UNIBEN English lecturer allegedly rapes final year student in office (Punch)
A senior lecturer in the Department of English and Literature, Faculty of Arts, University of Benin has been accused of raping a female student in his office.
The 400-level student was said to have gone to the lecturer’s office to submit her final year project when she was allegedly raped and locked in the office for several hours.
The PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred on October 5, but became public knowledge when a video purportedly recorded when the lecturer was begging for forgiveness went viral.
A course mate of the female student told The PUNCH that the video and the news of the alleged rape was first circulated on the class WhatsApp platform. Read more
Edo extols Liquorose’s comportment, performance in BBNaija (Guardian)
The Edo State Government has hailed Roseline Afije, a native of the state, better known as Liquorose, on her emergence as the first runner-up in the sixth season of the reality television show, Big Brother Nigeria (BBNaija).
The government, in a statement by Chief of Staff to the Governor, Osaigbovo Iyoha, said Liquorose’s comportment and character, which endeared her to fans across the country, stood her out in the 10 weeks spent in the Big Brother House.
He said: “On behalf of the Edo State Government, I congratulate Roseline Afije, also known as Liquorose, on her emergence as the first runner-up in the Big Brother Nigeria (BBNaija) reality show. She put up a good showing with a dignified poise and character that earned her fans across the country. Read more
Driver arraigned for allegedly stealing N6m beer (Punch)
A driver with Guinness Nigeria Limited, Sodiq Ganiyu, on Wednesday, appeared before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing 20 pallets of beer worth N6m.
The police charged 34-year-old Ganiyu with conspiracy, theft, and breach of peace to which he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, ASP Rachael Williams, told the court that Ganiyu, a resident of 28, Agbowo Street, Isokan, Ogun State, committed the offences on September 12, 2021 at 1, Akanni Dorathy Street, Ikeja, Lagos.
“Ganiyu was instructed to deliver the goods to a customer but he diverted them, in connivance with others at large. Read more
Stakeholders launch project on waste management in Lagos (Guardian)
To proffer solutions to environmental challenges in Lagos, concerned stakeholders have launched Waste Management Innovation Challenge, where waste management eggheads came out with innovative ways of ending the problem.
This took place at the Japanese External Trade Organization (JETRO) Office, Victoria Island, Lagos,
The co-founder of the initiative, Felix Iziomoh, said the project is designed to solve one of humanity‘s greatest challenges by addressing the environmental problems in the coastal area.
“This is a problem for us as Lagosians and we want to see how we can help those recyclers and entrepreneurs to scale up. Hence, the WMC is to help them to get investors to invest in their business to see how they can build up in solving the problem of waste management,” said Felix. Read more
Court remands woman, 48, over attempted murder (DailyTrust)
A magistrate court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has ordered the remand of a 48-year-old woman, Bosede Soneye, over attempted murder of a 40-year- old woman.
Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Sodiq Adeniyi, told the court yesterday that the accused attempted murdering Ojo Bosede by pouring hot water on her.
Adeniyi said the motion ex-parte to remand the suspect was brought pursuant to Section 264 (1) and (2) of Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Ekiti State 2014 order 6 Rule 4 of ACJL Rules 2020 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
The prosecutor said the offence is punishable under Section 320 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012, within Iyin-Ekiti in October 2, 2021. Read more
NASCO Group refutes allegations of financing terrorism in Nigeria (Guardian)
NASCO Group Nigeria has denied a media report that accused it of funding terrorism by Boko Haram and other terrorist elements in Nigeria and other African countries.
NASCO Group Nigeria in a statement said the report by journalist David Hundeyin on terrorism funding contains “defamatory and slanderous contents” as it will never “be sponsors to any criminal act, organization, or violence of any kind that will disrupt the peace and tranquility of the Nigerian state or any country in the world.”
“After the unfortunate events of 2001, thousands of people and entities around the world were subjected to various investigations,” NASCO said. “A detailed examination by the United Nations Security Council and the US Government totally exonerated NASCO’s late founder, Dr. Ahmed Nasreddin, and his business interest of all false allegations.” Read more
500 Nigerians lose jobs as UAE declines renewal of work visas (Punch)
Over 500 Nigerians have lost their jobs and are stranded four months after the United Arab Emirates stopped granting or renewing Direct Employment Visa for Nigerians in the Asian country.
It was gathered that while many of the affected persons had returned to Nigeria, hundreds of them are still in UAE in the hope that Abu Dhabi would reverse the decision.
The UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Fahad AI Taffaq, had said there was no official communication on the issuance of work permits for Nigerians living and working in his country.
Taffaq, who stated this when he received the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, at the Embassy in Abuja, in August, noted that he read about the ban in the social media, stressing that “UAE has no restrictions against any nationality.” Read more
Mohammed Barau is the new Emir of Kontagora (DailyTrust)
Mohammed Barau Kontagora has been appointed the Seventh Emir (Sarkin Sudan) of Kontagora.
Emmanuel Umar, Commissioner for Local Government, Community Development & Chieftaincy Affairs, announced this in a statement on Wednesday night.
He said the selection of the seventh Emir (Sarkin Sudan) of Kontagora was held on Sunday, 19th of September, 2021 in Kontagora by the kingmakers of the Kontagora Emirate, in line with the Customary Laws and Practice of the Kontagora Emirate.
“The kingmakers, during their interaction with the governor, affirmed that the selection followed the Customary Law of Kontagora Emirate and their decision was based on their own conviction without any undue influence.” Read more
James Bond star Daniel Craig gets Hollywood Walk of Fame star (BBC)
Daniel Craig has capped the launch week of his final James Bond movie by becoming the 2,704th celebrity to be honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in California.
It was unveiled outside 7007 Hollywood Boulevard, in honour of the fictional British spy’s code number.
Just yards away is the star of his predecessor as Bond, Sir Roger Moore.
Craig, who has played 007 since 2006, said it was an “absolute honour to be walked all over in Hollywood”.
The 53-year-old was introduced by Bond producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, along with his co-star in the latest 007 outing No Time To Die, Rami Malek. Read more
Gorilla dies in the arms of ranger who rescued her as an infant 14 years ago (Metro)
Ndakasi the mountain gorilla became known the world over for her adorable selfie with a park ranger in Congo.
The viral photo had people in stitches at the way Ndakasi mimics Mathieu Shamavu, who along with Andre Bauma, rescued her in 2007.
Andre found her clinging to the lifeless body of her mother after the militia wiped out her family while hunting for bushmeat.
At just two-months-old, Ndakasi was taken to the Senkwekwe Center in Virunga National Park to live and be rehabilitated with fellow orphaned gorilla Ndeze. Read more
Renée Zellweger wears fat suit while playing real-life killer on NBC series (PageSix)
Renée Zellweger was recently spotted on the set of the new NBC crime series, “The Thing About Pam,” where she stars as real-life convicted killer, Pam Hupp.
After years of yo-yo dieting to portray her “Bridget Jones” character, Zellweger, 52, decided to wear a fat suit to portray Hupp, who is currently serving life for the 2016 murder of Louis Gumpenberger.
Photos show the slim actress donning the plump bodysuit while on set in New Orleans, where she wore jeans and a large winter jacket while sipping on a soda in many shots.
The suit was also later pictured being carried by a wardrobe assistant.
The Oscar-winning actress may also be wearing a prosthetic nose in an effort to look more like Hupp, who — while serving a life sentence — recently pleaded not guilty to the murder of her friend Elizabeth “Betsy” Faria, who was stabbed 55 times in her Missouri home in 2011, The Daily Mail reports. Read more
Pakistan earthquake kills 20 in Balochistan province (BBC)
At least 20 people have been killed after an earthquake struck Pakistan’s Balochistan province early on Thursday, officials have told the BBC.
Authorities say the death toll may increase, and that many people were killed when structures collapsed.
Many of the dead were women and children, the Reuters news agency said.
The US Geological Survey said it was a 5.9 magnitude quake that struck at a shallow depth of 9km. Shallow quakes can cause more damage. Read more
Tom Cruise ‘learning to fly a WW2 fighter jet’ for Mission: Impossible 8 (Metro)
Tom Cruise just finished wrapping Mission: Impossible 7 but he’s not stopping there, as he’s said to be learning to fly a World War II fighter jet.
The star is going straight into filming Mission: Impossible 8, and it’s reported he’s going to be doing his best to pick up another high-flying skill.
We already know Cruise can pilot a helicopter – as he demonstrated when landing a couple’s garden in Warwickshire – as well as parachuting out of one.
But the actor will have to use all of his Top Gun skills if he wants to master an 80-year-old aircraft. Read more
US judge blocks enforcement of Texas abortion ban for now, after Biden’s DOJ sues to overturn law (RT)
A US federal judge has barred Texas from enforcing a newly passed bill that places heavier restrictions on abortion, siding with the Joe Biden administration after its Justice Department intervened with a suit to repeal the law.
In a 113-page ruling issued Wednesday, US District Judge Robert Pitman granted a DOJ request to hold off enforcement of the statewide abortion law, SB 8, which went into effect September 1 and effectively banned all abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy. SB 8 will now go unenforced as the issue plays out in the courts.
“From the moment SB 8 went into effect, women have been unlawfully prevented from exercising control over their lives in ways that are protected by the Constitution,” Pitman said in the decision, though left the matter to further litigation to settle it for good. Read more
Emma Raducanu: Johanna Konta ‘was watching in awe’ as teenager won Grand Slam (BBC)
Former British number one Johanna Konta was “watching in awe” as successor Emma Raducanu claimed the US Open title.
Raducanu, 18, has risen to 22nd in the world rankings after becoming the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam.
She is now in California, where she will compete as the 17th seed in the BNP Paribas Open.
“Because it’s never been done before, it’s going to be one of those captivating moments in sporting history,” Konta said of Raducanu’s win. Read more
WNBA star apologizes as team ‘axes her and teammate’ over wild food truck fight footage (RT)
A WNBA star has apologised after her team reportedly axed her and a teammate following a scandal over a video she shared of herself in a brawl at a food truck.
Atlanta Dream guard Courtney Williams has taken to social media to apologize for a near 40-minute video she posted on Sunday which featured a wild fight she was involved in earlier in 2021.
The video, which showed chaotic scenes as a mob of people launched punches at each other outside what was described as a daytime club, seems to have cost Williams and teammate Crystal Bradford their futures with the Dream, according to the pair’s agent, Marcus Crenshaw.
It is not clear what caused the brawl, which is also said to have included ex-teammate Kalani Brown and is believed to have occurred sometime in May. Read more
Newcastle takeover: Saudi Arabian-backed deal is close (BBC)
A Saudi Arabian takeover of Newcastle United is close to being agreed.
Approval from the Premier League could possibly come in the next 24 hours after a consortium proved the Saudi state would not have control of the club.
Instead the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is set to provide 80% of funds for the £300m deal, will be seen as separate to the state and therefore allow the takeover to pass the Premier League owners’ and directors’ test.
It was believed that a resolution came after Saudi Arabia settled an alleged piracy dispute with Qatar-based broadcaster beIN Sports, which own rights to show Premier League matches in the Middle East. Read more
Tammy Abraham reveals how Jose Mourinho convinced him to leave Chelsea for Roma (Metro)
Tammy Abraham admits he was initially reluctant to leave the Premier League and his boyhood club Chelsea but says Jose Mourinho convinced him that joining Roma was the right move.
The England international has scored four goals in ten games for Roma – while hitting the crossbar six times – since his £34m move from Stamford Bridge over the summer.
Abraham spent over a decade at Chelsea’s academy and then made 82 appearances – scoring 30 goals – for the first team after his debut in 2016.
The 24-year-old fell down the pecking order after Thomas Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard as manager midway through the 2020-21 season and barely featured as the Blues won the Champions League and reached the FA Cup final. Read more
Gavi: Can Barcelona’s shining light be the future for Spain too? (BBC)
When 17-year-old midfielder Gavi took to the field for his Spain debut against Italy in the Nations League on Wednesday it was for only the eighth senior appearance of his entire career.
But during the 83 minutes he was on the pitch in the 2-1 semi-final win, he played like someone with 20 times that number under his belt.
Barcelona fans had already seen evidence of his stellar close control, ability to run with the ball and a positional awareness and ability to find space that belies his years in the seven games he has played for their senior side.
But in Milan he brought that to a higher stage, undaunted and at times untouchable against the reigning European champions on a ground at which they had never lost. Read more
Bob Arum explains why he cancelled final Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder face-off (Metro)
Bob Arum believes it would have been irresponsible to allow Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder to face off during the final press conference ahead of their trilogy fight.
The heavyweight rivals, who will fight for the WBC world title in Las Vegas on Sunday, were set for a traditional staredown at the end of their final press conference on Wednesday.
But legendary boxing promoters Arum and Frank Warren, who represent Fury, called it off and the boxers departed at either side of the stage without coming face-to-face.
Arum was filmed discussing his concerns for the face-off shortly after the press conference finished and said: ‘They’re not f*****g dogs!’ Read more