Tragedy looms: Security agents, NNPC asleep as pipeline vandals steal N16.5m fuel in Lagos (Punch)
Residents of Fagba community in the Ifako/Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State fear a pipeline explosion is imminent in the area as vandals operate unhindered, stealing fuel from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation pipeline. Residents of Fagba community, in the Ifako Ijaiye area of Lagos State, have lost their peace over the activities of pipeline vandals in the area.
The alleged connivance of security officials had also unsettled many landlords, who now fear for their lives.
The PUNCH gathered that last Sunday, some vandals broke into the mechanic village on Providence Avenue and siphoned fuel from the pipeline of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. Read more
Lagos to reintegrate victims of Abule-Egba pipeline fire into society (Guardian)
The Lagos State Government is set to reintegrate victims of the Abule Egba pipeline fire incidence back into the society by end of June 2020 .
Reintegration of the displaced 300 persons includes 40 infants and 30 children into the society within the next 29 days, is coming due to recovery from the post disaster trauma caused by the devastating loss of Sunday 19th.
January, 2020, after certification of their medical state of health and total well being.
The reintegration is deemed essential on the heels of their accommodation by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration at the LASEMA relief camp in Igando in the last five months, with full feeding for all residents, complete medical treatment for all, Read more
Tina’s killing: Lagos command indicts two policemen (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command said on Monday that investigation into the killing of a teenager, Tina Ezekwe, revealed that the conduct of two police officers, Assistant Superintendent of Police Theophilus Otobo and Inspector Oguntoba Olamigoke, fell short of professional standards.
PUNCH Metro had reported that many Nigerians went on the social media on Friday to demand justice for Tina, who was allegedly killed by a trigger-happy policeman in the Iyana Oworo area of the state on Tuesday. Read more
COVID-19 lockdown: Lagos court sentences 730 violators to community service (Tribune)
No fewer than 730 persons were sentenced to community service by Lagos State Magistrates’ Court for COVID-19 lockdown offences, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The Director of Community Service, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Ms Shakirat Karimu-Ikotun, disclosed this to NAN in her office on Monday.
She spoke after receiving some Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from the British Council Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme. Read more
Former senator, Munir Muse, dies in Lagos (Punch)
The former lawmaker representing Lagos Central Senatorial District in the House of Assembly, Munir Muse, is dead.
His son, Sulaimon Muse, announced the former senator’s death on Tuesday.
While announcing his father’s death, Sulaimon described him as kind-hearted.
He said, “I just lost a very caring and kind-hearted father, Senator Munirudeen Adekunle Muse.
“I saw you last, right inside the Lagos Central mosque. I never knew that was the last time I would set my eyes on you alive.
“I called you two Fridays ago. You even called me back thereafter, and we discussed. I never knew you were saying goodbye to me.” Read more
Technician sentenced to death for beating his 62-year-old dad to death over will (Tribune)
An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Monday sentenced a technician, Rasak Abiona, to death for beating his 62-year-old father to death with an iron rod during a dispute over his will in Lagos.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo delivered the judgment in a virtual hearing.
Justice Taiwo held that though the prosecution had presented circumstantial evidence against the middle-aged defendant during the trial, the state proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
She noted that the technician’s confessional statements to the police implicated him and that during the trial, the defendant did not present witnesses in court to back his claim that his father died after a fall. Read more
Police arrest suspect linked to murder of UNIBEN student (Guardian)
Nigeria Police Force have arrested the suspect linked to murder of University of Benin student Vera Omozuwa.
According to the spokesman of Edo Police Command, Chidi Nwabuzor, the suspect was arrested after the fingerprint on the fire extinguisher she was attacked with was examined.
Omozuwa was attacked while studying inside the church of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, in Benin city, according to Nigerian police.
The 22-year-old university student was taken to hospital where doctors battled to save her, but Omozuwa died three days later, the church spokesman Olaitan Olubiyi said. Read more
FG receives coaches, locomotives for Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Kaduna railways (Punch)
The Federal Government on Monday announced that it had received some coaches and locomotives to be deployed on key rail lines in Nigeria.
It said the coaches were the last set which were ordered in March.
It was also gathered that the locomotives and coaches, which arrived Nigeria from China, would be deployed once operations begin.
The government disclosed this via a tweet by the Nigerian Railway Corporation through its official Twitter handle, which was also confirmed to our correspondent by the NRC’s spokesperson, Yakub Mahmood. Read more
Ghanaians look to herbal remedies for COVID-19 (VOA)
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Ghanaians have traveled to a plant research center outside the capital, Accra, to give scientists and researchers herbal products and plants they think will help cure the coronavirus — or at least alleviate symptoms.
About 70% of Ghanaians depend on herbal remedies for their health care. Last year, government hospitals began integrating the practitioners and training them to incorporate scientific methods into their work. The Center for Plant Medicine Research grew out of a visit by a Ghanaian doctor to China in the 1960s to learn from Chinese herbal medicine.
The center’s acting executive director, Kofi Bobi Barimah, dreams of finding a cure for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus that came from China. And he’s not the only one. Read more
First-time mum who was told abortion was her best option gives birth to healthy ‘miracle’ baby (Metro)
A mum who was offered four abortions by doctors due to her unborn daughter’s two deadly conditions has given birth to a healthy ‘miracle’ baby. Doctors warned first-time mum Kimberley James, 24, that her unborn baby would not survive after a 12-week scan showed she had become dangerously swollen. She was diagnosed with hydrops fetalis, meaning an abnormal level of fluids, which affects 1,000 pregnancies every year and has a survival rate of just 10%. The scan also revealed Kimberley’s baby had cystic hygroma, a fluid-filled sac, which affects one in 8,000 babies and can be fatal.
Kimberley, a veterinary nurse, says she was advised ‘at least three or four times’ to have an abortion’ by doctors. But she decided to trust her instinct and go ahead with the pregnancy. Read more
US cities see sporadic violence in protests after Trump threats (CBC)
American cities erupted in violence and destruction in a sixth straight night of unrest, amid boasts and threats from President Donald Trump to send in troops to “dominate the streets.”
In Philadelphia, hundreds of protesters spilled onto a highway in the heart of the city, while in Atlanta, police fired tear gas at demonstrators. In Nashville, more than 60 National Guard members put down their riot shields at the request of peaceful protesters who had gathered in front of Tennessee’s Capitol to honour George Floyd, the Minneapolis man killed by police on May 25.
An unprecedented curfew in New York City did little to prevent destruction as groups of people smashed their way into shops, including Macy’s flagship Manhattan store, grabbed merchandise and fled. Read more
BoJo government blasted again as new lockdown ‘sex ban’ prompts orgy of scorn and mockery (RT )
The UK government has once again found itself facing widespread derision over its coronavirus lockdown rules after new measures introduced forbid couples who live separately from gathering in what has been dubbed a “bonking ban.”
Fresh amendments introduced on Monday banned two or more people from separate homes gathering indoors. The rules, which were introduced 10 weeks after the lockdown was implemented, have immediately been interpreted as a restriction on the romantic activity of couples who live apart, and the UK’s tabloid media has cast it as a “bonking ban.”
The amendments apply to both public and private places, so even daring exhibitionists may find their love life curtailed. Read more
George Floyd death: Trump’s church visit shocks religious leaders (BBC)
President Donald Trump has sparked controversy with his photo shoot
Last night he held a Bible in front of St John’s Episcopal Church, just across the road from the White House. Today, he’ll visit the Shrine to St John Paul II, also in Washington DC.
But US President Donald Trump’s signalling of religious affiliation has not been welcomed by a range of clerics as the nation struggles to manage the twin challenges of a pandemic and widespread political protest.
The Episcopal Bishop of Washington, the Right Reverend Mariann Budde, said: “The president just used a Bible, the most sacred text of the Judeo-Christian tradition, and one of the churches of my diocese, without permission, as a backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus.” Read more
The music business is holding a ‘blackout.’ But no one seems to know what that means (RollingStone)
As protesters and industries react to the killing of George Floyd and other black victims of police brutality, artists, executives, and companies from across the music business will participate in a day of silent protest on Tuesday — though a lack of clear messaging from the major labels makes its meaning open for interpretation.
Organizers of the planned June 2nd event asked the industry to “not conduct business as usual” and instead spend time reflecting on how to support the black community. The original statement was posted toward the end of last week and quickly gained momentum over the weekend. Read more
I’ll make Nigeria African champions again – Rohr (Punch)
Coach Gernot Rohr said he made sacrifices in his new contract with Nigeria in order to guide the country to a fourth Africa Cup of Nations triumph.
Rohr, 66, has extended his stay in Nigeria till 2022 after he agreed to a pay cut in the local currency and reside in the country.
Officials said the German-born coach will earn $49,000 a month instead of the $55,000 stipulated in his previous contract and he will live in Nigeria for at least 10 months a year.
“This is a special job because this is my team, I built it with my staff,” the former Niger and Gabon coach said Monday on local television. Read more
FIFA calls for ‘common sense’ as German FA investigates Floyd protests (Guardian)
FIFA has called on leagues to use “common sense” when deciding whether to discipline footballers for displaying political messages after several players in the German Bundesliga called for justice for George Floyd during matches.
“FIFA fully understands the depth of sentiment and concerns expressed by many footballers in light of the tragic circumstances of the George Floyd case,” world football’s governing body said in a statement on Tuesday. Read more
Formula 1 season to start with eight races in Europe (BBC)
The 2020 Formula 1 season will start in Austria on 5 July, the first of a run of eight races in Europe.
An F1 statement said the championship would begin across three consecutive weekends – two in Austria on 5 and 12 July and a third in Hungary.
There will then be a two-week break before two consecutive races in Britain and events in Spain, Belgium and Italy.
All will be run behind closed doors with participants following guidelines to minimise the spread of Covid-19. Read more
Rejuvenated Giroud ‘very nearly’ left Chelsea in January (Guardian)
Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud has revealed he “very nearly” left Stamford Bridge in January but says he now has his sights set on winning more trophies with the Premier League club.
Giroud recently signed a one-year contract extension that will keep him at Chelsea until the end of next season.
The new deal completed a sudden change of fortunes for the France international.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard had been searching for a striker in the January transfer window and Giroud, linked with a move to Tottenham, would have been surplus to requirements if a new recruit had arrived. Read more
George Floyd death: Floyd Mayweather offers to pay for funerals (BBC)
Mayweather Productions confirmed that Floyd Mayweather had offered to cover George Floyd’s funeral costs
Former five-division world champion Floyd Mayweather has offered to cover the funeral costs for George Floyd, who died while being restrained by Minneapolis police.
Protests have been held in the US and worldwide after Floyd, an unarmed black man, died while being pinned down by white police officer Derek Chauvin. Read more
Trevor Bryan was alternative opponent option for Anthony Joshua before Andy Ruiz defeat (Metro)
Eddie Hearn has revealed he had the choice whether to go with Andy Ruiz or Trevor Bryan to replace Jarrell Miller for Anthony Joshua’s debut in America last year.
The unheralded Ruiz Jr would get the nod after Joshua’s original opponent Miller failed multiple drug tests and the Mexican would shock the world by knocking the unified champion out and claiming his world titles.
Joshua’s reputation took a serious beating due to the brutal loss, the first of his career, and the heavyweight’s promoter admitted he wished he had gone with Bryan in the immediate aftermath of the fight at Madison Square Garden. Read more