Author: Opalim Lifted

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Federal Government and the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately withdraw all charges against journalist and activist Omoyele Sowore, describing them as bogus. SERAP also called on the government to end the continuous harassment and intimidation of Sowore over the peaceful exercise of his human rights. Deputy Director of the group, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the reported decision by the DSS to seek an adjournment of Sowore’s case until after the 2027 presidential election does not address the fundamental issue. According to SERAP, the charges should never have been brought…

The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has demanded an apology from the Department of State Services (DSS) and the withdrawal of the alleged cybercrime case against him. Sowore made the demand during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, where he accused the secret police of subjecting him to a wrongful trial. The development followed a directive by the DSS for its counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, to seek an adjournment of the case until after the 2027 presidential election. Sources familiar with the matter said the move was intended to allow Sowore…

The Department of State Services (DSS) has directed its counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, to seek an adjournment of the alleged cybercrime case against African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, until after the 2027 presidential election. According to a source familiar with the matter, the move is intended to allow Sowore to fully participate in the electioneering process without the court proceedings hindering his political activities. The DSS instituted the case over social media posts in which Sowore described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal”. The posts, published on Sowore’s X account and Facebook page on August 25, 2025,…

As political campaigns for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections gather momentum, a viral message urging voters to reject campaign gifts such as money, rice, spaghetti and other food items has struck a chord with Nigerians. The message calls on politicians to campaign with their records rather than material handouts, urging voters to demand “truth, accountability and real results” instead of promises and speeches. “Don’t allow anybody to come and campaign with money, rice, spaghetti, or taliya,” the message reads. “Let them campaign with what they have truly done for the community — not empty promises and lies.” The message comes as…

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of replacing its genuine candidates for the 2027 Anambra State House of Assembly election with “impostors”. In a statement on Sunday, NDC National Chairman Moses Zuwoghe alleged that 10 names published by INEC were not authorised or submitted by the party. Zuwoghe said the alleged substitutions were particularly troubling because they occurred in Anambra, the home state of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi. He alleged that the names were inserted into INEC’s system without the party’s approval. “I, as Chairman of the Party and custodian of…

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State has called for stronger security around churches and mosques following the abduction of Muslim worshippers in Borgu Local Government Area. Bulus Yohanna, CAN chairman in Niger State and Catholic bishop of Kontagora Diocese, made the call during his homily at St Michael Catholic Cathedral, Kontagora, on Sunday. According to Channels TV, Yohanna urged security agencies to increase protection around places of worship, especially during Friday Juma’at prayers and Sunday services. His call followed the abduction of worshippers in Dekara district of Borgu during Friday prayers on August 21. Suspected terrorists reportedly…

Google Maps has renamed Lake Ontario as “Lake America” for users in the United States, following President Donald Trump’s decision to rename the body of water. The change was visible on Google Maps in the US on Sunday, while users in Canada will continue to see the lake’s traditional name, Lake Ontario. Google said the change reflects the US Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), the federal database used for official geographic names in the United States. “Since we update Google Maps to reflect name changes in official government sources, which is GNIS for the US, people using Maps in the…

The Federal Government has approved N10 billion for the 2026 National Research Fund (NRF) grant cycle of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). TETFund announced the funding in a call for concept notes signed by its Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, on Saturday. The fund will support research projects across 30 priority thematic areas, covering humanities and social sciences, science, engineering, technology and innovation, as well as cross-cutting areas. The 2026 grant cycle follows the completion of the 2025 programme, under which TETFund awarded more than N6.09 billion to 174 research projects. According to TETFund, the application process will begin with…

Chelsea maintained their perfect start to the new Premier League season as they held on to defeat Brighton in an entertaining match at Stamford Bridge. Romeo Lavia’s first goal in a Chelsea shirt handed the Blues a dream start in Xabi Alonso’s first home league game in charge. Brighton were made to pay for a costly error inside four minutes as Mats Wieffer did well on the goalline to block Joao Pedro’s header from a corner but goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen then fumbled to allow an easy tap-in for Lavia. Their lead was doubled 10 minutes later when Morgan Rogers got…

A fire has destroyed several shops and goods at Chida Plaza, a building materials market in Jabi, Abuja. The fire broke out in the early hours of Sunday, prompting traders to rush to the market as they tried to rescue their goods and belongings. Footage from the scene shared by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) showed shop owners removing goods from some affected shops while the fire raged through the plaza. An eyewitness said the alarm was raised at about 3am after his brother-in-law, who owns two shops and a packing store at the plaza, received a distress call from…