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Rejected Nominees: We Can’t Be Intimidated, Lagos Assembly Declares

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Rejected Nominees: We Can’t Be Intimidated, Lagos Assembly Declares

– says there are plans to attack Speaker Obasa, lawmakers

– says no rift between Governor and Speaker

 

 

 

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday revealed that there are plans by some people to attack Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and other lawmakers over the recent screening and rejection of some cabinet nominees sent by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

 

 

 

 

The House, however, said its action concerning the nominees was in tandem with the constitution, which stipulates its responsibilities and, as such, would not succumb to threats and intimidations, including planned sponsored protests and analysis by some civil society groups and activists.

 

 

It also said it had refrained itself from revealing all that it discovered during the screening of the nominees while warning that “those who live in glass houses should be conscious not to throw stones.”

 

 

 

 

“Before today, I had been reliably informed of the plan to attack the Speaker based on the decision of the House concerning the nominees of the Governor, particularly the rejected ones,” Dr. Obasa said during plenary adding that he had been inundated with calls from people and members of the House.

 

 

 

 

The Speaker stressed that the House does not have any fight with Sanwo-Olu or the executive arm as projected by some people, who may not be aware of the actual reasons for the rejection of the nominees.

 

 

 

“There is this erroneous belief that we are waging war against the Governor. There is no basis for me and the House to fight the Governor. I will continue to say that the Governor is a brother and colleague in the Lagos project and service to the people of our State.

 

Rejected Nominees: We Can't Be Intimidated, Lagos Assembly Declares

 

“The Governor and I have been around in the system for long. While he was SA to the former Deputy Governor, Femi Pedro, I was in this House as chairman, Committee on Rural Development. He was SA on Establishment and Pensions and I was chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts (Local Governments). While he was heading LSDPC, I was chairman, Committee on Economic Planning and Budget. Then, I became the Speaker and when he became the Governor, I remained the Speaker. So it’s been a long journey together.

 

 

 

 

“But I wonder why anytime the House says no to a particular request of the Governor, it is taken by some people to mean there is a fight with the Governor. This House has passed so many resolutions that the executive arm refused to carry out, but people don’t see that as something to talk about and the House does not raise eyebrows. So I don’t know what brings the erroneous belief that the House is fighting the Governor, who is our brother and who we will continue to work with.

 

 

 

 

“However, we have a constitutional responsibility. Just as the Governor has the responsibility to inform the House about his nominees, the House has the responsibility to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ which we have exercised by confirming some and denying some and we have our reasons for saying ‘no’ to some of the nominees.

 

 

 

“The House, as a body, has refrained itself from exposing what it discovered during the screening exercise and we are not going to be forced to spill to the public,” Dr. Obasa said.

 

 

 

Concerning the rejection of Prof. Akin Ababyomi, former health commissioner, Obasa said considerations went beyond his efforts in the fight against COVID-19 which he described as an isolated issue in the challenged health sector of the State.

 

 

 

“Before Prof. Abayomi, there were Leke Pitan, Dr. Jide Idris and others. COVID-19 was an isolated case that was considered. Before COVID-19, we had Ebola which was also taken care of under Babatunde Fashola.

“Beyond all these, we are the representatives of the people, their mouthpieces, eyes and ears. The health sector of Lagos is not just about COVID-19. We have general hospitals and other health care centres around the State. What can be said about them?

 

 

 

 

“Before Engineer Aramide Adeyoye, we also had Engineer Ganiyu Johnson and Dr. Obafemi Hamzat as Commissioner for Works and under whom the Ikoyi-Victoria Island link bridge was built while Babatunde Fashola was Governor. Under Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as Governor, there was masaive infrastructural development too.

 

 

 

 

“So we must stop making allusions concerning somethings we do not understand. They mentioned the former c
Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotosho and his experience. But how about actions in office?” Obasa asked.

The Speaker added that as a politician whose party is in power, the priority of those in government should be the interest of the people.

He urged those planning to sponsor actions against the House to realise that protests and sponsored articles would not make the House rescind its decision.

“The civil society that is threatening to protest should do so because it is a constitutional right. But we are not going to be threatened or intimidated. We have said no, but if there is a convincing or germane reason for us to reverse our decision, we will, but not by threats.

“It is because we are successful as politicians that is why the technocrats are being appointed. And to our own estimation, if they have not done well, we have right to say no and we have said no.

“We don’t want instigations and conflicts, the executive and the House are working together; we are brothers and colleagues; we will continue to work together but we need to caution fourth columnists not to instigate crisis. And those that are living in glass houses need to be careful,” he warned.

 

Rejected Nominees: We Can't Be Intimidated, Lagos Assembly Declares

Eromosele Ebhomele
Media Assistant to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

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“#NatashaLied: Senator Akpoti’s Defenders Accidentally Confirm Ties With Sandra Duru Despite Public Denial”

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"#NatashaLied: Senator Akpoti's Defenders Accidentally Confirm Ties With Sandra Duru Despite Public Denial”

#NatashaLied: Senator Akpoti’s Defenders Accidentally Confirm Ties With Sandra Duru Despite Public Denial”

ABUJA, NIGERIA — A spiraling scandal is engulfing Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as her own media allies appear to have unintentionally exposed the truth she publicly denied — that she indeed held private conversations with US-based activist Dr. Sandra Duru.

The controversy erupted after Onyekachi Francis, a vocal online supporter of the senator, admitted during a live session with journalist Adeola Fayehun that she had received voice recordings and scripts from Natasha’s camp — materials that detail private conversations between the senator and Dr. Duru.

This comes in direct contradiction to Senator Natasha’s earlier categorical denial of ever knowing or speaking with Dr. Duru. In a Facebook post last week, the senator dismissed the activist as an “attention-seeker” who fabricated claims, including allegations of a falsified sexual harassment narrative involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

However, Onyekachi’s remarks have now unraveled that version of events.

“She [Natasha] said she was happy Sandra was supporting her,” the influencer disclosed during the live broadcast. “She never mentioned bringing down any Yoruba government or attacking Oby Ezekwesili in the audios I was sent.”

The comments, meant to deflect accusations against the senator, have instead triggered a political firestorm — confirming to critics that Natasha did indeed communicate with Sandra, despite her public denials.

Even more damaging, the influencer revealed she had been asked to voice over a script from Natasha’s team to discredit Sandra but chose to edit out defamatory sections and avoided using her own voice to avoid legal consequences.

This public relations misstep has set social media ablaze. Within hours, hashtags like #NatashaLied and #Lietasha began trending on X (formerly Twitter), with users accusing the senator of lying to the Nigerian public and attempting to manipulate the narrative through media proxies.

“If Natasha said she never knew Sandra, how come her defenders are confirming that her team sent them personal audios and political scripts?” asked one outraged analyst. “This goes beyond PR damage — this is a serious credibility crisis.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Sandra Duru has maintained her stance, claiming to possess original recordings, call logs, and text messages that support her story. According to her, the senator shared sensitive political plans and personal trauma, including alleged harassment by high-ranking officials.

With the situation spiraling, pressure is mounting on the National Assembly and relevant agencies to launch an independent forensic investigation into the recordings and claims of perjury or misrepresentation.

As of press time, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and her media team have refused to respond to multiple inquiries seeking clarification.

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AMVCA 2025: Glitz, Glory & Grit! Stars, Shocks & Showstoppers Light Up Lagos in Africa’s Biggest Night in Entertainment History!

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AMVCA 2025: Glitz, Glory & Grit! Stars, Shocks & Showstoppers Light Up Lagos in Africa’s Biggest Night in Entertainment History!

AMVCA 2025: Glitz, Glory & Grit! Stars, Shocks & Showstoppers Light Up Lagos in Africa’s Biggest Night in Entertainment History!

Lagos was on fire as the 11th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) turned the Eko Hotel and Suites into a cauldron of dazzling lights, A-list glam, thunderous ovations, and unforgettable cinematic triumphs!

From the very first note of Johnny Drille and Kunmié’s soul-stirring performance, it was clear: this wasn’t just another award show. It was Africa’s Oscars on steroids—a masterclass in drama, spectacle, and unapologetic star power.

Femi Adebayo and Chioma Chukwuka owned the night, snatching Best Lead Actor and Actress respectively for their commanding roles in Seven Doors, which—alongside the revolutionary Lisabi: The Uprising—stood tall as cinematic titans with multiple wins.

But the crown jewel of the evening? The explosive Best Movie win by Freedom Way, beating out juggernauts like Christmas in Lagos and Suspicion. Gasps filled the room. Eyes widened. Cameras flashed.

Then came the curveballs.

Gabriel Afolayan, suave and striking, bagged Best Supporting Actor, while Mercy Aigbe stunned in gold before claiming Best Supporting Actress in Farmer’s Bride—a category packed with heavyweights.

The night wasn’t just about big names; it was also about bold narratives and unflinching creativity. The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos slayed with Best Cinematography, while Suspicion‘s haunting sound design won over the jury.

In a year where African stories roared with identity, pain, love, and resistance, Lisabi made a clean sweep in Art Direction, Makeup, and Indigenous Language (West Africa), proving that culture remains a cinematic weapon.

Meanwhile, Seven Doors added to its legend with wins in Best Series Scripted, Best Music/Score, and Best Indigenous Language—making it the night’s silent assassin.

Veteran icons Nkem Owoh and Sani Mu’azu received thunderous standing ovations as Lifetime Achievement honorees, while the young and fiery Kayode Kasum walked away as the AMVCA Trailblazer, his star rising at warp speed.

And the audience? On their feet. In awe. Loud. Proud. Unforgettable.

With 28 categories blending fierce public votes and expert jury verdicts, the AMVCA 2025 was more than a show—it was a statement. Africa’s storytellers are not waiting for permission anymore. They’re rewriting the narrative. Loudly.

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Supreme Court Slams Door on Fred Ajudua’s Bail, Orders Immediate Return to Prison in $1.43M Fraud Trial

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Supreme Court Slams Door on Fred Ajudua's Bail, Orders Immediate Return to Prison in $1.43M Fraud Trial

Supreme Court Slams Door on Fred Ajudua’s Bail, Orders Immediate Return to Prison in $1.43M Fraud Trial

 In a seismic ruling that sends shockwaves through Nigeria’s legal and social elite, the Supreme Court on Friday revoked the bail earlier granted to flamboyant Lagos socialite and alleged fraudster Fred Ajudua, ordering his immediate remand in prison custody.

Delivering a unanimous judgment, a five-man panel of the apex court dismantled the bail granted by the Court of Appeal in 2018, declaring it a judicial overreach steeped in procedural irregularity.

Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, who read the lead judgment, minced no words as she condemned the appellate court’s decision, declaring it “an exercise in futility” after it had already ruled Ajudua’s appeal incompetent.

“The lower court, at that point, had no jurisdiction to proceed further. It had become functus officio,” she ruled, restoring the earlier decision of trial Judge Mojisola Dada who denied Ajudua bail in July 2018.

The decision marks a major victory for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which had petitioned the apex court to overturn what it described as a flawed and unjustified release of Ajudua—an accused at the center of a staggering $1.43 million international fraud.

The case, which has dragged for decades, centers around allegations that Ajudua, in concert with an accomplice still at large, duped a Palestinian businessman, Ziad Abu Zalaf, of millions under the guise of executing shady contracts backed by forged documents from the Central Bank of Nigeria and NNPC.

The scandal has long been a symbol of Nigeria’s struggle with high-profile financial crimes and delayed justice. With this ruling, the Supreme Court not only nullified the appeal court’s decision but also ordered a swift resumption of Ajudua’s long-stalled trial before Justice Dada of the Lagos High Court.

The EFCC had charged Ajudua in a 12-count indictment that included conspiracy to obtain money under false pretenses and forgery. Despite citing health concerns, Ajudua’s attempt to evade prosecution through bail has now been effectively shut down.

Legal observers say the ruling reasserts the authority of trial courts and reinforces the Supreme Court’s intolerance for procedural abuse in high-profile criminal cases.

“This appeal succeeds and it is hereby allowed,” Justice Nwosu-Iheme declared. “The respondent is to be remanded in prison custody.”

The court further directed that the matter be reassigned immediately for continuation of trial “within the shortest possible time.”

With the bail revoked and trial back on track, all eyes now return to the courtroom—where a case that began over three decades ago may finally see resolution.

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