Author: Opalim Lifted

Tottenham’s wretched start to the Premier League season continued as Aston Villa held off a late fightback from the hosts to claim their first league win of the campaign. Spurs were booed off at the final whistle and despite lavishing over £300m on new signings in the summer are already beginning to give the impression of a club in crisis. Goals from Johan Manzambi, Nicolas Jackson and Emiliano Buendia saw Aston Villa’s campaign finally achieve lift off. And Conor Gallagher’s late tap in and Jan Paul van Hecke’s header, with the final touch of the game, came too late to…

The UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo are leading a new push to promote sustainable domestic health financing across Africa. The initiative seeks to help African governments mobilise predominantly domestic resources to strengthen health systems amid declining external health aid and rising debt pressures. According to the ECA in a statement on Friday, the initiative builds on the Tangier Declaration, adopted by African finance, planning and economic development ministers in March 2026. The declaration recognises health spending as an investment in human capital and economic resilience, rather than simply a cost to be managed. ECA…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has described the bye-elections held across Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Delta states as important operational tests ahead of the 2027 General Election. INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, said no election should be treated as routine, stressing that each poll gives the Commission an opportunity to assess its systems and improve its preparations. Amupitan monitored Saturday’s elections from INEC’s National Situation Room at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, alongside National Commissioners and senior management officials. The Commission conducted bye-elections in five legislative constituencies across the four states: Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe State, Dawakin…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council has called on Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race over allegations linked to the disputed Mambilla hydropower project. In a statement issued on Friday and signed by Dele Alake, spokesperson for the APC campaign council, the ruling party accused Atiku of compromising Nigeria’s interests in connection with the project. The APC based its position on proceedings before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration tribunal in Paris involving Sunrise Power, Transmission Company Limited and the Federal Government. The tribunal recently ruled in…

Lawyers for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs say they are withdrawing from his $100 million defamation lawsuit, citing “unpaid legal fees and a breakdown in communication” with the rapper. Michael Tremonte, a partner at Sher Tremonte LLP, filed the request on September 14 at the Southern District of New York, alleging that Combs had not paid a substantial balance of the firm’s fees, costs and expenses. Sher Tremonte LLP is representing Combs in his civil cases, including the $100 million defamation lawsuit he filed against Courtney Burgess, attorney Ariel Mitchell and Nexstar Media Inc., the parent company of NewsNation. Combs initially filed…

Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has warned point-of-sale (POS) operators across the country against aiding fraudsters and money launderers in perpetrating financial crimes. Olukoyede spoke on Wednesday when a delegation from the Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria (AMMBAN), led by Oti Obioha, its national president, visited the agency’s headquarters. Olukoyede, who was represented by Michael Nzekwe, his chief of staff and commander of the EFCC, said POS operators are now involved in financial crimes, including terrorist financing, ransom payments and money laundering. According to him, the association needs to strengthen…

Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, has imposed a 24-hour curfew across Minna, the state capital, following unrest reported in parts of the city. The curfew takes effect immediately after Friday’s Jumu’ah prayers and will remain in place until further notice. Residents have been directed to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary movement throughout the period. Security agencies have also been ordered to enforce the directive and take measures to protect lives and property across the metropolis. The unrest followed Thursday’s protest linked to the deaths of suspected illegal miners who reportedly died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and…

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris has ruled in favour of Nigeria in the $2.35 billion arbitration brought by Sunrise Power over the Mambilla hydropower project. The tribunal also ordered Sunrise Power and its promoter, Leno Adesanya, to reimburse Nigeria 75 per cent of its legal fees and expenses, amounting to $11.8 million. Chronicle NG understands that the final award was issued on Thursday. Tribunal Rejects Sunrise Claims In a decision signed by the three-member panel, the tribunal dismissed Sunrise Power’s claim that Nigeria breached its contractual obligations under a settlement agreement and an addendum. It also rejected…

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has launched an investigation into the deaths of suspected illegal miners arrested during enforcement operations in Niger State. The suspects were arrested during coordinated operations by the Niger State Command in the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis on September 15 and 16, 2026, as part of efforts to tackle illegal mining activities. The investigation follows reports that at least 33 suspected illegal miners were feared dead after being detained at an NSCDC facility in Minna. The deaths were reportedly discovered in the early hours of Thursday. Niger State Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, had attributed the…

President Bola Tinubu has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its investigation into the controversial Mambilla power contract after an International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration tribunal in Paris ruled in Nigeria’s favour. The tribunal, on September 17, rejected claims brought by Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL) over disputes linked to the 3,960-megawatt Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project in Taraba State. EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, saying the Commission’s investigation was pivotal to the Federal Government’s defence. Tribunal rejects millions of dollars in claims According to the…