THE BIG NEWS STORIES FOR THE DAY.

CRS POLICE COMMAND ARRAIGNS ELEVEN SUSPECTED CULTISTS ARRESTED DURING AN ALLEGED INITIATION CEREMONY IN CALABAR.

The Cross River state police command has arraigned eleven suspected cultists arrested during an alleged initiation ceremony before a Magistrate court in Calabar.

The suspected who was charged on a three-count charge however pleaded not guilty to all the charges

Magistrate Glory Edu granted them bail in the sum of 300,000 each with a surety in like sum that must be a civil servant from grade level six and above resident in Calabar

6 YEAR OLD BOY BURNT WITH AN ELECTRIC IRON BY HIS AUNTY IN CALABAR SOUTH, FOR ALLEGEDLY EATING HER LEFT OVER GROUNDNUT

The basic rights counsel initiative (BRCI) Calabar Cross River state has taken custody of 6 year old boy who was burnt with an electric iron for allegedly eating left over groundnut from his paternal aunty.

The principal counsel for the BRCI, James Ibor who presented the boy to our correspondent in his office on Monday, said the boy has been experiencing different kind of assaults from his aunty who lives Anantiga area of Calabar south.

James  Ibor also expressed worry at the state of health of two of his other siblings, who are still living with the same aunty.

The legal practitioner who is also chairperson child protection network cross river state vowed to ensure that the aunty is made to face the wrath of the law.

TRADITIONAL LEADERS IN OBANLIKU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA PLEDGE TO PUT AN END TO THE OBNOXIOUS MONEY MARRIAGE CULTURE

The obnoxious money marriage culture practiced in Becheve, Obanliku Local government area of Cross River state may soon be a thing of the past as traditional rulers in the area have now collectively agreed to put an end to the age long culture.

Recall that in 2018, the media space was awash with news of the money marriage tradition, where under-aged girls are forced into marriage for financial benefits.

Speaking on the sidelines of a capacity building workshop for journalists in Calabar at the weekend, Executive director, African Centre For Leadership, strategy and development Abuja, Monday Osasa, said this came as a fallout of a visit to gatekeepers at the Local government area, as part of activities to implement the EU-UN Spot light Initiatives, men engagement to end gender based violence.

Osasa said the feat was achieved by engaging the clan heads as patrons in the United Nations Network of men leaders.

Osasa also revealed that persons who are indebted to as a result of the tradition, charged government to intervene so that their money is recovered.

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT OPERATIONS TO RESUME ON AUGUST 29 – FG

The Federal Government says Nigeria will resume international flight operations on August 29^th.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, explained that the process for the resumption of international flights in the country would be similar to that of the domestic flight resumption.

COVID 19: FG TO CEASE EVACUATION OF FLIGHTS.

The federal Government says it has concluded plans to end evacuation flights following the repatriation of thousands of citizens stranded in various parts of the world as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Boss Mustapha, who is the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, disclosed this to reporters on Monday in Abuja.

Meanwhile, Nigeria is expecting the return of some of its citizens who have been convicted and pardoned in various countries around the world.

The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, listed some of the countries that were planning to repatriate such Nigerians to include the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

FG FAULTS CLOSURE OF BUSINESS PREMISES BELONGING TO NIGERIANS IN GHANA.

The Federal Government has faulted the closure of the business premises belonging to Nigerians by the Ghanaian authorities, saying it may consider retaliatory actions.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said this in Abuja on Monday, also said that it may drag Ghana to the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States, if found to have breached the sub-region’s Protocol of Free Movement of Peoples.

INEC TO GIVE POSSIBLE RESPONSE TO SOME OF THE ISSUES RAISED BY THE BAYELSA STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION PETITION TRIBUNAL.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it may respond to some of the issues raised by the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal when it is availed of the full judgment of the case.

The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said this while reacting to the nullification of the state’s governorship election which produced Governor Duoye Diri.

Okoye, however, noted that the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) nomination for the election was invalid while the party did not exercise its right guaranteed in the Fourth Alteration to the constitution by filing its suit within 14 days of the accrual of the said right.

Meanwhile, Duoye Diri and his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), have said they will appeal the judgment.

FAMILY OF SLAIN BAUCHI LEGISLATOR REGAINS FREEDOM

Two wives and a year old daughter of the slain Bauchi Assembly lawmaker, Musa Mante Baraza have regained freedom after four days in captivity.

Recall that Unknown gunmen had on Friday killed the lawmaker and abducted his family in his resident in Dass local government of Bauchi State.

The chief of staff to the governor, Ladan Salihu announced their release in a tweet.

VERDICT DUE OVER ASSASSINATION OF LEBANON EX-PRIME MINISTER

The long-awaited verdict is due in the trial of four men allegedly involved in the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri and 21 others in a 2005 bombing.

The defendants – suspected members of the Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah – were tried in absentia on Tuesday, by a special tribunal in the Netherlands.

Outrage at the attack in Beirut forced Hezbollah’s backer Syria to pull its troops out of Lebanon after 29 years, but Hezbollah and Syria’s government denied any involvement in the attack.

TRIAL OF A COOK ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ABUSING HIS BABY SET TO BEGIN IN GERMANY

A cook accused of sexually abusing his baby daughter has gone on trial in Germany’s biggest post-war paedophile investigation.

Police in Cologne say tens of thousands of people in paedophile networks viewed the pictures that 43-year-old Jörg L, posted on a Swiss secure messaging service and his wife will testify against him.

A raid on his home last October in Bergisch Gladbach, near Cologne, led police to investigate dozens more alleged paedophiles and eighty-seven suspected paedophiles have been identified in all 16 German states as a result of this case.

TWO MEN CHARGED WITH MURDER OF RUN-DMC’S JAM MASTER

Two men have been charged with the nearly 18-year old unsolved murder of Jason Mizell, who is known as Jam Master Jay of the hip hop trio Run-DMC.

The late DJ was shot in 2002 by a masked man in his recording studio in Queens, New York and the influential act he formed with Joseph “Run” Simmons and Darryl “DMC” McDaniel disbanded after his death.

In their ruling on Monday, Prosecutors said Mizell was killed by acquaintances in a “drug related homicide”.

RESTAURANT IN CHINA APOLOGIZES FOR ASKING CUSTOMERS TO WEIGH THEMSELVES

A restaurant in China has apologized for asking customers to weigh themselves before entry in an attempt to discourage food waste.

The beef restaurant in the central city of Changsha was heavily criticised on Chinese social media as soon as it unveiled the policy on Friday.

President Xi Jinping has urged the nation to stop wasting food, as the coronavirus pandemic and serious flooding last month have led to a rise in food prices.

BARROW VISIT DERBY, NEWPORT HOST SWANSEA IN ROUND ONE OF CARABAO CUP

The Carabao Cup first round will see Barrow visit Derby for their first game in the competition since the 1971/1972 season, while Newport will host Swansea in an all-Welsh tie.

Harrogate – who were promoted to the Football League for the first time in their history earlier this month – will make their debut in the Carabao Cup at Prenton Park, where they will take on Tranmere.

Championship play-off runners-up Brentford will begin their season at home to Wycombe, who won the League One play-offs last season.

The first round of the annual knockout football competition in men’s domestic English football is due to be played on Saturday, September 5, but some games may be rearranged as it is an international weekend.

BARCELONA SACK MANAGER QUIQUE SETIEN THREE DAYS AFTER BAYERN DEFEAT

Barcelona has sacked its manager Quique Setien, three days after his side’s humiliating 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

In a statement on its official Twitter handle, Barca said a new coach will be announced in the coming days with Ronald Koeman the front runner to be his replacement.

61-year-old Setien was appointed in January and took charge for just 25 matches.

ELSEWHERE, Stoke City new signing John Mikel Obi hopes to help instil a long-lost winning mentality at the club and also help the Potters push for promotion to the Premier League next season.

The former super Eagles skipper signed a one-year contract with Stoke City on Monday becoming the club’s fourth signing of the summer.

EDITOR(S) – Onyekachi Nwosu, Abenmire Adi – Williams

REPORTER(S) – Happiness Ifiok.