46-year-old man kills lover after ‘finding’ condoms in her bag

A 46-year old man identified as Osaremwinda Omobude Idumwonyi has reportedly stabbed his lover to death for allegedly finding condoms in her bag.

The deceased, who is a single mother of three children, was stabbed with a kitchen knife three times in her mother’s room at No. 13, Ehiyoboy Street, Off Aifuwa Street, Ikpoba-Okha local government area of Edo State.

The woman was killed few hours after she left her lover’s residence where she spent the night.

A 19-year-old man, Junior Omo Shaba, had last week killed his 18- year- old girlfriend, Matilda Odiri, and dumped her corpse by the roadside.

It has not been ascertained if the condoms were found inside thewoman’s bag while she was with him the previous night or during the day when he entered her aged-mother’s rented apartment.

Our correspondent gathered that the suspect told police investigators that he killed his lover in self defence.

According to him, the deceased picked a kitchen knife to stab him when an argument ensued between them but he overpowered and stabbed her.

The woman was rushed to hospital where she later died.

Police recovered the knife in the suspect’s kitchen.

The Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, said police is still investigating the incident. - The Nation

27-year-old man beats mother to death over pocket money

One man, identified as Emmanuel Eghaghe, has killed his mother, Helen, for being unable to afford N20,000 he requested for pocket money.

The man is on the run after he beat his mother to death.

According to Punch, Emmanuel had visited the 61-year-old woman at her shop on Jinadu Street, Ajangbadi, Lagos State, on July 6, 2018.

He reportedly told her that he needed the N20,000 for pocket money.

The man was said to have resorted to violence when the elderly woman said she could not afford the amount.

He slammed her head on the wall while he was struggling to get the money by force.

Helen was said to have sustained an injury in the head. While blood gushed out of her head, Emmanuel fled the scene.

The deceased ’s brother, Friday, told the newspaper that somebody had called him with Helen’s phone number on that day, informing him that Emmanuel was about to kill their mother.

Friday said, “Around 11 am that day, somebody called me with my mum’s phone number and said somebody wanted to kill her.

“When I asked the person what the problem was, she cut the call. I called back, but she did not pick her calls.

“It was a little girl that was staying with her who later picked the call and told me that my mum had been killed. I left Benin immediately for Lagos.

“It was the woman who brought me up. Emmanuel was the fifth and the last child of the family. One of them lives in Benin here while others live abroad. I didn ’ t know why he killed her.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, confirmed the incident, noting that the command had launched a manhunt for the suspect.

He said, “The police got a report that the suspect hit his mother’s head against the wall in an attempt to get money from her forcefully. As a result, she became unconscious and was rushed to the hospital for treatment. She gave up the ghost at the hospital.

“The suspect is now at large. Detectives visited the scene and deposited the corpse at the Isolo General Hospital mortuary for autopsy. A manhunt for the suspect is being intensified.” - Daily Post

Shell to sell Nigerian oil assets for $2bn

Shell is planning to sell two of its oil mining licences in Nigeria.

Bloomberg reports that the licences might be sold for $2 billion.

Apart from oil mining licences 11 and 17, Shell will also be selling a natural gas-fired power plant that would be managed by Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp).

Selling both assets would mean that Shell would focus on its deepwater operations. The company has been affected by militant activities in the Niger Delta and accusations of environmental pollution.

OML 17 falls within the NNPC/Shell joint venture. There are 15 oil and gas fields, six of which are producing.

OML 11 is one of the largest blocks in southeastern Niger Delta and has 33 oil and gas fields, out of which eight fields were producing as at 2017.

The federal government split the block into three parts in April, giving Shell one portion, after the company sought to renew its production licence. - TheCable

Loris Karius hints at possible summer exit

Just two months ago, Loris Karius was warming up for the Champions League final. After usurping Simon Mignolet and holding his place to the end of the season thanks to a string of clean sheets and good performances, things were looking up.

The mistakes made on that night in Kiev, however, will live with Karius for the rest of his footballing career.

His misery was compounded with the signing of highly rated Roma goalkeeper Alisson, who will go into the new Premier League season as Liverpool’s goalkeeper.

According to The Mirror, Karius may now be looking to depart Anfield this summer.

Asked about his situation, the German keeper said:

“Of course, this is not perfect for me, but I cannot say much more about it.”

When reflecting on his future at Liverpool, he replied:

“I don’t know. I can’t say what I’m doing right now. There’s still some time left.”

 The 25-year-old has looked shaky in pre-season, with bad errors against Tranmere and Borussia Dortmund failing to convince fans and coaches that Karius is in the right mental place to play for the Reds, even as a backup option.

After his error in the Champions League Final, the Liverpool player received a lot of negative abuse on social media. In response to this, he has said:

“To those who take joy in seeing other people fail or suffer, I feel for you. Whatever it is that’s happening in your life to hold this much anger and hate, I pray that it passes and good things come to you.”

It appears that Jurgen Klopp will have some big decisions to make about his fellow German by the time the transfer deadline rolls around. - Read Sport

PL news : Sarri has same intensity and mentality as Guardiola - Pedro

Chelsea winger Pedro sees similarities between new Blues boss Maurizio Sarri and his former coach Pep Guardiola.

Pedro played under Guardiola for five years in Barcelona, following the Catalan into the first team at Camp Nou after they worked together in the B side in 2007-08.

Sarri only took over from Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge less than two weeks ago, but the Spanish winger has already noticed parallels with the Manchester City boss.

"They are similar. Their intensity, mentality. It is good," said Pedro.

"These ideas will take time. The coach is very motivating. A really good, honest coach. I knew of him and what he did at Napoli. I was not close with him but he is a very good coach with very good ideas.

"When he arrived he was very good with the players, speaking a lot and really, really hammering on the pitch his ideas. It is a very big change for the players."

Sarri gained a reputation for an attacking brand of possession football at Napoli, where he was in charge for three seasons.

He has already raided his former club as he looks to implement his style in west London, signing Italy midfielder Jorginho – who made his first Chelsea appearance against Perth Glory on Monday – in a deal reportedly worth £57 million ($86m).

Commenting on the new signing, Pedro said: "Jorginho is a very good player, clever, fast. This is good and a big challenge for him to play here in the Premier League but he is very strong." - Goal

Liverpool goalkeeper, Simon Mignolet targeted by Barcelona

Barcelona have been linked with a shock move for Liverpool goalkeeper Mignolet, according to Marca.

The Belgian arrived at Anfield ahead of the 2013-14, and a turbulent stay at Anfield has seen him replaced by Loris Karius in recent seasons.
With Karius’ own replacement by new £62 million arrival Alisson Becker, it seems Mignolet is truly set to leave the Reds this summer.

Despite possible destinations being hushed, a sensational rumour has now linked the 30-year-old with a switch to Barcelona.

The Catalan-outfit are set to lose Jasper Cillessen in the transfer window, and need to find a deputy to Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

On a list of targets, Mignolet is included alongside other candidates Kevin Casteels of Wolfsburg, Yann Sommer from Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Real Sociedad’s Geronimo Rulli.

Cillessen’s replacement will take over the gloves in a backup capacity at the Camp Nou, but with such a saturation of goalkeepers, it seems unlikely that Liverpool could command a large fee for Mignolet. - Read Sport

Transfer news : Chelsea holding out for £70m Willian deal

Chelsea will hold out for a £70 million bid from Barcelona for Willian, according to the London Evening Standard.

The La Liga champions have reportedly made a third and improved bid for the Brazilian, as they look to bring him to the Nou Camp this summer.
Barcelona were said to have offered a fee just under £65 million for the 29-year-old as they step up their interest.
Recent reports have suggested that Chelsea will sell the player, providing their asking price is met.
Willian has been heavily linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge after falling out of favour last season.

He has expressed his desire to leave and according to reports, he has discussed the possibility of moving to the Nou Camp with Brazilian team-mate Philippe Coutinho during the World Cup.
Roman Abramovich is due to hold talks with Marina Granovskia to discuss player sales this week following the bid from Barcelona. - Read Sport

Immigration under fire for forcing staff, applicants to observe Christian prayers

Following reports that the premises of the Nigerian Immigration at Ikoyi has been taken over by religious zealots who compel staffers and applicants to join them in morning devotions, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has cried out to immigration authorities and the Federal Government to save the department from religious crisis.

In a statement on Monday signed by its director, Ishaq Akintola, MURIC complained that its headquarters had been inundated with reports that Nigerians who visit the immigration office in Ikoyi, Lagos early in the mornings, were being made to partake in Christian prayers and evangelical devotion without any regard for their religious leaning.

According to Akintola, “The Ikoyi office of immigrations has been taken over by Christian fanatics who force everyone who arrives early to join in Christian prayers. They insist that there must be morning devotion before starting work every morning. The fact that they have Muslims among their staff and applicants means nothing to them. They invoke spirits and imaginary angels. They shout and scream at the top of their voices. It is madness in official quarters.

“Muslims need protection in this country. We cannot just stand by watching as Muslims are embarrassed and denigrated by overzealous Christian officials in immigration office. It is not only ridiculous but also unacceptable. It is hard to believe that Ikoyi immigration office is owned by the Nigerian government. It looks more like a Christian evangelical office.

“When did Nigeria descend to this level? How can a government department of such high status become a tool in the hands of gymnastic crusaders? We are demanding immediate cessation of this rubbish. It must also be investigated. All government offices are there for staffers to work and for visitors to receive quality service.

“How can we get that quality service when you force us to go down on our knees contrary to our belief? By the way, how can we allow civil servants to mess up tax payers for crying out loud? No serious nation will allow its work force to descend into the labyrinths of mythical religiousity and Treasure Island miracle mentality.”

MURIC affirmed that Nigerian Muslims were tax payers and major stakeholders who deserved quality service.

The Muslim human rights outfit decried the compulsion of applicants to join in morning devotion of any kind in Ikoyi immigration office in particular and any other government department for that matter.

“This phenomenon is now common in many ministries, parastatals, hospitals, clinics, market places, etc. Some Christian extremists just assume that they own this country. They arrogantly ask everyone to close their eyes in government offices every morning. They ask them to kneel down and pray.

“They should be told that Muslims pray in their homes every morning before going to work. So what is the essence of forcing us to pray in the office in Christian fashion? This ignoble practice is common where Christians are heads of department. It happens where Christians are directors. This bedlam must be brought under control.

“If anybody wants to pray in the office, let him or her pray silently and privately. It is an infringement on Allah-given fundamental rights of Muslims to compel them to kneel down and pray in Christian manner just because the boss in that office is a Christian. This is something Muslim bosses will never do and we are demanding immediate stoppage.

“It is paradoxical that the same Christian bosses and directors who force Muslims to join them in prayer are the same people who spread the misleading propaganda that Nigeria is being Islamised. This new revelation proves that they are the ones Christianising Nigeria but accusing the Muslims in order to deceive Nigerians. Our neighbours are adept at deception, outright lies and fake news.

“It may be argued that Muslims also pray at work but while that is true they never drag non-Muslims to join their prayer. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees freedom of religion and that is why whoever wants to worship should do so briefly without compelling others to join him or her. MURIC will continue to expose those who tramp upon Allah-given fundamental rights of Muslims”, he said.

The Muslim group lamented the Nigerian irony where there is excessive show of religious devotion without a commensurate level of transparency and accountability in public office.

“Our advice is that Nigerians should stop this hypocritical show of piety in criminality. How can we spend hours on our knees yet we are ‘fantastically corrupt’?

How can we compel people to join in morning devotion but demand bribes from the same people minutes later? Those who waste so much time kneeling down in prayer during working hours do not deserve full salary because they did not render full service to their country. They are cheating on government”, he added. - Daily Post

MPC ‘to protect capital inflow, keep rates’

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which will be meeting today and tomorrow, will not change existing policy rates, The Nation has learnt.

The committee will take measures to ensure that more foreign capital flows into the economy to check capital flow reversals as 2019 elections approach.

A report from the Economic Intelligence Unit, Access Bank Plc, said the committee will retain Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) – benchmark interest rate at 14 per cent, given the anticipated expansionary impact of fiscal spending following the signing of the 2018 budget. The committee will also retain the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) at 22.5 per cent; Liquidity Ratio at 30 per cent and maintain the foreign exchange policy, which has brought stability and boosted market liquidity.

Likewise, analysts at Afrinvest Limited, an investment and research firm, said the MPC must keep a delicate balance between growth and price stability, we believe the Committee will maintain status quo on all policy rates in order to avoid upsetting the current economic momentum,: they said, adding:

“Our position is on a balance of factors underscored by careful analysis of sustained positive conditions in global commodity markets alongside emerging market risks and continued disinflation amid steady but weak growth momentum. We further highlight our considerations below.”

They said going by the May 2018 meeting’s minutes, members continue to keenly watch developments in global financial and commodity markets, given the connection to Nigeria’s external position.

“Although no material change has occurred since the last meeting, mixed market sentiments prevail. In the commodity markets, oil prices remained favourable, though slightly lower at $73/barrel compared with a year-to-date high of $80/barrel as OPEC and its allies, parties to the output cut deal, agreed to boost supply by 1mb/d. Saudi Arabia and Russia with excess output capacities are expected to be the biggest gainers from this decision which is anticipated to occasion a slight downward global oil price correction. Nonetheless, we believe conditions will continue to favour Nigeria’s fiscal and external balance positions. In the same vein, foreign capital reversals have continued unabated in emerging markets though with tapered impact on Nigerian assets,” they said.

According to Afrinvest, the stable outlook on oil prices is expected to prop the capacity of the CBN to keep defending the domestic currency with the exchange rate of naira to the greenback stabilising at N305.85/US$1.00.

“Foreign reserves accretion – which slightly moderated 0.6 per cent to $47.4 billion from $47.7 billion as at the May MPC Meeting due to increased forex demand – was supported by improved domestic oil production with daily output at 1.7 million barrel/day,” they added.

The exchange rate continues to hold steady at N360/$ in both the Investors’ and exporters’ FX window and parallel markets, supported by stable foreign reserves that have sustained CBN’s intervention amid the exit of portfolio investors. - The Nation

Nigeria’s inflation rate rises month-on-month

The rate at which the prices of good and services are increasing is rising.

Data made available by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday showed that month-on-month inflation rose from 1.09 percentage points in May to 1.24 percentage points in June.

However, year-on-year inflation slowed from 11.61 percentage points in May to 11.23 percentage points in June, marking the 17th consecutive month of disinflation since January 2017 when inflation rate first slowed.

“Headline inflation falls 17th consecutive time (11.23% year on year in June 2018 compared to 11.61% in May 2018); food inflation(12.98% from13.45%); Core(10.4% from 10.7%). headline month-on-month inflation, however, rose 1.24% in June from 1.09% in May,” the report read.

“Highest Headline year-on-year inflation in Rivers (13.82%) and lowest in Kwara(8.16%). Highest Headline month-on-month inflation in Kogi(2.99%), lowest in Plateau (0.19%).” - Cable Nigeria

Kaduna-Abuja road: Gunmen reportedly murder Army officer, policeman, others

Bandits struck again on the Abuja-Kaduna expressway on Sunday evening, killing and abducting scores of travellers.

The attack occurred near Gidan Busa village, located between Jere and Kateri, along the expressway that has witnessed several attacks in recent years.

One of the many travellers, who parked waiting for security operatives to clear the road, said the attack lasted for about an hour.

He narrated that an army officer and a policeman were among those killed by the gunmen.

“There is an army officer travelling with his orderly and daughter. The orderly escaped with gunshot but they killed the army officer and his daughter on the spot,” Haruna Isa, told Daily Nigerian.

“There is another person they killed after identifying that he was a policeman. Several other passengers were killed, while many were abducted.”

Witnesses said the security officers refused to engage the kidnappers on the premise that “they were waiting for reinforcement”.

Austin Iwar, the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State, confirmed there was an attack.

“All I can say is that a shooting incident was just reported to us around Kateri area, and our men responded to it immediately.

“I am now awaiting the situation report to know the cause of the shooting incident and take appropriate measures,” he said. - Daily Post

London : Boris Johnson says knife crime is a ‘scandal’

Boris Johnson has said Sadiq Khan needs to take responsibility for knife crime in London.

He described it as a “scandal” that the murder rate in the city was higher than in New York earlier this year.

The former foreign secretary accused the Mayor of London of blaming “everyone but himself” for the rising levels of attacks in the capital.

Writing in the Telegraph he said: “It is tragic that so many young lives are again being lost on the pavements of our capital.

“But for my money there is a further outrage – and that is the abject failure of the Mayor of London either to grip the problem, or even to take responsibility.”

He added: “He [Mr Khan] blames everyone but himself, when it is his paramount duty to keep Londoners safe.”

Mr Johnson said stop and searches “make a difference” and that it was a “serious mistake” for the Home Office to move away from them in 2015.

He urged Mr Khan not to “berate” the police, but to “get behind” Scotland Yard. - PA 

Toronto mass shooting: Woman dead and 13 injured as gunman dressed in black fires into restaurant

A young woman is dead and 13 people are injured after a gunman dressed in black fired a hail of bullets into a crowded restaurant in Toronto, Canada.

One of the youngest victims, a nine-year-old girl, is in a critical condition, and the gunman is dead after a shootout with police.

Witnesses described scenes of horror and chaos, saying they heard around 20 to 25 gunshots as people enjoyed a warm summer night at restaurants and bars in Toronto's Greektown neighbourhood.

Footage posted online shows the gunman - wearing black clothes, a black hat and carrying a bag - walking up to the restaurant and pulling out a handgun as he fires a volley of shots from the pavement.

Shocked witnesses saw victims lying on the floor of Mezes restaurant, in Danforth Avenue, after the shooting, and one woman told of the chilling moment she saw the shooter.

Jessica Young, who works at Second Cup, a nearby coffee shop, told the Toronto Star: “I look to my side and see the shooter through the window. He sees me, or he sees my co-worker or someone, and points the gun and shoots through the window."

The gunman was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dozens of police officers, including heavily-armed tactical officers rushed to the scene, along with paramedics and firefighters. 

Some witnesses initially thought the sound of gunshots was fireworks going off nearby.

Jody Steinhauer said she and other customers at Christina's restaurant were told to run to the back of the building when gunfire erupted.

She told CBC News: "We started to hear people scream out front."

The motive for the attack, which happened at 10pm local time on Sunday, was not revealed, but it did not appear to be random, said Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders.

He added: "We are looking at all possible motives... and not closing any doors."

The mass shooting happened in east Toronto's Greektown neighbourhood, which is a popular night spot due to its restaurants, cafes, bars and shops.

It comes just weeks before Greektown hosts its annual Taste of the Danforth festival, which attracts hundreds of thousands of revellers.

Canada's biggest city has seen a sharp rise in gun violence in 2018, with deaths jumping 53 per cent to 26 so far this year from the same period last year. The number of shootings is up 13 per cent.

Toronto's police force had deployed about 200 officers from July 20 in response to the rising violence, which city officials have blamed on gun violence.

After Sunday night's mass shooting, Mayor John Tory told reporters that the city has a gun problem and guns were too readily available to too many people. He urged people not to draw any conclusions about the mass shooting, and to wait for the outcome of the police investigation.

It was the second mass casualty incident in Toronto this year. In April, ten people were killed when a driver ploughed a van into pedestrians in a neighbourhood in north Toronto. - UK Mirror

WHO declares sex addiction a mental illness

The World Health Organization (WHO) has flagged sex addiction as a form of mental illness.
This means those addicted to sex needs medical advice and intervention.

According to WHO listing, “The condition is marked by a persistent pattern of failure to control ones intense, repetitive urges resulting in repetitive sexual behaviour.”
WHO recently included gaming addiction as one of the treatable conditions.
Dr. Valerie Booth, Royal College of Psychiatrists, said “adding compulsive sexual disorder in the classification of treatable conditions indeed paves way for patients to come forward and seek professional help.

“Earlier though the behaviour tended to be a hidden one among the affected, which led to sex addicts secretly suffering from the condition“.
Meanwhile, WHO has released its new International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11).
The ICD is the foundation for identifying health trends and statistics worldwide, and contains around 55 000 unique codes for injuries, diseases and causes of death.

It provides a common language that allows health professionals to share health information across the globe.
“The ICD is a product that WHO is truly proud of,” says Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

“It enables us to understand so much about what makes people get sick and die, and to take action to prevent suffering and save lives.” - Daily Post

JAMB remits N7.8bn as examination surplus

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it has remitted another N7.8 billion to the Federal Government.

The board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

According to him, the board has planned to remit the amount as surplus to the Federal Government as was done in 2017.

Benjamin said that the amount was the surplus generated from the conduct of the board’s 2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

“However, government in its magnanimity, graciously directed that we remit about N5.6 billion and use the balance for restructuring of the board’s headquarters to meet up with its international status.

“We, therefore, want to appreciate the governing board of JAMB led by Dr Emmanuel Ndukwe for the tremendous support in ensuring that the current administration’s vision of transparency and accountability as fully embraced by JAMB is sustained.

“The Ndukwe-led board had, within its short period of inauguration, contributed immensely in some ground breaking innovations.

“One of such innovations is the quick remittance of the 2018 surplus. Whatever candidates pay for JAMB’s examination is a trust and must be accounted for.

“The board, though not a revenue generating agency, will continue to be judicious with resources at its disposal,” he said.

Benjamin said that cumulatively and technically, the board had remitted a total of N15.6 billion in less than two years.

“The board is thinking of how to ensure that candidates benefitted from the surplus.

“We are currently looking at a number of ways to enhance the conduct of the examination where candidates will benefit by way of conducive environment in writing the examination.

“We are also looking at putting more mechanism in place that will ensure absolute equity and fairness in the selection of candidates through enhanced technology as currently being done by the Central Admission Process Selection (CAPS),” he said.

Benjamin said that the board was set to acquire cutting edge technology to give candidates the best registration procedure, examination and a more improved selection process.

He said the development was similar to the one that was currently being developed by the CAPS initiative.

Benjamin lauded the efforts of members of staff of the board, as well as other key stakeholders, for their doggedness, commitment and support in ensuring that integrity of the board and its examination was sustained. -The Nation