Author: Opalim Lifted

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its alleged failure to disclose political contribution limits ahead of the 2027 general elections. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2114/2026, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja by SERAP’s lawyers, Oluwakemi Agunbiade, Kehinde Oyewumi, Andrew Nwankwo and Valentina Adegoke. No hearing date has been fixed. SERAP is asking the court to compel INEC to disclose whether it has exercised its powers under Section 91 of the Electoral Act 2026 to prescribe limits on political contributions and, if so, publish the specific limits. The Electoral…

Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju has accepted a place on the Federal Government’s 10-member independent committee investigating the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in NSCDC custody in Minna, Niger State. Adeyanju said he joined the panel to ensure that the victims’ interests are represented and that the circumstances surrounding their deaths are fully established. In a statement on Saturday, he thanked the government for considering him for the assignment and said he would treat the investigation as a national duty. Adeyanju rejects payment Adeyanju urged the government not to provide stipends, honoraria or other monetary benefits to members of…

Two-year-old Ethiopian conjoined twins have been successfully separated after a complex 25-hour surgery at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St Louis, Missouri, United States. The girls, Hiyab and Wuhbto, were born with craniopagus, an extremely rare condition in which twins are joined at the head. In their case, the sisters were connected while facing in opposite directions. They could hear each other but could not see each other’s faces. The successful separation was announced by the hospital on Wednesday, months after the operation was performed in February. Surgeons faced major risks The high-risk procedure required surgeons to carefully…

A survivor of the incident in which 37 suspected illegal miners died in Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) custody in Niger State has alleged that 65 detainees were crammed into a single cell before an unidentified substance was sprayed inside. The survivor said the substance smelled like perfume but caused a burning sensation in the throat and eyes, while extreme heat and overcrowding left some detainees collapsing. He made the allegation on Friday when Niger State Governor Umaru Bago and Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo met with survivors of the incident in Minna. According to the survivor, 17…

The Anambra State Government has accused former governor and 2027 presidential candidate Peter Obi of leaving unpaid salaries and pension arrears owed to workers of the state’s defunct Water Corporation. The allegation was made on the state government’s New Media X handle, alongside a video showing people protesting over alleged unpaid entitlements. The claim comes days after Obi insisted that he left office without outstanding salary, pension or gratuity liabilities. Obi had challenged the Anambra government to prove otherwise, saying he would stop campaigning for the 2027 presidency if anyone could establish that he left such debts. “If anybody can…

Moniepoint Microfinance Bank and TeamApt Limited have partnered to expand retail access to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery Initial Public Offering (IPO), allowing Nigerians to subscribe through Moniepoint’s digital banking platforms and nationwide POS network. The offering gives retail investors an opportunity to buy shares in the 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote Refinery, described as Africa’s largest petroleum refinery, at ₦525 per share. Investors can subscribe for a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of 500 shares per transaction. The partnership is designed to extend access to the capital market beyond traditional financial centres and make the IPO available to more Nigerians. How…

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has claimed that former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was admitted into the All Progressives Congress (APC) because of fears over his corruption case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Akpabio made the claim in an alleged leaked audio conversation with Sandra Duru. “Okowa came (into the APC) because of fears of his corruption cases; it’s not because of his sincerity,” Akpabio reportedly said. The Senate President also claimed that Okowa was not involved in discussions surrounding the APC leadership when he joined the ruling party. “Okowa didn’t know anything about the new chairman…

Former House of Representatives member Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma has explained why he petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over corruption allegations involving former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. Agbonayinma said he submitted the petition as a concerned Nigerian seeking public accountability and proper investigation of the allegations by the relevant authorities. The former lawmaker also faulted former Senator Dino Melaye for criticising the petition, insisting that the focus should be on the substance of the allegations rather than his personality. Melaye had described the petition as “shameful” and claimed that the allegations against Atiku had been investigated and dismissed more than…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has questioned President Bola Tinubu, Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake and Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo over the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State. Atiku said the deaths require more than the suspension of NSCDC personnel, insisting that Nigerians deserve answers on how 37 people who entered government custody alive ended up dead. He made the remarks in a statement signed on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu. The former vice president accused…

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has warned Nigerians against malicious electronic messages falsely claiming that recipients have violated traffic rules or committed related offences. The commission said the messages are designed to create fear and urgency, tricking unsuspecting people into clicking harmful links, disclosing personal information or following fraudulent instructions. In an advisory signed by NDPC Head of Media Unit, Itunu Dosekun, and posted on the commission’s X handle on Friday, the agency said such messages were previously circulated mainly through phishing emails but could now be sent through various electronic channels. The NDPC urged Nigerians not to click…