Author: Opalim Lifted

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has hailed the resignation of APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, as a “moral benchmark” and a wake-up call for other leaders battling health challenges. Ganduje, a former Governor of Kano State, stepped down on Friday citing health concerns and the need to prioritise his well-being. In a statement posted via his official X handle, Obi commended the move, describing it as a rare show of integrity in Nigerian politics. “Stepping aside for health reasons is an honourable choice. It shows awareness and respect for the responsibilities of leadership,” Obi wrote. He emphasised…

In a dramatic political twist, President Bola Tinubu has reportedly convinced Rabiu Kwankwaso, fierce rival to Abdullahi Ganduje to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), setting the stage for a potential realignment ahead of the 2027 elections. A senior APC insider, speaking off the record, confirmed the development. “Between me and you, it is true, but I can’t confirm officially and please don’t quote me,” the source said. Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate in 2023, remains one of northern Nigeria’s most formidable political heavyweights. His defection would be a…

Brentford have named former Ireland international Keith Andrews as manager to replace Thomas Frank, the Premier League club said on Friday, continuing the West London side’s trend of promoting from within. Frank, who left to take over at Tottenham Hotspur, stepped up from the assistant role at Brentford to take charge in 2018, and now Andrews has been handed his first managerial role having served as the club’s set-piece coach for one season. According to media reports, Andrews has signed a three-year contract. “Keith is a very good fit,” director of football Phil Giles said. “He gets on with everyone,…

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s long-expected departure as Leicester City manager has been confirmed more than nine weeks after the Foxes were relegated from the Premier League. The 48-year-old Dutchman oversaw 19 defeats and managed just five wins from his 27 matches in charge of the East Midlands club last season. Leicester’s relegation was confirmed with five matches of the campaign remaining, but the former PSV Eindhoven boss saw out the season and held on to the job for another month after it concluded. The drawn out nature of Van Nistelrooy’s exit, which the Championship club says is “mutually agreed”, was described…

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court has adjourned the trial of Yahaya Bello, former Kogi state governor, to July 8. Bello is charged with alleged criminal breach of trust to the tune of N110,446,470,089, contrary to sections 96 and 311 of the Penal Code Law Cap.89, Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963, and punishable under section 312 of the same law. He is standing trial on a 16-count charge alongside two officials of the Kogi state government — Abdulsalami Hudu and Umar Oricha. The defendants were alleged to have used funds from the Kogi state treasury to acquire properties in…

A compliance officer with Zenith Bank has revealed that over N1.09 billion was withdrawn in just four days from the Kogi State Government House administration account, sending shockwaves through the ongoing corruption trial of former governor Yahaya Bello. Mashelia Bata, the fourth prosecution witness in the EFCC’s N80 billion money laundering case against Bello, gave this explosive testimony before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday. Led in evidence by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), counsel for the EFCC, Bata told the court that between 30 January and 2 February 2018, multiple cash withdrawals totalling N1,096,830,000 were made from the state’s…

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has taken to X with a barrage of bold claims, declaring what he called a “victory” over both Israel and the United States amid heightened regional tensions. “I offer my congratulations on the victory over the fallacious Zionist regime,” he wrote in one of several posts. Khamenei accused Israel of collapsing under the weight of Iranian retaliation, saying it had been “practically knocked out and crushed under the blows of the Islamic Republic.” He extended similar declarations toward the United States, which he claimed entered the conflict to rescue Israel but failed in its efforts.…

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) has pushed back the opening date of its recruitment portal from 26th June to Monday, 14th July 2025. In a fresh update signed by the board’s secretary, Abdulmalik Jibrin, CDCFIB also introduced a new portal address for all prospective applicants: “The general public is hereby informed that our recruitment portal, previously scheduled to go live on 26th June, will now open on 14th July,” the statement read. “Applicants should also note that the new application portal.” The board stressed that all applications are entirely free and warned against making any…

The Federal Capital Territory could grind to a halt after 3 July, as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) threatens a mass protest if lingering industrial disputes remain unresolved. The FCT chapter of the NLC says it will flood Abuja’s streets with workers unless the FCT Administration (FCTA) urgently addresses long-standing welfare issues plaguing staff across the six area councils. The dispute, which has already crippled operations in public schools, primary healthcare centres, and local government secretariats, centres on unpaid minimum wage arrears, a 40% peculiar allowance, and the failure to implement agreed salary increases of 25% and 35%. “We postponed…

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, rejected a request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ‘cross-examine’ its third witness in the ongoing trial of alleged money laundering case against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello. While delivering his ruling, Justice Nwite noted that there was no provision in law that permits the court to allow the prosecution to re-examine its witness in the manner proposed by anti-graft agency. This was just as the counsel to EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN during the proceedings, described the case filed against the former…