Author: Opalim Lifted

Former lawmaker Farouk Lawan has expressed deep gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for granting him a presidential pardon, describing the gesture as an act of “fatherly compassion” that has renewed his hope. Lawan, who represented the Bagwai/Shanono constituency of Kano State in the House of Representatives, was among several individuals pardoned by President Tinubu on Thursday. The former legislator gained national attention in 2012 after a leaked video showed him allegedly accepting cash bribes from billionaire businessman Femi Otedola during the investigation into the petrol subsidy fraud. He was accused of demanding $3 million to remove Otedola’s company, Zenon Petroleum…

Nigerian gospel singer, Tim Godfrey, has criticised the way gospel artistes are treated in the country, recalling how he once received bars of yams and a live chicken as payment for his performance. The singer made the remarks in a video that started trending on Thursday, expressing frustration over what he described as the unfair treatment of gospel singers in Nigeria. According to him, returning to Nigeria became difficult because of the way event organisers and audiences undervalue the efforts of gospel artistes. He said, “Coming to Nigeria became difficult because of how artists are being treated so badly. All…

Ireti Doyle, the Nollywood actress, has lamented that social media “is becoming too toxic” for her. The 58-year-old film star, who hasn’t been active on the social media platforms in the past weeks took Instagram to explain her reasons for the absence. Doyle also reflected on her transition into the phase of life known as being an “empty nester” — a parent whose children have grown and left home. “I used to wonder what I’d do with myself once I become an ‘empty nester’… now I know. Had to disappear again. The streets of social media (nay, the world in…

Former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), and erstwhile Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, have called for a fundamental reform of Nigeria’s legal education, political culture, and ethical foundations, warning that the nation’s progress is being stifled by moral decadence and colonial legacies. They spoke yesterday at the 2025 Annual Law Lecture of the Faculty of Law, Kwara State University (KWASU), Ilorin, in honour of renowned legal scholar and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Yusuf Olaolu Ali (SAN). The lecture, titled: ‘Decolonising Legal Briefs: Towards Effective Implementation of the Local Content Law for the Benefit…

Nigerians have raised concerns over President Bola Tinubu’s role in the appointment of Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). On Thursday, President Tinubu nominated Amupitan to succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure ended in October 2025. The National Council of State subsequently approved Amupitan’s nomination, representing the North-Central region. However, many Nigerians have taken to X to question the president’s involvement in the appointment process. DJOkayMegamixer wrote: “On Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, becoming the next INEC Chair, Nigeria deserves an electoral process where competitors never pick the umpire. Framing the…

Tottenham Hotspur’s majority owners have injected £100m of new capital into the club. Spurs say the investment will “further strengthen the club’s financial position and equip the club’s leadership team with additional resources to continue the focus on driving long-term sporting success”. Investment group Enic, which is run by the Lewis Family Trust, owns a majority 86.58% of Tottenham, while the remaining 13.42% is owned by a group of minority investors. Former chairman Daniel Levy owns 29.88% of Enic, but does not have any direct involvement with the club after stepping down from his position in September. The majority of…

Ruben Amorim has been given three years to prove himself at Manchester United after co-owner Jim Ratcliffe insisted he will not make a knee-jerk decision about the under-fire manager’s future. Amorim has endured constant speculation that he faces the sack throughout this season as United lurched from one crisis to another. The former Sporting Lisbon boss, who was hired by Ratcliffe in November 2024, admitted earlier this term that he had considered quitting during United’s darkest moments. Amorim’s side finished 15th in the Premier League last season — their lowest final top-flight position since 1973-74 — and squandered a chance…

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has revealed that international bilateral customers currently owe Nigeria’s electricity generation companies (GenCos) a total of $8.5 million. In its latest quarterly report, the commission said the companies made a payment of $9.015 million from an invoice of $17.54 million issued to them in the second quarter (Q2) of 2025. The NERC said some of the organisations are Benin Republic’s Société Béninoise d’Énergie Électrique (SBEE), Togo’s Compagnie Energie Electrique du Togo (CEET), and Niger’s Nigerian Electricity Company (NIGELEC). According to the report, NIGELEC paid $2.59 million out of its $3.71 million invoice, while CEET…

Nigeria’s women’s rugby league team, the Green Falcons, made a strong statement in their build-up to the upcoming World Rugby Series in Canada, defeating Ghana’s Leopards 40–0 in the opening game of their international friendly series at the Alaro City Rugby Pitch, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos. The encounter, which marked Day One of the two-match friendly series, saw the Falcons dominate all aspects of play with tactical discipline, speed, and physical superiority, earning a comprehensive victory before a lively Lagos crowd. Nigeria took early control of the match through Vera, who powered across the line for the opening try. Rukky followed soon…

Many desire the crown and its glory but fail to embrace the responsibility and weight that come with it. Leadership is not a game of excuses, my friends. Too often, this is our reality especially in Nigeria, where the stories are always the same: predecessors are blamed, the opposition is accused, or the citizens are labeled as the problem. A fitting example is the Ministry of Interior. In previous years, little was known about its work beyond the announcement of public holidays. That narrative changed with the appointment of Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo as Minister of Interior. Through deliberate action and…