Author: Opalim Lifted

A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has alleged that Saleh Mamman, the former minister of power, paid him N200 million for a property in Abuja. In 2024, the EFCC arraigned Mamman on a 12-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and conspiracy with officials at the ministry and some private companies to “indirectly convert” N33.8 billion meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects. At the time, Abubakar Kweido, an operative of the EFCC, said the investigation showed how multiple monetary transfers were allegedly made from the account meant for the Mambilla power project to…

Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has dissociated himself from a media report which quoted him as saying that the Supreme Court verdict on Rivers State is reckless. The report was issued after Obi released a statement lambasting Nigerian leaders for concentrating on trivialities amid worsening poverty in the country. He lamented that the national discourse in Nigeria is only about “allegations of sexual harassment or budget padding in the National Assembly, controversies surrounding state Houses of Assembly speakership, reckless court judgments threatening to destabilize or deprive the state of funding to provide needed services to the citizens.” He added, “What…

Bayern Munich have one foot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after a Harry Kane double helped them to comfortable win against 10-man Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their last-16 tie. Kane gave the hosts an early breakthrough in the all-German meeting before Jamal Musiala doubled their lead by capitalising on a mistake from Leverkusen goalkeeper Matej Kovar. The visitors went down to 10 men after a second yellow for Nordi Mukiele just past the hour mark, then Kane scored his 31st goal of the season from the penalty spot to seal the victory. It only took…

Raphinha was once again Barcelona’s hero as they claimed a narrow win over Benfica in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, despite going down to 10 men. The Brazilian capitalised on a defensive error to drive forward and slot in the bottom corner in the 61st minute, notching his 25th goal of the season and ninth in the Champions League campaign. Raphinha also came to the rescue for five-time winners Barca in January when the two sides met in the league group phase, scoring a 96th-minute winner in a nine-goal thriller. Meeting again at this knockout stage…

Liverpool completed one of the biggest smash and grabs in Champions League history to come away from their last-16 first leg against Paris St-Germain with a win. PSG completely dominated the game, with 27 shots, and the Reds goalkeeper Alisson had to make nine saves. But the hosts could not find an opener – and the Reds scored with their second shot of the night in the 87th minute. Harvey Elliott netted with his first touch, after replacing Mohamed Salah, when he was picked out by Darwin Nunez. Luis Enrique’s side were shell shocked – and how they failed to…

Senate President Godswill Akpabio said he has never sexually harassed any woman. Akpabio spoke during plenary on Wednesday, as Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, formally submitted her sexual harassment petition against him on the floor of the senate. The former governor of Akwa Ibom said he has been inundated with phone calls from many Nigerians on the allegation which he dismissed as false. “At no time did I ever attempt any sexual harassment on the said distinguished senator Akpoti-Uduaghan or any other woman for that matter,” Akpabio said. “I and my siblings were raised very well by my late…

The federal high court in Abuja has restrained the senate committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions from conducting disciplinary proceedings against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Obiora Egwuatu, the presiding judge, gave the order on Tuesday following an ex parte application filed by counsels to Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi central. Akpoti-Uduaghan had been invited to appear before the senate’s disciplinary committee following an altercation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio on February 20. Akpoti-Uduaghan had disrupted the plenary by rejecting her assigned seat, defying Akpabio’s order and repeatedly raising a point of order despite being overruled. Subsequently, the senate referred Akpoti-Uduaghan to…

Men of the Nigeria Police Force deployed tear gas to prevent supporters of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from accessing the National Assembly Complex early Wednesday. The protesters had converged on the national assembly gate as early as 8am with the resumption of plenary in the horizon. They held aloft placards bearing inscriptions like: ‘Akpabio must go’, ‘Protect women’s rights’, ‘Protect Natasha at all cost’. The police personnel however wasted little time swooping on them with tear gas canisters. The crowd has now moved to the Unity Fountain. Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi central, clashed with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seating arrangements…

Liverpool manager Arne Slot told referee Michael Oliver he would blame him if the club failed to win this season’s Premier League. The Dutchman was shown a straight red card after he confronted Oliver and one of his assistant referees on the pitch following his side’s 2-2 Merseyside derby draw with Everton last month. Slot was given a two-match ban and fined £70,000 by an independent Football Association commission after accepting a charge of acting in an improper manner and using insulting and/or abusive words and/or behaviour towards both the match referee and an assistant referee. Oliver alleged Slot, while…

Hakon Haraldsson scored the equaliser as Lille fought back to earn a draw at Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. Dortmund had taken the lead through a brilliant strike from Karim Adeyemi in a first half in which last season’s runners-up were by far the superior side. But Haraldsson’s goal during Lille’s much-improved showing after the break put the tie in the balance before the return leg in France on Wednesday, 12 March (17:45 GMT). The game lacked spark in the early stages but Adeyemi produced a moment of brilliance after 22 minutes to…