FRESH FM TOP NEWS THIS WEEK

The hottest and most trending news articles for this week in all categories are captured in one shot. Find articles ranging from News to Sports, to Politics, to Entertainment, to Economy, to Metro plus, and many other categories. See below the top news for the week:

NEWS

• Late Alaafin’s Senior Wife, Kafayat, Dies In The US Two Months After Alaafis Death

Barel two months after the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, joined his ancestors, one of his oldest queens, Olori Kafayat, as passed on. She died in the United states of America on Friday the first of July 2022. She was the mother of Prince Adebayo Adeyemi, the Chairman, Oyo State Local Government Pensions Board.

• Marketers deny FG’s N74bn payment, warn of massive fuel queues

Oil marketers on Thursday warned that Nigeria could witness “the mother of all queues” from next week if the Federal Government fails to pay the 12 months bridging claims being owed operators in the downstream oil sector. Dealers under the aegis of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, which controls about 70 per cent of filling stations across the country, also denied being paid N74bn by the Federal Government as bridging claims for the transportation of petroleum products.

On Wednesday, the Federal Government through its Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority said it paid N74bn as bridging claims to oil marketers for the transportation of petroleum products across the country in seven months. It disclosed this while reacting to allegations made by IPMAN, Suleja Branch, that the scarcity of petroleum products in Nigeria was due to the non-payment of bridging claims.

But in an interview with newsmen on Thursday, the Secretary, Abuja-Suleja IPMAN, Mohammed Shuaibu, whose unit covers Abuja, Kogi, Niger and parts of Nasarawa and Kaduna, countered the position of the NMDPRA on the payments of bridging claims. Referring to the Chief Executive of NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, the IPMAN official said, “He (Ahmed) alleged he has paid marketers N74bn right? We have accused him of sabotaging our efforts by not paying us our bridging claims and that is the fact. “Anyway, by the time we down-tool fully within the next one week, he will explain to the public and the presidency how the situation got to that level, because this one is going to lead to the mother of all queues.”

• Nigerian govt shields herdsmen, blames ISWAP for Owo attack – Report

Nigerian officials blamed the terror attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, on the Islamic State West Africa Province while avoiding references to networks of politically powerful herdsmen, Knoxville News Sentinel reports. According to a senior fellow at the Religious Freedom Institute in Washington DC, Stephen Rasche, Nigerian Christians no longer trust their own government or the leaders of the United States and the European Union.

On the Owo massacre, Rasche said, “These types of murders are taking place weekly, almost daily, in Nigeria — murders of innocent Christians, being gunned down, slaughtered indiscriminately, throughout the north and, increasingly, into the central part of Nigeria and into the south.”

On how the Nigerian Christians are reacting, he said many of them simply “throw up their hands,” because they no longer trust their own government or the leaders of the United States and the European Union. “They don’t look at us as being serious about any of these things,” he said. They are completely disillusioned that the US government is going to have any kind of effective role to play. They’ve just given up that anybody in the West is going to come to their aid,” he added.

• Justice Olukayode Ariwoola Takes Oath Of Office As Acting CJN

Justice Olukayode Ariwoola of the Supreme Court on Monday took the judicial oath of office as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). President Muhammadu Buhari administered the oath of office to Justice Ariwoola during a swearing-in ceremony held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Ariwoola, 67, takes over from the outgone CJN, justice Tanko Muhammad, is expected to serve in an acting capacity till further confirmation by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
While taking the judicial oath, he swore to be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Federal Government of Nigeria, as well as defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Justice Muhammad had resigned as the Chief Justice of Nigeria on Sunday night, citing ill-health as the reason for his decision. This led to the inauguration of Justice Ariwoola – the next most senior justice of the Supreme Court at the time of Justice Muhammad’s resignation. Until his resignation, according to reports, the immediate past CJN was seriously ill.

• Supreme Court crisis: NBA wants ex-CJN probed, Ariwoola sworn in, workers demand autonomy

A few hours after resigning from office, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, lawyers, civil right groups and some branches of the Nigerian Bar Association on Monday called for the probe of the erstwhile Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Muhammad. They unanimously said that the allegations against the former CJN should not be swept under the carpet. Muhammad’s resignation was made public on Monday morning. According to reports, he tendered his resignation on the grounds of ill-health, barely a week after 14 Supreme Court Justices, in a joint petition, levelled grave allegations of maladministration and financial impropriety against the Bauchi State-born jurist.

The news of his resignation caught the nation unawares on Monday morning as his media aide, Ahuraka Isah, who initially denied it, subsequently confirmed the development. President Muhammadu Buhari swore in the next most senior justice, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, as the acting CJN at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja. The President, who noted that he received the resignation letter of the outgoing CJN with mixed feelings, conferred upon Muhammed the national honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger.

In an unprecedented development in Nigeria’s judicial history, the Supreme Court justices had in a leaked letter, accused Muhammad of abandoning his responsibilities and diverting funds meant for the running of the Supreme Court. They complained about their accommodation, vehicles, electricity tariff, supply of diesel, internet services to justices’ residences, training for justices and epileptic electricity supply to the court. They accused the CJN of receiving their demands without acting “after several persistent requests” to hold a meeting which was finally held on March 31, where a welfare committee was set up.Among other things, the Supreme Court Justices demanded to know what had become of funds set aside for the training of justices, alleging that they were denied the usual two to three international workshops annually.

But in his response, the jurist, who was elevated to CJN on January 25, 2019, after his predecessor, Justice Walter Onnoghen, resigned over false asset declaration charges at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, blamed “a devastating economic crunch,” for his inability to meet their needs. Muhammad’s reaction to the allegations was contained in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Strategy, titled, ‘State of Affairs in the Supreme Court and demand by Justices of the Supreme Court.’

• Ex-CJN to get N2.5bn benefits, Senate begins corruption probe

The immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Muhammad, is expected to get a N2.5bn severance package from the Federal Government. Muhammad’s resignation on health grounds was announced on Monday, less than a week after the 14 Supreme Court Justices accused him of financial malfeasance and maladministration. Following the development, PresidentMuhammadu Buhari on Monday swore in Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the next most senior Justice as the acting CJN.

As part of the package for the retired chief justice put together by the National Judicial Council, a mansion will be built for him in Abuja or any city of his choosing with a lump sum for furnishing.
This is in addition to a gratuity that is 300 per cent of his annual basic salary of N3.36m as well as a pension for life. The National Judicial Commission had in 2019 recommended the payment of N2.5bn for Muhammad’s predecessor, Walter Onnoghen. A former CJN, Alfa Belgore, was also reportedly paid about N2.8b after he retired from service.

Just like state governors, a retired chief justice is entitled to at least four domestic staff and sundry allowances for personal upkeep. This includes allowances for accommodation, utilities, entertainment, medical, security, furniture, and vehicles. Though the remuneration and severance package of political, public and judicial officers were published on the website of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, the full details of the allowances were not disclosed.

Announcing the probe of the former CJN during plenary on Tuesday, Lawan recalled that on June 21, he drew the attention of the Senate to the media reports on the state of affairs in the Supreme Court where Justices of the apex court in a petition raised issues bordering on deplorable welfare conditions and difficult working environment, which was addressed to the CJN and Chairman, National Judicial Council. The Senate had on June 22, mandated the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, to, as a matter of urgency, wade into the crisis rocking the judiciary. Yesterday, following the motion, the Senate mandated the committee to go ahead with its assignment and find a lasting solution to the matter by interacting with relevant stakeholders. This is with a view to addressing complaints raised in the petition by justices of the Supreme Court.

• CDS faults self-defence order, Zamfara govt adamant

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, on Monday, faulted the Zamfara State Government over its directive to residents of the state to bear arms to defend themselves against terrorists. He stated he was yet to understand the rationale behind such a wrong call. “I believe that, in my view, it is not the right way to go,” he said. While saying that the Federal Government, through the Attorney General, will look at the details of the position of the Zamfara State Government, Irabor added, “If what I read is true, I do not also think that the governor has the power to instruct the commissioner of police to issue licences, because the Commissioner of Police does not have the powers to issue licences.”

Meanwhile, the Zamfara State government has insisted that self-defence remains the best option to address the issue of insecurity in the state. The state Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Dosara, spoke while featuring on Sunrise Daily, a current affairs programme on Channels Television on Monday. Dosara said, “We are planning to give position to people to protect themselves because it is allowed in a situation of war like ours. “We have five local governments where these issues are deteriorating and it is the reason why we said ok, since we have tried so many ways to improve the security which is being sabotaged by conflict entrepreneurs, the best thing now is to allow people to defend themselves, especially on their farms because it is the rainy season and the people need to go back to provide food for their families and the government has been doing everything to ensure that it secure lives of the people and their property. “

Taking a position on the issue, the Ondo State Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu said the statement only confirmed the pervasive loss of confidence in the current security arrangement in the country. “It is a sad commentary on the increasing inability and impotence of the Zamfara State Government, and other states, to protect their citizens in the wake of relentless and mindless assaults by terrorists and bandits. It suggests a total lack of trust between that state government and the Federal Government on one hand, and the helpless and hopeless situation in which the people have found themselves concerning the security of lives, on the other.
Akeredolu commended the boldness of Governor Bello Matawalle, in his bid to confront the security challenges in his state, adopting a pragmatic approach.

Meanwhile, the Aare Ona-kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has however expressed support for the gun licence directive by Matawalle. Adams hailed the directive, saying the decision was necessary to strengthen the internal security of the state.

• Matawalle replies critics, says self-defence natural instinct

Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, said the state government relied on an extant legislation to direct residents to acquire weapons to defend themselves. The clarification was contained in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Jamilu Magaji. Magaji quoted the governor as making the remark while inaugurating some security committees in Gusau, the state capital. Magaji quoted the governor as making the remark while inaugurating some security committees in Gusau, the state capital.

The statement explained that the governor’s directive was part of the administration’s efforts to tackle protracted security challenges in the state. It added that the state government was aware of the misgivings expressed in some quarters regarding the new measure. The statement quoted the governor as saying that, “Self-defence is a natural instinct and has always been part of human survival strategy.

“As those entrusted with the safety of lives and property of the people, we will do everything possible to uphold this responsibility within the ambit of the law. We are also aware that the security forces are doing their best to combat this formidable challenge. “Their efforts are, however, hampered by the lack of adequate modern warfare equipment and the dearth of personnel. Our decision to mobilise people to secure their communities is, therefore, for the people to complement the efforts of the conventional security forces in dealing with banditry and fishing out informants

• Self-defence: Reps ask FG to send troops to Zamfara

AS the directive given by Zamfara State government to citizens of the state to acquire arms to defend themselves against bandits continued to generate reactions, the House of Representatives, yesterday, sought an urgent intervention of the Federal Government to urgently deploy troops to quell the attacks in the state.

The lawmakers took the position on a day Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State said he would not ask people of the state to take up arms and defend themselves, adding that the security situation in his state has not degenerated to the level of asking the citizens to bear arms to defend themselves. This came as Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has said the state government relied on an extant legislation to direct residents to acquire weapons to defend themselves.

Considering a motion under matters of urgent public importance presented by Suleiman Abubakar, representing Gummi/Bukkuyum federal constituency of the state at plenary, the House expressed worry over incessant banditry attacks on the people of Zamfara State. In his motion, Abubakar said the situation had gone beyond the level of the local security and, therefore, required the intervention of the Federal Government.

According to him, the bandits impose levies on members of the communities and also ask for ransom from those they kidnapped. Adopting the motion, the House called on the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and Social Development and National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to send relief materials to the affected communities.

• Banditry: Matawalle insists residents must carry guns in self-defence

In spite of the reservation by Chief of Defence Lucky Irabor, Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle says there is no going back on his directive to Zamfara State residents to acquire arms and defend themselves against bandits. On Tuesday, he went a step further by inaugurating four committees to implement all strategies designed out by his administration to counter banditry and restore peace to the state. The committees are Intelligence Gathering on Banditry, Community Protection Guards (CPG), Prosecution of Banditry-Related Offences and State Security Standing Panel. Mattawale donated 20 new Toyota Hilux vans and 1,500 motorbikes to enable the members to commence operations.

Making a veiled reference to Irabor’s opposition to his order, the governor said that as a government that swore to an oath to protect its citizens,” we will do everything possible to uphold this responsibility within the ambit of the law.” “We are aware of misgivings expressed in some quarters regarding the new measures, particularly the decision to encourage members of the communities suffering almost daily from the inhumane aggressions of the bandits to acquire firearms to defend their communities,” the governor said in a statement by his Press Secretary, Jamilu Magaji. He assured that “the acquisition and usage of firearms by members of the general public who desire to do so would be governed by the Nigeria Firearms Act.”

• Rising insecurity shows FG officials, security agents complicit — SMBLF

Leaders of thoughts and elder statesmen from four of the six geo-political zones of the country, under the aegis of Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, SMBLF, have condemned in very strong terms the spate of targeted terrorist attacks on churches, and abduction of church leaders. The SMBLF also reiterated its call for the urgent need to establish state police in order to nip in the bud continued cases of terrorism, killings, kidnapping and wanton destruction of lives and property in the country. It equally called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to ensure requisite legislative instrument to address the issue, instead of indulging in meaningless lamentations.

Rising from a meeting in Abuja, the leaders warned that the ambiguity of the Federal Government and the failure of the security agencies to decisively deal with the situation could buttress the argument that officials of the Federal Government and security agents were complicit in the security anomalies in the country.

In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the leaders also noted that with the continuous abdication of government’s primary and abiding constitutional responsibility of safeguarding the lives and property of its citizens, Nigerians had been sent the dangerous signal of resorting to self-defence. The communique was signed by the chairman and South South leader, Edwin Clark; Afenifere leader, Ayo Adebanjo; Ambassador Okey Emuchay, Secretary-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide for the President-General and National president of Middle Belt Forum, Dr. Pogu Bitrus.

• Why I couldn’t implement 2014 confab report — Jonathan

Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has given an insight into why his administration was unable to implement recommendations contained in the report of the 2014 National Conference, which his administration commissioned. Jonathan offered his explanations at the public presentation of a book on the 2014 National Conference tiled: “The National Conversation”, authored by Akpandem James and Sam Akpe, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

The 2014 confab made far reaching recommendations on issues many Nigerians believed, had the potential of reducing, if not eliminating some of the socio-economic and security challenges currently being faced across the country. Some of the recommendations include: devolution of powers to states in the area of security and the control of resources among other things.

He said: “Those who are familiar with the process of constitutional review will know that to implement the confab report, a number of alterations will be made in the Constitution which will require the involvement of the National and State Assemblies. Such an elaborate review will be termed impossible at the time because at the time the report was submitted in August 2014, we were already on the verge of the 2015 election.

“It is also important to point out that at that time, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwual who was a member of my party — Peoples Democratic Party, PDP —has already moved out with some members to join the opposition. That meant that a reasonable part of the legislature was already anti-government. When you know that your parliament is under that kind of situation, it would have been impudent on my part to take such a precious document, which I considered crucial for development, to a parliament that would not take it into consideration.

• Voter Registration: New Registrants Now 10.4m, Says INEC

Over 10 million new voters have registered in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise across the country. This is according to the update for Week 11 in the Fourth Quarter released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday.

A breakdown of the figure showed that while fresh registrants hit 10,487,972, completed registration was pegged at 8,631,696. Online registration as of 7 am, Monday 27th June 2022 was pegged at 3,250,449, and physical registration, at 5,381,247. Furthermore, the update noted that the fresh registrants are made up of 4,292,690 males; females: 4,339,006; Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs): 67,171 and youths: 6,081,456.

Before now, the electoral body has said extending the voters’ registration was now inevitable following a surge in interest and calls by Nigerians for the exercise to be extended. INEC National Commissioner Festus Okoye said this on Friday as the June 30th deadline draws closer.

As part of moves to get Nigerians registered, the European Union and YIAGA Africa, a civil organisation, recently organised concerts in Lagos and Abuja. Tagged ‘Youth Vote Count’, the mega concerts have top Nigerian artists performing to a teeming crowd. Registrations were also done at the events. Religious organisations and other bodies have also ramped up efforts to get eligible Nigerians enrolled.

• House Passes Bill to Exempt National Assembly from Contributory Pension Scheme

The House of Representatives yesterday passed through second reading a bill to amend the Pension Reform Act, 2014 to exempt personnel of National Assembly Service from the contributory pension scheme and to establish the National Assembly Service Pensions Board.
The Bill titled, “Bill for an Act to Amend the Pension Reform Act, 2014 to Exclude/Exempt the National Assembly Service from the Contributory Pension Scheme and Establish the National Assembly Service Pension Board; and for Related Matters (HB. 2025),” was sponsored by the Chairman Committee on National Planning and Economy Development, Hon. Olododo Cook.

Leading the debate, Cook said the bill intended to exit the National Assembly Service from the application of the contributory pension’s scheme under the Pensions Reform Act, 2014, and the board when established would be charged with the responsibility of administering the pension’s scheme for personnel of the Service. According to him, “The proposed amendments provide that there is established a Pension Board (in this bill referred to as ‘the Board’) which shall be charged with the responsibility of managing payment of pensions and gratuities to all personnel of the Service. In a related development, the House during the consideration of reports at its Committee of the Whole, okayed a bill to make provisions for retirement age of staff of legislative houses in Nigeria.

POLITICS

• PDP Tackles Obasanjo Over Comments On Choice Of Deputy In 1999

The Peoples Democratic Party has tackled former President Olusegun Obasanjo over comments that he made mistake when he picked his Vice President in 1999. Obasanjo had over the weekend said he made a mistake in the choice of his number two ahead of the 1999 presidential election. He was elected as President in 1999 along with the current PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as his vice-president. The former President, who did not mention Atiku in his statement, said it was a mistake he made in good faith, but was saved by God.

But the PDP is not taking Obasanjo’s comment lightly, and has threatened to expose the character of the former President should he fail to clarify his statement within 48 hours.
Adressing a news conference in Kaduna on Monday, Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustee, Senator Walid Jibril said although the party has great respect for the former President, it would be disappointing if the statement credited to him, turned out to be true. He further accused Obasanjo of being angry with Atiku Abubakar for truncating his third term agenda despite the latter’s contribution to the Obasanjo administration.

On the the outcome of the Presidential primaries and subsequent picking of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as running mate of Atiku which may have angered Governor Nyesom Wike, the BoT Chairman disclosed that a high powered reconciliatory committee is soon to be constituted to meet Governor Wike and appeal to him.

• 2023: LP, NNPP merger talks still on going, says coalition

Bond between Labour Party and the New Nigeria Peoples Party has not broken down. The Head, Public Affairs Directorate of NC Front, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, and the National Publicity Secretary of NNPP, Dr. Agbo Major, confirmed the development in separate telephone interviews with newsme in Abuja on Thursday.

The Pat Utomi-led NC Front spearheaded the coalition which midwifed the adoption of Peter Obi as the presidential candidate of Labour Party. Tanko explained that the candidature of Peter Obi had grown beyond his political platform, Labour Party, into a mass movement which Nigerians across ethno-religious and sectional divides were identifying with. This, he said, had made it imperative for all citizens, irrespective of political party affiliations, to identify with.

Meanwhile the ADC presidential candidate, Kachikwu in an interview said “It’s too early to talk about merger. He said: “Our party stands for a Nigeria that protects the rights of women, children, disabled and the less privileged in the society. We stand for a Nigeria that works for everyone, a Nigeria that does not deemphasise hard work, a Nigeria that does not promote ethnicity or religion. We stand for the unity of Nigeria. Our goal is to make Nigeria a better place for all of us”.

It’s too early to discuss mergers or alliances. The electorate will position people for alliances and what I mean by that is that the electorate is going to process all of us. So right now, you have people who are social media rave of the moment, etc. But we want to see where everyone is in the next six months. By that time, political parties would be able to access each others’ chances, strength and opportunities and we will have conversations then.

My thinking, my understanding is that it’s not the merger that wins election. The merger of the ACN, CPC and other parties last time was not necessarily what won that election, it was the people. The people were fed up and were galvanized around their frustration. The people who were part of that merger, how many are they? how many votes do they have? The people were fed up, their frustration led to the removal of President Jonathan. So it’s never about merger per se.

• Uzodimma’s adviser resigns, demands N77m office-running cost refund

A former presidential candidate and Special Adviser to Imo state, on Political matters, Batos Nwadike, has tendered his letter of resignation. In a letter of resignation addressed to Governor Hope Uzodiinma, Nwadike asked the governor to refund him the sum of N77,200,000, he spent to run his office. Nwadike said that the governor’s administration was undemocratic and that he was not given access to discharge his duties.

• Masari, APC VP Candidate, Notifies INEC Of His Missing Certificate

Amidst controversy over the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s silence on his primary and secondary schools certificates, his running mate, Kabiru Masari equally informed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the loss of his original certificates. Checks by newsmen revealed that Masari in particulars submitted to INEC deposed to an affidavit on the loss of his primary and secondary schools certificates.

The APC vice presidential candidate in his particulars disclosed that he attended Masari Primary school, Katsina State between 1972-78 and obtained a Grade 2 Certificate from Katsina Teachers College in 1982 and a Higher Certificate in 1995. In the “Sworn Affidavit for Loss of Some Original Documents” sighted by newsmen, Kabiru Masari recalled that in January 2021, while on transit within Wuse, Area FCT, Abuja he lost his Certificate of Occupancy for a land located in GRA, Katsina along with his Grade 2 Certificate from Katsina Teachers College and First Leaving Primary School Certificate issued by Masari Primary School, Katsina State, (1972-78).

According to the extract from Police Diary obtained from Divisional Police Headquarter, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja attached to his particulars, “he further stated that all efforts made to trace the items proved abortive. “The complainant is issued with Police Extract and informed that the extract is not a substitute for the lost items and was advised to go to any competent court of law to swear to an affidavit to enable him to get a replacement from the issuing authority.”

• 2023: NLC, TUC declare support for Peter Obi

The Organized labour, Tuesday said it would work for the Presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, Mr. Peter Obi in the 2023 elections. The two labour centers, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), declared their support to campaign and do everything within their power to ensure that the Labour Party presidential candidate wins emerges victorious in the elections.

They declared their support in a separate speech made by their Presidents at the 10th anniversary lecture in honour of the labour veteran, late Conrade Pascal Bayau in Abuja
Delivering his speech, the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said that Mr Obi is among the finest Nigerian and the first presidential candidate of Labour Party to be recognized by the labour Centre. He however, declared NLC support for the Labour Party and her candidate, Peter Obi.

He said that the NLC will fully mobilize to ensure the victory of the party come 2023 general elections. Wabba noted that it became pertinent for the organised labour to fully participate in campaigning to ensure that the candidate whose mantra will make life better for his members and Nigerians at large wins the election after the union realised that strikes and protests alone cannot change the narratives in Nigeria, especially as it conserns workers welfare and fair treatment to the working people.

ECONOMY

• CBN Guarantees N130.90bn to Farmers under Agricultural Credit Scheme

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday said a total of 1,232,326 loans valued at N130.90 billion had been guaranteed to farmers under its Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) from its inception in 1977 to May 2022. The bank added that 973,646 beneficiaries had also repaid a total of N98.91 billion out of the total disbursements. The central bank also said it guaranteed the sum of N22.58 million to 82 loan beneficiaries under the scheme in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) between January and May 2022, bringing the total guaranteed loans in the FCT to N1.748 billion from 14,258 loans.

CBN Director, Development Finance Department, Mr. Yila Yusuf, gave the figures at the National Ceremony for the 2021 Best Farmer of the Year Award which took place during the 40th ACGSF Board Meeting in Abuja. He said in terms of loan recovery, 11,726 loans valued N801.05 million were repaid under the scheme in the FCT from the inception of the programme. Yila, who was represented by the Chairman, Board of ACGSF, Mr. Stephen Okon, further noted that the scheme had proved to be relatively successful in de-risking the agricultural sector, as evidenced in the number of loans guaranteed from inception to date.

Nonetheless, he said the award was introduced in the 1980s to recognise selected farmers that borrowed under the scheme and repaid within a specified period while adopting best agronomic practices to achieve good yields. The CBN director said the gesture was expected to serve as an incentive for participating in the scheme and inculcating good repayment behaviour with a view to encouraging more participants.

• FG Approves NELMCO Board, Fast-Tracks Concession Of Zungeru Power Plant

The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) has approved the board composition and proposed governance framework for the sustainable management and payment of post-privatisation liabilities of the power sector transferred to the Nigerian Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO) Board. This was among the highlights of the meeting of the Council presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The council, during the meeting which was its third this year, also approved the fast-tracking of the work plan for the concession of the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant (ZHPP) located in Wushishi Local Government Area of Niger State. Also at the meeting, the Council noted that the key objectives of the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant concession include leveraging private sector access to finance and reducing reliance on government budgetary allocation to fund the China EXIM Bank loan; and leveraging efficiencies and better facility management (maintenance) culture of the private sector for long-term preservation of the asset.”

The meeting had in attendance council members including federal ministers and representatives of federal ministries such as the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu; Director-General of BPE, Alex Okoh; heads of MDAs, and other senior government officials.

BUSINESS

• Dollar hits N615, local raw materials sourcing declines to 52%

The pressure on the foreign exchange market continued on Tuesday, with the dollar exchanging at N615 at the parallel market in Lagos and Abuja. This is even as the percentage of local raw materials sourced by Nigerian manufacturers declined to 52.4 per cent in 2021, from 57.5 per cent obtained in 2020, according to data from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.

Market research showed that a dollar sold for N613 and N614 at Zone 4 in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, but the rate was N615 at Amuwo Odofin and Lagos airports on Tuesday. At Abuja airports, a dollar was sold for N615. The situation was different at the Importers and Exporters window where a dollar went for N415.64, putting the margin between the official and the parallel markets at N199.36. Bureau de Change players said dollars were becoming increasingly scarce and the price could get to N700 before the end of the year.

“We are looking for dollars to buy, but we can’t find it anywhere. People are hoarding their dollars and waiting for prices to rise further,” Aminu Bala, one of the BDCs in Zone 4, Abuja, said in pidgin English. Abdullahi Isah, a BDC at Amuwo-Odofin in Lagos, lamented that they bought at N610-N612, saying that scarcity of dollars was hurting their business and the economy. According to the President, Association of Bureaux de Change Operators of Nigeria, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, no sensible person would like to sell his or her dollar when prices could rise within the shortest possible time.

EDUCATION

• ASUU strike: Mobilise for national protest, NLC directs affiliates

The Nigeria Labour Congress on Thursday said it would hold a one-day national protest to force the Federal Government to meet the demands of university-based unions. The NLC noted that reports from a meeting of its Central Working Committee showed a lack of progress in the negotiations with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and National Association of Academic Technologists.

The President of NLC, Ayuba Wabba, stated this in Abuja during the opening of the National Executive Council meeting on the Congress. Wabba directed all the affiliate unions of the NLC to issue directives on the planned one-day national protest from next week. Both Academic and non-academic activities in tertiary institutions in Nigeria have been grounded due to strike actions by the various institution-based unions over the alleged failure of the federal government to meet its demands.

Wabba said: “The strike in the education sector is an eyesore. For now, running into four months, the children of the poor have remained at home. You will recall that the last decision we took was to the extent of writing to Mr president and we gave a 21-day notice for them to convene a very high-powered meeting to be chaired either by the SGS or the Chief of Staff for this issue to be resolved once and for all.

“Time lost cannot be regained and whatever can be addressed within a shorter time; why should the government allow the situation to actually prolong what we can do today? Why do we need to draw it and address it later? I think there is reluctance in addressing this issue and therefore CWC has decided that there will be a one-day national protest to call the attention of the government to resolve the issue immediately after that the next decision of the CWC will take place. We have also informed all our affiliates and in the next one week we will issue statements to give credence to that decision.”

• JAMB laments lack of transparency in admission process

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has accused some tertiary institutions of learning in the country of being in the habit of opting for ‘crooked options’ by failing to disclose admission offers granted to candidates. JAMB had, in 2021, said it uncovered no fewer than 706,189 undisclosed admission offers granted to candidates by tertiary institutions. According to the board, the admission offers granted were done outside of the Central Admissions Processing System.

The board’s Registrar, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, in JAMB’s latest bulletin made available to newsmen on Tuesday, said, “It is disheartening today to still see some institutions opting for the crooked option that lacks transparencies or accountability through undisclosed admission offers.”
According to the bulletin, Oloyede, who was represented by the Osun State Coordinator of JAMB, Babatunde Jacob, made the comment at the maiden matriculation of the Department of Nursing Education, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

“The primary purpose of introducing the Central Admissions Processing System in 2017 was to do away with primordial procedures in the admission processes. The board agreed to retroactively condone candidates who were offered secret admission by some tertiary institutions from 2017 to 2021 sequel to the noble intervention of the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu,” he added. He, therefore, urged concerned institutions to desist from such practices and comply with the board’s directives that all admissions must be conducted through CAPS.

HEALTH

• COVID-19: Nigeria misses WHO vaccination target, experts task NPHCDA

With Nigeria vaccinating only 20.5 per cent of its population so far, the country has missed the 70 per cent mid-year COVID-19 vaccination target set by the World Health Organisationk, reports ave it. This is even as the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, revealed that only two African countries have achieved the 70 per cent coverage target set by the WHO.

In 2021, the global health body had put forward a global target of 70 per cent total population coverage by mid-2022. However, the latest data obtained from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, on Thursday, showed that only 20.5 per cent of the total eligible population targeted for COVID-19 vaccination had been fully vaccinated while 10.7 per cent have been partially vaccinated. Nigeria had missed the global goal of vaccinating 10 per cent of every country’s population by September 30 and 40 per cent of the total population by the end of 2021.

Speaking during a virtual COVID-19 and Monkeypox press briefing on Thursday, Dr Moeti said, “Through the efforts of COVAX and other partners, over 820 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been delivered to the continent in a little over a year – 62 per cent by and through COVAX, 30 per cent through bilateral donations or purchase and eight per cent by the African Union and other sources. “Two African countries, Mauritius and Seychelles, have achieved the ambitious 70 per cent overall coverage target set by WHO. Rwanda, at 67 per cent, and Botswana, at 64 per cent, are not far behind, while seven other countries have fully vaccinated more than 40 per cent of their population.”

Moeti, however, appealed to everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible. “Vaccination is still our best defence against COVID-19 and our best chance of ending the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said. A public health physician and Senior Vice President for Africa, Human Health Education and Research Foundation, Dr Ifeanyi Nsofor, said misinformation, insecurity, religious and cultural beliefs are some of the challenges limiting the country from meeting the vaccination target.

• Lagos Govt Unveils New Guidelines On Safe, Lawful Abortions

The Lagos State government says its Ministry of Health has developed a set of policies on safe termination of pregnancy. Tagged “Lagos State Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancy for Legal Indications,” the 40-page policy document sets out guidelines for safe termination of pregnancy within the ambit of the criminal law of the state.

Dr Olusegun Ogboye, who is the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, presented and launched the document at a stakeholders’ engagement held on Tuesday in Lagos. He explained that the policy document was produced following the need to provide evidence-based data and information for health workers in public and private sectors who have the requisite skills and training necessary to provide safe terminations to reduce preventable deaths. He added that while therapeutic termination of pregnancy was permissible under the law, the absence of clear guidelines has stalled the effective implementation at appropriate levels of care, resulting in preventable deaths.

Ogboye explained that the process to develop the guidelines commenced in 2018 with the Safe Engage project led by the ministry and hosted by the Society for Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Nigeria (SOGON), with support from the Population Reference Bureau (PRB). He added that stakeholders in the health sector worked with key opinion leaders in Lagos and the south-west region to develop a tailored advocacy tool for terminations within the legal context.

• NCDC deplores misinformation about monkeypox in Nigeria

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has decried what it described as widespread misinformation about the infection, especially in Nigeria. The Director-General of the NCDC, Ifedayo Adetifa, said this on Tuesday at a virtual media dialogue on the infection. Adetifa, however, admitted that there was an uptick in Monkeypox cases in Nigeria.

“If not contained, it could exceed the peak number of cases seen in 2017 when the infection re-emerged. Monkeypox is not a plot to cause lockdowns like COVID-19 and there is no evidence of the release of the virus from a laboratory,” he said. He noted that more than 3,000 laboratory-confirmed cases and one death have been recorded globally as of June 22. The NCDC said that nearly 5,000 human infections with monkeypox have been reported worldwide. The NCDC DG said though rare, Monkeypox was not a novel disease.

Since its sudden resurgence in 2017, a multi-agency Technical Working Group (TWG) coordinated at the NCDC has led Nigeria’s efforts to improve the detection, prevention, and control of monkeypox the NCDC DG said. According to him, NCDC is supporting the global effort to respond to the disease as well as pushing for the renaming and re-classification of the virus to a “non-discriminatory and non-stigmatising nomenclature”.

• Untreated malaria may lead to mental disorder — Medical expert

Mr Tobias John, a public health expert, on Friday warned that malaria might lead to Common Mental Disorders (CMDs) if left untreated. John, who is the Northeast Zonal Coordinator of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe.

He said that the warning was imperative in view of the dearth of proper awareness about malaria and the different health complications that untreated malaria could lead to. He said that malaria was sensitive to human health in view of the series of health complications that were related to the disease and its tendency to weaken human immune system within a short time.

John said if those suffering from malaria knew the implication of the disease on human health, “they will not hesitate to treat the disease; malaria is a life-threatening disease. Malaria can lead to brain damage and seizure when it results to anaemia or blood shortage which affects the functionality of the brain.

“Malaria cause common mental disorder which is associated with improper flow of blood into the brain and when your blood level is low, it cannot move the quantum that is required to the brain for normal functionality. Then you know that definitely your coordination will be affected and the brain can begin to react in the opposite direction or in diverse means. He advocated for quick-response approach to the treatment of malaria through proper testing before drug prescription, while cautioning against self-medication.

WORLD

• Ketanji Brown Jackson Sworn In As First Black Woman On US Supreme Court

The United States made history on Thursday as Ketanji Brown Jackson was sworn in as the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. The 51-year-old’s appointment by Democratic President Joe Biden means white men are not in the majority on the nation’s highest court for the first time in 233 years. While her confirmation is a milestone, it won’t change the 6-3 conservative majority on the court, which has come under fire for recent rulings broadening the right to bear arms and eviscerating abortion rights.

Jackson spoke only to say her oaths during Thursday’s brief ceremony. She had picked up support from three Senate Republicans during a grueling and at times brutal confirmation process, delivering Biden a bipartisan 53-47 approval for his first Supreme Court nominee. Jackson’s swearing-in marks a major moment for Biden, who chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee in the 1980s and 90s, meaning he has the unprecedented distinction of both naming and overseeing the appointment of a Supreme Court justice.

The appointment presents an opportunity for his administration to pivot from a spate of bad news in recent months, with Biden’s poll ratings still languishing below 40 percent amid runaway inflation ahead of midterm elections in November. Crucially, it has allowed Biden to show the Black voters who rescued his floundering 2020 primary campaign that he can deliver for them.

• Lumumba’s Remains Arrive In DR Congo

Slain Congolese independence hero Patrice Lumumba’s only surviving remains, a single tooth, arrived in Kinshasa on Monday where it is due to be laid to rest later this week. The nationalist politician became an anti-colonial icon when he delivered a fiery speech against racism on June 30, 1960, when his native central African country proclaimed independence from Belgium.

But Lumumba, the country’s first post-independence prime minister, was overthrown that September. Separatists from the southern region of Katanga and Belgian mercenaries then executed him and two close supporters in January 1961. His body was dissolved in acid after he was killed, but a Belgian police officer kept the tooth as a trophy. Belgian authorities in 2016 seized the relic from his daughter.

On June 20, Belgium finally returned the tooth to Lumumba’s family members during a ceremony in Brussels. Lumumba’s remains were then transported to his native Democratic Republic of Congo, for a tour of the vast nation that included the southeastern region where he was assassinated. On Monday, the independence hero’s tooth arrived in the capital Kinshasa for the final leg of the tour, in a coffin draped in the Congolese flag.

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi received the remains at Kinshasa’s international airport, where he bowed before the coffin. Lumumba’s tooth is due to be laid to rest in a ceremony in Kinshasa on Thursday — the 62nd anniversary of independence from Belgium and his historic speech.

• Zimbabwe Central Bank Hikes Interest Rate To 200%, Highest In The world

Zimbabwe’s central bank on Monday more than doubled its key interest rate to a whopping 200 percent, the highest in the world as the southern African country battles hyperinflation.
Annual inflation more than doubled in two months to reach 191 percent in June, stoking fears of a return to 2008 hyperinflation period where savings were wiped out.

The bank’s governing committee announced in a statement the whooping interest rate increase after expressing “great concern” on the recent gallop in inflation. “The committee noted that the increase in inflation was undermining consumer demand and confidence and that, if not controlled, it would reverse the significant economic gains achieved over the past two years,” bank governor John Mangudya said. The benchmark interest rate was last raised to 80 percent in April from a previous 60 percent.

Central banks around the world have been raising rates to fight inflation as energy and food prices have soared in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and supply chain disruptions.
Zimbabwe is in the throes of an economic decline. The value of the local currency has also suffered major headwinds, losing more than two thirds of its value this year alone to become one of the continent’s worst performing currencies, according to Bloomberg.

• 46 Migrants Found dead in abandoned US truck

At least 46 migrants were found dead Monday in and around a truck that was abandoned on the roadside on the outskirts of the Texas city of San Antonio. The grim discovery was one of the worst disasters involving migrants in the United States in recent years — and came five years after a similar deadly incident in the same central Texas city, a few hours from the Mexican border.

“At this time we have processed approximately 46 bodies that have been triaged and tagged and declared deceased,” San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood told reporters. He said that 16 people had been transported to hospital alive and conscious — 12 adults and four children.
There were no initial details on the age or nationality of the deceased.

“The patients that we saw were hot to the touch, they were suffering from heat stroke, heat exhaustion, no signs of water in the vehicle, it was a refrigerated tractor-trailer but there was no visible working A/C unit on that rig,” Hood said. Officials said three people were in custody over the incident.

• Russia Fails To Pay Debt But Denies It Doesn’t Have The Money

Russia said Monday that two of its debt payments were blocked from reaching creditors, pushing the country closer to its first foreign default in a century due to sanctions over the Ukraine offensive. The announcement came on the 124th day of Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine, with Western sanctions so far failing to force the Kremlin to change its course.

The Western economic penalties have largely severed the country from the international financial system, making it difficult for Moscow to service its debt. The Russian authorities insist they have the funds to honour the country’s debt, calling the predicament a “farce” and accusing the West of seeking to drive Moscow into a default artificially. Russia lost the last avenue to service its foreign-currency loans after the United States removed an exemption last month that allowed US investors to receive Moscow’s payments.

A 30-day grace period for the payment of $100 million in interest payments expired on Sunday night, most of which had to be paid in foreign currency. Russia had attempted to make the payments, but the finance ministry said Monday that the money had not been transferred to creditors.

International settlement and clearing systems “received funds in full in advance” but the payments were not transferred to the final recipients due to “the actions of third parties,” the ministry said in a statement. “The actions of foreign financial intermediaries are beyond the Russian finance ministry’s control,” the statement said. While some experts dismiss the event as a technical default, others say it will have far-reaching consequences.

• FBI Adds Bulgarian ‘Crypto Queen’ To Most-Wanted List

A Bulgarian woman dubbed the “Crypto Queen” after she raised billions of dollars in a fraudulent virtual currency scheme was placed on the FBI’s 10 most wanted list Thursday. The Federal Bureau of Investigation put up a $100,000 reward for Ruja Ignatova, who disappeared in Greece in October 2017 around the time US authorities filed a sealed indictment and warrant for her arrest.

The 42-year-old, who is also a German citizen, was behind one of the most notorious scams in the frequently treacherous world of crypto currencies. In 2014 she launched OneCoin, ostensibly aiming to replace Bitcoin as the world’s leading virtual money. Tapping a global network to market the coin to friends and family in exchange for their own payouts, she and co-conspirators pulled in at least $3.4 billion and possibly over $4 billion, according to court documents.

Officials said that OneCoin was not backed by any secured, independent blockchain-type technology as other crypto currencies are. Instead, they said, it was a classic Ponzi scheme, in which early investors are encouraged to find others and then paid out by receipts from later investors. Ignatova disappeared in 2017 as international investigators began to close in on her group.

On May 11, Europol announced it had added Ignatova to its most wanted list, and offered a 5,000 euro ($5,200) reward for information on her whereabouts. But on Thursday she was no longer on the list. It was not clear why or when she came off it, and authorities in Europe and the United States have not shown evidence of whether she is alive or dead. Her brother Konstantin Ignatov was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport in March 2019, and later pleaded guilty to wire fraud in a deal with US authorities. Another partner, Sebastian Greenwood, was detained in Thailand in 2018 and then extradited to the United States, where he remains in jail awaiting trial.

• US Blocks More Than $1bn In Russian Oligarch’s US Assets

The United States on Thursday blocked a US-based company worth more than $1 billion linked to Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, saying the ally of President Vladimir Putin used it to funnel and invest shadowy funds. The Treasury Department said that Kerimov, a billionaire active in Russian politics, secretly managed the Delaware-based Heritage Trust which put its money into a number of large public companies.

Heritage Trust, set up in 2017, brought money into the United States through shell companies and under-the-radar foundations established in Europe, Treasury Department officials said. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen vowed that the United States would keep taking action “even as Russian elites hide behind proxies and complex legal arrangements.” The United States will “actively implement the multilaterally coordinated sanctions imposed on those who fund and benefit from Russia’s war against Ukraine,” she said in a statement.

The action comes weeks after Fiji handed to the United States a $300 million superyacht linked to Kerimov, who has been under US sanctions since 2018 over alleged money laundering and his role in the Russian government. The United States and European nations have stepped up a crackdown on Russian oligarchs following Putin’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine, which triggered a slew of Western sanctions.

ENTERTAINMENT

• R. Kelly sentenced to 30 years in prison for federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges

Disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison Wednesday following his conviction last year on federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges stemming from his efforts over years to use his fame to ensnare victims he sexually abused. Prosecutors had asked the judge to sentence Kelly, 55, to more than 25 years behind bars, while his defense attorneys asked for 10 or fewer, saying prosecutors’ request was “tantamount to a life sentence.”

Survivors of Kelly’s abuse held hands and prayed as US District Court Judge Ann Donnelly began reading his sentence. Kelly — who wore a tan prison uniform, dark-rimmed glasses and a black mask at the hearing in federal court in Brooklyn — showed no emotion.”You left in your wake a trail of broken lives,” Donnelly told Kelly, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly.
In deciding the sentence, Donnelly said she considered Kelly’s own traumatic childhood, during which his attorneys said he was repeatedly sexually abused by a family member and a landlord.
“It may explain, at least in part, what led to your behavior,” the judge said. “It most surely is not an excuse.”

Jovante Cunningham, a former backup singer for Kelly, praised the sentence. A jury convicted Kelly last September on nine counts, including one charge of racketeering and eight counts of violations of the Mann Act, a sex trafficking law. Prosecutors from the Eastern District of New York accused Kelly of using his status as a celebrity and a “network of people at his disposal to target girls, boys and young women for his own sexual gratification.” The five-week federal trial in Brooklyn included testimony from witnesses who said they were sexually and physically abused by Kelly.

The court also heard from people involved with orchestrating the disgraced R&B singer’s 1994 marriage to the late singer Aaliyah when she was just 15 years old and he was an adult after she believed she’d gotten pregnant. Kelly’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, said he would not address the court, pointing to the other criminal case faced by Kelly, but said before the sentence was read that her client “rejects that he is this monster.” Bonjean said she advised Kelly not to speak at the sentencing because of pending litigation against him, but added, “he has regrets. And he is sad. Nobody wants to hear what he heard today.”

• Idris Elba In Talks To Acquire UK Channel 4 For $1.2bn

English actor and singer, Idris Elba is reportedly interested in acquiring the United Kingdom broadcaster Channel 4 looking to put forward a £1 billion (approximately $1.2 billion USD) bid.
According to reports, Elba is speaking with Marc Boyan, founder and chief executive officer of marketing and communications collective The Miroma Group, for the proposal.

There are reports that Channel 4 refused to comment and a statement from Elba’s team has not been released as of the time of filing this report. UK Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries announced in April 2022 that Channel 4 will be sold in an attempt to compete with big international streamers such as Netflix and Amazon’s Prime Video.

Dorries had previously said that the sale plans “will revamp decades-old laws to help our public service broadcasters compete in the internet age and usher in a new golden age for British TV and radio.” Some reports also add that Elba is currently in competition with ITV, Comcast’s pay TV operator Sky and Paramount for Channel 4.

• Fireboy Gets Emotional After Performing With Ed Sheeran At Wembley

Nigerian music superstar, Fireboy DML on Wednesday night broke down in tears after performing his hit song “Peru” with Ed Sheeran at the Wembley Stadium, London. The Wembley Stadium has about 90,000 capacity, and will have Ed Sheeran perform for five nights from 24 June to 1 July.

Recall that Fireboy released ‘Peru’ in July 2021 and later on had a remix of the song with American singer, Ed Sheeran in 2022. Fireboy in a viral video, was overwhelmed with emotions and broke down in tears as his team members calmed him down at the backstage.

• Beyonce Goes Completely Nude On Album Cover Of ‘Renaissance’

Beyonce looked sexier than ever when she stripped down completely nude rocking nothing but silver body chains for her sexy new ‘Renaissance’ album cover. With Beyonce, one thing is for sure – she knows how to make a statement. That’s exactly what the 40-year-old did on the cover of her new album, Renaissance, which drops on July 29.

On the cover, Beyonce went completely nude, except for some silver body chains covering her chest and bottom. While in the chains, Bey rode a holographic horse, as she revealed ample cleavage and her toned waist. She topped her look off with a pair of sky-high metallic silver stilettos and had her long brown hair down in waves. Her hair was so long, that it trailed down to her legs, and she tipped her look off with a metallic smokey eye and a bold red lip.

Beyonce posted the photo with the caption, “act i. RENAISSANCE. 7.29. Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world.” She continued to write, “It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving. My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, release, feel freedom. It was a beautiful journey of exploration. I hope you find joy in this music. I hope it inspires you to release the wiggle. Ha! And to feel as unique, strong, and sexy as you are.”

SPORTS

• Joshua needs ‘brain transplant’ – Froch

Carl Froch says Anthony Joshua needs a ‘brain transplant’ if he is to become a three-time heavyweight world champion by beating Oleksandr Usyk. Froch believes the Watford-born Joshua has the body to take on Usyk, but questioned his mentality ahead of their rematch in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on August 20.

Last September at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Usyk won their initial fight by unanimous decision, but now Joshua has a new trainer, Robert Garcia, who is thought to bring more aggression to the 32-year-old’s boxing style.

Despite the switch-up, though, former super-middleweight champion Froch does not fancy Joshua’s chances of turning the tables this time around. Froch told Betfred’s Lightweight Boxing Show, “Sometimes a change is good, but for Anthony Joshua to beat Oleksandr Usyk, he needs a brain transplant. He’s got all the physical attributes but I just don’t think he can beat him.”

• Simon, Amao nominated for CAF Awards

Nigerian winger Moses Simon has been nominated for the Confederation of Africa Football’s Men’s Player of The Year award for 2021/22. But there was no place for Africa’s most expensive signing Victor Osimhen, despite his goals for both the Super Eagles and Napoli. The list, covering performances from September 2021 until June this year, was decided by a panel of CAF legends, technical experts and journalists.

The 26-year-old Simon won the Coupe de France with Nantes last season and was impressive for the Eagles at the delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. He also starred for the Eagles, scoring a goal and providing two assists, as they kicked off their 2023 AFCON qualifiers on a winning note against Sierra Leone and Sao Tome. The former Levante winger is up against Mohamed Salah (Egypt) and Saido Mane (Senegal), who won the last edition back in 2019.

• Okagbare’s additional one-year ban has badly depleted our squad, AFN laments

Nigeria’s athletics is feeling the impact of the ban placed on U.S.-based sprinter, Blessing Okagbare, who was handed an extra one-year suspension on Monday night for doping violations. Okagbare will now be out from athletics scene for 11 years after an extra year was added to the previous 10-year ban she received from World Athletics on February 14, 2021.

Before her 10-year ban last year, Okagbare had helped the Nigerian 4x100m relay team to qualify for the World Championships during an event held at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, where she, alongside Grace Nwokocha, Rosemary Chukwuma and Tima Godbless competed in an International Relay race attended by some other African countries.

Speaking with newsmen, an official of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), described as ‘sad development’ the additional one-year ban placed on Okagbare. “This additional one-year ban on Okagbare has completely depleted our squad to the World Championships,” the official said. “Between our men and the women’s teams, our hope for medals was more on the girls because for the first time in a long while, we have four of our women running sub 10.00 seconds, which is good for Nigeria. Even without Okagbare, we still had a strong relay squad, but this additional one-year ban is a big disaster for us.”

Meanwhile, the additional one-year ban on Okagbare may not affect Nigeria’s women 4x100m relay team’s participation at the Commonwealth Games next month in Birmingham, England.
Another official of the AFN told The Guardian that the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) rules apply only to events being organised by World Athletics. I can tell you that our women’s 4x100m relay team to the Commonwealth Games is intact because it is a competition by entry and not by standard as stipulated by World Athletics. All these Out of Competition Tests (OCT), which our athletes do before attending World Athletics events, are not applicable to the Commonwealth Games,” the official explained.

• Lukaku Makes Dream Return To Inter Milan

Romelu Lukaku said he was “very happy” to be back after the Belgian international striker arrived in Milan on Wednesday ahead of his return to Inter Milan on loan from Chelsea. A beaming Lukaku emerged from Linate airport in the early hours of Wednesday morning and gave his short but delighted response to the handful of reporters awaiting his arrival. The 29-year-old will undergo a medical later in the day before making his long-awaited Inter comeback official.

Chelsea agreed to a reported deal in which Inter will pay an initial eight million euros ($8.42 million) plus a further potential three million euros in bonuses for the loan. Lukaku will again lead Inter’s attack as they attempt to regain the Serie A title after taking a pay cut — a reported 8.5 million euros for the coming campaign.

Lukaku leaves London after failing to make an impression for a second time at Chelsea, not meeting high expectations following a £97.5 million move from Inter last summer. He had made himself a fan favourite over two years at Inter after scoring 64 times in 95 games and driving them to their first Serie A title in over a decade, the 2021 Scudetto ending both an 11-year drought and Juventus’ grip on Italian football.

However, the financial problems of Inter’s owners the Suning Group, exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic led to coach Antonio Conte leaving the club almost as soon as the title was won. He claimed the cost-cutting required by Inter would have prevented him from building the team he wanted to challenge domestically and in Europe.

• Last World Cup Tickets To Go On Sale Next Week – FIFA

The remaining tickets for this year’s World Cup in Qatar will be available on a first-come, first-served basis from next week, FIFA said on Wednesday. About 1.8 million tickets were sold in the first two batches of sales, FIFA said, without saying how many are now available. Qatar will host the first World Cup in the Middle East from November 21 to December 18 at eight stadiums in and around the capital, Doha.

The latest tickets will go on sale online from July 5 at 12pm Doha time (0900 GMT) until 12pm on August 16, FIFA said in a press release. “Huge worldwide interest is anticipated in the new sales period,” the world body said.

Officials said three million tickets are available in total, including those allocated to sponsors.
Last week, the World Cup’s chief organiser Hassan Al-Thawadi said 1.2 million tickets had been sold so far.

METRO PLUS

• Court favours Ekweremadu, orders NIMC, others to release Ukpo’s biodata

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, to release the official bio-data of David Nwamini to a former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice. It was reported that Ekweremadu and wife had, in the application dated and filed on June 27 by Awomolo, sued NIMC and four others. Others mentioned in the suit are the Comptroller General (C-G), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS); Stanbic-IBTC Bank; United Bank of Africa (UBA) and Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc as 2nd to 5th respondents respectively.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, Friday, also ruled that the National Identity Management Commission NIMC, and two commercial banks involved in the matter to release Nwamini’s details in their possession to the couple. The court order followed an originating summon filed by detained couple through their counsel and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Adegboyega Awomolo.

Senator Ekweremadu and his wife are being detained by the United Kingdom authorities over charges of conspiring to bring a child to Britain for organ harvesting with Nwamini said to be the victim. Following their arrest by the London Metropolitan Police, they were arraigned before Uxbridge Magistrate Court which ordered that they should be remanded in custody till July 7 while investigations continue into the allegations against them.

Although the Met police said Nwamini was 15, the NIS said it issued an international passport indicating his age as 21 after due process. In a move to clear his clients of the allegations, Awomolo approached the court in Abuja, seeking an order directing the NIMC to produce the Certified True Copy of the details of David Ukpo Nwamini.

• Native doctor’s attire: Court declines hearing lawyer’s case

Justice Tijani Ringim of a Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday refused to hear two cases of a human right lawyer, Malcolm Omihrhobo, who adorned himself in a lawyer’s gown with ‘native doctor’ attire to court. The lawyer also appeared bare footed with cowries tied on his two legs. His wig had two long feathers, with cowries in his two hands and tied a red wrapper, while he wore his lawyer’s gown on it.

The human right lawyer, who appeared before Justice Ringim, was greeted with resistance by some lawyers who disagreed with his appearance before the court in such dressing; arguing that he could not be heard as he was not properly dressed as a lawyer before the court. Omihrhobo, who had on Thursday caused a stir at the Supreme Court in Abuja for appearing in court the same way, said it would be a violation of his right if he was not heard; noting that the rules could not be above the nation’s constitution.

Upon his argument, Justice Ringim, however directed Omihirhobo to address the court on why he should be heard the way he was dressed on the next adjourned date in a suit delineated to FHC/L/CS/929/2022; (Chief Malcolm Omihrhobo) sued the Federal Government of Nigeria and others.

The same happened in his second suit marked FHC/L/CS/1392/2021 against the Nigeria Army and two others before the same court. The court ordered that the address must not be more than five pages with the authorities, and must be filed before the adjourned date. When his case was called, he announced his appearance as the applicant and some lawyers, Abdullah Dania, Mohammed Adamu and one Festus Afeyodion, told court that he should not be heard as he was not properly robbed. Consequently, the judge adjourned to October 10, 2022.

• N10m fraud: Court convicts lawyer for issuing dud cheque

Justice Sodetan Ogunsanya of the Ikeja High Court sitting in Lagos, on Monday, convicted a lawyer, Stella Achebe and her company, Infinite Favour Nigeria Limited for N10m fraud. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned Stella Achebe and her company for the offence bordering on the issuance of dud cheques, contrary to Section 1(1)(b) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act 2004, and obtaining credit by fraud contrary to Section 313(1)(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011. The defendant was arraigned on an amended four-count dated February 27, 2015.

The charges read in part, “Stella Achebe and Infinite Favour Nigeria Limited sometimes in April 2013 at Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division knowingly issued a Diamond Bank cheque dated 30th April 2013 for the sum of N10 million only payable to Leinadibanie Nigeria Limited through its Director Daniel Ebinoh, which when presented for payment within three months of issuance was dishonoured on the grounds that no funds or insufficient funds were standing to your credit in the account at the bank on which the cheque was drawn.” The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges.

During the court trial, the prosecuting counsel, G.C Akaogu, called four witnesses and tendered several documentary evidence to prove the case against the convict. The prosecution through the witnesses revealed that the defendant had only N3,129.77 in her account as of the time she issued the cheques for the said amount.

Akaogu also adduced evidence to prove that the defendant merely obtained the said money by false pretence as she was not into oil and gas business as she claimed. The defendant, who said she was a lawyer called to the Nigeria Bar in 2002, also took to the dock to defend herself, claiming that she was into oil and gas business. Achebe claimed that the money obtained from her victim who petitioned the EFCC was for the supply of AGO from MRS. However, the defendant stopped coming to court and continued to be absent in court proceedings. Delivering judgement, Justice Ogunsanya said it was clear that the defendant has jumped bail and all efforts by her counsel to locate her have proved abortive. Justice Ogunsanya adjourned sentencing of the matter until when the defendant is produced in court.

• Senate backs climate change in Nigeria

The Senate has begun the process that would help in mitigating against what it described as Climate Change in Nigeria . The action of the Senate is through its Committee on Ecology and Climate Change because of the disturbing high rate of gas emission in the country with attendant adversed effect on Climate

Addressing Journalistson Monday in Abuja on planned mitigation, Chairman of the Committee, Senator Lawal Hassan Anka, APC, Zamfara West who noted that a National Green Summit will soon hold for way out of the imminent environmental disaster, stressed that Nigeria is a high net gas emitter and has consistently ranked among the 10th highest gas emitting countries in the world .

The Senator noted that it was as a result of this development that National Green Summit has been put together for stakeholders to brainstorm on the way forward. He added that the theme of the summit is ” Collective Action for Gas Emission Reduction and Climate Change Mitigation in Nigeria “.

• Dispatch riders now distributors of hard drugs — NDLEA

The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA),on Monday, disclosed that dispatch riders had become distributors of hard drugs and illicit substances, vowing to beam its searchlight on them.

The NDLEA Lagos State Commander, Alumona Callys, made the disclosure while addressing journalists on its activities in the past six months, in commemoration of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Callys said some dispatch riders provided pickup and delivery services for drug dealers in Lagos state.

He revealed that from December 2021 to date, the command arrested 336 suspects out of which 56were convicted. He said 97 drug users were counselled and transferred from the Supply Reduction (Investigation Department) unit, and while57,330.573 kilograms of hard drugs were also seized within the period.

He stated that the command would not relent in its effort to restore sanity in the fight against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, throughthe arrest of dealers and users of narcotics and psychotropic substances, no matter their social status.