Author: Opalim Lifted

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disowned a fraudulent publication circulating online that purports to be a special announcement about the list of governorship candidates for the 2027 elections in six states. The electoral umpire identified the affected states as Zamfara, Gombe, Delta, Plateau, Yobe and Kano, warning the public against sharing the fake publication. In a notice posted on its official X account on Monday, October 12, 2026, INEC said the publication did not originate from the commission. “The Commission wishes to categorically inform the general public that the publication is FAKE and did not originate from INEC,”…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged the Federal Government to publish the contract documents and payment records for the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway following changes to sections of the project’s route. Atiku’s demand followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive to reroute parts of the highway along the existing East-West Road. In a statement issued on Monday by Phrank Shaibu, director of strategic communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential campaign council, Atiku said the changes had raised questions about the original contract, payments already made and the financial implications of the revised route. The ADC presidential candidate also alleged that…

The United Nations has reported that about 113 million Nigerians, representing 48.7 per cent of the country’s population, experience multidimensional poverty, marked by deprivation in health, education and living standards. The figure was contained in the 2026 edition of the annual report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), released on Monday. According to the report, the average poor Nigerian experiences deprivation in 55 per cent of the indicators used to measure poverty, while 28.7 per cent of Nigerians are classified as severely poor. The report also indicated that progress recorded…

A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a fundamental rights suit filed by Aisha Achimugu, managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Felak Concept Group, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the search of her residence and the seizure of her property. Musa Liman, the presiding judge, dismissed the suit on Monday, ruling that the anti-graft agency had the power to search Achimugu’s residence after receiving intelligence about her alleged criminal activities. In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/466/2026, Achimugu challenged the EFCC’s search of her residence and the seizure of her cars, jewellery and other items.…

Pope Leo XIV will be admitted to hospital on Tuesday morning for surgery to remove a small growth from his lung, the Vatican has announced. The 71-year-old pontiff disclosed on Sunday that he would undergo the operation in the coming days after doctors discovered a pulmonary nodule during recent medical checks. According to AFP, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed on Monday that the Pope would be admitted in the late morning. The recovery period is expected to last about a week. The operation is expected to take place at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, which has a dedicated suite for treating popes.…

A Nigerian wedding celebration in the Netherlands was reportedly disrupted by police on Sunday following complaints about noise pollution. In a now-viral video, more than 10 Dutch police officers were seen at the venue’s entrance, escorting guests out one after another. Some attendees, dressed in traditional Nigerian aso ebi outfits, appeared distressed, while others protested. A voice in the background accused the officers of racial discrimination, saying, “It is because we are blacks; you’re treating us like animals.” The individual described the intervention as intimidation. In another clip, a woman who appeared to have attended the event denied that the…

Dangote Group plans to extend the application deadline for its refinery’s initial public offering (IPO) by two weeks to enable more investors across Africa to participate in the share sale. Sources at the refinery confirmed the development on Monday, saying the offer would now close on October 27, instead of the original deadline of October 13. “The major reason is because most exchanges in Africa are just creating platforms for participation,” a source said. The extension is expected to give investors in more African countries additional time and access to participate in the offer. Dangote Refinery IPO: Offer Details The…

Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has urged the Federal Government to expand Nigeria’s tax base and recover outstanding oil royalties rather than introduce new taxes on Nigerians. Sowore made the remarks during an interview on AIT on Saturday, arguing that the government could increase revenue by ensuring that individuals and businesses liable to pay taxes fulfil their obligations. “We are not going to introduce tax, but we would expand the tax base, the GDP ratio… Nigeria is probably poorly taxed,” he said. He cited Ghana’s reported tax-to-GDP ratio of 17 per cent, compared with Nigeria’s…

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released the names and photographs of 24 Nigerians arrested by immigration authorities over alleged criminal offences as the country continues its deportation operations. According to information released by DHS, the individuals were arrested in different parts of the United States by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The alleged offences listed against them include wire and mail fraud, money laundering, drug-related crimes, identity theft, assault, forgery and cruelty towards a child. In a statement announcing the arrests, DHS said the publication was intended to highlight non-US citizens with criminal records who had…

The Ilaje Omuro Community Connect (IOCC) has called on the federal government to investigate the alleged diversion of the proposed Lagos-Calabar coastal highway away from coastal communities in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by Babatunde Omobone, the group’s lawyer and representative, IOCC urged the National Assembly and relevant anti-corruption agencies to examine the circumstances surrounding the reported route change. The group, which said it has more than 1,000 members of Ilaje origin, demanded an independent engineering assessment, a public explanation of the decision and an audit of its financial implications.…