Category: Featured

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Lagos State Command, has reinstated the security details of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mojisola Meranda, following an earlier withdrawal that fueled political tension.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, confirmed the restoration of security personnel during a press briefing on Thursday evening.

Earlier in the day, the removal of security escorts attached to the Speaker’s office and residence had raised concerns, particularly as security details of impeached Speaker Hon. Mudashiru Obasa were restored. Obasa later stormed the assembly complex and declared himself Speaker, even presiding over a controversial plenary session attended by only a handful of lawmakers.

Addressing journalists, Commissioner Jimoh clarified that four security personnel assigned to Speaker Meranda, who had been withdrawn, were reinstated to ensure her safety and stability within the Assembly.

The leadership tussle continues to generate debate, with Lagosians closely monitoring developments as the state legislature grapples with uncertainty over its leadership structure.

In a shocking turn of events, the newly appointed Commissioner of Police in Lagos State Jimoh Moshood has withdrawn all police escorts assigned to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda, as well as security personnel guarding the Assembly complex.

The sudden withdrawal has left both the Speaker and the legislative premises vulnerable, raising concerns about her safety and the security of the state’s legislative arm.

Confirming the development, the Speaker’s Special Adviser on Information, Mr. Victor Ganzallo, expressed deep concern over the abrupt action.

“As we speak, all security has been withdrawn from the Speaker, and she is now on her own,” Ganzallo stated, warning that she is now “vulnerable and open to attack.”

The reason behind the security withdrawal remains unclear, with no official statement from the Lagos State Police Command or the state government addressing the situation.

This development comes amid ongoing political tensions within the Lagos Assembly following the impeachment of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa. Analysts speculate that the security withdrawal may be linked to the unresolved crisis within the House.

The situation has sparked concerns over the safety of government officials and the stability of governance in Lagos State. Stakeholders are calling for an urgent resolution to prevent any potential security breaches

A member of the National Youth Service Corps serving in Ibadan, Oyo State, Rofiat Lawal, has been kidnapped by yet-to-be-identified abductors along the Benin-Ore Expressway.

Newsmen gathered from a Facebook post by a user, Agbakwara, on Wednesday that Lawal was returning from Benin, Edo State to report to her place of primary assignment on Tuesday when she was abducted.

Agbakwara noted that the abductors were demanding N20m for her release.

Agbakwara wrote, “My close friend, Lawal Rofiat Kofoworola, was kidnapped on her way from Benin to Ibadan to resume her PPA in Ogbomosho. She managed to call yesterday and told me she was inside an Ore-bound bus when she was taken.

The Oyo State Government has taken action against land grabbers in the state, demolishing properties on Government acquired lands in Podo Area, along Top One Garden, Oluyole Local Government, and Dizengoff, Kolapo Ishola Area, Ibadan.

This was disclosed by the Honourable Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Williams Akin Funmilayo, on Wednesday in Ibadan.

During the exercise at the affected areas, the Honourable Commissioner for Lands said, “The lands in question are assets of the Oyo State Government, and we will not tolerate any form of encroachment or illegal occupation.”

He emphasized that those currently working on the land are not the real owners or users of the land, but “purely land grabbers”.

He added that, “In accordance with Section 3, Subsection 1 of the Oyo State Real Property Protection Law, 2017, any person who engages in land grabbing or related activities shall be liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 15 years.”

The Commissioner further explained that the government had sent notices of revocation to occupants of the Podo Area along Top One Garden, and a newspaper publication to that effect was made in the Tribune Newspaper on September 25th, 2012.

According to him, the land was also gazetted the same year, indicating its acquisition for a Neighbourhood market.

Despite the State Government’s efforts, the occupants took the Oyo State Government to court, but judgement was however delivered in favour of the State Government.

The Lands, Housing and Urban Development Commissioner however noted that the government is ready to settle with land owners with genuine Certificates of Occupancy (CofO).

“The Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde has declared zero tolerance for land grabbing activities, and ensuring that the state’s assets are used for the benefit of all citizens”, Akin-Funmilayo added.

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has revealed that President Bola Tinubu personally pleaded with him to join his administration but later decided against his ministerial nomination.

Speaking on the matter, El-Rufai clarified that his exclusion from Tinubu’s cabinet was not due to rejection by the National Assembly (NASS), as widely speculated, but rather a decision made by the president himself.

“The president, Bola Tinubu, begged me publicly to come and serve in his government. After two months of negotiations, we finally agreed that he would nominate me as a minister. I think along the line, either the president changed his mind. Please don’t believe the story that the NASS rejected me; the National Assembly has nothing to do with this. The president didn’t want me in his cabinet,” El-Rufai stated.

His remarks put to rest widespread reports that his ministerial nomination was blocked due to issues raised during the Senate screening process.

The former governor’s statement has sparked reactions among political analysts, with many questioning the reason behind the sudden change of decision by the president.

As of now, the Presidency has yet to officially respond to El-Rufai’s claims.

The Oyo State House of Assembly has approved Governor Seyi Makinde’s request to issue a bond for the remodeling of the Agbowo Shopping Complex in Ibadan.

This decision was made after the Governor’s letter of request was read on the floor of the House by Speaker Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin.

According to the letter, the remodeling aims to enhance business activities and boost internally generated revenue in Oyo State.

The Agbowo Shopping Complex, a strategic commercial hub, has suffered significant deterioration over the years.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin emphasized the importance of preserving the complex as part of Oyo State’s heritage.

He noted that it used to be one of the largest shopping malls in the state.

The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Muhammad Abiodun Fadeyi and Hon. Babajide Gabriel Adebayo (Ibadan North 2) also expressed their support for the remodeling project.

Hon. Adebayo commended Governor Makinde for responding to the needs of his constituents, where the complex is located.

The remodeling is expected to restore the complex’s lost glory and boost economic activities in the area.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, has declared that Nigeria’s economic hardship is abating, attributing the positive shift to President Bola Tinubu’s bold economic reforms.

The monarch made the statement on Sunday at the maiden edition of the Nigeria-Kazakhstan Business Council International Conference held in Abuja, where he highlighted key economic improvements under the current administration.

According to the Ooni, despite initial economic turbulence, Nigeria is witnessing gradual relief. He likened the economic challenges to an aircraft experiencing turbulence before stabilizing, emphasizing that things are now “normalizing on a gradual basis.”

“We want to send a message on behalf of the private sector and the traditional institution of this country that we are getting there gradually as a nation. For the first time in 20 years, the arbitrage between the parallel market and the official market has been closed completely,” he stated.

The monarch further stressed that Nigeria is now an attractive destination for foreign investment, citing improvements in the capital market and increased interest from international business partners.

He also noted that the growing bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Kazakhstan stemmed from last year’s meeting between President Tinubu and his Kazakhstan counterpart, paving the way for enhanced trade and economic cooperation.

As the nation continues to navigate economic reforms, the Ooni’s remarks signal optimism for a more stable and investor-friendly business environment in Nigeria.

Lucky Aiyedatiwa has officially begun his four-year term as the democratically elected Governor of Ondo State following his inauguration.

Aiyedatiwa was sworn in on Monday, 24th February 2025, after securing victory in the gubernatorial election as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Ondo State Sports Complex in Akure, the state capital, in the presence of dignitaries, party members, and citizens.

Lagos Reporters confirms that Aiyedatiwa took his oath of office at approximately 12:59 PM, shortly after his running mate, Olayide Adelami, was sworn in as Deputy Governor.

Aiyedatiwa previously assumed office as Acting Governor following the passing of his predecessor, Rotimi Akeredolu, who died while serving in office.

The police in Lagos state have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly beating his girlfriend to death at Ijedodo, Isheri-Osun area of Lago state.

Confirming the development to newsmen, the spokesperson of the state police command, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said that the suspect committed the offence on Friday at about 8pm.

Hundeyin said that a neighbour reported the incident at the Isheri-Osun Police Divisional Station.

“The neighbour said that he saw the suspect beating his girlfriend in his room for a reason yet to be determined.

He said few minutes later, the suspect screamed for help and getting to his apartment, he met his girlfriend lying unconscious on the bed with visible marks of violence found on her body.

The girl was immediately rushed to the hospital in Ijegun, where she was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty” Hundeyin said.

The spokesperson said detectives were immediately dispatched to the scene of the incident as well as the hospital where the corpse was inspected and photographed.

Hundeyin mentioned that the corpse had been deposited at a morgue in Yaba for autopsy while the suspect had been detained for questioning, adding that the investigation was in progress.

The National Industrial Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the reinstatement of Olalekan Onafeko, the sacked Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The ruling follows an ex parte application filed by Onafeko through his counsel, Yusuf Nurudeen, in a case against the Lagos State Government, Lagos State Civil Service Commission, Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Attorney-General of Lagos State, and Mr. Ottun Babatunde.

Onafeko served as the Clerk of the House until January 13, when Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa was removed as Speaker, leading to the election of then Deputy Speaker, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, as the new Speaker. Following Obasa’s removal, Onafeko also lost his position, with Babatunde Ottun appointed as his acting replacement.

In the suit marked NICN/LA/23/2025, Onafeko sought an interim injunction preventing the defendants from recognizing any individual, including Babatunde, as the Clerk pending the hearing of a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

Granting the application, Justice M. N. Esowe issued an ex parte order directing Babatunde to cease parading himself as Clerk. The judge further ruled that the status quo ante bellum—referring to the situation prior to the crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly—should be maintained.

“That both parties shall maintain the peace and status quo ante bellum until the motion on notice is heard and determined,” Esowe ruled.

The hearing of the motion on notice is scheduled for March 3, 2024.

Lagos Reporters will continue to monitor and provide updates on this unfolding legal battle.