Author: Opalim Lifted

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated veteran juju musician, Sunny Ade, on the occasion of his 80th birthday. In a statement issued by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu commended the octogenarian for his remarkable influence on the entertainment industry, noting that he helped transform juju music into an internationally recognised symbol of Nigerian culture. The president also praised the legendary artiste for elevating Nigerian music to global prominence. The president described Sunny Ade as a shining example of musical excellence and cultural diplomacy, whose work has enriched the nation and brought joy to audiences across multiple generations. Tinubu noted that the…

American music icon Lionel Richie has been hospitalised for the third time since June after experiencing heart problems during his ongoing tour. The 77-year-old singer has cancelled his next three concerts with Earth, Wind & Fire to allow him time to recover. The affected shows were scheduled for Saturday in San Francisco, September 30 in Chicago and October 2 in Columbus, Ohio, according to TMZ. Richie’s representative told The Independent on Tuesday that the singer underwent a procedure to treat atrial fibrillation (AFib) and is recovering well. “Lionel underwent a common procedure for Atrial fibrillation (AFib). The doctor said everything…

Legendary jùjú musician King Sunny Ade has celebrated his 80th birthday, marking more than six decades at the forefront of Nigerian music. Born Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye on September 22, 1946, King Sunny Ade, widely known as KSA, has become one of the defining figures in Nigerian and Yoruba popular music. His distinctive sound, built around electric guitars, pedal steel guitar, talking drums and layered percussion, helped take jùjú music from Nigerian social gatherings to international audiences. The Grammy-winning Recording Academy lists KSA as a two-time Grammy nominee. His album Synchro System received a nomination for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk…

A new cycle of the Africa Cup of Nations competition gets under way in earnest on Thursday as group qualifiers for the 2027 finals kick off, with the winners of the last edition still in dispute. A total of 48 countries are divided into 12 groups and begin a six-round qualifying process running until March next year, with the top two teams in nine of the groups advancing to the finals. The tournament is being co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, who are also competing in the qualifiers. In the groups in which they play, only one other team will…

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 26, 2026, to deliver judgment on the no-case submission filed by Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State, in a case concerning the alleged unlawful interception of telephone conversations. Joyce Abdulmalik, the presiding judge, on Tuesday, adjourned the ruling on the no-case submission after hearing arguments from counsel. During the proceedings, Paul Erokoro, counsel to El-Rufai, asked the court to discharge and acquit the former governor of the five-count amended charge. Erokoro argued that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case to warrant compelling El-Rufai to enter a…

Aliko Dangote, Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group, has announced that the conglomerate’s fertilizer business will be listed through an initial public offering (IPO) in 2028. Dangote disclosed this in an interview with Bloomberg Television on Monday. “We will IPO it. It’s going to be the biggest fertilizer company on earth. Yes, it will be 2028,” he said. Dangote Refinery IPO to Broaden Ownership Speaking further, Dangote said the planned Dangote Refinery IPO is not merely a capital-raising exercise but part of a broader vision to democratise ownership of strategic African assets and create sustainable value for millions of investors…

Many Nigerians are still without reliable electricity, Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe has acknowledged, saying the government will not promise a quick fix that cannot be sustained. Tegbe made the admission while reflecting on his first three months in office in a statement shared on X on Monday. “Admittedly, many Nigerians are still without reliable power, and I understand the frustration of hearing about progress you haven’t personally felt yet. I’m not going to pretend that away,” the minister said. He added that fixing the power sector properly would take time. “Fixing this sector properly takes time, & I will…

Bukola Saraki, former president of the Senate, has said he feels “vindicated” after the Court of Appeal ruled that Ibrahim Magu’s prolonged tenure as acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was unlawful. On Monday, the appellate court, sitting in Abuja, overturned a 2019 judgment of the Federal High Court which upheld Magu’s continued retention as acting chairman despite the Eighth Senate’s rejection of his nomination as substantive EFCC chairman. A three-member panel delivered the verdict in an appeal filed by Johnmary Jideobi, a lawyer who had challenged Magu’s continued stay in office after the Senate twice…

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has vowed to “firmly defend” his country’s position as he travelled to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly. Pezeshkian made the remarks on Tuesday before departing Iran, according to footage broadcast by Iranian state television. “We emerged with our heads held high, and this is a source of dignity and pride for all of us. Therefore, we will firmly defend our positions in international forums,” he said. The Iranian president is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, where he said he would use the opportunity to highlight Iran’s situation to…

The Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) has issued a three-day ultimatum to authorities over the alleged assault, arrest and humiliation of 10 electricity workers by Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel in Bauchi State. The union warned that it would ground electricity sector operations nationwide if action was not taken before the ultimatum expires on September 23. Rilwanu Shehu, national deputy president of SSAEAC, issued the warning on Monday during a protest in Bauchi over the alleged invasion of the Jos Electricity Distribution (JED) operation office and arrest of its workers by NAF personnel. “We are scared,…