Author: Opalim Lifted

The Nigerian Army have retired 656 senior non-commissioned officers, who have served for 35 years. The retirees on Thursday were celebrated in a colourful ceremony at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Oshodi, following a six-month demilitarisation training programme designed to prepare them for civilian life. The retirees included 535 personnel from the Nigerian Army, 86 from the Nigerian Navy, 35 from the Nigerian Air Force, and two from the Defence Intelligence Agency. The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Hasan Abubakar, paid tribute to the retirees, acknowledging their invaluable contributions to the country’s peace and security. “This…

Nollywood actress Funke Akindele has issued a stern warning to pirates ahead of the release of her upcoming movie ‘Everybody Loves Jenifa’. Akindele in a video posted on her Instagram handle threatened to arrest anyone caught wanting. She urged viewers not to record her movie while watching it in the cinema. The movie will be released in cinemas on Friday, December 13. “Don’t be scared, I’m fine. If you go to see my new movie and you bring out your phone or any device you have to film then that won’t be fine,” she said in the video. “I know…

Former Barcelona youngster Marc Guiu caught the eye as he helped fire Chelsea into the knockout stage of the UEFA Conference League with victory against Astana in Kazakhstan. The Blues had made the 3,600-mile trip to Almaty for the game, which was played in difficult conditions including temperatures of -11C. But it did not stop the much-changed Chelsea line-up from securing a comfortable win, getting the job done with three first-half goals. Spanish youth international Guiu, 18, was one of a number of youngsters given the chance to impress and he did just that by opening the scoring in the…

Rasmus Hojlund came off the bench to score twice as Manchester United, Man United fought back from a goal down to claim a vital Europa League win at Viktoria Plzen. The result lifts Ruben Amorim’s side into the top eight positions that would automatically see them qualify for the last 16 of the competition. Hojlund has now scored five times in the competition this term and sparked a Man United revival after his second-half introduction. The 21-year-old forward levelled after some good link-up play from Antony and Amad Diallo, prodding in from close range when the Ivorian’s initial effort was…

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has stated that the Commission is fighting corruption and internet crimes to protect the future of students across the country, charging them to be more committed to the fight. The EFCC boss stated this recently in Abuja when students of Britmax International School visited the Commission’s headquarters on a study tour. Olukoyede, represented by the Head, EFCC 97.3 Fm Radio Station, Deputy Commander of the Commission, DCE Nwanyinma Okeanu, said the fight against corruption was meant to eradicate vices from the society. According to him, the mandate…

The Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos has set aside a bench warrant issued against the Former Managing Director of Assets Management Cooperation of Nigeria (AMCON) Ahmed Kuru, for his absence at his arraignment on an alleged N76bn fraud. Justice Mojisola Dada set aside the bench warrant against Kuru after listening to the submissions and apology from his counsel, Olasupo Shasore (SAN). In a short ruling, the judge said, “In view of the attendance of the second defendant in court and the undertaken signed by the learned silk to ensure his attendance in court at any given time and…

The Football Association says it supported Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 World Cup after being assured all fans would be safe and welcome. As expected, the governing body for English football backed the Saudi bid and a multi-nation hosting of the 2030 World Cup at Wednesday afternoon’s online FIFA Congress, where the tournament hosts were officially confirmed. The FA released a statement after the meeting, which said: “Our focus is on ensuring that all our fans can attend and enjoy tournaments. “The FA board met the Saudi Arabian Football Federation last month to discuss their bid in more…

Taiwan said Thursday it detected 16 Chinese warships in waters around the island, one of the highest numbers this year, as Beijing intensifies military pressure on Taipei. The navy vessels, along with 34 Chinese aircraft, were spotted near Taiwan in the 24 hours to 6:00 am (2200 GMT) Thursday, according to the defence ministry’s daily tally. Beijing has been holding its biggest maritime drills in years from near the southern islands of Japan to the South China Sea, Taiwan authorities said this week. Around 90 Chinese warships and coast guard vessels have been involved in the exercises that include simulating…

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed on Thursday to fight “until the very last minute” in a defiant address defending his shock decision to declare martial law and deploy troops to the country’s parliament last week. The South Korean leader is barred from foreign travel as part of a probe into his inner circle over the dramatic events of December 3-4 that stunned Seoul’s allies and threw the country into some of its deepest political turmoil in years. Yoon, staring down an impeachment vote in parliament on Saturday, vowed to “fight with the people until the very last minute”.…

Israeli forces conducted a first withdrawal from a town in south Lebanon and were replaced by the Lebanese military under a ceasefire deal, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said. The command’s leader General Erik Kurilla “was present at the implementation and monitoring headquarters today during the ongoing first Israeli Defense Forces withdrawal and Lebanese Armed Forces replacement in Al-Khiam, Lebanon, as part of the (ceasefire) agreement,” CENTCOM said in a statement. “This is an important first step in the implementation of a lasting cessation of hostilities and lays the foundation for continued progress,” the statement quoted Kurilla as saying. Lebanese…