The Lagos State House of Assembly is set for a tense sitting today as the leadership crisis between Mojisola Meranda and Mudashiru Obasa continues to deepen.

Obasa, who was impeached as Speaker on January 13, 2025, by 35 of the Assembly’s 40 members over allegations of misconduct and financial mismanagement, insists he remains the legitimate Speaker.

Over the weekend, Obasa returned from a trip abroad and declared his intention to resume as Speaker, describing his impeachment as unconstitutional.

Addressing supporters at his official residence in Ikeja, he criticized the process that led to his removal and accused the police of interfering.

“I am not afraid of being removed. Lagos is a special place; we cannot denigrate the state. They should prove their allegations against me and follow due process,” Obasa said.

In response, lawmakers loyal to Mojisola Meranda, elected as the new Speaker, reaffirmed their position, insisting that Obasa’s removal was final and in line with constitutional procedures.

A statement from former House Committee Chairman on Information and Security, Ogundipe Stephen Olukayode, noted, “Over two-thirds of the Assembly members remain solidly united behind Speaker Mojisola Meranda, and we stand firmly by the decision taken on January 13.”

Meanwhile, reports indicate that President Bola Tinubu, during a recent meeting with both factions in Abuja, upheld the Assembly’s decision to remove Obasa, urging him to vacate the Speaker’s residence peacefully.

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has declared that he will emphatically address anyone who says Ifa is nothing as a fool.

The former leader stressed the importance of safeguarding African cultural heritages during a gathering on Sunday, asserting that these traditions should not be threatened with extinction.

Obasanjo highlighted the need to protect Yoruba culture, describing it as “authentic.”

According to him, before Christianity and Islam was the Yoruba’s Ifa Orunmila, meaning Olorun lo mo eni to ma la “It is Heaven that knows who will be saved.”

Naija News reports that Obasanjo made these remarks in Abeokuta, Ogun State while celebrating the 50th birthday of renowned female talking drummer Olamuyiwa Aralola, known as Ara, at the Green Legacy Hotel and Resort, located within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).

The former president noted that hosting Ara for this special occasion was a purposeful gesture to honour her contributions to the preservation of Yoruba cultural heritage, particularly in talking drums, an art form traditionally associated with men.

He said, “For whatever reason, we must preserve our culture, Ara is a woman of culture, she is our cultural ambassador, she has lifted our culture and had broken the taboo on what was formerly believed to be exclusively for male gender. She had not only excelled in this, but was already building young ones to preserve her legacy.

“When I was growing up, there are two things that you don’t imagine a woman should do. You cannot see a woman climbing a palm tree. Secondly, you cannot see a woman playing a talking drum. Ara had broken the taboo and she had done it very well.”

The former president said the lesson from Ara’s actions is that one must do whatever he or she is doing very well.

“Before now, parents don’t allow their sons to play football, but today, parents are now begging that their children should be allowed to play football.

“For me if you are dancer, dance well and if you invite me for a celebration, I will come. If you are a footballer and you invite me for a celebration, I will come. Whatever you find your hands in doing, do it well.

“We must not joke with our culture. We are being relegated to the background, our language is being relegated, our food, our dress and others. We must not allow it. They are things that are authentic. Yoruba is not vernacular,” Obasanjo said.

The former President stressed that despite being a Christian, he hasn’t forgotten his culture.

“I am a Christian, I had attended two churches today and that does not mean that I should forget my culture. Whoever says Ifa is nothing, I will say that person is a big fool.

“Before Christianity and Islam, we have Ifa Orunmila meaning Olorun lo mo eni to ma la “It is Heaven that knows who will be saved,” he said.

In her remark, Ara thanked Obasanjo for the honour done to her.

Ara, who said she started playing talking drums at age 10 in her father’s palace in Ondo, said that her parents should do everything possible to preserve the culture.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) operatives have intercepted a consignment of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, concealed in a duvet, packaged for export to the United Kingdom through the cargo shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos.

The NDLEA operatives discovered that six parcels of the psychoactive substance with a gross weight of 3.50 kilograms were concealed inside the duvet.

Also, two suspects, Adakole Sunday and Austin Balogun, linked to the bid to export the consignment to the UK, were promptly arrested following the discovery by NDLEA officers on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said in his statement that Balogun, the main agent hired Sunday, claimed he was paid N700,000 to cargo the consignment to the UK but spent a fraction of the money on export handling charges and the bulk to pay for an apartment.

Also, another raid in Lagos on Sunday, January 19, led to the seizure of 47kg skunk, a strain of cannabis, and 25.46kg Nitrous Oxide, popularly known as laughing gas, at the notorious Akala area of Mushin.

Meanwhile, at least two suspects, Joseph Oluwasegun Adewale and Biodun Adelakun, were arrested at Igbo Olumo, Ikorodu area of Lagos, when NDLEA operatives raided their hideout in the community where seven litres of skuchies, a new psychoactive substance produced with black currant, cannabis and opioids, were recovered.

Other exhibits seized from the duo include three locally made double-barrel rifles, one locally made double-barrel pistol, one English-made pistol, one locally made single-barrel rifle, three cartridges, one empty 9mm cartridge, and an iron-head axe.

In Ekiti, a 26-year-old suspect, Adepoju Taiwo, was arrested by NDLEA officers on Thursday January 23, with 1.950kg Canadian Loud at Iworoko Road, Ilokun, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, while Auwal Sani was nabbed by operatives on Monday, January 20 at Bode Saadu in Moro local government area of Kwara State, while a total of 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg weighing 36.56kg were recovered from him.

Babafemi added that a Nigerien, Abubakar Lami, 45, with two others: Abba Sani, 35, and Auwal Aliyu, 32, were arrested by NDLEA operatives at Gadar Tamburawa, Kano, while 13.1kg skunk and 125 litres of ‘suck and die’, a new psychoactive substance was recovered from them.

There was an explosion of dynamites suspected to be kept by an artisan Miner at Sabon Pegi, Mashegu local government area of Niger state killing one person and injuring six others.

LEADERSHIP findings revealed that the dynamites were kept by an artisan Gold Miner, Yushau. They exploded yesterday morning, affecting many households in the village and destroying properties.

It was learnt that the dynamites exploded when they were being packaged from the house to the various mining sites in the area that was also one of the targets of Bandits.

Confirming this, the Niger State Command Police Public Relations Officer PPRO Wasiu Abiodun said,

“There was an explosion of some suspected dynamites at Sabon-Pegi, Mashegu LGA, which was reportedly kept in a residential area by one Yushau for a purported mining activity”.

“The explosion led to the unfortunate death of one Fatima Sadauki, while six others were injured and taken to general hospital Kainji for medical attention”, he further stated.

He further disclosed that the incident affected about twelve houses in the area, saying that the Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command CP Shawulu Ebenezer Danmamman, has ordered an investigation into the incident.

Consequently, the PPRO said the commissioner had dispatched the EOD-CBRN unit to the scene for assessment.

On Yushau’s whereabouts, he said, “he is currently at large. However, normalcy has been restored in the area while monitoring continues.”

Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba said troops

of Operation HADIN KAI in the North-East of the country, conducted clearance operations to renowned terrorists’ stronghold and enclave known as Timbuktu Triangle.

He said the ongoing operations aimed at dismantling terrorists’ presence within the triangle commenced on January 16, 25.

“Troops recorded several encounters with terrorists during the course of the clearance operations which result in over 70 terrorists combatants including three notable terrorist commanders neutralised,” Buba said.

He identified the neutralised terrorist commanders as the Terrorist Special Forces Commander, Mallam Umar; Terrorist Operations Commander, and Abu Yazeed, the Terrorist Brigade Commander.”

According to General Buba, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), suicide bombers as well as suicide bombers in explosive vehicles were deployed by the hoodlums to ward off troops’ advances and attacks during the operations.

“Troops already familiar with the terrorists’ tactics thwarted the several attempts, including shooting down the amateur drones used by the terrorists,” he said.

The director however expressed sadness, that 22 soldiers lost their lives in action during the encounters.

“Overall, during the course of the operations, troops sadly recorded 22 killed in action casualties with several others wounded in action,” he disclosed.

He enjoined the media to refrain from publishing the names of the troop casualties to allow formal notification of their next of kins.

Nigerian music legend, Tuface Idibia, better known as 2Baba, has disowned a social media post announcing his separation from his wife, Annie Idibia Macauley.

2Baba, in the Instagram post, announced the breakup of 13 years of marriage with Annie.

The ‘African Queen’ crooner also revealed plans to address the situation in an upcoming press release, in which he vowed to clarify the events leading to their separation.

The earlier post read, “Hello to my beautiful people of all federations. Well, this thing I have to say is short but also long…I and Annie Macaulay have been separated for a while now, and currently filed for divorce.

“I would grant a press release soon to say my story. Not because it is anyone’s right to know about my personal life but because I love my people and I need them to know my innocence or offense. Stay blessed my people. I love you all.”

However, in his latest post on his page, 2Baba announced that his Instagram account had been hacked and stressed that efforts were underway to recover it.

The post reads, “My Instagram account has been hacked, efforts are being carried out to take back control. #onelove!”

But in a surprising twist, the award wining singer posted a video disclosing that his account was never hacked.

Annie and 2Face tied the knot in May 2012 and share two beautiful daughters, Isabella and Olivia.

Their lavish and star-studded wedding in Dubai in March 2013 was the talk of the town.

However, their marriage has faced turbulent times, with Annie publicly accusing 2Baba of infidelity involving his babymama, Pero.

This led to conflicts with his family members, although they later reconciled, lived in peace and harmony until now.

Palpable tension has been ignited in Oba community, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State since the state’s newly unveiled security outfit uncovered over 30 graves and shrine in a popular hotel located in the area.

The property, officially registered as Udoka Golden Point Hotel and Suites, but popularly known as La Cruise Hotel, located along the Onitsha-Owerri Road was demolished on Saturday after the security operatives discovered its sinister operations.

According to the authorities, the building operating under the guise of a hotel was busted after a tip-off by a whistleblower and due intelligence gathered.

During the demolition, security operatives and local authorities said they made a horrifying discovery of over 30 well-partitioned graves downstairs of the structure, alongside a shrine as well as military camouflage, including arms and cartridges.

However, it could not be officially ascertained if any corpse was found from the grave or if any arrest was made at the said hotel, as the authorities had remained silent on it.

When contacted on the development, the Special Adviser to the state governor on Community Security, Ken Emeakayi, declined to comment, while directing our correspondent to confirm from the Press Secretary to the governor.

But the statement shared on the Anambra State New Media X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, indicated that the hotel, known as Udoka Golden Point Hotel and Suites, also referred to as “La Cruise Hotel”, was reportedly a hub for kidnappers and other criminal elements.

The statement, which added that the hotel had over 30 well-partitioned graves, read, “Oba, Idemili South LGA! Demolition of kidnappers’ den disguised as Udoka Golden Point Hotel and Suites AKA “La Cruise Hotel” along Onitsha-Owerri Road.

“The hotel has well-partitioned graves of over 30 on the last floor with a shrine!!”

When also contacted, Christian Aburime, the Press Secretary to the Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, said investigations were still ongoing and would be communicated in due course.

Aburime said, “Yes, the hotel was demolished as part of Anambra State Homeland Security Law that says any structure or building found to be housing criminals or linked to the issue of kidnapping should be pulled down.

“The raid followed credible information from concerned members of the public about the suspicious activities going on there.

“During the raid by the security operatives, graves were found on the ground floor of the hotel and some military camouflage and some arms cartridges of guns and so on were also found. Quite a number of incriminating items were also found there.”

He said it was the law that had been passed by the state, and no matter who the owner of the structure was, if it was linked to any issue of kidnapping or any criminality, it had to be pulled down.

“As regards if corpses were found at the discovered graves or if any arrest was made, that I cannot say for now. Investigations are still ongoing and further development shall be made known as they unfold,” he said.

Our correspondent who visited the community on Sunday, observed mixed feelings from residents as some who spoke in different interviews raised serious concerns about the prevalence of similar establishments in the state, while others said a thorough investigation should have been carried out before the demolition.

Residents expressed their outrage and called for swift action from the government to investigate other suspicious buildings.

A resident, who preferred to remain anonymous, said, “I witnessed the demolition. This is beyond comprehension. God forbid such evil in our land!”

Another resident said, “Those things they called graves were constructed partitioning for fish ponds.”

When contacted on the development, the spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said, “We don’t have a brief on it.”

In another development on Saturday, the Agunechemba Security Squad raided a kidnappers’ hideout in a brothel at Akwu-Ukwu Oba in the Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

During the operation, two suspected kidnappers were arrested along with five prostitutes in the area, following a tip-off from residents.

The one-storey building that housed the kidnappers and prostitutes was immediately demolished by the security operatives, by Anambra State’s Agunechemba Security Laws.

An operative of the outfit who craved anonymity, said, “We received information that some young men had been visiting the brothel regularly, arriving late in the evening and leaving early in the morning,

“We kept watch on them, and after confirming the information, our team moved in and apprehended them.”

The operative further confirmed that some members of the gang are still on the run and vowed to track them down.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the administration of President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over the recent 50% hike in telecom tariffs.

SERAP argued that the increase, which raises call rates to ₦16.5 per minute (from ₦11), 1GB of data to ₦431.25 (from ₦287.5), and SMS charges to ₦6 (from ₦4), is “arbitrary, unconstitutional, unlawful, unfair, and unreasonable.”

Filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/111/2025, SERAP is challenging the NCC’s decision, describing it as a breach of citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and access to information under Nigerian and international laws.

Naija News reports that SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, emphasized that the tariff hike is a violation of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, the Nigerian Constitution, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantee equal access to communication services.

SERAP’s Demands

SERAP is seeking the following reliefs from the court:

1. A Declaration that the NCC’s unilateral decision to approve the 50% telecom tariff hike is unconstitutional, arbitrary, and unfair, violating Nigerians’ rights to free expression and access to information.

2. An Order setting aside the NCC’s approval of the tariff hike announced on January 20, 2025.

3. An Injunction restraining the NCC and telecom companies from implementing or enforcing the tariff hike.

4. Further Orders as deemed necessary by the court.

Concerns Highlighted by SERAP

In its suit, SERAP outlined the economic challenges facing Nigerians, including:

High Poverty Levels: With 133 million Nigerians classified as multi-dimensionally poor, many lack access to basic services like clean energy.

Cost of Living Crisis: Rising inflation, fuel subsidy removal, and increasing food prices have exacerbated the financial burden on citizens.

Procedural Breaches: SERAP alleged that the NCC failed to consult key stakeholders, including the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, before implementing the hike.

SERAP argued that the tariff increase disproportionately affects economically vulnerable Nigerians and undermines equal access to communication services.

Naija News gathered that no date has been set for the hearing of the interim application and the substantive suit.

Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra, says he is not desperate to become president of Nigeria. 

Obi spoke at the fourth convocation ceremony of Nexford University, the US-based online school.

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election decried the state of leadership in the country, describing it as “an imposition on the people”.

Obi urged the graduating students to embrace the spirit of servitude so as to lead effectively and “ignite the needed change”.

He added that he is “desperate to see the country work”.

“All of these that we are saying is for you to use it and ignite that change and support. It is not for you to start saying ‘I want to be in charge. I want to do this. I want to do that’,” he said.

“When people say I am desperate I say ‘No’. I am not desperate to be Nigeria’s president’. I am desperate to see Nigeria work because it can work.”

He said Nigerian youths must help to reignite the “right leadership that the country requires for development”.

“James Robinson, one of the Nobel laureates in economics, last year said it openly that Nigeria is a country that knows what to do to prosper and refuses to do it,” Obi added.

“How can you allow drivers and people who are at their destinations to drive you? You will lose. They have passed their destinations. They have passed their time.

“That is what you should help to reignite. Use what you have henceforth to help us change the society. Do not go and be part of this. You are a victim of Nigeria. Because our age and the one before refused to do what is right and we are suffering for it.”

Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) picked Obi as his running mate in the 2019 presidential election.

Four years later, Obi contested for the presidential office under the LP but polled third behind Abubakar and Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Imported food prices in Nigeria have defied government interventions, increasing by 37.65 per cent between January and December 2024, according to the latest Consumer Price Index report released by the National Bureau of Statistics.

The report said the average price of imported food commodities to Nigeria rose to its highest level in December, recording an increase of 260.8 basis points from 692.6 per cent recorded in January 2024.

Our correspondent also observed that the price of imported food has been on a monthly upward trajectory since 2020.

The data highlighted a significant rise of 41.28 per cent per cent year-on-year increase in December 2024, marking a 278.6 percentage point.

 This price surge comes amid plans by the government to utilise food import as a succour to beat down the price of basic food items and ensure food security.

This sharp rise was been attributed to multiple factors, including currency devaluation, global supply chain disruptions, and inefficiencies in domestic policies.

In July 2024, the Federal Government announced a 150-day duty-free import window for food commodities as it stepped up efforts to tackle rising inflation, which had impoverished many Nigerians.

The commodities include maize, husked brown rice, wheat and cowpea. Under this arrangement, imported food commodities will be subjected to a Recommended Retail Price. It was designed to reduce import costs and make staple foods more affordable.

However, after months of bureaucratic delays, a consignment of 32,000 tons arrived in Lagos earlier this month from Thailand.

Commenting, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale, said the Federal Government’s intervention in the middle of the year was necessary to address the prevailing food inflation in the country.

Adewale speaking at a briefing to announce its highest revenue collection of N6.1tn, noted that the implementation is still ongoing.

He said, “About six items were listed but people tend to look at only some three parts of it so let’s get it very clear, there are items like wheat, there are items like grain, there are some items that can be directly consumed, whereas some of those items are also inputs of other manufacturing and I think it’s only when we get that distinction very clear that we will understand that there are some other objectives behind it, beyond just granting zero percent concession.

“Of course, implementation has been ongoing, and yes, a particular importation, this importation that you’re talking about came in the middle of December, and that particular one was, of course, rice.

“The government, in its wisdom, decided that they were not going to allow polished rice because there are some interests, some local farmers and millers who are also in this business, and their interests will be compromised if we just allow some wholesale of importation of these items.”

Meanwhile, PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited has projected that the prevailing economic hardship, high inflation and violence in food-producing regions in northern Nigeria may push 33.1 million Nigerians into food insecurity in 2025.