BIG STORY

Court To Hear Obasa’s Suit Against Meranda, Others On March 17

Published

7 days ago

March 11, 2025

Justice Yetunde Pinheiro of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has postponed the hearing of a suit filed by the reinstated Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, to March 17, 2025.

Obasa is contesting his removal as Speaker on January 13, 2025, following accusations of fraud, high-handedness, abuse of office, and gross misconduct made by 35 lawmakers.

The respondents in the case include members of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the former Speaker, Mojisola Meranda.

The court had initially set the hearing for March 10, 2025, but during Monday’s session, counsel for the House of Assembly, Femi Falana (SAN), informed the court that Obasa’s legal team, led by Afolabi Fasanu (SAN), had served additional affidavits on the same day.

“The claimant’s counsel served us further affidavits today, challenging my clients to respond,” Falana stated.

Counsel for Meranda, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), also pointed out that the newly submitted affidavits contained significant fraud allegations against his client.

“There are serious fraud allegations in the further affidavits my learned brother referred to. We shall be asking for an adjournment to respond to the new application,” Oyetibo said.

Additionally, Olusola Idowu (SAN) announced his entry as a new counsel representing the House of Assembly in the case.

However, Falana requested that the court address the application for a change of counsel before considering other motions.

In response, Justice Pinheiro ruled that all motions and processes before the court would be heard at the next scheduled date.

“All applications, including those seeking injunctions and those challenging jurisdiction, will be heard on March 17, 2025. The application concerning the change of counsel will also be addressed on the same day,” Pinheiro stated.

She further instructed all parties to file, serve, and exchange their documents before the next hearing.

Following intervention by the Lagos All Progressives Congress leadership, Obasa was reinstated as Speaker of the Lagos Assembly, while Meranda was pressured to step down and resume her position as Deputy Speaker.

Obasa’s refusal to withdraw the suit, filed before the political intervention, suggests that relations remain strained between him and the other lawmakers.

In her speech stepping down as Speaker, Meranda explained that she made the decision in “deference for the party’s supremacy and not out of cowardice.”

Most lawmakers, in an emotionally charged session, also expressed their support for Meranda, emphasizing that they accepted Obasa’s reinstatement as Speaker “out of respect for the party.”

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BIG STORY

BREAKING: Nigeria’s Inflation Rate Drops To 23.18%

Published

3 hours ago

March 17, 2025

PorscheClassy News

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has reported a decrease in Nigeria’s inflation rate, which fell to 23.18% in February from 24.48% in January.

The announcement was made in the February 2025 Consumer Price Index (CPI) released by the NBS on Monday.

According to the bureau, the headline inflation rate in February increased slightly by “1.30% points when compared to the January 2025 headline inflation rate.”

The NBS stated:

“In February 2025, the Headline inflation rate eased to 23.18% relative to the January 2025 headline inflation rate of 24.48%.”

“Looking at the movement, the February 2025 Headline inflation rate showed a decrease of 1.30% compared to the January 2025 Headline inflation rate.”

On a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 8.52% lower than the 31.70% recorded in February 2024.

The NBS further noted:

“This shows that the Headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) decreased in February 2025 compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., February 2024), though with a different base year, November 2009 = 100.”

Additionally, the month-on-month inflation rate for February 2025 was recorded at 2.04%.

More to come…

Post Views: 32

BIG STORY

Rivers Assembly Accuses Fubara, Deputy Of Misconduct, Issues Notice

Published

7 hours ago

March 17, 2025

PorscheClassy News

The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued a notice accusing Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, of alleged misconduct.

A total of twenty-six members of the assembly made these allegations against Fubara in a notice submitted to Speaker Martin Amaewhule on Monday.

According to the lawmakers, their actions are based on “Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and other existing laws.”

They accused Fubara of various offenses, including unconstitutional and reckless spending of public funds, hindering the Assembly’s activities, and appointing individuals to government positions without undergoing the required screening and confirmation.

Additional allegations include withholding salaries, allowances, and funds designated for the Rivers State House of Assembly, as well as blocking the salary of Clerk Emeka Amadi.

The lawmakers also accused Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu of “conniving and supporting the illegal appointment of persons to government positions without the required screening and confirmation.”

After receiving the notice, Amaewhule forwarded it to Fubara, stating that the allegations had been brought forward by “not less than one-third (1/3) of the membership of the Rivers State House of Assembly.”

He then urged the governor to respond to the allegations, citing Section 188(3) of the Constitution, which states, “Within 14 days of the presentation of the notice to the Speaker of the House of Assembly (whether or not any statement made by the holder of the office in reply to the allegation contained in the notice), the House of Assembly shall resolve by motion, without any debate, whether or not the allegation shall be investigated.”

Amaewhule further advised the governor to take appropriate action and extended his “esteemed regards.”

Post Views: 43

BIG STORY

BREAKING: Lagos Court Orders Oba Otudeko To Appear For ‘N30bn Fraud’ Trial

Published

9 hours ago

March 17, 2025

PorscheClassy News

The Federal High Court in Lagos has instructed Oba Otudeko to appear before the court and enter a plea in response to the charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The directive was issued on Monday by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke.

The EFCC had previously filed a 13-count charge against Otudeko and three others over an alleged N30 billion loan fraud.

During the proceedings, the judge ruled that Otudeko must take his plea before the court could address an application contesting its jurisdiction in the matter.

The case has been adjourned to May 8.

More to come…

Post Views: 45