Author: Opalim Lifted

Former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and his family’s ongoing N8.7 billion money laundering trial was stalled on Friday following the absence of his lawyer in court. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Malami alongside his wife, Hajiya Asabe Bashir, and son, Abdulaziz Malami, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik at the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged money laundering offences amounting to N8.7 billion. The matter, scheduled for continuation of trial, could not proceed after Malami’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, failed to appear in court. Although counsel to the EFCC, Jibrin Okutepa, was present alongside the…

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has approved nearly ₦1 billion to clear outstanding salary arrears and allowances owed to judiciary staff, in what officials describe as a renewed push to strengthen welfare and institutional stability in the justice sector. The governor made the announcement while receiving the leadership of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Kaduna State chapter, on a courtesy visit at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House. Discussions focused on improving conditions of service and reinforcing the judiciary’s role in democratic governance. The delegation, led by its chairman, Auwalu Sarki, raised concerns affecting judiciary workers while expressing appreciation…

Mixed reactions from Nigerians have trailed the appointment of Segun Aina by President Bola Tinubu as the new registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board), succeeding Professor Is-haq Oloyede, whose second and final tenure ends on July 31, 2026. Segun Aina, who turns 40 in July, is a renowned academic and systems engineering expert with extensive experience in examination administration, digital infrastructure, and public sector reform. The Presidency said this exposure shaped his long-standing contributions to examination reform and institutional systems optimisation. Tinubu expressed confidence that the new registrar would deploy his experience and…

Police tactical teams carried out a major operation in downtown St. John’s on Thursday morning after surrounding a home on Spencer Street as part of an ongoing weapons and drug investigation. The operation began at about 11:30 a.m. when officers from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Emergency Response Team, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Tactics and Rescue Unit, K9 officers, and an RCMP Tactical Armoured Vehicle converged on the property. Authorities shut down the street as officers moved in. Police used the armoured vehicle’s breaching ram to force entry through the front door and also smashed a lower-level window during the…

The Nigeria Police Force has commenced disciplinary action against Newton Isokpehi, an officer who threatened to kill anyone who filmed him while on duty. In a viral video, Isokpehi threatened to shoot passengers in a bus if anyone recorded him while he was on duty. He claimed to have served for 26 years and lamented poor working conditions in the force. “Any day I’m on duty as an officer while holding my rifle, let someone video me,” he warned. “That oga who gave the order that police officers should be filmed will do your burial. I will kill anyone who…

Phil Foden and Cole Palmer are set to miss out when Thomas Tuchel names his 26-man England squad on Friday for this summer’s World Cup. Manchester United defender Harry Maguire will also be left out, with the 33-year-old saying he is “shocked and gutted” at the decision. Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins is set to be included – after helping his side win the Europa League on Wednesday – alongside Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney, who has scored 32 goals in 32 games in the Saudi Arabian league this season Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White is set to miss out, despite…

Former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has dismissed allegations that he is secretly working for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Kwankwaso made the remarks during an interview on Global TV on Wednesday night, where he described the claims as false and politically motivated. The allegations were earlier raised by Sanusi Bature, spokesperson to Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, who claimed the former NNPP leader had indirectly supported Tinubu since the 2023 elections. Bature also alleged that Kwankwaso recently attempted to arrange a direct meeting with the president, though the meeting reportedly did not…

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has called for the arrest and prosecution of individuals involved in vote buying, describing it as a criminal offence under the Electoral Act. Amupitan made the call in a video while charging security and anti-corruption agencies to take stronger action against electoral fraud, stressing that institutions such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and the Nigeria Police Force must ensure offenders are brought to justice. “Vote buyers must be arrested and prosecuted. It is a criminal offence under the Electoral Act.…

Sanusi Bature, spokesperson to Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, has alleged that Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), is indirectly advancing President Bola Tinubu’s interests ahead of the 2027 presidential election. In an interview with Arise News on Wednesday, Bature said Kwankwaso may be working behind the scenes in ways that could benefit Tinubu. “There are those who work with Tinubu openly and directly in the public space, and there are those who work for him behind the scenes,” Bature said. “I believe whatever Kwankwaso is doing will ultimately favour Tinubu. Kwankwaso worked for…

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has lamented the growing influence of political thuggery in the country, describing Nigeria as the only nation in Africa where thuggery has evolved into a profession. Jonathan made the remarks on Wednesday during the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Law Week in Abuja, where he called for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s electoral and judicial systems to deepen democracy and restore public trust in elections. The former president warned that political violence and the empowerment of thugs continue to threaten democratic values and weaken institutions across the country. According to him, the level…