IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Suspected billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike aka Evans, has again dragged the Inspector General of Police, and three others before a Federal High Court in Lagos over his alleged illegal detention. In the new suit filed on Thursday, Evans is claiming N300m as general and exemplary damages against the police for alleged illegal detention and unconstitutional media trial. Joined as respondents in his new originating motion are the Nigeria Police Force, the Commissioner of Police Lagos State and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos State Police Command.

Evans had on June 28 filed an ex parte application with reference number FHC/L/CS/1012/2017, before the same court, seeking an order directing the respondents to charge him to court. He had also in the alternative sought an order directing the respondents to release him unconditionally where no charge is preferred against him. In an affidavit deposed to by his father, Mr Stephen Onwuamadike, it was averred that the applicant has been subjected to media trial without any court order by the respondents. Onwuamadike further averred that the media trial and news orchestrated by the respondents have continued to generate reactions in both print and electronic media without his son being afforded fair hearing before a court of law.

Evans contended that his continued detention by the respondents since June 10, without a charge, or release on bail, is an infringement on his fundamental rights.

The Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, on Thursday faulted a statement credited to his Ekiti State counterpart, Ayodele Fayose, on the state of health of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said Nigerians should disregard Fayose’s statement, which he described as ‘uncharitable.’

Okorocha spoke with State House correspondents in Abuja. Fayose had, on Wednesday, alleged that the President was on life support in London and called for his resignation.

Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe has re-signed for former club Bournemouth on a free transfer. The England international, 34, who has signed a three-year deal, said: "It's great to be back. The one thing I can guarantee is goals." "It was an easy decision, joining a top team with a top manager," added Defoe who scored 15 league goals last season. A teenage Defoe spent the 2000-01 season on loan at Bournemouth from West Ham, scoring in 10 successive matches.

The former Tottenham, Portsmouth, West Ham and Charlton player is seventh on the Premier League all-time goals list with 158 in 468 appearances. Cherries manager Eddie Howe said Defoe's signing is a "huge moment for the club". Defoe moved to Sunderland in January 2015 after a brief spell at MLS side Toronto and after saving the club from relegation in the 2015-16 season with 15 goals, he signed a contract extension until 2019.

There was a clause in his contract that allowed him to leave on a free transfer, if Sunderland were relegated to the Championship, which was he was able to trigger when the Black Cats finished bottom of the league last season.

Hours after he captained Portugal to semi-final defeat in the Confederations Cup in Russia, Cristiano Ronaldo has announced the birth of twins. For days Portuguese media have reported that the footballer's twins had been born to a surrogate mother in the US. But it was only after the national team were knocked out on penalties by Chile that he confirmed the birth.

Ronaldo went on Facebook to say: "I'm very happy, finally, to be with my children for the first time." He already has a son, Cristiano Ronaldo junior, who was born in June 2010. The Real Madrid forward began his message declaring that he been at the service of the national team "body and soul" despite the birth of the twins, adding: "Unfortunately we couldn't achieve our main sporting aim."

The semi-final in Kazan ended in a 0-0 draw and Chile went through as Ronaldo's teammates missed three penalties.

Nigerian energy businessman, Kola Aluko, declared wanted by the EFCC, has been identified as the owner of Apartment 79, a penthouse apartment in One57, one of New York City’s most expensive residential buildings. However, the apartment would be sold to the highest bidder by a Luxembourg-based Banque Havilland, in a foreclosure auction in July, the New York Post reported. The penthouse sale is seen as the most expensive foreclosure in New York City. Aluko, 48, is believed to be hiding out on his yacht, which he rented to Jay Z and Beyoncé in 2015 for 900,000 dollars a week.

The energy businessman, who is a friend of stars such as Jay Z and Jamie Foxx, has not been seen for a while, which has sparked rumours that he is hiding away on his yacht, which was last registered in the Bahamas in May. Aluko was reportedly last seen in Hong Kong in May and his yacht is currently in the Bahamas, according to the report. His bank has also listed the yacht, the Galactica Star, as collateral in the foreclosure, but the yacht is ‘out of range’ at the moment.

Aluko rented the Galactica Star to Jay Z and Beyoncé in 2015 for 900,000 dollars a week and allegedly showed up at the Ja Rule Fyre Festival in the Bahamas in late April with his yacht.

Barely nine months after two 400 level students of the Osun State University, Osogbo campus disappeared , another 400 level student of Microbiology Department of the university,  Oluwafemi Oluwatimilehin Shonibare, has gone missing.

Shonibare’s colleagues told our correspondent in Osogbo on Wednesday that the final year student was cooking at a private hostel around Suzzy area, at Oke Baale at about 10pm on Monday when he abandoned the cooking and disappeared.

They said they that he had not been found since then.