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Lagos Assembly To Sanwo-Olu: Intensify Campaign Against Fresh Cases Of COVID-19

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Easter: Let God's unending love reign supreme - Obasa Urges Nigerians

 

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, to intensify campaign against the new wave of COVID-19 in the state.

 

 

Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, who brought the matter before the House during plenary, added that it was important for the state’s Commissioner for Health, Professor Tunji Abayomi, to brief the House on the efforts being made by the government to curtail the spread of the disease.

Obasa said there was need for the people to take precaution against the pandemic at this point to prevent further spread.

He also urged lawmakers to intensify observance of the protocols against it.

“The Governor is down with mild symptoms of COVID-19 and I want to urge all the lawmakers in the House to observe the protocols of the pandemic.

“The Clerk of the House should also ensure that the staff of the House and visitors observe COVID-19 protocols.

“We should sustain the campaign against the spread of the disease in the state. We all know that the disease is on the increase in the United States of America and in other countries.

“The Commissioner for Health, Professor Tunji Abayomi, would have to come and brief the House on efforts being made to prevent the spread of the disease in the state,” Obasa said.

Commenting on the matter, Hon. Bisi Yusuff, who is a member of the House Committee on Health Services, expressed fears concerning the new wave while lamenting that many residents have become careless.

He said Lagosians must continue to observe protocols.

Meanwhile, a bill for a law to provide for the registration of cooperative societies in Lagos State has been read a second time.

The bill was analysed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce and Industry, Hon. Ganiu Okanlawon (Kosofe 1) and it was debated by some members at the sitting.

The bill was then committed to the House Committee on Commerce and Industry to report back to the House in two weeks.

At the sitting, a report on Unlawful Societies and Cultism (Prohibition) Bill 2020 was presented by the Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions and LASIEC, Hon. Victor Akande, representing Ojo1.

However, the committee was asked to make some amendments on the bill based on the observations and comments of members on the report before it would be read for the third time.

Before adjourning the sitting to Monday, December 28, Speaker Obasa urged standing committees of the House to conclude work on bills before them.

He also urged the joint Committees on Budget and Economic Planning and Finance to complete work on the 2021 Budget proposal of the state.

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El-Rufai’s Involvement in SDP Talks Fuels Political Speculation

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El-Rufai’s Involvement in SDP Talks Fuels Political Speculation

El-Rufai, Atiku Allies, SDP Leaders Hold Strategic Meeting Ahead of 2027 Elections

 

Prominent political figures, including former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and allies of ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, convened with the leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Abuja on Tuesday, sparking speculation about potential realignments in Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.

 

The closed-door meeting, held at the SDP national secretariat, included notable attendees such as Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha, a former presidential candidate and Chief Security Officer to the late Gen. Sani Abacha, and Otunba Segun Showunmi, a former spokesman for Atiku.

While the agenda of the meeting was not publicly disclosed, it is seen as part of broader efforts by opposition figures to forge alliances and mount a formidable challenge to President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next election cycle.

Key Figures Comment on the Gathering

Otunba Segun Showunmi confirmed the meeting in a Facebook post, describing it as a “strategic gathering” aimed at evaluating the state of opposition politics in Nigeria.

“You must set forth at dawn! A Strategic Meeting was called by HE Shehu Gabam, Chairman of SDP, with HE Nasir El-Rufai, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, and myself. The alternative to meet, greet, and review the state of opposition democratic engagement in Nigeria,” Showunmi wrote.

 

SDP Chairman Shehu Gabam also confirmed the meeting, describing it as a gathering of “like-minded individuals” committed to Nigeria’s progress.

 

“There is no official statement from El-Rufai or anyone about officially joining the SDP. However, they are open to conversations and negotiations for a better Nigeria. It’s not about a political party; it’s about the future of Nigeria,” Gabam told The PUNCH.

Gabam emphasized that the SDP’s goal is to unite progressive thinkers across political lines to stabilize the country and provide constructive advice to the government.

“We are looking for like-minded people who believe in the future of the country so that we can work together to uplift Nigeria. More heavyweights are coming on board, and discussions are ongoing,” Gabam added.

El-Rufai Refutes Defection Claims

The meeting comes just two days after El-Rufai dismissed rumors of his defection from the APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). On his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, the former governor labeled the claims as “patent lies” and stated that his lawyers would take legal action against those spreading the misinformation.

“Please disregard the patent lies and rumors about my political affiliation. I have referred the lead peddlers of the fake news for further action by my lawyers,” El-Rufai tweeted.

A close associate of El-Rufai also dismissed the claims, attributing them to “mischief-makers” intent on creating political instability.

Implications for Nigeria’s Political Landscape

The involvement of key figures like El-Rufai in discussions with opposition leaders has fueled speculation about cracks within the ruling APC. Political analysts are closely monitoring whether these meetings signal a strategic shift or a broader attempt to consolidate opposition forces ahead of the 2027 elections.

As Nigeria inches closer to the next electoral cycle, the SDP appears poised to play a central role in opposition politics, with Gabam positioning the party as a constructive alternative focused on national stability, economic prosperity, and political progress.

Whether these discussions will materialize into a unified opposition front remains to be seen. However, the meeting underscores an intensifying effort among Nigeria’s political elite to reshape the country’s political dynamics.

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Nnamdi Kanu Opposes Federal Government’s Bid to Resume Trial, Demands Judge’s Recusal

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Nnamdi Kanu Opposes Federal Government’s Bid to Resume Trial, Demands Judge’s Recusal

Nnamdi Kanu Opposes Federal Government’s Bid to Resume Trial, Demands Judge’s Recusal

 

The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has rejected the Federal Government’s request to resume his trial, insisting that Justice Binta Nyako must step aside as the presiding judge.

Kanu’s lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, confirmed this stance in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, maintaining that Justice Nyako’s earlier decision to recuse herself from the case remains valid.

Kanu, who faces seven charges of alleged treasonable felony and terrorism, was re-arrested in Kenya in 2021 and extradited to Nigeria under controversial circumstances. He has consistently pleaded not guilty to all charges.

 

Background and Recusal Dispute

During the last court session on September 24, 2024, Kanu directly requested Justice Nyako’s recusal, expressing a lack of confidence in her handling of the case. Justice Nyako agreed and forwarded the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment.

However, the Chief Judge returned the case to Justice Nyako, explaining that two other judges had previously stepped aside from the matter. Given her extensive familiarity with the case since 2015, the Chief Judge deemed Justice Nyako the best-positioned judge to conclude the trial.

In a directive accompanying the reassignment, the Chief Judge stated that if Kanu still wished for Justice Nyako’s withdrawal, he must file a formal motion with an affidavit outlining his reasons, serve the prosecution, and await her determination.

Despite this instruction, Federal Government counsel Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) requested a new trial date in a December 5, 2024, letter to the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar. Awomolo argued that the Chief Judge’s decision reinstated Justice Nyako as the presiding judge.

 

Kanu’s Rejection and Defense

In response, Ejimakor countered in a letter that Justice Nyako’s recusal order from September 24 remains valid and enforceable. “Our position is based on the fact that Justice Nyako entered and enrolled an order recusing herself on September 24, 2024, and to date, that order remains extant and subsisting. It has not been set aside by any competent court,” Ejimakor argued.

He accused the prosecution of attempting to mislead the court, insisting that Kanu no longer has a case before Justice Nyako.

During the previous court proceedings, Kanu expressed his mistrust in Justice Nyako’s impartiality, citing her alleged failure to enforce a Supreme Court directive. Addressing the court directly, Kanu stated:

“My Lord, I have no confidence in this court anymore and I ask you to recuse yourself because you did not abide by the decision of the Supreme Court. I can understand it if the DSS refused to obey a court order, but for this court to refuse to obey an order of the Supreme Court is regrettable.”

Kanu emphasized that his objection was not personal but rooted in his frustration with a trial he believes contravenes constitutional provisions.

 

 

Prosecution’s Position

Awomolo, however, dismissed Kanu’s objections as baseless, urging the court to proceed with the trial. “My Lord, you should not recuse yourself on the basis of this mere observation which does not have anything to do with the Supreme Court. It is an incompetent observation. We urge this court to proceed with the hearing,” he argued.

Kanu responded by presenting a document he claimed was a Supreme Court ruling that questioned the impartiality of the trial court.

Judge’s Decision

 

In the September 24 session, Justice Nyako formally recused herself, declaring:

“I hereby recuse myself and remit the case file back to the Chief Judge.”

 

A History of Controversy

Kanu was first arrested in October 2015 upon his return to Nigeria from the United Kingdom. Detained at the Kuje Correctional Facility, he was granted bail in 2017 on health grounds. However, after a military raid on his home, Kanu fled the country, eventually returning to the UK.

In 2021, he was re-arrested in Kenya under contentious circumstances and extradited to Nigeria, where he has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Repeated applications for bail have been denied by Justice Nyako, fueling tensions between the defense and the prosecution.

What’s Next?

The controversy over Justice Nyako’s role and the Federal Government’s bid to resume the trial continues to unfold. With no formal resolution, Kanu’s trial remains in legal limbo, raising questions about the fairness and impartiality of the judicial process.

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APC and Peter Obi Supporters Clash Over Alleged Threat to Former Governor’s Life

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APC and Peter Obi Supporters Clash Over Alleged Threat to Former Governor's Life

APC and Peter Obi Supporters Clash Over Alleged Threat to Former Governor’s Life

 

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and supporters of Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi have exchanged accusations over an alleged threat to the former Anambra State governor’s life.

The controversy began during an Arise Television interview on Sunday, where APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka criticized Obi’s recent remarks about President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Morka accused Obi of attempting to incite Nigerians and warned, “he has coming to him whatever he gets.”

Morka stated, “Mr. Obi is shooting from the hip… irrational in his thinking about a man who was governor for eight years and left nothing to remember in Anambra State… He has crossed the line so many times, and I think that at this point, he has coming to him whatever he gets.”

In reaction, Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, condemned Morka’s comments, labeling them as a veiled threat. He warned that any attempt to harm Obi or intimidate his supporters would provoke public backlash.

“That is a threat. If they make the move [to arrest Obi], it will boomerang on their government,” Tanko said. He called on security agencies to investigate Morka’s statement and ensure accountability.

Tanko emphasized Obi’s right to critique the government and accused the APC of attempting to suppress dissent. “We Nigerians have the right, as covered under the constitution, to speak to issues. Criticizing them uplifts our democracy,” he added.

Peter Obi also responded via his official X handle, expressing disbelief over the situation. He claimed his New Year message, intended to inspire hope, had been misconstrued as an attack on the government.

“Have I really crossed the line? My New Year message has now led to threats against my life, my family, and those around me,” Obi wrote. He reaffirmed his commitment to speaking truth to power and cautioned against Nigeria’s slide into authoritarianism.

Meanwhile, Bala Ibrahim, National Publicity Director of the APC, defended Morka, dismissing allegations of a threat. Ibrahim accused Obi’s supporters of overreacting and urged them to avoid divisive rhetoric.

“They are taking politics to a different level… There is nothing threatening or harmful in what Felix Morka said,” Ibrahim argued. He called on Obi to caution his supporters against inflammatory language.

When contacted, Force spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi stated he was unaware of any formal complaint regarding threats to Obi’s life. “I’m not aware of what you are saying. Has he informed us?” Adejobi queried.

The incident has sparked widespread debate, with citizens questioning the state of free speech and political discourse in Nigeria. Many await further developments as the APC and the Obidient Movement continue their war of words.

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