Author: Opalim Lifted

Habeeb Okikiola, the controversial singer better known as Portable, has called out his father, alleging parental neglect, theft and financial exploitation. In a recent Instagram live session, the ‘Zazoo Zeh’ hitmaker detailed a history of abandonment, claiming his father failed to provide him with a proper education or vocational training. Portable stated that he was sent away from Abuja and had to pursue tailoring in Lagos independently. The artiste expressed frustration that his father, whom he claimed was absent during his struggles — including times spent in police stations — is now, in his view, overly involved in his personal…

Yomi Gold, the Nollywood actor, has revealed a near-death experience while in Morocco, crediting a swift emergency response for saving his life. The 45-year-old film star collapsed recently in Marrakech after suffering a sudden, severe headache. He was rushed to the hospital and stabilised by an emergency medical team. In a now-deleted video posted to his Instagram on Tuesday, Gold thanked his fans and well-wishers for their support. “A sudden headache nearly took me out, but by God’s mercy and the swift help of the emergency team in Marrakech, I am here resting and recovering,” he wrote. The actor reflected…

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to building a Nigeria that delivers security, opportunity and shared prosperity for all citizens. In a statement reflecting on the past year, Tunji-Ojo described 2025 as a period of far-reaching reforms marked by decisive actions to strengthen institutions under the Interior Ministry and improve service delivery across Nigeria’s paramilitary agencies. He said the reforms were aimed at enhancing operational efficiency while prioritising the welfare and wellbeing of officers tasked with safeguarding the nation. According to the minister, these efforts form part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader agenda to…

The Budget Office of the Federation (BOF) has addressed recent public commentary on the repeal and re-enactment of the 2024 and 2025 Appropriation Acts amid claims of constitutional breaches, fiscal illegality, and denied access to budget documents are unfounded. A statement issued on Tuesday night by the Director-General of Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, explained that Nigeria’s budget processes are governed by the Constitution, fiscal laws, and legislative practice. He clarified key misconceptions and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency. On constitutional and legislative foundation, he stated that Sections 80–84 of the Constitution outline the process, stressing that the President lays estimates…

Peter Gene Hernandez, the American singer popularly known as Bruno Mars, has announced the completion of his fourth studio album. The 40-year-old global superstar broke the news on social media on Monday with a simple and short post that read: “My album is done”. However, the album’s title, tracklist, and release date remain unknown. The announcement marks Mars’s first solo album since the monumental success of his third studio project ’24K Magic’ released in 2016. That album defined a sonic era, spawning a string of hits including ‘That’s What I Like,’ ‘Versace on the Floor,’ ‘Finesse,’ ‘Perm,’ and “Too ‘Good…

Amad Diallo starred as defending champions Ivory Coast cruised past Burkina Faso and into the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. The Manchester United winger put the Elephants ahead in the 20th minute when he bustled past a couple of defenders and sent a dinked finish past goalkeeper Herve Koffi from close range. Twelve minutes later Amad laid on the second for Yan Diomande, who sent a curling finish past the wrongfooted Koffi from just inside the area. Dango Ouattara came close to pulling one back for the Stallions before the break, but his right-footed…

Nottingham Forest fought back from a goal down and scored a dramatic late penalty to claim a vital victory over fellow strugglers West Ham United. Hammers goalkeeper Alphonse Areola conceded the spot-kick when he failed to get to a cross and his fist instead collided with Morgan Gibbs-White’s face, with the decision awarded after an intervention from the video assistant referee (VAR). Gibbs-White then calmly converted the penalty to secure Forest’s first win in five matches, while the Hammers’ winless run stretches to 10 games. The hosts, without a victory since 8 November, took a 13th-minute lead when Crysencio Summerville’s…

Algeria will face Nigeria in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after edging DR Congo 1–0 after extra time in their round-of-16 clash in Rabat on Tuesday. Substitute Anis Boulbina scored the decisive goal in the 119th minute, firing a powerful shot into the top corner to seal victory for Algeria after a tense game that had ended goalless in regulation time. The match produced few clear chances in the opening 90 minutes, with both sides cancelling each other out in midfield. Goalkeepers Luca Zidane of Algeria and Dimitry Mpasi of DR Congo also made key saves…

Former Super Eagles captain and 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner, Segun Odegbami, has attributed Nigeria’s scintillating performances at the ongoing 2025 AFCON to the quality of the football pitches provided by host nation Morocco. After four matches, including three in the group stage, the Super Eagles have maintained a perfect record, winning all four games as they chase a fourth continental title. The latest of those victories was Monday’s emphatic 4–0 win over Mozambique in the round of 16. It was Nigeria’s biggest win at the tournament so far and also the first time they kept a clean sheet.…

An unknown trader has raked in a profit worth about $410,000 after betting that Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro would be ousted from his position. The trader’s account on Polymarket, opens new tab built up positions in contracts tied to Maduro’s removal on terms that implied long odds before the weekend raid. Those wagers, which were worth about $34,000 prior to Maduro’s capture, surged in value after news of the US military operation on the Venezuelan leader emerged, Polymarket data shows. Major stock indexes jumped and oil prices gained earlier on Monday, while energy shares notched big gains after Maduro was…