Author: Opalim Lifted

An Arik Air Boeing 737-700 aircraft operating Lagos to Port Harcourt flight on Wednesday diverted to Benin airport after the crew “heard a loud bang from the left engine”. In a statement, Arik Air said the aircraft, operating flight W3-740 with registration 5N-MJF, was descending into Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, when the incident occurred. The airline added that as a precautionary measure, the flight crew diverted to Benin. “There were no injuries to passengers and crew as all 80 passengers on board were safely disembarked. Arrangements have been made to transport the affected passengers to their final destination,” Arik…

In a landmark ruling against transnational cybercrime, the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has sentenced two Chinese nationals to 46 years’ imprisonment each over a massive cryptocurrency fraud and money laundering operation. Justice Daniel Osiagor delivered the judgment on Wednesday, convicting Huang Haoyu, also known as Ken, and An Hongxu, both directors of Genting International Co. Limited. The court found them guilty of laundering more than N3.4 billion and handling over $2.5 million in USDT (Tether) through fraudulent channels. The sentencing followed a dramatic shift in the trial when the defendants changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty.…

The Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Bello, has revealed that human traffickers have now upped their game targeting youth with tech skills for cyber enabled crimes. The DG made the revelation following the rescue of 23 suspected victims of human trafficking in Thailand just weeks after she vowed to intensify the fight against human traffickers, upscaling the agency’s strategic and deepening collaboration to combat trafficking targeting vulnerable Nigerians. She explained that 23 suspected victims were rescued and repatriated back to Nigeria in a significant operation, a collaboration between Nigeria, Myanmar…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Tuesday paid a visit to former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (Rtd), at his Hilltop residence in Minna, the Niger State capital. Atiku arrived at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport, Minna, alongside some chieftains of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), including the Assistant National Youth Leader, North Central, Hassana Shuibu Dada. He then proceeded directly to Babangida’s residence. Similarly, Governor Makinde arrived at Babangida’s residence a few minutes after Atiku. Details of the closed-door meeting between the leaders remain sketchy, but it may not be…

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has fixed February 12, 2026, to hear multiple suits challenging the legality of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State. A three-member panel of the court, led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, will hear eight separate appeals questioning the validity of the convention that produced the Tanimu Turaki–led National Working Committee (NWC). The appeals stem from conflicting judgments delivered by three judges of the Federal High Court and one judge of a State High Court. In November 2025, a faction of the PDP held…

Yusuf Buhari, son of Nigeria’s late President Muhammadu Buhari, has opened up about the dramatic shift in his daily life after his father left office. “After Goodluck Jonathan called my dad to congratulate him on his election victory, I used to receive up to 2,000 calls a day. The calls came as early as 4 a.m., from old classmates, acquaintances, extended family, and even former staff who had once worked for our family. There were also numerous callers with vague, untraceable reasons, which my assistant politely handled,” Yusuf revealed. “But once my father handed over power to His Excellency Bola…

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reduced its gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, by N25 per litre, lowering its depot/gantry rate from N799 to N774 per litre. The Group Commercial Operations Department of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE announced the reduction on Tuesday night through a circular shared on its official X account. According to the company, the new rate takes immediate effect nationwide. “This is to notify you of a change in our PMS gantry price from N799 per litre to N774 per litre,” the circular stated. The refinery explained that the adjustment strengthens…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has permitted licensed Bureau De Change (BDC) operators to access foreign exchange from the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) through authorised dealer banks. The CBN announced this on Tuesday in a circular signed by Musa Narkoji, Director of the Trade and Exchange Department, and addressed to all authorised dealer banks and the general public. The apex bank stated that all BDCs duly licensed by the bank can now purchase foreign exchange from the NFEM through any authorised dealer of their choice at the prevailing market rate. According to the circular, the move is aimed…

Andrey Podyelyshev, the Russian ambassador to Nigeria, has dismissed reports alleging the conscription of Nigerians to fight in Ukraine. Last week, a CNN investigation revealed how Africans from Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda were reportedly lured to Russia under the guise of civilian job offers such as drivers or security guards. Most said they were promised a signing bonus of $13,000, monthly salaries of up to $3,500, and Russian citizenship at the end of their service. However, upon arriving in Russia, they were allegedly forced into the military and given little training before being deployed to the frontline. They were…

Tottenham Hotspur have sacked manager Thomas Frank after just eight months in charge, with the club drifting dangerously close to the Premier League relegation zone. Spurs confirmed the decision in a statement on Wednesday following a dismal run of results that left the north London side 16th in the table, just five points above the drop zone. Pressure had been building on Frank for weeks, but Tuesday’s 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United proved decisive. The loss was Tottenham’s 11th in 26 league matches this season and their seventh home defeat in the Premier League campaign. Board Loses Patience “Thomas…