DEAN360 BLOG

Roger Federer destroyed David Goffin 6-2 6-2 6-0 on Sunday to reach the U.S. Open quarter-finals and keep his bid for a record-extending 21st Grand Slam title alive.

The Swiss third seed fired 35 winners and 10 aces to see off the outclassed Belgian in a speedy 80 minutes on a sunny day at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The 38-year-old Federer was at his best when it mattered most, converting nine of his 10 break point opportunities to set up a meeting with Grigor Dimitrov on Tuesday.

The only drama came early when Goffin, seeded 15th, broke Federer to take a 2-1 lead in the first set but the Swiss broke back in the next game and cruised to the finish line.

Amid denials by officials of the Buhari administration of complicity in the botched gas supply contract that resulted in the recent $8.9billion arbitral award against Nigeria by a UK court, the founder of the company at the centre of the controversy, Michael Quinn, on Saturday named key Nigerian government officials who played different roles in the process that led to the contract.

The United Kingdom, Business & Property Courts (the Commercial Court), presided by Justice Butcher, on August 20 granted a request for the enforcement of a March 20, 2013, award against Nigeria by a District Circuit Court in Washington DC.

The award in favour of Process & Industrial Development Limited (P&ID), a British engineering firm, followed an alleged breach of a 2010 gas contract agreement by the company and the Nigerian government.

Reacting to the judgment, the Nigerian government described the award as a conspiracy to cause economic damage to Nigeria.

On behalf of the government, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said the government has resolved to probe the contract with a view to bringing suspected collaborator and conspirators to account.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Adedamola Kuti, has said that traffic arrangements were ongoing to begin another phase of major repair on the Third Mainland Bridge.

Kuti told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that results of investigative tests on the bridge were ready and that contractors would move to site at the completion of the traffic management architecture.

“We are also going to repair some of the piles or pillars carrying the bridge; that is the next phase that we are doing; so work will soon begin on Third Mainland Bridge,’’ he said.

“Work is ongoing on the Dorman Long Bridge, you can drive smoothly on it now and all the guard rails and expansion joints are being replaced.

According to him, although procurement issues affected project delivery, there are enough materials from Alaka Bridge expansion joint works to repair adjoining bridges on the Apapa-Ijora axis.

If you are coming in from Surulere and going to Alaka, the intersection is between Iganmu and Eko Bridge, I gave instruction to fix it.

“Also, at the intersection outwards Apapa and inwards Apapa from Costain area, there is a very bad expansion joint, I just gave instruction to fix it,” Kuti said.

Suspected militiamen have attacked a community in Taraba State.

Residents said the attackers were from Benue State, suggesting it was part of the raging Tiv-Junkun violence.

Locals told PREMIUM TIMES that the attackers entered Takum on Sunday morning and opened fire on residents, leaving dozens dead.

The death toll was still being determined by the police and emergency officials as of Sunday night, but a member of the local vigilante group told PREMIUM TIMES that 14 residents were killed.

About 20 militiamen were also reportedly gunned down after Takum residents pursued them into the bush to ward off the attack, the local vigilante member told PREMIUM TIMES under anonymity because they had been warned by the police not to speak to the media.

“The attack occurred in the morning and security agents were deployed there,” Taraba police spokesperson, David Misal, told PREMIUM TIMES Sunday night. “They have been combing the area to flush out any attackers who may be hiding nearby.”

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), BudgIT, Enough is Enough (EiE) and 6,721 concerned Nigerians have filed a lawsuit asking the Federal High Court to restrain, prevent and stop the National Assembly Service Commission from paying or releasing the sum of N5.550 billion budgeted for purchase of luxury cars for principal members of the ninth Senate.

In suit number FHC/L/CS/1511/2019 filed at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi Lagos, the plaintiffs argued that the proposed spending negates the constitutional oath of office made by members to perform their functions in the interest of the well-being and prosperity of Nigeria and its citizens, as contained in the Seventh Schedule of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended).

The plaintiffs also argued: “The proposed spending by the ninth Senate raises pertinent questions: What is the economic value and contribution of the vehicles sought to be purchased to the grand scheme of Nigeria’s economy?

“We urge the court to grant the plaintiffs’ reliefs by stopping the spending of N5.550 billion on luxury cars by the Senate and compelling the Senate to undertake a downward review of the sum proposed and budgeted, consistent with the provisions of section 57[4] of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

Two people have died and five others are missing, feared dead, after a flash flood on September 1 at Kenya’s Hell’s Gate national park, the Kenyan Wildlife Service said.

“The victims are five Kenyans, local tourist guide and a non-resident (foreigner),” the KWS posted on its Twitter account. “Two bodies recovered while five bodies missing.” A KWS official earlier told that search and rescue work had been suspended for the night.

The missing were part of a 12-strong group visiting Hell’s Gate — where the 2003 film “Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life” was shot — when they were swept away.

Two survivors from the group alerted park rangers, who sent out a search party. There was no sign of the others, Rift Valley police chief Marcus Ochola told.

Media captionDorian, the second-strongest Atlantic hurricane on record, hits the Bahamas

The most powerful storm to hit the Caribbean islands of the Bahamas since records began has torn roofs from buildings and caused severe flooding.

The slow-moving, category five Dorian – the second-strongest Atlantic hurricane on record – has sustained winds of up to 180mph (285km/h).

A “life-threatening” storm surge of 23ft (7m) is predicted in places.

The hurricane is moving slowly westwards and may hit areas of the eastern US seaboard.

The US states of Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina have all declared states of emergency.

Nine people were killed when an air-ambulance plane crashed at a resort area near the Philippine capital on Sunday, sparking a fierce blaze and sending terrified locals fleeing, authorities said.

After dousing the blaze, rescuers found nine bodies in the smoking ruins — believed to be those aboard the King Air 350 light aircraft.

“No one will survive this crash. We assume that all confirmed passengers of this plane are dead,” local emergency official Jeffrey Rodriguez told AFP.

Police said two people on the ground were injured in the crash and rushed to the hospital, but have not reported any fatalities from those who were in the resort area when the plane went down.

Philippine aviation authorities said the plane was carrying a patient and medical team from the nation’s south to Manila when it disappeared from radar about 25 nautical miles (46 kilometres) from the capital.

The area where the plane crashed is home to numerous resorts that are packed with visitors during the hottest months.

Big Brother Naija, BBNaija, housemate, Tacha on Wednesday, publicly apologized to organisers of reality show for her misconducts in the house.

Tacha also apologised to official host of BBNaija 2019, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu for her past actions in the house.

Kneeling in the diary room, Tacha begged Big Brother to forgive her on Wednesday night.

“This is my life, this is a huge platform and I don’t want to be out of the house by disqualification.

“Please forgive me, I promise I will never consciously and subconsciously disrespect you and Ebuka.

“I’m very very sorry in any type of way and I’m not trying to defend any of my actions. My apologies to Ebuka and everybody out there and authorities.

“Please forgive me Biggie, I’m growing and learning .The house is a social experiment and I’m learning everyday,” Tacha said .