UNILAG: Buhari suspends Babalakin, Ogundipe, sacks acting VC (Guardian)
The Federal Government has directed the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Wale Babalakin, to recuse himself from official duties relating to the institution.
Spokesman of the Ministry of Education, Ben Goong, who broke the news in a statement yesterday, said Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe was also directed to recuse himself as Vice-Chancellor, adding that a panel has been set up to probe the crisis rocking UNILAG.
The panel, which is chaired by Tukur Sa’ad, former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, has Victor Onuoha, Ikenna Oyindo, Ekanem Braide, Adamu Usman, and Jimoh Bankole as members. Read more
Hoodlums stab Lagos motorist to death defending a jaywalker (Punch)
When 29-year-old Sadiq Ayanshola left his house for work on Saturday, August 1, he sadly did not know it would be his last day on earth.
Ayanshola lived on Prince Ademola Street, Ogunojule Egan, in the Igando area of Lagos State, and worked as a motor mechanic. The curtains drew on the man’s life on the evening of that Saturday after hoodlums stabbed him in the chest during an argument in the Igando area and he died.
It is not an uncommon occurrence in a densely populated state like Lagos to come across two or more motorists arguing fiercely (in road rage) or even attempting to beat up one another over car dent and road related issues. Read more
News of impending flood sends jitters across Ogun, Lagos communities (Guardian)
For residents of flood-prone areas in Lagos and Ogun states, they are used to seasonal flooding and only pray for it to be for a while. Indeed, they have devised means of overcoming the yearly challenge.
But prediction that there might be heavy rain later this month and September, as well as staggered release of water from Oyan Dam, which could negatively impact their communities, had been taken in good fate, even though they now sleep with one eye open. News of the impending calamity did not come to them as a surprise, as they had anticipated that their communities would get flooded, having been experiencing yearly flood since 2018.
The amount of water that could pour in, however, is making many of them worried than before. The fact that their communities were not flooded yet only gave them a relief and reduced their trauma. Indeed, they are ready to weather the flood of pains that will come with the heavy rain and release of dam water. Read more
Father defiles 15-year-old daughter to test her virginity (Punch)
A 40-year-old man, Gbenga Taiwo, has been arrested by the police for allegedly defiling his daughter, Folake (not real name).
Taiwo, a widower, and his 15-year-old daughter live together in a rented apartment at Baruwa, Ipaja area of Lagos State.
City Round learnt that the father had been constantly molesting the girl since she was 13 by dipping his fingers into her private parts.
Folake, having got tired of the molestation, was said to have reported his father to their landlord who warned Taiwo to desist from the act. Read more
Ogundipe withdraws suit against Babalakin, others (Guardian)
Embattled Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, has filed a notice of discontinuance in a suit challenging his sack from the position.
The decision to withdraw the case, according to his lawyers, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) and Ebun Adegboruwa (SAN), followed his deference to the authority of the Visitor to the university, President Muhammadu Buhari.
He, however, clarified that the National Industrial Court (NIC), which he earlier approached, had neither sat nor conducted any proceedings in respect of the matter.
The institution’s Governing Council, chaired by Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), purportedly removed Ogundipe. Read more
SEC partners stakeholders to resolve multi-billion Naira unclaimed dividends, says Yuguda (Guardian)
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Friday said it would work with all capital market stakeholders to tackle the issue of unclaimed dividends, valued at N158.44 billion as at December 2019.
Dr Lamido Yuguda, SEC Director-General, disclosed this at the post-Capital Market Committee news briefing organised by the commission virtually.
Yuguda said the commission would work with the registrars, stockbrokers as well as the Central Securities Clearing System to resolve the issue of unclaimed dividends in the market.He noted that SEC would work with the registrars to make it easier for shareholders to be unbundled into e-dividend system. Read more
Edo 2020: DSS invites 10 APC chieftains (Vanguard)
The Department of State Service has invited ten leaders of the APC for a meeting Saturday in its office in Benin City.
The letter by the secret service dated 20th Augusts 2020 with reference No 171/B/122 addressed to Tony Adun (Aka Kabaka) reads: “I am directed to invite you to an important meeting with the State Director of Security.
“You are to come with the following persons: Osakpamwan Eriyo, National Chairman, RTEAN, Ehis Adams, APC Leader Oredo, Osaro Idahosa, APC Leader, Ikpoba-Okha, Okunbor Roberts, APC Leader, Ovia South West LGA, Atarodo, APC member, Kingsley Amedo, APC member, Richard Obe, APC member, Osarobo Idehen, APC member, Dr Emma, APC member.” Read more
My father wants to meet my boyfriend, says Omo Ibadan (Punch)
Popular skit maker and actress, Adeyela Adebola, popular called Lizzy Jay or Omo Ibadan, has said she’s not in a hurry to get married even though her parents are eager to meet her man.
The actress, who said she was not being choosy, explianed that she didn’t have unrealistic expectations from a man, however, she would like a fine man that is taller than her.
In an interview with Saturday Beats, Lizzy Jay said, “I am not in a hurry to get married. I really love babies and I’ve always dreamt of having my own kids but I’m not in a rush. I want to take things one at a time. A lovely relationship first of all before marriage. My parents are not putting me under pressure to get married but they remind me that I’m not getting younger. Read more
Mali opposition, military join rally to celebrate Keita’s removal (Aljazeera)
Mali’s opposition supporters have flooded into Bamako’s central square to celebrate the military overthrow of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, which their leaders hailed as a “victory of the Malian people”.
Thousands on Friday gathered in the capital’s Independence Square, the birthplace of a months-long protest movement, many of them draped in Mali’s national flag and blasting on vuvuzela horns.
They rallied three days after mutinying troops seized the country’s 75-year-old president, forced him to announce his resignation and unveiled a military government that would rule until a “transitional president” takes over. Read more
Gandhi’s glasses left in letterbox sell for £260k (BBC)
The glasses had been worn by Gandhi on a trip to South Africa
A pair of Mahatma Gandhi’s glasses have sold for £260,000 after they were found sticking halfway out of an auction house’s letterbox.
The spectacles were bought through a phone bid from an American collector after six minutes of bidding on Friday.
Auctioneer Andrew Stowe said it was a new record for East Bristol Auctions and described it as “the star lot of the century”.
The glasses had been expected to sell for about £15,000. Read more
Brayden Harrington says Joe Biden helped him with stutter in ‘inspiring’ speech at Democratic National Convention (news.com.au)
A boy’s speech at the 2020 Democratic Convention has brought viewers to tears and inspired others, as he explained how Joe Biden bonded with him over having a stutter.
13-year-old Brayden Harrington addressed the convention, and whatever your politics, I think you can agree he was the most inspiring speaker of the night.
Like Joe Biden, Brayden stutters, but he fought through that to deliver his speech. Read more
UK government spending on virus measures pushes debt to £2t (BBC)
UK government debt has risen above £2 trillion for the first time amid heavy spending to support the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Spending on measures such as the furlough scheme means the debt figure now equals the value of everything the UK produces in a year.
Total debt hit £2.004tn in July, £227.6bn more than last year, said the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Economists warned the situation would worsen before improving. Read more
Coronavirus pandemic could be over within two years – WHO head (BBC)
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) says he hopes the coronavirus pandemic will be over in under two years.
Speaking in Geneva on Friday, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the Spanish flu of 1918 took two years to overcome.
But he added that current advances in technology could enable the world to halt the virus “in a shorter time”.
“Of course with more connectiveness, the virus has a better chance of spreading,” he said. Read more
At least one person killed, multiple hospitalised, as Spanish hotel consumed by fire (RT)
At least one person was killed and 10 people were treated for smoke inhalation, four of which were hospitalized, after a major fire at a hotel in Puerto Banus, Spain.
Responding firefighters discovered the remains of a tourist in their room while carrying out a search of the building after the fire had been brought under control. A police spokesperson said the as yet unidentified man died “while trying to escape the flames.”
Some media are reporting guests were forced to leap from balconies following an explosion. Read more
Lori Loughlin, husband sentenced in college admissions bribery scheme Social Sharing (CBC)
Full House actor Lori Loughlin must serve two months in prison and her fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli, must serve five months for paying half a million dollars in bribes to get their two daughters into the University of Southern California as rowing recruits, a federal judge ruled Friday.
U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton accepted Loughlin’s plea deal with prosecutors in a hearing held via videoconference because of the coronavirus pandemic after sentencing her husband in an earlier hearing.
Both Loughlin and Giannulli were ordered to surrender Nov. 19. Read more
Sevilla beat Inter Milan to win record sixth Europa League title (BBC)
Europa League kings Sevilla won the tournament for a record sixth time thanks to victory over Inter Milan in a thrilling final in Cologne.
The drama started when Sevilla defender Diego Carlos fouled Romelu Lukaku for an Inter penalty – and ended when Lukaku deflected Carlos’ bicycle kick into his own net.
It means Inter Milan’s wait for a trophy will tick over into a 10th year at least.
Lukaku gave the Italian side an early lead from the penalty spot for his 34th goal of the season, extending his record of scoring in consecutive Europa League games to 11. Read more
Eyes on Lisbon as PSG, Bayern Munich battle in Champions League final (Guardian)
Attention of football fans across the globe will be on the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica in Lisbon, Portugal, tomorrow for another exciting moment of soccer, as the final of the 2020 UEFA Champions League holds.
The venue also known as the Estádio da Luz (Stadium of Light), the home of 37-time Portuguese champions, Benfica, was rebuilt to host games (including the final) of UEFA EURO 2004, and also staged the 2014 UEFA Champions League final, in which Real Madrid beat city rivals Atlético 4-1 after extra time to become European champions for a tenth time.
It promises to be an epic showdown between French and German continental heavyweights, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich. Read more
Raptors president Ujiri thankful for support over a ‘racist’ incident (BBC)
The president of the Toronto Raptors basketball team, Masai Ujiri, says an incident with a law enforcement officer moments before his team lifted their first NBA title last year happened because ‘I am black’.
The 50-year-old is a former player and was born in the UK to a Nigerian father and a Kenyan mother, lived in Nigeria before moving to north America.
Footage of altercation involving Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri
His comments follow newly-released body cam footage from US Sheriff’s Deputy Alan Strickland, who had previously claimed that Ujiri was the aggressor. Read more
Teams with 2 positive coronavirus cases will be banned from the Tour de France (RT)
The spectre of COVID-19 looms large over the teams preparing for the Tour de France, with team staff confirming that organizers will rule out any teams with two or more positive cases of coronavirus.
The news that teams with two positive cases would be removed from the field was first reported by cycling news site Velonews, and their story was subsequently confirmed to news outlet Reuters by two team directors ahead of the race.
“The measure was announced to us at the Criterium du Dauphine,” one unnamed sports director told Reuters. Read more
Defending champion Shibuno set to miss cut at Women’s Open (BBC)
Defending champion Hinako Shibuno is set to miss the cut at the Women’s Open, finishing 12 over par after two rounds.
The Japanese 21-year-old captured the hearts of golf fans as she won at Woburn in 2019 when playing outside her home country for the first time.
But she struggled in blustery, wet conditions at Royal Troon, hitting a seven-over-par 78 in the second round.
It leaves her well outside the projected cut of six over. Read more
Toronto FC defeats Whitecaps for 2nd time in a week, extend unbeaten run to 17 (CBC)
As far as Richie Laryea is concerned, it’s mental toughness that has Toronto FC on the verge of history.
Laryea’s goal early in the match was all Toronto FC needed in a dominant 1-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Friday night at BMO Field. The victory stretched TFC’s regular-season unbeaten streak to 17 games.
“I think it just comes down to being a very resilient group. This group fights to the end,” said Laryea. “This is a very big club in this league so guys want to compete for trophies every single year.”
Toronto’s streak is the fifth-longest in Major League Soccer history and is two away from tying the 2004-05 Columbus Crew and 2010 Dallas FC for the record. Toronto ended last year’s regular season on a 10-game unbeaten streak and has gone 4-0-3 this year. Read more