Author: oduduwanews

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has strongly opposed any attempt by the Nigerian Senate or security agencies to investigate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recent trip to New York. The senator, who was invited to speak at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting, has been at the center of a political storm following her suspension from the Senate.

Falana, known for his outspoken stance on human rights and democracy, described the probe as unnecessary and politically motivated. He argued that Senator Natasha has every right to participate in global legislative discussions, and any move to intimidate or punish her for this violates democratic principles.

The controversy surrounding her suspension and subsequent international engagement has fueled suspicions of a deliberate attempt to silence vocal lawmakers. While some critics believe her trip undermines the Senate’s authority, others argue that Nigeria benefits from having its legislators engage in global discourse.

Falana has urged the government to focus on national development issues rather than engaging in political vendettas. Meanwhile, public interest in the Senate’s internal conflicts continues to grow, with many Nigerians questioning the real motive behind the investigation.

Moral Lesson:
Democracy thrives on free speech and international collaboration. Leaders should focus on governance, not political intimidation.

The Oyo State Government has insisted that there is no going back on the resolve to demolish illegal structures around schools in the State.

This affirmation was made by the Chairperson, Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority, OYRLEA, Hon. Justice Aderonke Aderemi (rtd.) in Ibadan.

Aderemi led an inspection team to the Jemibewon Area of Sabo in Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital.

She reaffirmed the Oyo State government’s commitment to sanitize the Environment and maintain a lawful and orderly society.

Speaking on Saturday, after the visit, Aderemi said the government would not be distracted by complaints arising from the demolition exercises.

She said the visit was sequel to a petition received by the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority, OYRLEA dated 17th February 2025 calling the attention of the Authority to Shanties around St. Gabriel School, at Jemibewon axis.

Justice Aderemi said, “recall that His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde ordered the removal of Shanties around School Areas and fences in October, 24th 2023 and this must be upheld by the rule of law.”

She added, “letters have gone out twice to the occupants and owners of these illegal structures, our officers have even gone to meet with the ‘Seriki n Sabo’ to have dialogue with the residents, an ultimatum to vacate the place was issued as well’.

However, an humble appeal to delay intervention and demolition was put forward till Wednesday, 19th March, 2025.

Two young men lost their lives in a tragic incident when a stray cow ran out of the bush and struck them along the Ile-Oluji-Ondo Itanla road in Ondo State.

The incident occurred around 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 13, 2025, when the victims were travelling on a motorcycle, popularly known as a Ladys Bike, while transporting a bag of cocoa from Ile-Oluji to Ondo City.

An eyewitness who spoke to newsmen, said that the cow suddenly bolted out of the bush, colliding with the motorcycle, killing the men on the spot.

According to the source, the herder, said to be a Fulani man, fled into the bush alongside his cattle immediately after the tragic event.

It was gathered that passersby hesitated to intervene, fearing possible implications from authorities.

The identities of the deceased victims had yet to be confirmed.

The Presidency has clarified that President Bola Tinubu is currently not preoccupied with the 2027 elections but he is prioritising economic reforms to improve Nigerians’ lives.

Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, emphasised that the president remains focused on implementing long-term policies rather than engaging in political manoeuvring for the next election.

Sharing his thoughts on 𝕏, Dare highlighted Tinubu’s commitment to economic transformation, citing key improvements in financial indicators.

“We’ve seen our foreign reserves go up. We’ve seen inflation come down. We’ve seen our trade surplus go up. We’ve seen exports go up and imports drop.

“We’ve seen the investments that have been attracted—over $50 billion. We are seeing prices dropping. We have clear data, and you have a President that is clearly in the driver’s seat, and he has stayed the course of the decisions he has taken.

“And I think that the next election is not really in his view right now. It’s how to make sure that at the end of his first term, he can sit back and say, ‘I have impacted the lives of Nigerians. I have turned this economy around.’”

Dare’s remarks come amid growing political realignments, with efforts underway to establish a coalition that could challenge Tinubu in 2027.

Leading the charge is former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, whose recent defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has added fuel to speculations of a well-orchestrated plan to weaken Tinubu’s hold on power.

El-Rufai’s move, sources who spoke with newsmen, is part of a broader strategy to mobilize aggrieved APC elements into a formidable opposition bloc, with the SDP serving as the rallying platform.

Investigations have revealed that El-Rufai has initiated talks with key political figures, including former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, ex-APC National Chairmen, Abdullahi Adamu and John Odigie-Oyegun.

At least 48 Nigerian nurses under investigation for exam fraud in the UK have been ordered to leave the country, despite pending appeals, Nursing Times has reported.

The UK Home Office issued deportation letters to some of the affected nurses, instructing them to leave as early as next week. This follows an investigation by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) into 515 nurses who took their Computer-Based Test (CBT) at a test center in Ibadan, Nigeria. The NMC flagged this center due to suspected fraudulent activities, raising concerns about the legitimacy of their exam results.

The CBT is a mandatory requirement for foreign-trained nurses to obtain a UK nursing license. While the NMC has cleared some candidates, others remain under scrutiny, with over 160 nurses still facing doubts about their qualifications. Despite some nurses insisting they followed due process, the Home Office has revoked the visas of several individuals, leading to fears of mass deportations.

Many of these nurses are already employed in NHS hospitals, and their sudden removal could impact the UK healthcare system. Advocacy groups and legal representatives argue that innocent nurses should not suffer due to a systemic failure. The NMC has assured that each case will be reviewed individually, and those who prove their legitimacy will be allowed to remain.

This controversy has sparked concerns about Nigeria’s reputation in the global healthcare sector. Medical professionals worry that future Nigerian applicants may face stricter scrutiny, making it harder to secure jobs abroad. With investigations still ongoing, affected nurses remain in limbo, facing uncertainty over their careers and their ability to stay in the UK.

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has appointed Messrs Samuel Badekale and Haroun Adebakin, who emerged as the best graduating students of the University of Lagos during the institution’s 55th convocation, as the Education Ambassadors of the State.

The governor also presented them with cheques of N10m each to appreciate their efforts.

Speaking while receiving the duo in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the governor said that by scoring a Grade Point Average of 5.0, they not only made the state proud but also set themselves on the path of greatness.

According to the governor, his administration would continue to honor individuals who made the state proud in their chosen careers to serve as motivation for others to discover their full potential.

He said: “I want to commend you for achieving this great honor for yourselves, your families, the state, and Nigeria, because it is not enough that you come from Ogun State and are flying Ogun State’s flag.

“We are going to appoint you as our Education Ambassadors. It is our hope that other up-and-coming students, those who are still in school, will see you and find motivation in you, allowing them to emulate your good virtues.

“You have to think about how you can support and motivate them. As our Education Ambassadors, we are going to develop programs where you can actually go to schools and talk to them because it will be easier for you to communicate with them.

“I can talk to them, but I may not be able to communicate with them effectively. However, when you speak to them, you will be able to connect because they can identify with you as you are of the same wavelength and age bracket, and you can relate to what they are going through, including their pains and issues.

“I congratulate you as our Education Ambassadors, and I don’t want you to be too far away from the Commissioner for Education so that whatever career path you choose, we can support you in achieving your potential and all that you aspire to.

“But today, we will be supporting you with small cheques of N10m each—just a token of our appreciation to you and your parents for what you have accomplished in making Ogun State proud.”

Governor Abiodun expressed delight that despite the decadence in society, some young men and women remain committed, deliberate, diligent, and intentional about their academics by choosing the right path as a means of emancipation.

The governor, who described education as a pathway to success and a means to eradicate poverty, said it provides respect and a platform upon which one can build to become successful in life.

“It gives you the platform and passport that allows you to apply for different opportunities, whether job opportunities, master’s programs, among others. It is what helps you in the process of determination,” he added.

He noted that their academic success was beyond the ordinary, as their perseverance, consistency, and discipline have helped them achieve the targets they set for themselves.

“You set a target for yourselves and decided that you would not settle for second place but strive for the very best. I must say that this is the Ogun State spirit, and I am not surprised that both of you, in the same year and department, studied the same Cell Biology and Genetics. You have both chosen to pursue a very abstract discipline that requires a lot of intellect, and you have not just excelled, but excelled very well. You graduated with a 5.0, the top of your class,” he said.

Ogun State, the governor noted, is blessed with eminent personalities who have excelled in their chosen professions. “This is the blood that flows in you. I am impressed and excited that you are living up to expectations,” he added.

He mentioned that his administration has repositioned the education sector by introducing various reforms, such as the Revitalization Agenda with a learner identification system, adding that the state has a Learner Identification Number that keeps track of the number of students, a development which he said has attracted attention from other states of the federation.

He lauded the parents of the best graduating students for the values instilled in their children and the sacrifices they made to ensure they are educated, emphasizing that their reward would be the success of their children.

Speaking, Adebakin and Badekale expressed their gratitude to the governor for the honor bestowed upon them, stating that their recognition is a testament to the governor’s commitment to improving the education sector in the state.

They advised the youth to focus on their studies and shun activities that could tarnish their family names, saying, “You can be successful and recognized without engaging in fraud and other unwholesome practices, just as we are being celebrated today by the governor.”

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has approved the appointment of board members for some agencies of government as part of moves to strengthen the governance process in the state.

The newly constituted board members are those of the Local Government Service Commission, Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Judicial Service Commission, Agricultural Development Commission, and the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE).

The Local Government Service Commission retained Olubukonla Onabanjo as chairman. Other members of the Commission are Hon. Lukman Olufemi, Martins Adekoyejo Ijaduoye, Olatunde Azeez Osunbiyi, and Olatunde Rasaki Rufai.

The Teaching Service Commission has Apostle Abiodun Sanyaolu as chairman. Other members are Olanrewaju Majekodunmi, Deola Akintonde, Hon. Ademola Adeleye, Adebajo Adesegun, Hon. Adeleke Salmon, Hon. (Mrs.) Atinuke Bello, and Hon. Kemi Oduwole.

Rt. Hon. Suraj Adekunbi heads the House of Assembly Commission, with Samuel Odukoya, Alhaji Fasiu Ajadi, and Hon. Folakemi Akintayo as members.

The Judicial Service Commission has Hon. Justice M.A. Dipeolu as chairman. Other members of the Commission are Hon. Justice Femi-Segun Olusola, Mr. Olusina Ogungbade (SAN), Mrs. Oyinkansola Cole, Adeyemi Olumuyiwa, Dr. Saheed Oyede, and Adesola Ayoola Elegbeji.

Mr. Ifede Joshua (chairman), Alhaja Faidat Sarumi, Saheed Animashaun, Oluwaseun Adebowale, Hon. Musulumi Salako, Balogun Adebayo, Taofik Kashimawo, Otunba Olumuyiwa Sobambo, and Barrister Awodele Sunday are members of the Agricultural Development Commission.

Yemi Adelani is the chairman of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency. Other members are Hon. Bankole Akanbi, Hon. Mosunmola Oladipo, Ajani Babatunde, Olumide Emmanuel, Hon. Taye Whepetoji, Barrister Olumide Oduwole, Opaleye Rafuu, Hon. Olusegun Bankole, and Sunday Akinyemi.

A yet-to-be-identified woman has reportedly died by suicide after plunging into the water around the Third Mainland Bridge area in Lagos State.

As gathered, the woman reportedly jumped from the bridge into the water at the University of Lagos waterfront around 4 pm on Thursday.

She was recovered around the shore of the institution by a team of Marine Police attached to the location.

Upon recovery, a team of medical doctors, in the presence of policemen from the Sabo Division, assessed the woman and pronounced her dead.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the case.

He said, “The body has been evacuated to the mortuary of the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba, Lagos.”

A former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Kehinde Subair has been reported dead.

The cause of his death has not been announced as at the time of filing this report.

The news of his death is currently making rounds on the internet with party fellows and well wishers mourning his demise.

Hon. Kehinde Subair was a two-term member of the Oyo state house of Assembly from 2011 to 2019. He was the former Majority Leader under the platform of the All Progressive Congress, APC.

The ex lawmaker born on the 21st of March, 1965, died 7 days to his 60th year birthday

Details later…..

The Oyo State House of Assembly has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the state-owned Pace Setter Transport Services (PTS).

This decision was made after the House Committee on Transport presented its interim report, which revealed several concerns, including the lack of a legal framework guiding the operations of PTS.

The Committee, chaired by Hon. Babajide Adebayo, was given a two-week ultimatum to interface with PTS management and officials.

The report highlighted that the Sole Administrator, Dr. Oladeji Salami Ibrahim, had recruited 106 additional staff without proper authorization.

The Deputy Speaker Hon. Muhammed Fadeyi countered the claim that PTS is an independent agency, stating that the House has the constitutional right to investigate any agency funded by taxpayers’ money.

Hon. Dele Adeola praised Governor Engr. Seyi Makinde for upgrading PTS to alleviate transportation costs following the fuel subsidy removal.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, instructed the Committee to conduct a thorough investigation into PTS, focusing on staff auditing, operations, and finances, including state government subventions and revenue generation.

The Speaker also urged the executive arm to establish laws governing PTS through the Ministry of Justice.

“This investigation will also examine state government subventions to the Pacesetter Transport Services and the revenue generated by the company. This becomes imperative towards ensuring transparency and accountability in the operations of PTS.” Oyo Speaker said