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Senators attack Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo over appointment of Ibrahim Magu
The Senate on Tuesday called out Nigeria’s Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to a constitutional fight over Ibrahim Magu, the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The Senators unanimously resolved today to suspend all confirmation requests from the executive until decisions of the legislature are respected by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.
One of the decisions was the non-confirmation of Magu twice by the senate. Senators now wanted Magu sacked immediately.
In a four-prayer motion unanimously adopted by the lawmakers, the Senate frowned at a statement credited to the Acting President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo that the Senate had no power to confirm the chairman of the EFCC.
The decision of the Senate arose from a motion raised by Senator Ahmed Sani following a letter requesting the confirmation of Mr Lanre Gbajabiamila as Director General of the National Lottery Commission.
With particular reference to the rejection of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, the Senate insisted that the Executive must respect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or go to court to seek a redress.
The upper legislative chamber stressed that it was an illegality for Magu to still be parading himself of the chairman of the Commission after being rejected by the body constitutionally empowered to approve or reject his appointment.
The Acting President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was credited as saying that the Senate does not have power to reject the appointment of Magu as Chairman of EFCC.
The Senate therefore frowned at the comment credited to the acting president and approved the following prayers:
“That the Senate suspends all issues relating to confirmation of nominees from the executive until all issues of confirmation as contained in the constitution and laws of the Federation are adhered to.
“The Acting President must respect the constitution and laws as it relates to confirmation of appointments.
“The Acting President should immediately respect rejection of nominees by the senate yes.
“The Acting President should withdraw the statement credited to him that the Senate does not have the power to confirm certain nominees,” the Senate approved.
This is the second time the senate is taking a resolution against the executive for its refusal to adhere to the rejection of Magu and the Chairman of the EFCC.
In March, the Senate suspended the confirmation of INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners to protest the refusal of the executive to implement the legislature’s rejection of Magu as EFCC boss.
The President of the Senate Bukola Saraki who commended Sen. Sani for the motion stressed that the Senate could not continue to make laws and resolutions that would be flagrantly disobeyed.
He urged the Acting President to take appropriate actions on all resolutions and laws of the Senate.
“Distinguished colleagues, let me thank Senator Yerima for coming under Privileges. I think this matter is a very important matter but I think we need to address it once and for all and put it behind us.
“As a society, we can’t pass laws and see these laws not being obeyed. It is very clear these resolutions as passed must be acted upon by the Acting President and ensure that we continue to respect our democracy, our laws and constitution.
“It is not for us to choose which laws we obey and which laws we don’t obey. That is not the way any civilised, modern society works.
“We hope that the Acting President will take appropriate action in line with these resolutions,” he said.
While contributing to the motion, Deputy President of the Senate Ike Ekweremadu said that the constitutional provision upon which Osinbajo made his comment only applied to personal staff of the President.
Ekweremadu therefore stressed that the Senate is adequately empowered by law to confirm or reject any appointment by the President.
Sen. George Thomson Sekibo said that it appeared like there was a calculated action to quieten the National Assembly.
He however stressed that there was a clear constitutional provision that empowered the Senate to confirm all appointees of the President.
“If the Acting President says we do not have power to return any nomination I wonder if he is in touch with the EFCC Act: The EFCC Act states that the President shall nominate and Senate will confirm.
“If you reject one law, you have will reject the constitution. The Constitution did not give room for acting appointment after a nominee has been rejected by the Senate.
“If the Acting President says we do not have the power to confirm and then turns around to send us a nomination, which one do we now take?
“I think Senate should put a suspension on this nomination until this issue is resolved so that we know if we have the power to confirm or not,” he said.
For Sen. Isah Hamman Misau, sending a candidate to the senate for confirmation amounted to double standards by the Acting President Osinbajo.
He said that the senate must stand and face the challenges against the institution.
“If the executive was not ready for democracy then they should tell us and propose another system of government,” he said.
Senator Sam Anyanwu in his view said that the Senate should not even be accepting nomination letters from the executive, let alone considering them on the floor of the Senate.
He said that the comment of the Acting President had given impetus for more comments, adding that a report this morning was calling for the senate to be scrapped.
“We must try to stand our ground. If the leadership doesn’t do anything about this matter within 48 hours, we would move against this leadership,” he said.
Senator Dino Melaye, who is currently facing threat of recall, also added that the senate must not accept the comment of Prof. Osinbajo.
Melaye said that the National Assembly which is a mark of democracy, must not be allowed to be destroyed.
“It is time for the Senate to tell the executive arm of government that it must stop approbating and reprobating.
“Magu came for a job interview and failed and he was rejected. As we speak, Magu is still parading himself as the chairman of EFCC.
“The integrity of the Senate is at stake. This senate cannot be disregarded and insulted: our authority to confirm cannot be eroded.
“I am moving a motion that it becomes abominable to read any other confirmation report in this chamber until they act on our position.
“Those who have failed should go back. Magu is not the last Nigerian Angel. He can serve this country in another capacity,” Melaye said.
Senator Olusola Adeyeye, the Chief Whip of the Senate reminded the executive that the difference between Military rule and Democracy was the existence of the legislature.
“Whether you serve in the executive, legislature or judiciary, everyone is called to obey the laws of the republic.
“If there is any law passed by NASS, signed by the President and gazetted, no one has the permission to dance around that law.
“Whoever has a problem with any law should go to court. Until a court declares it null and void, it remains the law of the land. Anyone who does not respect it is breaking the law of the land.
“I want to say here that I voted yes for Magu, but this is not about my view. The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria voted no and I stand with the Senate.
Precision and Heritage: How Fifi Stitches Is Rewriting African Fashion Narratives
A Nigerian-born designer is gradually carving out a cross-continental footprint in contemporary fashion, blending African textile heritage with British technical discipline.
Esther Fiyinfoluwa Adeosun, Founder and Creative Director of Fifi Stitches, is gaining recognition for structured womenswear and bridal couture that reinterprets traditional fabrics through architectural tailoring and precision construction.
Born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Adeosun’s fashion journey began at home, seated beside her mother’s sewing machine. What started as childhood curiosity, sometimes jamming the machine just to understand its mechanics—evolved into a disciplined design practice now operating between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
During an interview with journalists the fifi Stitches once mentioned “I was fascinated by how flat fabric could transform into something structured and meaningful”.
In her Story , early designs made for her family, though imperfectly finished, were worn with pride—an encouragement that laid the foundation for her professional confidence.
Today, Fifi Stitches is recognised for sculpted bodices, controlled tailoring, corsetry construction, and the contemporary reinterpretation of Ankara, Aso Oke, and Adire textiles.
The brand challenges the long-held perception that African fabrics belong solely in ceremonial contexts, instead positioning them within global luxury and modern design spaces.
Adeosun’s training reflects this dual perspective. She studied Fashion Design and Entrepreneurship at the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Development Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, and earned a Diploma in Fashion Design through Alison Online.
In the UK, she undertook industry-focused technical training with Fashion-Enter Ltd and gained fashion business exposure through Fashion Capital UK.
Her technical expertise spans pattern drafting, draping, garment technology, structured tailoring, corsetry, and bespoke fittings—skills she describes as central to credibility in fashion. “Precision builds trust,” she says. “A designer must understand construction as deeply as creativity.”
Fifi Stitches has showcased collections at the Suffolk Fashion Show, Liverpool Fashion Show – FB Fashion Ball, Red Carpet Fashion Event in London, and through editorial features in London Runway Magazine.
The brand has also received coverage in The Guardian Nigeria and Vanguard Allure, expanding its visibility across markets.
Beyond couture, Adeosun integrates community impact into her practice.
She has facilitated garment construction workshops, draping sessions, and introductory training programmes for women and emerging creatives, promoting fashion as both artistic expression and vocational empowerment.
Fifi Stcithes Boss operates between Nigeria and the UK, in order to continue to shape her brand identity.
According to her “Nigeria provides cultural richness and expressive textile traditions, while the UK offers structured production systems, sustainability conversations, and institutional frameworks”.
Looking ahead, Adeosun said she plan to establish a fully structured fashion house spanning Africa and the UK, develop scalable production partnerships, launch capsule collections, and expand independent editorial visibility.
Her broader ambition is clear: to position African textile craftsmanship within global contemporary design conversations—through structure, discipline, and technical excellence.
GTCO Launches “Take on Squad” Hackathon 3.0, Opens Call for Applications
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (“GTCO” or the “Group”) has announced the launch of “Take on Squad” Hackathon 3.0, reaffirming its commitment to fostering innovation, empowering talent, and supporting the development of technology-driven solutions that address real-world challenges across Africa.
Now in its third edition, the Hackathon brings together developers, designers and entrepreneurs across Nigeria in a collaborative environment to build practical solutions across key sectors including financial services, healthcare, commerce and digital inclusion. Under the theme “Smart Systems: The Intelligent Economy,” participants are challenged to design and build intelligent, data-driven solutions that transform how communities engage with money.
Applications are now open, and interested teams can find full guidelines and registration details on the official portal at https://squadco.com/hackathon.
Speaking on the initiative, Eduophon Japhet, Managing Director of HabariPay, stated: “Today’s dynamic, digitally driven world demands continuous innovation, which is shaping how economies grow, how businesses scale, and how societies evolve. Through “Take on Squad” Hackathon, we are deliberately investing in the ideas and talent that will define the future. Our objective is not simply to encourage innovation, but to enable its translation into scalable solutions that deliver real and measurable impact. This reflects GTCO’s role as a financial services platform that connects capital, capability, and creativity to drive sustainable progress.”
The social coding event remains a cornerstone of HabariPay’s mission to foster creativity and problem-solving among emerging tech talents. Competing teams will leverage Squad’s advanced APIs to create scalable digital tools that address everyday challenges faced by businesses and individuals.
Through initiatives such as this, GTCO continues to position itself at the intersection of finance, technology and enterprise, actively shaping the future of digital transformation in Africa.
About HabariPay
HabariPay Ltd is the fintech subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), one of the largest financial services institutions in Africa with direct and indirect investments in a network of operating entities located in 10 countries across Africa and the United Kingdom.
Licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), our goal is to support SMEs, micro merchants, large corporations and other fintechs (Tech Stars) with the tools they need to thrive in an evolving digital economy and expand beyond their current market reach. HabariPay’s solutions include Squad, a full-scale digital payments toolkit to make in-person and online payments simpler, HabariPay Storefront, an e-commerce website to facilitate online purchases, Value-Added Services to help merchants access cost-effective and flexible airtime and data bundles to run their businesses, as well as a switching infrastructure that enables tech-focused businesses to optimise cost and make transactions more efficient.
HabariPay’s contributions to Accelerating Digital Acceptance in Africa have not gone unnoticed–it received Mastercard’s Innovative Mobile Payment Solution Award at TIA 2022 for its innovative payment solution, SquadPOS.
About Squad
Squad is a complete digital payments solution that is reliable, secure, and affordable, making receiving in-person and online payments simpler and convenient.
Thousands of merchants currently leverage Squad’s payment solutions for their daily business operations. Squad’s current products and service offerings include SquadPOS, Squad Payment Links, Squad Virtual Accounts, USSD, and E-Commerce Storefront.
Find out more at www.squadco.com.
Electric 8-Seater Tula Moto Keke Enters Nigerian Market, Targets Higher Operator Earnings
LAGOS — A new electric-powered tricycle with an expanded passenger capacity has been introduced into Nigeria’s urban transport sector, offering operators a potentially more profitable and eco-friendly alternative to conventional petrol-driven “keke.”
The newly launched 8-seater electric tricycle, now available in Lagos with plans for nationwide distribution, features a dual-row seating arrangement capable of accommodating up to eight passengers per trip—significantly higher than the standard three-passenger configuration common across the country.
Promoters of the innovation say the increased capacity is designed to boost daily earnings for operators, particularly amid persistent fluctuations in fuel prices. By running entirely on electric power, the vehicle eliminates dependence on petrol, reducing operating costs and shielding drivers from fuel price volatility.
According to the distributors, the tricycle is equipped with a durable battery system capable of covering extended distances on a single charge, making it suitable for commercial operations across high-traffic routes, residential estates, campuses, and marketplaces.
“The concept is straightforward—enable drivers to earn more while spending less,” a company representative stated. “With higher passenger capacity and zero fuel requirements, operators can maximise each trip without the burden of daily fuel expenses.”
Beyond its cost-saving potential, the electric keke is also said to require less maintenance than traditional models, offering additional long-term savings. Its quieter and smoother operation is expected to enhance passenger comfort and overall commuting experience.
Industry analysts note that the introduction of electric mobility solutions reflects a growing shift toward cleaner and more sustainable transportation alternatives in Nigeria, particularly in densely populated urban centres such as Lagos.
The distributors added that the product is currently available under a limited promotional offer, with delivery options across the country.
For inquiries and purchase: 📞 08153432071
📞 08035889103
Office Address:
📍 Plot 9, Block 113, Beulah Plaza,
Lekki–Epe Expressway,
Lekki Phase 1, Lagos
As transportation costs continue to rise and environmental concerns gain prominence, innovations like the electric 8-seater keke may signal an emerging transition toward more efficient and sustainable mobility solutions nationwide.
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