society
THE RUBBER STAMP REPUBLIC: How Akpabio’s Senate Is Risking Nigeria’s Constitutional Balance and Why Adams Oshiomhole’s Rebuke Matters
THE RUBBER STAMP REPUBLIC:
How Akpabio’s Senate Is Risking Nigeria’s Constitutional Balance and Why Adams Oshiomhole’s Rebuke Matters.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
There are moments when a single sentence on the floor of the Senate does more than scold; it indicts. When Senator Adams Oshiomhole (a former national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress and a man familiar with the corridors of power) rose to tell the Senate, “I am not a rubber-stamp senator,” he did not merely defend his dignity. He tore at the gossamer veil that has been draped over the relationship between Nigeria’s legislature and the executive: a relationship fast drifting from healthy cooperation into dangerous subservience. Oshiomhole’s public rebuke of Senate President Godswill Akpabio is not theatre. It is a red flag; one that deserves urgent national attention.
The charge is simple, brutal and constitutional in its implications: bills are being “PASSED LIKE WATER,” rushed through without meaningful scrutiny, with little or no recorded debate on their merits, implications or fiscal consequences. Where the National Assembly was designed by the 1999 Constitution to act as a check on the executive (to scrutinize appointments, investigate maladministration, examine budgets and secure accountability) the spectacle of rapid, transactional lawmaking substitutes speed for substance and convenience for duty. In recent weeks and months Nigerians have watched executive proposals and packages move through the chambers with unusual haste; critics argue this pattern has become more frequent under the leadership of the 10th Senate.
Senate President Akpabio has predictably pushed back. He insists the National Assembly is not a “RUBBER STAMP” and that collaboration with the executive is not the same as capitulation; he has argued that co-operation, when properly managed, produces results for citizens. That defence matters (the legislature is not, and must not become, an adversary of reform for its own sake) but rhetoric cannot substitute for records. When the public sees an avalanche of bills moving in lockstep with executive timetables, and when senior senators themselves stand and object to the process, the perception of erosion becomes a political reality.
Why does this matter beyond partisan point-scoring? Because the health of Nigeria’s democracy depends on functional checks and balances. A rubber-stamp legislature undermines three critical safeguards: oversight of the executive, the protection of minority interests and the rigorous vetting of appointments and policies that affect billions of naira and the lives of millions. Scholars who study legislatures warn that when parliaments abdicate oversight, governance becomes less transparent and more corruptible; policy errors are more likely to persist because there is no robust forum to challenge assumptions or demand evidence. The literature on “rubber-stamp” legislatures (including detailed academic reviews of the National Assembly’s oversight function) shows that weak oversight is not merely a political embarrassment, it has real consequences for accountability, public finance and security.
Look at the facts on the ground. Over the past year the National Assembly has entertained sweeping constitutional amendment packages and a rolling procession of executive bills that critics say were given hurried consideration. Independent media tracking and civil-society guides to legislative oversight have documented that while committees sometimes perform their duties, plenary sessions (where the public record is made) show a worrying willingness to clear matters rapidly without full debate. The result: citizens and civil society are deprived of the opportunity to interrogate policy choices and to hold lawmakers to account. That is not democratic oversight; it is managerial convenience.
Oshiomhole’s rebuke also carries an internal sting: it came from within the governing party. When a senior party stalwart publicly accuses the chamber led by his party colleague of turning itself into a rubber stamp, it suggests fracture lines; not merely disagreements about procedure, but tensions over the very independence of the legislative arm. The symbolism is stark: if the Senate bows too readily to the executive, party structures will likewise be perceived as instruments of consolidation rather than forums of democratic contestation. That perception corrodes public trust in all institutions.
What must be done? First, the Senate must publish and enforce rules that guarantee adequate time for debate, full committee scrutiny and public input before any bill is read into law. Transparency is an antiseptic to slippage into clientelism. Second, senators should restore the practice of substantive plenary debate; not performative monologues, but documented interrogations that place ministers, appointees and policy proposals under the public microscope. Third, civil society, the media and professional bodies must keep score: regular, public scorecards on committee activity, attendance, report adoption and oversight visits will create an objective record that citizens can use to demand standards. Finally, the executive must accept that leadership in a presidential democracy is not the same as unchecked rule; genuine partnership respects institutional autonomy. Useful models and guides already exist (from local think-tanks and international parliamentary practice) on how oversight is supposed to work.
The warning signs are not hypothetical. Case studies from across Nigeria’s recent history show that when legislatures fail to exercise oversight, poor contracting, budget padding and unchecked patronage follow. A strong, independent National Assembly is the single best institutional hedge against the centralisation of power and the decay of public finance. Conversely, a legislature that feeds at the table of the executive without asking inconvenient questions accelerates governance failure. The stakes are national: budgets, appointments, security strategy and the integrity of electoral laws. A rubber-stamp Senate is not a political curiosity; it is institutional rot.
This editorial is not naive about the real-world politics of governing. Cooperation between the arms of government is necessary. But co-operation must be distinct from acquiescence. When senior members of the Senate (elected to represent diverse constituencies and to protect the public purse) declare themselves unwilling to be mere endorsers of executive will, the chamber should welcome that spirit as a reminder of its constitutional duty, not punish it as inconvenient dissent. Oshiomhole’s words should have been a summons to conscience, not a flashpoint.
In the end, the choice facing Nigeria’s lawmakers is straightforward: to be guardians of the constitution or to be managers of the president’s agenda. The difference is not cosmetic. Guardians probe, challenge, demand answers and if necessary, refuse. Managers placate, rubber-stamp and expedite. For the survival of Nigeria’s fragile democratic gains, the Senate must choose the harder path; the path of parliamentary independence, rigorous oversight, and public accountability. If it fails, the country will not merely misgovern; it will outsource its democracy. And that is a cost no nation can afford.
George Omagbemi Sylvester is a political analyst and columnist. Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
society
GLOBAL RECOGNITION: Hon. Agbaje Lukman Abiodun Receives Honorary Doctorate and Prestigious Humanitarian Award
GLOBAL RECOGNITION: Hon. Agbaje Lukman Abiodun Receives Honorary Doctorate and Prestigious Humanitarian Award
The Executive Chairman of Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA, Hon. Agbaje Lukmon Abiodun, has achieved a remarkable milestone in his illustrious career, receiving an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Political Science for his outstanding contributions to leadership, governance, and community development.
In a ceremony attended by distinguished personalities, Hon. Agbaje was also conferred with the esteemed Fellow Achievers International Integrity Humanitarian Hall of Fame Award of Recognition (FAIIHAR) by the Achievers Networks UK Academy, Worldwide Class of 2025. This prestigious international award acknowledges his unwavering commitment to integrity, humanitarian service, and excellence in public leadership.
Joining a league of notable awardees, including Hon. Desmond Olushola Elliot, Prince Antar Babatunde Laniyan, Emmanuel Toluwalemiose Oluwayemi, and Rev. Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi, Hon. Agbaje expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the awarding institutions and dedicated both honors to the resilient and supportive people of Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA.
“This distinction is not merely a personal achievement but a testament to the collective efforts of all who believe in good governance, integrity, and service to humanity,” Hon. Agbaje said. “It motivates me to redouble my efforts in serving my people and community.”
As a symbol of his commitment to excellence, Hon. Agbaje has announced that he will henceforth include the honorary title PhD (Honoris Causa) in his official address, reflecting the prestige and responsibility associated with this recognition.
This remarkable achievement brings pride to Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA and serves as an inspiration for future leaders to emulate the values of integrity, accountability, and excellence embodied by Hon. Agbaje Lukmon Abiodun (Hon. Ph.D.).
Oronna Festival Holds Huge Potential for Economic Growth and Community Unity — Senator Yayi
Senator Adeola Olamilekan Yayi, representing Ogun West Senatorial District, has reaffirmed that the Oronna Ilaro Festival possesses immense potential to drive community-based economic growth and strengthen social unity—if its rich cultural elements are properly developed and strategically harnessed.
Senator Yayi, who spoke at the grand finale of the 32nd Oronna festival in Ilaro on Saturday, said he remained an enthusiast of the culture in its various forms particularly when it encourages tourism development and ultimately socio economic development as typified by the tourism festival of Oronna.
He praised Governor Dapo Abiodun’s support for tourism development in Ogun State, particularly the Oronna Ilaro Festival.
Senator Adeola commended the Governor’s efforts in promoting festivals in the state, saying it has contributed to the holistic development of Ogun State.
He also acknowledged the Olu Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, for sustaining and growing the festival since his ascension to the throne in 2012.
He said, “let me place it on record that in all ways possible I am an enthusiast of our culture in its various forms particularly when it encourages tourism development and ultimately socio economic development as this tourism festival of Oronna, the legendary and mythological warrior hero of Ilaro, has turned out to be, particularly in its recent editions.
“I have no doubt that when properly harnessed and packaged, aspects of our culture are catalysts to community economic development as well as promotion of a desired unity.”
Senator Adeola highlighted his contributions to the development of his senatorial district, including the completion of over 300 infrastructure projects, such as road construction, healthcare, education, and security.
He also highlighted his role in facilitating the upgrade of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, to a Federal University of Technology, and his pledge to turn his senatorial district into a “small London”.
The Senator expressed his commitment to continuing to work with Governor Abiodun to develop Ogun State and support the Renew Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Let me salute our dear Governor, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun CON, for his support for tourism development through promotion of different festivals in the state including Oronna Ilaro Festival. I am sure that your support is targeted at a holistic development of all aspects of our state.
“In the primary areas of security, your programmes in support of the security agencies has led to a violence- free- state and drastic reduction in criminal activities. You stand commended, Your Excellency, for your construction projects in the area of roads, hospitals and educational institutions across the state with a flagship project in the area of aviation through the construction and commissioning of the Gateway Cargo Airport at Iperu.
“In this senatorial district many laudable works stand to your credit like the work on Ilaro General Hospital nearby, the Owode- Idiroko Road, the llaro-Owode Road and many others which portrays you as a non-sectional governor with the interest of all Ogun State at heart. My heartfelt prayer for you always is for God Almighty to be your strength, your guide and counselor in all that you do. There is no doubt that your policies and programmes are complimentary of that of the Renew Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the federal level.
“On my part, I have attracted development projects to complement the good work of the governor in the state in my senatorial district and beyond in the area of road construction, health care, educational institutions, security and empowerment. In over two years, I have facilitated the completion of about 300 infrastructure projects.
“These includes over 115 road construction projects, construction of 30 School buildings, 32 Primary Health Care Centres, 25 modern markets, 13 Town Halls, 10 ICT Centres, 2 Intensive Care Units, 2 Libraries and 8 Police Stations. Other facilitate projects includes donation and installation of over 200 Electric Transformers, 250 Solar Street Light Projects of some 26,000 poles and personal commitment to repair and upgrade 10 major electric infrastructures affecting about 100 communities in perennial and months long black out in Ogun West and Beyond.”
•Foreign lenders, major banks join fight to overturn sweeping court orders
• Court halts proceedings amid NJC, Chief Judge petitions
Fresh controversy has erupted over the far-reaching orders granted by Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Lagos, which froze the bank accounts, shares, and assets of Nestoil Limited and its affiliates in a high-stakes debt recovery suit involving unverified claims exceeding $1.01 billion and N430 billion.
In a ruling on an ex parte motion dated October 15, 2025, and filed on October 20, Justice Dipeolu issued sweeping orders restraining Nestoil Limited, Neconde Energy Limited, and other Nestoil affiliates from operating their bank accounts or dealing with funds, shares, or assets held in any Nigerian financial institution.
At the centre of the storm is Neconde Energy Limited, which has faulted its inclusion in the Mareva and receivership orders obtained by FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited and First Trustees Limited, describing the orders as wrongful, oppressive, and a clear case of judicial overreach.
Meanwhile, Glencore Energy UK Limited, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mauritius Commercial Bank Limited, and the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) — collectively described as Senior Lenders – have filed motions seeking to be joined as defendants to overturn the sweeping ex parte court orders.
Through their counsel, Olufemi Oyewole (SAN), the Senior Lenders asked the Court to set aside or vary the ex parte orders of October 22, 2025, which they said threaten their security interests in Neconde’s assets and operations.
They argued that the plaintiffs failed to disclose in their affidavit the existence of the Senior Secured Medium-Term Facility Agreement dated April 27, 2016, under which Neconde obtained a $640 million syndicated loan.
They added that the Deed of Charge dated December 8, 2022, relied upon by the plaintiffs in obtaining the ex parte orders, was registered against Nestoil Limited only and not against Neconde Energy Limited, rendering it defective and unenforceable against Neconde.
Citing Clause 3.4 of the Deed of Charge, they noted that FBNQuest’s charge “shall rank in all aspects subordinate and subject to the charges and assignments constituted by the Neconde Senior Security Documents.”
They therefore urged the Court to vacate or vary the interim orders or restrain further interference with Neconde’s assets pending determination of the substantive suit.
They asserted that the interim orders have made it impossible for Neconde to service its obligations to the Senior Lenders, potentially triggering events of default that could lead to insolvency actions with highly disruptive consequences.
When the case came up on Friday November 7, 2025, Justice Dipeolu revealed that he had received the petition sent to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court concerning his handling of the case and related cases.
He subsequently suspended further proceedings pending the Chief Judge’s directive on whether he should continue or recuse himself.
The petitions accused the judge of judicial misconduct and reckless issuance of sweeping ex parte Mareva orders in two related cases — FBNQuest Merchant Bank & Anor v. Nestoil Ltd & Ors (FHC/L/CS/2127/2025); Aries Energy v. Neconde Energy & Ors (FHC/L/CP/1439/2025).
The petitioners alleged that Justice Dipeolu granted freezing and receivership orders without verifying ownership of several properties, including Nestoil Tower, which allegedly belong to third parties not indebted to the plaintiffs.
They also accused him of granting freezing and receivership orders against Neconde without any basis and authorising the Nigerian Navy and Department of State Services (DSS) to assist a receiver in enforcing civil orders and selling crude oil from OML 42 — actions they said contravened the preservative nature of interim injunctions.
They urged the National Judicial Council to investigate the matter and the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to reassign all related cases to another judge to preserve public confidence in judicial impartiality.
Neconde has also filed processes in court praying the Court to discharge the ex parte orders.
It argued that the instant suit is jurisdictionally incompetent, having been commenced against it despite being under winding-up proceedings before the Federal High Court, Lagos, in Suit No. FHC/CP/1439/2025: Aries Energy & Petroleum Company Limited v. Neconde Energy Limited, Gobowen Exploration and Production Limited, Dr. Ernest Azudialu, and Bridge H&T Limited.
The firm submitted that by the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, once a company is being wound up by the Court, any disposition of its property, including things in action, transfer of shares, or alteration of members’ status after the commencement of the winding-up, shall be void unless otherwise ordered by the Court.
They further contended that any attachment, sequestration, distress, or execution enforced against the estate of a company in liquidation shall equally be null and void except by the Court’s order.
Neconde, a major independent oil producer in OML 42, maintained that it is neither indebted to the plaintiffs nor privy to the syndicated loan transaction forming the basis of the suit.
The company’s lawyers argued that its inclusion amounted to wrongful interference with third-party rights and had effectively halted its daily crude oil production of over 40,000 barrels.
They contended that the ex parte orders were excessively broad and issued without jurisdiction, particularly since Neconde is already the subject of ongoing winding-up proceedings before the same Federal High Court.
The other defendants, Nestoil and its affiliates, have also filed a motion seeking to vacate the orders, describing them as unconstitutional and obtained through suppression of material facts.
They accused the plaintiffs of failing to make full and frank disclosure before securing the ex parte orders, thereby misleading the court into granting extraordinary far-reaching orders without hearing from the affected parties.
According to their counsel, the plaintiffs’ actions were “profoundly hasty and desperate,” contrary to established legal principles governing ex parte reliefs, which are intended to be temporary and preservative.
They argued that no urgency existed to justify freezing accounts or seizing assets, especially since the alleged loans had been restructured under a Common Terms Agreement (CTA) executed in December 2022.
The CTA, they said, rescheduled repayments over ten years from December 2021, making the present suit premature and in breach of its reconciliation clause.
The defendants further accused FBNQuest of failing to provide statements of account for over three years despite repeated written requests, insisting that only a forensic reconciliation could determine the true financial position.
They alleged that the plaintiffs’ claims were inflated with illegal and excessive charges and argued that Nestoil Towers, a major landmark on Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, is an immovable and secure property, making the drastic order unnecessary.
They also challenged the appointment of a receiver/manager by the plaintiffs, claiming the appointee was not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as required under CAMA 2020.
The companies warned that maintaining the orders would paralyse operations, freeze directors’ personal accounts, and inflict devastating losses on Neconde’s oil production — losses that would also affect the Federal Government’s revenue from crude oil exports.
Meanwhile, industry sources warned that the continuing legal tussle, if not promptly resolved, could disrupt oil production in OML 42 — once producing over 250,000 barrels per day in the 1970s — and further erode investor confidence in Nigeria’s indigenous oil sector.
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