Worker’s headless body found on company premises (Punch)
The family of Kingsley Obot, a member of staff of Ellan Star Marine, has demanded investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death on the premises of the company.
The deceased’s family urged the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan, to take over the investigation from the Woji Police Division, where the case was being handled.
The demands were contained in a letter, titled, ‘Gruesome Murder of Kingsley Okon Obot by Ellan Star Marine Company, Agbaraja Bridge, Woji, in the Obio/Akpor LGA’ and dated June 1, 2020.
The letter, signed by the family’s lawyer, Paulinus Idio, said the deceased’s headless corpse was found on the premises of the company on May 5, 2020.
The family said the victim worked with the company for about two months before he was allegedly beheaded on its premises during working hours and thrown into the sea.
Kingsley last spoke to his wife on the telephone on May 5, 2020. Read more
Youths get skills training in Alimosho (Guardian)
The Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, has organised a capacity building and leadership training programme for 100 youths in Alimosho Local Government Area of the state.
Six participants who emerged as Moremi youth ambassadors received a sum of N50,000 as seed grants for their community-based projects at the event. The overall winner is Adelakun Babatunde.
Akinbile-Yussuf said the week-long event held in Ipaja, was aimed at charging selected participants who cut across the six council areas of Alimosho Federal Constituency, to become the best in their chosen careers.
She said: “Young people are the present and future, hence we are equipping them with requisite skills and essentials to prepare them for global action”. Read more
Commissioner seeks greater youth engagement (Nation)
Commissioner for Youth and Social Development in Lagos State Segun Dawodu has called for youth engagement in formal political mechanisms.
Dawodu spoke at an event organised by the ministry to mark 2020 International Youth Day.
According to him, youths had the potential to contribute to better and more sustainable policies, and restore trust in public institutions.
Permanent Secretary of the ministry Mrs. Yewande Falugba stressed that the state decided to focus on issues affecting youths as they were the country’s greatest asset. Read more
RTEAN urges members to comply with government rules (Guardian)
The Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), has charged its members to cooperate with government at all times to move Nigeria forward.
Speaking at the 42th anniversary of the Association, Lagos State Chairman, Mohammed Musa, said cooperating with the government would help in reforming the transport sector.
“Members should collaborate with the government at all levels to create a peaceful and conducive working environment. I also urge our members to be united as one to lift the association high,” Musa said. Read more
FG impounds Angolan passenger plane in Lagos (Punch)
The Federal Government has impounded a Boeing 777 jumbo plane belonging to the Angolan government at the Lagos airport for flying illegally into Nigeria.
The government grounded the passengers-laden plane and subsequently impounded it, shortly after touching down in the country on Wednesday afternoon.
The jumbo jet belongs to Angola Airlines, a state-owned airline and flag carrier of the Angolan government. Read more
5 die in multiple accident on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (Guardian)
The Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) said that five persons died while one was injured on Thursday in a multiple accident after Sagamu Interchange, on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, the Ogun Public Relation Officer of TRACE, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ota, Ogun.
Akinbiyi said that the multiple accident, which happened at about 9.30 a.m., was caused by reckless driving and wrongful overtaking. Read more
NIMASA promotes 9 directors, 586 others (Nation)
The Governing Board of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has approved the promotion of 595 staff, including nine Directors. The promotions were approved at a meeting of the Board in Lagos chaired by Hon. Asita O. Asita.
A statement issued by the Agency’s Spokesman, Philip Kyanet, said Nine Deputy Directors were elevated to substantive Directors on Grade Level 17, while 45 Assistant Directors were promoted to Deputy Directors, and 71 Grade Level 14 officers were promoted to Assistant Directors.
Those promoted to Directors are the Agency’s Head, ISPS Unit, Jidda Aishatu; Head, Marine Accident Investigation Unit, Egbuche Rita; Head, Eastern Zone, Audu Sani; and Head, Internal Audit, Olamide Odusanya. Read more
Power generation sinks to 3,356MW after new 5,420.30MW peak (Punch)
Power generation in the country fell to 3,356 megawatts on Thursday less than two days after a new peak of 5,420.30MW was achieved.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria announced on Thursday that the nation’s power industry had achieved yet another all-time national peak of 5,420.30MW.
The TCN, in a statement titled ‘power sector records new improved all-time peak of 5,420.30MW’ said the 5,420.30MW was effectively transmitted through the national grid at a frequency of 50.10Hz at 9:15pm on Tuesday. Read more
FG approves N13bn for community policing (Nation)
The federal government has approved N13.3 billion for take-off of Community Policing initiative.
This was contained in a report submitted to the National Economic Council (NEC) presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday.
The report was submitted by the NEC’s ad-hoc committee on Security and Policing chaired by Ekiti Governor Kayode Fayemi. Read more
Coronavirus in Africa: ‘Signs of hope’ as cases level off (BBC)
Average daily cases of coronavirus in Africa fell last week, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
The continent-wide daily average was 10,300 last week, down from 11,000 the week before.
The director of Africa CDC, Dr John Nkengasong, said it was a “sign of hope”.
Africa has recorded 1,147,369 cases, more than half of which are in South Africa, and about 26,000 deaths. Read more
Germany, France & UK REJECT US push to reinstate UN sanctions on Iran (RT)
The US exited the Iran nuclear deal and therefore has no right to demand a ‘snapback’ of UN sanctions on Tehran, the foreign ministers of three European powers involved in the JCPOA said in response to Washington’s latest push.
“France, Germany and the United Kingdom, the so-called E3, note that the United States has not been a member of the JCPOA since their withdrawal from the agreement on May 8, 2018,” their respective foreign ministers Jean-Yves Le Drian,Heiko Maas and Dominic Raab said in a statement on Thursday.
Therefore, the E3 “cannot support” the US demand for UN sanctions against Iran to be reimposed, as it is “inconsistent” with their current efforts to implement the deal, the trio added. Read more
Taylor Swift’s cash gift helps student take up degree (BBC)
Singer Taylor Swift has donated £23,000 to a London-based student struggling to raise the funds to take up a maths course at the University of Warwick.
Vitoria Mario’s online fundraising page details how she has lived in the UK for four years after moving from Portugal.
But she is not eligible for maintenance loans or grants.
Vitoria said: “I was worrying too much about the money, what I have to do and if I have to look for a job. She actually made my dream come true.” Read more
Steve Bannon pleads not guilty to massive fraud operation (RT)
Former Trump campaign chief executive Steve Bannon has pled not guilty to charges of wire fraud and money laundering. He has been freed on a bond of $5 million and ordered to remain in the US pending trial.
Bannon entered his pleas at a federal court in Manhattan on Thursday, after he was arrested earlier in the day. Together with three associates he is accused of scamming $25 million in donations through a crowdfunding initiative that promised to pay for a wall along the US’ Mexican border.
According to the indictment against him, Bannon bilked hundreds of thousands of dollars out of the crowdfunding campaign for his own use. All four men allegedly used a network of shell companies to reroute the money from Bannon’s nonprofit organization to their own pockets. Read more
Two gold nuggets worth $350,000 found in Australia (BBC)
Two gold nuggets worth around A$350,000 (£190,000; US$250,000) have been discovered by a pair of diggers in southern Australia.
Brent Shannon and Ethan West found the stones near goldmining town Tarnagulla in Victoria state.
Their lucky find was shown on TV show Aussie Gold Hunters, which aired on Thursday. Read more
Body of newborn baby found wrapped in towel at recycling centre (Metro)
A newborn baby has been found dead, wrapped in a beach towel at a recycling centre. The infant was found at the waste centre on Bowling Back Lane in Bradford earlier today. They were wrapped in a pink towel with pictures of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, fish, sea horses and a palm tree. A desperate search is now underway to locate the baby’s mum. Read more
Ru Paul’s Drag Race star Chi Chi DeVayne dead aged 34 (BBC)
Drag queen Chi Chi DeVayne, best known for appearing on two seasons of Ru Paul’s Drag Race, has died aged 34.
DeVayne, whose non-stage name was Zavion Davenport, appeared on season eight of the show, as well as season three of Ru Paul’s Drag Race All Stars.
She posted on Instagram last week that she was in hospital for a chronic condition – the second time this year.
Ru Paul paid tribute to DeVayne, saying that he was “heartbroken” to learn of her death. Read more
Kirsten Dunst reacts to her face being used by Kanye West in presidential campaign (Metro)
Kanye West is going full steam ahead when it comes to his presidential campaign, but his latest move has left a lot of people confused, including Kirsten Dunst.
The rapper, 43, took to Twitter to share a new poster for his ‘2020 vision’ and campaign and Kirsten’s was one of the faces, along with Anna Wintour’s, he has used in the new visual.
Only it seems to be from years ago and, well, we can’t quite work out Kanye’s thought process behind it. Turns out, neither can Kirsten, and she went straight to the man himself to ask. Read more
Nigerian stars missing as 2020 UEFA Champions’ League ends (Nation)
The UEFA Champions League (UCL) is the World Cup of club football in Europe with the best players and coaches squaring up against each other with unbelievable statistics produced from matches.
Of course, the fans pay a premium to watch these games in some of the best stadiums in the world and its money spinal – with massive TV deals for clubs and endorsement packages for players, making it not just entertainment but a great business that changes the lives of everyone involved with it.
In the past, Nigerian players have enjoyed success with this competition. Read more
Stakeholders divided over Amokachi’s appointment as Buhari’s SA (Punch)
Sports stakeholders have expressed different opinions on the appointment of former Super Eagles forward, Daniel Amokachi, as Special Assistant on Sports to the President Muhammadu Buhari.
Amokachi’s appointment was announced in a press statement by the Media Office of the Minister of Youth and Sports Development on Thursday.
The letter titled, ‘PMB appoints Amokachi Special Assistant, Sports’, was issued on August 17 and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.
The statement quoted the appointment letter as reading, “I am pleased to inform you that Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has approved your appointment as Special Assistant on Sports. The appointment takes effect from August 11, 2020.” Read more
Salomon Kalou: Botafogo hoping Ivory Coast striker can inspire on and off the pitch (BBC)
Not only is he set to become the first player from Ivory Coast to play in the Brazilian top flight but Salomon Kalou has also been recruited by Botafogo to help them both on and off the pitch.
Kalou left his previous club Hertha Berlin in acrimonious fashion over a suspension before joining Botafogo, who previously had been looking to sign both Yaya Toure and John Obi Mikel.
The former Chelsea and Lille player is Botafogo’s second marquee signing following the arrival of former AC Milan and Japan star Keisuke Honda in February. Read more
Messi tells Koeman he is more likely to leave Barcelona – reports (RT)
Lionel Messi has told new Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman that he is more likely to leave the club than remain as the pair met for crunch talks on Thursday, according to reports in Spain.
Messi’s future at the Nou Camp is the subject of intense speculation after Barcelona’s humiliating 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals last week.
That capped a disappointing season in which the Catalans also relinquished their hold on the La Liga title to rivals Real Madrid. Read more
Katarina Johnson-Thompson to long jump at Stockholm Diamond League (BBC)
Heptathlon world champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson will be part of an innovative long-jump competition at the Stockholm Diamond League on Sunday.
Instead of the event being decided by the best effort from six rounds, the top three jumpers after five rounds will then contest a one-jump final.
Also in the field are Olympic champion Caterine Ibarguen and world silver medallist Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk.
In-form Scot Jemma Reekie, 22, will take on a high-class 800m field. Read more
Gabriel reconsidering Arsenal move after Manchester United submit bid at 11th hour (Metro)
Manchester United hope to sign Lille star Gabriel from under the nose of rivals Arsenal after submitting an 11th hour offer for the Brazilian defender.
The Gunners have been leading the race to sign the 22-year-old after agreeing a £22.7million deal with Lille for the defender.
Napoli have also had a bid accepted but Gabriel is believed to favour a move to London and the Gunners had hoped for a confirmation of the Brazilian’s decision to join them in the next 24 hours. Read more
