Connect with us

News

Lagos Assembly speaker: Meranda may step down as Akande panel shortlists seven

Published

on

145 Views

The speakership crisis rocking the Lagos State House of Assembly might be resolved soon as the intervention of heavyweights in the All Progressives Congress may be leading to a headway.

The impeached Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa and the current Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, might be stepping aside for another lawmaker to lead the House.

The development follows the intervention of the APC bigwigs, notably former governors of Osun, Ogun and Lagos states, namely Chief Bisi Akande, Segun Osoba, and Akinwunmi Ambode, respectively, among others.

The high-powered APC delegation was directed by President Bola Tinubu to resolve the political tension at the Lagos Assembly, following the inability of the Governance Advisory Council to find a solution.

The crisis began at the House on January 13, 2025, when about 36 lawmakers removed Obasa as speaker and replaced him with Meranda, the then-deputy speaker.

Over 90 per cent of the lawmakers accused the impeached speaker of poor leadership style, perpetual lateness to legislative sections and plenary, high-handedness and disregard for colleague lawmakers and the executive, especially the governor, abuse of office and privileges, intimidation and oppression of members, misappropriation, among others.

Obasa, who was away in Atlanta, United States, when he was removed, had since faulted his removal and insisted he was still the speaker, even as his colleagues in the House remained adamant.

“My status in the house? I strongly believe I am still the speaker until the right thing has been done.

If you want to remove me, remove me the proper way and I will not contest it,” Obasa said while addressing newsmen on Saturday, January 25, 2025.

On Sunday, Osoba, Ambode, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and all the GAC members met at the Governor’s Lodge in Marina over the crisis, to find a lasting solution.

It was gathered that the meeting lasted till around 7 pm. It was also learnt that the panel earlier met with the lawmakers.

A GAC member, Chief Muraina Taiwo, noted that one of the seven lawmakers from Lagos West was being considered by the party leaders as the new Speaker.

“The issue will die down soon. Between now and the middle of next week, everything will become clearer. The APC leaders, including Chief Bisi Akande and Chief Olusegun Osoba, came to mediate.

“They will go back to Abuja to brief our leader (Tinubu) how they feel about everything.

They are suggesting to Speaker Obasa that he should step down and the other woman (Meranda) to also step down and they will bring in another new person.

They are thinking of submitting a few names but all will land at the table of the leader.

“You know the House is working based on seniority, that is, if you’ve spent two years at the House, you’re qualified to hold a higher position than someone in first tenure.

So they will go back to Abuja with seven names of the seniors in the House and from Lagos West,” he said.

The GAC member added, “The seven of them are ranking members in Lagos West. They are the ones whose names will be submitted to President Tinubu.”

It was also gathered that party leaders considered it politically and ethically appropriate not to select a speaker from Lagos Central, as it is the same senatorial zone as Governor Sanwo-Olu.

News

I’ve been banned from US — Soyinka

Soyinka stressed that he had never engaged in any criminal activity or violated U.S. laws to warrant such action.

Published

on

By

19 Views

Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has disclosed that his United States of America visa has been revoked, meaning he cannot enter the country.

Soyinka made the revelation on Tuesday, while addressing journalists at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island.

“It is necessary for me to hold this conference so that people in the United States, who are expecting me for this event or that event, do not waste their time,” the literary icon said.

“I have no visa; I am banned, obviously, from the United States. And if you want to see me, you know where to find me.”

Soyinka said that he was informed of the development by the U.S. Consulate through an official letter dated October 23, 2025, noting that he was unaware of any reason for the decision.

The letter read in part, “This letter serves as official notification by the United States Consulate General in Lagos that the nonimmigrant visa listed below has been revoked pursuant to the authority contained in U.S. Department of State regulations.

”Soyinka stressed that he had never engaged in any criminal activity or violated U.S. laws to warrant such action.

“I’m still looking into my past history… I don’t have any criminal record or even a misdemeanour to qualify for the revocation,” he said.

“I keep asking myself — have I ever misbehaved toward the United States of America? Have I gone against the law anywhere?”

He did not specify whether he had applied for a new visa or challenged the decision.

Continue Reading

News

Kanu Declines to Open Defence, Insists no Case Against him

Published

on

30 Views

………..Judge Advises Kanu to Consult Expert on Criminal Law

The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has declined to open his defence in his ongoing trial, insisting that the Federal Government has no valid charges against him.

At Monday’s proceedings before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Kanu informed the court that, after finally receiving and reviewing his case file, he found no basis for the charges brought against him. He therefore requested one week to file a written address instead of calling witnesses as earlier planned.

However, lead prosecutor Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, strongly objected to the request, noting that the court had already granted the defendant six days to conclude his defence—two of which had elapsed. Awomolo argued that Kanu was fully aware of the charges since his plea was taken and witnesses were cross-examined, stressing that the matter could not be allowed to drag indefinitely.

The prosecution urged the court to deem Kanu’s refusal to open his defence as a conclusion of the case and to proceed to judgment.

Justice Omotosho cautioned Kanu about the risks of representing himself, describing him as a “layman” in legal practice and advising him to seek counsel from someone versed in criminal law. The court also reminded him that the issue of his extraordinary rendition from Kenya had already been resolved and was no longer relevant to the current trial.

In the interest of justice, Justice Omotosho granted Kanu’s request and adjourned the case until Tuesday, November 4, for either the opening of his defence or the adoption of his written address on his claim that the Federal Government has no case to answer.

Continue Reading

News

BREAKING: Omoyele Sowore Regains Freedom After Controversial Detention

Published

on

26 Views

………Vows to Continue Legal and Democratic Struggle

In a significant turn of events, pro-democracy activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has regained his freedom from prison custody today, October 27, 2025, following his controversial detention by police officers last Friday.

Sowore’s arrest came under contentious circumstances — despite being granted bail by a competent court, he was allegedly forcibly removed from the court premises and transferred to prison custody. The incident, which sparked nationwide outrage, was widely condemned by human rights organizations, civil society groups, and media practitioners as a blatant violation of due process and an affront to judicial authority.

In a statement released shortly after his release, Sowore’s lawyer, Tope Temokun, Esq., described the development as a victory for justice and constitutional order. “The court spoke. The Constitution spoke. Today, freedom has spoken!” he said. Temokun praised Nigerians who stood in solidarity throughout the ordeal, emphasizing that the widespread public pressure and persistent advocacy played a key role in ensuring Sowore’s eventual release.

“The resilience of Nigerians, civil society organizations, and media advocates in the face of tyranny is commendable,” Temokun continued. “This moment reminds us that the rule of law can still prevail when citizens refuse to remain silent.”

However, he also cautioned that Sowore’s legal troubles are not yet over. “The struggle is not over. The charges remain in court, and we will continue to confront them with the full force of law and truth,” the lawyer added, reaffirming the legal team’s commitment to defending Sowore’s rights and ensuring that justice is served.

Sowore, a long-time advocate for democratic reforms and government accountability, has faced multiple arrests and prosecutions in recent years over his activism and outspoken criticism of government policies. His most recent detention reignited debates over the shrinking civic space, press freedom, and the misuse of state power to silence dissenting voices in Nigeria.

In concluding remarks, Temokun issued a powerful reminder about the broader implications of Sowore’s case: “Nigeria must never become a country where our voice becomes our crime.”

Sowore’s release has since attracted widespread reactions across social media and from the international community, with many calling for renewed commitment to judicial independence, human rights, and the protection of civic freedoms.

As the legal proceedings continue, many observers see Sowore’s case as a litmus test for Nigeria’s democracy and its adherence to the rule of law in an increasingly challenging political climate.

Continue Reading

Trending