Why we have to shut Third Mainland Bridge now – FG, Lagos govt (Vanguard)
The Federal and Lagos State governments on Tuesday said plans have been concluded to embark on immediate routine maintenance works on the Third Mainland Bridge, the second-longest in Africa, in order to save citizens from impending dangers as a result of identified weak structures on the bridge.
They, however, rolled out traffic management plans for seamless execution during the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge maintenance scheduled to last for six months.
Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Olukayode Popoola and Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye made the remarks at a joint media briefing in Alausa, Ikeja. Read more
School reopening: Oshodi-Isolo council begins decontamination exercise (Vanguard)
In compliance with the partial reopening of schools directive of the Lagos State Government, the Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Council has begun decontaminating public schools in preparation for the resumption of classes for SS3 and Tech3 students.
The council made the disclosure in a statement signed by its Media Officer, Mr Babajide Dada, in Lagos.
It said that safety of teachers and pupils remained paramount, adding that the council’s Head of Department of Environmental Services, Mr Adeoye Akeem, would supervise the exercise. Read more
CAC Pastor arrested for raping daughter (Nation)
The Police have arrested a 44-year-old Pastor of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Ogo Oluwa parish, Oluwafemi Oyebola, for allegedly raping his biological daughter routinely.
Oyebola was arrested following a complaint by his 24-year-old daughter, who asked to remain anonymous.
The girl reported at the Owode-Egbado divisional headquarters that her father has been forcefully having carnal knowledge of her since 2015 shortly after the demise of her mother. Read more
Magu is not above investigation – Presidency (Guardian)
Hours after a Presidency source told The Guardian that the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission Ibrahim Magu has been suspended, another official has said the investigation of the EFCC boss is a testament to President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption stance.
Magu has been answering questions from a panel investigating sundry allegations against him since Monday.
“Under the Muhammadu Buhari administration, nobody is above scrutiny,” a top official in the Presidency said on Tuesday. Read more
FG frees 3,789 prison inmates to curb COVID-19 spread (Nation)
*The Federal Government has facilitated the release of 3,789 inmates in prisons nationwide as part of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus since the discovery of COVID-19 in the country.
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malamimade this public on Tuesday while speaking at an event meant to highlight the achievements of the Presidential Committee on Correctional Service Reform and Decongestion (formerly, Presidential Committee on Prisons Reform and Decongestion). Read more
Senate passes bill on sexual harassment (Punch)
The Senate has passed the bill against sexual harassment in tertiary institutions.
It is titled, “A Bill for an Act to prevent, prohibit and redress sexual harassment of students in tertiary educational institutions and for matters concerned therewith, 2019.”
The proposed legislation was sponsored by the Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege.
The bill was passed after it was read for third reading on Tuesday. Read more
Absence of judge stalls trial of kidnap kingpin, Wadume, others (Guardian)
The absence of Justic Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, hindered the continuation of trial of kidnap kingpin, Bala Hamisu, popularly known as Wadume.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Nyako had, on July 1, after refusing to admit Wadume to bail, fixed Tuesday for trial continuation.
Although the prosecution and defence counsel, alongside Wadume and other defendants, were in court, the case could not proceed. Read more
Kidnapped Delta NLC chairman regains freedom (Punch)
The kidnapped Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Delta State, Comrade Goodluck Ofobruku has regained his freedom after paying an undisclosed amount of money.
The Labour leader who was abducted around 8pm on Saturday while driving out of his house behind Immigration office along Ibusa/Asaba road, Asaba, the Delta State capital, was set free on Monday by his abductors.
Confirming his release to our correspondent, the Secretary of the NLC in the State, Comrade Innocent Ofoyade, noted that Ofobruku was released on Monday night. Read more
Coronavirus: Brazil’s President Bolsonaro tests positive (BBC)
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for coronavirus.
He took the test, his fourth, on Monday after developing symptoms, including a high temperature.
Mr Bolsonaro has repeatedly played down the risks posed by the virus, calling it “a little flu” and saying that he would not be seriously affected by it.
He has also urged regional governors to ease lockdowns, which he says hurt the economy, and on Monday he watered down regulations on wearing face masks. Read more
Australia: Melbourne heads back into coronavirus lockdown (Aljazeera)
Nearly five million Melbourne residents will be put under another lockdown after coronavirus cases surged in Australia’s second-largest city.
From midnight on Wednesday, residents will be confined to their homes for six weeks – unless undertaking essential business such as travelling to work, studying, shopping for food or attending medical appointments – as officials scrambled to contain a coronavirus outbreak.
The decision was announced on Tuesday, hours before the busy border between Victoria, of which Melbourne is the capital, and New South Wales is scheduled to close for the first time in a century. Read more
Deutsche Bank faces $150m fine for Jeffrey Epstein ties (BBC)
Deutsche Bank has been hit with a $150m (£120m) fine for failing to properly monitor its relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
New York state regulators said the bank had suffered “significant compliance failures”, processing hundreds of transactions for the late financier.
Those included payments to Russian models and $800,000 in “suspicious” cash withdrawals.
Deutsche said it “deeply” regretted its relationship with Epstein. Read more
Saudi opens hajj registration for foreign residents (Guardian)
Saudi Arabia on Monday opened hajj registration for foreign residents in the kingdom, saying they will make up 70 percent of the pilgrims after it scaled-back the annual ritual due to coronavirus.
Saudi Arabia has said it will allow only around 1,000 pilgrims already present in the kingdom to participate in this year’s hajj, scheduled for the end of July, a far cry from the 2.5 million who attended the five-day pilgrimage last year.
Foreign residents, aged between 20 and 65 who have no previous health ailments such as diabetes and heart conditions, are allowed to register on https://localhaj.haj.gov.sa., the hajj ministry said. Read more
Star lawyer Dupond-Moretti named justice minister in French government reshuffle (France24)
French President Emmanuel Macron and his new prime minister, Jean Castex, named a new government on Monday evening that might not have been long on surprises. But the appointment of leading criminal defence lawyer Éric Dupond-Moretti, a dreaded figure in French courtrooms, to head the justice ministry was assuredly chief among them.
The 59-year-old Dupond-Moretti is no stranger to the spotlight. Known for his outspokenness, as well as a certain venomous hostility towards judges, the star counsel is nicknamed the “Acquittator” — a portmanteau of Acquittal and Terminator — for his impressive record in defending clients. He replaces Socialist jurist Nicole Belloubet in the job. Read more
Bubonic plague in China not a high risk: WHO (Aljazeera)
An apparent outbreak of bubonic plague in China is being “well managed” and is not considered to represent a high risk, a World Health Organization (WHO) official has said.
Local authorities in the city of Bayannur in the Chinese region of Inner Mongolia issued a warning on Sunday, one day after a hospital reported a case of suspected bubonic plague.
It followed four reported cases of plague in people there last November, including two of pneumonic plague, a deadlier variant. Read more
TikTok leaves Hong Kong after China security law enactment (Aljazeera)
TikTok will exit the Hong Kong market within days, a spokesman told the Reuters news agency, as other technology companies including Facebook, Google and Twitter suspend processing government requests for user data in the region.
The short-form video app owned by China-based ByteDance has made the decision to exit the region following China’s establishment of a sweeping new national security law for the semi-autonomous city.
“In light of recent events, we’ve decided to stop operations of the TikTok app in Hong Kong,” a TikTok spokesman said late on Monday in response to a Reuters question about its commitment to the market. Read more
Etebo doubtful for Villarreal clash (Punch)
Getafe midfielder, Oghenekaro Etebo, is doubtful of the Spanish LaLiga clash against fifth-placed Villarreal at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez on Wednesday.
Etebo suffered a muscle injury in the team’s 2-1 win over Real Sociedad on June 29, and missed the 1-0 loss to Real Madrid and the goalless draw away at Osasuna last weekend.
Despite returning to training with the squad, manager, José Bordalás, says he is not 100 per cent certain the Nigerian will be available for the game.
“Erick Cabaco and Etebo are better off their injuries. Tomorrow (today) we will decide if they are ready to enter the call for the game,” Bordalás said in a press conference. Read more
Austrian-born Nigerian left-footer, Okugbowa joins German champions, VFB Lubeck (Vanguard)
Austrian-born Nigerian midfielder, Osarenren Okugbowa, has joined German Regionalliga Nord champions, VfB Lubeck, in a deal which the German side have described as a progressive addition.
In a statement on their official website, the German division three winners said Okugbowa joins then on a one-year contract from Austrian division two team, Floridsdorfer AC, where he spent eighteen months, distinguishing himself in the heart of the midfield.
Okungbowa is expected to begin training with his new teammates at VfB Lubeck, in mid-July. Read more
Fernando Alonso to return to Formula 1 with Renault in 2021 (BBC)
Fernando Alonso is set to return to Formula 1 with Renault next year.
The Spanish two-time world champion, who will be 39 later this month, has signed and will be confirmed soon, sources have told BBC Sport.
Alonso will return to the outfit with whom he won his World Championships, and for whom he has already driven twice during his career.
He left F1 in 2018 and is due to make a third attempt to win the Indianapolis 500 with McLaren in August. Read more
Barca say CAS ‘dismiss’ Neymar appeal by Santos (Guardian)
Barcelona says they have been cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over claims of fraud during the 2013 signing of Neymar from Brazilian club Santos.
In the case that came before the CAS Santos claimed Barcelona owed them over 61 million euros ($69 million) from the 2013 transfer.
“The Court of Arbitration for Sport has dismissed the appeal made by Santos to FIFA in which the Brazilian club claimed payment of 61,295,000 euros in damages from FC Barcelona and the corresponding sporting bans with regards to the transfer of Neymar Jr.” Read more
Concerns grow for Wilson Kipsang’s well-being (BBC)
Concerns are growing from friends and the public for the well-being of Kenyan marathon ace Wilson Kipsang.
The former marathon world record holder appeared to be drunk during a TV interview about his recent four-year ban from athletics.
Kipsang, who is a policeman, is yet to respond to BBC Sport Africa’s request for a comment about his TV appearance.
Elias Kiptum, a friend of Kipsang’s, told BBC Sport Africa he is concerned about the athlete. Read more
Guardiola urges Man City to cut out errors for Cup glory (Guardian)
Pep Guardiola has urged his Manchester City side to cut out individual errors or risk finishing the season with a whimper.
City lost their Premier League crown to Liverpool last month but can still add the FA Cup and the Champions League to their League Cup win in March.
The dethroned champions, who host Newcastle on Wednesday, have lost nine league matches this season, including a 1-0 defeat to Southampton at the weekend. Read more