Author: Opalim Lifted

Amnesty International Nigeria has urged FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to suspend planned demolitions around Plot 5334 in Maitama, Abuja, citing concerns over drainage infrastructure, flooding risks and ongoing legal proceedings. The organisation also called for an urgent review of the alleged allocation of the land to a private entity for real estate development. In a statement, Amnesty International Nigeria said the disputed plot in Cadastral Zone A06 reportedly accommodates underground stormwater and sewage drainage infrastructure constructed by Julius Berger Plc between 2012 and 2014 to address flooding risks. It warned that allowing private construction on the site could threaten public…

Everton may have extended their unbeaten start to the Premier League season, but their 2-2 draw against Hull City saw them miss a golden opportunity to snap their winless away league run, which now stands at eight games. Hull’s return to the Premier League has gone swimmingly so far, but the visit of an Everton side firmly established at this level represented a tricky-looking test. It was the Toffees who started the brighter too, forcing Konstantinos Tzolakis into early action when he needed to tip James Garner’s dipping free-kick over the bar. Hull’s game was largely built on the counter-attack,…

Oliver Glasner endured a frustrating return to Crystal Palace as his Nottingham Forest side let slip an early lead to lose to the Eagles. After guiding Palace to FA Cup and Conference League success, Glasner left the club at the end of last season and took on the Forest job in the summer. Initially it looked like it would be a triumphant return to Selhurst Park as Forest took a third-minute lead through Dan Ndoye’s neat low finish. They then dominated much of the first half, with Liam Delap somehow denied a second from point-blank range by Walter Benitez. Palace…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over its alleged failure to account for $6.23 million in election-related funds and more than ₦1.63 trillion in other public funds flagged in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2023 annual report. The report, published on August 7, 2026, identified several financial transactions and unrecovered loans covering the period between January and December 2023. The funds include $6.23 million linked to an allegedly fraudulent election-funding request purportedly made by former President Muhammadu Buhari; ₦1.252 trillion in unrecovered intervention loans to state governments; ₦116.18 billion in loans…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned political parties and candidates against vote buying ahead of the 2027 general elections, threatening prosecution for electoral offenders. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra State, Dr Queen Elizabeth Agwu, issued the warning on Friday during a stakeholders’ meeting attended by political party leaders, candidates, community leaders and media representatives. Agwu urged candidates to focus on presenting their manifestos and explaining their plans to voters rather than distributing money to influence electoral choices. “We will monitor vote buying, and we are urging people to report vote buyers. I have never witnessed one,…

Dominic Solanke scored in stoppage time to salvage a point for 10-man Tottenham as they snatched a draw against Manchester United in a feisty encounter at Old Trafford. It looked as if United were about to pile more misery on the visitors following their pitiful start to the Premier League season when Bryan Mbeumo broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute. Things went from bad to worse for Spurs when Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off five minutes later for headbutting Luke Shaw, who had shoved him over after a reckless challenge from the Uruguay midfielder. But Solanke, who was captaining…

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it has found no evidence of ongoing transmission linked to the death of a Russian laboratory worker who developed severe pneumonia, although the cause of her illness remains unknown. In an outbreak report published on Saturday, the WHO said Russian authorities had reported negative test results for plague and other tested high-threat pathogens in the deceased worker and her identified contacts. The worker, an employee of the Irkutsk Antiplague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East, died on October 2 after being hospitalised with severe pneumonia on September 29. Her death raised concerns…

US President Donald Trump has criticised the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize decision, describing the selection of South African human rights champion Navi Pillay as “disgraceful” and claiming the award should have gone to him. Trump made the remarks on Friday during a rally in Syracuse, New York, where he accused the Norwegian Nobel Committee of making an embarrassing decision. Pillay, a South African lawyer and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, was recognised for her work against war crimes and crimes against humanity. Reacting to her selection, Trump said he had never heard of Pillay before the announcement.…

Jordan Henderson scored his first Chelsea goals to help his new side to a dominant victory over Bournemouth. The 36-year-old midfielder, making his home debut, fired in off the post after just 68 seconds, before adding a second after the break. Joao Pedro also scored twice, while Morgan Rogers was on target. Evanilson pulled one back to briefly give Bournemouth hope at 3-1, but the Cherries remain winless in the Premier League under new manager Marco Rose. Chelsea’s romp began in the second minute when Henderson scored with their first shot of the game, curling a shot in off the…

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has begun efforts to recover the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) of its ATR-42 aircraft that crashed in Igbokoda, Ondo State. The recovery operation is expected to help investigators establish the circumstances surrounding the crash. Speaking at the crash site in Igbokoda on Friday, Ebimobo Ebiowe, NAF’s superintendent of standards and evaluation, said investigators were searching for critical components of the wreckage that could provide vital clues about the incident. He identified the flight data recorder, commonly known as the black box, and the cockpit voice recorder as key components the…