Author: Opalim Lifted

Former Aviation Minister Stella Oduah and a co-defendant have begun negotiations for a plea bargain in the alleged N2.5 billion fraud case filed against them at the Federal High Court of Nigeria in Abuja. The Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that the defendants had approached the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to negotiate a settlement under the law. Oyedepo explained that the process had already begun and that part of the allegedly misappropriated funds was being returned to the Federal Government. “They have made moves to refund a certain amount of…

Tyler Perry, the entertainment mogul, is pushing back against a $77 million sexual assault lawsuit filed against him, with his legal team describing the claims as “frivolous” and a blatant attempt to extort money from him. On December 25, Mario Rodriguez, who appeared with Perry in the 2016 film Boo! A Madea Halloween, sued the billionaire filmmaker for alleged sexual battery and assault. Rodriguez claimed Perry subjected him to unwanted sexual advances on multiple occasions between 2014 and 2019. However, Perry’s attorneys including high-profile lawyer Alex Spiro  filed a formal response on February 27 in Los Angeles County Superior Court,…

Teddy A, the reality TV star, has once again sent social media into a frenzy of speculation about his marriage to BamBam, this time over a post that notably omitted her. The 37-year-old singer and actor recently took to Instagram to celebrate the women in his life with a carousel of seven slides. The post featured heartwarming moments with his children and a photo of his mother — but his wife was conspicuously absent from the tribute. “The month of March is for the women in my life! 😍😍😍,” he captioned the post, a message that fans were quick to…

The leadership of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has raised alarm over the delay in the payment of February salaries to university workers across Nigeria, warning that the situation is causing severe hardship for staff and their families. In a statement released on Thursday, SSANU national president Mohammed Ibrahim said the prolonged delay has negatively affected morale among university workers and threatens productivity across campuses. According to him, workers who sustain the country’s university system deserve prompt remuneration for their services. “Staff who dedicate their time and expertise to sustaining the university system deserve timely remuneration,” Ibrahim…

Tottenham’s fears of a first relegation from the top flight since 1977 have increased after Crystal Palace scored three goals in 12 first-half minutes to stun them in north London. Tottenham, who played more than half the match with 10 men, have now gone 11 league games without a win. The home side had taken the lead in the 34th minute when England international Dominic Solanke finished from close range. But after Micky van de Ven was sent off four minutes later, Ismaila Sarr netted twice – once either side of Jorgen Strand Larsen’s strike – to earn Palace consecutive…

Israel has defended the assassination of Ali Khamenei, saying the strike that killed Iran’s supreme leader complied with international law because he was directing the country’s military operations during the ongoing war. The Israeli government said the cleric, who served as commander-in-chief of Iran’s armed forces, was a lawful military target under the rules governing armed conflict. The Middle East conflict escalated dramatically after coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets on Saturday. One of the attacks killed Khamenei, a development that has further inflamed tensions across the region. Israel argues the strikes were necessary to…

A Pakistani man accused of plotting to assassinate United States politicians including President Donald Trump has told a US court he was forced into the scheme by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Asif Raza Merchant, 47, is facing charges in the United States for allegedly attempting to hire a hitman to kill American political figures. He pleaded not guilty when he was charged in September 2024. Testifying during his trial on Wednesday, Merchant said members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps pressured him to organise the murder-for-hire plot while his family was living in Tehran. According to US media…

Donald Trump has fired Kristi Noem as head of the US Department of Homeland Security after months of controversy surrounding immigration enforcement, fatal shootings in Minnesota and a disputed $220 million advertising contract. The US president announced the decision on Thursday, saying he plans to nominate Markwayne Mullin to replace her by the end of the month. The appointment will require confirmation by the United States Senate. Noem, a former governor of South Dakota, became one of the most visible figures in Trump’s cabinet due to her outspoken support for the administration’s hardline immigration policies. Controversies that led to Noem’s…

The presidency has announced the successful conclusion of a settlement agreement between the federal government, Eni, and Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited (NAEL). Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, disclosed the agreement in a statement on Thursday. He said President Bola Tinubu signed the deal during a ceremony held on Thursday in Abuja. “President Bola Tinubu announced today the successful conclusion of a historic settlement agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria, Eni, and Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited (NAEL),” the statement read. The announcement was made during a meeting in the president’s office attended by Claudio Descalzi, Guido Brusco, Mario Bello, Fabrizio Bolondi,…

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested a 24-year-old palm kernel dealer, Iziga Jude Ikechukwu, popularly known as Easy-money, for allegedly abusing naira notes during his birthday celebration in Enugu State. The suspect was apprehended by officers of the EFCC’s Enugu Zonal Directorate after a viral video surfaced on social media showing him spraying and mishandling naira notes in a hotel room while celebrating his birthday. According to the anti-graft agency, the act is an offence under Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007, which prohibits the abuse, mutilation or defacing of the…