Author: Opalim Lifted

The UK’s Home Office has introduced reforms that will require some asylum seekers to pay around £10,000 (about ₦18 million) to become eligible for settlement. The bill was introduced in Parliament on Tuesday and sets out new powers for the Home Office to recover costs from adults who have received asylum support, such as subsistence payments or accommodation, provided they have sufficient funds. Asylum seekers have not typically been required to pay to obtain settlement, and this is not a global norm. However, Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary (not Home Secretary), said asylum seekers in the UK have become a…

Nearly two decades after the death of legendary Ugandan musician Paul Job Kafeero, court-ordered DNA tests have confirmed that only four of the 25 people claiming to be his children are biologically related to him, bringing a major inheritance dispute closer to resolution. The celebrated Kadongo Kamu musician died in 2007 at the age of 36, leaving behind a multi-billion Ugandan shilling estate comprising land, houses and music royalties. Since his death, rival claims over his estate by women and children alleging to be his family have been the subject of prolonged legal battles. According to Ugandan media reports, Kafeero’s…

The Presidency has accused Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi of using forged government documents to mislead the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation into opening a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account for what it described as a fictitious government agency. In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said Adeyemi falsely presented himself as the Director-General of a non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), also referred to as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC). According to the statement, the Office of the Chief of Staff to…

The death toll from flooding in Côte d’Ivoire has risen to 59, more than quadrupling the figure announced earlier on Wednesday. Amadou Coulibaly, the government spokesperson, announced the new toll after a cabinet meeting, describing the numbers as “particularly high” this year. Coulibaly said the search was continuing, adding that authorities feared the death toll could rise further. He urged residents to follow safety guidelines and leave areas designated by the government as high-risk zones. Just hours earlier, the death toll had been put at 12. Belmonde Dogo, Cote d’Ivoire’s Minister of Social Cohesion, said the continuous rainfall that began…

Folarin Balogun scored and was later sent off as the United States, US advanced past a lacklustre Bosnia-Herzegovina in Santa Clara to reach the last 16 of the World Cup. Coach Mauricio Pochettino’s side produced a display brimming with energy and creativity and more than merited their victory, which was sealed when Malik Tillman’s late free-kick doubled their lead. However, it took another moment from Balogun to set them on their way against a pragmatic opponent, who, until the 24-year-old was dismissed just after the hour mark, exhibited little attacking intent. Having reacted quickest to steer Tillman’s deflected pass past…

The Presidency has accused Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi of forging an appointment letter and falsely presenting himself as a presidential appointee to head a non-existent government agency. In a statement issued on Wednesday, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said Adeyemi claimed to be the Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an organisation the Federal Government said does not exist. The statement followed allegations by Adeyemi that the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, demanded a ₦400 million bribe. According to Onanuga, the Office of the Chief of Staff petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS)…

Operatives of the Imo State Police Command have arrested 12 suspects linked to kidnapping, cultism, murder and other violent crimes in a series of intelligence-led operations across the state. The operations also led to the rescue of three kidnapped victims and the recovery of firearms, vehicles and other items, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye. The Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, said the command remains committed to tackling violent crime through intelligence-led policing and collaboration with other security agencies, local vigilante groups and community stakeholders. According to the statement, officers led by…

The Federal Government has announced that the deployment of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members will now be guided by security risk assessments as part of a major overhaul of the scheme. President Bola Tinubu announced the decision after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved seven reforms designed to strengthen the 53-year-old NYSC programme. The reforms were reported by The Guardian Nigeria. Under the new policy, corps members will no longer be posted to states facing serious security challenges without an assessment of the prevailing risks. According to the president, deployment to security-challenged states will prioritise indigenes, residents, graduates of…

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has unveiled his vision for a “productive and prosperous Nigeria”, promising to tackle abuse in government, promote national unity and invest heavily in human capital if elected president. In a statement released on Wednesday, Obi said his administration would focus on restoring trust in governance while improving the quality of life for Nigerians through reforms in education, healthcare and industrialisation. The former Anambra State governor said his campaign was built on a commitment to place Nigeria on the path of unity and national transformation. According to Obi, he will, in…

England were spared one of the biggest humiliations in their World Cup history by Harry Kane’s two late goals as they came from behind to beat DR Congo in Atlanta to reach the last 16. Thomas Tuchel’s side were 15 minutes away from an embarrassing exit as DR Congo defended the early lead given to them by Brian Cipenga. It was then that captain and talisman Kane came to the rescue by heading the equaliser after 75 minutes, before lashing in a stunning winner on the turn with four minutes left. DR Congo goalkeeper Lional Mpasi made a string of…