Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Peter Omopo Senegal’s Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, has unveiled a bill seeking to increase the maximum penalty for same-sex relationships from five years to 10 years in prison. Presenting the proposed legislation before parliament on Tuesday, Sonko said anyone committing what the law describes as “an act against nature” would face between five and 10 years’ imprisonment, compared to the current penalty of one to five years. The bill was transmitted to the National Assembly after receiving approval from the Council of Ministers last week. The move follows a series of arrests of individuals accused of engaging in same-sex…

By Peter Omopo The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday arraigned a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria Edetanle, before the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, over an alleged fraud involving $385,000 and N165,438,000. Okhiria was brought before Justice Rahman Oshodi on a seven-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering, abuse of office, and unlawful enrichment as a public official. The offences are said to contravene relevant provisions of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. When the charges were read to him, the defendant pleaded not guilty. Counsel to the prosecution, Abba…

By Peter Omopo President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Assistant Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, as the Acting Inspector General of Police. Disu, who currently heads the Force Criminal Investigation Department Force Annex in Ikoyi, Lagos, succeeds Kayode Egbetokun as Inspector General of Police. He brings extensive operational and intelligence experience, having served in various capacities across the country. Disu previously led the Lagos State Government’s internal security outfit, the Rapid Response Squad, where he was credited with implementing people-centred policing reforms that strengthened community relations. He also served as head of the Nigeria Police Force…

By Peter Omopo Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has said Nigeria’s rising debt is not the main problem, but how the country utilizes borrowed funds determines its economic outcomes. In a post on his X account on Tuesday, Obi cited recent World Bank data showing that Nigeria has become the world’s third-largest debtor, with external obligations of about $18.7 billion, trailing Bangladesh at $23 billion. “Borrowing is not inherently wrong. Nations borrow to improve productivity and stimulate growth. Debt becomes a problem only when it finances consumption, inefficiency, or corruption rather than investment, as is the case in…

By Peter Omopo Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has filed a motion at the Federal High Court seeking to quash charges brought against him by the Department of State Services, describing the case as incompetent and an abuse of court process. The application, filed in response to Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, is scheduled for hearing on February 25, 2026, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik. El-Rufai is requesting the court to strike out the February 16, 2026 charge on the grounds that it discloses no offence known to law, constitutes an abuse of judicial process, and fails to establish a prima facie…

By Peter Omopo The Abure-led faction of the Labour Party has reaffirmed that Julius Abure remains the party’s National Chairman, with his tenure set to run until 2028, dismissing claims to the contrary. In a statement on Tuesday, signed by Special Adviser on Media and Strategic Communications, Aju Elumelu-James, the party said clarification was necessary following a “flurry of conflicting narratives” about Abure’s leadership. The statement emphasized that ongoing court proceedings do not justify spreading misinformation about the party’s constitutional leadership. The statement outlined that after the death of former National Chairman Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam in December 2020, Deputy National…

By Peter Omopo Singer Ahmed Ololade, popularly known as Asake, has been named the most-streamed artiste of all time on Spotify Nigeria. The announcement was made as Spotify marked its fifth anniversary in Nigeria, unveiling the top five most-streamed artistes in the country since its launch. Asake tops the list, followed by Wizkid in second place and Seyi Vibez in third. Burna Boy and Davido complete the top five rankings. In a statement, Spotify described Asake’s achievement as well deserved, noting that he has consistently captivated listeners with his distinctive sound and energetic performances. Asake also secured the number one…

By Peter Omopo An FCT High Court sitting in Maitama has struck out a suit filed against Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission. The ICPC had on January 16 filed a three-count charge bordering on allegations of forgery against Ozekhome. The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation took over the case on January 26. Counsel to the AGF, Rotimi Oyedepo, had earlier assured the court that the matter would be prosecuted with the highest standard of efficiency, effectiveness, diligence and compliance with due process of law. However, at…

By Peter Omopo The Bayelsa State House of Assembly has confirmed the appointment of Peter Akpe as the new Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, following the death of former Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo. Akpe was nominated by Governor Douye Diri after Ewhrudjakpo’s passing in December. His confirmation by the lawmakers clears the way for his swearing-in. Before his nomination, Akpe served as Chief of Staff at the Government House in Yenagoa. He has also built a career spanning both civil service and politics, having worked in the Rivers and Bayelsa state civil services. He served as commissioner between 2008 and…

By Asiwaju Dele Taiwo The Yoruba adage about the Black Kite teaches that when a kite keeps troubling the hen and the owner finally catches it, the kite does not know if that day will be its last. The lesson is simple: persistent wrongdoing eventually meets consequences. In life and especially in marriage, constant disrespect, provocation, or taking a partner for granted may seem small at first, but one day, accountability comes. A strong and lasting relationship is built on humility, self-control, and mutual respect because when patience runs out, the outcome may be more than we expected. Asiwaju Cares