Author: Opalim Lifted

What the rest of the world sees as a sex tape scandal could in fact be the latest episode in the real-life drama over who will become Equatorial Guinea’s next president. Over the past fortnight, dozens of videos – estimates range from 150 to more than 400 – have been leaked of a senior civil servant having sex in his office and elsewhere with different women. They have flooded social media, shocking and titillating people in the small central African country and beyond. Many of the women filmed were wives and relatives of people close to the centre of power.…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to “stop the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and Nigeria’s 36 governors from usurping the authority and responsibilities of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and heads of court through giving cars and houses to judges.” SERAP said, “Such practices are clearly antithetical to the constitutional principles of separation of powers, checks and balances and the rule of law, and may create the perception that the judiciary is subservient to the executive.” “SERAP also urged him to “direct the Attorney General of the Federation and…

Liverpool took full advantage of Manchester City’s slip-up in the Premier League title race by beating Aston Villa to move five points clear in top spot. Just before the game at Anfield kicked off, the reigning champions were beaten 2-1 by Brighton. That meant leaders Liverpool knew victory would ensure they opened up a decent gap to City heading into the international break. Darwin Nunez opened the scoring in the 20th minute, striding on to a loose ball after Mohamed Salah went down in a tangle with Leon Bailey following a brilliant counter-attack before firing beyond Emi Martinez. Nunez really…

Pep Guardiola fell to a fourth successive defeat for the first time in his managerial career as Brighton came from behind to beat his Manchester City side. It is the first time since 2006 that City have lost four in a row. The Premier League champions looked on course to end their disappointing sequence when Erling Haaland capped an impressive opening at Amex Stadium in the 23rd minute, scoring at the second attempt from Mateo Kovacic’s pass. Brighton, however, held their nerve, taking complete control after the break – and it was only their poor finishing that prevented them drawing…

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has emerged as the sole candidate for the role of director-general at the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The WTO said the former Nigerian finance minister agreed to a second term for the organisation’s top job. “Nominations for Director-General closed; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala confirmed as sole candidate,” the WTO said in a Saturday statement. “Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, Chair of the General Council, informed WTO members on 9 November that no further nominations for the position of Director-General had been received by the deadline of 8 November and that the incumbent Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is therefore the only candidate…

Matheus Cunha’s stunner inspired Wolves to a first Premier League win of the season in their showdown with relegation rivals Southampton. The forward struck from 25 yards to settle the nerves around Molineux and lift the hosts off the bottom of the table and above the Saints. He had earlier set up Pablo Sarabia’s opener, and victory, which moves Wolves to within a point of safety, eases the pressure on boss Gary O’Neil. The spotlight instead shines on Saints head coach Russell Martin after a ninth loss in 11 games, but Southampton will point to the decision to disallow Ryan…

Brighton have appointed German Daniel Niedzkowski as assistant head coach. The 47-year-old will leave his role as head of the German Football Association’s (DFB) coaches training programme to join Brighton in January, subject to being granted a work permit. Fabian Hurzeler, who took over as Brighton manager this summer, trained under Niedzkowski. “He will be an excellent addition to our coaching team,” Hurzeler said. “He is somebody I know very well from Germany and have been keen to bring him to the club.” Salah sparks Liverpool exit talk after Brighton win Technical director David Weir said: “He knows what it…

Former Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Lagos State Chapter, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, was elected the new National President of the Union on Saturday. Akinsanya was the sole candidate in the election, which took place at the Union’s Zonal Secretariat along the Osogbo/Ikirun road. Delegates from the four Southwest states of Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, and Ekiti participated in the election. The election, held during the Union’s Quadrennial Delegate Conference, was monitored and observed by the acting National President of the group, Aliyu Issa-Ore. Issa-Ore, addressing the gathering, explained that the Union’s Constitution stipulates…

The First Lady Remi Tinubu has denied claims that she is organising a national prayer over the country’s economic challenges. Claims were making the rounds on several platforms that Remi Tinubu in conjunction with others was planning a prayer session for the country. But Busola Kukoyi, the spokesperson to the First Lady, has described the claims as not only misleading but also unfounded. “This is to clarify and inform the general public that the First Lady of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON is not organizing a National Prayer,” she said in a Saturday statement. “The news making rounds…

Vinicius Jr scored a fine hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Osasuna 4-0 in a match overshadowed by what appeared to be a serious knee injury to Eder Militao. The Brazilian centre-back went down screaming in agony after he seemingly jarred his right knee at a corner and was carried off the pitch on a stretcher with half an hour played, as 21-year old Raul Asencio replaced him for his Real debut. Vinicius’ goals helped ensure the hosts got back to winning ways after two successive defeats. The Brazilian forward opened the scoring when he cut in from the left and…