Author: Opalim Lifted

The south east caucus in the house of representatives has asked President Bola Tinubu to grant clemency to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who was recently convicted of terrorism offences. Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment last week after he was found guilty on five of the seven terrorism charges filed against him by the federal government. Before the judgement, James Omotosho, the presiding judge, ordered Kanu out of the courtroom over what he described as “unruly conduct.” Hours after the sentence, Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s counsel, said on X that his client had been transferred…

The recent passing of Jimmy Cliff has renewed attention on the life and experiences of the Jamaican reggae legend — including his “bitter-sweet experience” during his first visit to Nigeria decades ago. In a July 2012 interview with The Arts Desk, the 81-year-old recalled the sweet part of his trip, explaining that upon his arrival in Nigeria, thousands of fans were at the airport to welcome him, lining the streets all the way to his hotel. “My first trip to Africa was Nigeria. It was a bitter-sweet experience. Sweet because of the thousands of people at the airport awaiting me,”…

Jimmy Cliff, the legendary Jamaican singer and a pivotal figure in bringing reggae music to the world, has died at the age of 81. His death was confirmed by his wife, Latifa Chambers, in an Instagram post on Monday. According to the announcement, the iconic musician passed away after suffering a seizure linked to a battle with pneumonia, an infection that causes inflammation in the lungs. She expressed gratitude to the veteran’s friends, fans, and medical team, saying their support had been a source of strength throughout his career and a comfort to her and their children during this “difficult…

The ongoing trial of former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, took a dramatic turn on Monday, as the third prosecution witness told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the Mambilla power project contract document was forged. Agunloye is standing trial on an amended seven-count charge bordering on official corruption and the fraudulent award of the $6 billion Mambilla Power Project contract to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL). Testifying before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, prosecution witness three, Umar Hussein Babangida, said the investigative team discovered that Agunloye allegedly issued a fake contract award letter dated 22 May…

The Nigerian Army (NA) has announced the release of the list of shortlisted candidates for the Short Service Combatant Commission Course 49/2026 Selection Board. The Army secretary disclosed in a statement on Monday. According to the statement, shortlisted candidates are to report to the Nigerian Defence Academy, Ribadu Campus, Kaduna State, on December 1, 2025 “The shortlisted candidates are to report to the Nigerian Defence Academy Ribadu Campus (Old Site), Kaduna State on 1 December 2025. “Candidates are advised to be in Kaduna on 30 November 2025 and report to the Selection Board venue between 6 am 11 am on…

The United Kingdom has turned down the Nigerian government’s bid to have former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu transferred home to complete his prison sentence. Ekweremadu is serving nine years and eight months in a UK prison after being convicted in March 2023 for conspiring to traffic a young man to London for the purpose of harvesting his kidney — a historic conviction under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act. Earlier in November, President Bola Tinubu dispatched a high-powered delegation to London, led by Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar and Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi, to negotiate Ekweremadu’s transfer. But the UK Guardian…

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has renewed its pressure on the Federal Government to dismiss the newly appointed chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),  Professor Joash Amupitan. The group claims he authored a legal brief sent to the United States which alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria. In a statement released on Monday, the Executive Director of the organisation, Professor Ishaq Akintola, questioned why the government had taken no action three weeks after the accusation came to light. Akintola said the issue remained unresolved and warned that silence from authorities risked further tension. He noted that several Islamic bodies,…

The Federal High Court in Abuja has again delayed the trial of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, shifting proceedings to 4 February 2026 after the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, was unavailable on Monday. The case had been fixed for hearing, but the judge’s absence meant no progress could be made. The matter has faced repeated disruptions. It earlier failed to sit on 21 October following a protest led by activist Omoyele Sowore, who demanded the release of Nnamdi Kanu after his recent terrorism conviction. Justice Umar had initially set that date during a September session in which the trial stalled over…

Paystack, the Nigerian payment startup, has sacked Ezra Olubi, its co-founder and chief technology officer, over allegations of workplace sexual misconduct. The controversy began when Max ‘Makispoke’ Obae hosted an X Space titled ‘My Piece’, accusing Olubi of misogyny and recounting their troubled past. Her claims sparked reactions on X, prompting users to unearth old, disturbing tweets from Olubi’s account. The backlash intensified as the resurfaced posts, containing sexually explicit and alarming statements, fuelled accusations of misogyny, pedophilia, bestiality, and predatory behaviour. Paystack initially suspended Olubi on November 12 following the launch of a formal investigation into the issue. However,…

Former Labour Party Peter Obi has said that Nigeria’s low life expectancy is a direct consequence of leadership failures, arguing that governance shortcomings are responsible for the country’s declining health sector. Speaking at the 2025 Leadership Forum Conference at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Obi said Nigeria’s average life expectancy, currently placed at about 55 years by recent global estimates, reflects systemic neglect of healthcare, education and human capital development. According to him, the country’s performance in health and welfare remains the weakest among nations with similar resources. “Our low life expectancy is not because Nigerians are naturally predisposed…