Author: Opalim Lifted

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said no player is irreplaceable after axing club-record signing Enzo Fernandez from his Premier League starting line-up. The Argentine World Cup winner has been demoted to Maresca’s second string for cup competitions and has not started either of the past two top-flight games. Fernandez joined Chelsea for £107 million ($138 million) from Benfica in January 2023 but Maresca currently prefers the less experienced Romeo Lavia as a midfield partner for Moises Caicedo. “I still trust him (Fernandez),” Maresca said on Friday. “There’s no reason in the world I can lose confidence in him. “The reason he…

President Bola Tinubu has insisted that the Proposed Tax Reforms Bill currently at the National Assembly will go through legislative processes. The president stated this on Friday in a statement issued by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga. Chronicle reported that the National Economic Council, (NEC) had advised the executive to withdraw the bill from the National Assembly. The advice came amid a stiff opposition from some stakeholders in the north, who stated that the proposed tax reforms bill is against the region and should be withdrawn.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has condemned the detention of minors involved in the August #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests. In August 2024, Nigerian youths took to the streets to protest against the hardships, hunger, and poor governance that have marked the current administration. Many were arrested by Nigerian security forces, with 76 individuals arraigned in court today. During the proceedings, four minors among the group collapsed in the Federal High Court in Abuja. In response, SERAP took to its official X platform to denounce the detention, calling on President Bola Tinubu to release the protesters and drop all charges of…

Amnesty International Nigeria have condemned the detention of minors involved in the August #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests. The organization urged the Nigerian federal government to release all detained individuals, emphasizing the importance of upholding constitutional and internationally guaranteed human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. “Amnesty International condemns President Bola Tinubu’s government for the continued detention of minors who participated in the August #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests. The attempts to subject these minors to a sham trial over alleged ‘treason’ demonstrate the government’s utter disregard for the rule of law. Authorities must release them immediately and unconditionally,” they stated.…

There was chaos at a Federal High Court in Abuja after some minors who allegedly took part in the #EndBadGovernance protests collapsed while waiting to be arraigned. The court had fixed Friday for the arraignment of the defendants who are mostly minors. At the commencement of proceedings, the minors who looked ill and malnourished, were asked to come forward to take their plea. While some huddled in the dock, others stood outside the cubicle due to insufficient space. However, four of them hurriedly rushed out of the courtroom after they collapsed and writhed in pain. Obiora Egwuatu, presiding judge, had…

Nigeria’s Government has arraigned 76 detained #EndBadGovernance protesters at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. The protesters, mostly minors, were arraigned before Justice Obiora Egwuatu. They are facing a 10-count charge bordering on alleged treason, as well as conspiracy to commit felony with intent to destabilize Nigeria, an offence contrary to Section 96, and punishable under Section 97, of the Penal Code Act. The defendants looked malnourished, and four of them were hurriedly rushed out of the courtroom as they couldn’t stand on their feet. Looking very sickly, they wriggled in pain on the floor of the court. They…

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Friday ordered the final forfeiture of the sum of $2.045m, seven choice landed properties and share certificates linked to the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele. Justice Deinde Dipeolu ordered the permanent forfeiture of the monies and the two share certificates of Queensdorf Global Fund Limited Trust, after holding that the former CBN governor or any other interested party did not contest same after the initial interim forfeiture. The court also forfeited the seven choice landed properties on the ground that the former CBN Governor, Emefiele,was not able…

Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi said Friday he would “step aside” after his party suffered a resounding defeat in general elections, according to preliminary tallies. “I wish to congratulate the opposition on their victory and concede the election,” Masisi told reporters at a press conference, adding it had been “a good journey”. His party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has ruled the diamond-rich country since independence from Britain in 1966. Results from Wednesday’s vote are expected to be confirmed by the electoral commission later Friday, but early counts showed that three opposition parties had together won at least 31 of 61…

Manchester United have appointed Ruben Amorim as their new head coach. The 39-year-old Portuguese, who will move to Old Trafford from Lisbon club Sporting on 11 November, has signed a contract until June 2027. Former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who took charge on an interim basis after Erik ten Hag was sacked on Monday, will stay on for the club’s next three fixtures. Amorim is the sixth permanent manager United have appointed since Sir Alex Ferguson’s 26-year reign ended with his retirement in 2013. In a statement, the club said that “Ruben is one of the most exciting and…

The Nigeria Immigration Service has announced the launch of a phased, contactless passport renewal system, set to begin in Canada on November 1, 2024. This new system allows Nigerians to renew their passports online, greatly reducing the need for in-person visits to NIS offices. The NIS shared the announcement on Wednesday through a video posted on its official X account. Following the rollout in Canada, the service will expand to the United Kingdom, United States, and Italy on November 15, and by December 1, it will be available in Nigeria and other global locations. “In its continued effort to serve…