Author: Abimbola Daniels

THE Lagos State House of Assembly has directed all staff and legislative aides to work remotely until further notice due to the ongoing leadership crisis in the legislative arm. The directive was issued on Sunday by the Acting Clerk of the Assembly, Babatunde Abubakar, in a memo addressed to all staff. The move, according to the memo titled “Amendment to Remote Work Schedule Arrangement,” aims to ensure staff safety and prevent any potential violence stemming from the leadership dispute. “To this end, all categories of staff at the Assembly, LAHASCOM, and legislative aides are requested to work remotely from home…

AIR Peace operations in the last 24 hours have suffered disruptions as a result of three bird strikes affecting three of its aircraft. The airline in a statement confirmed the development stating that it regrets to inform the flying public of an unexpected disruption to its flight operations caused by multiple bird strike incidents affecting three of our aircraft within the last 24 hours. In a statement by Ejike Ndiulo, Head of Corporate Communications Air Peace Limited, he said the first incident happened on Thursday, necessitating an air return. “Additionally, earlier today, two of our aircraft also suffered bird strike…

THE ousted Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has stated that he has resumed his position as the parliament leader. Obasa stated this on Thursday after returning to parliament with police and State Security Service details for the first time since he was removed on January 13. “I’ve resumed, and I remain the Speaker of the Assembly,” Obasa said. Obasa was removed on January 13 for gross misconduct and abuse of office. In his stead, Mojisola Meranda was elected, a development which has polarized the assembly and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos.…

JUSTICE Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has dismissed a request for his recusal from the ongoing trial of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele. Delivering his ruling on Wednesday, Justice Oshodi held that the allegations of bias raised by the defence were unsubstantiated, stating that there was no evidence to justify his withdrawal from the case. The defence, led by Olalekan Ojo, had on Monday orally applied for the judge to recuse himself, arguing that his previous rulings suggested a likelihood of bias. However, Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel for the…

JUSTICE Daniel Osiagor of a Federal High Court, Lagos has ordered that the three workers of the Lagos State House of Assembly, be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Security Services (DSS) for an alleged assault on its officers. The judge ordered the remand of Ibrahim Olanrewaju, Adetu Adekunle, and Fatimoh Adetola after being in DSS custody after the prosecution counsel, (DSS counsel), Mr Michael Bajela approached the court for arraignment. However, the arraignment could not hold as Justice Osiagor said that he wanted to go through the file. Consequently, the DSS will hold them in custody…

THERE is looming fuel scarcity in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria as tanker drivers have stopped fuel loading over alleged harassment by officials of the Lagos State Government and the Federal Ministry of Transportation. Also, telecommunications companies have raised concerns over a possible network blackout as the strike by petroleum tanker drivers could disrupt diesel supply, threatening the operations of mobile and internet services. This newspaper learned that the truck drivers could not load fuel on Saturday and Sunday, creating fears of scarcity in Lagos and other states. However, the Lagos State Government said it was only enforcing its…

THE Department of State Services has arrested three workers of the Lagos State House of Assembly for allegedly attacking its personnel on February 18. Some individuals had manhandled DSS personnel during a drama that ensued at the assembly on Monday. The assembly, in a letter dated February 14, 2025, and signed by the acting clerk, A. T. B. Ottun, had invited the DSS to provide more security at the assembly. According to the letter with referenced LSHA/FAD/0/7554/323 the DSS was instructed to ensure strict access to the facility from February 15 till further notice. However, a source in the DSS…

A FEDERAL High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of $4.7 million, N830million, and multiple properties linked to Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Yellim Bogoro, who had earlier dismissed an application seeking to arrest Emefiele, granted the final forfeiture application of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by counsel Bilkisu Buhari-Bala. The funds, now forfeited to the federal government, were held in First Bank, Titan Bank, and Zenith Bank accounts managed by individuals and entities including Omoile Anita Joy, Deep Blue Energy Service Limited, Exactquote…

TWENTY-SEVEN members of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Wednesday, February 19, dismissed rumours suggesting that they have left the All Progressives Congress (APC) to join the opposition Labour Party (LP). The defection rumour is coming amid the crisis rocking the Assembly. The crisis deepened following moves by ousted Speaker Mudashiru Obasa to return to the House. This newspaper reports that Obasa, who was removed by the majority of the lawmakers on January 13, 2025, approached the court last week to seek redress. The lawmaker dragged the Assembly and the new Speaker, Meranda, before a Lagos State High Court…

AFRICA’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc demonstrated its commitment to fostering peace and stability across Africa with a landmark donation of $500,000 to the African Union (AU) Peace Fund. This donation by the UBA Group supports the AU’s efforts towards promoting security, conflict resolution, sustainable development, and a unified Africa, as envisioned in the AU’s Africa Agenda 2063. The AU Peace Fund plays a crucial role in financing mediation and preventive diplomacy efforts across Africa, strengthening institutional capacity and ensuring rapid responses to emerging conflicts. UBA’s support underscores its dedication to the collective progress of African nations,…

OPERATIVES of the Department of State Services (DSS), accompanied by Nigeria Police, on Monday morning, raided the Lagos State House of Assembly, sealing off the offices of the Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, her Deputy, and the Clerk of the House. The raid, which took place at dawn, has sent shockwaves across political circles in the state. By 10 AM, armed security personnel had taken control of the Assembly premises at Alausa, Ikeja, and were thoroughly frisking passersby. Meranda, however, arrived at the premises at approximately 11:15 AM with her convoy. Security vans and personnel were also spotted in and outside the…

EMBATTLED Lagos lawmaker, Mudashiru Obasa, has approached the court to challenge his removal as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. The lawmaker dragged the Assembly and the new Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, before a State High Court in Ikeja, claiming that the lawmakers were wrong to have removed him when the Assembly was on recess. In a motion dated February 12, 2025, Obasa, through his counsel led by Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN, sought an order from the court for an accelerated hearing of the suit. Obasa, who was out of the country, was removed as the Lagos Assembly…

IN a strategic move influenced by market dynamics, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has decreased the petrol pump price from ₦960 to ₦945 per litre at its retail stations, effective Thursday, February 13. This decision aligns with recent industry trends, notably MRS Oil Nigeria Plc’s announcement of a new petrol pump price of ₦925 per litre across all its filling stations in Lagos. MRS detailed its regional pricing structure, setting petrol prices at ₦935 per litre in the South West, ₦945 per litre in the North, and ₦955 per litre in the South East. These price adjustments are…

THE Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) has intercepted a highly disturbing number of arms and ammunition smuggled into the country. The values of the large arms and ammunition are yet to be disclosed officially but a source in the Service told News Point Nigeria that cache is worth billions. The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, is already in Lagos and has handed over the total of 1,599 assorted arms and 2, 298 live cartridges to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW). Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, stated…

ONE month after his removal as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has been absent from the sittings in the House. This newspaper reports that Obasa was removed by the majority of the 40 lawmakers in the House on January 13, 2025, which makes one month today, February 13, 2025. The lawmakers cited financial misappropriation and abuse of office as parts of the grounds for Obasa’s removal. Obasa, who was away in the United States when he was removed, denied the allegations upon his return to Lagos on January 25, 2025, asking the lawmakers to…

DANGOTE Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals says it has reduced the cost of its diesel to N1,020 per litre, down from N1,075 per litre at the gantry price. In a statement late on Tuesday, the company said the reduction was to better serve its customers and Nigerians in general. The PUNCH recalls that when it began diesel production in January 2024, the refinery reduced the price of diesel more than three times, from an initial N1,700 per litre to N1,000. Recently, the refinery also reduced the ex-depot price of petrol from N950 to N890 per litre. This resulted in marketers dropping…

THE Ondo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of three students of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure while working at a farm near the Akure Airport. The incident was said to have happened at a farm settlement named Oke Oge in the Oba-ile area of Akure North Local Government Area of the state. The victims who are students undergoing Industrial Training (IT) in the farm were reportedly abducted on Saturday evening while returning home. The Public Relations Officer of Ondo State Police Command, ‘Funmilayo Odunlami, said anti-kidnapping operatives of the command have been deployed to the area. Also,…

MRS Oil Nigeria Plc is now selling Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, for N925 per litre at all its stations across Lagos. This price cut happened days after the Dangote Refinery, MRS partner, reduced the ex-depot price to N890 per litre. The company also announced that petrol pump prices will be sold for N935 per litre in the South West, N945 in the North and N955 in the East. The company announced on Monday on its official X (formerly Twitter) account that MRS Petrol is now selling at new regional prices. “The prices may vary, but one…

LAGOS State government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with construction company, Summa Group, for the development and construction of international airport around the Lekki-Epe axis. This was disclosed by the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in a statement on his X handle on Saturday. Governor Sanwo-Olu said the Lekki-Epe International Airport will facilitate travel and create new opportunities for businesses and residents throughout the state. The statement read, “We signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the internationally acclaimed construction company, Summa Group, to develop and construct the much-awaited Lekki-Epe International Airport. “This groundbreaking initiative is an essential part…

CHAIRMAN, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony Elumelu has called for global support for young African entrepreneurs to drive meaningful and sustainable transformation of the continent. Elumelu, who is also the Chairman of UBA Group Plc, and Heirs Holdings, made this call while speaking at the Legacy Builders Palm Beach Conference, in Florida, US. According to him, African youths are key to the transformation of the continent, adding that this inspired the creation of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which is dedicated to empowering African entrepreneurs. “Today, we have granted 2.5 million Africans access to training on TEFConnect, our online portal, and…