Category: PM News

Two principals of Ilugun High School in Elega, Abeokuta, Ogun State identified as Mrs Olukoga Alaba and Mrs. Olabisi Ladipo have been suspended by the state government indefinitely following death of a student linked to the school.

The Commissioner for Education Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu disclosed this on Tuesday at a press conference in Abeokuta.

Arigbabu spoke while reacting to a viral video, where students were seen vandalising school properties.

The Commissioner explained that the principals representing the junior and senior schools respectively were suspended due to their involvement in the incident.

According to him, the principal of the junior school was reportedly involved in the collection of illegal fees, which led to a protest by the students.

‘In the ensuing protest, security agents were invited to calm nerves, which subsequently led to a melee.

‘We have all become aware of the unfortunate incident that took place at Ilugun High School (Junior), Elega. I stand before you this evening to confirm that, sadly, the incident did happen in the school.

‘First, let me on behalf of the state government express our deepest condolences to the parents and family of the deceased. We feel their pain and our prayers are with them at this difficult time.

‘However, our preliminary investigations have revealed a very disturbing twist; the young man who lost his life could not be confirmed as a bona fide student of the school.

‘He was identified by three different names, Babalola Ayomide, Salako Jimoh, and Afolabi Babalola.

‘Yet, none of these names appear in our official state education database, the OGSERA platform, which authenticates all school enrolments. This points to the likelihood of an illegal enrolment,’ he said.

According to the commissioner, an investigation confirmed that the principal of Ilugun Junior High school was involved in collecting illegal fees from students.

In response to the findings, the government has decided to suspend both the junior and senior principals of Ilugun High School.

He added that a thorough investigation would be conducted to get the immediate and remote causes of the unfortunate incident.

He disclosed that to stay informed about school activities, the government, through the Teaching Service Commission, has established a Whistleblower scheme to report illegalities, wrongdoings, and other misconduct.

He assured that the state government remains dedicated to ensuring free education for all school-age children, regardless of their location, gender, economic status, religion, or political affiliation.

The Lagos State Government has announced a comprehensive traffic diversion plan ahead of the Electric Powerboat Racing Championship, Africa’s first-ever E1 Series event, scheduled to take place on the Lagos Inland Waterways, Victoria Island Lagoon, from Saturday, 4th to Sunday, 5th October 2025.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the diversions were necessary to ensure smooth traffic flow and the successful hosting of the international event.

‘There will be a total road closure at 1st Lekki Junction inward Ozumba Mbadiwe. In view of this, motorists are advised to make use of alternative routes that have been carefully mapped out to minimise disruptions,’ Osiyemi explained.

According to the government’s plan, motorists from Ajah heading towards Lekki are expected to make a U-turn at the Lekki 1st Junction by the pedestrian bridge, before linking Yesufu Abiodun Street to Maroko Police Station, City of David, Ligali Ayorinde, Ajose Adeogun, Eko Hotel Roundabout, and onward to Ahmadu Bello Way.

Other alternatives include using Ogonbo Road through Abraham Adesanya to connect Okun Ajah and the Coastal Road, while motorists from Lekki heading to Ikoyi or the Mainland can use Admiralty Way to access the Lekki Link Bridge. Those going towards CMS can connect Yesufu Abiodun, Oniru Road, Aboyade Cole, and Ligali Ayorinde.

Osiyemi assured Lagosians that ample parking has been provided at Fidelity Bank, Access Bank, and the Law School premises on Victoria Island.

‘We have also deployed LASTMA officials strategically along all routes to manage traffic and guide motorists. The coastal road will remain open to traffic throughout the two-day event,’ he added.

The Commissioner appealed for patience, describing the diversion as part of the traffic management strategy for the historic championship.

‘We urge motorists to cooperate fully with traffic officials. This event places Lagos on the global stage, and together we can ensure its success,’ he said.

The E1 Electric Powerboat Racing Championship is expected to attract participants, tourists, and international spectators, marking a milestone for Lagos as Africa’s first host city for the groundbreaking sporting event.

In a bid to prevent diseases among the children in Lagos State, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has emphasized the importance of immunization, urging parents to vaccinate their children and wards for a healthier future and a disease-free society.

The Deputy Governor, who made this charge today at an ‘Inaugural meeting of the Lagos State Taskforce on Immunization and Primary Health Care Services’, held at the Conference Room, Office of the Deputy Governor, Roundhouse, Alausa, Ikeja, said vaccination remains one of the most effective means of protecting the children in the community.

According to Hamzat, ‘Vaccination remains one of the most effective and reliable means to protect children from life-threatening illnesses, ensuring their growth and development in good health.’

He added that immunization is a collective responsibility that will not only secure the well-being of individual families but also contribute to building a healthier future and a disease-free society for Lagos State and Nigeria at large.

The Deputy Governor also charged religious leaders and traditional rulers to collaborate with the state government in sensitizing the people on the importance of vaccination and nutrition for their own children, noting that religious houses are always welcome to visit the government for clarification and enlightenment on the different policies put in place.

He noted thus: ‘Our royal fathers must also help us in the community to spread the good news that we have been able to sustain our health conditions because of vaccination.’ Using COVID-19 as an example, Hamzat said contagious diseases have been eradicated in society because of the immunization process carried out, and such can be extended to other illnesses.

While emphasizing the importance of the inaugural meeting, Hamzat pointed out that it was crucial to include all stakeholders, such as the State Executives, members of the Primary Health Care Board, Traditional Rulers, Local Government Chairmen, Religious leaders, and others, because of the need for everybody to have an understanding of the severity of the challenge.

Similarly, in his address, Chairman, House Committee on Health, Hon. Lawal Aina, charged the Local Government Chairmen in the state to encourage the people in their constituencies to ensure their children and wards embrace the immunization programme to ensure a disease-free environment.

‘I want to admonish us to intensify our efforts to do our best in encouraging our people to bring their children out for vaccination, as health education is a key responsibility of the chairmen in ensuring the good and well-being of the people,’ said Lawal.

In his opening remarks, Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, stated that the primary objective of primary healthcare is to increase the coverage for immunization within the state.

Prof. Abayomi added that human beings are living longer now because the world has advanced technologically to produce effective vaccines that eliminate both infections that cause immediate sickness and diseases that can lead to complications such as liver cirrhosis with hepatitis, cervical cancer with HPV, and malaria, which can cause significant depletion.

He noted that to improve the immunization uptake in Lagos, it is important that the state government work on the aspects that make access to the primary healthcare more attractive to citizens, urging traditional rulers, Local Government chairmen, and stakeholders to collaborate with the government to further boost the capacity of the primary healthcare.

‘So, we are working diligently on renovating our primary healthcare platform. We know that many of you want to provide infrastructure to the state, and at the moment, we are doing 47 PHCs. So, I will be appealing to you to tag into this medical infrastructure transformation,’ the Commissioner concluded

In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Primary HealthCare Board, Dr. Ibrahim Akinwunmi Mustapha, explained that the establishment of the Taskforce reflects the second ‘H’ in the THEMES + agenda of the State Government.

He said that it is a strong commitment to strengthening Primary Health Care (PHC) governance, driving accountability, and ensuring that no one is left behind in accessing life-saving vaccines and essential health services, adding that the Taskforce has been constituted to provide a high-level platform for coordination, oversight, and problem-solving in the delivery of immunization and other PHC services.

Victor Osimhen proved decisive for Galatasaray in a tense European night clash against Liverpool, opening the scoring from the penalty spot before enduring a frustrating evening marked by injury concerns and missed opportunities.

The Nigerian striker calmly converted in the 16th minute, sending Alisson Becker the wrong way after Dominik Szoboszlai’s rash challenge gifted Galatasaray a penalty. His confident finish lifted the Istanbul side and gave them a dream start against the six-time European champions.

Osimhen, however, soon faced difficulties. He went down injured in the 27th minute and required treatment, sparking worry among the home fans. Though he returned to action, he was clearly struggling, often limping and fighting through visible discomfort.

Despite his physical setback, Osimhen nearly doubled Galatasaray’s lead in the 54th minute, weaving past two Liverpool defenders before unleashing a fierce low drive, only for Alisson to deny him with a sharp save.

The game’s drama continued into the closing stages when Liverpool thought they had a lifeline. In the 88th minute, Wilfried Singo’s heavy challenge saw referee Clement Turpin award a penalty.

Galatasaray players furiously surrounded the official, and after a VAR review, the decision was overturned, sparking wild celebrations inside the stadium.

Osimhen’s early strike ultimately stood as the match’s defining moment, showcasing his resilience and clinical touch despite his injury struggles.

United States prosecutors have demanded that hip-hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs be locked away for at least 11 years, insisting that the fallen star’s decades-long abuse left victims ‘broken and beaten.’

The call came in a late-night filing on Monday, just days before his October 3 sentencing in New York. Prosecutors urged Judge Arun Subramanian to show ‘no leniency,’ rejecting Combs’ plea for a 14-month term.

Combs, 55, was convicted in July on two prostitution-related charges under the Mann Act but acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking counts that could have carried a life sentence.

‘The defendant’s conduct spanned 15 years, crossed borders, and involved dozens of participants,’ prosecutors wrote, citing testimony from ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and another woman referred to as Jane.

They are also pressing for a $500,000 fine, arguing that his wealth enabled his crimes.

Diddy, who claims to have sobered up in prison after 25 years of substance abuse, begged for mercy last week, with his 84-year-old mother pleading in her own letter that she wants to spend ‘the last few years of my life’ with her son.

His lawyers argue he has already paid the price with a ruined career and more than a year in one of America’s toughest jails, but prosecutors insist only a heavy sentence ‘can deter future abusers, no matter their wealth or fame.’

The Bad Boy Records founder will learn his fate on Friday.

A Nigerian national, Tochukwu Albert Nnebocha, 43, has been extradited from Poland to the United States to face charges of running an international fraud ring that swindled elderly Americans out of their life savings with a fake inheritance scheme.

Nnebocha made his first court appearance on Monday, September 29, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjolique Lett in Miami. He had been arrested in Poland back in April following an indictment filed in the Southern District of Florida, and has remained in custody ever since.

According to U.S. prosecutors, Nnebocha and his associates spent more than five years masterminding a transnational inheritance fraud. They allegedly mailed personalized letters to senior citizens across America, claiming to represent a Spanish bank and informing victims they were entitled to multimillion-dollar inheritances from long-deceased relatives in Spain.

The catch is, before touching the bogus fortune, victims were told to pay upfront ‘fees, taxes and clearance costs’ to prevent government questioning. Many unsuspecting seniors fell for the scam, sending their hard-earned money into what investigators described as a complex web of transfers. Former victims in the United States were even tricked into serving as middlemen to forward the funds overseas.

Court filings say that no victim ever received a dime of the promised inheritance.

Nnebocha is now facing conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, alongside substantive counts of both crimes. If convicted, he could be jailed for up to 20 years. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge under U.S. guidelines.

Two other Nigerians linked to the fraud have already been sentenced. Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, extradited from Portugal, and Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, extradited from the United Kingdom, both bagged 97 months in prison earlier this year.

The investigation was led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with help from the FBI, INTERPOL, Polish authorities and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.

The U.S. Justice Department stressed that the case forms part of its wider campaign to shield American seniors from foreign-based scams – including romance fraud, fake lottery winnings, tech support hoaxes, and ‘grandparent scams’ where criminals pose as desperate relatives in need of cash.

An Ebute-Meta Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on Tuesday, remanded 55-year-old National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) official, Samsideen Oladiti, also known as ‘Shameleon’ at Ikoyi Correctional Facility after he was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on assault and murder.

Oladiti who was accused of beating a tricyclist to death was docked before Magistrate A. O. Akinde.

The charges were read before the court, but his plea was not taken.

Rather, Akinde directed that the case file be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice. She adjourned the matter until Oct. 28.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, SP Anthony Iyeye, said the defendant committed the offences on 27 August at about 10 a.m. at Lewis Street, Lagos Island.

Iyeye alleged that Oladiti assaulted a tricyclist, Imam Ramon, causing injuries which later led to his death at the Lagos Island General Hospital, Marina.

He further told the court that, on 17 Sept. 17, the defendant also attacked a dispatch rider, Mr Omale Samuel, inflicting serious bodily harm.

Samuel was taken to hospital, where he remains on admission. The prosecutor said the defendant’s actions showed a pattern of violence against innocent citizens.

Iyeye said the offences contravened Section 223 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015, which prescribes the death penalty for murder upon conviction.

Investigations are continuing, while the court awaits the DPP’s legal advice on how to proceed.

Sen. Shuaib Salis has said President Bola Tinubu is set to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic broadband across the country, stressing that the development would cover all states, local governments and wards.

Salis who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security said the 90,000-kilometer fibre optic network will soon be launched nationwide to boost digital penetration.

The Senator spoke on Monday in Abeokuta during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Press Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun council.

At the program themed, ‘The Future of Journalism: Navigating AI and Objective Reporting,’ the senator predicted a revolution in Nigeria’s digital communication landscape.

‘This government under President Bola Tinubu is going to deploy 90,000 kilometers fibre optic broadband across the country.

‘Not just in some states, not just in some local governments; there is no ward that will not have fibre optic presence.

‘A number of studies have confirmed that any 10 per cent increase in your fibre penetration in the country will lead to a minimum of two per cent increase in your Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth.

‘So, just imagine if you deploy more technology; and it is very easy to fathom. Just imagine we have fibre optic in all our wards.

‘I just came back from the UN General Assembly with Minister of Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani where we went to preach this to investors to come and invest in Nigeria,’ he said.

According to the lawmaker, a significant challenge for professional journalists is the potential for AI to exacerbate quackery in the industry.

He emphasised the need to integrate technology into the curriculum for mass communication and journalism training.

‘The challenge for professional journalists is that AI also has the potential of increasing the incidence of quackery in the profession.

‘So, what do we need to do? Our curriculum for mass communication and journalism training institute must embed technology into the curriculum.

The Ogun State Head of Service, Mr Kehinde Onasanya, in his keynote address emphasised ethical dimension.

Onasanya noted that Nigeria lacks clear regulatory guidelines on disclosing AI-generated content, including images, audio, and video.

He urged the leadership of the union to publish a widely adopted code of practice to address AI.

In his speech, the Chairman of the council, Wale Olanrewaju noted that the council has recorded milestones progress and development in less than three years.

Olanrewaju stated that AI has changed the way news are gathered, processed and disseminated.

‘As a union, our responsibility is to prepare our members not just to adapt, but to lead in this new reality. We must ensure that technology enhances our credibility rather than diminish it,’ he said.

The event featured a panel discussion moderated by Prof . Dele Odunlami, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye.

The discussants included Mr Kunle Durosimi, President, Ogun Tech Community and Registrar, West Midlands Open University and Mr Lekan Adeeko, AI Enthusiast and Co-founder, Tedprime Hub.

They deliberated on the merits and demerits of using AI as journalists.

The speakers urged journalists to maintain professionalism when utilising AI in their work, highlighting its potential to foster national unity and cohesion.

The crisis afflicting the Ondo chapter of Nigeria’s main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP worsens on Tuesday with the resignation of its Director of Media and Publicity of Mr Leye Igbabo,

Igbabo dumped PDP barely 72 hours after the party elected Dupe Aisida as its Chairman in the state, alongside other executive members at a congress held in Akure, the state capital.

However, the former spokesperson cited ‘unfriendly and hostile environment’ in the state’s PDP secretariat for his action.

He also alleged utter deceit, huge compromise , gross indiscipline and lack of sincerity of purpose as reasons why he cannot continue to be the spokesperson of the party.

Igbabo stated all these in the resignation letter he addressed to the Ondo PDP secretariat of the party on Tuesday in Akure.

He alleged that the working environment has become ‘hostile’ to him, hence the need for him to resign.

‘It is disheartening to know that the secretariat has become hostile to me and this is affecting the effectiveness and efficiency of my duties as the Director of Media and Publicity.

‘I note with pains, utter deceit, huge compromise and gross indiscipline that there is no more sincerity of purpose and under such circumstances, I do not want to be labelled as an incompetent official.

‘My continuously staying in such an unproductive environment amounts to precious waste of my time and energy.

‘I, therefore, resign my appointment as the Director of Media and Publicity of PDP in Ondo State with immediate effect,’ he said.

Recall that many members of PDP Ondo had in the past few months defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

There have also been rumours that the party candidate in Ondo November 16 governorship election Agboola Ajayi is also getting set to join the APC.

Ajayi was not present at the congress of the party held last weekend, thus, further fueling the rumours of the impending defection.