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Ondo Speaker Faces Impeachment as 24 Lawmakers Declare Support

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Ondo Speaker Faces Impeachment as 24 Lawmakers Declare Support

The crisis rocking the leadership of the Ondo State House of Assembly took another dimension on Friday when 24 out of the 26 lawmakers allegedly declared their support for the removal of the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji.

The lawmakers were reported to have alleged Oladiji of financial impropriety, abuse of office and acting without the approval of the House.

The dispute is about ₦44 million allegedly linked to the reordering of the budget of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission.

Olawunmi Fayemi-Obayelu, spokesman for the aggrieved lawmakers, representing Ilaje Constituency II, said three more lawmakers had joined the initial 21 to support the impeachment move.

“The development showed the Speaker had lost the confidence of an overwhelming majority of the Assembly,” she said.

The lawmakers, he said, had carefully avoided public comments after Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s intervention secured a two-week window for reconciliation.

But she said the peace period would elapse on Sunday, adding that the lawmakers still planned to remove Oladiji.

Fayemi-Obayelu also accused the Speaker of passing a resolution in the name of the House without getting the approval of members.

She also raised concerns on the handling of electricity meters distributed under the state government’s O’Datiwa Meter Distribution Programme.

The lawmaker urged Oladiji to resign in the interest of the Assembly and also to protect his political reputation.

Speaker Claims Political Conspiracy
But Oladiji denied the allegations and said the move against him was politically motivated.

The Speaker said the impeachment move was politically motivated in view of the elections in 2027 and not on issues of financial accountability.

Read Also: ‘I Wouldn’t Have Picked Atiku as My VP’ – Obasanjo Reflects

Some of the lawmakers, he said, were aggrieved after failing to secure return tickets and were also unhappy over alleged support for his continued leadership of the Assembly.

Meanwhile, the Chairman House Committee on Information and Assembly spokesman, Olatunji Fabiyi, said the Speaker’s explanation was unacceptable.

Fabiyi stressed that the impeachment move was predicated on governance, accountability and alleged violations of legislative procedure.

He accused Oladiji of taking action on the re-ordering of the OSOPADEC budget without the approval of the House.

The lawmakers’ decision to seek the removal of the Speaker, however, remained unchanged, he said.

Governor Aiyedatiwa and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains have stepped into the crisis to reconcile the warring parties.

But the aggrieved lawmakers insisted they had lost confidence in Oladiji’s leadership and were ready to continue with the removal process.

‘I Wouldn’t Have Picked Atiku as My VP’ – Obasanjo Reflects

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‘I Wouldn’t Have Picked Atiku as My VP’ – Obasanjo Reflects

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has said his choice to pick former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as his running mate in the 1999 presidential election was one of the worst mistakes he made while in government.

The revelation was made by Obasanjo on Friday during a fireside chat with veteran entertainer and activist, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, in Lagos.

The event was said to have been organised to unveil Charly Boy’s foundation and his memoir, 999: A Memoir in Tribute to Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.

The video of the event was uploaded on the YouTube channel of iWitnessLive TV.

When asked what he considered his biggest mistake as president, Obasanjo said no leader could claim to have served in office without making mistakes.

But he picked his vice president in a manner he would not have picked him if he knew Atiku the way he knew him later in their political relationship.

“I have found in my own life that what could have been all my life… mistakes that could have been fatal, God had taken care of it for me,” Obasanjo said.

And when Charly Boy asked him to name one of his mistakes, the former President said, “Mistake when I was in government. “If I had known him like I came to know him later, I would not have selected him to be my number two, my running mate.”

When asked if he was referring to Atiku, Obasanjo responded, “My vice president. I don’t know what you want to call him, but my vice president, I mean that.

The former President said that his experience with Atiku after they assumed office together made him realize that he would have made a different choice if he had known what lay ahead.

“Well, thank God, of course, what I know about him later, because God did not allow his actions and reactions to overwhelm me, or to divert my own focus from Nigeria, or to harm Nigeria even,” he said.

Not a bit of bitterness’
Obasanjo said that, despite political differences, he harboured no bitterness towards his former deputy.

Read Also: Lukman Declares Support for Tinubu, APC Defeat in 2027

“And there’s no bitterness because he did what he thought he had to do, and God did what God had to do, which allowed me to do what I was able to do,” he added.

Obasanjo and Atiku contested the 1999 presidential election on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party and were elected President and Vice President respectively.

They worked together for eight years from 1999 to 2007, but their relationship later turned sour because of political differences, especially during Obasanjo’s second term in power.

The former President also addressed the Nigerian Civil War, refuting claims that the civil war was a genocide.

He said the military campaign was aimed at keeping Nigeria united, even though he admitted the terrible toll the war took on Nigeria.

“The civil war was traumatic for all Nigerians. “It hurt some a little bit worse than others depending on where you were, but the civil war was bad for all Nigerians,” he said.

Obasanjo, who was deeply involved in the military operations during the war, stated that he had deliberately taken steps to reduce civilian deaths.

He cited the re-capture of Owerri as an example of his efforts to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.

“I did not drop one bomb inside Owerri, because it will be destructive; it will have killed innocent civilians. I dropped my bombs short of Owerri and beyond Owerri, to warn the people that we are coming home,” he said.

Lukman Declares Support for Tinubu, APC Defeat in 2027

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Lukman Declares Support for Tinubu, APC Defeat in 2027

Former All Progressives Congress, APC, Vice Chairman, Salihu Lukman, has said he would want the APC-led Federal Government and president Bola Tinubu to lose the 2027 general elections.

Lukman, who was featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’ on Friday, said he is disappointed with the approach of the opposition and urged them to step up their game if they want to wrestle power from the ruling party.

He also lamented the present condition of the opposition and absence of a political party that can check elected leaders.

He said that fears exist that the opposition might repeat the mistakes of the 2023 polls despite the judicial process and stressed the need to address the personal ambitions of opposition leaders to ensure that the country’s destiny is prioritised.

Read Also: Yobe Police Record 152 Convictions, Nab 448 Suspects Within One Year

“Look, as a human being, I have no restraint. By 2027, I want APC and President Tinubu out of government defeated. But the way we’re going about it, it frustrates me.

“As a Nigerian, I don’t get excited by all these developments because, if you remember, as an advocate of the coalition and the unity of the opposition leaders, when we started about two years ago, the objectives were essentially two: to get the opposition leaders united, and to also factor the need to build a party that can hold elected leaders accountable.

“I think as it is today, no matter what comes out of the judicial process, I see us going back to 2023, repeating almost the same things that happened in 2023, and expect miracle to happen,” he said.

Yobe Police Record 152 Convictions, Nab 448 Suspects Within One Year

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Yobe Police Record 152 Convictions, Nab 448 Suspects Within One Year

The Yobe State Police Command recorded significant operational achievements in the year under review with the handling of 407 criminal cases and securing 152 convictions.

Commissioner of Police, Usman Kanfani Jibrin, said this at a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, Damaturu, on Thursday.

Mr. He said the 407 cases included 31 murder cases, 35 rapes, eight kidnappings, 11 armed robberies and 322 other offences.

“Some 448 suspects were arrested for the various crimes.

“152 suspects were convicted, 127 cases are before competent courts, 69 cases are pending, 17 case files are pending for legal advice and 42 cases were acquitted,” he said.

Read Also: Portable, Okocha Set for Celebrity Boxing Showdown Today

The CP, reeling off key arrests, said operatives discovered a suspected drug warehouse in Potiskum, arrested a suspected drug baron and recovered eight cartons of assorted illicit drugs, 1.5 Ghana-Must-Go bags of Tramadol and Exzol tablets and N835,500 suspected proceeds of drug trafficking.

He said police faced violent resistance from syndicate members and stepped up efforts to arrest fleeing accomplices.

“The Command also conducted coordinated raids on criminal hideouts and drug joints in Jakusko LGA resulting in the arrest of 14 suspected drug dealers and users, and recovery of over 300 sachets and packages of Tramadol, Indian hemp, Vega tablets and other prohibited substances,” he further added.

The Police Commissioner reiterated the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and proactive crime prevention and protection of lives and property.

Portable, Okocha Set for Celebrity Boxing Showdown Today

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Portable, Okocha Set for Celebrity Boxing Showdown Today

Nollywood actor Charles Okocha and street-pop singer Portable are set to square off in a celebrity boxing rematch on Friday at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The contest, tagged “Unfinished Business,” follows their earlier bout which Okocha claimed was unfairly decided in Portable’s favour.

The rivalry has intensified in the build-up to the fight with the pair exchanging words during a number of face-offs, including the final weigh-in held earlier this week.

Ahead of the contest, both fighters traded fresh words after the final weigh-in held this week, as well as multiple face-offs, with tempers flaring on both sides.

“I’m gonna be going against Portable, and it’s gonna be chaos. I promise you that in that fight you kill or get killed. Not by noise and posturing. “We are going to meet in the ring,” Okocha said.

He said he got into training camp not only because of Portable. “I do not need to train to meet Portable, but I went to train to prepare for some fights ahead of me as well because Portable is removable,” he said.

Portable, known for his theatrics, lived up to his reputation at the events, knocking over a table as he taunted Okocha and repeated the boasts he made ahead of his previous bouts.

“You whom I have beaten before, I will break your bones. “Fight is coming,” Portable declared, maintaining he was the better fighter and he would again prove it inside the ring.

The organisers say the lead-up to the fight has generated more than two billion video views and 4.2 billion digital impressions through previous editions of the franchise, raising the profile of Nigerian boxing.

Dr Ezekiel Adamu, the promoter of the event, said the fight was unfinished business between the pair, noting that Okocha had activated his rematch clause after feeling he was previously denied a fair platform and that Portable had accepted the challenge.

Adamu said the card will also feature an influencer bout between Mr Real and Idowest who have long disputed ownership of the term “Legbègbe” on social media, as well as a professional clash between Yusuf Adeniji and Rilwan Lawal.

Adeniji, who claimed to have spent over three months in the camp, warned Lawal to prepare for a tough night, while Lawal dismissed the threat and said he would come out victorious.

Adamu said that EV Automobiles had donated two brand-new electric vehicles as prizes for the winners, one each for the Portable-Okocha and Mr Real-Idowest bouts, while Bet9ja joined EV Automobiles as one of the headline sponsors of the event.

EU Boosts Mediterranean Rescue Operations with New Libya Facility

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EU Boosts Mediterranean Rescue Operations with New Libya Facility

The European Union (EU) has signed off on the creation of a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi as part of efforts to curb irregular migration along one of Europe’s busiest migration routes.

The decision was announced Thursday by the EU Ambassador to Libya, Nicola Orlando, who said that procedures to set up the centre under the EU naval mission, Operation IRINI, have been completed with funding from Italy and Malta.

“We have finalized the procedures for establishing a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Benghazi under Operation IRINI, with funding from Italy and Malta,” Orlando said in a post on X.

The announcement came after a meeting in Rome between Rear Admiral Marco Casapieri, Commander of Operation IRINI, Malta’s Ambassador to Italy Daniel Azzopardi and General Khairy Tamimi, Secretary-General of the Command of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces.

Read Also: FG Felicitates Colombia’s President-Elect, Reaffirms Bilateral Ties

Libya has been a major transit point for migrants trying the perilous Mediterranean crossing to Europe since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi.

For some time now, the European Union and member states have supported and trained the Libyan coastguard to intercept migrant boats. The bloc formally recognises only the Tripoli-based government, but has increased engagement with authorities in eastern Libya after a surge in migrant departures from areas controlled by military commander Khalifa Haftar.

The proposed Benghazi rescue centre has drawn criticism from human rights organisations, which say that bolstering Libya’s maritime capabilities could lead to more migrant boats being intercepted and those on board being sent back to Libya, where the United Nations and rights groups have repeatedly documented abuses against migrants and refugees.

EU officials say working with Libyan authorities is vital to improve maritime safety, stamp out human smuggling networks and reduce deaths at sea.

FG Felicitates Colombia’s President-Elect, Reaffirms Bilateral Ties

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FG Felicitates Colombia’s President-Elect, Reaffirms Bilateral Ties

The Nigerian Government has congratulated President-elect of Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella on his electoral victory, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with the South American country.

“The election reflects the democratic will of the Colombian people” and Nigeria was ready to “work closely with the incoming administration ahead of its official inauguration on August 7, 2026,” a statement from Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa said.

The government expressed its desire to deepen cooperation with Colombia in areas of mutual interest, such as trade, investment, security and South-South cooperation.

Read Also: APC Chieftain Wadada Launches HEARTS Agenda for Nasarawa, Backs Tinubu

“Both Nigeria and Colombia have commitment to democracy, peace and sustainable development. “The Government of Nigeria reaffirms its willingness to further strengthen the existing bonds of friendship and cooperation between our two countries in areas of mutual interest including trade, investment, security and South-South cooperation,” the statement read.

The Nigerian Government also wished the president-elect success as he gets ready to step into office, expressing confidence in his capacity to move the Colombian people forward in progress and prosperity.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nigeria remains committed to building stronger diplomatic and economic partnerships with Colombia as both countries continue to pursue shared development goals.

APC Chieftain Wadada Launches HEARTS Agenda for Nasarawa, Backs Tinubu

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APC Chieftain Wadada Launches HEARTS Agenda for Nasarawa, Backs Tinubu

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Nasarawa State, Mr Ahmed Wadada, on Thursday, defended President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying only “an enemy” of Nigeria would dismiss what he called the administration’s growing economic gains.

Speaking with State House Correspondents after meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Wadada said he was at the Villa to discuss how to contribute to the growth and development of the country in line with the President’s vision.

“My mission to the Villa as always is to see how best we will all contribute our quota to the growth and development of Nigeria which is the utmost objective of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

The Nasarawa governorship election is around the corner and Wadada is confident in his grassroots support. He sees himself as “not a flyover politician”.

“I’m not a flyover politician. My people have been with me. I’m on the ground. “I know their problems and I know their aspirations, their wishes and I have, over the years, lived up to their wishes and aspirations,” he said.

The APC candidate said key economic indices have improved under Tinubu’s administration, citing the rise in Nigeria’s foreign reserves, improvements in the balance of payments and trade, the stability of the exchange rate and growth in the capital market.

“If we have to and should tell the truth, let us see all the indicators. He said, “All the signs of economic growth and development of the system are looking glaringly promising and bright than what they were.

He said the present administration had almost doubled the country’s foreign reserves.

“When he came in, it was below $30 billion; it was between $28 and $29 billion. Today we are talking about $56 billion to $57 billion in our foreign reserves.”

He also attributed the foreign exchange reforms of the administration to the stabilisation of the naira.

“All the windows have been closed, they have been unified, which has helped a lot today in the stability of the naira against the dollar.”

Acknowledging that challenges remained, Wadada insisted the Tinubu administration had made measurable progress.

“There are glaring improvements, development and growth in every sector but that is not to say all is well. “There is much more to be done.

But he did attack critics of the administration.

“To wish that this administration would go away is to be either ignorant, not realistic or an open enemy. Because opposition doesn’t mean being an enemy.”

Speaking on his governorship ambition, Wadada unveiled what he called the HEARTS Agenda, a development blueprint he said would build on the achievements of Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration.

Nasarawa State is a gold mine. “I have a plan. It’s called the Wadada HEARTS Agenda.”

He said the H in the acronym stood for Human Capital Development, with education and health care the top priorities.

‘Education and Health are the two main ingredients and we shall face them squarely.

The E,” he said, “stands for Energy and Mineral Resources,” adding that the Electricity Act has opened new avenues for the states to generate power independently.

“With the passing of the Electricity Act and the assent given by the President to it, it opened-up the corridors of power generation by each state. Every state has one resource or the other which can be used to generate energy.”

Nasarawa was the hub of mineral resources in Nigeria, he said, citing recent investments in lithium processing.

“When you talk of mineral resources, you are talking of Nasarawa State. “All the first and second lithium processing plants in Nigeria are located in Nasarawa State.

According to him, his administration would continue the work started by Governor Abdullahi Sule.

“We will continue from where Engineer Abdullahi Sule’s administration stopped.

“The A in HEARTS stands for Agriculture and Green Economy, and we have plans to establish three agricultural hubs across the state’s senatorial districts based on their comparative advantages,” Wadada said.

Read Also: Otedola Deepens Investment in First HoldCo with Massive N222bn Acquisition

“We are planning to establish three agricultural hubs in the state. “We will have a hub for each senatorial district based on its competitive agricultural advantage.”

The remaining pillars of the agenda, he said, were Rural and Urban Development, Trade and Investment and Security.

He also identified Nasarawa’s strategic location next to the Federal Capital Territory as one of the state’s greatest economic assets.

“From the perspective of the FCT, there is no way you can wish away Nasarawa State.

“The achievements of Sule administration have raised the bar of expectations for whoever succeeds him”, Wadada said.

“The present administration in Nasarawa State has raised the bar and widened and deepened the scope of what Nasarawa State is. There can’t be any more mediocrity after A.A. Sule.

“Anyone doing that will be doing it at his own peril because Nasarawa State is now much more heard, much more seen and much more respected. With all due respect and humility, so much is expected of me, and by the grace of God, we shall deliver.”

Otedola Deepens Investment in First HoldCo with Massive N222bn Acquisition

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Otedola Deepens Investment in First HoldCo with Massive N222bn Acquisition

Chairman of First HoldCo Plc, billionaire businessman Femi Otedola has increased his stake in the financial services group after purchasing additional shares worth N222.20 billion.

The latest purchase, through his investment vehicle, Calvados Global Services Limited, was disclosed in a statement filed with the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on Thursday.

The deal comprised 1.77 billion shares, lifting Otedola’s stake in First HoldCo from 9.99 billion shares to 11.77 billion shares.

As a result, his ownership rose to 25.88 per cent from 21.96 per cent, the filing showed.

The transaction is Otedola’s second big share purchase in First HoldCo in July, further entrenching his position as the company’s biggest individual shareholder.

Read Also:Over 2.5 Tonnes of Illicit Drugs Recovered in Edo as NDLEA Arrests 49

On July 22, Otedola bought another 706.13 million shares valued at N77.58 billion.

With the latest acquisition added to his earlier holdings, Otedola’s total investment in First HoldCo is now estimated at about N1.47 trillion. The latest buy also takes his stake closer to the 30 per cent threshold which would trigger a mandatory takeover offer under Nigeria’s capital market rules.

Under the Investments and Securities Act and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a shareholder who acquires 30 per cent or more of the voting shares of a listed company is required to make a mandatory offer to the other shareholders to acquire their shares.

Otedola’s latest investment comes as First HoldCo continues to generate strong interest from investors on the Nigerian stock market.

The financial services group has recently overtaken Zenith Bank to become Nigeria’s most valuable banking stock by market capitalisation, following a strong rise in its share price.

Otedola’s rising stake is being interpreted as a vote of confidence in the long-term prospects of First HoldCo and its ongoing transformation and expansion in Nigeria’s financial services industry.

His latest investment further cements his influence in the group and could keep market attention on whether he will increase his holding further towards the 30 per cent regulatory threshold.

First HoldCo is the holding company for FirstBank Nigeria and other financial services companies in the group.

Over 2.5 Tonnes of Illicit Drugs Recovered in Edo as NDLEA Arrests 49

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Over 2.5 Tonnes of Illicit Drugs Recovered in Edo as NDLEA Arrests 49

No fewer than 49 suspected drug traffickers were arrested in July 2026 by the Edo State Command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

Dr Mitchell Ofoyeju, the NDLEA Commandant in Edo State, disclosed this on Thursday in Benin City during the decoration of 73 operatives promoted to new ranks.

The arrested suspects include 29 females and 20 males, Ofoyeju said.

He expressed concern over the growing number of women in drug-related crimes, saying it was indicative of a shift in women’s socio-economic vulnerability and the disintegration of traditional family stability.

He said that three warehouses were discovered and raided in the state during the period under review.

According to him, two of the warehouses were located in Benin City and one at Illushi, while two vehicles, a Toyota Sienna with registration number Ondo NND 975 AG and a Toyota Camry with registration number Edo BEN 503 BK, used in transporting cannabis were also intercepted.

The NDLEA commandant said cannabis topped the seizure list with 2,588.4 kilograms, psychotropic substances 6.13 kilograms, cocaine 0.071 kg, heroin 0.005 kg and methamphetamine 1.68 kg.

Read Also:Security Scare as Gunmen Abduct Five Students From Ogun Polytechnic Hostel

“Also the command recovered 15.3 litres of codeine cough syrup and 10 cylinders of nitrous oxide, also called laughing gas. The variety of these different narcotics highlighted the wide-ranging nature of substances being trafficked and abused within the state.”

In a bid to wipe out drug manufacturing, the command also destroyed one cannabis farm in the Egbisi forest of Abudu, Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Ofoyeju said.

He said the destruction was a major victory for the NDLEA in its efforts to check drug production operations in Edo State.

The command’s efforts have not gone unnoticed as it successfully secured convictions in four high-profile drug cases during the month.

“Besides, in its fight against drug abuse, it counselled 24 persons with drug use problems and reunited them with their family members”, he added.

Ofoyeju said that the prosecution of suspects and the counselling were a demonstration of the agency’s holistic approach to addressing drug-related issues in the community.

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