Author: Opalim Lifted

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, has claimed he rejected a private apology from Al Jazeera over his controversial interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan, insisting the broadcaster should have apologised publicly. Speaking on The Morayo Show, Bwala said the matter is now before a court in England, where his legal team is pursuing what they describe as a defamation case. According to Bwala, the broadcaster admitted it should have informed him in advance that the interview would focus heavily on his past criticisms of President Bola Tinubu and his subsequent support for the president. “They…

MultiChoice has officially become a full subsidiary of French media giant Canal+, marking a major milestone in the evolution of one of Africa’s largest pay television companies. The announcement was made on Thursday by David Mignot, Chief Executive Officer of Canal+ Africa, who said the integration ushers MultiChoice into a new chapter as part of a global media group. “MultiChoice is now a full subsidiary of a truly international media group operating in 70 countries,” Mignot said. He noted that Canal+, founded in France and listed on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges, has a strong presence across Africa with…

Ahmed Dikko, former managing director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), has pleaded not guilty to a 12-count money laundering charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Dikko was arraigned before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday alongside Masterpiece Projects & Investment Ltd, the second defendant in the case. The EFCC alleged, among other counts, that the former PHRC managing director used about N218.4 million to acquire a property in Katampe Extension, Abuja, without passing the funds through a financial institution, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and…

Weekly protests by South African civil society groups demanding the removal of undocumented foreign nationals have escalated into violence, with reports of assaults, forced evictions and attacks on street traders. The demonstrations, led by March and March, the Labour and Civic Organisation (Laco), the All Truck Drivers Forum and other groups, entered their second week on Thursday. Speaking during a march in Alexandra, community leader Bongani Msomi said protesters were moving from house to house in search of undocumented foreigners. “We are walking around doing door to door removing foreigners,” he said. According to Daily Maverick, the demonstrations turned violent…

Cynthia Anijekwu, an upcoming Nigerian actress, says she has received over N13 million in donations just days after making a public appeal for financial support to cover her cancer treatment. In a video posted by colleague Destiny Etiko on Instagram on Monday, Anijekwu revealed that she was diagnosed with cancer in 2023 and underwent surgery, but the disease later returned and has since spread to her bones and breast. She disclosed that her monthly treatment costs now exceed N600,000 and appealed to Nigerians to help her raise N20 million for radiation therapy, surgery, and other medical expenses. “I was diagnosed…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reaffirmed that the standard N100 banknote remains legal tender and must be accepted for all transactions across the country. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the CBN’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi-Ali, said the bank had received reports that some individuals and businesses were rejecting the standard N100 note over doubts about its validity. The apex bank clarified that both the standard N100 banknote and the commemorative N100 banknote introduced to mark Nigeria’s centenary are valid legal tender. “For the avoidance of doubt, the CBN hereby reiterates that both the commemorative…

The number of confirmed Ebola cases in DR Congo has increased to 1,708, with 580 people losing their lives since the outbreak was declared, according to the latest figures released by the Congolese government. The update, issued on Wednesday, showed that 280 patients have recovered from the disease, while 680 others remain hospitalised. Health authorities said they are monitoring contacts and patients at a follow-up rate of 75.2 per cent across Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. The outbreak continues to spread in eastern DR Congo, where years of armed conflict and mass displacement have complicated disease control efforts.…

Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-styled director-general of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), says he has never physically met Femi Gbajabiamila and is unsure of the chief of staff’s role in his controversial appointment. In June, the Presidency distanced itself from the PFIPC and Adeyemi, insisting that the organisation does not exist under the current administration. In a statement, Gbajabiamila said his office did not appoint Adeyemi to any position in the organisation. However, at a press conference on June 26, Adeyemi questioned Gbajabiamila’s June 11 disclaimer. On July 7, Gbajabiamila threatened to file a N10 billion defamation suit against…

The Federal Capital Territory  High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has found the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) liable for defaming former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye, over a social media publication alleging he was involved in a “$6 billion fraud”. Justice Peter Kekemeke ruled that the EFCC’s publication, titled “EFCC arraigns Agunloye over $6 billion fraud”, was false and defamatory, holding that it damaged the former minister’s reputation. Agunloye had filed the suit, marked FCT/HC/CV/1199/2024, arguing that the publication on the EFCC’s official website and X account portrayed him as a corrupt and fraudulent individual, thereby tarnishing his reputation.…

Proceedings in the House of Representatives turned rowdy on Wednesday as lawmakers disagreed over a motion seeking to summon President Bola Tinubu. During plenary, Benedict Etanabene, the lawmaker representing the Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency in Delta State, raised a point of privilege to draw the attention of the House to a June 29 circular issued by Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, the Accountant-General of the Federation. In the memo, Ogunjimi directed all federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to immediately stop processing payments for constituency and zonal intervention projects (ZIPs) unless they have been formally vetted by the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental…