Author: Opalim Lifted

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 15 suspects, including 14 Chinese nationals and one Nigerian, at four illegal lithium processing plants in Ogun State. The suspects were arrested by operatives of the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 in the Ogere area on Friday, October 23, 2026. In a statement issued by the commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Monday, the arrests followed credible intelligence and surveillance. Items recovered from suspects The EFCC said its operatives recovered bags of lithium rocks, 18 mobile devices, four laptop computers, two decoders, a television remote control and a…

Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has demanded that President Bola Tinubu explain the reported distribution of 2026-model luxury SUVs to youth leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Atiku said distributing luxury vehicles at a time when Nigerians are grappling with economic hardship raises fundamental questions about national priorities and the source of funding. Reacting on Monday through Phrank Shaibu, director of strategic communications for the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku called for a transparent public account of the purchases. “The APC National Youth Leader says these vehicles were donated by First Lady…

A three-year-old football player identified as Nevada has gone viral after his family alleged that police escorted them from a football field in Winter Park, Florida, following complaints about the toddler’s performance. According to the family, Nevada was playing in an i9 Sports youth football league against children aged five when the incident occurred. His family claimed that parents of opposing players complained that their children struggled to take the ball away from the toddler because of his impressive football skills. The dispute reportedly escalated, with the family alleging that the league removed Nevada from the programme and issued a…

An investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) denied issuing certificates allegedly presented by Uche Nnaji to the Senate during his ministerial screening in 2023. Yakubu Ibrahim, a superintendent of police and the first prosecution witness, testified on Monday during the trial of the former minister of innovation, science and technology, who is facing a six-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, fraud and the provision of false information. Ibrahim said the ICPC investigated…

Former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has proposed a 10-year artificial intelligence (AI) development plan to transform Ikenne, Ogun State, into a centre of technological innovation in Africa. The proposed initiative, tagged the Ikenne 2036 Plan, aims to build on the educational legacy of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo by promoting artificial intelligence, robotics and technology-driven education. Osinbajo presented the proposal on Friday while delivering a lecture titled, “Ikenne, a Small Town, a Great Inheritance and an Even Greater Future”, at the 50th Ereke Day anniversary organised by the Ikenne Development Association. He said Ikenne’s relatively small geographical size should…

Nigeria’s index Ebola case has been evacuated to Switzerland for further treatment. The 42-year-old woman, who was diagnosed with the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease, was airlifted aboard a medical aircraft from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at about 6 am on Monday. The patient, who is the wife of a Swiss diplomat, was conveyed from the Abuja city centre in an ambulance convoy, with diplomatic vehicles entering the airport’s private jet area. The development comes as health authorities intensify contact tracing, with 53 contacts linked to the confirmed case identified and isolated. Ali Pate, coordinating minister…

Dayo Israel, national youth leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has faced social media criticism after announcing that he distributed brand-new 2026 Toyota Prado SUVs to selected youth leaders for election mobilisation. Israel disclosed the distribution in a now-deleted post on Sunday, in which he thanked Oluremi Tinubu, wife of President Bola Tinubu, for supporting the party structure under his leadership. “Today, I presented brand new 2026 Prado to my committed selected youth leaders to aid their election mobilisation activities. I am grateful to my Mummy, H.E Mrs Oluremi Tinubu for her continuous support to the party structure under…

Kamene Okonjo, mother of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has died at the age of 96. Kamene, a professor of sociology and advocate for women’s rights, died on Friday, according to reports citing a statement issued by the Umu Obi Obahai royal family of the Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom in Delta State. In a post on her official X account on Sunday, Okonjo-Iweala thanked friends and followers for their messages of condolence and support for her family. “Today, I have been overwhelmed with messages of condolences and tributes to my wonderful mother,” she wrote. “I just want to…

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has urged Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tunji Disu to order unannounced inspections of police stations nationwide over allegations that officers extort detainees and their relatives to secure bail. The association also called for a dedicated complaints line in the IGP’s office to enable Nigerians to report extortion, arbitrary arrests, unlawful detention and other forms of police misconduct. In a statement on Sunday, signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA said the police leadership must move beyond public assurances that bail is free and take concrete action against alleged extortion. It urged…

Terrorists on motorcycles stormed a rural Nigerian village and killed at least 20 people, survivors told AFP on Saturday, in the latest attack in the country’s north-east. The attackers opened fire shortly after Friday prayers in Binnari, a rural village in Taraba State, residents said. North-eastern Nigeria is home to a long-running jihadist insurgency, although Taraba, located towards the centre of the country, also faces attacks by non-ideological “bandit” gangs. Bandits raid villages, kidnap people for ransom and impose “taxes” on farmers and miners in rural areas with little state presence. “People were running in different directions to escape the…