Author: Opalim Lifted

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned Olu Agunloye, the former minister of power and steel, before a federal capital territory (FCT) high court, Apo Abuja. Agunloye was first arraigned on January 11, 2024, by the EFCC and was granted N50 million in bail. At the court session on Monday, the former minister was re-arraigned on a seven-count charge bordering on forgery, disobeying presidential directives, and gratification. The EFCC is prosecuting Agunloye over a $6 billion Mambilla hydropower contract. The EFCC alleged that Agunloye awarded the contract for the Mambilla project on May 22, 2003, to Sunrise Power…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Mustapha Mohammed, chief executive officer (CEO) of MB Lugga Global Travels and Tours Limited, before a federal high court in Gombe on charges of defrauding hajj pilgrims. The EFCC accused Mohammed of fraudulently obtaining N144,162,500 from the pilgrims for services related to the 2024 Ramadan Lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia, including flight tickets, visas, and accommodation. The EFCC claimed that Mohammed, in collaboration with Nazifi Sale Idris, who is currently at large, defrauded a man named Hamza Ibrahim Maina of N97,080,000 via Mohammed’s personal Access Bank account. Another charge involves a…

Lagos governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, hosted Ivorian and Chelsea football legend Didier Drogba at the Lagos House in Marina on Monday. The visit was part of a special event celebrating Drogba’s remarkable contributions to football and his philanthropic initiatives.The governor’s Senior Special Assistant on New Media, Jubril Gawat, shared a video on social media capturing the warm reception the Ivorian received. In a post on X, Gawat confirmed that Drogba’s team, alongside representatives from the E1 Racing Team, met with Sanwo-Olu.“Between Governor #jidesanwoolu and African Football Legend, #ChelseaFC Legend, Didier Drogba #didierdrogba this morning at the Lagos House, Marina, as Team…

An FCT High Court has ordered the remand of former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Usman Yusuf, in Kuje prison after he pleaded not guilty to five-count amended charge, bordering on alleged fraud levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The EFCC had in the five-count charge accused the former NHIS Executive Secretary of using his office to confer undue advantages to himself between 2016 and 2017. Usman was arraigned before Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Kuje, Abuja on Monday. Following his guilty plea, counsel to the…

Aston Villa have completed the loan signing of Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford. The 27-year-old has joined on a deal until the end of the season, which includes an option to buy for £40m. United sources said the terms mean a minimum of 75% of Rashford’s wages will be covered. Villa are not paying a loan fee. Writing on Instagram Rashford said: “I would like to thank Manchester United and Aston Villa for making this loan deal happen. “I was lucky to have a few clubs approach me but Aston Villa was an easy decision – I really admire the…

Olu Verheijen, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on energy, revealed that Nigeria’s electricity tariff will increase in 2025. Tinubu’s aide spoke at the Africa Heads of State Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Bloomberg reports. On April 3, 2024, the federal government approved a threefold increase in electricity tariff for customers under the Band A classification. Verheijen explained that Nigeria’s power prices need to rise by about two-thirds (66 percent) for many customers to reflect the actual cost of supplying electricity. She also emphasised that higher electricity tariffs must be balanced with subsidies for less-affluent consumers, as they…

Beyonce won the Grammy Award for best country album on Sunday for “Cowboy Carter” at a ceremony that served as a love letter to host city Los Angeles following the devastating wildfires that scarred a hub of the music business. The superstar hip-hop singer said she was “in shock” to take the country award for her first venture into the genre. The Beyonce album was snubbed by voters for the Country Music Awards in their nominations in September. “Really I was not expecting this,” Beyonce said after she was handed the Grammy trophy by presenter Taylor Swift. “I want to…

Beyonce won the top prize at music’s Grammy Awards on Sunday, taking album of the year for the first time in her career with her country record “Cowboy Carter,” at a ceremony that delivered a love letter to wildfire-ravaged Los Angeles. The superstar singer triumphed over Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and others to claim the trophy that had eluded her even as she collected more lifetime Grammys than any other artist. “I just feel very full and very honored. It’s been many, many years,” Beyonce said on stage, standing next to her daughter Blue Ivy Carter. Beyonce’s win came on…

Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has won the Best African Music Performance category at the 67th Grammy Awards.  She secured the award with her song Love Me JeJe, beating Tomorrow by Yemi Alade, MMS by Asake featuring Wizkid, Sensational by Chris Brown featuring Davido and Lojay, and Higher by Burna Boy. This marks Temilade Openiyi’ second Grammy win. South Africa’s Tyla won the award for her hit Water in 2024 in the category’s first edition. The Love Me Jeje singer received three nominations at this year’s Grammys, bringing her career total to eight. She was also nominated…

Inter defender Stefan de Vrij scored a stoppage-time equaliser to deny AC Milan victory in Serie A. Sergio Conceicao’s side looked set to complete the league double over rivals Inter in the Derby della Madonnina when Tijjani Reijnders put them ahead just before the break. The Dutchman reacted quickest to rifle a finish into the roof of the net after visiting keeper Yann Sommer had parried Rafael Leao’s angled shot. But in a tense finale, the Nerazzurri levelled when Nicola Zalewski chested the ball into the path of defender de Vrij who hooked the ball into the net from close…