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The abductors of a commercial driver, Mr Felix Akinde, who was kidnapped on the Akure-Ado Ekiti Expressway, have contacted his family and demanded N2m as ransom for his release. Akinde, who is said to be a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Ekiti State, was kidnapped at a spot on the road near the NYSC farm at Ita-Ogbolu, headquarters of the Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State on Tuesday while travelling in a Toyota Privia vehicle and was whisked to an unknown destination. It was gathered that the hoodlums contacted the victim’s family through Akinde’s boss and asked for N5m ransom. Mr. Adedeji Adeyemi, who owns the bus which the victim was driving, spoke with journalists on the telephone in Akure on Thursday, saying the kidnappers contacted him on the telephone. He explained that the kidnappers initially demanded N5m to secure the freedom of his driver, but it was later reduced to N2m. “The abductors contacted me on Wednesday. T

Fresh facts have emerged about the landing of a Tropical Arctic Logistics Limited’s helicopter on Benin- Ore Road. TAL, the airline in the middle of the controversy, said on Thursday that it got the necessary approval to embark on a medical evacuation, which necessitated the Benin-Ore Highway landing. The Chief Operating Officer, TAL, Femi Adeniji, said the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency cleared the flight, adding that the airline was contacted by Flying Doctors to evacuate a patient who needed urgent medical attention around Ore. A NAMA source, however, told The PUNCH that the helicopter was cleared to take off but not to land on a highway. “There are processes involved, the helicopter got the clearance to take off from Lagos but where it was going is a different matter. I don’t think it got cleared for highway landing,” the source added. The source, which declined to comment further due to an ongoing investigation by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority

Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi was taken “seriously ill” on Thursday and hospitalised, his office said. Essebsi, 92, “was taken seriously ill and transferred to the military hospital in Tunis,” the presidency said on its Facebook page. The announcement came after two suicide attacks in Tunis on security forces killed a policeman and wounded eight people. (AFP)

President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated the board of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission. Thirty commissioners were inaugurated on Thursday by the President, with Mr Elias Mbam as the Chairman. The ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The RMAFC is the body responsible for preparing the formula for sharing revenues among the three tiers of government in the country. The body is also responsible for fixing the remuneration of political office holders as well as monitoring the revenues accruing to the federation account from revenue-generating agencies.

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Dr Thomas John as the acting alternate chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, bringing to an end the tenure of the former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu. NNPC’s Group Managing Director, Maikanti Baru, who announced this in Abuja, stated that the new board chairman would hold the position until the appointment of a new Minister or Minister of State for Petroleum Resources by the President. Baru also said the new chairman’s appointment was with immediate effect. The GMD said, “Dr John, a former Group Managing Director of the NNPC, is before the appointment, a member of the NNPC Governing Board.” Baru added, “He (John) will hold the position of the Acting Alternate Chairman of the Governing Board until a new Minister of Petroleum Resources or Minister of State for Petroleum Resources is appointed to assume the Chairmanship or Alternate Chairmanship position

For allegedly breaking into the home of a serving judge in Lagos State, Justice Mariam Emeya, and stealing jewellery worth N30m, six men have been arraigned before a Magistrates’ Court in Igbosere. The defendants, Mujaudu Alawiye, 59; Achrigbo Sunday, 20; Emmanuel Frank, 23; Akintunde Jude, 28; Adeniji Bashir, 18; and Boniface Nneji, 52, were arraigned on four counts bordering on conspiracy, breaking and entering, and stealing. The defendants had on May 28, 2019, around 12am, allegedly broke into the judge’s home in Chevron, Ajah. According to the police prosecutor, Inspector Edward Abiodun, the defendants stole four sets of gold bangles, one set of small bangle, one big gold chain, one small gold chain, four gold rings, three sets of gold jewellery, four sets of gold earrings, four sets of gold pendants, two gold hand chains, a gold chain with big blue precious stone and a big gold chain, all worth N30m. He added that the offences were punishable under sections

The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, has said it would be "absolutely fine by me" if his children came out as gay or lesbian. The topic came up, on Wednesday, during his visit to The Albert Kennedy Trust—an organization in London that supports young members of the LGBTQ community experiencing homelessness or living in hostile environments. The Duke was having a discussion with a group of people supported by the charity when a man asked him how he would react if his children told him they were gay or lesbian in the future. "I think you really don't start thinking about that until you are a parent," he said, "and I think—obviously, absolutely fine by me."

A former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday, failed to appear before Justice Folashade Giwa of the Federal High Court Abuja, to explain his role in the alleged approval of N2.5billion to Pinnacle Communications Ltd. The money was for the purpose of the Federal Government Digital Switch Over (DSO) project. The sitting was in continuation of the trial of the Director-General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Ishaq Modibbo, Pinnacle Communications Ltd and two others. Mohammed was listed by the ICPC prosecution counsel, Henry Emore, as additional witness to give testimony on the approval of payment of N2.5 billion to Pinnacle. However, after calling two witnesses, the prosecution counsel informed the court that the immediate past Information Minister was not in court. Umore said the former minister had travelled out of the country but was expected back in the country on or before July 31. In addition, the court was told that Mohammed made his statement

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey last week signed a bill into law that will require criminals found guilty of some sex crimes against children to undergo chemical castration before they are granted parole. Chemical castration involves using medication to lower a person's hormone levels and limit their libido. Unlike surgical castration, it is reversible and does not affect a patient's fertility. Under Alabama's new law, inmates would begin taking the medication a month before being paroled and continue receiving treatment once they're free. Stopping treatment without the state's permission would be a felony. Several other states have similar laws, although it is optional rather than mandatory in some cases. Why there's debate: Advocates for chemical castration believe it's an effective way of protecting children from known sexual predators. "If they're going to mark these children for life, they need to be marked for life," said Rep. Steve Hurst, wh

Tragedy was averted today in Ikorodu, a surburb in Lagos state after a trailer suffered brake failure. This happened at Garage bus stop where some traders display and sell their wares by the road. Thankfully no life was lost in the accident.

A 34-year-old man, Tunde Oyedokun, was on Tuesday arraigned before an Osun State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Osogbo for unlawfully having carnal knowledge of a minor. Addressing the court, the police prosecutor, Abiodun Fagboyinbo, said the accused dealt indecently with the victim, said to be 13 years old, by having carnal knowledge of her. The charges read in part, “That you, Tunde Oyedokun, sometime in April, 2019, at No. 5 Balogun Street, Omigbade area of Osogbo, unlawfully had carnal knowledge of one (name withheld). “That you, on the same date, time and place, did unlawfully and indecently deal with the victim.” The accused pleaded not guilty  to the charge and pleaded that the matter be tried at the magistrates’ court. Fagboyinbo said the offence was contrary to and punishable under sections 218 and 222 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 34 Vol. II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2003. Counsel for the accused, S. P. Ogundari, urged the court to admit him to bail

A Nollywood writer, actor and director, Kagho Harley Akpor, has reportedly drowned in a swimming pool at a popular hotel in Asaba, Delta State. Although the details of the incident were still sketchy as of press time, sources said Akpor was at a location shooting a movie with other crew members when he fell into the pool. The source stated that the director might have drowned as a result of lack of swimming skills, adding that as of the time he was rescued from the swimming pool, it was already too late. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeleke Adeyinka, who confirmed the incident on Tuesday, however, said he could not give details. Adeleke said contrary to rumours, the deceased was not at a movie location when he drowned, but simply went to the swimming pool for other reasons. In a similar development, two teenagers have allegedly drowned at a local pond in Ogwashi-Uku in the Aniocha South Local Government Area of the state. The victims were said to

A middle-aged man said to have hailed from Enugu State has committed suicide in Etegwe-Epie, a suburb of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital. The 45-year-old man, identified as Oliver Osieme, reportedly hung himself inside his room in the community. Our correspondent, who visited the area, gathered that the deceased, a tipper truck driver, committed the act in an apartment owned by a lady he was cohabiting with, who also hails from Enugu State. It was learnt that the victim, his partner and a teenage girl staying with them had morning devotion before the woman left for her business at the Tombia roundabout, while the teenager left for school. Neighbours said that it was the teenage girl, who raised the alarm when she came back from school and met the apartment locked and discovered through the window the deceased dangling. The neighbours also revealed that the partner said they never had any disagreement that could lead to the victim taking his life before she

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja has dismissed a suit filed against the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila. The plaintiff, Phillip Undie, had filed the suit on May 21, 2019, asking the court to sack Gbajabiamila as a member of the House of Representatives and disqualify him from contesting the leadership of the lower legislative chamber. Undie had claimed that Gbajabiamila was convicted by the Supreme Court of the State of Georgia in the United States of America in 2007 for fraud and dishonesty and therefore, was not qualified to be elected a member of the National Assembly and a Speaker of the House of Representatives. On June 14, 2019 Undie’s lawyer, Akeem Olasupo announced his withdrawal from the case, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/539/2019. Gbajabiamila’s lawyer, Femi Adedeji, queried Olasupo’s decision to withdraw his appearance without withdrawing the case. Lawyers to the other defendants did not oppose Olasupo’s withdrawal as plaintiff’

The decomposed body of a Rivers state indigene, Inedukoba Charles Tyger, was on Tuesday June 25th, exhumed from a shallow grave in Abalama Sandfield Asari-Toru Local Government Area in Rivers state, months after he was declared missing by family and friends. A friend of the deceased, Ibiye Dokubo, had raised alarm on February 26th, via his Facebook page, that Tyger, had gone missing. According to Dokubo's post, Tyger and his wife were at loggerheads after she found out he had impregnated another lady. Sharing photos of the couple on the social media platform, Dokubo wrote; MISSING PERSON!!! I dont know what to say for now but I remembered the last time you spoke with me that you are with your wife in Abalama and I insisted you give her the phone for us to talk and I queried her of her decision to reconcile with you on that Saturday evening but uptill now we cannot hear from you and your wife have left to somewhere only God knows, but I pray you come alive to tell us what

Justice M. Abdulgafar of a Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, convicted and sentenced an internet fraudster, Ajayi Temitope Charles to 35 years in prison without an option of fine. Charles was first arraigned by the EFCC, on March 13, 2019 for engaging in internet fraud. He had pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, prompting the commencement of his trial. However, at the end of the trial, Justice Abdulgafar ruled that the EFCC proved its case against him, “beyond reasonable doubts”. The trial judge held that: “The evidence of PW1, Olamide Sadiq was left unchallenged by the defendant, all the chats and text messages were printed from his email address in his presence.” Thereafter, Justice Abdulgafar pronounced him guilty as charged and sentenced him to seven years in prison on each of the five counts. The sentence is to run concurrently.

Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, who has been reportedly sacked by the Federal Government, claimed on Monday that she was still a serving judge of the Federal High Court. Ofili-Ajumogobia made the claim when she appeared before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, where she is charged with unlawful enrichment and money laundering. The judge, through her counsel, Chief Robert Clarke, moved her application to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to hear her trial, noting that the President’s approval for her dismissal had not been gazetted. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had re-arraigned Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia and Godwin Obla on 18 counts, to which they pleaded not guilty before Justice Justice Rilwan Aikawa. The re-arraignment came after Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja struck out the 30 counts, bordering on the same offences which the EFCC filed against the judge in 2016. Justice Oshodi struck out t

An Ado Ekiti Magistrates’ Court, on Monday, remanded a 30-year-old Methodist priest, Rev. Peter Adewuyi, in prison custody for allegedly faking his own kidnap in order to obtain ransom. The court also remanded Adewuyi’s accomplice, 25-year-old Oluwadare Ajewole, in prison pending their next appearance in court.  The suspects, who were arrested by the police on June 11, are facing counts of aiding, arranging and abetting kidnapping.  The police prosecutor, Inspector Monica Ikebuilo, alleged that the offences were contrary to and punishable under sections 5 and 7 of the Ekiti State Kidnap and Terrorism (Prohibition) Law, 2015. The prosecutor explained that the crime was committed within the Ado Ekiti Magisterial District. Adewuyi had claimed that he was kidnapped between Ijebu-Jesa in Osun State and Aramoko in Ekiti State while embarking on a journey. The priest allegedly hid himself in a hotel in Ado Ekiti and pretended that he had been abducted, claiming that his

The United Nations observes 23 June as International Widows Day, to draw attention to the voices and experiences of widows and to galvanize the unique support that they need. The loss of a partner is devastating. For many women around the world, that loss is magnified by a long-term struggle for basic needs, their human rights and dignity. They may be denied inheritance rights to the piece of land that they relied on for livelihood or evicted from their homes, forced into unwanted marriages or traumatizing widowhood rituals. They are stigmatized for life, shunned and shamed. And, many of these abuses go unnoticed, even normalized. There are an estimated 258 million widows around the world, and nearly one in ten live in extreme poverty. As women, they have specific needs, but their voices and experiences are often absent from policies that impact their survival.   International Widows Day is an opportunity for action towards achieving full rights and recognition

Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India. The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness. Today it is practiced in various forms around the world and continues to grow in popularity. Recognizing its universal appeal, on 11 December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga by resolution 69/131 . The International Day of Yoga aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga.

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on Monday dismissed an application by the Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, requesting permission to have access to the central server said to have been used by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the conduct of the February 23 poll. The Justice Mohammed Garba-led bench of five judges, in a unanimous ruling, upheld the separation objections by the three respondents to the petitioners’ application. The three respondents are INEC, Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress. Dismissing the application, the tribunal held that granting it would amount to pre-judging the main issue meant for trial during the substantive hearing of the petition. Justice Garba, who delivered the lead ruling of the tribunal, held that INEC having denied the existence of the said server and insisted that results of the election were not electronically transmitted into any serve

Afro-fusion artist, Damini Ogulu aka Burna Boy clinched the coveted ‘Best International Act’ award at the BET on Monday. The 2019 edition of the award which celebrates black people in film, music and arts, was held at the Microsoft Theatre in California. The BET Award for Best International Act is an award given to honour the outstanding achievements of international artists every year. NAN reports that Wizkid still holds the record for most wins in this category with two awards. Burna Boy joins Wizkid, 2baba, Davido, D’banj and Iceprince as winners of the award from Nigeria. In 2019, Burna Boy was nominated alongside Mr Eazi (Nigeria), Giggs (UK), Dosseh (France), Dave (UK), AKA (South Africa) and Aya Nakamura (France). NAN reports that the ‘On the Low’ singer began the musical year with hefty, fan-favourite tunes including ‘Dangote’ and ‘Killin Dem’ featuring Zlatan. This follows his quick rise to stardom in 2018 which made him one of the top five stars of the y

A 25-year-old man, Bashar Haruna, has been arrested for allegedly raping his 11-year-old niece in Bauchi. Also arrested for raping the same primary four pupil victim was a 55-year-old man. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Kamal Abubakar, confirmed the incident as well as the arrest of the two suspects to Northern City News in Bauchi on Sunday. He said the police received information about the crime on June 16, 2019, and swung into action and successfully arrested the suspects. Abubakar, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, told Northern City News, “Yes, I can confirm to you that the incident is true. “On June 16, 2019, around 1.55pm, we received information from a complainant, one Abubakar Haruna, 43, of the Sabuwar Kasuwa area of Bauchi metropolis that on the said date, around 10am, he left his shop for his house. “On reaching his house, he found his younger brother, Bashar Haruna, 25, and his niece in a suspicious setting. Upon interrogation, h

Two persons were rescued on Sunday after a storey building under renovation collapsed at No. 36 Adesanya Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos State. It was gathered that the incident occurred barely two weeks after a building collapsed in the Magodo area of the state.   PUNCH Metro learnt that the building was being secretly renovated to avoid being marked by officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency. Residents stated that the renovation commenced on Friday, while the building caved in on Sunday. The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, which confirmed the incident, said no death was recorded. According to the agency, the injured victims have been evacuated and are responding to treatment. The Director General, LASEMA, Dr Oke Osanyintolu, who led the response team, said all the buildings adjacent and besides the collapsed structure would be subjected to solid materials testing. He said, “It was an old building; however, the building will be pulled to

Superstar footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo is currently enjoyi ng a well-deserved vacation with his family at the French Riviera, the Mediterranean coast of southeastern France. This evening, the Juventus striker took to Instagram to share the loved -up photo above of himself and his partner, Georgina Rodríguez locking lips while chilling in a Jacuzzi on board a yacht. The Spanish beauty was later pictured flaunting her bikini body during the yacht trip. See the photos below.

Bayero University law student stabs her husband to death just 7 months after their wedding. Bayero University law student’s husband identified as Saheed Hussain is currently battling for his life at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, after allegedly being stabbed by his wife of 7 months, Hanan. According to reports, the Bayero University, Kano, law student stabbed Saeed, Friday night and has since been arrested by the Police. The incident is still being investigated as is is yet to be ascertained what led to the incident is yet. It was gathered that Hanan had drugged her husband before stabbing him and her intent might have been to take his life. More det

A suspected transformer vandal was, today, electrocuted after the armoured cable he was trying to steal, exploded and electrocuted him instantly in Ezinifite, Anambra State. The DPO If Aguata division, SP Ayeni Oluwadare , visited the scene of the incident and rushed the victim to the General hospital, Aguata, where he was confirmed dead on arrival.