The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda, has resigned from her position.
Meranda announced her resignation during Monday’s plenary session, stating that she was stepping down as a personal sacrifice to uphold the integrity of the legislative institution.
DAILY GAZETTE gathered that the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mojeed Fatai, also tendered his resignation.
Stay tuned for more detail..
Governor Peter Mbah has inaugurated the newly reconstituted Enugu State Local Government Service Commission, urging the appointees to foster a productive and efficient local government system that aligns with his administration’s vision for inclusive development and economic growth.
The Commission is chaired by Barr. Nana Ogbodo, with Hon. Peter Nnaji as Member I, Mrs. Florence Igboji as Member II, Dr. Bartholomew Ezeugwu as Member III, and Amaka Nweke as Member IV. The Commission’s Secretary is Osondu Nnaji.
Speaking during the inauguration on Monday, Governor Mbah stated that the appointments were based on the appointees’ integrity, track record, and dedication to public service.
Describing the Commission as crucial in delivering good governance and democracy dividends, he emphasized the need for individuals of unquestionable character and sound political judgment in leadership roles.
“Our development model prioritizes grassroots development. If you examine our interventions across key sectors, you will see that no part of the state has been left out,” Mbah said.
“For instance, in education, we are building 260 Smart Green Schools—one in each electoral ward. The same approach applies to our Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and farm estates, all of which are spread across the 260 wards in the state. This means you have a great responsibility to ensure the efficient administration of the local government system.
“I have no doubt that, given your track records and reputation, you will perform your duties with excellence,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of the Commission, Barr. Nana Ogbodo expressed gratitude to the governor for entrusting them with the responsibility. He assured that the Commission would work diligently to enhance local government service delivery, aligning with the state’s vision for economic transformation.
“We understand the weight of this responsibility and the high expectations that come with it. Under your administration, Enugu State has witnessed remarkable progress, and we are determined to contribute to achieving your vision of transforming the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion,” Ogbodo stated.
“We will ensure that every local government worker recognizes their role in this movement, as our collective efforts will determine our success,” he added.
The Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, has concluded its hearing, adopting the final addresses of all parties involved, including the PDP governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo and the APC governorship candidate, Governor Monday Okpehbolo.
At Monday’s proceedings, Ken Mozia, SAN, lead counsel for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidates, adopted their final written addresses.
He emphasized that the Certified True Copies (CTCs) of election materials submitted in court were legally certified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He pointed out that there were no objections to these documents at the point of certification or during cross-examination, affirming their authenticity.
Mozia further stated that witness testimonies aligned with the reliefs sought by the petitioners, demonstrating substantial irregularities in the election—irregularities that were even corroborated by witnesses for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Monday Okpebholo, under cross-examination.
At the previous hearing, the Justice Kpochi-led three-member tribunal had scheduled March 3 for the adoption of final addresses.
With this phase now concluded, the tribunal will set a date for the final judgment, which will be communicated to the parties in due course.
The tribunal is expected to announce a judgment date soon.
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has approved the employment of 1,010 secondary school teachers following the conclusion of the recruitment process by the state Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM).
A statement issued on Monday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, confirmed that the selected candidates are to commence documentation immediately.
According to the statement, the governor had initially approved the recruitment of both 1,010 secondary school teachers and 1,000 primary school teachers last year.
While the final list for secondary school teachers was approved on Friday, the recruitment process for primary school teachers is nearing completion.
Governor Aiyedatiwa emphasized the urgent need to address the shortage of teachers in public schools, especially in rural areas, which informed his decision to prioritize hiring based on the specific needs of understaffed schools across the state.
The recruitment drive is part of a broader effort by the Aiyedatiwa administration to strengthen the education sector.
Recently, the governor also approved the disbursement of N633 million for the registration of students for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Additionally, his administration has taken steps to advance higher education in the state, including approving the upgrade and conversion of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, into a University of Agriculture and Agribusiness.
Former federal lawmaker and elder statesman in Osun State, Prof. Olusola Adeyeye, has expressed regret over the strained relationship between President Bola Tinubu and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, revealing his unsuccessful efforts to reconcile the once-close allies.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Adeyeye recounted the deep trust that once defined their friendship, noting that Tinubu had unwavering confidence in Aregbesola.
“I was at a meeting where Tinubu said, ‘If you see me sleeping and you see Rauf coming with a dagger or a knife, don’t wake me up; Rauf will never injure me,’” Adeyeye recalled.
He added that Aregbesola, in turn, held Tinubu in the highest regard, second only to God in his hierarchy of loyalty and respect.
Despite this strong bond, the relationship deteriorated, with Adeyeye suggesting that Aregbesola may have felt betrayed by Tinubu’s perceived support for a rival.
“I have the feeling that what happened between them was Rauf thinking that Tinubu sided with his own brother against him,” he explained.
Adeyeye expressed sorrow over their fallout and admitted that his multiple attempts to mediate reconciliation had failed.
“I tried my best to settle them. Not once, not twice, but several times,” he lamented. “Power can be a terrible thing. It is treacherous in Nigeria.”
Despite the rift, he remained hopeful that a reconciliation was still possible if both men were willing.
“If the two of them want to settle, it’s not impossible,” he concluded.
After 17 years of evading authorities, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 59-year-old international drug baron, Ogbonnaya Jeff, at his hideout in the Ojo area of Lagos.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, the Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), revealed that Jeff had been under surveillance by the agency’s Special Operations Unit, following an Interpol Red Notice and intelligence shared by the National Intelligence Service of South Korea.
Marwa described the suspect as a key figure in a global drug trafficking network, responsible for recruiting young Nigerians as couriers to smuggle illicit substances into South Korea.
“On Wednesday, February 12, 2025, our operatives apprehended Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff at his residence on LASU Road, Lagos. NDLEA had been tracking him for years, gathering irrefutable evidence of his involvement in drug smuggling. Our investigation confirms that he led a syndicate that sent numerous drug shipments to South Korea,” Marwa stated.
Further searches at Jeff’s home uncovered multiple Nigerian passports bearing different identities, many with Korean visas. Additionally, illicit drugs were found stored at the back of his residence.
According to Marwa, Jeff previously served a one-year prison sentence in South Korea in 2007 before being deported to Nigeria in 2008.
However, instead of abandoning the trade, he continued orchestrating drug shipments to the Far East, making use of an elaborate international network spanning Africa and Asia.
“Between 2023 and 2024, he coordinated multiple drug shipments to South Korea, including a parcel containing 6,051 grams of skunk disguised as dried chilies, which was intercepted at Incheon Airport,” Marwa said.
He added that Jeff had also directed drug couriers to smuggle methamphetamine worth over ₦1.4 billion into South Korea.
Authorities in Seoul have since issued two arrest warrants against him for violating South Korea’s Narcotics Control Act, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Marwa reaffirmed NDLEA’s commitment to tackling international drug cartels and ensuring Nigeria does not serve as a hub for illicit trafficking.
Betty Akeredolu, wife of the late former Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, has strongly criticized Senate President Godswill Akpabio for involving his wife in his ongoing dispute with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
She described the move as “highly disingenuous” and an attempt to evade responsibility.
In a post on her official X handle, Akeredolu condemned Akpabio’s handling of the controversy surrounding the reassignment of Senator Natasha’s seat without her consent.
She argued that in more advanced democracies, such a situation would have led to the resignation of the Senate President to clear his name rather than dragging his wife into the matter.
“In more civilized societies, Akpabio would have stepped down by now to defend himself. Instead, he has chosen to involve his wife in the battle, throwing her under the bus in the process. That’s an unfair strategy,” she stated.
Akeredolu emphasized that the reassignment of Natasha’s seat without her knowledge was a violation of her rights and a sign of disrespect.
She praised the senator for standing her ground, noting that while male lawmakers may have remained silent on similar issues in the past, Natasha’s boldness in speaking out deserves commendation.
“Some women are busy making baseless arguments, blaming Natasha for being emotional. That is completely beside the point! She has shown courage by voicing her frustration after enduring so much, and that’s exactly the kind of leadership we need more of in the National Assembly,” she added.
Akeredolu also drew attention to the poor representation of women in Nigeria’s Senate, highlighting that out of 109 senators, only four are female.
She called for greater support for women in politics, likening Natasha’s stand to that of Rosa Parks, who became a symbol of resistance against injustice.
“Nigerian women have been sidelined and silenced for too long. It’s a shame that out of 109 senators, only four are women. Natasha’s outburst has forced the country to take a closer look at what really happens in the National Assembly. We need more of her kind in the next election cycle,” she said.
Quoting Kenyan legislator Millie Odhiambo, she concluded: “Good girls don’t get corner offices.”
Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the spokesperson for the Senate, has clarified that the sexual harassment allegation leveled by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio is not currently before the Senate for consideration.
Speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Monday, Adaramodu stated that the only issue presently before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions concerns Akpoti-Uduaghan’s alleged failure to comply with the Senate’s standing orders.
“The only matter before the Senate is between Senator Natasha and the rest of the senators, regarding her non-compliance with the Senate’s standing orders. No other issue has been formally brought forward,” he said.
He further explained that if any new allegations arise, including those against any senator, they would be reviewed by the Ethics Committee once officially referred.
“If any issue is raised tomorrow concerning a senator, the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions will review it as an internal affair. In the hallowed chamber, whatever we do or say is not actionable in court, so the committee will handle matters as they come,” Adaramodu stated.
He also emphasized that the Senate President does not interfere in committee proceedings, as the committee operates independently.
“The Senate does not dictate the committee’s operations, and the Senate President does not control its members. It is an independent committee,” he added.
Heavy security presence has been reported at the Lagos State House of Assembly as security personnel have restricted access to the premises, preventing journalists from covering Monday’s plenary session.
The session, scheduled for 1 PM, has been shrouded in uncertainty as officers from the police, civil defense, and Lagos State Neighbourhood Security Corps have taken positions around the complex, heightening tensions.
This development follows the controversial return of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa to the Assembly last Thursday.
Obasa, who was impeached on January 13, 2025, by over 30 of the 40 lawmakers, has continued to insist that he remains the rightful Speaker.
His removal led to the election of Mojisola Meranda as his replacement, but the crisis has since deepened, fueling speculation about possible power struggles within the House.
The presence of security operatives suggests an attempt to prevent any disruption as the political battle within the Assembly unfolds.
As of the time of filing this report, the situation remains tense, with lawmakers and staff facing restricted movement within the premises.
Dr. Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing internal betrayal, anti-party activities, and a lack of discipline within the party.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos, the former PDP governorship candidate said his decision followed months of reflection and consultations with his family, political allies, and supporters.
He expressed deep disappointment in the party’s leadership at both the state and national levels, accusing them of working against the interests of dedicated members.
Jandor recalled that his 2023 governorship campaign was met with resistance, not just from rival parties but also from within the PDP itself.
He claimed that some party leaders viewed his candidacy as a threat to their personal influence, leading to internal sabotage.
Despite facing multiple attacks during his campaign, he noted that the party leadership failed to condemn the incidents or stand by him.
He specifically criticized Chief Olabode George, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, for openly supporting a rival candidate, and accused Lagos PDP Chairman, Philip Aivoji, of misleading voters with false claims of an alliance that never existed.
Jandor further pointed to Lagos Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat’s revelation that several PDP leaders secretly worked against their own candidate, yet no disciplinary action was taken against them.
His frustration deepened when Chief Olabode George was later appointed Vice Chairman of the PDP’s Disciplinary Committee, a move Jandor described as an insult to loyal party members.
He stated that he could no longer remain in a party that rewards disloyalty and undermines internal democracy.
While he did not disclose his next political move, Jandor assured his supporters that his political career was far from over.
He pledged to continue working for the progress of Lagos, promising to consult widely before making any decisions about his future.
“This is the beginning of a new chapter,” he declared. “One that will be defined by sincerity, progress, and true service to the people.”
