Traffic Snarl: Lagos on lockdown, motorists, commuters cry, as ‘area boys’ take over (Vanguard)
After what will appear as a temporary respite, traffic gridlock has once again reappeared on most Lagos roads, leaving residents, especially commuters, in untold agony as they travel from one part of the state to the other.
What many find most distressing is the alarming indication that there is no immediate solution in sight. The state-wide gridlock has been attributed to different factors, with the poor state of some roads across the metropolis top on the list.
To make matters worse, most of the roads have become significantly unmotorable following recent downpours in the state.
On account of this, motorists have gone back to telling sad stories of their nightmarish experiences in standstill traffics which have continued to expose them to frequent attacks by hoodlums and robbers. Read more
FESTAC Town’s allottees’ tale of woes (Nation)
Twenty-eight years after, the allottees are yet to take possession of their land not to talk of realising their dreams for no fault of theirs.
Rather, another set of people ranging from mechanics to traders, auto dealers and plank sellers, took over the land illegally and turned it to market places, makeshifts and homes for almost three decades while FHA’s management and the original allottees remained helpless.
The situation was further worsened by various litigations between the FESTAC Town Residents Association (FTRA) and management of FHA over alleged infractions that negate the original master plan of the estate.
Past attempts by the authority to dislodge the illegal occupants were rebuffed with attacks on government’s officials, making the illegality to continue until recently when officials of FHA, in collaboration with the task force from the Lagos State Government, took the bull by the horns to implement the Consent Judgment it secured in 2005 and dislodged the squatters after several quit notices. Read more
My girl has to buy a ring, propose to me on both knees -Wizkid (Punch)
Nigerian music star, Ayo Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has revealed that whoever he will eventually get married to will be the one to buy the ring and propose to him on both knees.
His view negates the conventional way of a proposal in this clime where the man buys the ring and proposes to the woman he intends to get married to.
The singer, who has fathered three sons from three different women, took to his Snapchat account to make the statement.
The Grammy Award winner said, “Big shoutout to da one ima spend the rest of my life with, whoever you are. U go try with this mad man. By the way, my girl gotta buy me a ring and propose on both knees.” (sic). Read more
Dollar Videos: Court fines Ganduje N800k for withdrawing suit against Ja’afar Ja’afar (DailyTrust)
A Kano State High Court on Tuesday fined Kano governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje N800,000 after he discontinued his defamation suit against an online publication Daily Nigerian.
Ganduje had dragged the publisher Ja’afar Ja’afar to court over a story and videos where he was purportedly seen stuffing foreign currencies in his pocket.
The court, presided over by Justice Suleiman Danmallan, who granted the application to discontinued the case, however directed the governor to pay N400,000 each to Ja’afar and parent company of the newspaper, both defendants in the suit.
Counsels for both defendants, Ubi Eteng and Muhammad Danazumi had both urged the court to award a total of N400million as cost of discontinuing the suit but Ganduje’s counsel, O.E.B. Offiong (SAN) urged the court to disregard the prayers, noting that since the defendants had informed the court they have filed a counter-claim, issue of cost should be delayed till then. Read more
Reps approve bill to create state police, security outfits (Punch)
The House of Representatives has passed for second reading, a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow creation of state police and legalise regional security outfits. The current police system will be decentralised by moving police from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List.
Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Onofiok Luke, who sponsored the bill, said in the explanatory note that the bill seeks to alter the Constitution “to provide for state police and other state government security services to enhance security and preservation of lives and properties in Nigeria”.
The bill especially proposes an amendment to Section 197(1) by inserting new Paragraphs ‘e’ and ‘f’ to provide for ‘State Police Council’ and ‘State Police Service Commission,’ respectively.
The Second Schedule to the Constitution will also be altered in Part I by deleting Item 45 from the Exclusive Legislative List; and in Part II by inserting after Item 30 on the Concurrent Legislative List, new Items 31 and 32. Read more
Court dismisses Dokpesi’s N5b defamation suit against Lai Mohammed, AGF (Nation)
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja has dismissed a defamation suit by businessman/politician, Raymond Dokpesi against the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami.
Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, in a judgment on Tuesday, held that Dokpesi failed to establish his claim that Mohammed defamed him by allegedly including his name in a supposed list of looters at a press conference addressed on March 30, 20018 by the Minister.
Dokpesi had, in the suit, stated that the Minister’s alleged inclusion of his name among supposed looters of the nation’s treasury has defamed him and damaged his reputation.
He demanded N5billion damages, public apology to the published in five national dailies, among other reliefs. Read more
Student bags 8 years’ imprisonment for firearm possession, cultism (Vanguard)
A Lokoja Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a National Diploma (ND II) student of Kogi State Polytechnic, Shehu Mohammed, to eight years’ imprisonment for possession of firearm and unlawful association.
Magistrate Tenimu Mohammed convicted the defendant after he pleaded guilty to three counts charges of unlawful association, illegal possession of firearms, and membership of a cult group.
The magistrate, however, gave the convict an option of N8,000 fine.
Earlier, prosecuting counsel, ASP Samuel Ikutanwa, told the court that the defendant was arrested with a locally fabricated revolver and five rounds of live ammunition at the institution’s main gate on April 9. Read more
Plateau monarch escapes gunmen attack after peace meeting with herders (Punch)
A traditional ruler in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Daniel Chega escaped death after gunmen attacked his vehicle in the council area.
Chega, who is the District Head of Miango, was said to be returning home after a peace meeting with Fulani herdsmen and other stakeholders when gunmen opened fire at his vehicle around 4.30pm on Monday.
The President of the Miango Youths Development Association, Mr. Ezekiel Bini, who attended the peace meeting confirmed the attack on the monarch to The Punch in Jos on Tuesday.
Bini said, “It was a miracle that the district head escaped. Read more
NowNow wins Best Mobile Fintech Solution Award 2021 (Leadership)
Digital banking platform, NowNow Digital Systems Limited, a fast-growing fintech leading the digitisation of financial services, has been named the Best Mobile Fintech Solution in the recently concluded 2021 Leaders in Fintech Awards.
The awards which was organised by Entrepreneur Middle East, a leading market intelligence organisation that recognises the top companies, technologies and products in the global fintech market, recognised the creativity, hard work, and success of innovative Fintech companies, technologies, and products worldwide.
NowNow digital system won the award on the basis of high capacity services, which the company demonstrates with results in helping the financial services industry move forward through innovations with proven fintech solutions, through its secure and efficient lending, digital payments and security innovation.
NowNow is a comprehensive financial technology which offers a variety of services to suit diverse needs including loans, payment for bills, and mobile top up, among others. Read more
Canada names Inuit rights advocate Mary Simon as first indigenous governor general (France24)
Canada named Mary Simon on Tuesday as its first indigenous governor general — Queen Elizabeth II’s official representative in the Commonwealth country — as the nation faces a reckoning with its colonial history.
“Today, after 154 years, our country takes a historic step,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a news conference. “I cannot think of a better person to meet the moment.”
Simon, a former journalist and advocate of Inuit rights, has previously served as president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Canada’s national Inuit organisation.
She was also president of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, which represents Inuit in all Arctic countries.
Her appointment as viceregal representative, responsible for giving royal assent or making acts passed by parliament law and heading Canada’s military, comes at a difficult period in the country’s relations with First Nations. Read more
“Black Widow” star addresses past sexualisation of Scarlett Johansson character (Metro)
Black Widow star O-T Fagbenle has addressed the past sexualisation of Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff after the actress spoke out about it.
The Handmaid’s Tale actor stars as Mason alongside Scarlett, Florence Pugh (Yelena Bolova), and David Harbour (Red Guardian) in the new Marvel movie, which is set just after Captain America: Civil War.
After Scarlett pointed out how sexualised Natasha had been when she was introduced in Iron Man 2, O-T said of the new movie: ‘The core of this movie is family and they have a sorority, a sisterhood, which I think people really relate to – I’ve got three beautiful sisters. Read more
US left Bagram Airbase at night with no notice, Afghan commander says (BBC)
The US military left Bagram Airfield – its key base in Afghanistan – in the dead of night without notifying the Afghans, the base’s new commander said.
General Asadullah Kohistani told the BBC that the US left Bagram at 03:00 local time on Friday, and that the Afghan military found out hours later.
Bagram also contains a prison, and there are reportedly up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners left in the facility.
The Taliban have been advancing rapidly in Afghanistan as US troops withdraw. Read more
Britney Spears’ manager resigns after 25 years (BBC)
The man who has guided Britney Spears’ career for the last 25 years is stepping down as her manager.
Larry Rudolph, who helped Spears secure her first recording contract, said the star’s “intention to officially retire” had prompted him to resign.
The move comes two weeks after Spears’ told an LA judge that she had been forced to perform against her will.
She is currently seeking to end a conservatorship that has governed her life and finances since 2008. Read more
Actor Daniel Mickelson dead at 23: Kaia Gerber, Paris Hilton lead tributes (NYPost)
Rising actor and model Daniel Mickelson died on July 4th at 23 years old, sparking an outpouring of emotional tributes from young Hollywood.
A cause of death has not yet been revealed for the Atlanta native, but his passing was announced on Instagram Monday night by his younger sister, fashion model Meredith Mickelson.
“My heart is shattered & to write this feels so wrong and i don’t even know what to say,” wrote the bereaved sibling. “Yesterday i lost my brother, best friend & the other half of my heart.”
Meredith, 22, added, “He was the happiest brightest smiley most sunshine human to exist and I’m so happy God chose me to be his sister for his whole amazing life.” An accompanying pic showed the two together as kids. Read more
Debris from missing plane found on Russian Far East Kamchatka peninsula (BBC)
Debris from a passenger plane carrying 28 people which went missing in the Russian Far East on Tuesday has been found, officials say.
The An-26 aircraft lost contact with air traffic control shortly before it was due to land in the settlement of Palana, in the north of the remote Kamchatka peninsula.
It is thought unlikely that anyone survived the crash.
The plane was flying from the regional centre Petropavlovsk. Read more
Chinese astronauts make first spacewalk outside new station (NYPost)
Two astronauts on Sunday made the first spacewalk outside China’s new orbital station to set up cameras and other equipment using a 15-meter-long (50-foot-long) robotic arm.
Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo were shown by state TV climbing out of the airlock as Earth rolled past below them. The third crew member, commander Nie Haisheng, stayed inside.
Liu and Tang spent nearly seven hours outside the station, the Chinese space agency said.
The astronauts arrived June 17 for a three-month mission aboard China’s third orbital station, part of an ambitious space program that landed a robot rover on Mars in May. Their mission comes as the ruling Communist Party celebrates the 100th anniversary of its founding. Read more
Ajagba vows to crush Cuban challenger (Nation)
Heavyweight prospect Efe Ajagba believes his fight with Cuba’s Frank Sanchez on July 24 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will be a special ‘Night’ for his fans and critics alike.
The former Olympian will face his fellow undefeated opponent in what many believe will be the undercard fight of the night outside Tyson Fury’s highly-anticipated third fight with Deontay Wilder.
Ajagba, currently ranked at No 9 by the WBC, can take a big step towards a heavyweight title fight with a victory over Sanchez, who sits at No 13 in the same rankings.
Undefeated in 15 fights with 12 ending via knockouts, Ajagba last fought in April in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and knocked out Brian Howard with a single right hand in the third round, a contender for ‘Knockout of the year’. Read more
Exposure programme for Eagles B will continue -Pinnick (Vanguard)
The plan of the Nigeria Football Federation to get the Super Eagles B exposed to high grade international games to improve their level of confidence and aptitude remains in place, despite the defeat by Mexico’s ‘A’ Team in Los Angeles on Saturday, President of the NFF, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick has stated.
Pinnick, also a Member of the FIFA Council, has also counseled the players to discountenance the high-score defeat and rather take to heart the great lessons of the encounter, while embracing the fact that they need such games to come to great stead and be able to compete creditably at international level.
“There is nothing that has happened here that will discourage us from pushing ahead with the plan we have for the team,” Pinnick said after the match watched by an impressive 53,258 spectators inside the LA Coliseum in the State of California.
“Our programme to get the team to a higher level through regular exposure to the toughest games possible will continue apace. Read more
Tokyo 2020: Olympic organisers tell public to stay away from marathon and race walk events (BBC)
At a test event in Sapporo volunteers wore placards asking people to refrain from watching the event to prevent the spread of Covid.
Olympic organisers have asked the public not to line the route of marathon and race walk event at the Tokyo Games over fears that crowds could spread coronavirus infections.
The two events take place in Sapporo, which still has emergency Covid measures in place.
Organisers said “to reduce the risk of infection” they would restrict “the movement of members of the public”.
The Games, delayed a year because of the pandemic, start on 23 July.
Event organisers said they had met police and local government officials to discuss arrangements for the race walk events, which take place on 6 August, and the women’s and men’s marathons, which take place over the following two days. Read more
How Olympian Katie Ledecky’s childhood foreshadowed her GOAT status (NYPost)
In the spring of 2020, as couch-laden Americans lapped up the epic Michael Jordan 10-part documentary “The Last Dance,” Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky put her own stamp on the Jordan fever.
She tweeted out an incredible video of Jordan playing peek-a-boo with her as a toddler as they sit in the owner’s box of the Washington Capitals, which her uncle Jon Ledecky co-owned until 2001.
The sweet video shows the NBA great, seated behind her, reaching his hands in front of her eyes. Read more
Wimbledon 2021: Ruthless Karolina Pliskova reaches semi-finals (BBC)
Eighth seed Karolina Pliskova brushed aside Viktorija Golubic in straight sets to reach the semi-finals of Wimbledon for the first time.
Pliskova ruthlessly clinched a 6-2 6-2 victory over the Swiss in 81 minutes.
The Czech’s consistent serve and dominance from the baseline was the difference, and she has yet to drop a set in the tournament.
Pliskova will face second seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus or Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in the last four on Thursday.
In their only previous meeting Golubic, ranked 66th in the world, fought back from a set and 4-2 down in a 2016 Fed Cup semi-final to defeat Pliskova. Read more
Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks died of fireworks blast at coach’s Michigan home (NYPost)
Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks died in a freak fireworks accident at the Michigan home of the team’s goaltending coach — on the same day as his daughter’s wedding, according to reports.
Kivlenieks, 24, was in a hot tub at the home of Manny Legace in Novi when a mortar-style firework tilted slightly and struck him in the chest Sunday as it fired toward a group of people.
The wedding of Legace’s daughter, Sabrina, to real estate agent Nick Howell was held at the home earlier in the day, the Daily Mail reported.An ensuing “night of relaxation and uninhibited revelry” was held at the home, with guests clad in Hawaiian-style dress, according to the report, which cited the couple’s wedding website. Read more