Author: Opalim Lifted

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has removed the officer in charge of the Ibara Medium Custodial Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, along with two other principal officers, following a viral TikTok live stream by an inmate on death row. The service confirmed that the inmate was in unlawful possession of a prohibited mobile phone, which has since been recovered during a search operation and secured as evidence. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, described the incident as a “serious breach of custodial security.” The service disclosed that the inmate had been transferred to…

A 47-year-old man, Ugochukwu Eze, has been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly hacking into the server of SunTrust Bank Plc and fraudulently diverting N800 million into several accounts. Eze, also known as Amazon, was arraigned on Thursday before Justice Friday Ogazi following his prosecution by the Department of State Services (DSS). Counsel for the DSS, M. Bajela, told the court that the defendant and others still at large conspired between 2023 and 2026 to unlawfully and seriously hinder the operation of SunTrust Bank Plc’s computer system (server), allegedly diverting more than N800 million belonging to…

Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the 2027 federal and state elections on the same day. Dasuki said a single election day would reduce the financial burden on the government, minimise disruption to economic activities and limit the movement of voters, electoral officials, politicians and security personnel. The lawmaker made the call at the weekend while receiving youths of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who visited him to congratulate him on his emergence as deputy minority leader. He urged INEC to consider holding the combined elections…

Colombia has become the first country in Latin America to outlaw female genital mutilation (FGM), following the unanimous passage of a landmark law aimed at ending the harmful practice in parts of the country’s Indigenous communities. The legislation, approved by Colombia’s Congress last week, comes after years of advocacy by survivors, Indigenous leaders, healthcare professionals and lawmakers seeking to end a practice that has left generations of girls with lifelong physical and emotional trauma. According to reports by Reuters, one of the campaigners, Carla Quiñonez, whose identity has been protected, said her daughter was only six months old when the…

The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that applications are now open for the 2027 batch of the ECOWAS Young Professional Immersion Programme (YPIP). In a Wednesday statement signed by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja. The one-year, fully funded programme is open to young citizens of ECOWAS member states seeking practical experience within regional institutions while contributing to regional integration initiatives. The programme is designed to equip participants with technical and professional skills through hands-on experience under the guidance of experienced experts. To be eligible, applicants must be 32 years old or younger…

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately vacate the court order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government, describing the timing of the action as inappropriate ahead of the August 15 governorship election. In a personally signed statement issued on Thursday, the President said that while the EFCC acted within its statutory powers by obtaining a court order, carrying out the action just days before the election risked creating the wrong impression. “It has come to my notice that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained a court order on…

The federal government has activated enhanced seismic monitoring after an earth tremor shook parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The recent tremor was recorded by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA). Reacting to the incident, Dele Alake, minister of solid minerals development, directed the agency to provide hourly updates on seismic developments around the country’s capital. In a statement issued on Wednesday by Lara Owoeye-Wise, special assistant on media to Alake, the minister urged residents to remain calm and go about their normal activities without anxiety. He said the NGSA had also been directed to intensify surveillance of seismic…

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has invited stakeholders to submit comments on its proposed Midstream and Downstream Petroleum (Prevention of Anti-Competitive Practices and Behaviour) Regulations. In a public notice issued on Thursday, the authority said the consultation is being conducted in compliance with Section 216(1) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, which requires stakeholder engagement before regulations are finalised. The notice, signed by Rabiu Umar, chief executive officer (CEO) of the NMDPRA, said licensees, permit holders and other stakeholders have 21 days from the date of publication to submit comments on the proposed regulations. The…

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a global research prioritisation and action plan aimed at strengthening evidence on the health impacts of climate change-driven migration and displacement. In a statement issued on Wednesday, WHO said the initiative — the Global Research Prioritisation Exercise (GRPE) — was unveiled during a virtual webinar held on July 22, which brought together more than 300 participants from over 75 countries. The organisation said the plan seeks to address one of the most pressing and under-researched global health challenges by generating evidence to support equitable and migration-inclusive health systems. According to WHO, climate change…

President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms are responsible for the improved financial performance of many companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) in the first half of 2026, the Presidency has said. In a statement on Wednesday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said reforms introduced since 2023 have strengthened the operating environment for businesses, leading to higher revenues and profits. According to the statement, key policies including the unification of the foreign exchange (FX) market, removal of petrol subsidy, banking sector recapitalisation, tax reforms and approvals of major oil and gas transactions have improved operational…