Author: Opalim Lifted

The trial of a former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), continued on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, before Justice C.O. Agbaza of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, with fresh details on how funds from the Office of the National Security Adviser were allegedly diverted to private beneficiaries. The first prosecution witness, Dr Michael Adariku, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, told the court that between April and May 2015, hundreds of millions of naira were moved from the ONSA account to companies and individuals linked to the second defendant, Aminu Baba Kusa, a…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered N802.42 million from a fraud suspect and handed the funds back to First Bank Nigeria Plc, marking another high-profile restitution by the anti-graft agency. The recovery was carried out by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC on Monday, January 12, 2026. The money was traced to Ojo Eghosa Kingsley, who allegedly took unlawful possession of more than N1.3 billion belonging to the bank following an internal system glitch. According to the EFCC, First Bank petitioned the Commission after discovering that Kingsley’s account had been erroneously credited with the huge sum.…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)has opened its case against Murtala Adebayo over an alleged N19 million land fraud, with the prosecution calling its first witness at the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja. Adebayo was arraigned by the EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 on a three count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence. He is standing trial before Justice Rahman Oshodi, having earlier pleaded not guilty when first arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada. At the resumed hearing on Monday, January 12, 2026, the prosecution presented Abiodun Gafar Ademolade, a businessman, as its first prosecution witness. Ademolade,…

The Olori Ebi Fusengbuwa ruling house and former ICAN President, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, has said that anyone displeased with the selection process for the next Awujale should channel grievances to the government, assuring that the kingmakers will not make any mistakes. Owoyemi spoke on Monday after the completion of the 95 nominations of aspirants for the position of the Awujale in Ijebu-Ode. Owoyemi assured that within a month, Ijebuland would have a king to sit on the Awujale’s stool. He stated that after the due process of nomination and submission of names, the kingmakers would sift through the best candidates…

Armed groups operating in parts of Kano and Katsina states have allegedly imposed illegal farm taxes on farmers, demanding as much as N50,000 per acre from sugarcane growers ahead of harvest, in what residents describe as a creeping takeover of key forest reserves. Reports indicate that the armed actors have entrenched themselves in the Rugu Forest in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State and the Falgore Forest in Doguwa Local Government Area of Kano State. From these bases, they are said to be enforcing a parallel system of governance—collecting levies, issuing threats and punishing defiance. Farmers who refuse to…

Michael Carrick has been to appointed Manchester United interim head coach and former England assistant manager Steve Holland is set to be his number two. Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans and Travis Binnion will also be part of Carrick’s staff. Former United and England midfielder Carrick agreed a deal on Monday night, with an announcement due on Tuesday once the necessary paperwork has been signed. United sacked Ruben Amorim after 14 months on 5 January and Darren Fletcher took charge as caretaker boss for two matches. Carrick will be in the dugout for Saturday’s Premier League derby against Manchester City at…

Peter Obi, 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) and Former Anambra State Governor, has questioned the whereabouts of President Bola Tinubu. In a statement shared on X, Obi questioned Tinubu’s whereabouts, noting that the president spent 196 days abroad in 2025 — more time outside Nigeria than within it— while the country faces “extreme” poverty. Obi said Nigerians have received no direct word from Tinubu since December 2025, with no New Year address or national broadcast to provide reassurance during a period marked by anxiety and uncertainty. “Since December 2025, Nigerians have not heard a word from their President.…

Nigeria is leveraging the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) to translate climate commitments into tangible, fundable projects, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, told newsmen, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). But Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in 2023, Peter Obi, criticised President Bola Tinubu’s absence from the country for the ADSW, insisting that Nigeria cannot be governed from a foreign land. Tuggar explained that the ADSW, coming after the recent global climate summit in Brazil, provided a crucial window to “concretise” agreements reached at the Conference of Parties (COP), preventing them from ending as mere declarations.…

Olori Omooba of Ijebu land and Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde, has written Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, alleging his exclusion from the ongoing selection process for the next Awujale of Ijebu land. In his letter, Ayinde claimed that the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, next in line to produce the Awujale, had been issuing directives that contravene the Chieftaincy Declaration, Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State, noting that the measures were intended to disenfranchise him from contesting for the throne. The allegations were contained in a letter dated January 8, 2026, sent to Governor Abiodun by Ayinde’s lawyer, Dr Wahab…

Alvaro Arbeloa has been appointed as Real Madrid’s new head coach following the club’s decision to part ways with Xabi Alonso by mutual agreement, just one day after a dramatic 3–2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup. Real Madrid confirmed Alonso’s exit on Monday, praising the former midfielder for his service and legacy at the club despite a brief and turbulent spell in charge. In a statement, the club said Alonso would “always have the love and admiration of all Real Madrid fans” and described him as a legend who embodied the club’s values. Arbeloa, a former Real…