Category Nigeria News

The attorney general of Lagos, Falana & Falana Chambers, has refuted the attorney general’s claim that neither the Lagos State government nor any of his agencies received an order of court before the most recent demolition exercise in the Ajileru Street, Ososa Extension, and Toluwase Extension, which are located in Lagos State’s Itesiwaju Ajumoni Community Development, in the Oworonshoki Area.

The order was issued on October 23rd, 2025, according to a press release released this evening and signed by a counsel, Taiwo Olanwanle on behalf of the firm, Falana &amp, Falana Chambers. The Honorable Commissioner for Justice’s office received the enrolled order.

Before 3 p.m. on Friday, October 24, 2025, the commissioner of the Lagos State, general manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, and copies of the documents that have been given as a formal acknowledgement, respectively.

Our office phone lines were overflowing with calls from customers letting us know that there were more than 50 armed police officers driving heavy-duty vehicles nearby to start a new demolition after some hours of serving the court order.

Our Mr. Femi Falana, SAN called some senior Lagos State government officials, including the current General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, Mr. Gbolahan Owodunni Oki, who is now the Permanent Secretary of the Office of Urban Development, to intervene and forbid the planned property demolition. Mr. Oki threatened that “nothing would happen” if the court order was broken.

“They lack the authority to demolish any property in Lagos State without a court order,” the Lagos State Government presumes, without denying that the government was unaware of the order. As in this instance, acting otherwise amounts to impunity and lawlessness.

According to the statement, “To maintain the integrity of the justice system, state actors must comply with court orders, uphold the rule of law, and uphold democratic stability.”

Read more about: The Lagos government denies the willful demolition of the Oworonshoki Houses.

The organization warned that the Lagos State Government’s failure to adhere to a valid court order can cause chaos and anarchy, erodering public trust in the judiciary system.

In another development, the firm has also requested a meeting for Nov. 13 from the Attorney General and his Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to help parties determine the best course of action.

The letter also contained a statement from the claimant’s intention to file a lawsuit against the government.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have merged under the leadership of Maharashtra Faru, a member of the Maradun II Constituency-based Zamfara State House of Assembly.

The APC’s Zamfara State chapter formally met him at a ceremony in Gusau.

Faru had previously made his defection known in a letter from October 27, 2025, which was sent to the House of Assembly’s Clerk.

He cited poor PDP leadership, particularly at the state level, as the primary cause of his ouster in the letter.

I want to let you know that I have left the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), having reviewed recent events in our party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), especially at the national level, and that I have joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) because I believe the party’s leadership is lacking there.

Also Read: Sule Lamido and Bode George’s PDP rivals have the right to contest the presidency.

Faru explained that his decision was based on extensive consultation with his electorate, who, in his opinion, voted in favor of joining the APC.

During a lively ceremony held at the party’s Secretariat in Gusau, the lawmaker was formally accepted into the APC along with hundreds of his supporters.

The event, which was presided over by the Honourable Tukur Umar Danfulani, the State APC Chairman, also featured the defection of Alhaji Salisu Dodo Faru, a PDP ex officio member for Maradun Local Government, as well as five PDP ward chairmen from the Faru/Magami, Gidan Goga, Tsibiri, Kaya, and Janbako wards.

In a statement released at the time, Faru claimed that Governor Dauda Lawal’s failure to fulfill campaign promises, particularly regarding insecurity, the main factor that won voters’ support in the 2023 elections, was the catalyst behind his decision to quit the PDP.

He lamented that Maradun II PDP members had experienced injustice and disregard while their constituency had been ignored and denied fair representation.

“Dauda’s administration lacks fairness,” he declared. He claimed that only the government benefits the party’s supporters and favored PDP members.

Faru further claimed that many of the PDP’s governors and prominent members had switched to the APC because it had become plagued by crises at all levels.

“I’ve chosen to join Matawalle and Abdulaziz Yari, along with all of my supporters and party executives in my constituency for these reasons,” he continued.

Alhaji Salisu Dodo Faru, the PDP ex-officio member for Maradun Local Government, stated in his remarks that Maradun II Constituency is now the PDP’s “dead in.”

He accused Governor Dauda Lawal of abandoning devoted party members who worked tirelessly for his election victory and described him as an “accidental politician who lacks direction.”

He applauded Senator Abdulaziz Abubakar and the Defense Minister, Bello Matawalle, for continuing to work at the grassroots.

Dodo claimed that PDP will be a walkover by 2027 as a result of its immature politics.

Wahab Shittu, the attorney for Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has withdrawn from the investigation into the late singer’s DNA test, Ilerioluwa Aloba, also known as Mohbad.

According to Shittu, the firm’s founding leader, Shittu, the decision was made in a press release that was made available to the media and signed by him. This was in response to the “sustained falsehood being orchestrated on social media about alleged attempts to compromise the outcome of the DNA process.”

In recent days, this campaign of calumny has become extremely persistent without any support. Removing further involvement and providing legal advice to Mohbad’s family in relation to the alleged DNA proceedings is the path of honor, integrity, and professionalism, the statement read.

Further, the company added that, “We clarify that our firm has no personal interest in the outcome of the DNA process other than the desire for justice to solve the truth,” “For the avoidance of doubt, we state.”

Read more about Mohbad’s father’s request for prosecution of his daughter-in-law and other people indicted in the coroner’s verdict.

The family of Mohbad has already been informed of the decision, according to the law firm.

The family was also informed in the decision that the DNA process must be conducted transparently, using renowned DNA laboratories both domestically and abroad, to prevent the process from being compromised, according to the statement.

The statement stated that “this withdrawal relates only to the DNA proceedings and does not affect our involvement in or our handling of other family matters.”

Bassey Otu, the governor of Cross River State, described the state’s budget as a “Budget of Inclusive Growth,” referring to it as the “Budget of Inclusive Growth” that the state legislature will be hearing from the state legislature in 2026.

Governor Otu cited the proposal as a “sacred social contract between government and the governed” as it aims to consolidate the gains of his administration’s People First agenda.

He claims that extensive consultations with citizens, civil society organizations, private sector stakeholders, NGOs, and citizens led to the creation of the 2026 budget.

He made a policy switch, moving from Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to the Human Development Index (HDI), promising to concentrate on improving rural communities’ access to electricity, healthcare, and education.

READ ALSO: Former PDP deputy governor Candidate in Cross River Joins APC

The governor made it known that the Cross River Social Investment Programme (CRSIP) would be run in a non-political, multi-sectoral manner to empower the elderly, women, youth, and other vulnerable groups.

A 17 percent increase over the proposed budget of 2025 results in a 519.6 billion (67%) allocation to capital expenditure, while a 260.96 billion (33%) is designated for recurrent spending. The economic sector receives 421 billion dollars, 163 billion for social services, 164 billion for general administration, 28 billion for law and justice, and 33.6 billion for regional development.

Following improved revenue inflows and prudent resource management, Governor Otu noted that the “Budget of Sustainable Growth” for 2025 was revised from 538 billion to 642 billion. He claimed that the adjustment provided funding for crucial initiatives like maternal and child health initiatives like road repairs and rural electrification.

The governor cited the success of the People First policy, which helped Cross River rank first nationwide in routine immunization coverage at 95%, underlining the year’s performance. He cited completed and ongoing projects, including the Yahe–Ebo–Wanakom–Wanikade Road and the Esuk Utan–Depot dual carriageway.

Otu also mentioned improvements to healthcare and power, including the completion of the Ikom General Hospital and the installation of solar streetlights in rural areas. He added that the state’s nursing schools are now fully accredited.

The governor disclosed that negotiations are raging for the Bakassi Deep Seaport while the governor provided updates on the infrastructure.

In terms of governance, Otu announced the full implementation of the national minimum wage, the expansion of fiber optic connectivity across MDAs, and the partial approval of retirees’ gratuities. He also confirmed that Certificates of Occupancy have been issued again, and that the state’s land administration system has been reworked.

The newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs made their first courtesy visits to Badaru Abubakar, the minister of defense, to his office at the Ministry of Defense’s Abuja headquarters.

The delegation, which is led by Air Vice Marshal SK Aneke, includes Air Vice Marshal SK Aneke, Air Vice Marshal SK Aneke, Chief of Air Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, and the Chief of Army Staff, Maj Gen Waidi Shaibu, Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, and the Chief of Air Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede.

The Minister’s office stated in a statement that “the visit underscores the Minister’s commitment to fostering a cohesionary defense leadership grounded in trust, collaboration, and shared purpose.”

Read more about Tinubu’s request for Senate confirmation of his new service chiefs.

Under the direction of President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the visit also fuels a renewed effort to develop a unified strategy and decisive action in protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and national interests, according to the statement.

See the statement below for more information:

PRESS ELEASE

TUESDAY, 28TH OCTOBER 2025

Advancing Unity, Leadership, and Strategic Direction, Defense Minister Badaru Receives Newly Appointed Chief of Defense Staff and Service Chiefs.

The newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff and the three Service Chiefs were shown by His Excellency Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, CON, MNI, at the Ministry of Defence’s Ship House in Abuja today, October 28th, 2025.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal SK Aneke, Chief of Army Staff, Maj Gen W Shaibu, Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral I Abbas, and the Chief of Air Staff, Lt Gen OO Oluyede, were also present.

The visit demonstrates the Minister’s commitment to fostering a unified defense leadership built on trust, collaboration, and shared goals. Under the direction of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, it also rekindles a trend toward a unified strategy and decisive action in protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and national interests.

In order to strengthen Nigeria’s financial governance framework, the Senate has mandated its Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes to continue conducting legislative oversight and policy reviews.

The Senate’s Executive, the President of the Senate, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), and other stakeholders were the subjects of the urgent public interest resolution, which was sponsored by Senator Emmanuel Udende and was a response to a motion of urgent public importance.

Senator Udende noted that Nigeria’s removal from the FATF’s Grey List was a recent development in the country’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework.

He made the observation that Nigeria’s inclusion on the list had raised the risk of increased international scrutiny and reputational harm, which weakened investor confidence and limited access to global financial markets.

NFIU: Nigeria No Longer On the Global Financial Watch List

Bola Tinubu, president of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and other stakeholders were commended for their leadership and coordinated actions that led to the milestone.

The Senate predicted that the achievement would encourage foreign direct investment (FDI) in key sectors like energy, technology, agriculture, and manufacturing, strengthen the naira, create jobs, and promote economic stability in its long-term outlook.

In response, the Senate urged financial and regulatory bodies to maintain compliance with international standards and commend all key players who helped secure Nigeria’s removal from the FATF Grey List.

Lawmakers also urged Nigeria’s financial system to maintain transparency, accountability, and good governance through continued collaboration between the public and private sectors.