The Nigerian Senate has passed a landmark bill prescribing up to 14 years imprisonment for educators found guilty of sexually harassing students in tertiary institutions.

The legislation, titled Sexual Harassment of Students (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2025 (HB.1597), seeks to curb the persistent problem of “sex-for-grades” and other forms of sexual exploitation within Nigeria’s higher education system.

Presented for concurrence by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC–Ekiti Central), the bill establishes a comprehensive legal framework to prevent sexual misconduct in academic environments and ensure offenders face strict penalties.

According to Senator Bamidele, the bill aims to safeguard students’ dignity and preserve the sanctity of the educator–student relationship.

“This legislation is designed to protect students from any form of sexual abuse or coercion while upholding ethical standards in our tertiary institutions,” he explained.

Under the new law, anyone convicted of offences listed in Clauses 4 (1)–(3) faces between five and 14 years imprisonment, without the option of a fine.

Those guilty of offences in Clauses 4 (4)–(6) risk two to five years in prison, also without an option of a fine.

The bill defines a range of offences including demanding sexual favours, making unwanted advances, inducing others to commit harassment, and unwelcome touching or gestures.

It further clarifies that consent is not a valid defence in cases involving a student–educator relationship, except where the two are legally married.

Victims, relatives, or any concerned individuals may report cases to the Police or Attorney-General, with copies also submitted to the institution’s Independent Sexual Harassment Prohibition Committee.

The bill also allows victims to seek civil redress for breach of fiduciary duty.

During deliberations, some lawmakers urged that the bill’s scope be widened to address harassment in other sectors.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC–Edo North) argued that such protection should extend beyond schools.

“There is no reason to restrict sexual harassment laws to students. We need a framework that applies across all workplaces,” he said.

However, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary, clarified that the bill was up for concurrence since it had already been passed by the House of Representatives, and that existing laws already cover workplace-related harassment.

The bill was subsequently adopted and passed for third reading.

The passage follows years of public outrage and investigative reports exposing sexual exploitation by lecturers in Nigerian universities, notably the 2019 sex-for-grades exposé and comes amid renewed advocacy by women’s rights groups for stronger federal action to protect students and end impunity for perpetrators.

Hours after Daily Trust published an exclusive report on developments within the Agege Local Government Council, the embattled chairman, Hon. Tunde Azeez, has formally resigned from office, paving the way for Abdul-Ganiyu Vinod Obasa, the vice-chairman and son of the Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, to take over as council boss.

The resignation of Azeez, who has reportedly been battling health challenges, comes amid growing controversy and opposition allegations of a “pre-arranged succession plan” orchestrated within the council’s leadership.

Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa has been serving as acting chairman since shortly after Azeez went on medical leave, less than a month after being sworn in on July 26, 2025.

Opposition figures in Lagos have condemned the transition, describing it as evidence of a political script designed to ensure the younger Obasa’s eventual rise to the council’s top seat.

Recall that during the build-up to the July 12 local government elections, the decision of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to field Obasa’s son as its chairmanship candidate sparked protests among some party stakeholders in Agege.

The controversy prompted the substitution of his candidacy with that of Hon. Azeez, while Obasa Jr. was nominated as his running mate.

However, following Azeez’s prolonged illness and absence from public duties, the vice-chairman effectively took charge of council affairs, a situation that has now become permanent following Azeez’s resignation.

Confirming the development, Rotimi Sulaiman, an APC chieftain, said the outgoing chairman’s decision was based purely on health grounds.

“Hon. Tunde Azeez has been unwell for some time, and his choice to step down and focus on his recovery is a wise and responsible one,” Sulaiman stated.

“The new chairman, Abdul-Ganiyu Vinod Obasa, has already shown strong leadership in the past few months. Agege is fortunate to have both men serve in such capacities.”

Despite assurances from APC leaders, opposition parties continue to question the transparency of the succession, describing it as part of a long-planned political strategy within the local government.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a state of emergency on Nigeria’s police and security training institutions, in a bold move aimed at repositioning the nation’s internal security architecture for greater efficiency and professionalism.

Chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC) Committee on the Overhaul of Police and Other Security Training Institutions, and Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, disclosed this in Lagos on Tuesday during the commencement of the committee’s nationwide tour of training facilities.

Governor Mbah said the presidential directive followed deliberations at the 152nd NEC meeting, where President Tinubu expressed deep concern over the deplorable state of police and security training facilities across the country.

“The President recognises that there is a need for bold and urgent steps to be taken to restore the pride, professionalism, and confidence of men and women in the security space,” Mbah stated.

“You cannot expect our men and women who are protecting our communities to be trained in an environment that is inhumane. This is not acceptable. The President saw this as an emergency, and we are treating it with the seriousness it deserves.”

Mbah explained that the committee’s assignment is to produce a comprehensive report within 30 days, detailing actionable steps for rebuilding, equipping, and sustaining the nation’s security training institutions.

The team, which includes Governors Uba Sani (Kaduna), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Kefas Agbu (Taraba), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), alongside former Inspector-General of Police Usman Baba as Secretary, has divided itself into two subcommittees to cover the northern and southern regions simultaneously.

Mbah further revealed that President Tinubu has already approved the recruitment of an additional 30,000 police personnel, stressing that such a massive recruitment drive requires well-equipped and functional training institutions.

“We cannot use the system of the 20th century to train a modern 21st-century police force,” Mbah added. “They need to be imbued with skills in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Mechatronics, and other digital technologies relevant to modern policing.”

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, who accompanied Mbah during the tour of the Police Training College, Ikeja, underscored the President’s commitment to urgent reforms, saying the composition of the committee itself was a testament to the seriousness attached to the project.

Commandant of the college, AIG Omolara Oloruntola, commended the federal government for the initiative, lamenting the institution’s infrastructural decay since its establishment in 1949.

She expressed hope that the planned intervention would restore the college’s lost glory.

The Executive Chairman of Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, Hon. John Ogbodo, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for nominating Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, the Enugu State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In a congratulatory message issued on behalf of the government and people of Nkanu West, Hon. Ogbodo described Dr. Udeh’s nomination as a well-deserved recognition of his outstanding service, intellect, and commitment to excellence.

According to him, Dr. Udeh’s meteoric rise in public service “mirrors the unflickering resolve that has become the identity of the people of Nkanu West,” noting that his brilliance, humility, and integrity have continued to distinguish him in every role he has undertaken.

“We have watched him carefully weave the threads of hard work, honesty, humility, and loyalty into his duties as Attorney General,” Ogbodo said. “His dedication to every task convinces us of his ability to excel in larger responsibilities. We are extremely proud of Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, all that he represents and his attainments, and we trust him to represent us so well.”

The council boss also used the opportunity to extol the visionary leadership of the Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, whom he described as “a man ahead of time.” He applauded the governor for his commitment to excellence and for identifying capable and credible individuals like Dr. Udeh to serve both the state and the nation.

“His Excellency’s vision does not lie in words and projects alone, but in his ability to discover and appoint square pegs in square holes,” Ogbodo stated.

“As a people, we acknowledge his attention to detail in ensuring that our state and local government reclaim their rightful place at the center. We continue to assure His Excellency of our rock-solid support for his administration.”

Chief Ogbodo congratulated Dr. Udeh, whom he affectionately referred to as Okaibe, describing his nomination as “a collective victory for Nkanu West and Enugu State at large.”

“Congratulations once again, Okaibe,” he wrote. “Our Tomorrow is Here.”

A heated session erupted at the House of Representatives on Tuesday as lawmakers clashed over which committee should investigate alleged irregular sales and allocations of federal government assets at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex.

The uproar followed a motion of urgent public importance by Hon. Ademorin Kuye, who urged the House to probe the alleged illegal sale of government assets at the complex. Kuye proposed that the House Committee on Public Assets handle the investigation.

However, the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, argued that the matter fell under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Commerce, sparking back-and-forth debates.

Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi (APC, Plateau) insisted that since the Trade Fair Complex is a federal property, the Committee on Public Assets had oversight, citing House Standing Rules. Conversely, Hon. Mark Esset (PDP, Akwa Ibom) maintained that the complex is a commercial entity, which places it under the Committee on Commerce.

Efforts to form a joint committee were proposed but failed to gain consensus. Hon. Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi (SDP, Nasarawa) suggested Public Assets take the lead with Commerce supporting, while Deputy Chairman of Commerce, Hon. James Shaibu (PDP, Taraba), noted that his committee had already conducted oversight visits, warning against duplication of efforts.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu intervened to restore order, clarifying that the probe concerns the allocation of premises, not commercial operations.

He proposed an ad hoc committee with members from both committees to conduct a joint investigation, but the plan was blocked by lawmakers.

The motion was eventually put to a voice vote and rejected, escalating the rowdy session further.

Kalu ultimately dissolved the House into an executive session to resolve the dispute.

The Young Progressives Party (YPP) has expelled Hon. Peter Uzokwe, the House of Representatives member for Nnewi North, Nnewi South, and Ekwusigo Federal Constituency, citing alleged anti-party activities and gross misconduct.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Martins Egbeola, confirmed the decision on Monday following an emergency meeting of the YPP National Working Committee (NWC) at the party’s Abuja secretariat.

Uzokwe’s expulsion comes after a viral video showed him openly supporting Governor Chukwuma Soludo and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) ahead of the November 8 Anambra governorship election. In the video, Uzokwe reportedly said:

“YPP is not contesting any election. Did you hear me? I am the leader of YPP, and my supporters are here. In my constituency, I have told them to collapse it for His Excellency Chukwuma Soludo… Only APGA and Soludo are running for this election.”

The YPP condemned his remarks, describing them as false, misleading, and a deliberate attempt to sabotage the party.

Egbeola stated that the NWC ratified Uzokwe’s expulsion for violating multiple provisions of the party constitution, including Section 36(7), Articles (b, f & o) on offenses and sanctions.

Egbeola also clarified that Uzokwe’s claim of being YPP leader was false.

The position became vacant after the late national leader, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He further criticized Uzokwe’s appearance at an APGA rally, calling it “an act of desperation by a man whose political relevance has waned.”

The NWC described Uzokwe’s actions as gross indiscipline and deliberate deception, urging YPP members to ignore his statements and remain loyal to the party.

Indigenous residents of Abuja have renewed calls for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to be granted state-like status, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to implement a recent Court of Appeal ruling affirming this.

They are also demanding that the FCT have a democratically elected governor by 2027, proposing that the current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, be designated as Sole Administrator until such an election takes place.

The demand was made by a coalition of indigenous groups and long-term residents, organized under the FCT Senior Citizens Forum, during a press briefing in Abuja titled “Fulfilling the Democratic Status of Abuja.”

Elder Danjuma Tanko Dara, the forum’s coordinator, emphasized that the Court of Appeal ruling is legally binding and should guarantee residents the right to elect their own governor and members of a State House of Assembly.

“For too long, citizens of Abuja have been treated as second-class voters, participating in presidential elections but denied the right to elect their own chief executive and legislature.

This democratic deficit must end now,” Elder Dara said.

The group also urged Professor Joash Amupitan, the newly appointed INEC Chairman, to begin preparations for the FCT governorship election, while maintaining stability through Wike’s temporary role as Sole Administrator.

This, they argued, would allow ongoing projects to continue and give INEC sufficient time to organize a fair election.

Dr. Zikirullahi Ibrahim, Executive Director of CHRICED, also supported the push for statehood, stressing that the FCT is large enough to accommodate a state where indigenous residents can manage their own affairs.

Speaking at a journalists’ training in Abuja, he highlighted the historical neglect of Abuja Original Inhabitants (AOIs), who remain largely landless and stateless nearly five decades after the federal government acquired their lands.

“Whenever development occurs, bulldozers and military personnel demolish homes and erase communities, treating the land as if it was uninhabited. The AOIs have yet to receive promised compensation or legal recognition,” Dr. Ibrahim explained.

Since its creation, the FCT has been administered by a minister appointed by the president, unlike Nigeria’s 36 states with elected governors.

Advocates argue that this system denies the territory’s residents full democratic representation and perpetuates their marginalization.