Category: PM News

The legal team representing the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has rejected a petition filed before the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal challenging Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory in the August 15 governorship election.

A senior member of the legal team, Adekunle Adegoke, said the petition was not authorised by the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, or the party.

Adegoke disclosed on Monday that the legal team had advised Oyebamiji against challenging the election outcome after reviewing the circumstances surrounding the poll.

He said the lawyers met with Oyebamiji and other party leaders shortly after the election to assess possible legal options but concluded that approaching the tribunal was not the best course of action.

‘Right from the second day after the election, the legal team, led by about four Senior Advocates of Nigeria, advised our client that, in the circumstances, the best course of action was not to go to the tribunal,’ Adegoke said.

He explained that the decision was taken despite the team’s knowledge of possible grounds that could have been used to challenge the result.

‘It is not that the election was entirely free or that there were no malpractices. There may have been valid grounds to challenge the result, but we decided to allow the populace to rest,’ he said.

Adegoke also questioned the legitimacy of any petition filed in Oyebamiji’s name, saying the APC candidate had already congratulated Adeleke after the election.

‘Our client willingly, without pressure or duress, congratulated Governor Adeleke. Do you now think it would be legitimate, or honourable, for Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji to turn around and authorise the filing of a petition?’ he asked.

The lawyer described the tribunal document as unauthorised and accused individuals behind it of presenting themselves as APC lawyers without approval from the party or its candidate.

‘I want it to be on record that the APC legal team has denounced the bundle of papers filed by some individuals masquerading as APC lawyers. It was not authorised by the APC as a party or by its candidate,’ he said.

Another APC chieftain, Adebayo Adedamola, also denied involvement in any petition against Adeleke’s victory, saying he had already endorsed the governor.

The controversy followed the display of two petitions at the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Osogbo on Monday.

One petition, marked EPT/OS/GOV/01/2026, listed Oyebamiji and the APC as petitioners against Adeleke, the Accord Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The second petition, marked EPT/OS/GOV/02/2026, was filed by Adebayo Olugbenga Adedamola against Adeleke, INEC and the Accord Party.

Former Ekiti State Governor and ex-Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Kayode Fayemi, has accused African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar of using his fuel subsidy promise as a political strategy ahead of the 2027 election.

Fayemi made the claim during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, where he compared Atiku’s subsidy proposal to the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket strategy in the 2023 election.

According to him, the promise to restore subsidy was designed to appeal to Nigerians who have been affected by rising fuel prices and the cost-of-living crisis rather than being based on an economic framework.

‘My take on that is that Atiku’s proposal of subsidy is politically equivalent to our own Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2023. It’s a political strategy. It’s not an economic construct,’ Fayemi said.

However, Fayemi admitted that the proposal could gain support among Nigerians struggling with the impact of subsidy removal, noting that many citizens are more concerned about survival than the technical arguments surrounding subsidy policy.

He said vulnerable Nigerians are focused on issues such as the cost of food, transportation, education and healthcare.

Fayemi maintained his support for fuel subsidy removal, saying he had advocated for the policy for years, including during his time as chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.

‘I was and I remain an advocate of fuel subsidy removal. As chairman of the governors’ forum, I spent four years in this battle,’ he said.

The former governor also said President Bola Tinubu inherited groundwork on subsidy removal from the previous administration but criticised the manner in which the policy was implemented.

According to Fayemi, state governors had earlier worked with the Federal Government and the World Bank on a safety-net strategy aimed at protecting vulnerable Nigerians from the effects of subsidy removal.

He argued that Atiku was capitalising on the hardship Nigerians are currently facing.

‘I believe that’s what Vice President Atiku is taking advantage of. The vulnerable segment of the population is still hard done by,’ Fayemi said.

Fayemi added that poverty and inequality remain major drivers of insecurity, saying political leaders must focus on policies that improve the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians.

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has announced that, beginning next week, persons found buying goods from traders operating illegally on roads, medians, setbacks, walkways and other unauthorised public spaces will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with section 151 subsection 2 of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed this at the Authority’s headquarters on Tuesday.

He said the measure formed part of a renewed enforcement strategy to curb illegal trading, indiscriminate waste disposal and the obstruction of public infrastructure across Lagos State.

Gbadegesin explained that enforcement would no longer focus only on illegal traders as people who sustain such activities by purchasing goods from them would also be held accountable under the relevant provisions of the Law.

‘The law does not only prohibit illegal street trading. It also makes it an offence to buy goods exposed or offered for sale in prohibited places. From next week, anyone found buying from traders operating on roadsides, medians, walkways, setbacks or other unauthorised spaces will be arrested, alongside the traders, and prosecuted in accordance with the law,’ he said.

He added that a person convicted of the offence could be liable to a fine of N90,000, imprisonment for six months, or both.

Gbadegesin said that illegal roadside and median markets frequently generate waste that is dumped in drains, on roads and in other public spaces, thereby obstructing drainage channels, worsening traffic conditions and creating risks to public health.

‘Our objective is to stop the cycle that allows illegal trading and indiscriminate waste disposal to return after enforcement operations. Traders occupy public spaces because people continue to patronise them. Buyers must understand that their actions sustain the problem and that they are also accountable under the law,’ he said.

The LAWMA boss noted that the Authority was simultaneously strengthening waste collection in inner streets and communities surrounding previously cleared dumping hotspots. He stressed that identified service gaps would be addressed, while deliberate dumping, redumping and patronage of illegal markets would attract enforcement.

He urged residents and businesses to patronise recognised markets and use approved waste collection channels, noting that personal convenience must not come at the expense of public health, environmental sanitation, road safety and the orderly use of the city’s shared spaces.

Gbadegesin reaffirmed LAWMA’s commitment to sustained enforcement, stakeholder engagement and improved waste collection services as part of the drive to eliminate open dumping and achieve a cleaner Lagos.

Thousands of Nigerians seeking routine United States visa services will now have to process their applications through Lagos after the US Embassy in Abuja stopped handling routine visa applications.

The change, which took effect on August 1, 2026, means that routine visa services are now available only at the US Consulate General in Lagos.

The US Embassy, in a fresh advisory, said applicants who already had appointments scheduled in Abuja would still be attended to, although some appointments could be moved to new dates.

Applicants affected by the adjustment have been advised to check their emails for updated appointment information.

The embassy stated that those with valid and unused Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee receipts can use them to schedule new appointments at the Lagos consulate.

The advisory read: ‘Routine visa services are only available at Consulate General Lagos. Effective August 1, 2026, U.S. Embassy Abuja no longer processes routine visa applications.’

The development means Nigerians outside Lagos who previously relied on the Abuja embassy for routine visa interviews may now have to make additional travel arrangements to complete their applications.

However, the embassy clarified that existing appointments would be honoured, although some applicants may receive revised appointment dates.

The move affects routine visa categories, while applicants have been directed to consult the official US visa appointment platform for updated information on services, locations and operating hours.

The US Consulate General in Lagos now becomes the primary centre for routine US visa processing in Nigeria.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Osun Sector Command, has sought collaboration with traditional rulers and community leaders in the state to reduce road accidents.

The Sector Commander, Mr Sunday Adebayo, stated this during his visit to the Olufi of Gbonganland, Oba Adetoyese Oyeniyi, on Monday in Gbongan.

Adebayo, who was accompanied by the Gbongan Unit Commander, Dr Jude Odinfono, said traditional rulers have a significant role to play in influencing public behaviour and promoting safety within their communities.

He said that 220 road traffic accidents were recorded in the state last year involving 300 vehicles, with 60 persons killed and several others injured.

The FRSC commander attributed many of the accidents to dangerous driving, speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, distracted driving, route violation and overloading.

‘We are appealing to traditional chiefs and members of the Olufi-in-Council to use their influence to discourage dangerous driving practices and promote a culture of safety among road users.

‘We are equally advising passengers to speak up when drivers conveying them drive recklessly, speeding excessively or suspected to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

‘Passengers should insist that such drivers discontinue the journey and promptly report the matter to the nearest FRSC patrol team or the police for appropriate intervention,’ Adebayo said.

He reiterated the corps’ warning that ‘speeding thrills but kills faster,’ while urging motorists to prioritise safety over speed and convenience.

Adebayo, however, said collective responsibility and community-based intervention were critical to reducing road traffic crashes and saving lives on the roads.

In his response, Oba Adetoyese Oyeniyi, the Olufi of Gbongan, acknowledged the importance of the corps’ road safety mandate, pledging the institution’s support towards promoting road safety and protecting lives within Gbonganland and its environs.

Oyeniyi, represented by the Balogun of Gbonganland, Chief Quasim Onikepe, noted that the visit would further provide opportunity to strengthen the relationship between the corps and traditional institution.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a mini library was inaugurated by the sector command for officers in Gbongan Unit Command, an initiative of Dr Jude Odinfono, Gbongan Unit Commander.

The Federal Ministry of Works has begun moves to restore the Benin-Asaba Highway and ease the hardship faced by motorists on the 125-kilometre road linking Edo and Delta states.

The Federal Controller of Works in Edo State, Engr. Babatunde Tajudeen, disclosed this at a press briefing in Benin City on Monday, September 7, 2026.

Tajudeen said the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, had directed that urgent measures be taken to address the deteriorating condition of the highway.

The road, which stretches from the Ring Road Roundabout in Benin City to Summit Junction in Asaba, connects the South-South, South-East and parts of the South-West, making it a major route for passengers, freight and commercial activities.

The project is being executed under Phase I of the Highway Development and Management Initiative, a public-private partnership scheme designed to attract private investment into federal road infrastructure.

The Federal Executive Council approved the concession of the Benin-Asaba Expressway to Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company Limited (BAECC) on January 16, 2023. The 25-year concession operates under a Design, Finance, Build, Operate and Transfer model, with the agreement signed on May 23, 2023.

Tajudeen said the project had suffered major setbacks, leading to a worsening of the highway’s condition in recent months.

The situation culminated in protests by residents on August 16 over the poor state of the road and the slow pace of work.

Umahi and Edo State Governor, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, subsequently inspected the highway on August 25 to assess the situation.

During the inspection, the minister accused BAECC of gross default, alleging that the company had scarified sections of stable asphalt without promptly reconstructing them, engaged unqualified personnel, lacked the capacity to execute the project effectively and carried out substandard work.

He also blamed the company for poor traffic management, which he said contributed to severe gridlocks in December 2025 and from August 19, 2026.

According to Tajudeen, the removal of asphalt without prompt reconstruction exposed the road base to rainfall and further deterioration. He added that some sections might now require continuous reinforced concrete pavement instead of the planned asphalt overlay.

He clarified that the concession had not been terminated because of the legal processes involved but said Umahi had proposed a mutual termination and called for another competent federal works contractor to intervene.

BAECC was also directed to restore the scarified sections to the condition they were in before work commenced about 16 months ago.

‘Two weeks after the Minister’s engagement, no meaningful intervention has been recorded,’ Tajudeen said.

He added that the ministry was intensifying efforts to bring in an alternative contractor within its legal powers to resume work immediately.

Tajudeen appealed to motorists, residents and transport operators to remain patient, stressing the strategic importance of the highway.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for his infrastructure drive and praised Umahi for personally monitoring federal road projects, including several visits to Edo State in the past six months.

‘The Benin-Asaba Highway will not be left in its present state. The Federal Ministry of Works is committed to a lasting solution and restoring the road to a safe, motorable condition,’ he assured.

He urged road users to remain calm as the processes for engaging a credible intervention contractor are finalised.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Tuesday affirmed the conviction and sentence of a former Managing Director of Nigeria Export Import Bank, NEXIM, Robert Orya to 490 years’ imprisonment for fraud.

Justice F.E. Messiri of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Abuja had on Thursday, February 5, 2026, convicted and sentenced Orya to 490 years’ imprisonment.

This was after the court convicted Orya on the 49-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud to the tune of N2.4 billion filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Justice Messiri has affirmed that the prosecution proved its case beyond every reasonable doubt and found the former boss of NEXIM bank guilty as charged on all the 49 counts and sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment on each, totaling 490 years.

The sentences, however, are to run concurrently.

But Orya, who was first arraigned by the EFCC in 2021 appealed the judgment.

However, in a unanimous judgment delivered on Tuesday, a three-man panel of Court of Appeal affirmed the lower court’s judgement.

Leading two other Justices, Ntong Festus Ntong and Ele Ejo Enenche, Justice Muhammed Danjuma stated that, ‘I have considered all briefs filed by counsel and have gone through the record of the trial court and adopted it and the issues as formulated by this appellate court in resolving this appeal. I looked at each and every issue and in my final analysis, all the issues formulated for the determination of this appeal are resolved in favor of the respondent and against the appellant. This appeal is devoid of any merit and is hereby dismissed. The judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory delivered on February 5, 2026, in charge number FSC/SC/CS/487/2021 is hereby affirmed.’

Orya served as the Managing Director of NEXIM Bank between 2009 and 2016.

He was appointed to the position on August 14, 2009, by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and reappointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on August 18, 2014.

A Nigerian artificial intelligence, GenScan AI, developed by Mary-Brenda Akoda has won the $100,000 2026 Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation (NPSI).

Dr Sophia Horsfall, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, announced this at the prize conference in Lagos on Tuesday.

Horsfall said the innovation, GenScan AI, is capable of cutting MRI scan time by up to 90 per cent, hence improving scanner utilisation, reduce patient waiting times and expand MRI access without new hardware.

She said GenScan AI was developed by Akoda and emerged winner from a record 237 entries submitted for the competition.

The innovation uses C-MORE, an artificial intelligence algorithm designed to reconstruct MRI images through a one-step consistency-model framework.

Horsfall said the technology demonstrated how artificial intelligence could tackle practical healthcare challenges while improving existing medical infrastructure.

She said the return of a winner after the 2025 competition produced a ‘no winner’ verdict demonstrated the Prize’s uncompromising standards.

‘If an entry is declared worthy of the Prize today, we can be confident that it has earned that distinction,’ Horsfall said.

She said the 237 entries represented the highest number received since the Prize began, reflecting growing interest in Nigerian science and innovation.

According to her, the Panel of Judges, chaired by Dr Omobola Johnson, independently assessed the entries before the Advisory Board endorsed its recommendation.

Horsfall said the evaluation considered scientific innovation, technical soundness, developmental impact and the potential for commercial scalability.

Prof. Barth Nnaji, Chairman of the NPSI Advisory Board, said GenScan AI stood out by combining advanced artificial intelligence with practical healthcare applications.

Nnaji said the assessment focused not only on scientific novelty, but also measurable impact and prospects for real-world application.

He said GenScan AI could improve medical imaging by making MRI examinations faster, enabling hospitals to serve more patients using existing equipment.

‘The development is particularly significant for healthcare systems where MRI machines are limited, expensive to operate and often associated with long patient waiting times,’ he said.

Nnaji said C-MORE was designed to reconstruct MRI images while maintaining or improving image quality despite substantially reducing acquisition time.

He said Akoda’s innovation emerged after judges compared it with two other shortlisted submissions during the 2026 adjudication process.

Nnaji said Akoda was the first millennial and woman to win the Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation as an individual recipient.

He added that her victory represented the 12th occasion a winning work had been recognised during the Prize’s 22-year history.

Akoda will receive the 100,000-dollar prize at the Grand Award Night scheduled for Oct. 9, in recognition of the innovation.

Akoda is a first-class Computer Science graduate of Goldsmiths University of London, with a Master of Research in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.

She obtained the master’s degree with Distinction from Imperial College London as a Google DeepMind Scholar.

Akoda previously worked as a software engineer and AI research scientist at Microsoft.

The 2026 competition retained the theme, ‘Innovations in Artificial Intelligence, ICT and Digital Technologies for Development.’

The Prize is one of NLNG’s flagship initiatives supporting scientific excellence, research and innovation.

The 2026 competition attracted the highest number of entries since inception, following the ‘no winner’ outcome recorded in 2025.

The South-East Zone of the Kwankwaso National Network (KNN) has criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government over what it described as inadequate infrastructure and unequal treatment of the region.

The zonal coordinator, Dr Ukpai Iro Ukpai, raised the concerns in a statement issued on Friday in Umuahia, saying the South-East had continued to lag behind other parts of the country in the provision of critical federal infrastructure.

Ukpai said the absence of functional rail services was particularly troubling, noting that railway infrastructure had received significant attention in other parts of Nigeria while the South-East continued to await comparable modern facilities.

He said the prolonged absence of an effective rail network had affected the movement of people and goods, put additional pressure on major highways and denied businesses in the region the benefits of cheaper and more efficient transportation.

The KNN coordinator also drew attention to the condition of federal roads connecting major commercial centres across the zone, saying their state had continued to cause difficulties for residents, transport operators and businesses.

He argued that the South-East’s importance to Nigeria’s economy, particularly in commerce, manufacturing and trade, warranted a stronger federal commitment to infrastructure development.

According to him, the region needs modern rail connections between its major cities and industrial centres, better federal roads and improved infrastructure to facilitate trade and economic integration.

‘The South-East cannot continue to be treated as an afterthought in the scheme of things,’ the statement said.

‘It is difficult to understand why a region renowned for enterprise and commerce should continue to struggle without the level of modern transportation infrastructure required to unlock its full economic potential.’

KNN also criticised what it called insufficient development of strategic economic gateways in the region. It said better connections to seaports and other trade facilities would help businesses while lowering the cost of transporting goods.

The group further accused the APC administration of failing to give the South-East what it considered an equitable share of federal development since the party came to power.

It said the perceived imbalance had fuelled a growing sense of exclusion among residents of the region.

‘The people of the South-East are Nigerians with equal rights and responsibilities. They deserve equitable treatment, inclusion and a fair share of national development,’ KNN said.

The organisation also called on political leaders from the South-East to be more vocal in demanding development for the region instead of concentrating primarily on political appointments and patronage.

It said effective political representation should be measured by the ability of elected and appointed officials to attract development, defend the interests of their constituents and ensure that every part of the country receives fair treatment.

KNN said an Obi-Kwankwaso administration would pursue what it described as a more inclusive Nigeria, with development decisions not influenced by ethnicity, religion or political affiliation.

‘Under an Obi-Kwankwaso presidency, no region will be treated as a conquered territory, and no Nigerian will be made to feel like a second-class citizen,’ the group said.

It added that the proposed administration would prioritise equity, productive investment and infrastructure capable of linking the various regions of the country.

The group urged voters in the South-East to assess political parties based on measurable commitments to rail development, road infrastructure, industrial growth and other economic priorities ahead of the 2027 elections.

‘It is shameful that the APC is still returning to seek support from a region that has continued to cry out over the absence of functional modern rail services and other critical infrastructure needed to drive its economy,’ the statement said.

KNN reiterated its ambition to mobilise at least five million votes for Obi-Kwankwaso in the South-East.

It said the 2027 election should be used by Nigerians to scrutinise the records and promises of political parties and demand a government committed to equitable development across the geopolitical zones.

‘The South-East will not ask for charity. What the people demand is equity, justice and their rightful place in the Nigerian project,’ the group declared.

The campaign organisation of Hon. Abayomi Semako Hunye has condemned the removal and demolition of its campaign banners in Ijebu-Ode and Abeokuta by officials of the Ogun State Signage and Advertising Agency (OGSAA).

The campaign organisation, in a statement, said the banners were removed on Monday, September 7, 2026, on the instructions of the Ogun State Government.

One of the affected banners, according to the campaign, was located along Folagbade Road, Ijebu-Ode, opposite Our Saviour Cathedral, and carried the inscription: ‘Hon. Abayomi Hunye Is Still in the Race.’

The campaign organisation said similar materials were also removed in Abeokuta.

It alleged that the affected banners prominently featured the images of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Hunye, who is seeking the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The campaign said the banners were primarily intended to inform residents that the contest for the APC governorship ticket remained subject to ongoing legal proceedings.

‘The core purpose of these specific banners is to inform the good people of Ogun State that the battle for the governorship candidate by APC is still active and ongoing in court,’ the campaign said.

It argued that, as an aspirant and stakeholder in the democratic process, Hunye had a responsibility to keep members of the public informed about developments concerning his political mandate.

The campaign described the removal of the banners as an attempt to suppress information about the ongoing court proceedings.

It said it understood that officials of OGSAA carried out the exercise under the direction of the agency’s General Manager, Hon. Fola Onifade, allegedly acting on instructions from the state government.

While acknowledging the government’s authority to regulate outdoor advertising and signage, the campaign organisation demanded that such powers be exercised transparently and without political discrimination.

‘Our concern is therefore not simply about the removal of campaign materials, but about the circumstances, timing, and apparent selectivity of an action aimed at blocking civic enlightenment,’ it said.

The campaign challenged the state government to disclose the specific signage regulations allegedly violated by the banners.

It also asked whether the campaign organisation had received prior notice of any alleged violation or had been given an opportunity to rectify the situation before the materials were removed.

The campaign further questioned whether the exercise was a routine enforcement action or, as it alleged, a politically motivated attempt to restrict communication concerning the ongoing court process.

It expressed concern over what it described as the perception that the state’s signage regulatory machinery could be used to favour one political interest over another.

The organisation called on Governor Dapo Abiodun to investigate the circumstances surrounding the removal of the banners and ensure that signage regulations were applied equally to all political aspirants, parties and campaign organisations.

It specifically demanded clarification on the legal basis for the demolition, whether the required permits and approvals were obtained, whether any notice of violation was issued and why the affected locations were targeted.

The campaign also asked the authorities to disclose whether similar enforcement actions had been taken against campaign materials belonging to other political interests across Ogun State.

According to the organisation, equal enforcement of regulations is essential to preserving public confidence in the democratic process.

‘Democracy cannot thrive where regulatory institutions are perceived as instruments of political intimidation, nor where the electorate is denied the right to be informed about legitimate legal proceedings,’ the statement said.

Hunye’s campaign maintained that the removal of the banners would not affect his political aspirations or his decision to pursue the matter through lawful channels.

‘Hon. Abayomi Semako Hunye remains committed to pursuing his political aspirations through peaceful, constitutional, and lawful means,’ it said.

The campaign also urged Hunye’s supporters to remain calm and law-abiding, assuring them that it would continue to engage residents and pursue what it described as its democratic rights through legitimate avenues.

‘We will not be intimidated. We will not be silenced. And we will continue to believe in the power of democracy and the rule of law,’ the campaign organisation said.