We stopped EFCC from planting foreign currency in Ambode’s house —Lawyers (Punch)
Three lawyers who claimed to have witnessed EFCC’s raid on the Epe residence of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday, alleged that they stopped the anti-graft officials from “planting foreign currency” in the house. The lawyers — Fatai Adebanjo, Busari Olanrewaju and Samson Okuneye — in a joint statement on Tuesday, said operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission wanted to stop them (lawyers) from being a part of the search. They said the operatives allowed them into the house after they had engaged them in arguments. Read more
Wadume claims soldiers helped him escape (Guardian)
A notorious kidnap suspect Hamisu Bala Wandume has indicted the Nigerian Army in his confession statement at the Police Headquarters in Abuja. Wadume claimed that the troops helped him escape when he was earlier arrested by the police on August 6. “I’m Hamisu Bala aka Wadume, police came to Ibbi and arrested me,” Wadume said in a confessional video. “On our way, soldiers followed us and opened fire on them. As a result some policemen were killed.” Read more
Sowore: DSS challenges court order granting only 45-day detention (Punch)
The Department of State Services has challenged the Federal High Court order allowing it to detain Mr. Omoyele Sowore, Convener, #RevolutionNow protests, for 45 days, against its request of 90 days pending investigation. The DSS argued that its investigation so far revealed that #RevolutionNow was a smokescreen for the actual intention of Sowore and his allies “to topple the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” Read more
Southeast governors wants Buhari to delay airport closure, ban herdsmen (Guardian)
Nigeria’s South-East Governors Forum (SGF) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to delay the closure of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, and act against causes of insecurity in the region. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Saturday announced that it will close the airport’s runway for major repairs. Read more
Buhari announces new heads of MDAs (Punch)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday named new heads of some Federal Government agencies. The new appointees replaced their predecessors, who were appointed as ministers by the President. A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, on Tuesday contained the appointments. Read more
Nigeria calls for closer military ties with Bangladesh (Guardian)
The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas, on Tuesday called for closer military cooperation between Nigeria and Bangladesh. A statement by Commodore Suleiman Dahun, the Navy’s Director of Information, on Tuesday in Abuja, said Ibas made the call when he received Mr Shameem Ahsan, the Bangladesh High Commissioner to Nigeria in Abuja. Ibas said that Nigeria valued its relationship with friendly countries like Bangladesh, noting that many Nigerian officers have trained in that country. Read more
SARS operatives shoot dead suspected phone thieves in Lagos (Punch)
A video posted on the social media has revealed the moment operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad shot dead two suspected phone thieves. The incident reportedly happened in Igando area of Lagos. The video shows two of the suspects handcuffed to each other as an officer approaches with a third suspect. The man recording the video is heard identifying the suspects as he gloats over their arrest. Read more
I’m in governorship race to transform Kogi – Audu (Guardian)
Alh. Yahaya Audu, a governorship aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi, says he is in the race to transform and better the lives of people of the state. Audu, younger brother to a former governor of the state, the late Abubakar Audu, said this on Tuesday shortly after submitting his expression of interest and nomination forms at the APC National Secretariat on Tuesday in Abuja. Read more
Top South African judge who openly declared HIV status retires (Guardian)
A South African Constitutional Court judge and gay rights activist who openly disclosed his HIV status despite at a time it is highly stigmatised retired on Tuesday. Edwin Cameron, 66, who hung up his gown after 25 years of serving as a judge, won widespread praise for spearheading the fight for people with HIV two decades ago when the infection rapidly spread under what he called the “AIDS denialism” of the then South African president Thabo Mbeki. He revealed his status in 1999 more than a decade after he contracted the virus. Read more
Sudan conflict: Army and civilians form sovereign council (BBC)
Sudan’s military leaders and opposition alliance have formed a sovereign council to lead the country during its three-year transition to civilian rule. Made up of six civilians and five military officers, it will initially be led by Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan. He took over as Sudanese leader following the overthrow of President Omar al-Bashir. The council will be sworn in on Wednesday morning. Read more
British schoolboy, 13, dies after falling from Costa del Sol balcony (Metro)
A British teenager has died after falling from a holiday apartment block in the Costa del Sol. The 13-year-old, who has not been named, was killed after plunging from the sixth floor of the building in the resort of Fuengirola. His mum was reportedly with him when he fell from a terrace into an internal patio. The incident happened at around 1.30pm local time on Tuesday. Read more
Macron to discuss Kashmir with Modi (Guardian)
French President Emmanuel Macron will discuss tensions in the divided region of Kashmir with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi when the two meet in Paris this week, a French official said on Tuesday. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also weighed in on Kashmir Tuesday telling Modi in a phone call that the issue was one for India and Pakistan to resolve between themselves through dialogue. Macron and Modi are set to sit down for a working dinner at the Chateau de Chantilly outside Paris on Thursday ahead of a G7 summit in France this weekend, to which Modi has been invited. Read more
Man who stabbed a stranger to death over a cigarette jailed for 23 years (Metro)
A man who killed a stranger with a hunting knife after a row over a cigarette has been locked up. Jahmel Michael Riley, 24, was found guilty of murdering Dennis Anderson, 39, after a fight in an east London off-license. Mr Anderson was on his way home from a party in the early hours of Sunday, February 10 when he went into the shop with a group of friends. Read more
Kashmir: Pakistan to seek International Court of Justice ruling (BBC)
Pakistan has said it will take the Kashmir dispute to the International Court of Justice. The move comes after India revoked the special autonomous status of the part of Kashmir that it administers. Pakistan reacted to that decision by cutting trade and transport links, and expelling India’s ambassador. Kashmir – which both countries claim in full but rule in part – has been the site of decades of sporadic conflict. Read more
Man soaked with fire extinguisher for refusing to stop smoking at petrol station (Metro)
This is the moment a petrol station worker picks up a fire extinguisher and sprays a man who lights up a cigarette next to the fuel pumps. The shirtless customer with the surname Li, who reportedly had been drinking, left the station attendant no choice by to take matters into her own hands. CCTV footage from the city of Tianmen in China’s central Hubei Province shows Li, 66, parked next to the petrol pumps earlier this month. Read more
Julien Gauthier: Grizzly bear kills soundgathering musician (BBC)
A Franco-Canadian man died after being attacked by a grizzly bear in a remote area of Canada last week, police announced on Monday. Julien Gauthier, a 44-year-old musician, was surprised by the animal in his sleep. He was travelling along the Mackenzie River to record sounds of nature for a musical project. Unprovoked grizzly bear attacks are usually very rare, conservation officers say. Read more
Robert De Niro’s ex-aide sued for misusing funds and ‘TV bingeing’ (BBC)
A production company owned by US actor Robert De Niro is suing a former employee who it accuses of misusing funds and watching Netflix at work. Canal Productions accuses Chase Robinson of “breaching her fiduciary duties” and seeks $6m (£5m) in damages. The lawsuit claims she spent lavishly on personal expenses, used De Niro’s airline points for personal travel and rarely came to the office. Read more
Keanu Reeves confirmed to appear in Matrix 4 alongside Carrie-Anne Moss after 14 years (Metro)
It’s official, Keanu Reeves is set to reprise his role in The Matrix franchise with confirmation that the actor will appear in the fourth installment. The 52-year-old will take on his lead role as Neo once again with his co-star, Carrie-Anne Moss, reprising her role as his sidekick Trinity. Fans of the iconic sci-fi franchise are thrilled with the news as it’s been 14 years since Keanu last donned Neo’s long black trench coat in 2003’s double whammy of The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. Read more
James Bond film title revealed as No Time To Die (BBC)
The long-awaited title of the next Bond film has finally been revealed. The 25th official James Bond movie will be called No Time To Die – the news was revealed by producers on Twitter. The movie, which will see Daniel Craig play 007 for the fifth and final time, will also star Oscar-winning actor Rami Malek as “a mysterious villain”. Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge is one of the writers. Ralph Fiennes and Ben Whishaw will return as M and Q respectively. Read more
Mo Salah U-turn on teammate’s harassment scandal divides (Guardian)
Egypt and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has reignited heated views about a sexual harassment scandal involving his national team-mate Amr Warda in a CNN interview which aired Monday. After Salah sent controversial tweets that demanded the disgraced Warda be given a “second chance” during this year’s Africa Cup of Nations held in Egypt, Salah directly addressed his revised stance. “What I meant to say is that (sexual harassment) happened before and is happening now. He has to get treatment or rehabilitation just to make sure that it is not going to happen again,” Salah told CNN. Read more
Racist abuse: footballers should boycott social media, says Phil Neville (BBC)
England women’s manager Phil Neville said footballers should “boycott” social media to send a “powerful message” that abuse is not acceptable. Neville’s comments come after Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba received racist abuse online having missed a penalty in his side’s 1-1 draw at Wolves on Monday. “We have to take drastic measures now as a football community. I’ve had it with my players on social media, the Premier League and the Championship have had it,” said Neville. Read more
Monaco sign Slimani on loan from Leicester (Punch)
Monaco have signed veteran Algerian international striker Islam Slimani on loan from Leicester City, sources close to the Ligue 1 club told AFP on Tuesday. The 31-year-old reportedly passed a medical on Tuesday. Slimani joined Leicester, at the time the Premier League champions, for a club record fee in 2016, but struggled, scoring eight goals in the 35 appearances. He went out on loan to Newcastle and last season to Fenerbahce in Istanbul where he scored one league goal. Read more
Josh Kroenke wants to cut away Arsenal deadweight amid Shkodran Mustafi transfer speculation (Metro)
Josh Kroenke has admitted Arsenal chiefs have some work still to do to trim the squad before the close of the transfer window. There have already been several high profile departures, with Alex Iwobi joining Everton and Laurent Koscielny returning to France, but questions remain about the future of Shkodran Mustafi. Arsenal are reportedly ready to offload the German defender and Unai Emery is yet to name Mustafi in a matchday squad this season. Read more
St Louis to join MLS in 2022 and become league’s 28th team (BBC)
St Louis will join Major League Soccer in 2022 and become MLS’ first club to have a female-led ownership group. The league currently has 24 teams but has announced plans to expand to 30 – David Beckham’s Inter Miami CF and Nashville join next season, Austin FC in 2021 and St Louis a year later. “St Louis is a city with a rich soccer tradition,” said MLS chief Don Garber. Read more
US Open 2019: Amanda Anisimova withdraws after death of her father Konstantin (BBC)
American Amanda Anisimova has withdrawn from the US Open after the death of her father and coach Konstantin. Anisimova, 17, reached the semi-finals of the French Open in June. The world number 24 was due to play at Flushing Meadows for a second time after losing in round one in 2018. “The USTA [United States Tennis Association] and US Open send our deepest condolences to Amanada Anisimova on the passing of her father, Konstantin,” said a statement. Read more
Anthony Joshua hangs out with Billie Faiers and her son Arthur in Marbella and fans are confused (Metro)
Anthony Joshua has found an unlikely new ‘sparring partner’ in Billie Faiers’ son Arthur, and it might be the most confusing yet adorable friendship ever. The boxing champ is currently enjoying his summer holiday in Marbella, Spain with family, taking a break from training for his rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr in December. But it also happens to be where former Towie star Billie has chosen to catch some sun with her fiance, Gregory Shepherd, and their two-year-old son Arthur. Read more
Conor McGregor inspired by Nate Diaz for his own UFC comeback (Metro)
Conor McGregor has welcomed a trilogy fight with Nate Diaz after watching his rival make his UFC comeback last weekend. Diaz returned from a three-year hiatus at UFC 241, producing a stunning victory over Anthony Pettis. With the three-year anniversary of McGregor vs Diaz II this week, the Irishman took the opportunity to break down Diaz’s win and said he was ready to settle the rivalry. Read more