Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Peter Omopo Three men have been found guilty of harassing a BBC journalist who fronted the documentary and podcast series A Very British Cult, following a trial at Stratford Magistrates’ Court. Kristofer Deichler, 47, Jatinder Kamra, 46, and Sukhraj Singh, 39, were all convicted of harassment without violence. The trio are members of Lighthouse, a group examined in the 2023 BBC investigation presented by journalist Catrin Nye. The documentary and podcast raised concerns about Lighthouse and included allegations relating to how its leadership treated members who attempted to leave the organisation. The court heard that the men staged demonstrations…

By Peter Omopo Scotland’s Finance Secretary, Shona Robison, is set to present the Scottish Government’s draft Budget for the 2026–27 financial year on Tuesday, outlining spending and tax plans worth around £68 billion. The Budget, due to be delivered at Holyrood shortly after 14:20, is the final one before the Scottish Parliament elections scheduled for May, and is expected to signal how the SNP administration intends to position itself ahead of the vote. In addition to day-to-day spending plans, the government will publish a review of expenditure through to the end of the decade, including a revised list of priorities…

By Peter Omopo Thousands of households across parts of Kent and Sussex were still without water, or facing intermittent supply, for a fourth consecutive day on Tuesday, prompting mounting anger from residents, businesses and politicians. The disruption, affecting up to 25,000 properties, began on Saturday and has been blamed by South East Water on the impact of Storm Goretti, freezing weather and a power failure at one of its pumping plants. Kent County Council has declared the situation a major incident. Residents described the situation as “disgusting”, “devastating” and “a shambles”, with many saying they had been unable to wash…

By Peter Omopo The selection of the next Awujale of Ijebuland is expected to be concluded within the next 14 days following the completion of the nomination process by the Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. This was disclosed on Tuesday by Otunba Jadiara Lateef Owoyemi, Olori Ebi of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, while addressing journalists after the screening exercise held at Bisi Rodipe Hall, GRA, Ijebu Ode. Owoyemi said the nomination process was conducted peacefully and successfully, adding that the names of qualified candidates would be forwarded to the Afobaje, the traditional kingmakers, for the next stage…

By Peter Omopo Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, 81, is seeking a seventh term in office as the country heads to elections on Thursday, nearly four decades after he first came to power in 1986. Museveni, a former rebel leader, took control of Uganda after overthrowing the government of Tito Okello, promising at the time to end a history of poor leadership and prolonged rule. In one of his earliest statements, he argued that Africa’s challenge was not its people but leaders who overstayed in power. Today, he stands as Uganda’s longest-serving president, having governed a nation where most citizens have…

By Peter Omopo Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has condemned the arrest and continued detention of 52 students of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, describing the action as an attempt to suppress civic engagement and silence young voices raising concerns over insecurity. In a statement released on Tuesday, the senator called for the immediate and unconditional release of the students, who were reportedly arrested after staging protests against the rising cases of kidnapping and other security challenges in parts of Edo State. Akpoti-Uduaghan said peaceful protest and public advocacy should not be criminalised in a democratic society, stressing that dialogue remains…

By Asiwaju Dele Taiwo Is what will matter most on our last day on earth when titles fall away, achievements grow silent, and time runs out, grace remains. Not the grace we earned, but the grace we gave and the grace we accepted. On our final day, we won’t wish we had been harder, louder, or more impressive. We’ll wish we had been kinder. More forgiving. More present. Grace is choosing love when pride begs for victory. It’s offering mercy when judgment feels easier. It’s living aware that every breath is a gift, not a guarantee. Grace teaches us to…

By Jimmy Fatunbi The Executive Chairman of Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Moyosore Adebanjo, has held a highly engaging and strategic meeting with members of the committee for the Onigbongbo LCDA Security Marshal (OLSM) as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen security and promote a safer environment within the LCDA. During the meeting, the Chairman reviewed the framework, objectives, and operational structure of the OLSM initiative. He also emphasised the importance of the committee in complementing existing security architecture and enhancing community-based safety measures across Onigbongbo LCDA. He further disclosed that the application link for interested and qualified…

By Peter Omopo A group of Labour MPs has called on the government to reject China’s plan to build a large new embassy in central London, citing national security concerns and warning that the facility could be used to intimidate dissidents living in the UK. In a letter to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Steve Reed, nine Labour lawmakers urged ministers to block the proposal ahead of a decision deadline of January 20. The MPs raised concerns about the scale and location of the proposed embassy at Royal Mint Court, near the Tower of London,…

By Peter Omopo The Conservative Party has claimed that former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi defected to Reform UK after his request for a peerage was turned down, a charge that has added to the political fallout surrounding his departure. Zahawi, who served briefly as chancellor under former prime minister Boris Johnson and held several senior ministerial roles between 2018 and 2023, was unveiled as a member of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK at a press conference on Monday. He has since described Britain as being at a “dark and dangerous” moment, saying the country needed a “glorious revolution.” However, Conservative Party chairman…