Lagos-Ibadan rail: Crowd cheers Amaechi, Mohammed as duo ride on new trains

Elated Nigerians on Saturday cheered the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, and the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed as the duo inspected the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail project.

It was like a carnival of some sorts at various rail stations as people gathered and hailed the ministers who rode on new trains in company with top management staff of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

The inspection, which commenced at Ebute-Metta Junction (EBJ) Rail Station, saw the ministers and other NRC management team, ride on the narrow gauge corridor to Apapa port to monitor the standard gauge track laying and the rail station.

The team, which returned to EBJ, boarded the new train at Tejuosho, Yaba, and embarked on a ride to Ibadan in Oyo State. 

Govt releases execution order against Man who demolished Enugu airport fence

Against the background of Architect J.J Emejulu’s claim that his residence was arbitrarily pulled down, the Enugu state government has made public a court order it obtained to demolish his deemed illegal residence.

In the order made available to Vanguard, the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, ECTDA, prayed for an order authorizing it “to demolish the respondent’s (Emejulu) illegal structure located at No. 23/24 Eziokwe Street, community Estate, Enugu with code No. 003005835.”

The State government agency also prayed the court for an order restraining the respondent from carrying out any such development at that location.

The Court granted the application by Motion Ex-Parte stating that “the Applicant is authorized/ directed to remove the respondent’s illegal structure located at No. 23/24 Eziokwe Street, community Estate, Enugu with code No. 003005835.”

See reactions to Lyta’s plagiarized “Hold Me Down” video

Nigerian singer Lawal Opeyemi Raimi, aka Lyta, has been dragged on Twitter after he dropped the video of his new song “Hold Me Down.”

The 22 year old recently signed to Marlian Music, the imprint of Singer Naira Marley, under which he dropped the single which has now caused an uproar on social media.

Fans are dragging Lyta for plagiarizing Thailand’s boy band GOT7 “Just Right” for his “Hold Me Down” video which is already number 19 on YouTube and also earned 120,000 dislikes after dropping on Friday August 14th 2020.

Writing about the song, he said ‘This video was inspired by Kpop Korean boy band GOT7 and BTS.”

BBNaija Nengi admits undergoing butt surgery

Rebecca Nengi Hampson, one of the female housemates in Big Brother Naija reality TV show disclosed that she underwent a liposuction procedure before coming into the house.

Nengi stated this on Friday in a conversation with her friend and love interest, Ozo.

According to the light-skinned beauty queen, liposuction is nothing to be ashamed of. She added that she regrets ‘not blogging about her experience and would consider blogging her next surgical procedure’.

“When I tell people I have had liposuction, they always said I should not be talking about it. The way I look at it there is nothing there at all.

Liverpool’s Klopp named Premier League Manager of the season

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been named Premier League Manager of the Season for 2019-20.

The Reds won their first top-flight title in 30 years, finishing on a club-record 99 points, 18 clear of previous champions Manchester City.

Klopp’s side went unbeaten in their first 27 games, winning 26, and set a record for earliest title win by sealing their triumph with seven rounds of matches remaining.

Klopp, who was named League Managers Association Manager of the Year last month, won the Premier League prize ahead of fellow nominees Frank Lampard, Brendan Rodgers and Chris Wilder.

Son of former Angolan president sentenced to jail for corruption

Jose Filomeno dos Santos, son of former president who ruled Angola for 38 years, was sentenced to five years in prison by the nation’s Supreme Court in Luanda on Friday for a multi-billion dollar embezzlement scheme attempting to transfer to $1.5 billion into a private Swiss bank account from the sovereign wealth fund – which he oversaw for 5 years from 2013.

Three of his co-defendants including the former governor of the national bank of Angola (BNA) Valter Filipe da Silva, received sentences of 3-6 years for similar crimes of fraud, embezzlement and influence peddling.

Zenu, as he is known, is the first to be persecuted from this presidential family as part of an anti-graft campaign led by current President João Lourenço – who came to power in 2017.

#BBNaija: I feel very stupid having anything to do with you, Erica tells Kiddwaya [video]

In what it may appear to be, the relationship between Erica and Kiddwaya who at the moment are among the most popular housemates in the Big Brother Nigeria Lockdown edition might be coming to an end soon.

We all know how Erica and Kiddwaya have all been loving up in the house right from the second week of the show. Even Kiddwaya in the spirit of love and romance has said that his love affair with the beautiful Erica won’t end in the House.

But unfortunately, Erica had asked Kiddwaya to stay away from her because he doesn’t support her publicly. And according to her, Kiddwaya allowed Wathoni to disrespect her in public.

It all started on Friday when the Housemates were having a general discussion and Erica stated she can’t and will never chase a man.

Primate warns against killing Kano musician over blasphemy

The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned that killing Kano-based musician, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, will amount to spilling blood of the innocent.

Primate Ayodele, made this known in a statement and cautioned against the killing of the talented youngster.

The Kano-based singer was recently sentenced to death by an Upper Sharia Court for blaspheming Prophet Mohammed.

The 22-year-old Kano singer, was, however, given an option to appeal the ruling, or he will die by hanging.

Katie Price 'banned from s.e.x for two weeks' after breaking both feet in horror tumble

Katie Price has reportedly been banned from having s.e.x for two weeks, as doctors advised her to lie down and not move following her foot operation.

The former glamour model, 42, recently broke both her feet whilst on holiday in Turkey with new boyfriend Carl Woods and her children.

And it seems as though poor Pricey just can't catch a break, as she's not allowed to engage in any intimate behaviour with Carl while her feet heal from the five-hour op.

And her new man Carl now has to become Katie's "full time carer" as she won't be able to get out of bed for a fortnight, reports The Sun.

New photos of Queen's only daughter, Princess Anne as she celebrates her 70th birthday

Princess Anne’s 70th birthday has been celebrated with the release of three new official photographs and she’s been given a military promotion too. 

The Queen’s only daughter has reached the milestone today although festivities have been scaled back due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

To mark the occasion, the Ministry of Defence has made the Princess Royal a General in the British Army and an Air Chief Marshal in the Royal Air Force in recognition of her ‘invaluable contribution and commitment to the military’.

If that wasn’t enough, celebrated photographer John Swannell was dispatched to her Gatcombe Park home in Gloucestershire to photograph her wearing a fancy evening dress while sitting in a chair.

Police call for identification of missing boy found in Anambra

 

The police have found a missing boy said to have trekked from Nnewi to Awka, the Anambra State capital.

In a statement on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Haruna Mohammed, identified the boy as Akachukwu Gabriel.

Mohammed, a Superintendent of Police (SP), explained that Akachukwu was found by a team of policemen while on patrol on Wednesday along the UNIZIK Junction area in the state.

According to him, the three feet tall boy who is about 11 years and dark in complexion was trekking to Abakaliki in Ebonyi State.

#BBNaija now most-watched entertainment live stream on Showmax

Showmax, an internet television service on Friday said the ongoing Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) show had become the most popular entertainment live stream on that platform

This was contained in a statement given to newsmen in Lagos, by the organisation which added that the development had proved that local content definitely had cross-border appeal.

The television service drew audiences in Nigeria and other countries across the continent.

“The Big Brother Naija Lockdown which started July 19, 2020 had already broken a Showmax live-streaming record and become the most-watched live entertainment content ever on the streaming service.

JSS 3 students in Kaduna to resume next week

The Kaduna State government has announced the resumption of classes for Junior Secondary School (JSS) 3 students in the state.

In a statement on Friday, the Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Education, Phoebe Yayi, revealed that the government has approved Sunday and Monday next week as the resumption dates for the students.

She explained that the decision was taken to allow the students prepare for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) scheduled to commence on August 24.

The government also directed all school principals to make arrangements to receive the JSS3 boarding students on Sunday, and the day students on Monday, in line with the COVID-19 regulations of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Fire razes 10 cars, one trailer at LASTMA office

A fire at the office of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency in Oshodi on Friday razed 10 cars and a trailer.

The fire started at a section of the agency’s premises where impounded vehicles were kept but its cause could not be ascertained by witnesses.

After emergency service officials battled and put out the fire, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) revealed that no life was lost as a result of the fire.

“A total number of ten cars and one trailer were razed by the inferno,” the LASEMA Director-General, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said in a statement.

Ponzi king Madoff’s brother released from home confinement

The younger brother of Ponzi king Bernard Madoff has been released from home confinement and has been released from federal custody, the Bureau of Prisons said on Friday.

Peter Madoff, who had served about nine years of his sentence, was released from home confinement on Thursday, said Justin Long, a spokesman for the federal Bureau of Prisons. He had been transferred to home confinement from the Federal Correctional Institution in Miami in November 2019, officials said.

Madoff, 74, had pleaded guilty to falsifying documents and lying to regulators as part of his brother’s Ponzi scheme and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

His brother, Bernard Madoff, had pleaded guilty to fraud charges after his multi-decade fraud cost thousands of investors roughly $20 billion they had trusted with him. The fraud was first exposed in December 2008.

Malawi court orders arrest of police who r.a.p.e.d 18 women, girls during protest

A court in Malawi’s capital Lilongwe has ordered the arrest of police officers who r.a.p.e.d and abused 18 women and girls during anti-government protests last year, as well as compensation payouts.

“It is important that the officers … that s.e.x.ually assaulted and  r.a.p.e.d the applicants and all other women and girls… be arrested and prosecuted,” High Court judge Kenyatta Nyirenda said in the ruling issued Thursday.

Seventeen policemen had been accused of raping and s.e.x.ually assaulting 18 women and girls during an operation to disperse demonstrators in October in three districts on the outskirts of the city.

Three of the victims were under 18 years old.

FC Barcelona’s Umtiti tests positive for COVID-19

 

FC Barcelona said on Friday that defender Samuel Umtiti has tested positive for COVID-19.

However, the test result did not affect their UEFA Champions League quarter-final with Bayern Munich on Friday as he is injured and not with the squad.

Umtiti is the second Barca player to give a positive test for COVID-19 in the last week.

This was after his fellow French defender Jean-Clair Todibo was diagnosed with the virus on Wednesday when reporting back for pre-season training.

Governor Dapo Abiodun lifts Ogun weekend lockdown

Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun has lifted weekend lockdown in the state.

Giving updates on efforts in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor explained he took the decision after thorough deliberation, consideration and resolution with stakeholders.

He also stated the decision to lift the weekend lockdown was due to the opening of worship centres for activities.

Abiodun, however, said the limitation on social gatherings not exceeding 20 people at any place is still in force.

Operators of lottery, pools, betting to pay N20 million for license fee in Lagos

Operators of lottery, pools and betting in Lagos will be charged N20million license fee if a Bill proposed by the State’ Lagos Assembly on Laws on betting is finally approved by the state government. 

This was disclosed yesterday as the Bill, entitled; “Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority Bill Arrangement Of Sections” went through a public hearing at the State House of Assembly. 

According to the Bill, “before a license is granted to an operator, the Authority shall be satisfied that the applicant is a registered company in Nigeria with a minimum share capital of N20,000,000 (Twenty Million Naira) or as may be directed by the Authority.” 

It also specified that the local content shareholder shall abide by the regulations, policies, terms and conditions issued by the Authority.

Covid-19: Oyo to ‘name and shame’ defaulters of protocols

Oyo State government has said it will consolidate on its self-policing strategy of containing the spread of Covid-19 by adopting another strategy tagged: “name and shame”.

The strategy, the government said, would entail publicly naming corporate organisations, events, gatherings or individuals, who conduct themselves in violation of the stipulated protocols and guidelines of Covid-19.

This is also as the government extracted the commitment of stakeholders to enlist for the fight against the spread of the novel virus. 

UCH has lost 18 patients to Covid-19 because we accept the sickest of the sick - CMD

The Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan Prof. Jesse Otegbayo has explained why the hospital lost 18 persons out of the 159 Covid-19 patients it has treated so far.

Otegbayo spoke on Friday in Ibadan on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of the Josephus Foundation-aided new Infectious Disease Centre at UCH.

According to him, the coronavirus cases treated by the teaching hospital were severe with some of the patients having underlying health conditions.

“From the last figure I saw, we have treated about 159 Covid-19 patients and 18 of them died.

Pasuma wonder loses lead vocalist, Shina Alao

Pasuma Wonder has lost one of his lead vocalists, Shina Alao.

According to sources, Shina died on Thursday after a brief illness.

Known for his infusion of slangs in Pasuma’s songs, he became fans’ favourite when he featured on Pasuma’s third album Orobokibo in 1995.

Man to control traffic for 3 months in Kwara for internet fraud

Ilorin zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of one Kolade Emmanuel Balogun, who was prosecuted for internet fraud and fraud-related offences.

Balogun was convicted by Justice Sikiru Oyinloye of a Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin on Thursday, following his arraignment by the anti-graft body.

The judge said the convict should pay a fine of N50,000 and to also control traffic at a junction behind the Kwara State Ministry of Physical Planning for three months commencing from August 17 to October 17, 2020.

Yinka Ayefele opens Fresh Fm Ekiti branch

Yinka Ayefele today inaugurated a new radio station, Fresh 106.9 FM in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state.

Wife of Ekiti Governor, Mrs Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, who attended the inauguration, promised that the state government would continue to partner and cooperate with the media in the discharge of their duties for the benefit of the society.

Mrs Fayemi noted that the new radio station was a welcome development which came when the state government was making frantic efforts to attract more investments to the state. 

According to her, media organizations in any clime are instruments for the advancement of good governance and democracy as the new outfit will enhance greater awareness, cooperation and participation of the citizens in government’s activities and programmes.

Trump’s younger brother, Robert Trump gravely ill

Robert Trump, President Donald Trump’s younger brother has been hospitalised in New York.

The gravely ill 72-year-old is currently being admitted, ABC News reports.

It was not clear whether the illness is Covid-19 related.

But according to ABC, White House has confirmed the illness of Trump’s younger brother.