Author: Opalim Lifted

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned a former managing director of the defunct Bank PHB Plc (now Keystone Bank Limited), Francis Atuche, and two others before the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on a nine-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit felony and forgery. Atuche and the two others, Nnosiri Joachim (also known as Ifeanyi) and Uguru Onyike were arraigned before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe. When the charge was read to the defendants, they all pleaded not guilty. Prosecution counsel, Fanen Anum, told the court that the matter is starting de novo and therefore asked the…

The Supreme Court has dismissed the lawsuit seeking the removal of President Bola Tinubu from office. The Supreme court, in a unanimous decision by a five-member panel of justices, awarded a fine of N5 million against the plaintiff, Chief Ambrose Owuru, who was the presidential candidate of the Hope Democratic Party, HDP, in the 2019 general election. The panel, which was led by Justice Uwani Musa Abba-Aji, warned the Registry of the Supreme Court not to accept any frivolous originating summons from the plaintiff again. In the legal action he filed directly at the apex court, Owuru, among other claims,…

Police operatives of the Okada Division have rescued four persons kidnapped and tied down by kidnappers in Edo State. A statement by the Force Public Relations Office, Edo State Command, SP Moses Yamu said the victims were rescued on Sunday at about 2:00 PM following a distress call about a kidnap incident along Okada-Ayekun camp via Utese. The victims namely David Ayanbode 60 years, Elizabeth Akpoyomare 40 years, Excel Akpoyomare 10 years & Flourish Akpoyomare 8 years were rescued unhurt after a gun duel, the statement said. “The kidnappers succumbed to the superior firepower of the Police and fled leaving…

Andel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, says the regional body, struggled financially before Nigeria’s payment of N85bn, $54m Levy on Sunday. “Up till last year, and the beginning of this year, we are cash-strapped at ECOWAS because much of the community levy remains with the member states. That is why this exemplary act by Nigeria is so important,” Musah said on Channels TV Sunrise Daily programme on Monday. On Sunday, at the opening of the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja, ECOWAS Commission President, Omar Touray, said…

A former presidential candidate, Chief Ambrose Owuru, has approached the Supreme Court, praying it to sack President Bola Tinubu from office. Owuru, who was the presidential flag-bearer of the Hope Democratic Party, HDP, in the 2019 general election, in the legal action he filed directly at the apex court, among other things, maintained that president Tinubu is an active agent of the Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, of the United States of America, USA, a position he said made him unifit to occupy the presidential seat. The plaintiff equally urged the apex court to disqualify Tinubu on the account that he…

Southampton have sacked manager Russell Martin after a 5-0 thrashing by Tottenham on Sunday left them nine points off Premier League safety. Martin, 38, guided the Saints to promotion last year in his first season in charge, beating Leeds United in the play-off final at Wembley. But the loss against Spurs was Southampton’s 13th in the league this campaign from 16 games. Their only win this season was against Everton in November, while the St Mary’s club have scored a league-low 11 goals. “Going into the start of the season, we all knew the challenges that we would face this…

Sunday Adeyemo, the Yoruba nation activist popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has advised Vice-President Kashim Shettima to stop the verbal war against Kemi Badenoch, leader of UK’s Conservative Party. Badenoch has drawn the ire of Nigerians — including a rebuke from Shettima — for “constantly denigrating” her homeland. Born in 1980 to Yoruba parents in the UK, she spent her early years in Nigeria before returning to the UK at 16. Before her election as leader of the Tories, Badenoch described Nigeria as a socialist nation brimming with thieving politicians and insecurity. In a recent interview, Badenoch said she identifies…

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was discharged Sunday from a Sao Paulo hospital following emergency surgery last week to treat an intracranial hemorrhage. “I am here in one piece… returning home,” the 79-year-old leftist leader said as he made a surprise appearance at a news conference by his medical team at Hospital Sirio-Libanes. Lula had successful surgery Tuesday in which doctors drilled through his skull to relieve pressure that built up after a blow to the head in October, when he fell in a bathroom in his presidential residence. On Thursday he underwent a follow-up operation to minimize…

Celtic, the Bhoys were pushed to the absolute limit before extending their domestic dominance in a thrilling Scottish League Cup final derby against Rangers that was ultimately decided on penalties. After six successful spot-kicks in the shootout, Rangers defender Ridvan Yilmaz’s low effort was saved by Kasper Schmeichel and, although goalkeeper Jack Butland netted the holders’ next kick, Daizen Maeda converted to seal the trophy for the Bhoys. The triumph – following an epic 3-3 draw after extra time – extends manager Brendan Rodgers’ record of never having lost at Hampden and leaves Ibrox counterpart Philippe Clement still searching for…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has not extended an invitation to former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the presidency on its platform in the 2027 election. Speaking with BBC Hausa, Ibrahim Abdullahi, deputy spokesperson of the country’s main opposition party, said no ticket has been issued to the former president. Abdullahi said the party has many eligible people who can contest for the presidency on its platform, adding that a recent interview he granted was interpreted to mean that Jonathan he asked to run on the PDP platform. “The report that PDP has issued its presidential ticket to…