Two traffic offenders forfeit cars to Lagos State (Guardian)
Two traffic offenders arrested by the Rapid Response Squad officers Thursday forfeited their cars to the Lagos State Government. The two traffic offenders were arrested by officers of Rapid Response Squad on patrol along Opebi Road on Wednesday. Read more
Lekki hotel gang rape: Complainant seeks withdrawal of case, cites family intervention (Punch)
A 24-year-old woman (name withheld), allegedly drugged at a nightclub and gang-raped in a hotel at Lekki, Lagos, by two dropouts of Babcock University, wants the criminal suit filed against the defendants – Don-Chima and Olusegun, withdrawn. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the complainant made her request for withdrawal of the case during proceedings at an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Thursday, via a “Letter of Withdrawal”. The letter, dated June 3, 2019, was addressed to the Director of the Directorate of Public Prosecution and signed by the complainant. Read more
Sanwo-Olu swears in new Chief Judge (Nation)
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Thursday said he would not hesitate to sustain the reform in the judicial sector. Sanwo-Olu made the assertion at the swearing in of Justice Kazeem Alogba as the acting Chief Judge of the state. “We will partner with you and the Federal Government in finding lasting solution to prison congestion. Read more
Ganduje sets conditions for reconciliation with Emir Sanusi (Guardian)
The tussle between Governor Abdullai Umar Ganduje and Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, is taking new dimension as Ganduje appear to have sets fresh conditions before true reconciliation takes place. Planned dethronement of emir Sanusi by Kano state government over alleged misappropriation of N3.4bn against the emirate temporarily suspended following renewed intervention and reconciliation initiated by Federal government and prominent individuals include Governor of Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi and business mogul Alhaji Aliko Dangote, The Guardian learnt. Read more
Why Obasanjo did not honour Abiola —Okupe (Punch)
Dr. Doyin Okupe, former Senior Assistant on Public Affairs to ex-president, Goodluck Jonathan, said former President Olusegun Obasanjo would have been misunderstood if he had attempted to honour his kinsman, the presumed winner of the 1993 presidential election, late Chief MKO Abiola. Okupe claimed that only a respected northerner who enjoys the respect of his kinsmen like President Muhammadu Buhari could honour Abiola and his action would not be greeted with criticism. Read more
June 12: Fayose slams Obasanjo, commends Buhari for honouring MKO Abiola (Punch)
Former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, on Thursday, said that the ego of the former president, Olusegun Obasanjo stopped him from honouring the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, MKO Abiola, while he was in office. On his verified Twitter handle, Fayose said, Obasanjo was the biggest beneficiary of the 1993 election, yet failed to honour Abiola. Read more
Violence, a major challenge during last election, says Anambra INEC (Punch)
Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, Anambra State Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission has said that violence was a major challenge in the conduct of 2019 general elections in the state. Orji made the disclosure during the INEC review meeting of the 2019 General Elections held on Thursday in Awka. The REC said the commission recorded violence in Orumba North, Anambra East, Idemili North and Ogbaru Areas of the state which constituted a hindrance. Read more
AA Imo deputy gov candidate joins PDP (Punch)
Immediate past Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly and deputy governorship candidate of Action Alliance in the state, Acho Ihim, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party. Ihim announced his defection on Thursday shortly after the ninth Assembly was inaugurated by the deputy governor of the state, Gerald Irona. Ihim said that he was no longer part of the litigation challenging the electoral victory of the state governor, Emeka Ihedioha. Read more
Gunmen kill at least 40 in Niger —Emergency agency (Punch)
At least 40 people have died and dozens were injured in raids by armed bandits in eight remote Nigerian villages, the emergency services said on Thursday. Groups of gunmen riding motorcycles stormed into the farming and herding villages in Shiroro district of central Niger state on Sunday, firing indiscriminately and stealing cattle. “For now, 40 bodies have been recovered,” Niger State Emergency Management Agency spokesman Ibrahim Audu Hussein told AFP. Read more
Progressive Governors Forum will support Buhari’s drive for investment – Obaseki (Nation)
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured that the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) will support the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government’s economic policies in sustaining an investment-friendly environment for investors and ensuring that governance is brought closer to the people. Obaseki gave the assurance while addressing journalists on arrival at the Benin Airport, Benin City, after being elected the Deputy Chairman of PGF in Abuja. Read more
Alleged fake certificate: WAEC official presents subpoena to tribunal on Friday (Punch)
The Chairman of Election Petition Tribunal in Kwara State, Justice Bassey Effiong on Thursday adjourned to Friday to enable a representative of the West African Examinations Council to present evidence of the writ commanding him to appear in court. The News Agency of Nigeria, reports that the Peoples Democratic Party Governorship candidate, Razak Atunwa and the Action Alliance party, had petitioned the tribunal alleging that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, presented a forged WAEC certificate. Read more
I got illegal firearms to protect myself, says fourth-year medical student (Nation)
A fourth-year student of Medicine and Surgery in the University of Calabar (UNICAL) arrested for alleged cultism and illegal possession of firearms and military uniforms, Ikezue Nnamdi Kingsley, on Thursday said he acquired the guns for his protection. Kingsley, who was paraded by the Cross River State Police Command along with 24 other suspects for various crimes ranging from armed robbery and kidnapping to fraud, said he got the firearms from a friend. Read more
Boris Johnson tops first ballot in Tory leadership contest (BBC)
Boris Johnson has secured the highest number of votes in the first ballot to select the Conservative party leader and next prime minister. Three contenders – Mark Harper, Andrea Leadsom and Esther McVey – have been knocked out, in the secret ballot held in the House of Commons. Mr Johnson received 114 votes, Jeremy Hunt was second with 43, and Michael Gove third with 37 votes. Read more
Ebola outbreak: Grandmother dies in Uganda after DR Congo visit (BBC)
A 50-year-old woman infected with Ebola has died in western Uganda, a day after her five-year-old grandson died. They are the first two cases reported in the country since the virus spread from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, where nearly 1,400 people have died. Three suspected Ebola patients have also run away from an isolation centre. Read more
Russia Golunov case: Putin sacks top Moscow police officials (BBC)
Days after anti-corruption journalist Ivan Golunov was freed amid an outcry over a fabricated drugs case, Russian President Vladimir Putin has fired two high-ranking Moscow police officials. The interior minister had called for the dismissal of western Moscow police chief Maj Gen Andrei Puchkov and drug control boss Maj Gen Yury Devyatkin. Mr Golunov was released after lawyers said drugs had been planted on him. Read more
Donald Trump calls Prince Charles ‘the Prince of Whales’ (Metro)
Donald Trump raised eyebrows after branding Prince Charles ‘the Prince of Whales.’ The President of the United States referred to the heir to the British throne as ruler of mammals – rather than the country of Wales – in a tweet posted Thursday. Trump wrote: ‘I meet and talk to “foreign governments” every day. Read more
Ecuador’s highest court approves same-sex marriage (Guardian)
Ecuador’s highest court on Wednesday approved same-sex marriage in a landmark ruling in the traditionally Catholic and conservative South American country. LGBT and human rights activists erupted in celebration in Quito and the port city of Guayaquil, waving the rainbow flags that symbolize the gay rights movement. The Constitutional Court said same-sex marriage had been approved in a five-to-four vote of its nine judges in a closed-door hearing. Read more
Woman twerks on cop as he cuffs her for twerking in traffic (Metro)
This is the moment a woman refused to give up twerking – even as she was being handcuffed. Police were called on Asia Hughes, 27, after she began using utility pole as her very own stripper pole on a busy street in Toledo, Ohio on Monday. Hughes, apparently a twerking machine, was shaking it so aggressively that she began ‘causing alarm to onlookers,’ police wrote in the report. Read more
Premier League fixtures 2019-20: Season starts with Liverpool hosting Norwich (BBC)
The 2019-20 Premier League season will start with Champions League winners Liverpool hosting promoted Norwich City on Friday, 9 August. Champions Manchester City will open the defence of their title the following day with a trip to West Ham. Aston Villa and Sheffield United, the other promoted teams, play Tottenham and Bournemouth respectively. Read more
Southampton sign Malian winger Djenepo from Standard Liege (Punch)
Southampton made Mali winger Moussa Djenepo their first summer signing for a fee that reportedly could rise to £15 million ($19 million) from Standard Liege on Thursday. The 20-year-old has agreed on a four-year contract subject to the relevant paperwork being completed on July 1. Djenepo scored 11 times for Standard Liege last season, helping them finish third in the Belgian top flight and qualify for the Europa League. Read more
Leicester City under ‘real pressure’ to keep Manchester United target Harry Maguire, claims Gary Neville (Metro)
Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville believes Leicester City are under ‘real pressure’ to keep hold of Harry Maguire this summer. The England international was keen on a move to Old Trafford last summer but United baulked at Leicester’s £75m valuation of the defender. Maguire impressed at the World Cup and United felt it was an inflated fee based on those performances. Read more
Bilic appointed West Brom boss (Punch)
Former Croatia and West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has been handed the task of leading West Brom back to the Premier League, the Championship side announced on Thursday. The Baggies have appointed Bilic on a two-year deal as the permanent successor to replace Darren Moore, who was controversially sacked in March with West Brom sitting fourth. James Shan was put in temporary charge until the end of the season, but West Brom’s hopes of immediately bouncing back to the top flight were ended by defeat on penalties to Aston Villa in the playoff semi-finals. Read more
Sebastian Vettel: Ferrari will not appeal against penalty from Canadian GP (BBC)
Ferrari will not appeal against the penalty that cost Sebastian Vettel victory in the Canadian Grand Prix. The German won on track but was penalised five seconds for dangerous driving, which handed victory to Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton. Ferrari said they would appeal against the decision but BBC Sport has learned that on Thursday they told governing body the FIA they would withdraw it. Read more