Author: Opalim Lifted

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, have been ordered by a Federal High Court in Abuja to appear before it within three days. This order came after the Incorporated Trustees of the New Kosol Welfare Initiative sued the minister and the AGF in court and sought an order of interim injunction from the court to restrain the implementation of the new Expatriates’ Taxation Regime known as the ‘Expatriate Employment Levy (EEL) in Nigeria. The EEL is a proposed taxation policy of the Federal Government compelling organisations that engage the services of…

Manchester United winger Amad Diallo has signed a new five-and-a-half-year contract, until June 2030. The 22-year-old’s previous deal had been due to expire at the end of the season, though the club had the option of triggering a 12-month extension clause. But United have opted to hand fresh terms to the Ivory Coast international, who has scored six goals in 27 appearances this season. “I am really proud to have signed this new contract. I have had some incredible moments with this club already but there is so much more to come,” Diallo said. “I have huge ambitions in the…

Members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have protested the appointment of Eric Chelle as the substantive coach of the Super Eagles. NANS held a protest on Thursday at the Moshood Abiola International Stadium in Abeokuta to register their displeasure, calling on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to reverse the appointment with immediate effect. Led by the clerk of the Senate, Abdul Yekinn Odunayo, NANS condemned the appointment and said it fell short of the expectations of Nigerians and football enthusiasts. The students also threatened to embark on a nationwide protest to drive home their demand and called…

The Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday signed a budget estimate of N3.366 trillion for 2025 into law. Sanwo-Olu gave his assent at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja. The budget tagged ‘Budget of Sustainability,’ aims to address infrastructure, economic diversification, and other critical sectors in the state. Sanwo-Olu commended the Speaker of the Lagos State Assembly Mudashiru Obasa and the entire leadership of the House for the prompt passage of the budget. He said the state government will also live up to the responsibility of delivering governance that is respectful of and responsive to the people at all times. Sanwo-Olu…

At least six people were crushed to death at a Hindu religious gathering in India, with several more injured, officials said Thursday. A huge crowd had gathered to collect entrance tokens to visit the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh when the stampede broke out on Wednesday. “The unfortunate incident… has claimed the lives of six devotees. I pray to god to give peace to the departed souls,” Prem Kumar Jain, spokesman of the state’s ruling Telugu Desam Party, told reporters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences to the families of the deceased. “My thoughts…

West Ham have confirmed former Brighton and Chelsea boss Graham Potter as their new manager. The 49-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the London side, who sacked Julen Lopetegui on Wednesday after six months in charge. Potter takes over with the Hammers 14th in the Premier League – seven points above the relegation zone – with just six league wins to their name. It is his first managerial position since being dismissed by Chelsea in April 2023. “I am delighted to be here. It was important to me that I waited until a job came along that I felt…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of Chima Hyginus Nkwocha, aka “Young Billionaire,” for cheating by impersonation and money laundering. Nkwocha was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with an option of a fine of N2,000,000 by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja. EFCC Head, Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said on Wednesday that Nkwocha was arrested in August 2024 for impersonating Frank Nils, Frank Cobert, Frank Brown, and Chiress Riffatt, using Gmail and Google Voice to defraud Linda Wheeler, an American, of $345,000. He added that Nkwocha received the naira equivalent…

Tens of thousands of people fled their homes near Los Angeles on Wednesday as three out-of-control wildfires fuelled by hurricane-force winds tore through the city’s suburbs, destroying dozens of houses. At least one firefighter was injured battling a blaze near the upmarket Pacific Palisades neighbourhood, US media said, with reports of several other people having suffered burns. Vicious gusts fanned the flames, whipping red-hot embers hundreds of meters (yards), sparking new spot fires faster than helpless firefighters could quell them. As dawn broke, a vast pall of smoke was visible over Los Angeles, with the acrid tang of burning in…

President Bola Tinubu has extolled the virtues of the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the national oil company, Mele Kyari as he marks his 60th birthday on Wednesday. Kyari who sits at the helm of affairs at the National Nigerian Petroleum Company Limited had earlier stated how he went from being a beneficiary of the Almajiri school system, to becoming the number one man at the national oil company. “I am profoundly grateful to my country for giving me the opportunity to grow from an Almajiri (Tsangaya) school pupil to become the CEO of Africa’s largest energy company. “Even…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed charges against a former commissioner of finance under the administration of Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Bashir Saidu, over alleged financial misappropriation and money laundering. The embattled former commissioner was arrested some weeks ago by the Kaduna State Police command over allegations of diversion of public funds, and was later remanded at the correctional centre in the Kaduna State capital. An Assistant legal officer at ICPC, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, filed the case against the former finance commissioner at the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday. He was charged alongside a…