Author: Opalim Lifted

Siminalayi Fubara, Rivers state governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike’s loyalist in the River State Assembly, disagreed on Thursday over the governor’s proposal to renovate the state legislative quarters. The governor, during a visit to the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt on Thursday, unveiled the plan to renovate the buildings. But the pro-Wike lawmakers, led by the factional Speaker, Martin Amaewhuke, raised the alarm that the governor’s planned renovation was part of the plot to demolish the legislative quarters the same way he pulled down the House of Assembly in December last year. Amid the feud…

Former Golden Eaglets star, Ibrahim Babangida reportedly died in a road accident along Kaduna/Zaria Road yesterday. Ibrahim, who was a member of the Nigeria Under 17 squad that won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Japan in 1993, reportedly died instantly in the car crash which also had his elder brother, Tijani Babangida, an Olympic Games gold medallist in 1996 and the President, Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN), and his wife on board. Ibrahim’s former teammate, Emmanuel Babayaro, who is the General Secretary, of PFAN, announced the incident in a statement. “Comrades! Let us be in prayers for our…

World governing body FIFA is facing the threat of legal action from world players’ union Fifpro and the World Leagues Association – which includes the Premier League – if it continues with plans to host a 32-team Club World Cup at the end of next season. They say the global football calendar is “now beyond saturation, to the point that national leagues are unable to properly organise their competitions” while “players are being pushed beyond their limits, with significant injury risks and impacts on their welfare”. BBC Sport reported in December that the PFA was taking legal advice over the…

Bayer Leverkusen staged a remarkable late comeback to move into the Europa League final with a 2-2 draw at home to AS Roma on Thursday as they won 4-2 on aggregate and set the longest unbeaten run in all competitions including European matches. Leverkusen were 2-0 down on the night in the 82nd minute when Roma defender Gianluca Mancini put through his own goal before late substitute Joseph Stanisic pulled the hosts level after Leandro Paredes netted two penalties for the visitors. Bundesliga champions, who have also reached this month’s German Cup final as they chase a treble, played their…

Aston Villa’s Europa Conference League run ended at the semi-final stage as opponents Olympiakos set up a final with Fiorentina. Having lost the first leg 4-2, Villa fell to a 2-0 defeat in Greece to lose their tie 6-2 on aggregate. Ayoub El Kaabi – who scored a hat-trick in the first leg – opened the scoring in Piraeus, tapping in Marin Ruiz’s low cross in the 10th minute against the run of play. Unai Emery’s side dominated possession but lacked composure in the final third. And El Kaabi benefitted from a tight offside call to double his tally with…

Hadi Sirika, former Aviation Minister, denied allegations of corruption involving N4. 135 billion brought against him by the federal government on Thursday in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court. Sirika was arraigned before Justice Sylvanus Oriji alongside his daughter, Fatima, his son-in-law, Jalal Sule Hamma, and a firm called Al Buraq Global Investment Limited. The daughter and son-in-law also pleaded not guilty to the six-count charges when read to them. They were put on trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on behalf of the federal government. Following their denial of the fraud charges, their respective lawyers…

The Senate on Thursday passed a bill that upgraded the maximum sentence of life imprisonment to the death penalty for drug traffickers in the country amidst controversy over the voice votes. The death sentence as a penalty for drug traffickers passed through the third reading, the 2024 NDLEA Act (Amendment) Bill. The proposal was adopted when the Senate dissolved into a committee of the whole for clause-by-clause consideration of a report of the Chairman of the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters and Drugs & Narcotics National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Senator Tahir…

American Express Co. has launched its maiden business credit card in Nigeria through a collaboration with local neobank O3 Capital Nigeria Limited, potentially enhancing access to dollar transactions in the West African country. O3 Capital and Amex unveiled the product on Thursday in Lagos. The business card with a spending limit of $10,000 and a repayment period of up to 45 days for international transactions. “The first-ever American Express Business Card in the most populous African country will give us another way to support local businesses with their growth aspirations,” Mohammed Badi, Amex’s President of Global Network Services, said in…

Usman Ododo, Governor of Kogi has listed a visit to his hometown and meeting with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu among the achievements of his first 100 days in office. Ododo on his official X handle shared infographics emblazoned with his photo containing the lists of his first 100 days in office’s achievements. “We will continue to do more for the good people of Kogi State. God Bless Kogi State. God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he wrote, sharing the lists of his achievements across sectors in the state. The Kogi governor listed “meeting with the National Security Adviser,…

The House of Representatives on Thursday asked the Central Bank of Nigeria to withdraw the circular directing all banks to commence charging a 0.5 percent cybersecurity levy on all electronic transactions within the country. The motion on the urgent need to halt and modify the implementation of the cybersecurity levy was moved by the member representing the Obio/Akpor Constituency, Kingsley Chinda. The circular, which was directed to all commercial, merchant, non-interest, and payment service banks, among others; noted that the implementation of the levy starts two weeks from Monday, May 6, 2024. “The levy shall be applied at the point…