Author: Opalim Lifted

The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to prevent the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from calling more witnesses in his ongoing N2.1 billion procurement fraud trial. This was revealed during a court ruling by Justice Hamza Muazu. Emefiele’s lead attorney, Matthew Burkaa, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), argued that since the EFCC had listed only 10 witnesses in the evidence presented to the court, they should not be permitted to call additional witnesses. However, the EFCC’s prosecuting attorney, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), opposed the motion, arguing…

The Ikeja special offences court in Lagos state has discharged and acquitted Femi Fani-Kayode, (FFK) former minister of aviation, of 12 forgery-related charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Ruling on Tuesday, Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe, the trial judge, said the prosecution failed to link Fani-Kayode with the alleged offences. In December 2021, EFCC accused Fani-Kayode of forging a medical report to evade trial in another case. The former minister was alleged to have hired Ogieva Oziegbe to produce the false document, which was presented at a federal high court in Ikoyi. FFK pleaded not guilty and…

Bukola Saraki, the former senate president, has congratulated his son Oluwaseni on his win at the 67th Academy Grammy Awards. Seni won his first Grammy for his contribution to the ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ soundtrack, which earned the award for ‘Best Reggae Album’. In a post via X, Saraki expressed joy in seeing his son’s passion being recognised globally. He also said he is “super proud” of him. “Congratulations, Seni, on winning your first Grammy last night for your work on the ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ soundtrack, which took home the award for Best Reggae Album!” he wrote. “Seeing you…

The Kaduna state council of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) began an indefinite strike on Monday. The strike was in protest of the alleged termination of 900 staff from Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDCO), NAN reports. The workers, carrying placards, blocked the entrance to the company’s corporate headquarters. They prevented both employees and customers from entering the premises. The workers also accused the management of failing to pay death and retirement benefits, contrary to the conditions of service. Speaking on the matter, Pukat Ayuba, zonal organising secretary for NUEE northwest zone, said the strike would continue until the…

The Ogun State Government has suspended the Olorile of Orile Ifo, Oba Abdulsemiu Ogunjobi, for six months for assaulting a 73 year old man, Chief Abraham Areola. This was contained in a statement on Monday signed by the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Ganiyu Hazmat, and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta. Hamzat said the suspension became necessary following the uncivil conduct of the monarch on his subject in the public glare, not befitting the status of an Oba. The Commissioner explained that the decision to suspend the monarch was reached by the Ministry in conjunction…

Olu Verheijen, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on energy, has clarified her recent statement on electricity tariff increase in Nigeria. On January 30, a report quoted the special adviser as saying Nigeria’s power prices need to rise by about two-thirds (66 percent) for many customers to reflect the actual cost of energy supply. The special adviser, according to the report, stressed that higher electricity tariffs must be carefully balanced with subsidies to support less-affluent consumers across the country. However, in a statement on Monday, Verheijen said her statement was “misrepresented”. She clarified that after the 2024 Band A tariff…

Chelsea returned to the top four in the Premier League after coming from behind to beat West Ham on former manager Graham Potter’s return to Stamford Bridge. After fellow top-four contenders Manchester City and Newcastle lost at the weekend, the Blues were made to work hard for the three points by the visitors who led through Jarrod Bowen at the break. But substitute Pedro Neto equalised for Enzo Maresca’s side in the second half before Cole Palmer’s cross looped over Hammers goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, which took a big deflection off Aaron Wan-Bissaka to gift the win to the home side.…

The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned 29 Chinese, 10 Filipinos, one Malaysian, one Indonesian and one Pakistani before separate Federal High Courts sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos. They were arraigned alongside a company, Genting International Co. Ltd., before Justices Ayokunle Faji; D.I. Dipeolu; Alexander Owoeye and C.J. Aneke, respectively. The suspects are members of the syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects arrested on December 19, 2024, in Lagos during a surprise operation tagged “Eagle Flush Operation” by operatives of the EFCC. They were arraigned on separate charges bordering on…

The Federal Executive Council (FEC), presided over by President Bola Tinubu, has approved N885 billion for the execution of 10 road projects. Speaking after the FEC meeting on Monday in Abuja, David Umahi, minister of works, said the projects are aimed at upgrading Nigeria’s road networks and bridges across various states. He highlighted additional major projects approved, including the reconstruction of three sections of the Lokoja-Benin road, an important route for trade and transportation. “The project will be carried out in concrete and includes: Obajana to Benin (Section I): N64 billion, Auchi to Edo (Section II): N110 billion, Benin Airport…

A Kogi state high court in Lokoja has ordered Tijani Ahmed-Anaje, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, to vacate the throne. Umar Salisu, the trial judge, on Monday, ordered Ahmed-Anaje not to parade himself as the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland. In January 2024, Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi, appointed Ahmed-Anaje as the new Ohinoyi of Ebiraland. In December 2024, Daudu Adeku-Ojiah, Hussain Yusuf, and Abdulrahaam Suberu challenged the appointment of Ahmed-Anaje by the former governor. The plaintiffs sued Usman Ododo, the incumbent governor of Kogi; Muzi Abdullahi, the state attorney general; and Ahmed-Anaje as the first, second, and third defendants, respectively. The…