US authorities alleges Abba Kyari connived with Hushpuppi (Guardian)
United States authorities, yesterday, said Nigeria’s top policeman, Abba Kyari, allegedly worked with international fraudster, Ramon Abass, also known as Hushpuppi, to punish the latter’s partner with whom he defrauded a Qatari to the tune of $1.1 million.
Kyari is a well-decorated Deputy Commissioner in the Nigeria Police Force.
The allegation came after Hushpuppi reportedly pleaded guilty to charges of fraud in an American court on Tuesday.
But Kyari had denied any wrongdoing, saying Hushpuppi’s partner was arrested after his office was called about a potential case of threat to life.
“Nobody demanded any money from Abbas Hushpuppi and nobody collected any money from him,” Kyari said. Read more
Tears, tributes at slain Super TV CEO’s service of songs (Nation)
It was a teary and solemn moment as family, friends, associates and other sympathisers gathered for the Service of songs in honour of the late CEO Super TV, Micheal Ataga.
The Nation reports Ataga was reportedly murdered in Lekki area of Lagos just few days to his 50th birthday.
Following his death, the Lagos Police Command arrested a 21-year-old UNILAG student Chidinma for allegedly killing him.
Sifo, as he was called by family and close associates, was born June 17, 1971 and founded Super TV. Read more
2 LAWMA officers crushed to death in Abule-Egba (Guardian)
Two female highway sweepers in the employ of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) were killed in the early hours of yesterday, in Abule-Egba area of the state.
The Guardian learnt the sweepers lost their lives on duty at around 7:00am on the Abule-Egba jubilee bridge when a fast moving vehicle knocked them down at high speed.
Though one of them reportedly died instantly as her head was smashed, the second victim, whose legs were broken, was left to groan without attention, before she was eventually taken to an undisclosed hospital at Ile-Epo, where she later died.
Though the area had been cleared by the time our correspondent got to the scene around 10:00a.m., the accident led to traffic gridlock on the axis, as crowd blocked the bridge and the road inward Oshodi in solidarity with the victims. Read more
Woman nabbed for assaulting 10-year-old houseboy in Lagos (Punch)
A woman, identified simply as Onyebuchi, has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly maltreating her 10-year-old houseboy, identified only as Daniel, in the Bode Thomas area of the state.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Onyebuchi sent Daniel to get fuel for her, but while on his way, a yet-to-be-identified good Samaritan approached the boy when he saw him writhing in pain from the injuries he sustained during an alleged maltreatment by the woman.
While being questioned by the good Samaritan, Daniel said in a footage posted by @ubifranklintriplemg on Instagram, “They used sticks to beat me,” but when asked who was responsible for his condition, he said, “One person, who is my aunt.”
He added that he had not eaten a that day. Read more
5 arrested for snatching car, corps member’s phone at gunpoint in Lagos (Punch)
Men of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested three suspects for allegedly dispossessing a man of his Lexus car at gunpoint in the Ikorodu area of the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement on Thursday that the suspects were arrested after an encounter with men of the Police Mobile Force Squadron 63 in Ikorodu.
He stated that a locally-made pistol, one expended cartridge, other weapons, a Toyota Camry car and the snatched Lexus car were recovered from the suspects.
Adejobi said, “Men of the Lagos State Police Command’s Special Squad, Ikeja, have arrested three suspected armed robbers, two weeks after they snatched a Lexus car at gunpoint in the Ikorodu area of the state on July 11, 2021. Read more
Abba Kyari: PDP calls for investigation (Nation)
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for full forensic investigation into reports the United States (US) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has linked the head of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team, DCP Abba Kyari, to international serial fraudster, Abbas Ramon, popularly known as Hushpuppi.
A court in the United States where Hushpuppi is standing trial for cybercrime and money laundering, had linked Kyari to some alleged unethical monetary dealings with Huspuppi and called for the police officer’s arrest and prosecution.
In a statement on Thursday by spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party described the allegation against Kyari as worrisome, disturbing and a stain on the integrity of the nation. Read more
Man faking madness caught with N250,000, three iPhones, women underwear in Ogun (Punch)
An alleged mentally unstable man has been beaten to a pulp by residents of Mowe in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State for allegedly being in possession of a huge sum of money and three phones.
It was gathered that the suspect, who stays under the bridge in the area on the pretext of being mentally unstable, was on a call with an unknown person on Thursday when the residents caught him.
PUNCH Metro learnt that when he was asked by the residents where he got the phone from, he could not give a satisfactory answer.
An attempt by the man to escape was prevented and checks on his belongings revealed the sum of N250,000, three iPhones and women underwear, which made the residents to beat him to a pulp. Read more
Teni releases new music “Dorime” (Guardian)
The ‘sugar mummy’ of Lagos, Teni Makaaki is back with a new single titled “Dorime.”
The multiple award-winning singer earlier teased a snippet of the song and she is now satisfying anticipation with its release.
Dorime is produced by fast-rising beatmaker Damayo, and serves as her first official single for 2021 since the release of “Wondaland.”
The slang “Dorime Ameno” is from a single titled “Ameno” that was released in 1996 by Era, a new-age music project by French composer Eric Lévi. Read more
BBNaija Shine Ya Eye: Biggie reveals ‘wildcards’ (Nation)
Biggie has revealed the ‘wildcards’ in the BBNaija 2021 Shine Ya Eye Edition.
They are Maria and Pere.
During a special Diary Session with Housemates on Thursday, Biggie asked Maria and Pere how they feel knowing they are the ‘wildcards’.
Wildcards are fake housemates of the show whose only purpose is to provide entertainment and serve as pawns of Big Brother in the House. Read more
Scarlett Johansson sues Disney over streaming of Black Widow (BBC)
Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson is suing Disney for breach of contract for streaming her film Black Widow at the same time as its cinema release.
The superhero film set a box office record for the Covid-19 pandemic when it came out this month, grossing $218m (£157m) on its first weekend.
But box office receipts then fell sharply and Ms Johansson argues she was deprived of potential earnings.
Disney did not comment immediately on the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles. Read more
Covid-19: Biden tells states to offer $100 vaccine incentive as cases rise
(BBC)
US President Joe Biden has called for states to offer $100 (£71) to the newly vaccinated in an effort to address flagging jab rates amid virus surges.
The president also issued a strict new vaccine requirement for US federal workers, the nation’s largest workforce with some two million people.
The order requires employees to show proof of vaccination or be subjected to mandatory testing and masking.
Just under half of the US is fully vaccinated, according to official data. Read more
Saudi Arabia to allow vaccinated tourists to visit after 17-month Covid closure (France24)
Saudi Arabia announced Friday it would reopen its borders to fully vaccinated foreign tourists after a 17-month closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, the state news agency said.
However, Riyadh did not announce any lifting of restrictions on the umrah, a pilgrimage that can be undertaken at any time, which usually attracts millions of Muslims from across the globe each year.
“The Ministry of Tourism announced that the Kingdom will open its doors to foreign tourists, and lift… the suspension of entry for tourist visa holders, starting from August 1,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.
It said travellers fully vaccinated with Saudi-approved jabs — Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson — will be able to enter the kingdom “without the need for an institutional quarantine period”, provided they also have proof of a negative PCR Covid-19 test taken within the last 72 hours and register their details with health authorities. Read more
Shakira to face trial over ‘£13,000,000 tax evasion in Spain’ (Metro)
Shakira may face trial in Spain for allegedly evading €14.5million (£13m) in tax.
A judge has ruled that there are ‘sufficient indications’ for the Colombian popstar to go to trial, after being accused of six offences by Spanish prosecutors.
Should she be found guilty, the star could face jail time.
Prosecutors claim that the 44-year-old stopped paying taxes in Spain in 2012, 2013 and 2014, and used shell companies to conceal control of assets between 2012 and 2014, with her name only appearing on forms in countries considered tax havens.
The Hips Don’t Lie singer, full name Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, claims that between 2012 and 2014, her fiscal residence was in the Bahamas, and as such, she should not have had to pay Spanish income tax – known as IRPF. Read more
Coronavirus: Israel to give third jab to people aged over 60 (BBC)
Israel will become the first country to offer a third dose of Covid vaccines to people aged over 60, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has said.
Those who got their second jab at least five months ago would be eligible for a Pfizer booster from Sunday, he said.
President Isaac Herzog, who turns 61 in September, will be the first to get the booster on Friday.
This comes amid a surge in infections in Israel, and global concern over the highly contagious Delta variant. Read more
Lady Gaga dares to pair nine-inch heels with black leotard in New York (Metro)
Lady Gaga is certainly not one to be messed with, especially when it comes to her fashion choices.
And if that means that she will be wearing mega stiletto heels around the streets of New York, then so be it
The Bad Romance singer put on a showstopping display in the Chelsea area of the city, wearing an amazing outfit that is almost a hailback to the earlier stages of her career.
Gaga donned a black leotard with a turban scarf wrapped around her waist and head, while wearing a tuxedo blazer as a cape around her shoulders. Read more
Man Utd friendly at Preston called off after Covid outbreak (BBC)
Manchester United’s pre-season friendly at Preston on Saturday has been called off after “small number of positive” Covid-19 cases were identified at the Premier League club.
United drew 2-2 against Brentford on Wednesday and detected cases following routine testing of the first team.
Individuals are now isolating pending the results of further tests.
United say they have cancelled the game at Preston as a “precautionary measure based on Covid protocols”. Read more
Officials lied about my whereabouts, says disqualified Echikunwoke (Punch)
African women’s hammer record holder, Annette Echikunwoke, has refuted reports that Nigeria’s US-based athletes were disqualified from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics because they failed to reveal their whereabouts to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.
A total of 10 Nigerian athletes — including Echikunwoke — were disqualified from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on Wednesday by the Athletics Integrity Unit after they failed to meet the required three out-of-competition tests.
An official of the AFN, who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity on Wednesday, said many of the US-based athletes failed to disclose their whereabouts as requested for dope tests to be carried out.
In an interview with our correspondent, Echikunwoke accused the AFN of being negligent, which she insisted led to their disqualification from the Olympics. Read more
Nigeria begins medal charge in athletics (Guardian)
Despite the disqualification of some Nigerian athletes at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, two of the country’s medal hopefuls, Blessing Okagbare and Grace Nwokocha, will take to the tracks today in the women’s 100 metres.
Okagbare and Nwokocha are heading straight to the heats and will not be going through the rigours of competing in the preliminary rounds of the 100m.
Okagbare made her debut at the Olympics in 2008 at the Beijing Games where she won a bronze medal in the women’s long jump. The 32-year-old has since been a permanent fixture at subsequent Olympic Games, getting to the 100m final at the London Games in 2012 but placing 8th.
Okagbare has been on fire since the start of the year and shortly after winning her eighth national title at the Yabatech Sports Complex, Lagos, said she is looking forward to a glorious outing in Tokyo. Read more
Joe Hart: Celtic interested in signing Tottenham’s former England goalkeeper (BBC)
Celtic are interested in former England international Joe Hart as they attempt to address their goalkeeping problems.
Hart, 34, has played 10 times since joining Tottenham on a two-year deal last summer, but only in cup games.
Vasilis Barkas and Scott Bain both played a leg of Celtic’s Champions League defeat by Midtjylland but neither seems set to be first choice.
The major stumbling block will be whether Celtic can offer a package large enough to attract Hart. Read more
Nigerian officials, athletes clash over Samsung phone gifts (Punch)
Athletes amd officials of Team Nigeria at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games are reportedly at loggerheads over phones given to athletes from each participating country by Samsung.
Samsung, who are one of the sponsors of the Olympics, gave a phone – Samsung S20+ 5G Olympics Games Athlete Edition – which costs over $1,000, to each athlete competing at the Olympics.
Our correspondent gathered that the procedure for collecting the phone was that each athlete was meant to go to Samsung office in Tokyo, scan with the Olympics accreditation tag and collect the phone.
But Team Nigeria officials reportedly collected the phone in bulk for all the athletes representing the country. Read more
D’Tigress seek redemption against France as Japan host U.S. in crunch tie (Guardian)
It is crunch time for D’Tigress. The Nigerian women basketball team was seen as potential medallists at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, but they got a rude awakening on Tuesday from the United States, who defeated them in their opening game.
That loss, although expected following the pedigree of the Americans, put some question marks on the ability of the girls to stand up to Tokyo 2020 demands. Some pundits felt that D’Tigress did not put up much resistance against the world champions.
This morning, Nigeria is faced with a game many people expect them to win as their opponents, France, have shown a soft underbelly that D’Tigress should capitalize on for victory.France lost their opening game 74-70 to Japan and like Nigeria, need victory today to retain any hope of making the second round. Read more