Tinubu reinstates Zabbey as HYPREP coordinator (Channels)
President Bola Tinubu has approved the reinstatement of Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, as the Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), Chief Ajuri Ngelale, on Monday, said the president reached the decision following a performance review of the HYPREP Project Coordinator and concluded that he is fit to discharge his functions following the regulations guiding the execution of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).
It said, “By the directive of the president, the reinstatement of the HYPREP Project Coordinator takes immediate effect.” Read more
Tribunal sacks House of Reps member (Leadership)
The National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal for Sokoto/Zamfara States sitting in Sokoto, on Monday, sacked a member of the House of Representatives representing Yabo/Shagari federal constituency of Sokote State, Umar Yusuf Yabo Danmaje.
The Tribunal further ordered Danmaje to pay a sum of N500,000 as damages to the petitioner as a cost of action instituted against his election at the Tribunal.
In a unanimous judgement read by the Tribunal chairman, Justice Ashu A. Ewah, the Court declared the election of Danmaje as member representing Yabo/Shagari federal constituency in the House of Representatives as null and void. Read more
Erelu to mark 50th coronation anniversary (Nation)
Preparations are in top gear to mark the 50th anniversary of the installation of Abiola Dosumu as the Erelu of Lagos.
It would be recalled that she was installed in 1974.
According to a statement signed by the revered traditional title holder and culture enthusiast, series of events have been lined up to mark the milestone from July 28 and would run for a year.
Edo Guber: Court dismisses Imansuangbon’s suit challenging Akpata’s candidature of LP (Sun)
The Federal High Court sitting in Benin, yesterday, dismissed a lawsuit filed by Kenneth Imasuagbon, challenging the candidature of the Labour Party (LP) gubernatorial candidate, Olumide Akpata, for the Edo State governorship election.
Besides, the court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit, adding that the suit lacked merit and was based on speculation.
The court further held that Imansuangbon failed to exhaust internal dispute resolution mechanisms within the Labour Party before seeking legal action, hence robs the Court of Jurisdiction.
It said Imansuangbon’s claim of Akpata not signing the Indemnity Form is statute-barred and therefore lacked Jurisdiction. Read more
Osinbajo celebrates wife’s 57th birthday with adorable photos (Punch)
Ex-vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has showered his wife, Dolapo, with lovely words as she celebrates her 57 birthday.
Osinbajo took to his Instagram page on Monday to wish his wife a lovely birthday.
Sharing photos Osinbajo said, “Happy Birthday, my love #dolapoosinbajo. Your love, kindness, and generosity make all our lives so much happier. Love you always. Read more
Court adjourns trial of Ali Bello, co-defendant for witness’ (DailyTrust)
A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, adjourned the trial of Ali Bello and his co-defendant, Dauda Suleiman, until Tuesday for the continuation of the 7th prosecution witness (PW-7)’s evidence.
Justice James Omotosho adjourned the matter after the EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, led Aminu Rabiu, who is the PW-7, in evidence in the ongoing trial of the defendants in the alleged money laundering charge.
The EFCC, in the charge, had sued Bello and Suleiman as 1st and 2nd defendants in the case. Read more
LG Autonomy: NASS will legislate to ensure INEC conduct local council’s election – Karimi (Vanguard)
Chairman, Senate Services Committee, Senator Sunday Karimi, APC, Kogi West has disclosed that the National Assembly would soon work on the transfer of the responsibility of the conduct of elections to the local councils from the various state electoral bodies to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Speaking with Journalists in Abuja yesterday on the landmark judgment on financial autonomy for local government areas pronounced by the Supreme Court on Thursday, Senator Karimi who noted that President Bola Tinubu deserves commendation on the judgement, urged Nigerians to keep faith that the National Assembly would ensure compliance by the various state governments while also taking up the responsibility of amending the constitution to address inherent contentious issues. Read more
Shettima: Nigeria needs to walk extra mile, to promote biotechnology (NewTelegraph)
Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima has said that for Nigeria to begin to reap the benefits of biotechnology, both the government and other stakeholders need to walk an extra mile, seeking a buy-in attitude.
Shettima said this on Monday in Abuja, at the opening ceremony of the ongoing International Conference on Biotechnology ( ICoB24) billed to last for 5 days, organized by the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency ( NBRDA) in partnership with both local and foreign organizations.
The VP who was represented by Dr. Aliyu Modibbo, a former FCT Minister, said the agencies working for the adoption of biotechnology in the country need to be more committed and also steadfast because biotechnology is an innovation. Read more
Natalie Portman clarifies Paul Mescal pub photos: “I’m in awe of his talent” (NME)
Natalie Portman has discussed photos where she was seen outside a pub with Paul Mescal.
The two stars were recently spotted enjoying cigarettes and having a laugh together in London, which went viral online and led to speculation they could be dating. However, the Oscar-winner has now set the record straight on their relationship, confirming that she and Mescal are just friends.
“I’m very in awe of his talent,” she told The Guardian in a new interview. Read more
The View’s Whoopi Goldberg admits she secretly scattered her mom’s ashes on a popular Disneyland ride (DailyMail)
Whoopi Goldberg has confessed to scattering her mother’s ashes in a very unusual location – but issued a warning to deter fans from following in her footsteps.
The View host, 68, who published a heartfelt memoir dedicated to mom Emma Harris in May, lost her mother in 2010 due to following complications of a stroke.
Whoopi often shares details about their close relationship – including how she ‘depended’ on her ‘remarkable’ mother and how the profound loss changed her life. Read more
Tim Robbins slams conspiracy theories linking his movie to Trump shooting (THR)
Tim Robbins is strongly condemning conspiracy theorists attempting to link his 1992 political drama Bob Roberts to the assassination attempt of Donald Trump.
Robbins wrote, directed and starred in the film, which chronicles the rise of a populist conservative politician running for a U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania. In the film, the fictional Roberts stages being shot by an assassin, and surviving, in order to boost public support and win the election. Some on X have suggested that Trump similarly staged Saturday’s assassination attempt in order to boost his poll numbers, just like in the film Bob Roberts. Read more
Robert Downey Jr. almost played a different Marvel character before Iron Man (Deadline)
Somewhere in the multiverse, Robert Downey Jr. is playing the villain.
After the Academy Award winner first suited up as Tony Stark in 2008’s Iron Man, director and co-star Jon Favreau revealed in a 15th anniversary retrospective of the inaugural MCU title that Downey Jr. also auditioned for Fantastic Four (2005).
“I remember you had all met with him already for like Doctor Doom or something on another project,” he recalled to Marvel boss Kevin Feige in the special. “I think he had come through on maybe Fantastic Four, so everybody sort of knew who he was.” Read more
Judge dismisses Donald Trump’s classified documents case (Independent)
The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s classified documents case involving the retention of government files at his Mar-a-Lago compound has dismissed the case.
Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed to the bench by Trump, has ruled that appointment of special counsel Jack Smith violated the Constitution.
“In the end, it seems the Executive’s growing comfort in appointing ‘regulatory’ special counsels in the more recent era has followed an ad hoc pattern with little judicial scrutiny,” Cannon wrote in an order on Monday. Read more
Matt Damon and family evacuated from Greek bar over bomb threat as owner reveals police warning (Mirror)
Matt Damon and his wife Luciana were enjoying a night out in Mykonos when a false bomb threat saw them evacuated from the beach bar they were socialising in by authorities
Matt Damon and his family were among holiday-goers who had to be evacuated from a bar following a bomb scare.
The Hollywood star is enjoying a lavish trip to Mykonos in Greece with his wife Luciana Barroso with the pair enjoying a Saturday night out when the Mykonos Police Sub-Directorate immediately acted on an anonymous email received at 11:00pm, which falsely claimed that explosive devices were in four beach bars across the popular holiday resort. Read more
6 firefighters have died battling a bushfire in South Africa (AfricaNews)
Six firefighters have died battling a bushfire in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa and another two are in a critical condition, emergency services said Monday.
Authorities said they suspect that Sunday’s fire may have been started by poachers trying to trap animals to kill.
Three firefighters died at the scene of the fire near the town of Boston, around 130 kilometers (80 miles) inland from the east coast city of Durban, emergency services spokesperson Roland Robertson said. He said another three firefighters were treated and put on ventilators, but they all died soon after being admitted to the hospital. Read more
Done deal: Nigerian forward signs first pro contract at West Ham (CompleteSports)
West Ham United Ladies have confirmed that Princess Ademiluyi has signed her first professional contract with the club.
Ademiluyi, who turned 18 on Sunday, signed a long-term contract with the Hammers.
The exciting forward joined the Hammers at the age of 12 and made her way through the West Ham United Foundation’s Player Pathway. Read more
Aruna among top seeds for Olympic draws (Punch)
Based on his current world ranking, Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna is expected to be drawn bye in the first round of the men’s singles event of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as the draws for the table tennis event approach.
Aruna and Egypt’s Omar Assar stand out as parts of the 16 top seeds who have qualified for this year’s event.
Aruna, who made history as the first African to reach the quarter-finals of the table tennis event at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016, currently holds the 19th world ranking, while Assar who is the second African to reach the quarter-finals is rated 22nd in the world. Read more
Gusau underlines importance of grassroots for football devt (Nation)
President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has declared that it is the responsibility of the current governors of the game in the country to do their very best to protect the game, and ensure its sustainability through necessary developmental projects that will eventually empower everyone in the game’s ecosystem.
On a visit to Osun State at the weekend, the NFF boss stated that the game of football is for all – men and women, young and old – and expressed delight that the Osun State Football Association led by Mr. Sola Fanawopo is promoting inclusivity with the upcoming Women’s League, and the Corporate Football League meant to promote the recreational side of the game. Read more
Argentina win record 16th Copa America in match marred by crowd chaos (AlJazeera)
Argentina have lifted their 16th Copa America title, with their biggest star Lionel Messi likely bidding farewell to international football.
The game in the US city of Miami, which was delayed by more than an hour after thousands of fans without tickets tried to enter the stadium, was a cagey affair for more than 90 minutes but opened up in the extra period on Sunday.
Lautaro Martinez, the tournament’s leading scorer, latched onto a precise through ball from Giovani Lo Celso before lifting his effort over advancing Colombia goalkeeper Camilo Vargas in the 112th minute to spark wild celebrations among Argentina fans. Read more
Chinese swimmers face increased testing before Paris (BBC)
Chinese swimmers taking part in the Olympic Games in Paris will be drug-tested twice as much as some other nations.
Doping authorities have come under pressure in recent months after it emerged 23 swimmers tested positive for a banned substance and were cleared to compete at the Tokyo Games.
Eleven of those swimmers – that tested positive for heart medication trimetazidine (TMZ) at a training camp seven months before the delayed Games in 2021 – have been chosen for Paris. Read more
General Babangida endorses IBB golf club’s International Golf Classic (Leadership)
Former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has thrown his weight behind the IBB International Golf and Country Club of Abuja for it’s decision to start an annual International Golf Classic, tagged ‘IBB Classic’ billed to be holding annually.
General Babangida announced his support for the event when he received the executive committee members of the club led by the captain, Ibrahim Babayo, at his hilltop residence in Minna, the Niger State Capital, over the weekend.
The Nigerian former leader commended the club for adding value to the country, saying such International meet will further put the country in the world map positively. Read more