Author: Opalim Lifted

The Rivers state house of assembly has addressed Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, as “madam”. On Thursday, the state parliament commenced impeachment proceedings against the governor. The lawmakers launched the process after Major Jack, leader of the assembly, read gross misconduct charges against Fubara, signed by 26 members of the house. Thereafter, Martin Amaewhule , the speaker, said the notice of gross misconduct would be served on the governor within the next seven days, as required by law. The state assembly later served Fubara with the notice of gross misconduct but addressed him as “madam”. Fayose says ‘I never…

The Federal Government has finalised arrangements to officially execute the proposed 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff, with a formal agreement to be signed with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). In a circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Education, all Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of federal universities were invited to attend the signing ceremony between the Federal Government and ASUU. The ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., at the Conference Hall of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Abuja. The document, with reference number FME/IS/UNI/ASUU/C.11/Vol.V/82 and dated January 5, 2026, was…

Nigeria’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said the credibility of the 2027 general election will largely hinge on its ability to win the confidence of millions of young Nigerians who will be voting for the first time. INEC chairman, Joash Amupitan, made this known in Lagos while delivering his opening address at the commission’s 2026 induction and strategic retreat for national commissioners, resident electoral commissioners and senior officials. According to Amupitan, the 2027 polls will be shaped by a new generation of voters — digitally savvy young Nigerians who are deeply sceptical of institutions and demand…

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “over the failure to account for the missing or diverted N55.9 billion meant for the purchase of smart card readers, ballot papers, result sheets and other election materials for the 2019 general elections.” The grave allegations are documented in the latest annual report published by the Auditor-General on 9 September 2025. In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/38/2026 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel INEC to account for the missing…

For decades, successive Nigerian governments have pledged to build a competitive industrial economy. Yet the performance of the manufacturing sector tells a far less optimistic story. Despite its central role in job creation, economic diversification and export growth, manufacturing continues to operate well below capacity, reinforcing stakeholders’ claims that official commitment to the sector has largely been rhetorical rather than practical. Industry players argue that the much-publicised Nigeria First policy of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, alongside two earlier executive orders designed to boost local production, have delivered little measurable impact. Instead, the sector remains constrained by weak policy execution, high…

Mohamed Salah was once again on the scoresheet as Egypt beat holders Ivory Coast in an enthralling and action-packed quarter-final at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). After Omar Marmoush slotted the Pharaohs ahead after just four minutes, the North Africans were never behind in the game. But Emerse Fae’s Elephants are known for their resilience and refused to let their opponents blow them away despite Ramy Rabia’s header giving Egypt a 2-0 lead just after the half hour. Ahmed Fatouh’s own goal gave the Ivorians hope before half-time, but Salah quickly restored a two-goal cushion for the record…

Ifeanyi Festus, a personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), has been accused of abducting and defiling a minor (name withheld). In a petition dated January 4 and submitted at the DSS headquarters, the family of the girl, through their lawyers at Gamji Lawchain, said their daughter went missing in November 2023 in Hadejia, Jigawa state. The family stated in the petition that efforts to find their daughter, who was 16 years old at the time, were futile. The incident led to the death of the girl’s mother who was said to have suffered psychological trauma due to the…

Habeeb ‘Peller’ Hamzat, the TikTok content creator, has vowed never to date or marry a Nigerian woman. The stance comes months after Amadou Elizabeth, the content creator popularly known as Jarvis or Jadrolita, confirmed that her relationship with Peller had ended. Their romance had drawn widespread attention online, marked by public disagreements and repeated breakup threats. In a TikTok live session, Peller finally confirmed that his relationship had ended and said he has no intention of dating or marrying a Nigerian in the future. Peller said he is now interested in marrying a woman from another country he recently saw…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Kavlak Onal, a citizen of Austria, for allegedly failing to declare the cash sum of $800,575 and €651,505 at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. Onal was arraigned on Friday before Yellim Bogoro, a judge at the federal high court in Lagos, on a two count-charge. “That you, Mr. Kavlak Onal, on the 13th December, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to make a declaration of the sum of $800,575 (Eight Hundred Thousand, Five Hundred United States Dollars) to the Nigeria Customs Service at the Murtala…

Pope Leo XIV stressed the importance of listening to victims of clerical sex abuse during a meeting with cardinals from around the world this week, according to comments released Saturday. In a speech concluding the two-day, closed-door consistory, the US pope said the abuse of children and vulnerable adults by priests was still a “wound” in the Catholic Church. “Listening is profoundly important,” Leo said, according to a Vatican transcript, adding: “We cannot close our eyes, nor our hearts.” He noted that abuse was not a specific topic for discussion during the consistory, his first since taking over as head…