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Campaign funds: LP Tasks NSA, EFCC to probe Obi, Yesufu, Afenifere

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Campaign funds: LP Tasks NSA, EFCC to probe Obi, Yesufu, Afenifere

Campaign funds: LP Tasks NSA, EFCC to probe Obi, Yesufu, Afenifere

 

The National Working Committee of the Labour Party, led by Julius Abure, has called on the National Security Adviser and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate Aisha Yesufu, Pastor Itua Ighodalo, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and leaders of Afenifere for alleged misappropriation of funds from the 2023 presidential campaign.

 

Campaign funds: LP Tasks NSA, EFCC to probe Obi, Yesufu, Afenifere

The call was made by the LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, at a press conference in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Wednesday.

 

Arabambi expressed concern over recent comments by Yesufu, who defended herself against accusations of being involved in the alleged diversion of the 2023 campaign funds.

The party has alleged that Yesufu, along with Pastor Ighodalo and other accomplices, mismanaged and diverted over N12bn and $15m in donations intended for the Labour Party’s campaign.

 

 

Arabambi dismissed Yesufu’s denials as attempts to cover up the alleged financial misconduct and criticised her statements as an insult to the party’s leadership.

He also accused Yesufu and her associates of acting under the direction of Obi, whom he described as a “political merchant,” to defraud the party.

Additionally, Arabambi implicated Afenifere leaders, including Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Akin Osuntokun, and Sola Ebiseni, accusing them of retaining over N600m in private accounts linked to Afenifere.

 

He claimed that these individuals were hired by Obi to commit fraud and divert funds from the Labour Party’s presidential campaign.

“The trio of Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Akin Osuntokun, and Sola Ebiseni were involved in financial infractions totaling over ₦600m, which they have kept in private accounts and Afenifere accounts,” Arabambi stated. “Peter Obi allegedly hired Aisha Yesufu, Pastor Itua Ighodalo, and this faction of Afenifere to commit looting, criminal conspiracy, and diversion of funds from the Labour Party’s presidential campaign while presenting themselves as elder statesmen.”

Arabambi highlighted the party’s commitment to transparency and accountability and called for an investigation into all bank accounts associated with the alleged misconduct.

He urged a thorough investigation into the accounts linked to  Adebanjo, Osuntokun, and Ebiseni to ascertain the extent of Afenifere’s involvement in the alleged fraud.

The National Coordinator of the Obedient Movement, Dr. Yunisa Tanko, described the allegations as baseless and false.

“The allegations are unfounded. I was present when Aisha Yesufu provided the audited account of the presidential campaign fund, and the truth is that no money is missing from the Labour Party’s accounts,” Dr. Tanko stated in a phone conversation with our correspondent.

The Deputy Leader of Afenifere, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, when contacted, said he was not familiar with the allegations. “I have just seen the lengthy press statement you are referring to. I have not read it, but if Afenifere needs to respond later, we will certainly do so,” Olaitan said.

 

 

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Osun Govt Denies Forcing Council Officers to Change Account Signatories Amid Political Tussle

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Osun Govt Denies Forcing Council Officers to Change Account Signatories Amid Political Tussle

Osun Govt Denies Forcing Council Officers to Change Account Signatories Amid Political Tussle

The Osun State Government has dismissed allegations that it is coercing career officers in local governments to alter signatories to council accounts amid the ongoing power struggle between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) over local government control.

The Chairman of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Osun, Mr. Adewale Adebayo, alleged that Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration was pressuring Finance Directors and Heads of Local Administration (HLAs) to make unauthorized changes to council accounts.

“We reliably gathered that Adeleke’s government has started taking 30 Local Government Area Finance Directors and Heads of Local Administration to an undisclosed location forcefully. This is unconnected to the contention over who controls the local government,” Adebayo claimed.

He further alleged that these officials were being detained and pressured into changing signatories to align with the newly elected officials, an act he described as undemocratic and a violation of the rule of law. Adebayo also referenced judicial pronouncements from the Court of Appeal that upheld the October 15, 2022, council election, asserting that the state government’s actions contradict the verdict.

However, Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, swiftly refuted the claims, dismissing them as “mere speculation.”

“This is just an attempt to create a false narrative. The Commissioner for Local Government has confirmed that he never issued such a directive. They are only trying to stir unnecessary controversy,” Alimi stated.

“We have never changed any local government account signatories. APM is just crying more than the bereaved,” he added.

Meanwhile, the APC in Osun has urged local government workers to return to their duty posts, emphasizing that they must remain neutral in the ongoing political tussle. Jamiu Olawumi, a former Special Adviser on Education under ex-Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, stated that the reinstated local government chairmen had issued a 72-hour ultimatum for workers to resume.

However, the Osun chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) rejected the directive, with Chairman Christopher Arapasopo insisting that workers would only return when their security was guaranteed.

Despite the NLC’s stance, Olawumi maintained that workers were expected to resume, noting that chairmen and councillors had already resumed work.

“It is quite unfortunate that they (workers) are becoming partisan. They need to understand that they are not employed by the state government but by individual local governments. That is why they have Heads of Local Government Administration,” Olawumi stated.

“We encourage them to eschew partisanship and focus on their work. The ultimatum lapses today (Wednesday), and we expect them to resume tomorrow (Thursday). If they don’t, we will continue persuading them,” he added.

Efforts to reach NLC Chairman Arapasopo for comment were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone did not go through, and he had yet to respond to text messages at press time.

Amid the controversy, an Osun-based civil society group, The Osun Masterminds, has called for a return to the courts to resolve the dispute.

Speaking in Osogbo, the Executive Director of the group, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, urged all parties to refrain from inflammatory remarks that could escalate tensions.

“All parties must immediately return to the relevant courts to clarify the subsisting judgments so that the current issues can be amicably resolved,” Oyedokun-Alli stated.

“Once clarified, all parties must respect the decision of the courts and lay the matter to rest once and for all. As we approach the 2026 Osun gubernatorial election, all parties must demonstrate their commitment to peace and security. If this crisis escalates into next year, it could destabilize our once peaceful Osun State.

“Local government staff must remain non-partisan and adhere to the rule of law to avoid becoming political tools in the hands of any party,” he concluded.

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Falana Declares Legal War Over ‘Malicious’ 1993 Prosecution, Takes on Babangida Regime

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Falana Declares Legal War Over 'Malicious' 1993 Prosecution, Takes on Babangida Regime

Falana Declares Legal War Over ‘Malicious’ 1993 Prosecution, Takes on Babangida Regime

 

Renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has launched an audacious legal battle against what he describes as his “malicious” detention and prosecution under the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), vowing to hold the former dictator accountable.

Speaking on Channels TV on Tuesday, Falana, who was detained alongside the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) and three others, recounted their persecution for resisting the annulment of the historic June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was decisively won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola.

Falana slammed Babangida for his recent admission of regret over the annulment, labeling it as an admission of guilt. He accused the former military ruler of systematically dismantling Nigeria’s democracy, detaining and parading pro-democracy activists like criminals while clinging to power.

Recalling the harrowing events of 1993, Falana revealed that he and his colleagues were hauled before the Gwagwalada Chief Magistrate Court and charged with treasonable felony. With no access to legal representation, he and Fawehinmi took on the military regime in court, turning their arraignment into an exposé of junta tyranny.

“Even though we were asking for bail, we turned our arraignment into the trial of the junta. Chief Fawehinmi told the judge, Chief Magistrate Mallam Bulama, that those who should be standing trial for treason were actually in the Villa, led by General Babangida,” Falana recalled.

He challenged the legitimacy of the charge, arguing before the court that the law on treason was inapplicable to an unelected military dictator. The court ultimately granted them bail, and the regime, unable to withstand further scrutiny, abandoned the case entirely.

Now, decades later, Falana is reigniting the battle, assembling a powerful legal team to seek redress for what he describes as a grave miscarriage of justice.

“This is malicious prosecution. I have assembled a team of lawyers who are looking into it. Babangida has now admitted that there was no basis for our prosecution, because he acknowledges that Abiola won the election. That was the reason we protested.

“His own words confirm the injustice we suffered,” Falana declared.

The senior advocate is also pushing for recognition of the massive human rights violations suffered under Babangida’s rule, citing international human rights charters.

“When you detain me in Kuje prison, you violate my right to liberty, my freedom of movement, and my right to choose the government of my country.

“According to Article 13 of the African Charter on Human Rights, the man who did it has now confessed that it was wrong,” Falana stated.

He further referenced recent legal precedents that challenge statutes of limitation in cases of severe human rights abuses, emphasizing that justice must prevail no matter how long it takes.

With this renewed legal offensive, Falana is not only seeking personal redress but also pushing to set a precedent against impunity, sending a strong message that Nigeria’s pro-democracy fighters will not relent in their pursuit of justice.

 

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Senate Clashes with Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as N100.3bn Lawsuit Rocks National Assembly

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Senate Clashes with Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as N100.3bn Lawsuit Rocks National Assembly

Senate Clashes with Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as N100.3bn Lawsuit Rocks National Assembly

In a dramatic escalation of tensions within the Nigerian Senate, lawmakers have rallied behind Senate President Godswill Akpabio after Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central Senatorial District filed a staggering N100.3bn defamation lawsuit against him.

The lawsuit, which has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, stems from a heated confrontation between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan last week over the controversial relocation of her Senate seat. The verbal altercation, which played out in full view of the public, has now turned into a full-blown legal battle.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, a first-time senator, formally filed suit CV/737/25 before the Federal Capital Territory High Court on February 25, 2025, accusing Akpabio of defamation. The lawsuit also names the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Akpabio’s Senior Legislative Aide, Mfon Patrick, as co-defendants.

The storm erupted after the Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, lashed out at Akpoti-Uduaghan during a Channels Television interview on February 21, condemning her bold stance against the Senate President. He dismissed her actions as political theatrics, stating, “The National Assembly is not for content creation in entertainment. The National Assembly is for serious business.”

The firestorm intensified when Patrick allegedly took to Facebook to publish a statement titled, ‘Is the Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?’ The post included an incendiary remark, accusing Akpoti-Uduaghan of being more focused on “pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the chambers” than on legislative duties.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal counsel, Victor Giwa, denounced the statement as an outrageous attack on her integrity, arguing that it was defamatory, provocative, and deliberately designed to tarnish her reputation among her colleagues and the public.

The embattled senator is demanding a court declaration that the statement was defamatory and has urged the judiciary to issue a perpetual injunction preventing Akpabio and his associates from making further derogatory remarks against her.

She is also pressing for a jaw-dropping N100bn in general damages and an additional N300m in litigation costs, making this one of the most high-profile defamation cases in Nigeria’s recent history.

As tensions soar within the Senate, political analysts warn that the lawsuit could further fracture relationships within the upper legislative chamber. The case is expected to be closely watched, with many awaiting the court’s decision on the explosive claims.

For now, the Senate remains a battlefield, and all eyes are on the judiciary as it prepares to weigh in on this unprecedented legal showdown.

In a dramatic escalation of tensions within the Nigerian Senate, lawmakers have rallied behind Senate President Godswill Akpabio after Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central Senatorial District filed a staggering N100.3bn defamation lawsuit against him.

The lawsuit, which has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, stems from a heated confrontation between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan last week over the controversial relocation of her Senate seat. The verbal altercation, which played out in full view of the public, has now turned into a full-blown legal battle.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, a first-time senator, formally filed suit CV/737/25 before the Federal Capital Territory High Court on February 25, 2025, accusing Akpabio of defamation. The lawsuit also names the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Akpabio’s Senior Legislative Aide, Mfon Patrick, as co-defendants.

The storm erupted after the Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, lashed out at Akpoti-Uduaghan during a Channels Television interview on February 21, condemning her bold stance against the Senate President. He dismissed her actions as political theatrics, stating, “The National Assembly is not for content creation in entertainment. The National Assembly is for serious business.”

The firestorm intensified when Patrick allegedly took to Facebook to publish a statement titled, ‘Is the Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?’ The post included an incendiary remark, accusing Akpoti-Uduaghan of being more focused on “pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the chambers” than on legislative duties.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal counsel, Victor Giwa, denounced the statement as an outrageous attack on her integrity, arguing that it was defamatory, provocative, and deliberately designed to tarnish her reputation among her colleagues and the public.

The embattled senator is demanding a court declaration that the statement was defamatory and has urged the judiciary to issue a perpetual injunction preventing Akpabio and his associates from making further derogatory remarks against her.

She is also pressing for a jaw-dropping N100bn in general damages and an additional N300m in litigation costs, making this one of the most high-profile defamation cases in Nigeria’s recent history.

As tensions soar within the Senate, political analysts warn that the lawsuit could further fracture relationships within the upper legislative chamber. The case is expected to be closely watched, with many awaiting the court’s decision on the explosive claims.

For now, the Senate remains a battlefield, and all eyes are on the judiciary as it prepares to weigh in on this unprecedented legal showdown.

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