Author: Opalim Lifted

Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo state, has called on the United Nations (UN) and international human rights organisations to investigate the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire LGA on May 15. Speaking in a broadcast after receiving the rescued pupils and their teachers in his office in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, on Monday, Makinde said the “circumstances surrounding this incident are sufficiently grave and unusual to warrant independent scrutiny beyond our domestic institutions”. “I, therefore, with a full sense of responsibility as the executive governor of Oyo state, call on the appropriate international human rights organisations and accountability…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Uche Nnaji, the former Minister of Science and Technology, over allegations of certificate forgery and misappropriation of funds. Nnaji was arraigned on Monday before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja on a six-count charge bordering on alleged certificate forgery and misappropriation of funds. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. After the former minister entered his plea, Ogwu Onoja, his counsel, informed the court that a bail application had been filed. However, the prosecution said it was ready to commence trial and present three…

A US-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, says it is ready to help Adeniyi Adeyemi, director-general of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), seek asylum and whistleblower protection in the United States. The offer was made by the firm’s founder, Karl Von Batten, in a post on X while reacting to the growing controversy surrounding the PFIPC. Von Batten argued that US authorities could have an interest in the matter because Nigeria’s national budget includes funds sourced from World Bank loans, with the United States being the institution’s largest shareholder. The PFIPC has sparked controversy after reportedly operating like…

South Africa has unveiled plans to increase its strategic petroleum reserves to about 36 million barrels, marking a major shift in its energy security strategy more than five decades after the apartheid era. The proposal was outlined in a draft Strategic Petroleum Stocks Policy released by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) for public consultation. The move follows heightened concerns over global oil supply disruptions caused by recent tensions involving Iran and the United States, which pushed international crude oil prices higher and slowed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest oil transit routes.…

Davido, the Grammy-nominated singer, has opened up about plans to establish a mental health therapy centre for formerly popular and successful celebrities. Speaking in a recent interview, the hitmaker cited the intense pressure of fame and the criticism faced by football icon Cristiano Ronaldo during the ongoing World Cup. The 33-year-old Nigerian artiste expressed concern over the psychological toll of celebrity life, particularly the struggle to remain relevant after reaching the top. “If there is one thing I could do, I would build a centre for people who have been popular and very successful before,” he said. “A centre for…

Minister of Works David Umahi has dismissed allegations of secrecy surrounding the death of Mary Habila, a nurse, at his residence in Ebonyi State, insisting that the incident was immediately reported to the police and handled transparently. Speaking on Sunday while inspecting ongoing work on the Ebonyi section of the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue–Nasarawa–Abuja Superhighway, Umahi explained that the deceased’s family forced open her room after becoming concerned about her wellbeing before rushing her to the hospital. According to the minister, doctors from the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital (DUFUTH) made efforts to revive Habila but were unsuccessful. “The family broke the…

The Federal Government has suspended its proposed increase in registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations, following widespread public criticism. The Federal Ministry of Education announced on Monday that it had withdrawn its June 18, 2026, letter proposing the fee adjustment to allow for broader consultations with stakeholders before any final decision is made. Reacting to the development, former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, described the decision as a victory for millions of Nigerian parents, students and civil society groups who opposed the…

Apple has sued OpenAI and two former employees, alleging that the artificial intelligence (AI) company misappropriated its trade secrets to accelerate its expansion into the consumer hardware market. According to Reuters, a lawsuit filed on Friday in the United States (US) District Court for the Northern District of California alleges that OpenAI orchestrated a coordinated effort to obtain and exploit Apple’s confidential information through former employees, recruitment practices, and supplier relationships. The iPhone maker claimed the information was used to support OpenAI’s plans to develop AI-powered consumer devices that could compete with Apple’s products. Responding to the lawsuit, OpenAI denied…

The presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to suspend the proposed increase in registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination, describing the move as “a victory for the Nigerian people.” Obi made the remarks in a statement posted on his official X handle on Monday, shortly after the Federal Ministry of Education announced the suspension of the planned fee review following widespread public criticism. He commended the government for responding to public concerns but argued…

The Nigerian military says it has neutralised an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) cameraman and recovered multimedia materials that allegedly reveal the presence of three foreign collaborators operating with the terrorist group in Borno State. According to a statement issued on Sunday by Muhammed Goni, Acting Information Officer of Headquarters Joint Task Force (North-East) Operation Hadin Kai, the recovered materials identified the foreign operatives as Abu Ishaq, described as a Palestinian Arab and ISWAP’s overall trainer; Abu Thaiba, a Moroccan Arab serving as a medical doctor within the terrorist network; and another Arab operative whose identity has yet to…