Truck crushes 2 soldiers, woman to death in Lagos (Nation)
Two soldiers and a civilian have been killed in an accident at the Obadeyi area of Lagos.
The deceased were said to have been inside a saloon car with registration number RNG396AA, when a truck driving against traffic collided with their vehicle.
One other male adult who was in the vehicle was said to have sustained injuries and rushed to the hospital by emergency responders after administering first aid.
According to the Permanent Secretary (PS) Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the deceased have been bagged and awaiting pick up by the military and the State Environmental Health Management Unit (SEHMU). Read more
Skales, Jaywon to perform at Lagos media event (Punch)
Popular Nigerian singers, Skales and Jaywon, will perform at the Bodex Social Media Hangout billed for July 31, 2022.
The event, scheduled to hold at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, will bring together media personalities, fans, and stakeholders to have conversations on the influence of social media on politics, education, and other spheres of life.
According to a statement made available to The PUNCH on Friday, seasoned personalities and social media influencers have also been invited to speak at this year’s edition of the hangout.
Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Marwa (retd.); and South Africa Consul-General are the special guests of honour for the day. Read more
Save us from land grabbers, community begs Sanwo-Olu (Vanguard)
A prominent leader of Iba-Oloja community, in Ibeju -Lekki Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Chief Hasan Lawal, yesterday, urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene and save the community from imminent crisis that is capable of disrupting the peace of the community.
The community leader, while reacting to the unlawful invasion of the town by suspected land grabbers, said: “The land grabbers invaded our community with some suspected police officers, who shot sporadically for over an hour.
“One of the residents, Kayode Fatai was in the hospital as a result of the gunshot injuries he sustained during the attack.
“Mrs Glory Benuju, a pregnant woman in the community also passed out and had since been receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit at Akodo General Hospital. Read more
Union crisis: MC Oluomo, Istijabah end rift (Punch)
Two transport union leaders in Lagos State, Azeez Ajibola, aka Istijabah; and Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo; appeared to have sheathed their swords and have agreed to work together, The PUNCH has learnt.
Istijabah is known as the Chairman of the Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria in Lagos State whilst MC Oluomo is the newly appointed Chairman of the Lagos State Parks and Garages Management Committee.
The two leaders have been at loggerheads for months over the control of motor parks and garages in the state and their lieutenants have repeatedly engaged in violent clashes in many parts of the state.
However, our correspondent gathered from sources familiar with the matter that the two union leaders were invited to a reconciliation meeting at the Ministry of Transportation in Alausa this week. Read more
I still have hope in Nigeria – Femi Kuti (DailyTrust)
Femi Kuti, the eldest son of the late Nigerian Afrobeat music legend, Fela Kuti, has said he still has hope in Nigeria despite its current challenges.
The musician stated this while speaking to Arise TV on the condition of the country in respect to politics, economy and insecurity.
Kuti said despite the fact that every country has its challenges, Nigeria has no excuse for its current circumstances.
He added that he remains in Nigeria and maintains hope in it in order to inspire the younger generation.
He said, “I have been in a country that has deteriorated all my life. I have been able to travel worldwide, and I’ve seen other countries. They have their problems too. But like I said, Nigeria has no excuse to be where we are today. Is it electricity? Is it health? Is it roads? Is it salary structure? There’s no arm of government that functions to everybody’s content right now. Read more
NLC tells Nigerians to stand against ethnic, religious division (Tribune)
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on workers and Nigerians across the federation to resist all the tactics used by political elites to sow discord and division among the citizens.
NLC pointed out that the recent events happening in the country among the political elites is enough evidence for Nigerians to gear themselves and reject the ethnic and religious line divisions being sold to citizens.
“We have realised the fact that they have used different approaches to divide Nigerians. Unfortunately for them, NLC is a pan-Nigerian organisation that cannot be divided. Workers and Nigerians at large should not allow themselves to be divided along ethnic or religious lines. This is just a diversion of interest. Their division tool is happening now, workers should be wiser, citizens should be wiser. We should work assiduously to unite and save Nigeria and not to divide Nigeria and Nigerians.”
Delivering his opening speech at the NLC 18th Rain School in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, who is also the President of International Trade Unions Confederation (ITUC), stressed how important it is for workers and the entire Nigeria population to educate themselves and their mind to knowing their rights and the truth to enable the pursuit of Nigeria’s unity and development. Read more
My wife’s adulterous lifestyle is upsetting me, cleric tells court (Vanguard)
A cleric, Alhaji Lukman Shittu, prayed a Grade A Customary Court sitting in Mapo, Ibadan, to grant him divorce because his wife’s adulterous lifestyle was upsetting him.
Shittu, who has been married to Fisayo for 20 years,, said he no longer loves his wife.
‘My wife started driving a car soon after she moved out of our home. She told lies that her relative gave her the car but my investigations revealed that the same man who had all along been sleeping with her bought her the car.
“My lord, Fisayo started misbehaving when things became difficult for me and I was unable to give her money to rent a shop. Read more
Terrorists who attacked Zuma checkpoint drove Gulf car to the scene (DailyTrust)
A resident of Madalla in Niger State, who witnessed the attack at a military checkpoint at Zuma, has said the invaders drove a gulf car to the scene.
Madalla town is a few meters away from Zuma, where a checkpoint along the Abuja-Kaduna highway was attacked on Thursday night.
Daily Trust had reported how suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked the checkpoint. Details of the attack are still not clear, but a military source later told this newspaper that one soldier was killed in the incident while two others sustained injuries.
However, there is another report that three soldiers lost their lives in the attack, while one is yet to be accounted for. Read more
Insecurity: Afenifere lambasts Lawan for blocking Buhari’s impeachment (Independent)
Following the move by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senators to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari over the insecurity plaguing the nation, the Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Afenifere, has reacted.
It was gathered that the opposition senators led by the Senate Minority Leader, Felix Aduda, gave the president six weeks to end insecurity in the nation or face impeachment.
Reacting to the incident via a statement on Thursday signed by its spokesman Jare Ajayi, Afenifere condemned the senate president Ahmed Lawan for stopping the senators from addressing the unrest in the country.
They questioned Lawan’s loyalty towards the nation and wondered if he truly wanted to end the menace or assist in festering it. Read more
MGM working on ‘Rocky’ spinoff ‘Drago’ (UPI)
Drago, a spinoff of the Rocky and Creed film franchise, is in the works at MGM.
Sex & Sushi and Crave scribe Robert Lawton is writing the screenplay for the origins story of Russian boxer Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), the rival of titular hero (Sylvester Stallone) in the 1985 movie, Rocky IV.
Drago’s son, Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu), boxed Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan), the son of Rocky’s late best friend Apollo, in 2018’s Creed II.
No plot details about the new project have been disclosed to the public. Read more
Charlize Theron set for role in Jane (FilmNews)
Charlize Theron is set to star in ‘Jane’.
The 46-year-old actress has signed up for Alfonso Cuaron’s upcoming movie that is based on the life of the sci-fi author Phillip K. Dick.
‘Jane’ is based on the relationship between the writer and his twin sister Jane, who died just six weeks after her birth. Her death affected Dick personally and is thought to have influenced his work.
Dick’s work inspired ‘Blade Runner’ and ‘Total Recall’ and his novel ‘The Man in the High Castle’ was adapted into a TV series by Amazon. Read more
Dua Lipa: Singer sorry for fireworks at Toronto concert (BBC)
Dua Lipa has apologised to fans injured by “unauthorised fireworks” let off in the crowd at one of her gigs.
The 26-year-old was in the middle of a performance in Toronto when the unplanned pyrotechnics occurred.
“I’m so deeply sorry for anyone who was scared, felt unsafe or whose enjoyment of the show was affected in any way,” she said on her Instagram story.
Several videos posted on social media show fireworks exploding away from the stage inside Scotiabank Arena. Read more
Drake thanks Jay-Z and Mos Def, brings out Nelly Furtado at all Canadian North Stars Concert (HipHopDX)
Drake celebrated the Canadian artists who “paved the way for all of us” at the opening night of his October World Weekend on Thursday (July 28).
The 6 God hosted the All Canadian North Stars concert at HISTORY, the Toronto venue he and Live Nation Canada opened last year, where he brought together over a dozen Canuck Hip Hop and R&B pioneers.
Kardinal Offishall, Choclair, Saukrates, Glenn Lewis, Jully Black and Maestro Fresh Wes were among the homegrown stars who hit the stage to deliver short sets of their respective hits. Drake himself joined the fun and performed “Headlines” during k-os’ medley.
The OVO boss also had a special surprise up his sleeve, bringing out fellow Canadian superstar Nelly Furtado to dust off old favorites like “Promiscuous,” “Say It Right” and “I’m Like a Bird.” Read more
Bob Dylan abuse accuser drops case following allegation she destroyed evidence (Billboard)
AAn unnamed woman who claimed Bob Dylan sexually abused her as a child in 1965 has withdrawn her lawsuit permanently, a day after Dylan’s attorneys accused her of destroying key evidence and “irretrievably” compromising the integrity of the case.
In a lawsuit filed last year, the woman alleged that Dylan abused her over a six-week period in 1965, leaving her “emotionally scarred and psychologically damaged.” The artist’s lawyers quickly called the case “false, malicious, reckless and defamatory” and a “brazen shakedown masquerading as a lawsuit.”
But at a hearing on Thursday (July 28), the plaintiff – identified only as J.C. – suddenly asked the federal judge overseeing the case to dismiss it “with prejudice,” meaning it will be permanently closed and cannot be refiled. The move came after she was accused of deleting key messages and threatened with monetary sanctions. Read more
Jimmy Cliff returns with new single Refugees (MusicNews)
Jimmy Cliff is returning to music with a new single and album.
The reggae legend has teamed up with Wyclef Jean for the new track ‘Refugees’, which was released on Friday (29.07.22).
The new song is the title track for Jimmy’s first album for over a decade which will be released on August 12.
With both a Dance Version and Rap Version, ‘Refugees’ captures the spirit of Jimmy’s classic output with a hip-hop twist courtesy of Fugees co-founder Wyclef Jean. Read more
‘Vulnerable’ Ukrainian sisters ‘put at risk’ after UK rejects 15-year-old girl’s visa (ITV)
Ukrainian teenager Mariia Ostapenko and her sister Anastasiia fled the war early in Russia’s invasion after bombs destroyed parts of their home city of Dnipro.
They packed their bags and escaped to neighbouring Poland, where hundreds of thousands of other refugees had arrived – but the sisters were lucky, their mother had a friend in the UK who told them about the Homes for Ukraine scheme and organised a sponsor.
They were each offered a room at the home of Jennifer Lowry, 68, shortly after the scheme was announced mid-March, but three months later, following repeated UK government delays, they were stranded in temporary accommodation in Switzerland.
For reasons Mariia and Anastasiia, 23, can’t understand, the Home Office won’t grant the younger, 15-year-old sister a visa because she is considered an unaccompanied minor. Read more
Commonwealth Games: British manufacturer wades into Team Nigeria’s kit crisis (Channels)
A British sportswear manufacturer had to answer an SOS call from Nigeria’s Commonwealth Games team after they were left with no kit.
Gino Ruffinato, manager of the MG Sportswear firm, which is based in a town near host city Birmingham, at first thought it was a “wind-up” before launching his 14 staff into action.
“As it progressed I started getting emails with orders on, so at that point, I thought, hang on, I think this is serious,” he told the BBC.
“When they hit us with the deadline saying it needs to be there for Friday and today was Tuesday… there’s all the fabric, the print, the designs to get out in two days. It was a bit hair-raising.” Read more
Saints’ teammates hails Aribo’s qualities (Nation)
The quality Joe Aribo has displayed since he joined Southampton from Glasgow Rangers in a deal worth €7.1 million earlier this month has left some of his Saints teammates in awe.
Since signing two weeks ago, the Nigeria international has wasted no time in integrating Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl’s setup.
The German has featured Aribo in all their preseason games since he arrived. And that is an indication that Aribo could play an important role for the Saints when the Hampshire side begin their Premier League campaign with a game against Tottenham on August 6.
The Super Eagles midfielder played his first minutes in a 3-1 loss to RB Leipzig twelve days ago. Aribo has since featured in three more games for the Saints. Read more
Lee Buchanan: Derby County to receive compensation fee from Werder Bremen for full-back (BBC)
Derby County say they will receive “full training compensation” from Werder Bremen after the German club signed full-back Lee Buchanan.
Derby were prepared to take their case for a fee to Fifa, but said Werder “accepted” his move was not a free transfer as previously announced.
A legal loophole allowed Buchanan, 21, to get out of a contract extension previously activated by Derby.
They, however, wanted compensation for his development. Read more
Sevilla director Monchi reveals why Chelsea missed out on Kounde to Barcelona (Football365)
Sevilla sporting director Monchi claims Chelsea missed out on Jules Kounde to Barcelona because of their own doubts over a transfer.
Barca swooped in ahead of the Blues to agree a deal to sign Kounde yesterday for €50m with personal terms and a medical not expected to be an issue.
Chelsea apparently almost signed Kounde last summer but they failed to agree on a transfer fee with Sevilla, despite Kounde being keen to move.
After being priced out a year ago, it had seemed like Chelsea were making strides towards winning the battle for his signature this summer until Barcelona swooped in late to seal a deal. Read more
Charles Barkley says he is staying with Turner Broadcasting after entertaining LIV Golf interest (ABC)
Charles Barkley says he’s sticking to the NBA, turning away from any further overtures to join LIV Golf as a broadcaster.
“I want to thank Greg Norman and LIV for their interest in me,” Barkley told the New York Post. “I wish those guys great success and nothing but the best. But, in my best interest, and being fair to Turner — because Turner and basketball have given me every single thing in my life — It is best for me to move on and I’m staying with Turner for the rest of my TV career.”
Barkley told ESPN on Thursday he had not received a formal offer from LIV, but had spoken with Norman, the golf series’ CEO.
“I met with Greg and I told him yes. I’m in a win-win situation,” Barkley said Thursday. “If they offer me something good, that’s great. If they don’t, I’ve got a great job at TNT.” (ABC)
Poland Open: Iga Swiatek marks return to the tour with yet another forceful win (TennisWorld)
Top seed Iga Swiatek won the all-native opening round against Magdalena Frech to reach the second round of the Poland Open on Wednesday. The world no. 1 needed an hour and 13 minutes to claim a 6-1, 6-2 win. Swiatek faced no break points and converted four of the seven break points she had on Frech’s serve.
She won 86% of her first-serve points and 65% of her second-serve points. In comparison, Frech finished the match by winning 58% of her first serves and 37% of her second serves. This is Swiatek’s first tournament since she lost to Alize Cornet in the third round at Wimbledon.
In the round-of-16 this week, the two-time Major winner will take on Romanian qualifier, Garbriela Lee. Lee won her opener against fellow qualifier, Cyprus’ Raluca Serban 3-6, 6-2 7-5 on Tuesday.
Swiatek’s fellow Poles, wildcards Martyna Kubka and Weronika Falkowska didn’t fare too well in their respective first-round matches. Read more
Charles Leclerc refuses to give up on F1 world title despite mistake in France (Independent)
Charles Leclerc believes he can win the world championship “until the very end” – and has vowed not to dwell on the mistakes which leave his title ambitions hanging by a thread.
The Monegasque heads into Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix 63 points behind Max Verstappen after he crashed out while leading last weekend’s race in France.
Verstappen benefitted from Leclerc’s high-profile mistake to move the equivalent of two-and-a-half victories clear of his Ferrari rival with 10 rounds remaining. But the 24-year-old has not given up hope of claiming his first title.
“I will believe in it until the very end,” said Leclerc. “There is nothing that will help me dwelling on the past and that mistake. I made that mistake, and it cost me a lot of points. I am aware of that, but I need to move on, focus 100 percent, and try to win this race. Read more