News
Kudirat Abiola’s Murder: Supreme Court Dismisses Lagos State Appeal for Retrial of Al-Mustapha
Justice Aba-Aji, delivering the ruling, emphasized that nine years was more than sufficient for Lagos to act.
• Kudirat Abiola in 1994.
The Supreme Court has dismissed the long-standing attempt by the Lagos State Government to reopen the trial of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (rtd), former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, over the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.
Kudirat Abiola, wife of Chief MKO Abiola—the presumed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election—was assassinated in Lagos on June 4, 1996, during the nationwide unrest that followed the annulment.
On Thursday, 22 January 2026, a five-member panel of Justices led by Justice Uwani Aba-Aji ruled that Lagos had abandoned its appeal.
The Court noted that since 2014, when permission was granted to reopen the case, the state had failed to file any process or provide legal representation despite repeated hearing notices.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria Paul Daudu, representing Al-Mustapha, informed the Court that Lagos had ignored the 30-day ultimatum issued in 2014 to file its notice of appeal.
He urged the Court to dismiss the matter entirely, a position the Justices unanimously upheld.
Justice Aba-Aji, delivering the ruling, emphasized that nine years was more than sufficient for Lagos to act.
The Court expressed dismay that no steps were taken, describing the state’s conduct as a clear abandonment of the case.
Accordingly, the matter marked SC/CR/45/2014 was dismissed, along with another related appeal, SC/CR/6/2014, filed by the Lagos State Government.
In 2014, the Supreme Court had granted Lagos permission to challenge the Court of Appeal’s July 12, 2013 judgment, which discharged and acquitted Al-Mustapha.
The then Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, extended the time for Lagos to file its appeal, but the state failed to comply.
The Lagos Government had sought to overturn the appellate court’s decision and reinstate the January 30, 2012 death sentence handed down by Justice Moji Dada of the Lagos High Court, which convicted Al-Mustapha, Mohammed Abacha, and Lateef Shofolahan of conspiracy and murder.
News
JUST IN: 1 Dead, 3 Rescued in Fadeyi Building Collapse, Lagos
A two-storey building has collapsed in the Fadeyi area of Lagos, resulting in one fatality and the rescue of three people, emergency officials confirmed on Friday morning.
The incident occurred in the early hours, sending residents and nearby traders into panic as the structure suddenly gave way. Rescue teams from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and other first responders quickly arrived at the scene and began extracting victims from the rubble.
According to preliminary reports, one person was confirmed dead at the site, while three others were pulled out alive and rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Their conditions have not yet been disclosed.
Security personnel have cordoned off the area to allow rescue operations to continue and to prevent further access by onlookers. Officials are still assessing whether any other persons remain trapped under the debris.
The cause of the collapse has not been established. Authorities have not ruled out structural failure, but investigations are ongoing.
Further updates are expected as the rescue operation progresses and more details become available from emergency services.
News
UNILAG School Teachers Begin Work-to-Rule Over Unpaid Arrears
Teachers at the International School, University of Lagos (ISL), on Wednesday commenced a work-to-rule action over unpaid salary arrears, their removal from the university’s payroll, and delays in implementing a National Industrial Court judgment.
The staff are demanding the payment of outstanding Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Teaching Allowance (CONTTA) arrears, as well as arrears from the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary adjustments approved in 2024. They also want full restoration to the university’s payroll.
Comrade Razak Yusuf, Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), University of Lagos branch, said the industrial action followed prolonged delays in resolving the teachers’ employment status and financial entitlements.
The teachers had approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, which ruled in their favour on May 11, 2026. Despite the judgment, they claim the university has yet to fully restore their names to the payroll or settle outstanding benefits.
Protesters carried placards with messages such as “Equal Work, Equal Rights,” “ISL tutors deserve their due,” and “Other UNILAG staff paid, ISL tutors still owed.” The action disrupted teaching and a scheduled mid-term examination at the school.
The teachers called on the university management to restore the affected staff to the payroll, settle all outstanding financial obligations, and provide a clear payment plan with timelines.
They rejected suggestions that any interim arrangement under the university’s Council protocol amounted to goodwill, insisting they were only seeking recognition of their employment rights.
The development continues a pattern of industrial disputes at the University of Lagos over salary and allowance issues.
News
JUST IN: Gas Emissions Hit Ogun Schools, Hundreds of Pupils Hospitalised
Hundreds of students were hospitalised on Wednesday morning after fresh gaseous emissions hit parts of Ogun State, including Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Igbo and Ago-Iwoye.
The incident affected pupils at Anglican Girls Grammar School, Obalende, Ijebu-Ode, and Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School. Several schools in Ago-Iwoye suspended academic activities and sent students home as a precaution.
Kehinde Bello, General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), visited the affected areas and linked the emissions to underground gas previously recorded in Ijebu-Ode since April 2026. He said the situation was under control and attributed the releases to natural geological and tectonic fault lines, ruling out sabotage or a gas pipeline leak.
Bello assured residents that the state government was working on a lasting solution. He advised anyone exposed to the odour to cover their noses and mouths with wet handkerchiefs.
The recurring emissions have renewed concerns about the safety of students and residents in the affected communities.
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