Author: Opalim Lifted

President Bola Tinubu has approved the posting of Kayode Are as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to the United States. Are, who hails from Ogun state, was among four nominees whose postings were confirmed in a statement issued on Thursday by Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson. Ayodele Oke was posted to France; Amin Dalhatu, former ambassador to South Korea, was appointed high commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom (UK); while Usman Dakingari, former governor of Kebbi, is the ambassador-designate to Turkey. Tinubu is scheduled to visit Turkey for a state trip next week. “In a memo to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Tinubu urged…

A South Korean court has sentenced former prime minister Han Duck-soo to 23 years in prison for his role in the declaration of martial law under ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol, marking a watershed moment in the country’s legal reckoning with the crisis. Han, 76, becomes the first former cabinet minister convicted on criminal charges directly linked to the December 2024 martial law episode — a ruling legal experts say could shape the outcome of other high-profile trials still under way. The Seoul Central District Court found that Han was instrumental in creating the appearance of a legitimate cabinet meeting that…

Former Head of Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, has admitted in open court that she was cautioned by investigators of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before writing statements used in her ongoing corruption trial. Oyo-Ita made the admission on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, while testifying as the first defence witness in a trial-within-trial before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja. The proceeding was convened to determine the admissibility of statements she earlier disowned, alleging they were obtained under duress. The former top civil servant is standing trial alongside two aides, Garba Umar and…

The Supreme Court has dismissed a long-running suit seeking a retrial of Hamza Al-Mustapha, former chief security officer to late military ruler Sani Abacha, over the 1996 murder of Kudirat Abiola. Kudirat Abiola, wife of detained democracy icon Moshood Abiola, was assassinated in Lagos on June 4, 1996. Al-Mustapha and Lateef Shofolahan, an aide to Kudirat, were accused of orchestrating the killing and were arraigned by the Lagos State Government on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and murder. In January 2012, the Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced both men to death. However, the Court of Appeal overturned the…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over N1.23 billion recovered from Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited to the Enugu state government over an abandoned smart schools project. The funds were handed over on Wednesday, following a petition alleging fraud in the construction of 22 smart schools awarded to the construction company by the Enugu state government. In a statement on Wednesday, the EFCC said the money was recovered after investigations revealed that Sujimoto failed to execute the project despite receiving over N2.28 billion as advance payment. According to the EFCC, the petitioner said the contract completion deadline elapsed…

Simeon Amadi, chief judge of Rivers, has declined to constitute a judicial panel to probe Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state, citing a court order. The Rivers state house of assembly had asked Amadi to set up a seven-member panel to investigate Fubara and Ngozi Odu, his deputy, over allegations bordering on gross misconduct. In a letter dated January 20, 2026, and addressed to Martin Amaewhule, speaker of the Rivers house of assembly, Amadi said his hands were “fettered” by court injunctions. Amadi said his office had been served with two interim orders on January 16, arising from suits filed…

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of 177 Christian worshippers abducted by bandits in Kurmin Wali, Kajuru Local Council of Kaduna State, as outrage grows over initial official denials of the incident. In a statement issued in Abuja, CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, criticised the early dismissal of the abduction by the police, describing it as deeply troubling and harmful. He said the response sowed confusion, heightened fear and unfairly cast doubt on the credibility of victims, their families, clergy and eyewitnesses who raised the alarm. Okoh stressed that in crises of this…

Chelsea beat Champions League minnows Pafos to keep their hopes alive of finishing in the top eight – but it took 77 minutes to break down the Cypriot side through Moises Caicedo’s diving header. The £115m midfielder reacted quickest to Pedro Neto’s corner after it flicked off Pafos substitute Nany Dimata, pouncing to head home from close range. It had threatened to be an embarrassing evening for Chelsea against the competition debutants. In boss Liam Rosenior’s first Champions League match – and his fourth in charge of Chelsea – his side were left frustrated when Enzo Fernandez thought he had…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has opened its case in the alleged N458 million fraud trial involving Ibrahim Ibrahim, with a senior Unity Bank official detailing how the lender’s systems were compromised. At proceedings on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, before Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, the EFCC presented its first prosecution witness, Emmanuel Adeyemi, Head of Fraud Prevention and Investigation at Unity Bank. Adeyemi told the court that the bank’s database was breached on December 24 and 25, 2021, leading to the unauthorised transfer of about N458 million from the accounts of…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a Lagos-based businessman, Sarumi Babafemi, over an alleged N206 million fraud at the Special Offences Court in Ikeja. Babafemi was docked on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, before Justice Rahman Oshodi by the EFCC, Lagos Zonal Directorate 1. He was charged alongside three firms linked to him: 606 Autos Limited, 606 Music Limited and Splash Off Entertainment Limited. According to the anti-graft agency, the defendant and his companies are facing a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, concealment and transfer of proceeds of crime amounting to N206 million. The charges are said to…