Justice M. A. Akinyemi of the Ogun State High Court, Sagamu, has scheduled May 21, 2025, for the hearing of a lawsuit filed by the Kankanbina Ruling House of Ogere-Remo against the Ogun State Government over the alleged imposition of Oba James Obafemi Saliu as the Ologere of Ogere-Remo. The suit lists Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Chairman of Ikenne Local Government, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Ganiu Hamzat, and Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General Sina Ogungbade, SAN, as co-defendants alongside Oba Saliu. Disputed Selection Process According to court documents made available on Thursday, Prince Olugbenga Adewoju, Rev.…
Author: Ifeanyi N.
The European Union has postponed its first round of countermeasures against the United States over former President Donald Trump’s metal tariffs, pushing the implementation to mid-April. European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic announced the decision on Thursday during a European Parliament hearing, citing the need to reassess which U.S. goods to target and allow additional time for negotiations. Initially, the European Commission planned to reimpose 2018 tariffs on €4.5 billion ($4.9 billion) worth of U.S. products on April 1, with a second wave of tariffs on €18 billion worth of goods scheduled for April 13. However, Sefcovic indicated a shift in…
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has assured residents that his administration is strictly non-political, emphasizing that his mandate is to restore governance and stability in the state. In a state broadcast on Thursday, Ibas, who officially resumed duties at Government House, Port Harcourt, reiterated his commitment to safeguarding civil liberties and ensuring the security of all citizens. However, he issued a stern warning against crude oil sabotage and violence, urging residents to resist any attempts to reignite past hostilities. “The prolonged political crisis has been a major setback for governance and democracy in Rivers…
Mr. Adefolarin Oria, the Labour Party (LP) candidate for Ondo Central Senatorial District in the 2023 general election, has raised concerns over the party’s future electoral prospects, warning that internal divisions could jeopardize its chances in 2027. Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Akure, Oria criticized the party’s leadership for failing to promote inclusivity and unity, arguing that its current approach alienates potential supporters. “The way the party presents itself, as if it belongs to a specific group, makes it difficult for indigenous people from other regions to accept it,” he stated. Oria also pointed…
The President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Obot Akpabio, and Senator Seriake Dickson engaged in a heated exchange on Thursday over the application of Senate Rules during deliberations on the proposed state of emergency in Rivers State. The disagreement arose during plenary when Senate Leader, Michael Bamidele Opeyemi, moved a motion to reorder the Order Paper, prioritizing the debate on the state of emergency over other legislative matters. As Bamidele attempted to cite the relevant order, Senator Dickson, representing Bayelsa Central, raised a point of order. However, Akpabio appeared reluctant to acknowledge it, prompting tensions between the two lawmakers. In…
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has declared that no political coalition can prevent President Bola Tinubu from securing re-election in 2027. Ganduje’s statement comes in response to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s announcement on Thursday of a coalition of opposition parties aimed at defeating Tinubu and the APC in the next presidential election. In a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment, Oliver Okpala, Ganduje reaffirmed his unwavering support for Tinubu’s second-term bid, stating that any northerner aspiring to contest in 2027 should suspend their ambition until 2031.…
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, has defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, emphasizing that it was necessary to restore governance and security. Addressing journalists at the State House, Abuja, Fagbemi stated that the crisis in Rivers State had persisted for too long, despite multiple interventions by the President, well-meaning Nigerians, and leaders of thought. He stressed that the Supreme Court, in its judgment on February 28, 2025, had found significant constitutional breaches by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, concluding that governance in the state had…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the Accountant General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Jaja, over an alleged N70 billion fraud. EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed the development in a statement on Wednesday, revealing that Jaja was apprehended in Abuja alongside Aliyu Abubakar, an alleged unlicensed Bureau de Change (BDC) operator from Jasfad Resources Enterprise, and Sunusi Ibrahim Sambo, a Point of Sale (PoS) operator. Allegations of Money Laundering and Diversion of Funds Oyewale stated that the arrests are linked to an ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering, diversion of public funds, and misappropriation of state resources. “The…
The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged the National Assembly to reverse the removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, condemning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State as “reckless and unconstitutional.” Obi made his position known in a statement on his X account on Wednesday, following Tinubu’s announcement of the emergency measure on Tuesday. Tinubu’s Justification for State of Emergency President Tinubu had cited unresolved crises, a breakdown of law and order, insecurity, and an explosion as reasons for his decision. He also suspended Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, for…
Former presidential adviser Sen. Babafemi Ojudu, CON, has strongly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reported declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, warning of its political, economic, and security repercussions. In a press statement, Ojudu questioned the rationale behind the decision, calling it a reckless and unnecessary move driven by poor counsel. He argued that the crisis in Rivers State is a political dispute that requires dialogue, not drastic intervention. Economic Implications Ojudu cautioned that escalating tensions in the Niger Delta could cripple oil production, recalling that political conflicts in the region previously pushed Nigeria into recession under…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly rejected the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing it as an unconstitutional move to override the 1999 Constitution and impose an unelected administration. In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the PDP condemned the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) to govern the state, calling it a blatant attack on democracy and an attempt at state capture. The party accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of engineering a crisis in Rivers…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly for an initial period of six months. In a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, Tinubu cited the prolonged political crisis in the state, the governor’s failure to restore the legislative arm after demolishing the House of Assembly building in December 2023, and rising security concerns, including militant activities and pipeline vandalism. The President stated that efforts by his administration and other stakeholders to mediate in the crisis had been ignored,…
Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested three suspected armed robbers and kidnappers in Aviele community, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state. Spokesman of the Command, Moses Yamu, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, confirming that the suspects were apprehended on March 16, 2025, by operatives of the Agbede Police Division in collaboration with local vigilantes during a stop-and-search operation along Abumere by Powerline. The arrested suspects were identified as Jamilu Idris (20), Usman Shuaibu (24), and Yahuza Usman (20). According to Yamu, preliminary investigations linked them to a criminal syndicate responsible for kidnapping, armed…
Two members of the House of Representatives have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing internal crises within their former party. The lawmakers, Hon. Jallo Hussaini Mohammed (Igabi Federal Constituency, Kaduna State) and Hon. Adamu Tanko (Gurara/Suleja/Tafa Federal Constituency, Niger State), formally announced their defection on Tuesday. Speaker Tajudden Abbas read their defection letters during plenary, officially confirming their switch to the APC. The lawmakers attributed their decision to the unresolved internal crisis within the PDP, which they claimed made it difficult for them to continue in the party. Welcoming the defectors,…
The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has expressed concern over alleged lobbying efforts by state governors to obstruct the direct disbursement of federal allocations to Local Government Authorities (LGAs). In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammed Ishaq, the PRP reaffirmed its commitment to fiscal autonomy for local governments, as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and reinforced by the Supreme Court ruling of July 11, 2024. “It is disheartening to observe that, despite the clear legal framework affirming the financial independence of Local Governments, some of our emperor State Governors are utilizing their influence to undermine this…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Vice Admiral Ibokete Ibas (retd.) to oversee the administration of Rivers State following the declaration of a state of emergency in the state. Tinubu made the announcement on Tuesday during a nationwide broadcast addressing the ongoing political crisis in Rivers. The declaration follows the six-month suspension of Governor Simi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the State House of Assembly. “In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokete Ibas (retd.) as administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State,” Tinubu stated.…
A High Court in Lafia, presided over by Justice Simon Aboki, has commenced hearing in the murder trial of 32-year-old singer Oluwatimilehin Daniel Ajayi, who is accused of killing and dismembering a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Salome Adaidu. Ajayi, who was escorted to the courtroom under heavy security from the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Nasarawa State Government, represented by Attorney General Hauwa Samuel Jugbo, has officially taken over the prosecution from the police. During the proceedings, prosecution counsel Raymond Umar requested an amendment to the defendant’s name, changing it from Timilehin…
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has stated that Russia cannot be trusted, despite discussions surrounding a proposed 30-day ceasefire to end the war in Ukraine. Speaking at a news conference in Brussels on Monday, Kallas emphasized that no negotiations are currently taking place because Russia has not engaged in talks. “The understanding around the table is that Russia can’t really be trusted,” Kallas said. “They will seize this opportunity to present all kinds of demands.” When asked about the EU’s role in ongoing negotiations, she added, “There’s no negotiation table yet because Russia is not coming to…
The Rivers State House of Assembly on Monday issued a notice of alleged gross misconduct against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu. According to Channels TV, the lawmakers asserted that their action was in accordance with constitutional provisions. “In compliance with Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and other extant laws, we, the undersigned members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, hereby forward to you a Notice of Gross Misconduct by the Deputy Governor of Rivers State in the performance of the functions of her office,” the notice read.…
The body of Yuda Garba, the village head of Dagachi Hamlet, who was kidnapped on March 11, has been discovered in a bush near Takula, within the Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State. According to intelligence sources, villagers found the remains in the Nomadic Forest near Kuyeri, a location on the border between Kaduna State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Security personnel and community members quickly responded to the scene, where relatives confirmed the body as that of the kidnapped village head. Efforts to locate and rescue other victims abducted during the same incident are ongoing, with security…