Three-times champion Rafael Nadal got a walkover into the third round of the U.S. Open after Australian wildcard Thanasi Kokkinakis withdrew from their evening match on Thursday.
Kokkinakis, whose clash with the Spanish second seed was scheduled to close out the Thursday night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium, withdrew with a right shoulder injury, tournament organizers said in a statement.
The 23-year-old Australian, who has struggled badly with injury in recent years, beat Bulgarian qualifier Ilya Ivashka in his opening match this week and was seeking his first appearance in the U.S. Open third round.
Nadal will now face South Korean Chung Hyeon who stunned 32nd seed Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in a comeback victory after going down by two sets to win 6-1, 6-2, 5-7, 3-6, 6-7.
The family of a 15-year-old girl, who was allegedly defiled by four men, including two undergraduates of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, in the Yaba Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, has demanded justice for the victim.
The police, which confirmed the arrest of some of the suspects, Chibuzo Ezegbue, aka Khalifa, 24; Mudi Philip, aka Toto, 25; and Oluwabanwo Kolawole, 26, said a manhunt had been launched for Ayo Segun, aka Blackman, who has been on the run since the incident.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the victim was at the institution to check on someone when Segun allegedly accosted and threatened her with a knife and forced her into the treasurer’s office in the Student’s Union Government’s building, where she was defiled.
It was learnt that Philip, the SUG treasurer, whose office was used to perpetrating the crime, was also present when the teenager was being sexually assaulted.
The 15-year-old victim, while speaking with PUNCH Metro, said the suspects had carnal knowledge of her on Saturday, June 29, 2019, around 11am, despite knowing that she was menstruating, adding that after perpetrating the crime, they promised her security on the campus.
She stated, “Unknown to them, I am not a student of the college; I was there to check on someone and was going home when Segun approached me and said he liked me. I told him that I had to leave but I didn’t know that he and his friends were trailing me.
“When I got to a lonely place, Segun stopped me and asked me to follow him. I resisted but he threatened to stab me with a knife. He called his friends and told me to follow them. I had been hearing a lot about cultists, so I became very scared and follow them.
“Segun, Kolawole and Ezegbue took me inside Philip’s office at the SUG building and said they would protect me and use me as their queen if I agreed to have sex with them. Philip was there pressing his phone when I started arguing with them, but when Segun realised that I was shouting, he ordered the rest of the guys out and told me that he would kill me if I refused to have sex with him. I told him I was menstruating, but he never cared and he forcefully had sex with me.
“I thought it was over, but the others came in one after the other to have sex with me. When I tried to stop them, they threatened me. Ezegbue had sex with me but when it was Kolawole’s turn, he saw blood around my private parts and knew I was tired, so he told me to give him oral sex, which I did. When it was Philip’s turn, I pleaded with him and he said he wasn’t there to have sex with me, but said that I should lie to the others that he had sex with me if they asked.”
PUNCH Metro learnt that the victim informed her mother about the incident, who told her uncle and the case was reported at the Bariga Police Station, where police personnel were mobilised to arrest the suspects.
A footage in possession of our correspondent showed Kolawole, Philip and Ezegbue handcuffed after being arrested.
It was gathered that Philip was released after investigation revealed that he did not touch the victim.
A close relative of the victim, who simply identified himself as Olanrewaju, however, condemned the exoneration of Philip, saying he was an accomplice in the incident that had traumatised the victim.
Olanrewaju said, “Philip was the treasurer and his office was used in perpetrating the crime. He was there while the others were at it, but did nothing to stop them and never reported the incident to the college. I don’t know why he was released.
“When the victim informed her mother that she was defiled, we took her to the station to narrate her story. She was crying while narrating her ordeal and the police gave her a letter to a hospital in Yaba to run some tests. After the police got the report, the school was notified and with the help of the security guards of the school, three of the perpetrators were arrested, but Segun is still at large.”
When our correspondent visited the institution on Monday, the Provost, FCE (T), Akoka, Dr Wahab Azeez, during a meeting involving the Registrar, acting Director of Information Service and the Chief Security Officer, said the case had been charged to court, adding that one of the students involved in the incident had been remanded.
Azeez stated, “The matter is in court; the culprits were arrested and have been charged by the police. The girl in question is not our student. One of our students was exonerated, while the other one is in detention. The third person is not our student. We have handed the case over to the police as the law requires and that is the best we can do in this circumstance.
“We cannot cover up any culprit, who has violated the law. It is a criminal offence but we cannot take the law into our own hands. The college also has its own administrative way of dealing with such issues, but this case is criminal and it is the court that can pronounce whether one is guilty or not.
“The college does not condone any act of misbehaviour and it is a teachers’ training institution, whether it is a student or staff member that violates the rule, we do follow the due process and that is what we have done.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said the suspects had been charged, adding that the command had launched a manhunt for Segun.
Elkana stated, “We have arrested the suspects involved in the case of the 15-year-old girl, who was defiled by four boys at the FCE (T), Akoka. Two of the suspects, Ezegbue Chibuzo and Oluwabanwo Kolawole, have been charged and are currently remanded in prison custody.
“We are still on the trail of another suspect, Segun, who has been mentioned in that case; we have launched a manhunt for him.”
The Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye has denied that he wanted to serve as the deputy governor to a former governor of the state, Captain Idris Wada.
In a statement on Thursday by his media aide, Gideon Ayodele, the senator stated that the information was meant stop the emergence of Melaye as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the September 3 governorship primary.
no sense that Dino Melaye, a man with better idea and clearer vision, will queue behind such an aspirant,” the statement read in part.
Champions League holders Liverpool will face Napoli in the group stage for a second season running after the two sides were drawn together in Monaco.
Jurgen Klopp’s men edged past the Serie A club en route to winning the competition last season. Liverpool will also play FC Salzburg and Belgian side Genk in Group E.
Tottenham, who the Reds beat in last season’s final, have been drawn alongside Bayern Munich in Group B, Greek side Olympiakos and Red Star Belgrade.
Europa League champions Chelsea are up against Ajax, who beat the likes of Real Madrid and Juventus last season. Frank Lampard’s men will also play Valencia and French side Lille in Group H.
Meanwhile, Premier League champions Manchester City are in Group C and will face Shakhtar Donetsk, Dinamo Zagreb and Atalanta.
The ceremony also saw Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk scoop up the men’s Player of the Year award – beating Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to the prize.
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk was named Uefa Men’s Player of the Year, beating off both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to the award for the first time following last season’s Champions League success.
Van Dijk found himself up against Messi and Ronaldo on the three-man shortlist for the Men’s Player of the Year, who together have the award five times in the eight years since its inception in 2011.
But Van Dijk was unsurprisingly recognised for Liverpool’s Champions League glory, with the centre-back playing a pivotal role in converting Jurgen Klopp’s side from runners-up in 2018 to European champions in 2019.
Ronaldo saw his quest to win a sixth Champions League squashed by Ajax last season, but his campaign hardly went badly as Juventus wrapped up an eighth consecutive Serie A title to give the 34-year-old his first Italian league title, while Portugal beat Van Dijk’s Netherlands side to Nations League glory in June.
Messi meanwhile ended the season with tenth career La Liga title, while Barcelona reached the Champions League semi-finals only to come unstuck against eventual winners Liverpool.
Van Dijk also claimed the Champions League Defender of the Season award, while his Liverpool teammate Alisson Becker claimed the Goalkeeper of the Season for his performances in the Champions League.
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong took home the Midfielder of the Season award after inspiring Ajax to the semi-finals last season before his summer move to Spain, while his new teammate at the Nou Camp in Messi claimed the Forward of the Season award.
Some of the highest-earning Nollywood films will soon be available on the popular American streaming platform.
Since announcing plans to invest in the African film industry 2018, Netflix has been adding a lot of Nigerian movies to its service.
The growing list of Nollywood films currently available on the popular American streaming platform includes “Chief Daddy”, “Lionheart” and “The Wedding Party.”
Viewers are about to get even more Nigerian movies as the service has recently acquired three more films.
The news of the acquisition was revealed by Film one, distributor of all three movies, via their Instagram page. According to the independent distributor, “The Wedding Party 2,” “ King Of Boys” and “Merry Men” will soon be available on the platform.
Coincidentally, these three are some of the highest-earning movies in the country. Here is what you need to know about them:
The Wedding Party 2: Destination Dubai
This 2017 Nigerian film is currently the highest-grossing Nigerian film of all time. It earned a total of N512 million.
Directed by Niyi Akinmolayan, the sequel to The Wedding Party follows characters as one of them accidentally proposes marriage by accident. Viewers will also see a disastrous traditional engagement ceremony and finally a wedding in Dubai.
King of Boys
This 2018 Nigerian political thriller film is focused on power tussle. It tells the story of a businesswoman and philanthropist named Alhaja Eniola Salami with growing political ambitions.
It grossed N231 million making it is the fourth highest-earning Nigerian movie of all time. A sequel is currently in the works.
Merry Men:The Real Yoruba Demon
Set in Abuja, it follows four rich men (the Merry Men) who seduce powerful women, steal from the rich, get contracts from the political elite and give to the poor.
With N230 million, it is the fifth highest-grossing Nigerian film.
With the rate at which most men are so keen on staying fit, it is rather surprising that the study shows they pay less attention to fruits.
One of the many important fruits men need in their regular diet which plays a vital role in any fitness routine is Bananas. It is rich in nutrients- vitamins (A, C, and B6), Minerals (Potassium, Magnesium, Folate, Riboflavin, Niacin, Thiamine, and Iron), Proteins, Carbohydrates, Fibers.
Below are some of its extraordinary benefits to the body:
Heart and Nerves
High potassium contents in bananas can nourish the heart and nervous system. It helps with muscle contraction. Therefore, bananas are good for the heart, digestive system, and other muscle movements. This is why bananas are recommended to be eaten before and after exercise.
Blood and Immune System
The high content of Vitamin B6 supplies blood haemoglobin and maintains healthy blood sugar levels by turning carbohydrates into glucose. It also helps the body to produce antibodies that are effectively used by the immune system to fight disease.
Good Mood Enhancer
Bananas contain an amino acid called tryptophan, which is converted into serotonin in the body. It keeps the moods positive, helps to fight depression.
Also, one banana contains about 400 milligrams of potassium; therefore eating one in a day can help you stay healthy during times of stress.
Weight
Fibre can help to maintain the bowel movements regularly, and bananas provide 12 per cent of the fiber needed in a day. It also helps you to feel satiated longer after eating, reducing the possibility of overeating so that your body weight can be maintained.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the National Intelligence Agency and the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to launch a probe into the contract between the Federal Government and the Process and Industrial Developments Limited, signed in 2010.
The controversial contract has become the subject of a $9.6bn judgment debt imposed on Nigeria by a British court last week.
The president also directed that the contract itself should be probed with a view to identifying Nigerians involved in the signing of the deal in 2010 for possible prosecution.
The President’s decision to probe the firm and its activities was based on the fact that the Federal Government suspected foul play in the contract which was negotiated and signed under the past administration in 2010. But who are the past and present Federal Government’s officials that represented Nigeria to sign the purported contract 2010 between the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the P&ID?
Umar Yar’Adua
The late President Umar Yar’Adua was technically at the helm of affairs when the project must have been tabled before the Federal Government. However, he was on a sick bed in faraway Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2010 when the contract was signed.
Unfortunately, the soft-spoken President is no longer alive to say what he must have known about the contract that has the capacity to lead the country to steady haemorrhage.
Goodluck Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan was Vice President at the time the contract was signed.
Although he was the most senior government official in the absence of his boss, he was treated as a ‘leper’ and an outsider by the ‘cabal’ that took charge of government business in the absence of Yar’Adua.
However, on the doctrine of necessity subscribed to by the National Assembly, Jonathan became the acting President on February 10, 2010 and went on to be sworn in as President on May 6, 2010 upon the demise of Yar’Adua.
Our correspondent learnt that questions were asked on the contract when Jonathan became president but they were not answered. Thus, the fire kept smouldering.
Before Jonathan quit office on May 29, 2015, P&ID and the Federal Government had agreed at a settlement fee of $850m but he decided to hand over the liability to the incoming government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Attorney General, Michael Aondoakaa
Michael Aondoakaa was appointed the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation on July 26, 2007. He was reputed to be one of the members of the ‘cabal’ that ruled Nigeria in the absence of Yar’Adua.
It was not yet clear what role he played in the P&ID contract saga. However, as the chief law officer of the country, he was expected to review major contracts before the country could sign such document.
He lost his seat in the cabinet on February 10, 2010 – the day that Jonathan assumed power as the acting President.
Rilwan Lukman
Rilwan Lukman, an engineer, was a recurring decimal in the nation’s oil and gas industry. He was appointed Honorary Advisor to Umar Yar’Adua on energy and strategic matters in August 2007 and in December 2008, he was appointed the Minister of Petroleum Resources.
So, he was the Minister of Petroleum Resources at the time the ministry signed the contract with P&ID. However, he left the cabinet on March 17, 2010 when Jonathan dissolved the Federal Executive Council. He died on July 21, 2014.
Liyel Imoke and Cross River State
Liyel Imoke was the governor of Cross River State between May 2007 and May 2015. Although the GSPA contract was a federal project, his administration might have played some outsider role in the project. As of the press time, it was not certain what role the state government under him played.
Mansur Mukhtar
Dr Mansur Mukhtar, economist and experienced technocrat in both the public private sector, was Minister of Finance at the time the deal with the Process and Industrial Development Limited was signed.
The former Director General of Debt Management Office was appointed the Finance minister by the late President Umar Yar’Adua on December 17, 2008.
As the Chief Finance Officer of the country, a major financial transaction should not scale through without passing through his table.
The Federal Ministry of Finance Incorporated through which the government must have acquired 10 per cent equity in P&ID is also under the purview of the Ministry of Finance.
Mukhtar left the government in March 2010 when Jonathan dissolved the cabinet.
Lamido Sanusi
Lamido Sanusi was the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria at the time the Federal Government entered into the contract with P&ID on January 11, 2010.
It could not be determined what role he must have played when the contract was signed. However, it is usual for the chief banker of the nation to be aware of contracts that will commit the nation to foreign exchange transactions.
Sanusi, who became Muhammadu Sanusi II, the 14th Emir of Kano, was appointed governor of CBN on June 3, 2009. He was suspended from the apex bank by President Jonathan on February 20, 2014 in controversial circumstances.
Buhari and AGF Abubakar Malami’s role
President Buhari inherited the controversial contract when he assumed office on May 29, 2015. The controversy that surrounds it could have been settled by him with good negotiation.
However, he must have been too busy with preliminaries of taking over power to be bothered about settling a project that was not executed with $850m.
The President also failed to appoint a minister to take charge of legal affairs until November 2015.
An official of the Ministry of Justice had told a London court that the handover to a new government was responsible for the delay in implementing decisions reached with the P&ID.
Malami is the current Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation. He has been in charge of the contract suit since he assumed office.
Although he assumed office when the arbitration had awarded the $9.6bn judgment to the P&ID, the company accuses him of ignoring an offer of $850m to settle the case out of arbitration.
Malami has promised that everyone that led the country to the alley would be punished.
The Ogun State Police Command said it had arrested three members of a community vigilante group for the alleged murder of one Ahmed Obisanwo, a 400-level student of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye.
The three suspects, who were paraded on Wednesday at Eleweran State Police headquarters, were said to have killed Ahmed and thrown his corpse into a river, after he was arrested by the group over cult related activities in Ijebu Igbo town.
Speaking with newsmen during the parade, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Bashir Makama, explained that the trio of Idowu Ayodele, 53, Segun Ogunsanwo, 53, and Akeem Salisu, 55, had invaded a hotel in Ijebu-Igbo area of the state on August 8, dispossessed lodgers of their valuables and seized two young men.
According to him, the suspects, who claimed that the two young men were cultists and arrested them during initiation, eventually released one of the boys and could not account for the whereabouts of the other one.
The CP informed that the suspects were arrested after Ahmed’s parents reported the case at the police station that the whereabouts of their son could not be accounted for by the suspects.
“These suspects went into a hotel and ordered everyone to lie down and dispossessed them of their valuables. They seized two people and didn’t return them. After a while, one of them came back and said he had escaped. When we asked him about the second person he taken with, he said he had been killed. It is six weeks today, that person has not returned.
“There was a complaint and we worked on that, which led to the arrest of these three people and the recovery of four locally made double barrelled guns and live cartridges. On further interrogation, they said the other person that was taken had been killed and the body had been thrown into a river. We asked them to show us the river, so that we can go there and conduct a search and recover his body”.
“One of them even claimed to be a member of So Safe Corps, but Corps commandant has outrightly denied that. One of the weapons recovered from them is painted in police color. They will be made to face the full wrath of the law”. Makama stated.
One of the suspects, Akeem Salisu, who spoke with newsmen, denied killing Ahmed. He said the vigilance group was commissioned by the community to rid it of cultists and thugs.
Salisu claimed that three other members of the group, who he said have run away, had carried out the raid on the hotel and arrested the suspected cultists.
Hundreds of new state laws take effect on Sept. 1, and one of them makes it illegal for someone to send you nude photos you never asked for.
“Many people – especially women – get unwanted sexually explicit pictures by text or social media,” said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. “Now, it’s illegal in Texas.”
On Friday, Gov. Abbott ceremoniously signed House Bill 2789.
Law making unwanted explicit photos a crime may be hard to prosecute, attorney says
The law makes it a Class C misdemeanor to send an unwanted, unrequested indecent photo – by text, dating app, email or any other platform.
Anyone found guilty of doing it could face a $500 fine.
According to The Texas Tribune, the law makes Texas one of the first states to take a stand against sending sexually explicit images, which about 40% of women report receiving without consent.
