Author: Opalim Lifted

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has insisted that Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi, must present himself to the court and answer to the 18-count charges against him. In a statement, EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, asked Bello to obey court order and appear before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja. He said the former governor had made “several unsuccessful attempts to throw spanners in his ongoing trial through some irresponsible and utterly rascally efforts.” “As a responsible anti-graft agency, the EFCC is sensitive to public opinions, especially if they are in tandem with its…

A Lagos Federal High Court has remanded a Lagos drug baron, Jimoh Sulaimon, popularly called Temo, in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), after his arraignment by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over alleged several trafficking cases. Jimoh, who is also known as Olowoidigede, Godfather, and 001, was arraigned before the court on an amended six-count charge of being a member of a Drug Trafficking Organisation (DTO): import, processing, trafficking, and dealing in 704 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa (Ghana Loud); concealment of illicit funds. At the drug kingpin’s arraignment today, the prosecutor, Lambert Nor, Deputy Command and…

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria after screening. The development comes after President Bola Tinubu wrote the Senate on Tuesday, seeking her confirmation as the CJN. Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, read Tinubu’s letter during plenary on Tuesday. In the letter, Tinubu cited Section 231(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, which empowers him to appoint the CJN based on recommendations from the National Judicial Council, pending Senate approval. The President expressed confidence in her nomination and urged the Senate to act urgently. “I hereby forward the nomination of Honourable Justice Kudirat…

Former Manchester United, Real Madrid and France defender Raphael Varane has retired from football at the age of 31. Varane joined Italian side Como on a free transfer in July but suffered a knee injury on his debut against Sampdoria last month. The centre-back says he will stay at the club in a non-playing role. “I hold myself to the highest standard, I want to go out strong, not just holding on to the game,” he wrote on Instagram. “It takes a big dose of courage to listen to your heart and your instinct.” Varane began his career at French…

President Bola Tinubu has urged the UN Security Council to give Nigeria and other African countries permanent seats at the council, as a way to strengthen its relevance and credibility. Tinubu who is the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of States and Government of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, stated this while addressing world leaders during the General Debate of the ongoing 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, United States. Tinubu said, “Some permanent members of the United Nations Security Council have offered encouraging, if tentative…

President Bola Tinubu has asked the United Nations to prioritise debt forgiveness from creditors and multilateral financial institutions for Nigeria and other developing countries. Tinubu who is the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of States and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) made the call while addressing world leaders during the General Debate of the ongoing 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, United States. Represented by his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, at the high-level annual global event, the President asked for debt relief to…

Christopher Nkunku scored a hat-trick as Chelsea cruised into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a convincing win over League Two Barrow at Stamford Bridge. Nkunku opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a cool finish after a fine chipped pass from Joao Felix. The forward soon added his second with a clever flick to divert Malo Gusto’s low cross into the net, before a Felix free-kick hit the post and bounced in off Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman to give the Blues a 3-0 half-time lead. Two minutes after the restart Pedro Neto scored his first Chelsea…

Manchester City survived a late scare to get back to winning ways after Sunday’s draining draw against Arsenal with a 2-1 defeat of Watford in the Carabao Cup. First-half goals from Jeremy Doku and Matheus Nunes ultimately proved enough for a much-changed side to reach the fourth round at the expense of their Championship opponents at the Etihad Stadium. Watford goalkeeper Jonathan Bond prevented the scoreline becoming a rout with several saves in the second half while Savinho hit the post, but the visitors gained late hope with a fine Tom Ince strike. Yet, after plenty of last-gasp drama at…

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Abuja has said she is going to “recuse” herself from Nnamdi Kanu’s case. She made the statement after Nnamdi Kanu asked her to recuse herself from his case since she had refused to obey the Supreme Court’s order, adding that he had lost confidence in the court. He spoke out at the open court during the resumption of his trial on Tuesday. Justice Binta Nyako then replied that she would be happy to recuse herself from the trial, and had no problem with his request. She said she would be sending the…

The Kogi State House of Assembly has called for the immediate removal of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, over alleged assassination attempts on the immediate past and incumbent governors of the state, Yahaya Bello and Usman Ododo. The House stated the call was over his unprofessional handling of the case against the immediate past governor of the state, Yahaya Bello. The legislators, during plenary in Lokoja, the state capital, on Monday, condemned what they described as the EFCC operatives’ unprovoked attack on the Kogi State Government Lodge, saying it was an attack on…