UNILAG alumnus bags 50-years imprisonment for raping student on campus (Nation)
An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Monday sentenced John Otema, an alumnus of the University of Lagos, to 50-years imprisonment for raping a 19-year-old student of the institution on campus.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 34-year-old Otema, a quantity surveyor and facilities manager, was charged before Justice Abiola Soladoye with three counts of rape and assault occasioning harm on two female students.
He was found guilty on two-counts of rape and assault occasioning harm in respect of the rape of the 19-year-old student (Student X) and was, however, found not guilty on a charge of raping a 20-year-old student (Student Y) of the institution. Read more
Outrage as truck crushes Okada rider to death on Lagos/Ibadan Expressway (Vanguard)
There was outrage, on Monday at the Ogun State axis of Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, following the death of a male Okada rider allegedly crushed to death by a truck.
The incident occurred at about 11 am, at Olowotedo, adjacent a new generation church camp, inbound Lagos State.
The tragedy was recorded when a hit and run car reportedly hit the Okada rider with number plate WDE415VD, from the rear, such that it summersault and ended up being crushed by the truck with number plate XA539BBJ also travelling in the same direction.
Pandemonium later broke out, as some miscreants were said to have rushed to the scene and took the law into their hands by attacking road users and vandalising vehicles at sight, in vengeance. Read more
How we clone SIM cards to transfer money from bank accounts of deceased VIPs, syndicate confesses (Guardian)
Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) at the weekend, botched the transfer of N25 million from a local bank account and $220,000 from an international account with the arrest of a seven-man fraud syndicate based in Lagos.
The arrest by the decoy team of RRS few days ago was based on intelligence received on the activities of a fraud syndicate based in Lagos and led by one Osita Nwafor, aka Ossy.
45-year-old Nwafor was apprehended in the gang’s hideout after a technical analysis of the details of the gang and its activities by the commander in charge of RRS, Tunji Disu, a Deputy Commissioner of Police. His arrest facilitated the subsequent arrest of six other members of the gang in different parts of the state. Read more
Ogundipe spent UNILAG funds recklessly, varsity council alleges (Punch)
The Dr Wale-Babalakin-led Governing Council of the University of Lagos says the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Toyin Ogundipe, was sacked for his alleged reckless spending of the varsity’s funds and breach of due process.
The allegations were contained in a statement titled, “I prefer to be probed by Professor of Public Sector Accounting, not Chemistry lecturer, says Prof Ogundipe in defence at UNILAG Council Meeting.”
According to the council, the Dr Saminu Dagara-led committee that probed Ogundipe reported that the VC and some members of his management team spent N57.9m on foreign trips, while they purchased two vehicles for N52.08m using “a contract splitting device that is very illegal.” Read more
‘Review transport fares, structures on Oshodi-Abule Egba BRT corridor’ (Guardian)
Commuters plying the recently inaugurated Oshodi-Abule Egba Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor have urged the Lagos State government to review the fares and structures to enhance patronage and movement.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had, last Tuesday, inaugurated the 13.6km BRT corridor, deploying 550 high and medium-capacity buses, and introducing an upgraded e-ticketing system to reduce travel time for residents and visitors in the commercial city.
A few days after the inauguration, activities have yet to begin in full capacity despite the 550 buses deployed in the axis. The few vehicles on the road were traced to the low turnout of commuters at the terminal due to poor awareness. Read more
Shoprite battles $10m judgment debt, barred from transferring assets (Punch)
The Federal High Court in Lagos has made an order of mareva injunction stopping Shoprite Checkers (PTY) Limited from disposing of or transferring its assets out of jurisdiction over a $10m judgment debt.
Shoprite has announced its plan to exit Nigeria.
The mareva injunction made by Justice Mohammed Liman was in favour of a Nigerian firm, A.I.C. Limited, which in 2018, secured a $10m judgment against Shoprite in a breach of contract lawsuit.
According to court papers, the $10m judgment was entered in favour of A.I.C. Limited against Shoprite by Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja.
Displeased with the judgment, Shoprite went on appeal but it equally lost at the Court of Appeal and has gone to the Supreme Court. Read more
Bayelsa tribunal Chairman affirms Gov Diri’s election, disagrees with majority judgement (Vanguard)
Chairman of the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo, has distanced himself from majority judgement of the tribunal that nullified the election of Governor Duoye Diri.
Justice Sirajo, who delivered a dissenting judgement shortly after two other Justices on the three-member panel tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to within 90 days, conduct a fresh poll in Bayelsa State, affirmed governor Diri’s election.
The two other members of the panel, Justices Owei Woniwei and Yunusa Musa had in their decisions, voided the outcome of the election that held in the state on November 16, 2019, over the exclusion of one of the registered political parties, Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party, ANDP, in the contest. Read more
Nigeria suffers highest inflation rate since March 2018 (Guardian)
Nigeria’s inflation rate grew to 12.82% (year-on-year) in July, compared to 12.56% recorded in June 2020, the statistics office said on Monday.
The National Bureau of Statistics report shows that July Consumer Price Index rose by about 0.26 percent points higher than the 12.56 per cent recorded in June, indicating the highest rate since March 2018.
Nigeria’s inflation, a measure of living costs, has consistently increased for 11-months, rising from 11.02% in August 2019 to 12.82% in July 2020. Read more
I’ll appeal judgment nullifying Bayelsa election – Diri (Punch)
The Bayelsa State Governor, Mr Douye Diri, will appeal Monday’s ruling of the governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja, which nullified his election.
Diri said he has, consequently, instructed his lawyers to file the necessary papers.
He spoke shortly after the tribunal ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission wrongly excluded the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party governorship candidate in the 2009 election. Read more
Mother, 40, charged with murder of son, 10 (Metro)
The wife of a celebrity photographer has been charged with murdering their 10-year-old son. Olga Freeman, 40, will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court today, after her son Dylan was found dead at a property in Acton, west London.
She was charged after a woman walked into a police station in the early hours of Sunday to speak to officers.
A short while later at around 2.30am, police went to the family home and found Dylan’s body. Neighbours said Dylan had several disabilities, was unable to speak and used a wheelchair. One said he heard a ‘childish scream’ in the middle of Sunday night. Read more
Farmer accused of leaving dead animals on neighbour’s grave (NYPost)
An Arkansas farmer was arrested last week for allegedly defacing the grave of his former neighbour with the blood of dead animals he repeatedly left on the headstone, a report said.
Joseph Stroud, 78, is accused of dressing up disguised as a woman to leave the carcasses at the resting place of his long-time nemesis Fred McKinney, KNWA reported, citing arrest records.
McKinney’s granddaughter, Shannon Nobles, first noticed the dead animals in May — and at least one of them left a brown stain on McKinney’s headstone.
Nobles reported the findings to police in July. The family later set up cameras surrounding the grave. Read more
Ewan McGregor to give ex-wife half of movie, TV royalties in divorce (news.com.au)
Details of Ewan McGregor’s contentious divorce have emerged, with the star set to give his ex-wife half of the multi-million fortune he earned during his acting career – including his blockbuster Star Wars movies.
The Trainspotting star agreed to split with Eve Mavrakis any of his royalties from all of the movies and TV shows before their break-up in May 2017 – when the actor was seen kissing Fargo co-star Mary Elizabeth Winstead – according to a judgment seen by People magazine.
It also includes half the $4.2 million he earned for Christopher Robin which came out in 2018, a year after the high-profile split, the magazine said. Read more
How long does COVID-19 immunity last after infection? It’s bad news (Metro)
As work on a vaccine continues, many are wondering how long immunity lasts for those who have already contracted the coronavirus. Scientists haven’t been able to provide a definitive answer as the coronavirus hasn’t been around long enough to tell. But there are a few warning signs that don’t look good. For starters, the European Centre for Disease Control says its best estimate is up to 52 weeks. On its website, it states: ‘The longevity of the antibody response is still unknown, but it is known that antibodies to other coronaviruses wane over time (range: 12 – 52 weeks from the onset of symptoms) and homologous re-infections have been shown.’ Read more
Rapper Master P to pay for funeral of young girl shot in dollhouse (NYPost)
Rapper and businessman Master P said he will pay for the funeral of a 3-year-old Kentucky girl who was fatally shot along with her father.
Trinity Randolph and her 21-year-old father, Brandon Waddles, died of multiple gunshot wounds Friday in Louisville, the Jefferson County coroner’s office said in a statement.
The statement listed the deaths as homicides. Police have released no information on details of the shooting or information on possible suspects. Read more
Taylor Swift slams Donald Trump over mail voting, ‘cheating’ in US election (news.com.au)
Music star Taylor Swift has unleashed on Donald Trump, accusing the US President of deliberately “dismantling” his country’s Postal Service in an effort to “destroy” Americans’ right to vote.
The United States is currently mired in a political stand-off over mail-in voting.
Mr Trump’s opponents, the Democrats, are pushing for expanded access to mail voting, which they argue would allow Americans to cast ballots in November’s presidential election without risking exposure to coronavirus.
The President, on the other hand, believes a rise in the number of people voting by mail will lead to widespread fraud. Read more
Facebook’s algorithm ‘promotes’ content denying Holocaust, study says (NYPost)
Facebook is rife with Holocaust-denial content, and its algorithm “actively promotes” the material, according to a new analysis.
The UK-based Institute for Strategic Dialogue, an anti-extremist organization, scoured the social-media site and discovered at least 36 groups with a combined 366,068 followers hosting content denying the Nazi genocide, The Guardian reported Sunday.
Upon following a group with such content, Facebook recommended others of a similar ilk, the study found.
The ISD also found that searching for “Holocaust” on Facebook returned suggestions for groups denying the atrocity, which in turn linked to publishers peddling revisionist history literature. Read more
Mikel arrives Stoke for medical (Punch)
John Obi Mikel has arrived Stoke City for a medical ahead of a move to the Sky Bet Championship side.
He was pictured arriving at the club around 11:15 am on Monday.
The picture of the former Nigeria international, which circulated on social media, showed him heading to the club’s Clayton Wood training ground.
The 33-year-old is a free agent following his departure from Trabzonspor in March.
Stoke City are set to sign former Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi on a one-year deal. Read more
Lionel Messi tells Barcelona he wants to leave club now (Metro)
Lionel Messi has reportedly told the Barcelona board he wants to leave the club now unless sweeping changes are made.
Barcelona are still reeling from a humiliating 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals and there is now a reckoning looming over the Spanish club.
Esporte Interativo claim Messi has told Barcelona chiefs he will leave the club this summer unless significant changes are made. Read more
US Open: Simona Halep decides not to play Grand Slam in New York (BBC)
World number two Simona Halep is the latest leading women’s player to withdraw from the US Open.
Romanian Halep is the sixth top 10 player to opt out of the Grand Slam, which will be played behind closed doors in New York from 31 August.
“I always said I would put my health at the heart of my decision,” she said.
Canada’s defending champion Bianca Andreescu and Australian world number one Ashleigh Barty are among the other big names to have pulled out. Read more
Man with ‘obsession’ for WWE star Sonya Deville arrested for breaking into her home (NYPost)
A man with a “disturbing obsession” for WWE star Sonya Deville was arrested Sunday morning after breaking into her Florida home, according to a report.
After more than eight months of planning, Phillip Thomas, 24, allegedly traveled from South Carolina to Deville’s home in Lutz, Fl., with the intent of taking the professional wrestler hostage, police said.
Without identifying Deville, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said the homeowner was specifically targeted in the 2:45 a.m. break-in. Read more
Washington Football Team: Jason Wright becomes NFL’s first black team president (BBC)
The Washington Football Team have appointed Jason Wright as their new president – making him the NFL’s first black team president.
Wright, 38, is a former running back for the Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals.
His appointment comes a month after the franchise announced they would drop the team name ‘Redskins’, a term offensive to Native Americans.
“This team, at this time, is an ideal opportunity for me,” said Wright. Read more
‘No coincidence’: German coaches dominate Champions League semis (Guardian)
Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick is hoping for a rendezvous with compatriots Julian Nagelsmann or Thomas Tuchel in Sunday’s Champions League final as three German coaches contest the last four for the first time.
Having demolished Barcelona 8-2 in Friday’s jaw-dropping quarter-final, Bayern now face French side Lyon on Wednesday for a place in the final.
The other berth will be decided when Flick’s fellow German coaches Nagelsmann and Tuchel go head-to-head in Tuesday’s other semi-final between RB Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain. Read more