Author: Opalim Lifted

The ongoing trial of former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, took a dramatic turn on Monday, as the third prosecution witness told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the Mambilla power project contract document was forged. Agunloye is standing trial on an amended seven-count charge bordering on official corruption and the fraudulent award of the $6 billion Mambilla Power Project contract to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL). Testifying before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, prosecution witness three, Umar Hussein Babangida, said the investigative team discovered that Agunloye allegedly issued a fake contract award letter dated 22 May…

The Nigerian Army (NA) has announced the release of the list of shortlisted candidates for the Short Service Combatant Commission Course 49/2026 Selection Board. The Army secretary disclosed in a statement on Monday. According to the statement, shortlisted candidates are to report to the Nigerian Defence Academy, Ribadu Campus, Kaduna State, on December 1, 2025 “The shortlisted candidates are to report to the Nigerian Defence Academy Ribadu Campus (Old Site), Kaduna State on 1 December 2025. “Candidates are advised to be in Kaduna on 30 November 2025 and report to the Selection Board venue between 6 am 11 am on…

The United Kingdom has turned down the Nigerian government’s bid to have former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu transferred home to complete his prison sentence. Ekweremadu is serving nine years and eight months in a UK prison after being convicted in March 2023 for conspiring to traffic a young man to London for the purpose of harvesting his kidney — a historic conviction under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act. Earlier in November, President Bola Tinubu dispatched a high-powered delegation to London, led by Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar and Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi, to negotiate Ekweremadu’s transfer. But the UK Guardian…

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has renewed its pressure on the Federal Government to dismiss the newly appointed chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),  Professor Joash Amupitan. The group claims he authored a legal brief sent to the United States which alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria. In a statement released on Monday, the Executive Director of the organisation, Professor Ishaq Akintola, questioned why the government had taken no action three weeks after the accusation came to light. Akintola said the issue remained unresolved and warned that silence from authorities risked further tension. He noted that several Islamic bodies,…

The Federal High Court in Abuja has again delayed the trial of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, shifting proceedings to 4 February 2026 after the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, was unavailable on Monday. The case had been fixed for hearing, but the judge’s absence meant no progress could be made. The matter has faced repeated disruptions. It earlier failed to sit on 21 October following a protest led by activist Omoyele Sowore, who demanded the release of Nnamdi Kanu after his recent terrorism conviction. Justice Umar had initially set that date during a September session in which the trial stalled over…

Paystack, the Nigerian payment startup, has sacked Ezra Olubi, its co-founder and chief technology officer, over allegations of workplace sexual misconduct. The controversy began when Max ‘Makispoke’ Obae hosted an X Space titled ‘My Piece’, accusing Olubi of misogyny and recounting their troubled past. Her claims sparked reactions on X, prompting users to unearth old, disturbing tweets from Olubi’s account. The backlash intensified as the resurfaced posts, containing sexually explicit and alarming statements, fuelled accusations of misogyny, pedophilia, bestiality, and predatory behaviour. Paystack initially suspended Olubi on November 12 following the launch of a formal investigation into the issue. However,…

Former Labour Party Peter Obi has said that Nigeria’s low life expectancy is a direct consequence of leadership failures, arguing that governance shortcomings are responsible for the country’s declining health sector. Speaking at the 2025 Leadership Forum Conference at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Obi said Nigeria’s average life expectancy, currently placed at about 55 years by recent global estimates, reflects systemic neglect of healthcare, education and human capital development. According to him, the country’s performance in health and welfare remains the weakest among nations with similar resources. “Our low life expectancy is not because Nigerians are naturally predisposed…

Veteran musician Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, and his wife, Edo lawmaker Natasha Osawaru, have welcomed a baby boy. Osawaru announced the birth of their child on her Facebook page on Sunday. She wrote, “Congratulations to Mr & Mrs Idibia. We joyfully welcome our bouncy baby boy into the world . May this precious little one bring endless laughter, happiness, and blessings to our beautiful family. “With love, strength, and unforgettable moments as we begin this wonderful new chapter. Welcome, baby boy Idibia.” The birth marks a new chapter in a relationship that has stayed in the public eye…

The federal government has denied reports that it ordered all schools across the country to close because of security concerns. The claim spread online after a rise in mass abductions in the north west and north central regions, including two major incidents last week. The attacks had led the government to approve the temporary closure of forty four Unity Colleges. Niger State also suspended classes in its primary and secondary schools. This created confusion on social media, where some users claimed that every school in the country would shut from 24 November. Boriowo Folasade, spokesperson for the Ministry of Education,…

President Bola Tinubu convened an extended security meeting at the State House with the Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, and heads of the intelligence community. The gathering followed fresh field reports from parts of the country facing renewed threats. Officials briefed the president throughout the session on current operations and emerging risks. In response, he issued firm directives for security units to act with greater speed and accuracy in the affected regions. The aim is to contain the disturbances, restore order, and safeguard residents. The president reaffirmed his commitment to national…