Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has said strong partnership with nine members of the National Assembly from the state is benefiting residents’ lives.

The governor stated this on Saturday in Ikosu-Ekiti, Moba Local Government Area of the state during an empowerment programme hosted by a House of Representatives member, Akinlayo Kolawole.

Mr Oyebanji noted that the successful collaboration was responsible for the increase in federal projects and the appointment of many Ekiti State indigenes under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.

The governor, represented by Deputy Governor, Monisade Afuye, praised the federal lawmakers for their loyalty to the electorate and their efforts in enhancing development through projects and human capital initiatives.

He commended Mr Kolawole for his commitment to human capital development, noting the significant amount of materials distributed to citizens as part of his administration’s efforts.

Mr Oyebanji urged the people of Ekiti North Federal Constituency not to sell the materials at giveaway prices, warning that it could hinder government’s poverty reduction efforts.

The governor pledged to intensify efforts in poverty reduction, employment generation, agricultural expansion, road infrastructure, rural development, security, and youth economic opportunities.

In a display of generosity, Mr Kolawole distributed N15 million to over 300 widows and vulnerable people across the Local Governments of Ido/Osi, Ilejemeje, and Moba.

The lawmaker stressed the importance of federal lawmakers working closely with Mr Oyebanji to address poverty and neglect in the state, enhancing the impact of democracy at the grass-roots.

The distributed items included 100 motorcycles, fridges, generators, dryers, roofing sheets, knapsack spraying machines, sewing machines, grinding machines, cash gifts, and others.

Head of Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, has hailed the construction of a new nine-storey civil servants’ secretariat by the Bayelsa State Government.

She spoke during the groundbreaking ceremony of the project in Yenagoa on Saturday.

Mrs Walson-Jack said that upon completion, the iconic structure would remain in her memory as an exciting legacy of Governor Douye Diri’s administration.

She described the event as a significant milestone, recalling her time in Bayelsa’s public service and feeling nostalgic about witnessing the foundation-laying ceremony.

She said: “The civil service is the engine of government, providing expertise and structure for effective governance. A well-motivated and efficient civil service needs capable personnel, strong policies, and an enabling work environment that fosters professionalism, collaboration, and innovation.”

The head of service emphasised that the project demonstrated the Bayelsa State government’s commitment to strengthening governance and service delivery.

She stated, “This new state secretariat is a commendable effort to provide public servants with a conducive workplace. I applaud the Bayelsa State government for its dedication to infrastructure development. This project aligns with the broader vision of strengthening Nigeria’s civil service at both state and federal levels to enhance governance.’’

Earlier, the state governor stated that the workers’ complex would be an electronic secretariat, with the project costing N46 billion.

He said the government had already mobilised contractors with 30 per cent of the project sum and approved the release of another 20 per cent upon take off.

Mr Diri assured that funding would not be an issue and that the project would be completed in 24 months.

He urged state workers to reciprocate the government’s commitment to their welfare and well-being.

“What propelled me to build a new secretariat was the civil servants’ request for office accommodation, which was raised repeatedly every Workers’ Day,” he said.

He expressed delight that the new secretariat would end complaints from labour unions about inadequate office space.

The state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Moses Teibowei, said that the project was conceived and initiated by the Diri administration.

He stated that the structure would provide a conducive and befitting communal space for the state’s workforce.

The proposed structure would feature modern, eco-friendly green solutions to support key functional needs of the state.

It would cover a footprint of 3,675.633 square metres within a gross area of 26,762.99 square metres and include parking for 155 cars.

Operations Director of Megastar Technical and Construction Company Ltd., Carlos Zanone, said that the building would be equipped with a solar power-backed system.

Additional features would include conference halls, a six-bed sick bay, and a crèche to support working families.

He added that the facility would be built to modern standards, using high-quality materials to enhance the area’s aesthetics.

Mr Zanone assured that the 24-month completion timeframe was achievable.

The state Head of Service, Biobelemoye Charles-Onyema, thanked the state governor, describing the project as a dream come true for all Bayelsa civil servants.

The federal government once again paid National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members N33,000 as allowance for February despite assurances that a new monthly allowance of N77,000 would commence in the just-concluded month.

Corps members have been anticipating an increased monthly allowance since President Bola Tinubu approved an upward review of the national minimum wage to N70,000 last year.

However, the current administration has failed to accommodate the NYSC members in the new payment system.

This persistent neglect has prompted many corps members to voice their frustration against the government and NYSC management on social media. They cited the bad conditions they endure away from their comfort zones due to the country’s harsh economic situation.

Many were relieved when the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, announced in January to corps members in Katsina State that they would start receiving an allowance of N77,000 starting from February.

However, Mr Ahmed’s commitment turned out to be another empty promise, as corps members across the country were once more paid N33,000 monthly.

Meanwhile, some corps members have taken to social media to decry the government’s latest decision to pay them N33,000 again, with one saying, “They’ve given us 33k again! I’m tired of this selfish gov’t!”

Another posted, “But why the confidence the Nigerian government has in inflicting pains on citizens ..Nysc is causing us excruciating pains, I spend 100k+ every month — 33k can’t even sort out data bills nor transportation, so 77k is too much to pay.”

Some residents of Makurdi, the Benue capital, have lamented the acute scarcity of water in the metropolis.

Almost all the households in Makurdi that depend on wells for their daily water supply have lost them to the drought.

A cross-section of residents who spoke to journalists on Saturday lamented that they could not get water to buy, even when they had money.

Rose Abah, a resident of Makurdi, said that the well in their compound dried up as early as December 2024, and she had been depending on people selling water, popularly called ‘Mairuwa,’ for both domestic use and bathing since then.

However, Ms Abah said that it had also become difficult for her to get water from Mairuwa since the beginning of February 2025.

She said that her Mairuwa customers kept telling her that they could not find water to buy and resell to her.

Ms Abah, who also complained that Mairuwa had increased the price of their water per truck, lamented that even the price hike had not encouraged them to supply water promptly to customers.

“A truckload of water, which contains 10 of 20-litre jerrycans, used to be N600, but I am now buying it at the rate of N1,000.

“Some Mairuwa even sell for N1,500, depending on the distance from the source of supply, yet we do not see to buy,” Ms. Abah explained.

Joseph Akogwu, another resident, said he used his motorcycle to carry two 25-litre jerrycans from his Ankpa Quarters residence as far as BENARDA in search of water every day.

“Our area is not connected to the water board, so people depend on boreholes, which mostly dry up during the dry season.

“Mairuwa, too, are not finding it easy to get water because they have to solely depend on water tankers to supply them before they resell. So we are just praying to God for rain to start falling early this year,” Mr Akogwu said.

Sunday Orinya said he had a 3,000-litre tank at home, where a water tanker driver used to supply him with water monthly at the rate of N4,000 during the rainy season.

However, Mr Orinya said he had to start filling the tank weekly at the rate of N10,000 after his well dried up in January.

He said that sometimes he found it difficult to get the tanker driver to supply him with water because of the scarcity.

“Right now, it is not even about the money but about the availability of water because sometimes I have my money ready to buy, but the tanker driver, too, will not have to sell to me.

“I have got the phone numbers of three sets of tanker drivers so that I can switch customer service, but the story is the same with all of them as they always complain that the queue for water at the source is too long,” Mr Orinya said.

The residents, therefore, called on Gov. Hyacinth Alia to rescue them from the scourge of water scarcity by providing the whole of Makurdi with clean, pipe-borne water.

National Youth Service Corp member, Rofiat Lawal, who was kidnapped along the Benin-Ore Expressway on Tuesday has regained freedom after her family paid a ransom of N1.1m.

PUNCH Online reports that Lawal was kidnapped while en route to Ibadan, Oyo State from Benin, Edo State to resume at her place of primary assignment.

The abductors were said to have demanded an N20m ransom which her family appealed that they could not afford.

Following back-and-forth negotiations, the kidnappers reportedly reduced the N20m ransom to N5m.

Giving an update on the incident, Lawal’s friend identified as Agbakwara, who was privy to the incident, disclosed on Saturday that Aminat has regained her freedom.

Sharing a video of the victim in a Facebook post, Agbakwara wrote, “In the early hours of Friday, the kidnappers pressured us, warning that if we failed to meet their demands, we should not expect her return.

“In desperation, I reached out to everyone I could, her colleagues in school, the Muslim association, her friends from her hometown, my fans, and her family.

“Through the collective efforts and generosity of so many, we were able to raise N1.1 million, which was sent at 4:20 pm on Friday to an account provided by the kidnappers.

“The recipient, Isaac Ayo, claimed that his sister had also been kidnapped and assured us he would deliver the ransom alongside his own.”

He stated that Lawal was finally reunited with her family on Saturday morning.

“For hours, we anxiously waited. Finally, at around 10 pm, we received the long-awaited call: they had been released and taken to the hospital.

“This morning, we got another call confirming that Rofiat was on her way home, and the others had also safely returned to their families.

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who contributed, shared the news, and tagged the necessary authorities. Your support made this possible,” he concluded.

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested Odukaye Kunle, the man accused of abusing his son, Boluwatife, in Otta, Ogun State. His arrest comes after he was caught on camera kicking a young boy sparking public outrage and a swift response from law enforcement.

This development was confirmed in a statement shared on Saturday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, via X (formerly Twitter).

According to the police, Kunle has been taken into custody and will face charges in court on Monday. Meanwhile, the boy and his mother are being taken to the police medical centre in Otta for further medical evaluation and care.

The statement said, “Update on Ogun Child Abuse: Odukaye Kunle, the father who brutalised his son, Boluwatife, in Otta area, Ogun State, has just been arrested by the police.

“The mother of the boy and the boy will be taken to our police medical centre Otta for further medical assessment and attention. The OC Medical, Ogun State has been ordered to proceed to otta on this mission.

“Kunle will be charged to court on Monday. We commend the CP Ogun State, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, and his team for their commitment and ensuring that the boy gets justice. We appreciate you all for your concerns as well. Thanks.”

The arrest follows a manhunt launched by the Ogun State Police Command after a Facebook user, Adelere Rasaki, shared a video on Thursday showing Kunle viciously kicking the young boy.

The distressing footage quickly gained traction, leading to widespread condemnation and calls for justice.

The Saudi Arabian authorities have distributed 50 tonnes of dates to Kano state and other northern part of the country.

A similar donation of 50 tones have been distributed in Abuja.

The donation, according to a statement by the Embassy in Abuja, was part of its annual humanitarian relief programmes.

The initiative, facilitated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), aims to support vulnerable families across the country and strengthen the deep-rooted ties between the two nations.

The Consul General of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in Kano, Khalil Admawy, conveyed the Kingdom’s dedication to humanitarian causes during the official ceremony to distribute (50 tones) of dates to Kano State Government and northern Nigerian State.

The statement reads in part: “He expressed his profound gratitude to King Salman bin Abdelaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their unwavering support in providing aid to Muslims and underserved communities worldwide.

“He emphasized that Saudi Arabia remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering Islamic solidarity and providing relief to those in need.

“He further explained that this year’s distribution includes 50 tones of dates for Abuja which took place last week and another 50 tones for Kano and some northern Nigerian States which arrangements are ongoing on to deliver it to them, continuing Saudi Arabia’s tradition of assisting Nigeria through humanitarian donations.

“He noted that the initiative represents the Kingdom’s broader mission to uplift Muslim communities, alleviate suffering, and promote unity, particularly during significant by the custodian of the two Holy Mosques to King Salman bin Abdelaziz religious periods such as Ramadan indicating that the launching of IFTAAR PROGAMME which has been scheduled to take place no dr3 Month of Ramadan in Abuja is another humanitarian gesture by Saudi king Salman bin Abdelaziz.

“The Consulate, in collaboration with local authorities and humanitarian organizations, will ensure the proper distribution of the dates so that they reach the most vulnerable families in various regions of Nigeria.

“Since the establishment of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre(KSrelief), in 2025, with the help of 175 members of the united nations, the center has completed and delivered more than 2500 projects valued at moer$7 billion, benefitting 91 countries.

“Lastly, the consul General asked the Almighty Alah’s protection for the both countries and their rulers.”

The Akwa Ibom Council of Traditional Rulers has honored President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with its most prestigious title, “Otuekong,” which translates to Commander-in-Chief of Akwa Ibom State.

The title was bestowed on the President during a ceremony on Friday at the State House in Abuja.

The event was led by Nteyin Solomon Etuk, Okuibom Ibibio III, the President General of the council, along with other prominent chiefs.

Governor Umo Eno headed the 104-member delegation that accompanied the traditional rulers to the State House for the occasion.

Tinubu while receiving the title stated that the country’s full potential can be better realised when political leaders look beyond party loyalty in serving the nation.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday, February 28 partly reads: “The Akwa Ibom State Council of Traditional Rulers has conferred President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with the highest traditional title: ‘Otuekong, or Commander–in–Chief of Akwa Ibom State.’
 
“The conferment was held Friday at the State House, Abuja. The President General, Nteyin Solomon Etuk, Okuibom Ibibio III, led the chiefs.
 
“The chiefs were among the 104-member delegation led to the State House by Governor Umo Eno.
 
“Other delegation members were political leaders from different parties, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his wife Ekaette, religious leaders, former ministers and lawmakers, women and youth groups.
 
” ‘I accept all the honours and the conferment. I am one of you. Going back in time, I recall staying in Eket as an auditor of Mobil. We are all friends and family with the State that has moved progressively, with development and speed,’ President Tinubu said.
 
“He said the country’s full potential can be better realised when political leaders look beyond party loyalty in serving the nation.
 
“President Tinubu attributed the progress in Akwa Ibom State to consistency of vision and commitment to the collective development goal.”

Oando Plc has emerged the preferred bidder for the lease of the Guaracara Refinery in Trinidad and Tobago.

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Peoples Gazette learnt that Oando was selected as the bidder having defeated Trinidad’s CRO Consortium and INCA Energy.

In a statement on Thursday, Trinidad and Tobago’s acting Minister of Energy, Stuart Young, said Oando won the bid primarily based on its strong financial track record, emphasising its $1.5bn acquisition of ConocoPhillips’ assets in Nigeria in 2014.

Mr Young said, “Today Cabinet agreed to inform Trinidad Petroleum Holdings Limited (TPHL) of its non-objection to the pursuit of discussions with energy company Oando to negotiate the lease of the Guaracara refinery.’’

The minister noted Oando’s proposal aligned with the government’s goals of reducing the state’s burden and creating flexibility for the future operation of the refinery.

According to the evaluation committee, Oando defeated companies such as the CRO Consortium given its ability to secure substantial financing in the upstream oil sector.

Mr Young further stressed the need to protect Paria Fuel Trading Company’s assets, stating that it was crucial to ensuring the continued supply of domestic fuel in the country.

“We have to protect the assets of Paria to always ensure that we can provide domestic fuel to our population,” Mr Young added, stressing that potential bidders must be committed to restarting the refinery and not just acquiring Paria’s assets only for bunkering purposes.

This development came weeks after Oando announced its upstream subsidiary, Oando Energy Resources (OER), secured a bid to operate an oil block in Angola.

Commercial banks in Nigeria have begun enforcing withdrawal fees on Automated Teller Machines transactions by their customers from March 1, 2025.

The implementation is in line with the direction of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Many of the Deposit Money Banks on Friday sent notices to their customers that implementation of the directive would commence today.

One of the leading commercial banks, Ecobank, in a statement, said “Dear valued customers, please be informed that effective March 1, 2025, a new ATM transaction fee will apply to all Ecobank cardholders, in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directive.”

The bank further informed its customers of the various transactions that would attract charges such as offsite withdrawals and those that would be free such as onsite withdrawals as directed by the Apex bank.

Recall that the CBN’s directive was contained in a circular dated February 10, 2025, titled, “review of ATM transaction fees, scheduled for implementation from March 1, 2025.

The apex bank stated, “This review is expected to accelerate the deployment of ATMs and to ensure that appropriate charges are applied by financial institutions to consumers of the service. Withdrawals from customer’s own bank will be free while customers using ATMs of other banks will now pay a charge of N100 per withdrawal of N20,000 or less at onsite ATMs located within or directly affiliated with a bank branch.

“Off-site ATMs, which are positioned outside bank premises in locations such as shopping malls, fuel stations, and other public spaces, will attract an additional surcharge of up to N500 per transaction. For international ATM withdrawals, charges will be based on cost recovery, where customers will bear the exact fee applied by the international acquirer.’’

The development was a response by the apex bank to rising costs and the need to improve efficiency of ATMs in the banking industry.

An 18-year-old girl, Rukayat Ashiru, on Friday, appeared before the Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing N4 million cash belonging to her boyfriend.

The defendant is standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing, to which she pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, PC Olapeju Durodola, told the court that the defendant and others now at large committed the offences on November 30, 2024, at Mufu Lanihun, Yidi Agugu, in Ibadan.

She said the defendant allegedly added a substance to the drink of her boyfriend, Waris Olamilekan, to make him lose consciousness.

According to her, the defendant stole the money after adding the substance to the complainant’s drink.

Ms Durodola said the offences contravened sections 390(9) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The chief magistrate, Olabisi Ogunkanmi, admitted the defendant to N2 million bail with two sureties in like sum.

Ms Ogunkanmi said one of the sureties must be a property owner within the court’s jurisdiction, while the second surety must be a blood relation to the defendant.

She, thereafter, adjourned the matter until May 26 for a hearing.

The Nigeria Customs Service, Oyo/Osun Area Command, says it intercepted contraband goods with a duty paid value (DPV) of N165.3 million in February.

The area controller, Joseph Adelaja, disclosed this in Ibadan on Friday while briefing journalists on the command’s achievement for February.

Mr Adelaja, who assumed duty on February 7, said the area command intercepted and seized several high-profile smuggling consignments.

He listed the seizures to include 1,043 bags of foreign rice of 50 kg, 452 pieces of used tyres, two bales of used clothes, and 233 kegs of 25 litres each of petrol.

“The interception and seizure of these prohibited and uncustomed items have prevented the illegal inflow of products that undermine local industries, particularly rice farmers and manufacturers in the region.

“The interception of prohibited foreign parboiled rice has led to the increase in production and consumption of the local rice in Oyo and Osun States, respectively,” Mr Adelaja said.

He reiterated the command’s commitment to its core mandates of revenue collection and anti-smuggling operations.

The controller said the command recorded N2,048,487,969 as revenue for February, explaining that this reflected the efficiency of the command’s officers and men.

According to him, the area command has made significant strides in curbing smuggling activities, safeguarding the nation’s economy, and protecting local industries from the harmful effects of illicit trade.

“These remarkable achievements have been made possible through the unwavering dedication, professionalism, and cooperation of officers and men of the command,” he said.

He added that the command had significantly reduced tax evasion by adopting advanced technology, such as the deployment of improved data analytics.

Mr Adelaja said this had enabled the command to monitor trade flows and identify discrepancies effectively.

The area controller acknowledged that partnership with other security agencies facilitated the exchange of intelligence, allowing joint operations to dismantle smuggling networks in the region.

United States President Donald Trump is planning to sign an executive order today to make English the country’s official language for the first time in history, the Wall Street Journal has reported.

The United States never had an official language at the federal level, even though English is mainly used, with documents sometimes translated into other languages.

However, Mr Trump has now taken a historic decision to make English the official language of communication at the federal level by signing the latest order.

He had hinted on the move during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) during his campaign trail last year, where he decried too many languages coming into the United States.

“We have languages coming into our country,” Mr Trump said at CPAC. “These are languages — it’s the craziest thing — they have languages that nobody in this country has ever heard of. It’s a very horrible thing.”

Mr Trump’s decision is a huge victory for Republicans on Capitol Hill after political party members of Congress’ previous failures to successfully pass legislation declaring English the official language.

Many states have designated English as their official language

Saudi Arabia announced on Friday that the holy month of Ramadan will begin on Saturday, March 1, following the sighting of the Ramadan crescent moon in the Kingdom.

The month of Ramadan is the ninth of the 12 months of the Islamic calendar.

Also, countries including Qatar, Oman officially announced that Ramadan would be observed on Saturday, March 1.

Meanwhile, Nigerian Muslims are set to begin the Ramadan fast tomorrow if the President of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs and leader of the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria, Alhaji Saad Abubakar, announces the sighting of the crescent moon this evening.

A former Governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji, and four others were on Friday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before the Abia State High Court over alleged misappropriation of N47bn.

Orji was arraigned alongside his son, Chinedum Orji, a former Commissioner of Finance for Abia State, Dr. Philip Nto, a government contractor, Obioma King, and a former Director of Finance for Abia State, Romas Madu.

They are facing 16 counts of conspiracy to steal and conversion of billions of naira meant for various government programmes preferred against them by the EFCC.

When the matter which was before the Chief Judge of Abia State, Justice Lilian Abai, was called, the EFCC’s lead prosecution counsel, Prof. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), requested that the charge be read to the defendants to allow them to enter their pleas.

The EFCC accused them of misappropriating N22.5bn allocated for security votes from 2011 to 2015.

They were also accused of allegedly stealing N13bn from a loan facility granted by the defunct Diamond Bank.

The commission alleged that they illegally converted N12bn from the Paris Club refund.

They were also accused of converting N10.5bn from a loan granted by First Bank, meant for the state government and its local governments, along with N2bn from Central Bank of Nigeria funds designated for small and medium enterprises.

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

The defence team, including Bode Olanipekun (SAN) (representing the first defendant), Chikaosulu Ojukwu (SAN) (for the second defendant), K.I. Oleh, Okey Amechi (SAN), and Isaac Anya filed bail applications on behalf of their clients.

Pinheiro did not object to the bail applications.

They asked the court to use its discretion when determining the conditions of bail.

After a brief stand down, Justice Abai granted the defendants bail and adjourned till June 18 and 19, 2025, for trial.

A mild drama ensued on Friday at the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja when two lawyers laid claim to being the official counsel for the Lagos State House of Assembly during the hearing of a suit filed by Mudashiru Obasa, challenging his removal as Speaker of the Assembly.

Obasa, in suit number ID/9047GCM/2025 filed before Justice Yetunde Pinheiro, is contesting the constitutionality of the House’s sitting and proceedings during a recess, which occurred without the Speaker reconvening the House or delegating the authority to someone else.

Obasa’s lawyer, Chief Afolabi Fashanu, filed the suit on his behalf.

The case stems from the legality of the House of Assembly’s sitting and proceedings on January 13, 2025, during which Obasa was allegedly impeached as Speaker.

Obasa’s application is based on nine grounds, including the interpretation of various sections of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), as well as the Rules and Standing Orders of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Obasa is seeking the court’s interpretation of Sections 36, 90, 92(2)(c), 101, and 311 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) about Order V, Rule 18(2), and Order II, Rule 9 (1) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii), (viii) of the Lagos State House of Assembly Rules and Standing Orders, which hold constitutional status.

When the matter was called, Fashanu, appeared for Obasa, while Mr. Femi Falana, appeared for the first defendant (the Lagos State House of Assembly), Mr. Tayo Oyetibo, represented Mojosola Meranda (the current Speaker of the Assembly), and Mr. Olu Daramola, represented parties seeking to be joined in the suit.

However, a mild confrontation occurred when another counsel, Abang Mkpandiok, stood up to challenge Falana’s representation of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Mkpandiok claimed that he had been briefed the previous night by the Assembly and had filed a motion for a change of counsel that morning.

He argued that the right to choose one’s counsel is a fundamental human right and asked the court to address his application first.

Mkpandiok told the court that his law firm had been briefed just the day before to represent the House of Assembly in the suit, and he had filed the necessary documents, although they had not yet been served to the parties.

In a motion brought under Order 52, Rules 2 and 3 of the Lagos State High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2019, Mkpandiok sought permission from the court to replace Femi Falana of Falana & Falana Chambers with himself, Abang Mkpandiok, of Atlantic Law Firm, as the official counsel on record.

Falana objected, stating that he had not been served with the application and remained the counsel on record for the Assembly.

Falana maintained that he was still the authorised lawyer for the first defendant and had not been informed of any decision to change counsel.

Oyetibo also pointed out that he had not been served with the application.

Mkpandiok then chose to serve the application to the other counsel in court.

After reviewing the court’s records, Justice Pinheiro noted that the application for a change of counsel was not yet ready for hearing.

The court remarked, “As counsel himself has admitted, that application has not been served on all parties. I will defer it pending compliance with the rules of court.”

The court also ruled that the application for expedited hearing would not be addressed today.

During the proceedings, Daramola informed the court of a Motion on Notice filed by 33 members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, who sought to be joined as parties in the suit.

The lawmakers filed the motion under Section 361 of the Constitution and Order 15, Rules 4(1) & 16(3), and Order 43, Rule 1 of the Lagos State High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2019.

The motion sought two main reliefs: an order to add the individuals seeking to be co-defendants and an order compelling the claimant to amend the originating and other processes to include their names as defendants.

The applicants are members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, elected to represent various wards and constituencies in Lagos State.

However, Justice Pinheiro has fixed March 7, 2025, for the hearing of all pending applications.

After the proceedings, Meranda, while speaking to journalists, denied that she had resigned. She also condemned the invasion of the house on Thursday by the removed Speaker, Obasa.

Regarding her security detail, Meranda told journalists that although she was entitled to 12 police officers and four Department of State Security Service operatives, she had only been assigned four police officers so far.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday, arrested 19 suspected internet fraudsters at different locations in Benin City, Edo.

EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale said this in a statement on Thursday.

According to him, their arrest follows credible intelligence linking them to fraudulent internet activities.

”Items recovered from them include seven exotic cars, laptop computers and phones.

”They have made useful statements and will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” he said.

Vice President Kashim Shettima will on Friday, February 28, attend the graduation of the Senior Executive Course 46 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, Plateau State.

As Special Guest of Honour, Shettima will supervise proceedings at the graduation of 96 participants of the institute’s Senior Executive Course drawn from the public and private sectors.

The Senior Special Assistant to the VP on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday titled ‘VP Shettima To Attend NIPSS SEC 46 Graduation in Kuru; To represent President Tinubu at burial of Namibia’s founding President in Windhoek.’

The SEC 46 participants led by the DG and top management of the Institution, had on Wednesday, presented the report of its research to President Bola Tinubu at a brief ceremony held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The report is titled “Digital Economy, Youth Empowerment and Sustainable Job Creation in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities.”

The Vice President, upon the completion of his assignment, will depart Kuru, Plateau State for Windhoek, Namibia to represent Tinubu at a state funeral for Namibia’s founding President, Samuel Nujoma.

Shettima will join other leaders across Africa and beyond to pay their last respects to the late president who passed away at the age of 95.

The state funeral for the late Nujoma will begin with a memorial service scheduled for Friday, February 28, at the Independence Stadium, followed by the burial on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Heroes’ Acre.

Shettima will return to Nigeria at the end of the programme in Namibia.

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, granted bail to a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Usman Yusuf, in the sum of ₦5 million with two sureties.

Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu, while delivering the bail terms, stated that the two sureties must provide proof of means of livelihood as well as valid identification.

She said, “Bail has been granted for a bond of ₦5 million with two sureties in like sum each. The sureties must show proof of means of livelihood, whether business or civil service. “The sureties must also provide valid means of identification, and their addresses are to be verified by the prosecution or court staff.”

Although the case was initially adjourned to April 3, the date was vacated due to the Sallah break, which falls within that period.

The court subsequently adjourned the trial to May 15, 2025.

Yusuf is facing a five-count charge of alleged fraud involving the sum of N90,439,178.00.

He is accused of abusing his office to gain undue advantages between 2016 and 2017.

The charges also include allegations of awarding contracts without following proper procurement procedures.

One of the accusations involves Yusuf authorising the purchase of a vehicle at an inflated cost of N49,197,750, far exceeding the budgeted amount of N30,000,000.

Additionally, he allegedly awarded a ₦10.1 million training contract to a foundation linked to him, with only half of the intended beneficiaries participating in the programme.

Yusuf is further accused of awarding a N17.5 million media consultancy contract to a company owned by his nephew, bypassing standard procurement guidelines.

The EFCC arraigned Yusuf on February 3, 2025.

He pleaded not guilty to all five counts when the charges were read to him.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has directed MultiChoice Nigeria, the operator of DStv and GOtv, to maintain its current subscription prices pending the conclusion of an ongoing investigation into the company’s proposed tariff adjustment.

The consumer watchdog disclosed this in a statement signed by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, on Thursday.

The directive follows MultiChoice’s request for an extension regarding its scheduled appearance before the commission over concerns surrounding its recurring price increases.

The regulator had earlier summoned MultiChoice’s Chief Executive Officer to appear before it on February 27 for an investigative hearing.

While the FCCPC granted the company’s request to postpone the session, it has now rescheduled the hearing for March 6, 2025, mandating the company’s CEO, relevant officers, and a comprehensive response to the inquiry.

“As part of this directive, MultiChoice is expressly instructed to maintain the existing price structure as of February 27, 2025, pending the commission’s review and final determination on the matter,” the statement read.

The FCCPC emphasised that the decision to freeze prices is aimed at preventing potential consumer exploitation during the investigation period.

MultiChoice had notified its customers on Monday of the impending price adjustment, citing a review of its pricing structure.

While the company stated that the changes were necessary to continue delivering world-class content, the development sparked concerns from subscribers.

Under the proposed adjustment, the DStv Compact package would be increased, while the Compact Plus and Premium bouquets would remain at N30,000 and N44,500, respectively.

In its notice titled “Price Adjustments for DStv and GOtv Packages,” the company said, “Dear Customer, please note that effective March 1, 2025, there will be a price adjustment on all DStv packages.

This is to enable us to continue offering our customers world-class homegrown and international content, delivered through the best technology.”

The FCCPC said it would provide further updates as the investigation progresses.