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Dr. Pedro Obaseki to Sue Over Benin Abduction and Assault

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Prominent Nigerian film scholar and cultural activist Dr. Pedro Agbonifo Obaseki has announced his decision to pursue legal action following a violent public abduction, assault, stripping, and unlawful detention he suffered in Benin City on Sunday, December 28, 2025.

In a strongly worded press statement released today, Dr. Obaseki described the incident as a “brutal public abduction” in which armed individuals forcibly took him, violently assaulted him, stripped him naked, threatened his life, and paraded him through major roads in broad daylight while recording and livestreaming the ordeal to deliberately humiliate him and instil fear in the public.

He was subsequently detained for several hours despite sustaining injuries, with no formal allegation or lawful charge disclosed. Dr. Obaseki stated that the perpetrators claimed to be acting on the instructions of the Oba of Benin or the Oba’s Palace.

However, he noted that the Benin Traditional Council has categorically denied any involvement, authorisation, or prior knowledge of the acts in a widely publicised formal letter, a position he has accepted and welcomed as part of the official record.

After extensive consultations with his family, clan, senior legal advisers, and respected elders, Dr. Obaseki said he has chosen to seek justice through lawful and constitutional means—not out of malice or political motives, but to ensure accountability, deterrence, and the protection of human dignity.

He emphasised that remaining silent in the face of such grave violations would amount to complicity and expose other citizens to similar abuses.

Dr. Obaseki has engaged leading human rights lawyer Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, as lead counsel to pursue appropriate civil and criminal proceedings against the individual perpetrators and any persons found to have aided, facilitated, or enabled the offences through due process.

In light of the severity of the incident and its broader public interest implications, he has also formally notified and is engaging international human rights bodies and partners to ensure independent oversight, transparency, and monitoring of the investigative and judicial processes.

“This action is taken not only to restore the dignity of an innocent citizen and protect his family, but also to deter future occurrences and to affirm that no individual or group may abduct, brutalise, or publicly dehumanise another outside the law,” Dr. Obaseki stated.

Out of respect for ongoing investigations and judicial proceedings, he said no further factual or evidentiary commentary would be made at this time.

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Lagos State Govt Seals Popular Ladipo Spare Parts Market

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The Lagos State Government has sealed the bustling Ladipo Spare Parts Market, a major automobile parts hub located along the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road (Apapa–Oshodi Expressway) in Mushin, due to repeated breaches of environmental regulations.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, announced the enforcement action on Sunday via his official X account. He stated that the market was shut down this morning over persistent violations, primarily indiscriminate refuse disposal on road medians and highways, compounded by illegal street trading activities.

“Lagos State Government, this morning, sealed Ladipo Spare Parts Market along Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road (Apapa–Oshodi Expressway) over repeated environmental infractions; indiscriminate refuse disposal on the median/highway and illegal street trading.

#ZeroToleranceLagos,” Wahab posted.

The closure forms part of the state’s intensified crackdown on environmental offences under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, which prioritizes cleanliness, public health, and adherence to waste management standards as outlined in the THEMES Plus agenda.

Authorities emphasized that such practices pose serious risks to public health, traffic flow, and overall urban sanitation.

This is not the first time the market has faced such measures. In September 2023, Ladipo was previously sealed for similar issues, including reckless waste disposal, unhygienic conditions, and non-payment of waste bills. It was later reopened after operators met compliance requirements.

Traders and stakeholders at the market, one of the largest spare parts markets in the region, are now awaiting further directives from the government on conditions for reopening.

The state has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy toward indiscriminate dumping and urged all markets and businesses to adopt proper waste disposal practices to avoid similar sanctions.

Officials have not specified a reopening timeline, but enforcement actions are expected to continue across other non-compliant markets in the state.

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Senate to Hold Emergency Plenary Sitting on Tuesday Amid Electoral Reform Backlash

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The Nigerian Senate will convene an emergency plenary sitting on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 12:00 noon, following intense public criticism of its recent decision on electoral amendments.

In a statement issued on Sunday, February 8, 2026, Clerk of the Senate Emmanuel Odo announced that Senate President Godswill Akpabio had directed the immediate reconvening of the chamber. The notice called on all senators to attend the special session in the Senate Chamber.

The emergency meeting follows widespread outrage over the Senate’s February 4 passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill 2026.

During the third reading, lawmakers rejected a proposed amendment to Clause 60(3) that would have required presiding officers to transmit polling unit results electronically in real time directly to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing (IReV) portal.

Instead, the Senate retained the existing provision from the 2022 Electoral Act, which gives INEC discretionary power to electronically transfer results only after votes are counted and publicly announced at polling units.

The decision has drawn strong condemnation from civil society organizations, opposition leaders including Peter Obi, election monitoring groups, and bodies such as the Nigerian Bar Association.

Critics argue the move weakens electoral transparency, increases the risk of manipulation, and sets back progress ahead of the 2027 general elections. Protests have been announced outside the National Assembly starting Monday to pressure the Senate to reconsider, with some stakeholders indicating possible legal action.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has defended the chamber’s position, stating over the weekend that the Senate did not reject electronic transmission of results.

He explained that lawmakers only removed the mandatory real-time requirement due to practical challenges, including network issues in insecure areas affecting several states, while preserving the overall electronic transmission framework used in past elections.

Akpabio added that the Senate would not be swayed by intimidation and emphasized that the legislative process on the bill remains active.

The official agenda for Tuesday’s session has not been made public, but it is widely expected to address the controversy, respond to public pressure, and possibly revisit elements of the disputed clause in light of calls for stronger electoral safeguards.

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LASTMA Averts Midnight Petrol Tanker Fire Disaster at Awoyaya, Lekki–Epe Expressway

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Quick action by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) prevented a major fire disaster early Sunday morning after a fully loaded petrol (PMS) tanker overturned at Awoyaya on the Lekki–Epe Expressway.

The incident occurred around 2:00 a.m. when the articulated tanker lost control and flipped on the inward carriageway, spilling its highly flammable cargo and creating an immediate risk of explosion and widespread fire along the busy corridor.

LASTMA’s Rescue and Recovery Unit responded swiftly upon receiving the alert, securing the scene with a safety perimeter, diverting traffic, and preventing fuel scoopers and secondary crashes. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service was also mobilised without delay, enforcing strict fire prevention measures and continuous monitoring to eliminate ignition risks.

With no injuries or casualties reported, responders halted traffic in the affected area before safely resuming flow once the threat was neutralised. The petrol was carefully trans-loaded into a replacement 33,000-litre tanker under close supervision by emergency teams.

LASTMA urged tanker drivers to maintain vehicles rigorously, exercise extreme caution—especially at night—and strictly follow safety rules to protect lives and infrastructure.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, commended the seamless collaboration between LASTMA and the Fire Service, praising their professionalism and speed in averting what could have been a catastrophic blaze.

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