Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Peter Omopo  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday presented two key witnesses in the ongoing trial of a former Deputy Director of Highways at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Augustine Olowoniyan, and a surveyor, Sulaiman Muhammed, over the alleged diversion of N1.9 billion in public funds. The trial, which is before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja, involves a three-count charge bordering on the misappropriation of N1,936,961,649.00 allocated for acquiring land titles for federal roads between March 4, 2019, and July 17, 2020. The EFCC, in a statement…

By Peter Omopo  Political economist and former presidential candidate, Professor Pat Utomi, said on Friday that a group of Nigerians is mobilising 500 lawyers to defend him in court following a suit filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) over his alleged plans to form a “shadow government.” Utomi made the disclosure in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “It’s energising (that) some want to put together 500 lawyers to defend me against the DSS.” The DSS had earlier filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking a declaration that Utomi’s proposed shadow government was…

By Peter Omopo  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a former contractor with the Kaduna State Government, Bashir Bello Ibrahim, over an alleged N30 billion fraud involving multiple fictitious contracts and impersonation. In a statement released on Friday via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the EFCC said Ibrahim, the Chief Executive Officer of Formal Act Legacy Limited, was apprehended by operatives from the Kaduna Zonal Directorate following the receipt of no fewer than 251 petitions from victims. The petitions accuse Ibrahim of impersonating a consultant for all 23 local government areas of Kaduna State, as well…

By Peter Omopo  The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has announced that the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK), owned by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), is nearing full completion and will soon be inaugurated. Ekpo gave the update on Friday during an inspection tour of the college located along the Kaduna–Zaria Expressway, behind the Kaduna International Trade Fair Complex. He noted that the facility has reached 90 percent completion, with final touches expected to be concluded in the coming days. “This project was at about 60 percent completion when this administration came…

By Peter Omopo The Executive Chairman of Agege Local Government Area, Ganiyu Egunjobi, has declared support for Abdulganiyu Obasa, son of Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship candidate in the forthcoming local government elections. Egunjobi, speaking to journalists on Friday, defended the outcome of the May 10 APC primaries, which has sparked allegations of imposition, particularly in Agege and Orile-Agege, where party members protested against perceived favoritism in the selection of candidates. “The young man deserves to succeed me,” Egunjobi stated, brushing aside accusations that Speaker Obasa was planting loyalists and…

By Peter Omopo  Two members of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The lawmakers—Kabiru Usman Rurum (Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya) and Abdullahi Sani Rano (Karaye/Rogo), both representing constituencies in Kano State—announced their defection during Thursday’s plenary session. Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, read their separate letters of defection on the floor, where both lawmakers cited internal crises within the NNPP as the reason for their decision to join the APC. Their departure further underscores the ongoing turmoil within the NNPP and bolsters the APC’s…

By Peter Omopo  Panic spread across Agulu and Nanka communities in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State on Thursday following the brutal killing of a lawyer and his client by unidentified gunmen shortly after a court session. According to eyewitness accounts, the victims were trailed from the courtroom before being ambushed and shot at the boundary between Nanka and Agulu, along the Amawbia-Agulu-Nanka-Ekwulobia-Uga-Akokwa highway. Sources said the lawyer was handling a high-profile case for the client, which may have drawn the attention of the assailants. “The lawyer was shot first, and as the client tried to flee from the…

By Peter Omopo  The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) has pledged a tougher stance on irregular payments and non-compliance in the implementation of constituency projects, promising stricter enforcement of government financial guidelines. This assurance was made in a statement released Thursday by the OAGF’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa, following a strategic meeting in Abuja between the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Babatunde Ogunjimi, and the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Onwusoro Ihemelandu. During the meeting, Ogunjimi reaffirmed the OAGF’s commitment to supporting the…

By Peter Omopo  The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Kaduna State University (KASU) has officially suspended its strike, following the state government’s intervention in meeting critical demands raised by the union. Announcing the development during a press conference on Thursday, KASU Vice Chancellor, Professor Abdullahi Musa, confirmed that the university has reopened immediately and academic activities will resume without delay. According to Prof. Musa, Governor Uba Sani approved a ₦50 million monthly standing order to support staff welfare and also released ₦146 million to settle part of the outstanding salaries and allowances, including those related to the Students’…

By Sola Ojewusi I am deeply honoured to celebrate my former boss, mentor and guiding light, Aare Dele Momodu as he celebrates another milestone. At 65, Aare Dele Momodu stands as a towering figure in Nigeria’s media, political, and cultural landscape—a rare blend of charisma, courage, intellect, and influence. He is a man of many seasons: journalist, publisher, politician, social commentator, NADECO chieftain, human rights activist, pro-democracy advocate, and friend to both kings and commoners. He is Nigeria’s most travelled journalist, one of the most flamboyant and yet most down-to-earth public figures, a bridge between power and the people, and,…