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Court discharges ex-Aviation Minister Oduah,after pleading guilty

Justice Muazu convicted the companies based on their guilty plea, issued an order winding them up, and further ordered that the N1.2 billion paid as restitution and the N780 million recovered during the investigation be forfeited to the FG.

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A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Maitama on Thursday discharged former Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah and her ex-aide, Gloria Odita, from the alleged N2.5billion fraud case brought against them by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (OAGF).

Justice Hamza Muazu issued the discharge order after the prosecution informed the court it had discontinued its case against them and filed an amended charge naming only two firms linked to the ex-minister as defendants.

The firms are Sobora International Limited and Global Offshore and Marine Limited.

When the case was first called in the morning, prosecuting lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo ( SAN) told the court that based on plea bargain talks between parties, the prosecution had filed an amended charge.

When the issue of representation for the firms arose, lawyers for the parties sought time to address it, following which the judge stood down proceedings until later in the day.

In the amended two-count charge, Sobora International was accused of unlawfully possessing N838 million, while Global Offshore was alleged to have unlawfully possessed N1.629 billion.

When the case was recalled in the afternoon, the ex-minister stood as the representative of both firms and pleaded guilty, on their behalf, to the amended charge.

Following the guilty plea entered for the two firms, Oyedepo urged the court to convict them and issue an order winding them up.

Oyedepo also urged the court to order the forfeiture of N1.2 billion, paid as restitution by the companies (as detailed in a bank draft submitted to the court), and N780 million recovered by investigators during the investigation, to the Federal Government.Lawyer to the companies, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), did not object to Oyedepo’s requests, which the judge granted in his ruling.

Justice Muazu convicted the companies based on their guilty plea, issued an order winding them up, and further ordered that the N1.2 billion paid as restitution and the N780 million recovered during the investigation be forfeited to the FG

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JUST IN: 1 Dead, 3 Rescued in Fadeyi Building Collapse, Lagos

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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.

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UNILAG School Teachers Begin Work-to-Rule Over Unpaid Arrears

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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.

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JUST IN: Gas Emissions Hit Ogun Schools, Hundreds of Pupils Hospitalised

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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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