A 45-year-old man, Aramide Tito, was on Monday docked in a Badagry chief magistrates’ court in Lagos for allegedly starving and assaulting his 11-year-old stepson.

The defendant, whose address was not given, is charged with indecent dealing, assault and attempted murder. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor, ASP Clement Okuoimose, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on August 17 at about 11:00 p.m. in the Oke Ogbe area, Atura, Badagry, Lagos.

Mr Okuoimose alleged that the defendant unlawfully beat up and starved his stepson for three days.

“The defendant poured hot water on him while he was sleeping. He attempted to murder the boy while he was sleeping,” the prosecutor said.

He said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 135, 245 and 230 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

The chief magistrate, A. J. Aina, admitted the defendant to N100,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

He said each surety must be gainfully employed.

Mr Aina adjourned the case until September 25 for a hearing.

The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or yuan, strengthened 219 pips to ¥7.1139 against the dollar on Monday.

This is according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System.

In China’s spot foreign exchange market, the yuan is allowed to rise or fall by two per cent from the central parity rate each trading day.

The central parity rate of the yuan against the dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day.

Israeli air defence said it had intercepted a drone east of the Sea of Galilee on Monday.

The army had announced that there had been an air alarm in the area beforehand.

There were no reports of damage or injuries.

Initially, it was unclear where the drone had been launched from, but it was assumed that it either came from Syria or flew through Syria.

The Iranian-backed Lebanese Hezbollah militia has also repeatedly attacked Israel with drones since the beginning of the Gaza war almost 11 months ago.

In addition, Iran and other allies in the region have also carried out drone attacks on Israel.

Gunmen shot and killed at least 22 people in southwest Pakistan on Monday, after forcing them out of vehicles and checking their ethnicity, government officials said, in an attack claimed by separatists.

The attack was carried out by dozens of militants early Monday in the district of Musakhail in the impoverished Balochistan province, where security forces are battling sectarian, ethnic, and separatist violence.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the most active militant separatist group in the region, claimed responsibility for the shootings in a statement emailed to AFP.

The buses, vans, and trucks were stopped one after the other on a highway connecting Punjab with Balochistan, Najibullah Kakar, a senior official in Musakhail, told AFP.

“The numbers of the militants were between 30 to 40. They stopped 22 vehicles,” he said.

“Vehicles traveling to and from Punjab were inspected, and individuals from Punjab were identified and shot,” he added.

He said 22 people were killed, mostly Punjabi labourers as well as two paramilitary soldiers.

Hameed Zehri, another senior official in the district, confirmed the death toll to AFP.

The BLA claimed that those killed were military servicemen in civilian clothes who were “identified and subsequently killed by BLA fighters”, but did not provide any evidence.

Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest but poorest province, despite an abundance of untapped natural resources.

Baloch separatists have in recent years intensified attacks on Punjabis and Sinhdis from elsewhere in Pakistan working in the region, as well as foreign energy firms they believe are exploiting the region without sharing its riches.

Punjabis are the largest of the six main ethnic groups in Pakistan and are perceived to dominate the ranks of the military locked in a battle to quash Balochistan’s armed factions.

In a similar attack on April, 11 Punjabi labourers were killed when they were abducted from a bus in the Naushki City of Balochistan.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed “deep grief and condemnation over the terrorist attack” in a statement issued Monday by his office.

Russian strikes across Ukraine on Monday killed at least three people, wounded several and damaged energy infrastructure.

AFP journalists in the capital heard explosions ring out early on Monday — likely from air defence systems — while residents rushed to take shelter in metro stations.

An AFP photographer also saw black smoke rising over Kyiv.

Authorities in at least six regions of the country said blasts had been heard in their territories.

The governor of the central Dnipropetrovsk region, Sergiy Lysak, said Russian forces had attacked “en masse.”

“There is one dead, a 69-year-old man,” the governor wrote on social media.

In the Zaporizhzhia region, the attack killed one civilian, the governor Ivan Fedorov said, without elaborating.

In the western city of Lutsk, Russian bombardment damaged an apartment building and an infrastructure facility, the mayor, Igor Polishchuk, said.

He added that one person had been killed.

The attack also targeted energy facilities in the Lviv region in the west of the country, the governor said.

In the wider region of Kyiv, authorities said Russia used drones and missiles to attack energy infrastructure and one person was wounded.

“As a result, there are partial power outages in (the city of) Lviv and the region,” governor Maksym Kozytskyi said on social media.

Earlier, an attack on an industrial facility in the eastern region of Poltava wounded five people, governor Filip Pronin said.

Since invading in February 2022, Russia has launched dozens of large-scale drone and missile attacks on Ukraine.

Most recently, those strikes have targeted energy facilities causing millions of dollars worth of damage and disrupting the lives of millions of Ukrainians.

Troops of I Division Nigerian Army have neutralised one terrorist and also recovered four AK-47 magazines in Kaduna State.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations of I Division Nigerian Army, Lt.-Col. Musa Yahaya on Monday.

”Troops while on clearance operations in the general areas of Sabon Birni, Dogon Dawa, Maidaro, Ngede Alpha and Rafin Kaji on Aug. 25, made contact with elements of terrorists.

“In the fire fight that ensued, our troop troop overpowered and neutralised one of the terrorists while others fled with suspected gunshot injuries,” the army said.

Yahaya said that four AK-47 magazines (three fully loaded with total quantity 60 x 7.62mm Special ammunition and one empty magazine), a PKT belt with 86 rounds of ammunition, two motorcycles (one of which was destroyed), a Techno mobile phone, a Baofeng Handheld Radio, and an Airtel recharge card worth N5,000 were recovered.

He said the General Officer Commanding(GOC), I Division and Commander of ”Operation WHIRL PUNCH” Maj.-Gen. Mayirenso Saraso commended the troops for the successful operation.

He also charged them to redouble their efforts as well as make life unbearable for all terrorists, insurgents and their collaborators in the Division’s Area of Responsibility.

He commended the good people of Kaduna, Kano, Niger and Jigawa States for their continuous cooperation.

He also urged them to always make good use of the division’s Toll Free Line “0800 002 0204” to communicate actionable intelligence and information that will further assist the Division and other security agencies to project offensive operations against the criminal elements.

The Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, CP Benneth Igweh has expressed anger over an attack on personnel of the command which claimed at least two officers.

A riot erupted in the nation’s capital on Sunday when members of the El Zakzaky movement, popularly known as Shiites, clashed with operatives of the FCT command during a procession.

At least six persons, including two police officers were gruesomely murdered when the proscribed Islamic group launched an attack at a police checkpoint at Wuse junction.

The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has donated N20 million to the Jigawa State Government to support relief efforts of the state for residents affected by the recent flood disaster.

Mr Badaru made the donation when he visited the Jigawa State governor, Umar Namadi, to commiserate with him on the flood which ravaged the state and resulted in loss of lives and property.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Ministry of Defence on Sunday in Abuja, Henshaw Ogubike.

According to Mr Ogbuike, during the visit, Mr Badaru expressed his sympathy over the severe flooding incident, which also led to the destruction of farmlands across the state.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to assisting the state during the challenging period, noting that the donation was his personal gesture of solidarity and compassion to the state.

Mr Badaru further appreciated the Jigawa State governor for providing swift response to the flood crisis.

He said, “Your prompt action in providing relief to the flood victims is commendable.’’

The Bauchi State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has apprehended nine persons accused of vandalizing railway tracks in the state.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Fatima Adamu, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, saying that the arrest was made following a joint operation with the Nigerian Army, based on credible intelligence.

According to Adamu, the suspects were caught in Zango village, Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, where they were allegedly involved in the destruction of Federal Government property.

“Following credible intelligence and in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, nine suspects in connection with rail-track vandalisation and wanton destruction of Federal Government property in Zango village of Tafawa Balewa LGA, Bauchi State, were apprehended,” Adamu stated.

She said that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects had traveled from Niger State specifically to carry out the act.

Adamu added that the Commandant of NSCDC Bauchi, Ilelaboye Oyejide, reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to its mandate of safeguarding national assets.

“NSCDC will continue to live up to its core mandate of protecting critical national assets and infrastructure,” he stated.

Oyejide called for collective efforts to rid society of criminal elements and ensure a safer environment.

The billionaire founder and Chief Executive Officer of Telegram, Pavel Durov, was reportedly detained at Bourget Airport near Paris on Saturday.

This is according to French news outlets TF1 and BFM TV.

According to Reuters, Durov, who was traveling on his private jet from Azerbaijan, was arrested under a French warrant related to a preliminary police investigation into Telegram’s alleged role in facilitating criminal activities.

The 39-year-old Franco-Russian was accompanied by a bodyguard and a woman at the time of his arrest by the Air Transport Gendarmerie.

Telegram is yet to officially speak on the development as of the time of filing this report. Similarly, the French Interior Ministry and police had made no comment.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, has predicted thundery and rainy activities across the country from Sunday to Tuesday.

NiMet’s weather outlook, released on Saturday, forecast thunderstorms over parts of Borno, Jigawa, Taraba, Adamawa, Bauchi, and Gombe States in the northern region during Sunday’s morning hours.

The agency envisaged thunderstorms over most parts of the region during the afternoon and evening hours.

According to NiMet, in the North Central region, thunderstorms with rain are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Benue, Nasarawa, and Plateau States during the morning hours.

It added that later in the day, thunderstorms with rain are expected over the entire region.

Cloudy skies are expected over southern cities during the morning hours, with intermittent rain expected over most parts of the region later in the day.”

NiMet said that morning thunderstorms are anticipated on Monday over parts of Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba, Adamawa, Yobe, and Jigawa States, with thunderstorms expected over the northern region later in the day.

It predicted morning thunderstorms with rain over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi, Niger, and Kwara States.

The agency further forecast thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, and Niger States later in the day, with cloudy skies over southern states, anticipating intermittent rain over most parts of the region during the afternoon and evening hours.

For Tuesday, it said morning thunderstorms are expected over parts of Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, and Kaduna States in the northern region and later in the day, cloudy skies are anticipated over the entire region.

In the North Central region, the agency said thunderstorms with rain are anticipated over parts of Niger and Kwara States during the morning hours.

During the afternoon and evening hours, thunderstorms with rain are expected over parts of Kogi, the Federal Capital Territory, and Benue States. Intermittent rain is expected over the southern region throughout the day.

The agency urged residents to avoid flood-prone areas due to the high likelihood of urban flooding in major cities caused by heavy downpours, while strong winds may precede rains in areas where thunderstorms are likely to occur.

It further urged the public to adhere to safety advisories issued by relevant authorities and stay informed through weather updates from NiMet.

The agency advised airline operators to obtain airport-specific weather reports (flight documentation) from NiMet for effective planning in their operations.

Wembley Stadium has officially sold out for the highly anticipated IBF heavyweight world title showdown between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, scheduled for September 21.

The clash, which promises to be one of the biggest nights in boxing this year, has drawn enormous attention, with fans quickly snapping up all available general admission tickets.

The event, set to feature a stacked undercard and a performance by British rock icon Liam Gallagher, has generated immense buzz. Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, confirmed that all standard tickets have been sold, leaving only a limited number of platinum and hospitality options for those still hoping to witness the action live.

For Joshua, Wembley holds a special significance. It was here that he delivered his career-defining victory over Wladimir Klitschko in 2017, a bout that solidified his status as a global boxing superstar. He also secured a decisive win against Alexander Povetkin at the same arena.

However, this time around, Joshua enters the ring as the challenger, facing Dubois, who was recently elevated to full IBF champion after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the title.

Dubois, 26, views this opportunity as the chance to stamp his authority on the heavyweight division.

With a rigorous training camp under the guidance of his coach, Don Charles, Dubois is confident he can defeat the former champion.

“I’m just aiming to be the best. To fight the best and beat the best,” Dubois said.

“AJ has been the king for a long time, and we all know it, so on the night, I need to become a king-slayer. That’s my goal, and that’s the mission at hand. I’ve improved all around as a fighter and an athlete. I’m really up for this and ready to go.”

Joshua, fully aware of the magnitude of the task ahead, remains focused and determined, saying, “I’m not silly, either; I know the game. We’re all in the wild. We’re a pack of lions and hunters. It’s the next man up. I’ve had Dubois on my mind for a while.

“The goal is just to get through a successful training camp and then perform on the night.”

As the excitement continues to build, the sold-out crowd at Wembley is set to witness a battle of generations.

Joshua, with his wealth of experience and championship pedigree, is eager to reclaim his throne, while Dubois seeks to announce himself as the new force in heavyweight
boxing.

The Nigeria Police Force on Saturday confirmed the release of 20 medical students who were abducted along the Otukpo/Otukpa/Enugu Road.

The students, who are from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos were travelling to Enugu for the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students’ annual convention when they were snatched by bandits.

Their abduction generated massive outcry, which made the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, order the deployment of tactical operatives and assets, including helicopters, drones, and tactical vehicles, to ensure the swift rescue of the kidnapped students.

Also, additional detectives were sent to Benue State to aid in the rescue of the abducted medical students.

A multiple vehicle accident has claimed the life of a dispatch rider, while two others were rescued along the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos.

The General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, revealed this in a statement on Friday in Lagos.

He said the accident happened near Chevron, heading towards Ikota, along the expressway.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that a high-capacity ‘T&M’ bus (AKD 952 XZ) lost control due to brake failure while speeding, colliding with an oncoming ‘KIA RIO’ vehicle (BDG 853 DA).

“The impact caused the KIA RIO to crash into a dispatch motorcycle (KTU 695 QK) in the opposite direction.

“The dispatch rider was pronounced dead at the scene, while two others sustained serious fractures and were rushed to a nearby hospital by a good samaritan, who was driving along the expressway,” he said.

According to him, police officers from Ajiwe and Ilasan Police Stations provided security during the rescue operations conducted by LASTMA personnel and other emergency responders.

Bakare-Oki extended condolences to the family of the deceased and sympathized with the two injured victims.

He also urged motorists, particularly high-capacity bus drivers, to ensure their vehicles were in proper working condition, especially the brake system, before embarking on any journey within or outside the state.

The Comptroller General of Customs of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, has approved the appointments of the key management team.

Abdullahi Maiwada, the NCS spokesperson, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

The appointments come following the retirement of some key management team members in Customs.

BM Jibo has been appointed as the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of finance administration and technical services.

“OA Alajogun, acting DCG enforcement, inspection, and investigation; IG Umar, acting ACG headquarters; OA Salefu, acting Assistant Comptroller-General, training and doctrine command; BA Makinde, acting ACG, human resource development; Timi Bomodi, acting ACG enforcement, inspection, and investigation”, the statement reads.

In an effort to mitigate the hardships caused by the removal of fuel subsidy, the federal government on Friday, launched the Conversion Incentive Programme of the Compressed Natural Gas Initiative in Abeokuta, Ogun State

Speaking at the flag-off, Michael Oluwagbemi, the CEO and Program Director of the Presidential CNG project, stated that the goal of the project was to convert one million automobiles for free.

Oluwagbemi said to fulfil the President’s promise, the program would work with four conversion centres signed up in the state.

He said, “What we are doing here now is to flag off the incentive programme that the President announced in his last speech to the nation where he talked about the difficulties of all Nigerians.

“He mentioned that a million vehicles are going to be converted for free. We are here to fulfil the President’s promise here in the city of Abeokuta.

“We are going to be working with the conversion centres partners, we signed up four of them here in Ogun State today.”

Oluwagbemi said commercial drivers, as well as members of NATO, RTEAN, and NURTW, would receive the conversion kits.

“It’s going to be the 60th we’ve signed across Nigeria for the programme. The idea is that this conversion centre will get the conversion kit that the Federal Ministry of Finance has purchased for free.

“Fifty nominees from each of the three major unions will be utilising not just this facility but the three facilities to ensure that conversion starts.

“When that conversion starts, we will be able to fuel in any of the CNG refueling stations that are also present in Ogun State,” he added.

In his remarks, Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Energy, Jide Onakoya, said the programme would be a game-changer for the state and help to reduce pollution by a significant amount.