Tinubu my in-law, not qualified for presidency – TeeMac (Punch)
Veteran flutist, Tee Mac, has advised Nigerians against the choice of All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, to succeed the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
Born Omatshola Iseli, the artiste who claimed Tinubu is his in-law, explained that it was important for Nigerians to reflect deeply and consider their choice of next president.
The flutist alleged that the former Lagos State governor was not qualified to be Nigeria’s president, and argued that there was so much about Tinubu that was shrouded in secrecy.
Reacting in a comment section of a writer, Yemi Olakitan, on Facebook, who had declared his support for the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, the flutist said it was important for an “intelligent person” to interrogate Tinubu’s candidacy. Read more
2 suspected policemen arrested for withdrawing N1.350m through POS, stealing $5k from auto spare parts dealer in Lagos (Vanguard)
Two suspected criminals that posed as police officers from Force Investigation Bureau, FIB, and Special Tactical Squad, STS, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja have been arrested by the police in Lagos for breaking into the home of two young men, brutalizing them and using Point of Sale, POS, to withdraw about N1.350 million from their account.
They also allegedly seized $5000 found in their home and destroyed their properties while posing as officers of the law.
The victims, Fatai Showumi Shina, 20, a spare parts dealer and Samuel Toyosi, 25, said the suspects invaded their home at No. 15, Oseyintola Street, Ifako-Ijaiye in Agege, Lagos around 11.30pm on July 15th, 2022 with seven heavily armed men dressed in jackets inscribed with the letter FIB-STS and began to beat them claiming that they came to investigate the youths for kidnapping.
According to the victims, immediately the men, some of them who were in mufti, were made to enter the apartment, they started slapping and kicking us for keeping them outside for a long time. They later identified themselves as Police officers from the Force Headquarters on Investigation and therefore, wished to search the apartment. Read more
Police probe alleged suicide of Canada university graduate in Lagos (Nation)
Did 23-year-old Chinonso Anene, a graduate of Business Administration from York University, Canada, kill himself?Where and how did he get the gun he allegedly used to shoot himself dead? What could have prompted him to do it?
Above and many more are posers operatives of the Lagos Police Command are trying to resolve.
Anene, The Nation, gathered and shot himself dead around 8:30pm on Wednesday, July 27 at his 9, Emmanuel Court, Olusegun Aina Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi apartment.
It was learnt that the deceased locked himself inside before firing the gun and it was the sound that attracted neighbours who alerted the estate’s Chief Security Officer (CSO). Read more
Abuja policemen invade Lagos house, rob bizman, brother (Punch)
A businessman, Fatai Sowunmi, has accused men of the Force Intelligence Bureau Special Tactical Squad, Abuja, of stealing $5,000 from him.
His brother, Ibrahim, also claimed that the policemen stole his Automated Teller Machine card and withdrew N1.3m from his bank account.
Fatai, who spoke to PUNCH Metro on Wednesday, said the policemen broke into his house last Friday on Oseyintola Street, Ifako-Ijaiye, Agege, Lagos State.
He said he was at home with his wife and younger brother, who was on a visit, when the cops ransacked the house while accusing him of being a kidnapper. Read more
2023: Lagos university students urged to participate in nation building (DailyTrust)
University students in Lagos State have been asked to join hands with the government in building a new Nigeria as the forthcoming 2023 general elections draw near.
The Lagos State Government took its ongoing residents’ sensitization programme on Permanent Voters Card (PVC) registration and collection to the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo and Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), Ijanikin.
The Special Adviser to governor Sanwo-Olu on Education, Mr Tokunbo Wahab who led top government officials to LASU to sensitize the students stressed the need for more students’ participation in the electoral process while he tasked them with nation-building.
According to him, youths/students represent about 53.5prcent of the total population of Nigeria, and as such, they should be carried along and given adequate orientation and enlightenment on leadership roles and the need to participate in the electoral process. Read more
Buhari presides over National Security Council meeting (Sun)
President Muhammadu Buhari is currently presiding over the National Security Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
In attendance at the meeting held at the Council Chambers are Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Boss Mustapha; the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (retd).
Also in attendance are the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema; Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi; Minister of Defense, Major General Bashir Magashi (Rtd).
Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao; and the Chief of Defense Intelligence, Major General Samuel Adebayo, are also in attendance. Read more
ASUU Strike: University lecturer hawks potatoes to survive (Independent)
A lecturer in the Department of Development Communication, in the recently created Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, University of Uyo, Christiana Chundung Pam has begun the sales of Potatoes for survival.
The Assistant Lecturer employed a year ago said she would continue her new business for the next five years if that would be her sacrifice for the nation’s educational system to function effectively.
Speaking with our correspondent who spotted the Lecturer showcasing her potatoes at Akpan Andem market, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Thursday, Pam said she took up the trade as a last resort to sustain her existence.
Miss Pam who sells both in the market and around town, explained that she had a few months into the strike joined her retiree parents in farm work, with the hope to resume work as soon as possible. Read more
Court jails Minna undergraduate for 12 months for cheating, impersonation in Kwara (ThisDay)
A Kwara State High Court in Ilorin has convicted a 23-year-old student of the Federal University of Technology (FUT Minna), Niger State, Mohammed Bello, over offences bordering on cheating by impersonation.
The Ilorin zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Bello on a two-count charge that bordered on impersonation.
Bello, who claimed to hail from Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State, allegedly posed as a white female with the intent to defraud unsuspecting victims.
The EFCC, while acting on credible intelligence, arrested Bello alongside other suspected fraudsters at Agric Estate, Sango area of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. Read more
FG okays lease of three Airbus, Boeing aircraft for Nigeria Air (Guardian)
The Federal Government, yesterday, approved the lease of three Airbus and Boeing aircraft to commence domestic operations. The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who disclosed this at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, told reporters that the new airline, already christened Nigeria Air, would take off soon.
The carrier earlier scaled the Air Transport Licence (ATL) hurdle and got approval to run for a period of five years, starting from June 3, 2022 till June 2, 2027.
Sirika disclosed that the airline would begin with domestic routes and then expand to regional and continental operations. On the likely date for commencement of operations, Sirika said: “We will announce commencement soon.” Read more
Ashton Kutcher says ‘nobody wanted to hang out’ with him when he was on ‘Punk’d’ (PageSix)
It looks like we won’t be seeing Ashton Kutcher resuming hosting duties on “Punk’d” anytime soon.
Kutcher co-created and hosted the hit MTV prank show from 2003 to 2012, which often saw the biggest celebs like Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé, get pranked by Kutcher and his co-hosts.
Speaking about his stint on the show, Kutcher told former “Bachelorette” star Rachel Lindsay, who was reporting for ExtraTV at the “Vengeance” premiere on Monday, that he would never return to the show because it was far too lonely for him.
“For a long time, I would go out and like nobody would want to hang out,” the 44-year-old actor and entrepreneur said.
“They were like, ‘I am not messing with him.’ It’s nice to have friends.” Read more
George R.R. Martin misses ‘House Of The Dragon’ premiere after testing positive for Covid-19 (NME)
George R.R. Martin missed the premiere for Game Of Thrones spin-off House Of The Dragon after testing positive for Covid-19.
The author confirmed he wouldn’t be attending the Los Angeles premiere on Wednesday (July 27) in a short video, after testing positive for the virus following his appearance at San Diego Comic-Con.
“My symptoms are minor,” Martin said. “I have some sniffles, I cough once in a while. I’m being well taken care of. I’m taking the drugs and I should be good.”
HBO chief content officer Casey Bloys addressed Martin’s absence at the premiere (via Variety), saying: “I was going to start today by introducing George R.R. Martin and tell you how great it is to have George on the journey with us. Unfortunately, George got Covid at Comic-Con, so he’s not here. I think he’s feeling fine, so nothing to worry about.” Read more
Universal releases brief teaser for Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ (THR)
Universal has released a brief teaser for its upcoming Christopher Nolan movie Oppenheimer, in which Cillian Murphy plays J. Robert Oppenheimer, one of the fathers of the atomic bomb.
The preview, just a few seconds long, dropped early Thursday on Universal’s social media channels and was playing on a loop.
Amid a ticking clock, shown on screen, and images of a fiery explosion, various characters’ voices are heard.
“The world is changing, reforming. This is your moment,” a voiceover says at the beginning. Later, as Murphy’s character is shown adjusting his hat standing in front of a window and then walking down a hallway, a voiceover intones, “You gave them the power to destroy themselves and made him the most important man that ever lived.” Read more
‘Fortress’ star Kelly Greyson joins cast of Frank Grillo-starring action thriller ‘MR-9’ (Deadline)
Fortress star Kelly Greyson has joined the cast of MR-9, the Frank Grillo-starring spy action-thriller adapted from the James Bond-influenced Masud Rana novels.
Greyson will play Gia, lead henchwoman and mistress of villain Roman Ross, who is being played by Captain America star Grillo.
Greyson has just starred in Fortress and Fortress 2 alongside the likes of Bruce Willis and Chad Michael Murray. Past credits include Mike Burns’ Out of Death, in which she also co-starred with Willis, Guy Pearce-starring action thriller Disturbing the Peace and historical drama Alone yet Not Alone.
Deadline revealed MR-9 from writer-director Asif Akbar last month, with shooting kicking off in the U.S. and Bangladesh. Read more
Brian Eno releases new single and announces upcoming album (BelfastTelegraph)
Brian Eno has released a new single, There Were Bells, and announced an upcoming studio album.
The 74-year-old British musician and composer gained recognition for his unconventional approaches to contemporary music and his popularisation of the ambient music genre.
Eno’s new album, ForeverAndEverNoMore, is set for release in October and will see him sing vocals on the majority of tracks on an album for the first time since his 2005 release Another Day On Earth.
Throughout his career, which has spanned more than half a century, Eno has released more than 20 studio albums and worked with stars such as David Bowie and bands including Coldplay and U2. Read more
Rapper JayDaYoungan dead at 24 after being shot outside his home (People)
Rapper JayDaYoungan died in Louisiana after being shot outside of his home, police say.
The 24-year-old artist, born Javorius Scott, was killed in his hometown of Bogalusa on Wednesday evening, the Bogalusa Police Department announced on Facebook.
“On Wednesday, July 27th, 2022 at 5:50 pm the Bogalusa Police Department received a call of a shooting in the 600 block of Superior Avenue,” authorities announced. “Officers responded and found that one victim had been transported by POV to Our Lady of the Angels Emergency Room. Another victim, still on scene, was critically wounded and was treated on scene by EMS, then transported to OLA ER.”
Authorities added that a second shooting occurred around 7 p.m. in the 800 block of Marshall Richardson Road. At that scene, a car was shot, but those inside were not hit. As detectives investigate, it remains unclear if the two crimes are connected. Read More
Russia says ‘no agreements’ yet on swap for Brittney Griner, Paul Whelan (NYPost)
Russia said Thursday that no deal has been reached on any prisoner exchange with the US a day after reports emerged that Washington had proposed sending back notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout to secure the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that “so far there are no agreements in this area,” according to Reuters.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova indicated that President Biden and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, had discussed a swap prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.
“The issue of the mutual exchange of Russian and American citizens in detention on the territory of the two countries was at one time discussed by the presidents of Russia and the United States,” she said. Read more
Commonwealth Games : Ecstasy as Birmingham 2022 begins today (Nation)
Years of waiting and preparation come to an end today as the 22nd Commonwealth Games begin in Birmingham.
Regarded as the second-largest city in the UK with a population of approximately 4.3m, Birmingham is hosting what is set to be the most expensive sporting event in the UK since the 2012 Summer Olympics in London which cost £8.8 billion.
Meanwhile, Nigeria will be making her 15th appearance at the games since its debut in 1950 when Joshua Majekodunmi won the country’s first medal in the High Jump event in Auckland, New Zealand. In Birmingham, the 94-man contingent will be aiming to exceed the country’s best outing at the 1994 Games in Victoria, Canada where Team Nigeria amassed 11 gold,13 silver and 13 bronze medals.
Some 72 Commonwealth of nations will be competing in 20 sports while the opening ceremony today will take place at Alexander Stadium. Read more
50 Years After: NFF, Onigbinde, Nigerians extol Thunder Balogun (Sun)
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the death of Nigeria’s iconic footballer, Teslim ‘Thunder’ Balogun, friends, family, footballers and sports administrators gathered at the Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja yesterday to celebrate and immortalise the late legend.
Lekan Adegbite, the Minister of Mines and Steel, who was ably represented by Engr. Abayomi Oyegusi, chaired the programme.
Former Super Eagles coach, Chief Festus Onigbinde gave a lecture on ‘Teslim Thunder Balogun: The man, his career and his impact’.
“Teslim Balogun made me a coach,” Onigbinde began. “As far as I am concerned, he remains the greatest footballer Nigeria has ever produced. He had all the areas of fitness a footballer needed to excel in the field of play. Read more
Jurgen Klopp rules 2 Liverpool FC stars out of Man City match (MEN)
Diogo Jota and Alisson Becker will not feature against Manchester City in the Community Shield this weekend as they continue to recover from injuries.
The Liverpool duo have suffered issues in pre-season that have disrupted their preparations for the new campaign and Jurgen Klopp will not risk them in the traditional curtain-raiser on Saturday. While Alisson will be okay to take his place in goal for their opening Premier League game against Fulham, Jota faces a longer spell on the sidelines.
Pep Guardiola will give an update on the fitness in his City squad on Friday lunchtime ahead of the Saturday teatime encounter. Aymeric Laporte missed the pre-season tour with injury, Ruben Dias and Erling Haaland were left out of the first friendly as a precaution while three players trained with the Under-23s in Croatia instead.
City and Liverpool will renew a rivalry that went down to the final kick of the Premier League last season as the Blues came back from the dead against Aston Villa to secure a fourth title in five years. The Community Shield is often seen as more important as preparation for the league, but Klopp insists his team will be in Leicester to lift silverware. Read more
Everton sign Dwight McNeil in deal worth £20m plus add-ons (DailyMail)
Everton have signed Burnley winger Dwight McNeil in a deal worth £20million plus add-ons.
The 22-year-old is the Toffees’ third signing of the summer after ex-Burnley team-mate James Tarkowski and Portuguese defender Ruben Vinagre on loan.
McNeil underwent a medical on Wednesday night and signed a five-year deal with the club until June 2027.
McNeil has had no shortage of Premier League interest following the Clarets’ relegation to the Championship and Sportsmail understands he was wanted by the Toffees when Rafael Benitez was in charge. Read more
Vettel’s peers pay tribute to future F1 retiree (F1i)
Formula 1’s class of 2022 paid tribute to Sebastian Vettel following the Aston Martin driver’s decision to retire from the sport at the end of the year.
Thursday’s announcement, on the eve of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, was not entirely unexpected, but the news inspired many to pay homage to Grand Prix racing’s third most successful driver in its history.
First in line, Vettel’s former arch-rival Lewis Hamilton expressed his appreciation for having the opportunity to race against the former Red Bull and Ferrari driver.
“Seb, it’s been an honour to call you a competitor and an ever greater honour to call you my friend,” Hamilton wrote on social media. Read more
Davis Love III to seek out Tiger Woods for advice as he plans for the Presidents Cup (Eurosport)
Davis Love III has said he would like to involve Tiger Woods in some capacity in his Presidents Cup plans, provided his body allows it.
Woods missed the cut at the Open Championship earlier in July, and said he had no other appearances in mind in the short to medium term.
His caddie Joe LaCava suggested Woods would likely tee it up at the Hero World Challenge in December.
Woods has no chance of qualifying for the Presidents Cup given his lack of competitive action, but USA captain Love III would like to lean on the 15-time major winner provided his leg injury permits him to get on the course. Read more
Martinez completes transfer from Ajax to Man Utd in £56.7 million deal (Guardian)
Manchester United on Wednesday completed the signing of Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez from Ajax for a fee that could reach nearly £57 million.
The 24-year-old, who won two Eredivisie titles under new United boss Erik ten Hag in Amsterdam, has signed a contract until 2027 at Old Trafford, with the option of a further 12 months.
Ajax said they had agreed a transfer fee of 57.37 million euros ($58.2 million, £48.3 million) with United.
Including variables, that amount could increase to 67.37 million euros.
“It’s an honour to join this great football club,” the centre-back told United’s website.
“I’ve worked so hard to get to this moment and, now that I’m here, I’m going to push myself even further. Read more