Woman defrauds job seeker of N3m (Punch)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a businesswoman, Hajiya Hadiza Umar, for allegedly defrauding a job seeker.
The EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, in a statement, said the suspect defrauded the victim, Nuraddeen Abubakar, of N3m, by promising to secure employment for him at the anti-graft agency.
He noted that EFCC officials arrested the suspect’s son at a branch of Guaranty Trust Bank, where he was making a transaction on the suspect’s account.
He was reportedly lured to the bank and detained, as the mother showed up and was subsequently arrested. Read more
Lagos begins collection of ‘5% levy’ as Iroko gets notice to pay for content distribution, streaming (Guardian)
Despite seeming outrage that followed the announcement by the Lagos State government to start charging a 5% levy on all contents produced in the state, the government has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Iroko TV to comply.
IrokoTV is a Lagos-based digital platform that provides paid-for Nigerian films on demand.
In a letter dated August 31 and shared by Iroko TV boss, Jason Njoku, on Twitter, the government said it is requesting the “payment of the five percent levy on all audio and visual contents produced, sold, distributed, marketed, exhibited, streamed, downloaded and shared across all physical and digital platform situate lying and being within Lagos State.” Read more
Robbery suspect in Army Camouflage shot dead in Ogun (Nation)
Operatives of the Ogun State Police command on Friday morning shot dead a robbery suspect at the Ijebu – Ife corridor of the Sagamu – Benin expressway.
The suspect was shot dead following a distress call received by the police in Ijebu – Ife at about 2:45am that a gang of robbers in military camouflage had blocked the expressway and were dispossessing motorists of their valuables.
The Divisional Police Officer for Ijebu – Ife, Raphael Ugbenyo, it was learnt, mobilised the Anti – robbery team and Special Anti – robbery Squads (SARS) to go after the gang, who opened fire on the Police upon sighting them. Read more
EFCC hands over N147m looted from Kwara treasury (Guardian)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Kwara Zonal Office, has handed over the sum of N147.7 million recovered from suspected treasury looters to the Kwara Government.
The handover was made at the Government House in Ilorin on Friday.
The Head of the zonal office, Mr Kazeem Oseni, said during the handover that the sum was recovered from contractors who handled projects of Kwara State Internal Revenue Service. Read more
Fuel hike: NLC urges FG to revert to N121 price (Nation)
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked the Federal Government to revert to the N121 old price at which petrol was sold during the lockdown to control COVID -19.
The NLC said it rejected the new upward reviewed pricing band for the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol.
The federal government on Wednesday through the Petroleum Pricing Marketing Company (PPMC) increased the ex-depot price of petrol from N138 to NN151.56 per litre, triggering marketers to increase pump price from N148 to N162 per litre. Read more
Military airstrikes hit bandits’ hideout, kill scores in Kaduna forests – DHQ (Guardian)
The Defence Headquarters says the Air Component of Operation Thunder Strike has neutralised several armed bandits in air raids on their camps in the Kuduru and Kwaimbana Forest areas of Kaduna State.
Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, said the successes were achieved through separate airstrikes carried out on Wednesday and Thursday.
Enenche said the attacks were launched on the heels of credible intelligence reports indicating that the two locations were being used as staging areas by the bandits.
He said that the attack on the Kuduru Forest hideout was executed after aerial reconnaissance missions observed the significant number of armed bandits around some compounds in a small settlement within the forest. Read more
International flights restart with Middle East Airlines Saturday – FAAN (Punch)
As Nigeria reopens its airspace for international travel, three airlines will operate flights into the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Saturday, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has said.
FAAN Managing Director, Capt Rabiu Yadudu, who made this known on Friday during an inspection tour by the Lagos State Government to check the readiness of the airport, said the first flight will be operated by Middle East Airlines.
“We are expecting three airlines tomorrow starting with Middle East Airlines, around 2pm,” the FAAN boss said. Read more
Resident doctors down tools from Monday (Nation)
From Monday, September 7, resident doctors across the nation will begin a strike action.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), in a statement by its President, Dr Aliyu Sokomba; Secretary, Dr Bilqis Mohammad and Publicity Secretary, Dr Egbogu Stanley, said the strike would commence after expiration of the 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government on August 17.
They said: “NEC resolved to proceed on indefinite nationwide strike action from Monday 7th of September 2020 by 8:00am until the following conditions are met; immediate payment of the Medical Residency Training funding to all her members as approved in the revised 2020 budget; provision of genuine Group life insurance and death in service benefits for all health workers. Read more
Dozens of militants enter DRC’s regional capital Bunia, overrun local prison – media (RT)
Fighters from the CODECO militia grouping have made their way into Bunia, a major city in Democratic Republic of Congo’s northeast, authorities report, saying the invaders are demanding the release of comrades from a local prison.
Roughly 100 rebels, all armed, have entered the city, home to some 366,000 residents, early on Friday. The militiamen, said to be members of the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo (CODECO) group – marched along the city streets wearing white headbands, apparently to distinguish each other in combat.
Local authorities confirmed the news later in the day. “They are in front of the central prison and are demanding the release of their men,” provincial governor Jean Bamanisa told AFP. Separately, Bunia mayor Ferdinand Fimbo revealed to Reuters that the group had “deviated to the prison where they are now in front of the police and the army.” Read more
Jessica Krug: George Washington University professor says she lied about being black (BBC)
A US academic whose work focuses on Africa and the African diaspora has said she lied about being black.
Jessica Krug, an associate professor at George Washington University (GWU), admitted that she was in fact a white Jewish woman from Kansas City.
“I have built my life on a violent anti-Black lie,” a blog post written under Ms Krug’s name read.
The university said it was investigating the blog post but would not comment further. Read more
The Lancet publishes study showing Russia’s ‘Sputnik V’ Covid-19 vaccine to be 100% effective (RT)
The world’s first registered Covid-19 vaccine successfully produced antibodies in all 76 participants in early-stage trials, according to a study published in The Lancet, one of the oldest and best-respected medical journals.
The trials of ‘Sputnik V,’ funded by the Russian Ministry of Health, discovered that every single patient who received the vaccine developed antibodies, and none showed any significant side effects.
On August 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the country had registered the world’s first Covid-19 vaccine. Developed by Moscow’s Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, the formula will first be distributed to teachers and medical workers before being made available to the general public next year. Read more
Coronavirus: Italy ex-PM Berlusconi treated for pneumonia (BBC)
Italy’s former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, aged 83, is in hospital with early-stage double pneumonia after testing positive for coronavirus, Italian media report.
He spent the night in hospital in Milan for checks, having tested positive on Wednesday.
Earlier his right-wing Forza Italia party said his condition was not a cause for concern, and “he is fine”.
The media tycoon’s partner and two of his children also tested positive. Read more
China’s yuan to become world’s third-largest reserve currency behind dollar & euro – Morgan Stanley (RT)
With Beijing pushing for greater use of the yuan internationally, the Chinese currency could rise to the status of the world’s third-largest reserve currency in 10 years, according to a forecast by Morgan Stanley.
The share of the yuan in global foreign exchange reserve assets could more than double from its current level of two percent and surpass the share of the Japanese yen and the British pound, the bank’s analysts said in a report released on Friday, cited by CNBC.
According to their estimates, the Chinese currency, officially known as the renminbi or RMB, could reach five to 10 percent of reserve assets by 2030. Read more
Turkey frees hunger striker after colleague’s death in jail (BBC)
A week after human rights lawyer Ebru Timtik died after 238 days on hunger strike, her colleague has been released on the order of Turkey’s supreme court.
Aytac Unsal, 32, had been on hunger strike for 213 days and was critically ill in hospital in Istanbul.
The court ruled that extending his detention would endanger his life.
Like Timtik, he was jailed on terrorism charges that he denied. Both lawyers had been given long prison sentences, criticised by rights and legal groups. Read more
#BoycottMulan trends following lead star’s ‘support for Hong Kong police’ (Metro)
Fans have got the tag #BoycottMulan trending after Liu Yifei, the lead star of the Disney epic, previously voiced her support for Hong Kong police amid protests, according to reports. Pro-democracy protests engulfed Hong Kong in June last year after its Chief Executive Carrie Lam introduced a bill last March that would allow for criminal extraditions to mainland China.
The Chief Executive is backed by the mainland government, however pro-democracy advocates feared the bill would allow Beijing to punish dissidents more easily and forcefully – with mostly-peaceful demonstrators occupying Hong Kong’s airport. However, the scenes descended into violent clashes with police, which has been slammed internationally. Read more
Saka nominated for PFA young player award (Nation)
Nigeria- born England junior international and Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has been nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
Saka, who has recently been contacted with a view to getting him into the Super Eagles fold, received accolades Friday, from the Gunners following the nomination.
The club via its website submitted: “Congratulations to Bukayo Saka who has been nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award!
‘’Our Hale End graduate enjoyed a stellar breakthrough season for our senior team, and underlining his versatility by playing in a variety of different positions, from left back to central midfield. Read more
Nigeria okays league restart in virus easing (Guardian)
Nigeria has approved the restart of league matches but without spectators at the stadiums in a move to ease the restrictions over the coronavirus, the government said.
The Nigerian league was suspended in March with 13 rounds of matches to go following the outbreak of the pandemic.
“Restriction is removed on outdoor communal (non-contact)sports and use of recreational parks for supervised physical exercise and sporting leagues to resume with no fans in stadiums,” said Sani Aliyu, the coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 late Thursday. Read more
Italian GP: Lewis Hamilton fastest in second practice at Monza (BBC)
Lewis Hamilton was fastest in second practice at the Italian Grand Prix as Mercedes dominated yet again.
Hamilton was 0.262 seconds quicker than team-mate Valtteri Bottas after they completed laps in line astern, each trying to benefit from a slipstream.
Daniel Ricciardo was third in the Renault but had his lap time deleted for running off track at Parabolica. Read more
Erroneous report Lionel Messi had decided to stay at Barcelona tantalizes football fans (RT)
Reuters tortured the football world by releasing an erroneous report Barcelona legend Lionel Messi had made a massive u-turn and isntead decided to stay at Camp Nou just weeks after saying he would seek a move to another club.
With the world on tenterhooks, the outlet published the announcement: “LIONEL MESSI SAYS HE WILL STAY AT BARCELONA”, news that would have and sent shockwaves around the football world, only to retract their announcement moments later. Read more
Luis Suarez agrees deal with Juventus – Guillem Balague (BBC)
Barcelona forward Luis Suarez has agreed to join Juventus, reports BBC Radio 5 Live’s Guillem Balague.
Suarez will move to Serie A on a free transfer – or perhaps a nominal fee – if he can negotiate his release from the Spanish giants.
The Uruguayan has a year to run on a contract he signed in 2016 but if he played 60% of games during 2020-21 it would be extended for another year. Read more
Lionel Messi’s dad slams La Liga and claims £700m release clause is invalid (Metro)
Lionel Messi’s father has hit back at La Liga and is disputing their interpretation of his son’s Barcelona contract.
La Liga released a statement earlier this week claiming that the 33-year-old’s €700million release clause remains valid and that any interested party would have to pay that figure in full should they wish to sign Barcelona’s talisman. In a strongly worded letter, Jorge Messi, who held talks with Barcelona’s under-fire president Josep Bartomeu earlier this week, claimed that the release clause is no longer applicable. Read more