Author: Opalim Lifted

Zenith Bank Plc has officially completed its acquisition of Paramount Bank Kenya Limited, following regulatory approvals in both Nigeria and Kenya. The transaction, confirmed in a statement by company secretary Michael Osilama Otu, marks a major milestone in Zenith Bank’s expansion into the East African market. “Further to our publication on November 18, 2025, Zenith Bank Plc is pleased to announce the completion of its acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Paramount Bank Kenya Limited following all requisite regulatory approvals,” the statement said. The bank said the move strengthens its footprint across sub-Saharan Africa and supports its long-term…

The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Ishaq Oloyede, has called on candidates and parents to challenge suspected admission bias if they are confident in their UTME scores. Speaking during an interview with Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Oloyede said qualified candidates who are denied admission into their preferred institutions should formally protest through the board’s system. He emphasised that the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) ensures transparency and fairness, making it easier to track and question irregularities. According to him, candidates who believe they meet the admission requirements should not remain silent. He stressed that CAPS has…

American rapper Offset has been hospitalised after being injured in a shooting outside the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Florida on Monday evening. The 34-year-old artiste, born Kiari Kendrell Cephus, was reportedly shot in a valet area before being rushed to Memorial Regional Hospital for treatment. A representative confirmed that the rapper is in stable condition and receiving medical care. “We can confirm Offset was shot and is currently at the hospital receiving medical care. He is stable and being closely monitored,” the spokesperson said. Police authorities said the incident occurred shortly after 7pm and involved non-life-threatening injuries.…

US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, saying its “whole civilisation will die tonight” unless its leadership makes a dramatic concession. In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump gave Tehran a deadline of Tuesday 8pm ET (1am WAT) to strike what he described as a “revolutionary” deal. The US leader is demanding that Iran fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping, warning of severe consequences if it fails to comply. “A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,”…

US President Donald Trump has dramatically escalated tensions with Iran, warning the country could be “taken out” in a single night if it fails to comply with US demands. The warning comes as a deadline set by Washington for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping fast approaches. Trump had earlier issued a 48-hour ultimatum on Saturday, threatening severe military consequences if Tehran refused to cooperate. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the US leader doubled down on his stance, outlining what he described as a devastating military plan. “The entire country could be taken out…

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has denied issuing any threat against Seun Okinbaloye, insisting his controversial remark during a recent media chat was purely figurative. The former Rivers State governor came under scrutiny after reacting to comments made by Okinbaloye on Politics Today, where he criticised the trajectory of Nigeria’s democracy. During the media session, Wike had said: “If there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him.” The statement quickly sparked backlash, with some interpreting it as a direct threat. However, speaking on Tuesday, Wike clarified that his words were misinterpreted…

African Democratic Chieftain (ADC), Peter Obi has raised fresh concerns over the Federal Government’s repeated approval of trillions of naira to settle debts in Nigeria’s struggling power sector. In a statement posted on his official X account on Tuesday, Obi questioned the rationale behind the reported approval of ₦3.3 trillion as a “full and final” payment for power sector liabilities, noting that similar approvals had been made in the past without visible results. He pointed out that on May 17, 2024, the government approved ₦3.3 trillion for the same purpose, followed by a ₦4 trillion bond approval on July 25,…

Iran has said it will wait for security guarantees from FIFA before confirming its participation in the 2026 World Cup, raising fresh uncertainty ahead of the tournament. Iran’s Sports Minister, Ahmad Donyamali, disclosed that Tehran is still awaiting a response to its request for matches to be moved from the United States to Mexico. “Our request to FIFA to relocate Iran’s games from the U.S. to Mexico is still valid, but we have not yet received a response,” Donyamali said. “If accepted, Iran’s participation in the World Cup will be certain.” The 2026 tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico…

An act of honesty has drawn praise in Jos after a petty trader, Serah Luca, returned N1 million she unknowingly received alongside goods purchased at Terminus Market. Luca said she made the purchase on Friday but only discovered the hidden cash after getting home. Despite the temptation, she chose to return the money, citing her faith and personal experience with business losses. “I am a petty businesswoman. I know what it means to suffer loss. If I put that kind of money into my business, I believe God would punish me,” she said. The money belonged to Abubakar Dola, a…

Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, says Bola Tinubu has no involvement in the leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC). In a statement posted on X on Monday titled “My Response to Peter Obi’s Media Team,” Onanuga said it was wrong for some politicians to make Tinubu a “whipping boy” for political problems they created themselves. “I wonder why all these incompetent politicians are turning President Bola Tinubu into their favourite whipping boy,” he wrote. “The President has nothing to do with Obi’s abandonment of the Labour Party or the situation he appears to have run into in the ADC.…