Author: Opalim Lifted

The House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and its N1.3 billion budgetary allocation says Adeniyi Adeyemi will be interrogated, but not at a public hearing. The committee had asked Tunji Disu, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), to produce Adeyemi for questioning. However, Disu declined the committee’s request, saying Adeyemi is being held in custody on a court order. The IGP said the police would not produce Adeyemi unless a court of competent jurisdiction issues a warrant directing the force to comply with the request. Speaking at the public hearing on Tuesday, Yusuf…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it froze the Osun State Government’s bank account over the alleged fraudulent handling of N11 billion in ecological and intervention funds. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the anti-graft agency said it had been investigating the Osun State Government since March over the alleged mismanagement of the funds. According to the EFCC, several state officials, including the Accountant-General, have been questioned as part of the investigation. The commission said it noticed substantial transfers from the government account into several corporate entities from August 2, prompting it to impose a post-no-debit restriction. “These…

Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Orji Uzor Kalu, has declared that President Bola Tinubu remains the favourite to win the 2027 presidential election, insisting that the opposition is too divided to pose a serious threat despite prevailing economic hardship. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Kalu defended the Tinubu administration’s performance, arguing that while Nigerians are still grappling with economic challenges, the government has made significant progress in stabilising the economy and tackling insecurity. The former Abia State governor maintained that Tinubu had “no competition” ahead of the next general election, attributing his confidence to the achievements of the…

Veteran entertainer and socio-political activist Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has addressed long-running speculation about his sexuality, saying he is unbothered by the rumours. In a statement on Wednesday, Charly Boy said many Nigerians have questioned his sexuality over the years, with some openly calling him gay. He said critics were free to hold their opinions, adding that he believes many people are still unwilling to embrace broader perspectives on gender expression and identity. According to him, embracing one’s feminine side does not make a man “less of a man” but instead allows a person to experience the…

The Nigerian High Commission in South Africa has opened an online portal for nationals seeking voluntary return to Nigeria, in a move that could pave the way for a second repatriation exercise. In a memo released on Tuesday, the high commission said the registration portal would remain open until August 12 but noted that completing the registration does not automatically guarantee placement on a repatriation flight. The move comes weeks after the federal government repatriated 1,490 Nigerians from South Africa in seven batches following xenophobic violence targeting foreign nationals. The government paid for five flights, while two additional batches returned…

The convicted leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has appealed to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to intervene over what he described as prolonged medical neglect and the alleged harassment of his independent medical team, as his family claimed his life was endangered while in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). The Okwu-Kanu family, in a statement issued on Wednesday by Prince Emmanuel Kanu, alleged that Kanu’s health deteriorated due to inadequate medical care in DSS custody. The family accused the security agency and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) of…

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reduced the ex-depot prices of premium motor spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, and automotive gas oil (AGO), also known as diesel, as part of efforts to make fuel more affordable for Nigerians. The refinery announced on Wednesday that the ex-depot price of petrol has been reduced to N1,165 per litre from N1,215 per litre, representing a N50 reduction. It also lowered the ex-depot price of diesel to N1,570 per litre, down from N1,650 per litre, a decrease of N80 per litre. In a statement, the company said the price adjustments reaffirm its commitment to…

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) becomes a permanent national intervention, following a closed-door meeting with the Fund’s leadership at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting, held on Tuesday, brought together the Chairman of the NELFUND Board, Jim Ovia, and the Fund’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Akintunde Sawyerr, to review the progress of the student loan programme more than two years after its launch. According to Presidency sources, the NELFUND leadership briefed the President on the scheme’s performance, including the number of beneficiaries, implementation challenges, opportunities for expansion…

Former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke has criticised the Federal Government’s Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, describing it as a misplaced priority that Nigeria cannot afford amid pressing economic challenges. Speaking on Prime Time on Arise Television on Tuesday, Duke argued that the 750-kilometre project is an imprudent use of scarce public resources, insisting that government spending should reflect the country’s economic realities. “I’ll bring this up. Take the Lagos-Calabar highway. I know the country cannot afford it,” Duke said. He questioned the feasibility of constructing a coastal road through the Niger Delta, particularly Bayelsa State, which he described as…

US President Donald Trump has warned Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face severe military action, while expressing optimism that negotiations could produce a breakthrough within days. Speaking to reporters in California on Tuesday, Trump said discussions with Iran had made significant progress and suggested an agreement to reopen the strategic waterway could be reached as early as Wednesday. “The strait is going to be open very soon, or they’re going to get hit very hard — and then the strait’s going to be open,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News. The Strait of Hormuz, one…