Author: Opalim Lifted

R Kelly’s racketeering and sex trafficking convictions, along with a 30-year prison sentence, were upheld by a federal appeals court that concluded the singer exploited his fame for over a quarter century to sexually abuse girls and young women. The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled Wednesday after hearing arguments last March. The Grammy-winning, multiplatinum-selling R&B songwriter was convicted in 2021 in Brooklyn federal court of multiple charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking. Attorney Jennifer Bonjean, representing R Kelly, said in a statement that she believed the Supreme Court will agree to hear an appeal. She called…

MLS Club San Diego FC has announced Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems as the latest addition to the club’s ownership group through her company. The American club announced the inclusion of the two-time Grammy award winner to its executives in a statement on Wednesday. Tems acquired a stake in the club through The Leading Vibe, her company. The deal was also brokered through a partnership with Pave Investments, an African private investment firm that worked on driving investors for NBA Africa. According to San Diego FC, the singer has become a club partner and shares a “commitment to excellence…

The Nigerian national grid has experienced another system collapse, throwing many citizens into darkness. This is about the first time the grid will collapse in 2025 after it experienced a line tripping in January, according to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). On Wednesday, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company confirmed the development on the official X account. “Dear Valued Customer, We regret to inform you that a system disturbance occurred on the national grid at 11:34 am today causing a power outage across our franchise areas. “While gradual restoration of power supply has commenced, please be assured that we are…

Former governor of Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai, has admitted that the Kaduna state government runs a kidnapping gang. The ex-governor of Kaduna, under whose watch his critic Abubakar ‘Dadiyatta’ Idris mysteriously vanished in 2019. El-rufai, in a cryptic message on X, warned one of his followers against criticising his political protégé turned enemy, Uba Sani, to avoid suffering the same fate as others who were kidnapped and tortured by state-sponsored thugs for criticising the state governor. “Be careful, Imran @IU_Wakilii,” he said, quoting the tweet berating his successor and warning that “the Kaduna kidnapping team (I will reveal this next week,…

Nengi Hampson, a former housemate on Big Brother Naija (BBNaija), has denied rumours circulating online that she was pregnant with a child fathered by a Bayelsa state governor, Duoye Diri. Earlier reports had claimed that the 27-year-old reality TV star had welcomed a child with a 65-year-old governor and had even become his fifth wife. In a recent X post, Nengi expressed her frustration with the rumour, stating that she should have ignored it. She said she however felt compelled to address it due to the involvement of people she holds in high regard. The reality star emphasized that she…

A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, under Justice A.O. Owoeye, has remanded one Precious Uzondu on a two-count charge bordering on his alleged refusal to accept the Naira as a legal tender. This was made known in a statement shared on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) X account on Tuesday. According EFCC charge, Uzondu, refused to accept Naira, Nigeria’s official currency, as a means of payment. Instead, he allegedly accepted the sum of $5,700 (Five Thousand Seven Hundred US Dollars) as payment for the purchase of a Carter diamond bracelet with serial number 12345678. His actions…

Paris St-Germain, PSG took control of their all-France Champions League knockout phase play-off with Brest as Ousmane Dembele continued his phenomenal scoring form with another two goals. Former Wolves loan signing Vitinha opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 21st minute after Pierre Lees-Melou had handled an attempt by Dembele. France forward Dembele added the second in the 45th minute with a clinical finish after Brest failed to close the 2018 World Cup winner down. The former Barcelona player then made it 3-0, pouncing inside the penalty area in the 66th minute. Dembele has scored 18 goals in…

Mexico, Canada and the European Union on Tuesday condemned US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports next month, a move that has fanned fears of a trade war. Trump signed proclamations late on Monday raising the US tariff rate on aluminium to 25% from his previous 10% rate and eliminating country exceptions and quota deals as well as hundreds of thousands of product-specific tariff exclusions for both metals. The measures, which will take effect on March 12, will apply to millions of tons of steel and aluminium imports from Canada, Brazil, Mexico, South…

The headlines last week gave a kaleidoscopic picture of the Nigerian tragedy: Lagos State allocates N3.5 billion to improve power supply; Kano votes N2.5 billion for mass wedding. It captures the inherent absurdities in our nation and the different the mindsets of its leaders. While a section of the federation is investing in key infrastructure and human capital development, the other half is wasting away resources on things that induce poverty and hasten underdevelopment. In its 2025 budget, Kano State government is allocating N2.5 billion for sponsorship of mass weddings in the 44 LGAs. Total fiscal proposal is N719. 7…

Donald Trump announced 25% tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum ramping up his controversial attempt to boost the US economy by hiking taxes on imports from overseas. The modified US duties will be enforced “without exceptions or exemptions”, the president declared, dashing the hopes of countries that hoped to avoid them. Trump first imposed steep tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum during his first presidency. The action announced on Monday night ends exemptions granted to certain countries, and increases the duty rate on aluminum. The changes are not due to come into effect until early March, however, according to a…