as “quick and very strong technically” and “a real offensive solution” for Nantes coach Christian Gourcuff. Read more
Borussia Dortmund move a step closer to a women’s team (DW)
Borussia Dortmund are the largest European men’s club without a women’s football team. After pressure from fans on the terraces and Germany’s captain expressing her interest, the club have moved toward change.
It was easy to miss unless you’re a Borussia Dortmund member, but the club took a significant step toward the formation of a women’s team last week with the release of a comprehensive survey on the issue. Read more
Black Lives Matter: Premier League wants to be on right side of history, says Ian Wright (BBC)
Premier League players wearing ‘Black Lives Matter’ on their shirts shows the league wants to be on the right side of history, says Ian Wright.
Players’ names will be replaced on the back of their shirts with ‘Black Lives Matter’ for the first 12 matches of the restarted season.
A Black Lives Matter badge will feature on all playing shirts for the rest of the season. Read more
FIFA issues plea for ‘tolerance’ after Trump’s threat to SNUB football over anthem row (RT)
FIFA has responded to a threat to boycott US football matches by President Donald Trump, urging the world to “say no to racism and violence” after the latest row over athletes who take a knee during the American national anthem.
Trump tweeted that he would stop following US soccer after learning that a policy requiring players to stand during the national anthem had been dropped, insisting: “I won’t be watching anymore!”
He then renewed his persistent criticism of high-profile stars who make the symbolic move in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, retweeting a claim by Florida Republican Matt Gaetz that the country would be better off without a team than one refusing to stand for the anthem. Read more
Frank Warren confirms Tyson Fury has offer to fight Mike Tyson (Metro)
Frank Warren has confirmed Tyson Fury has received an offer to face Mike Tyson in the ring, but reiterated he is against the idea of ‘Iron Mike’ fighting again.
Tyson has teased the prospect of a comeback for months and WBC and lineal champion Fury added significant fuel to the fire when he revealed he said yes to an offer to take on his idol in a charity fight.
Warren, who co-promotes Fury with Top Rank boss Bob Arum, insisted he will not be involved in any promotion of a clash between Fury and Tyson. ‘The offer Tyson has was given to him,’ Warren told Metro.co.uk. Read more