Tinubu signs tax reform bills into law (Tribune)
President Bola Tinubu has signed into law four tax reform bills on key areas of Nigeria’s fiscal and revenue framework.
Tinubu signed the bills at a ceremony held at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, at about 03:20pm local time on Thursday.
The four bills include: the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill. Read more
Court sentences Oluwatimileyin Ajayi to death for killing Salome Adaidu (Channels)
The High Court in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has sentenced Oluwatimileyin Ajayi, the suspected killer of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Salome Adaidu, to death by hanging.
Justice Simon Aboki, who handed down the judgment, found Ajayi guilty of killing and dismembering Adaidu.
He had been charged with one count of culpable homicide contrary to Section 221 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria and punishable by death. Read more
Demolition: Lagos follows due process, commissioner replies Obi (Punch)
The Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, said on Wednesday that the state government follows due process when tearing down any structure.
The commissioner made this known in a chat with The PUNCH when quizzed on the claims made by the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, on the demolition of his brother’s property in the Ikeja area of Lagos.
“We follow the law in Lagos State. No building can be removed without due process,” Omotoso said.
He asked to find out from his colleagues about the demolition and get back to our correspondent. Read more
Qatari firm, Ogun Govt differ over ‘multi-million-dollar factory’ (DailyTrust)
Controversy is brewing over a reported plan by a Qatari-based dairy industry, Baladna, to establish a multi-million dollar food factory in Ogun State.
Daily Trust reports that a statement circulated on Monday by Governor Dapo Abiodun’s media team hinted that the firm “is set to establish the multi-million dollar food factory” in the state.
The statement posted also shared on the government’s social media handles quoted the Head of Products and Solutions Architecture at Baladna, Mr. Aidan Thomas Iynan, to have disclosed this when he and other members of the company paid a courtesy visit to Abiodun, in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. Read more
Police rescue 46 victims in human trafficking, cyber fraud crackdown (Guardian)
The police have rescued 46 victims of human trafficking and arrested seven suspects linked to a sophisticated transnational crime network operating between Nigeria and Ghana, in two major operations.
The details of these operations was revealed in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the NPF, Muyiwa Adejobi.
The operation began with the rescue of 31 victims trafficked from Ghana to Nigeria under false promises of employment in Europe. Read more
Police arrest Ondo traditional ruler for abducting, sexually abusing minor (Sun)
The Ondo State Police Command on Thursday confirmed the arrest of one Chief Adeniyi Ifedayo over alleged abduction and sexual abuse of a 12-year-old girl in Laaagba community in Ondo East Local Government Area of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, Olayinka Ayanlade confirmed the monarch’s arrest.
Ifedayo, who is the traditional ruler (Baale) of the community, was said to have lured the teenage girl into his house in the community and harboured her in the house for two weeks, during which she was allegedly sexually abused. Read more
Pasuma fed me for 3 years after I had accident — Daddy Showkey (Leadership)
Famous Nigerian artiste and galala singer, John Asiemo, popularly known as Daddy Showkey, has revealed an untold story about how Fuji star, Wasiu Alabi, widely known as Pasuma Wonder fed him after an accident.
Daddy Showkey, during a recent live performance where they both shared the stage, praised Pasuma, telling everyone that cares to know how the Fuji star supported his family during a difficult time.
To the surprise of many, Daddy Showkey confessed that Pasuma fed his family for three years — a touching story the veteran singer had never shared with the public until now. Read more
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom split after nearly 10 years together (PageSix)
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom have called it quits after nearly 10 years together.
“Katy and Orlando have split but are amicable,” a source close to the pair told Us Weekly Wednesday.
“It’s not contentious at the moment. Katy is of course upset but is relieved to not have to go through another divorce, as that was the worst time in her life.” Read more
Allison Williams is married! Actress quietly weds Alexander Dreymon after dating for 6 years (People)
The Girls alum, 37, quietly tied the knot with fellow actor Alexander Dreymon, 42, PEOPLE confirms. The news comes shortly after Williams referred to Dreymon as her “husband” in an interview with The Guardian published in late June.
Williams and Dreymon met on the set of Horizon Line, where they played a couple who are faced with an impossible situation when their airline pilot suffers a fatal heart attack mid-flight. Their on-set chemistry translated off-screen, and they started dating at the end of 2019.
Allison Williams and Alexander Dreymon at the 2024 Met Gala.
Cindy Ord/MG24/Getty
In November 2021, the pair secretly welcomed a baby named Arlo via emergency C-section, though the news of their son wasn’t revealed until April 2022. Read more
Iran’s Khamenei claims U.S. strike didn’t cause major damage to nuclear facilities (Axios)
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei claimed in a video message published on Thursday that the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities had no major effect.
Why it matters: Khamenei’s video marked the first time he has been seen in a week. His absence has raised concerns about his health and whether he remains involved in Iran’s decision-making.
Khamenei is still believed to be hiding in the bunker, where he reportedly went amid fears of an assassination attempt from Israel at the start of the 12-day war between the two nations. Read more
US military officials say Iran’s facilities are ‘destroyed’ after strike (AlJazeera)
United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine have responded to a leaked intelligence report suggesting the military’s strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities likely put the country back by mere months.
In a Thursday morning news conference from the Pentagon, the two officials maintained that Iran’s nuclear programme had been destroyed, echoing President Donald Trump’s version of events.
But that contradicted a preliminary report, produced by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), saying the June 22 bombing campaign was a relatively minor setback for Iran’s nuclear capabilities, which could be restored within months. Read more
New warning issued to green card holders (Newsweek)
Green card holders have been warned that they could have their eligibility to stay in the United States revoked if they support terrorism or violence.
“Coming to America and receiving a visa or green card is a privilege. Our laws and values must be respected. If you advocate for violence, endorse or support terrorist activity, or encourage others to do so, you are no longer eligible to stay in the U.S.,” the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday.
The warning comes amid a crackdown on immigration by the Trump administration. President Donald Trump has vowed to remove millions of immigrants without legal status as part of a hard-line mass deportation policy. The White House has said that anyone living in the country illegally is a “criminal.” Read more
Japan arrests primary school teachers for sharing upskirt photos (BBC)
Police have arrested two primary school teachers in Japan for taking and sharing indecent images of young girls in a chat group with fellow teachers.
The two men, a 42-year-old teaching at a public school in Nagoya and a 37-year-old based in a public school in Yokohama, admitted taking some photographs and videos of girls below the age of 13, local police told the BBC.
The images – including so-called upskirt photographs – were then shared in the group of 10 primary and junior high school teachers, which was managed by one of the arrested. Read more
Bendel Insurance Appoints New Management Team (Leadership) Jarret Tenebe has been appointed as the new chairman of Bendel Insurance, a club in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
Tenebe succeeds Philip Shaibu, who has recently taken on the role of director general at the National Institute for Sports (NIS). The appointment was confirmed in a press release by Edoko Wilson Edoko, the media officer for the Edo State Sports Commission.
According to the statement, “This decision aligns with the broader objective to revamp Edo’s sports infrastructure in accordance with the vision of His Excellency, Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo.
“Bendel Insurance finished last season in fifth place, and we are confident that Emperor Tenebe’s extensive experience in football management will elevate the club to greater heights.” Read more
Give rest of ‘94 Eagles their houses, Amuneke tells FG (Punch)
Former Super Eagles winger Emmanuel Amuneke has called on the Federal Government to expedite the distribution of houses to the remaining members of the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations-winning squad, confirming that he received his allocation long ago.
“You mean the 1994 houses? I have received mine long ago,” he told The PUNCH.
“They should hand over to the others now. Let them do it.”
Amuneke’s comments come as the Federal Government continues to fulfil its three-decade-old promise of house allocations to members of the 1994 Super Eagles squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia. Read more
Cristiano Ronaldo to stay at Al Nassr until 2027 (Guardian)
Cristiano Ronaldo inked a two-year extension with Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, the club announced Thursday, following months of speculation over which team he would sign for next season.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is staying at @AlNassrFC until 2027,” the club wrote in a post on X.
Minutes before the official confirmation, the team posted a teaser video, with the 40-year-old Ronaldo walking along a beachfront and saying: “Al Nassr forever”. Read more
Ugly scenes as Inter beat River Plate to reach Club World Cup last 16 (BBC)
Inter Milan went through to the last 16 of the Club World Cup with victory over Argentine side River Plate, who finished their final Group E game with nine players and are out of the tournament.
The bad-tempered match at Lumen Field in Seattle ended with River Plate’s Marcos Acuna having to be restrained by team-mates and staff – including his captain Franco Armani and Inter manager Cristian Chivu – as he chased opposition winger Denzel Dumfries who was jogging off the pitch.
Fans threw objects at players as Dumfries was escorted down the tunnel. Read more
Danny Wolf’s brother goes viral for emotional reaction during NBA Draft (People)
Danny Wolf’s brother is verklempt! The former Michigan star’s older sibling, Jake, got emotional after his brother was drafted by the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, June 25 as the 27th pick.
Jake, seated at the family’s table at Barclays Center, was overcome by the moment, as he burrowed his head into his hands and rubbed his eyes.
His reaction had social media ablaze — and caught the attention of ESPN’s Monica McNutt, who interviewed Danny, 21, and his parents, Tina and Joe Wolf, after he was selected. Read more