Lucid's blog

A US former policeman dubbed the “ Golden State Killer ” pleaded guilty to 13 murders Monday , as well as confessing to dozens of rapes , robberies and kidnappings , drawing a line under a sadistic crime spree that terrorized California for two decades . Joseph DeAngelo Jr . admitted to being the notorious killer and rapist who stalked the state during the 1970 s and 1980 s , as the appalling details of his crimes were read out at a plea hearing held in Sacramento . “ The scope of Joseph DeAngelo ’ s crime spree is simply staggering , ” prosecutor Thien Ho told the makeshift courtroom – a university ballroom converted to allow victims to attend while social distancing . “ Each time he escaped , slipping away silently into the night, leaving communities terrified , ” Ho added . A frail - looking DeAngelo , 74 , wheeled in wearing an orange jumpsuit and a clear face shield , rasped simply “ Yes , ” “ No , ” “ Guilty ” and “ I admit ” to the judge ’ s questions , as he consented to the te...

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment , Festus Keyamo ( SAN ) , has accused unnamed politicians of harassing him over the public works programme meant to create 774, 000 unskilled jobs . He vowed not to succumb to any form of blackmail , pledging to drive the initiative to a successful conclusion . Speaking in Abuja on Monday at the inauguration of state selection committees of the programme , Keyamo cautioned the state chairmen against compromising the objective of the initiative which he said was to give job opportunity to the people . He said any chairman that failed to adhere to the guidelines on the operation of the scheme would be removed. The minister said , “ There have been attempts at blackmailing me in this particular programme too to make us also yield to political leaders and we have said no – not while I am here . “ I have a pedigree ; I have a background; I know where I am coming from . Before I came into public office , I have a pedigree and what I stand for ....

A 75 - year - old man , Alhaji Salisu Ibrahim, on Monday, lost his life in a road traffic accident involving the convoy of the Commander, 17 Brigade , Nigerian Army , Katsina, Brigadier General Warrah Idris . The accident occurred when the convoy went to refuel and was returning to pick up the Brigade Commander. Eyewitnesses said the accident occurred around Mani House junction in the Katsina metropolis. It was also learnt that the man died on the spot . The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa, confirmed the development in a statement . He said a delegation of the Nigerian Army led by the Brigade commander have visited the late Ibrahim family to commiserate with them .

Iran on Tuesday said it has sentenced to death Ruhollah Zam , a former opposition figure who had lived in exile in France and had been implicated in anti -government protests . “ The court has considered 13 counts of charges together as instances of ‘ corruption on earth ’ and therefore passed the death sentence , ” judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili said . The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the arrest of Zam in October last year , describing him as a “ counter -revolutionary” who was “ directed by France’ s intelligence service ” . Corruption on earth is one of the most serious offences under Iranian law . Zam was also sentenced to time served over other charges , Esmaili added , without elaborating . The sentence could be appealed before the supreme court , he said , quoted by the judiciary ’ s official website. Zam , who reportedly lived in Paris, ran a channel on the Telegram messaging application called Amadnews . At the time , he was accused by authorities of ...

The Oyo State Government has discharged 180 COVID - 19 patients after two consecutive negative results . Governor Seyi Makinde announced this via his official Twitter handle on Monday. Makinde said that the number of COVID - 19 cases managed and discharged in Oyo State has risen to 688 . He, however , said the state recorded one coronavirus associated death , bringing the total death toll in the state to 12 . The governor said that the state also recorded 66 new cases of COVID - 19 . He wrote , “ 180 confirmed COVID - 19 cases received their second negative test results and have been discharged . This brings the number of discharged cases in Oyo State to 688. “ Also , the COVID - 19 confirmation tests for 66 suspected cases came back positive . “ The cases are from Ibadan North West ( 26 ) , Ibadan N ( 9 ) , Ibadan SW ( 6 ) , Ido ( 6 ) , Lagelu ( 4 ) , Egbeda ( 3 ) , Oyo E ( 3 ) , Ibarapa N ( 3 ) , Saki W ( 2 ) , Ibadan SE ( 1 ) , Ibadan NE ( 1 ) , Akinyele ( 1 ) and Itesiwaju ( 1 ) LG...

News update, Tuesday, 30/06/2020 **FG reopens schools, lifts ban on inter-state movement **ASUU kicks against reopening of schools ** IGP orders Ondo CP to restore deputy gov’s security details **Parakoyi of Ibadanland, Chief Bode Akindele dies **Makinde mourns Chief Bode Akindele **Sanwo-Olu unveils COWLSO’s 5,000 transistor radios to improve access to learning **Group calls for probe of Yari over missing N47 billion State funds **LASG presents cheque to family of slain KAI official **I never said Igbos 'll never be president - Shettima Yerima **COVID-19: Health workers, others in Ajegunle get PPEs **Alasoadura, civil societies seek peaceful Ondo guber **COVID-19 spreading in Kogi community - Infected lawyer urges NCDC to intervene **COVID-19: 3 deaths,24 health workers infection in Ebonyi frightening -  Umahi **A’Ibom Govt House deserted over COVID-19 scare **N-POWER online portal receives over 1m applications in 48hrs **NUC accredits law, 13 other programmes in UniAbuja **JAMB: ...

566 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria; Lagos-166 Oyo-66 Delta-53 Ebonyi-43 Plateau-34 Ondo-32 FCT-26 Ogun-25 Edo-24 Imo-15 Bayelsa-13 Benue-12 Gombe-11 Kano-11 Kaduna-11 Osun-8 Nasarawa-7 Borno-5 Katsina-2 Anambra-2 25,133 confirmed 9,402 discharged 573 deaths

One of Germany ’ s biggest airports located in the financial hub of Frankfurt , on Monday, got kitted with a coronavirus testing station , potentially allowing some passengers to avoid quarantine at their destination . The project was inaugurated by German Biotech Company , Centogene, in conjunction with Fraport , which runs Frankfurt Airport and Lufthansa . The plan is to offer testing to both arriving and departing Lufthansa passengers until the end of July 2021 , at a walk - in centre close to the terminal building . Centogene referred to the programme as a blueprint to opening international borders, hoping the testing would assist travellers to get regulations at their destination . Many countries require a negative test result within the past 72 hours to allow direct entry. According to Centogene Chief Executive , Arndt Rolfs , testing can be carried out either the day before departure or in a fast - track process on the day of traveling, with results sent through a digital platfo...

Nollywood actress Amara Maduka, has asked Nigerian men to embrace p.o.r.n instead of r.a.p.i.n.g women. She also encouraged the society to stop frowning at p.o/r/n assuring it will help men stop r.a.p.e. She made this known in an interview with the NewTelegraph saying; ''In my opinion adult contents has nothing to do with r.a.p.e. As a matter of fact, r.a.p.e would reduce if the society embraced adult contents instead of frown at it. It’s basic knowledge that mankind will always long for the forbidden fruit. Because it’s a big deal, people are going to always crave it. But if it’s embraced and the men know that a woman’s body is just a body. Everyone has one and it’s not a big deal to see a woman’s body because their sisters have one and their mothers have one, then they would see every woman as human and not an object. And whatever happened to masturbating? They have plastic vagina now and they won’t burn in hell for wanking when they’re horny, instead of raping they should pr...

One of the black police officers at the scene of the killing of George Floyd by a white officer in Minneapolis in May has a Nigerian father [everyone wants to use Nigeria to trend] Alex Kueng who joined the police largely because he believed diversity could force change in a Police Department long accused of racism, New York Times reported that Mr Floyd, whose name has been painted on murals and scrawled on protest signs, has been laid to rest. Mr Kueng, who faces charges of aiding and abetting in Mr Floyd’s death, is out on bail, hounded at the supermarket by strangers and denounced by some family members. Long before Mr Kueng was arrested, he had wrestled with the issue of police abuse of black people, joining the force in part to help protect people close to him from police aggression. He argued that diversity could force change in a Police Department long accused of racism. He had seen one sibling arrested and treated poorly, in his view, by sheriff’s deputies. He had found himself...

The Lagos State Government has begun stiff enforcement of laws against distressed buildings and called on property owners to carry out immediate integrity tests or risk demolition. The General Manager, Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory (LSMTL), Dr Afolabi Abiodun, told the News Agency of Nigeria that property owners who did not ascertain the structural stability of their buildings risked sanctions. Abiodun advised construction companies, developers, estate agents, builders and other stakeholders in the built environment to comply by testing their construction materials, ongoing and completed buildings to avert risks. He said that enforcement would be more proactive in line with the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration’s zero tolerance for building collapse, saying that, using the right materials would prevent construction failure. The general manager who assumed office in February said that soil test was also very important before any kind of construction to safeguard the construct...

The Osun State Police Command has commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of one Shuaib Isola after he was punched during a fight in Iwo on Sunday . According to sources , the incident happened around 10 am at the playground of the St . Mary ’ s Grammar School , Iwo . The deceased and others were said to be playing football , when he suddenly got into a fight with one Ahmed Lateef . Isola was said to have collapsed after he was punched by Lateef . When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state , Yemisi Opalola , confirmed the incident . She said one person had been arrested in connection with the incident . Opalola stated, “ One Shuaib Isola of the Araromi area , Iwo , and others were playing football at the St . Mary ’ s Grammar School , Iwo , when one Ahmed Lateef engaged him in a fight. “ Lateef reportedly gave the deceased a punch and he collapsed . Isola was later rushed to the General Hospital, Iwo , where he was pronounced dead .

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Sunday described as fraudulent the operations of a fraudulent twitter handle , @ YusufPhilipYila , purported to belong to the bank ’ s Director, Development Finance Department , Mr Philip Yusuf . According to CBN ’ s Director of Corporate Communications , Isaac Okorafor , the impostor handle had been posting messages related to the bank ’ s N 50 bn Targeted Credit Facility . Okoroafor said the fraudster was doing so with the intent of wooing unsuspecting loan seekers and owners of small scale businesses to enter into correspondence with the owner of the fake handle . The CBN official warned unsuspecting members of the public not to have anything to do with the said Twitter handle . He said , “ Although the CBN , through the NIRSAL Microfinance Bank , has indeed disbursed loans to successful beneficiaries under its COVID - 19 Targeted Credit Facility , none of the bank ’ s official engages in direct interactions with prospective or successful applicants. ”

General Salou Djibo , former head of Niger’ s military junta, will contest the 2020 presidential election after being adopted on Sunday as the candidate for the Peace -Justice - Progress party . He accepted the candidacy at a ceremony before some 5 , 000 people at the Niamey Sports Palace. Djibo , 55 , led the military junta that ousted President Mahamadou Tandja in February 2010 , after he tried to stay on in power beyond his two - term limit . Djibo stayed in power until April 2011 before handing back power to civilian rule , in the form of the current president Mahamadou Issoufou . Djibo , who retired from the army in 2019 , hopes to succeed Issoufou , who is constitutionally barred from serving a third term .

Barely two weeks after the United States indicted six Nigerians for their alleged involvement in over $ 6 m internet fraud, 11 more Nigerians have been arraigned over another $ 6 m bank fraud. According to a statement by the US Attorney ’ s Office , District of New Jersey , the defendants are Sulaiman Dosunmu , 39 ; Tunde Adeowo , 40 ; Muritala Adeowo , 55 ; Ayanniyi Alayande, 47 ; Ahmmed Ponle , 41 ; Margiettu Kamu , 34 ; Rafiat Sarumi , 36 ; Babatunde Oke , 40 ; Adekunle Owolabi , 49 ; Olayinka Olaseinde , 42 ; and Olugbenga Oyedele , 47 . They were charged for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to commit bank fraud in Southern New Jersey and Southeastern Pennsylvania over the course of four years , US Attorney , Craig Carpenito said . The suspects , said to have swindled hundreds of victims through accounts domiciled in American banks including Wells Fargo , were arraigned on multiple counts such as fraud, forgery , amongst others . Their charge sheet partly read , “ The defendants...

The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs , Disaster Management, and Social Development has said over 1 million applications have been received from across the Federation in less than 48 hours that it opened the N - Power ( Batch C ) portal . This was contained in a statement signed on Sunday by the ministry ’ s Deputy Director, Information , Rhoda Iliya . The enrolment exercise for the new N -Power beneficiaries commenced on June 26 . Iliya said youths with no formal education could send in applications for a new aspect of the programme with a focus on agriculture . “ The Ministry wishes to reiterate that all young Nigerians between the ages of 18 - 35 with or without formal education can apply for a slot in the new program which would be very focused on agriculture . “ The number of applications so far received is an indication of the number of our youths who need jobs and the confidence in the program .

Over 9 , 000 coronavirus patients have recovered in Nigeria , the country ’ s Centre for the Disease Control has said . This was as the Centre announced that total infections confirmed in Nigeria reached 24 , 567 including 565 associated deaths . The recoveries were recorded in the Federal Capital Territory , Abuja, as well as 34 states across the Federation with Lagos State reporting 1 , 592 discharged patients , the highest in the country. The NCDC stated on Sunday, “ On the 28 th of June 2020 , 490 new confirmed cases and 7 deaths were recorded in Nigeria . “ No new state has reported a case in the last 24 hours .

SOME NIGERIAN NEWSPAPER HEADLINES, 29/06/2020 Punch N-Power: FG receives 1m applications in 48 hours Buhari inaugurates Ajaokuta-Kano pipeline construction Tuesday Buhari, ACF, Fintiri mourn as Adamawa monarch dies Kogi CJ, who died in isolation centre, buried in Abuja Man, 61, arrested for impregnating daughter in Lagos No going back on petrol price control, PPPRA insists Real estate, construction firm’s non-performing loans hit N136.05bn INEC lists tough conditions for campaign rallies in Edo, Ondo Only APC can use Presidential Villa, says Garba Nwodo kicks as new Ohanaeze leadership registers with CAC Aviation: Onyema seeks bailout, says new charges’ll raise airfares APC caretaker panel meets today, to set up convention committees Lawyer asks court to reverse Lagos okada ban 2023: Stop APC from destroying Nigeria, says Wike Sell Nigeria to investors, Lagos tells Nollywood Lagos plans Kosofe roads expansion to ease traffic COVID-19: Eight dead, 41 health workers infected in Plateau –...

490 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria; Lagos-118 Delta-84 Ebonyi-68 FCT-56 Plateau-39 Edo-29 Katsina-21 Imo-13 Ondo-12 Adamawa-11 Osun-8 Ogun-8 Rivers-6 Kano-5 Enugu-3 Bauchi-3 Akwa Ibom-3 Kogi-1 Oyo-1 Bayelsa-1 24,567 confirmed 9,007 discharged 565 deaths 

The remains of former Oyo Governor Abiola Ajimobi have been laid to rest. He was buried at his Oluyole residence at about 10 a.m. The burial was witnessed by his wife, children as well as very close associates. Meanwhile, hundred of associates, friends and supporters were awaiting the body at the Senator Ishiaq Abiola Ajimobi Central Mosque, Oke Ado. The family sent out the dummy to control the massive crowd already awaiting the remains of the corpse as well as allow for easier crowd control. The burial also ended the controversy over his final resting place. Ajimobi’s family wanted him buried in his home in Agodi GRA. But the Seyi Makinde government disallowed it because the land was under litigation. Instead, it supported the burial in Oluyole, his first home in Ibadan built over 40 years ago.

Scientists have warned that COVID-19 causes a far wider range of health problems than previously thought and that victims may never fully recover from its debilitating effects. According to them, COVID-19 does not just cause a wide range of symptoms, the symptoms last for a longer timespan. “We thought this was only a respiratory virus. Turns out, it goes after the pancreas. It goes after the heart. It goes after the liver, the brain, the kidney and other organs. We didn’t appreciate that in the beginning,” Dr. Eric Topol, a cardiologist and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, California told Reuters.

Pregnant teen Darya Sudnishnikova admits she is scared about giving birth as her baby's arrival draws closer. The girl was 13 when she announced the father of her unborn child was 10-year-old Ivan on a primetime TV show in their native Russia. She has since bravely opened up about the harrowing truth, confessing that she made up the claim because she did not want to admit being raped by a 15-year-old boy in her nuclear production home town of Zheleznogorsk. Darya has now become a social media star with more than 113,000 followers on Instagram and regularly gives updates about her pregnancy. A state investigator from Moscow was looking into her r.a.p.e allegation and that action would depend on a DNA test once the baby has arrived. Young Ivan has pledged to raise the child as his own and has supported girlfriend Darya throughout her pregnancy. Darya recently revealed in a question and answer session with followers on her Instagram that the thought of giving birth is '"scary...

Musician , Oladapo Oyebanjo aka D ’ Banj , has come under fire on social media for performing at a crowded party in contravention of the COVID - 19 guidelines of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the Federal Capital Territory Authority . In a video that was posted on Twitter by @ Mslami _ A , the musician is seen performing his song titled , ‘ Olorun Ma Je ’ , in a crowded house flanked by mostly women , none of whom was wearing a face mask . The PUNCH had exclusively reported last week that the musician had flown to Abuja from Lagos to face police interrogation amid allegations of rape . In the new video posted on Twitter on Sunday, D ’ Banj is seen mingling with fans in contravention of the social distancing regulation . @ tflourish tweeted , “ In a nation where there are no consequences for actions , this is what you get . Naira Marley did it and got away with it so why not D ’ Banj ?” @ Seyitundeayantunde also tweeted , “ Apparently coronavirus protocols are for poor peopl...

The Federal Government has evacuated 315 stranded Nigerians from the United Kingdom. The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission made this known via its Twitter handle on Sunday. It stated that the evacuees would arrive in Nigeria about 5 pm on Sunday. It tweeted , “ Air Peace flight conveying another batch of 315 Nigerians departs Heathrow Airport , London today .

Men of Ogun State Police Command have arrested two robbers on the Kara long bridge along the Lagos - Ibadan Expressway in the Obafemi - Owode Local Government Area of the state while robbing motorists . The Police Public Relations Officer in the state , Abimbola Oyeyemi , disclosed this in a statement on Sunday . Oyeyemi said the suspects – Ibrahim Nura, 27 , an indigene of Kebbi State and Isaac Kyegh , an indigene of Benue were arrested while dispossessing the motorists on the bridge . Oyeyemi explained that the duo residing in Kara , Isheri, Ogun were apprehended while attacking one Agoro Adebayo and Olalekan Toheeb whose vehicle had a mechanical fault on the bridge . He added that the victims were attacked by the suspects while trying to fix their faulty car. According to him , two men suddenly came out from under the bridge and threatened the duo with knife and cutlass so as to dispossess them of their valuables . “ In the process , the patrol team from Warewa division led by the D...

Troops on clearance operations have killed 12 suspected bandits and arrested many others in Katsina and Zamfara States . The troops reportedly neutralized six bandits while several others escaped with gunshots wounds while foiling attack by the hoodlums at Mara Zamfarawa village in Danmusa LGA of Katsina state on Friday . Similarly , on Saturday, troops on patrol successfully arrested suspected bandits informers or collaborators . The suspects are being interrogated and profiled for further action , according to a statement on Sunday by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj . Gen . John Enenche . It also explained that troops while on cordon and search operations at Mara Zamfarawa and Birchi Malamawa villages in Danmusa LGA , engaged the bandits , many of who escaped with gunshots wounds . The soldiers recovered four motorcycles .

The Chairman , Osun State Universal Basic Education Board , Israel Famurewa, has said there was a need to fast track the implementation of the reviewed reclassification policy of government -owned schools in the state . In a press statement on Sunday, Famurewa said efforts are ongoing to ensure that the new policy is implemented when schools resume after COVID - 19 break . The statement quoted Famurewa as saying this during the concluding part of data gathering and physical assessment tour of nine the federal constituencies of the state by top government officials held at Ijebu - Jesha High School on Friday . According to him , the review is targeted towards restoring 6 - 3 - 3 - 4 classification system through which each level of education will return back to its earlier class structure . The PUNCH reports that Osun had approved the reversal of the single school uniform, ‘ reclassification ’ of the public school system , and the restoration of conventional single - sex schools as earl...

The United Nations said it has launched investigation into a viral video showing a couple having sex in one of its official cars in Israel . Spokesman of the Secretary - General , Mr Stephane Dujarric , told UN correspondents in New York on Friday that the organisation was “ shocked and deeply disturbed ” by the footage. Dujarric confirmed that the video featured a 4 by 4 vehicle , containing personnel “ likely assigned to the UN Truce Supervision Organisation ” . The short video showed a woman in a red dress straddling a man in the back seat of the white SUV bearing the “ UN” inscription . With them in the moving vehicle are the driver and a bald - head man sitting on the passenger side in front. Media reports have it that the footage was recorded on HaYarkon Street , a major thoroughfare in Tel Aviv , the Israeli capital , although the UN said its authenticity had not been confirmed . Dujarric said , “ We are shocked and deeply disturbed by what is seen on the video . “ The behaviour...

American rapper , Kanye West , announces partnership with Nigerian designer Mowalola Ogunlesi as the director of ‘ Yeezy Gap ’ . The rapper took to twitter to announce his multi - year Yeezy deal with Gap , using the hashtag # WESTDAYEVER with an apparent logo for the upcoming line set to debut in 2021 . Ogunlesi also shared the news via her Instagram page . According to yahoo . com , the 25 - year - old designer who moved from Lagos , Nigeria to England at the age of 12 , graduated from Central Saint Martins just three years ago. In 2017 , Ogunlesi launched her eponymous brand and has since styled Solange Knowles for Dazed Magazine and Skepta for his hazy ‘ Pure Water ’ video. She is also responsible for Naomi Campbell ’ s white halterneck gown, which featured a symbolic gunshot wound , that she wore this past London Fashion Week. Ogunlesi worked on Nike’ s Naija World Cup kit launch and Grammy - winning rapper , Drake had been spotted wearing a custom Mowalola jacket . Her Spring /Su...

Ahead of the resumption of commercial flights in the country , there are indications that passengers and crew will undergo Covid- 19 tests before every flight . This is as contained in the Nigeria Economic Sustainability Plan prepared by the Economic Sustainability Committee chaired by Vice - President Yemi Osinbajo . The plan made provision for free Covid- 19 tests for all passengers and crew for a period of 12 months. The PUNCH had earlier reported that the Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved a N 2 . 3 trillion stimulus plan proposed in the NESP designed to support the economy amid the COVID - 19 pandemic . A sum of N 27 bn was apportioned to the Federal Ministry of Aviation to execute projects and plan of action within the sector for one year . The project elements are , “ Extend grant support including payroll support to the aviation industry including airlines , handlers , caterers and related services ;  long term repayment plan; Deferred payment of taxes and filing d...

SOME NIGERIAN NEWSPAPER HEADLINES, 27/06/2020 Punch Africa records highest daily COVID-19 cases as total hits 348,871 States’ autonomy making it difficult to enforce COVID-19 guidelines –NCDC Ajimobi for burial Sunday in mosque named after him Lagos, Osun threaten fresh lockdown as cases hit 23,298 Supreme Court affirms Wada as Kogi PDP gov candidate Shiites protest in Kaduna, demand El-Zakzaky’s release I helped remove kidnap kingpin, Wadume’s handcuffs with spoon — Capt Balarabe How mob labelled my husband robber, beat him to death –Ekiti carpenter’s wife 71-year-old man raped me 10 times, gave me charm to steal for him –13-year-old alleged victim I didn’t rape 13-year-old accuser, only did business with her –Septuagenarian accused of rape No state is safe, secure anymore, says Obasanjo FG sets up committee to boost export IDPs: FG begins 10,000 mass housing project in Borno COVID-19: Globacom introduces social networking Corona College of Education holds first e-matriculation Lawyer...