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The Lagos State chapter of the Omoluabi Progressives, a coalition of young politicians in the Southwest, has called for a more active and inclusive democratic system to ensure that the voices of people at the grassroots are better represented in governance.

Speaking at a meeting held in Lagos, the group, under the leadership of its state chairman, Rilwan Usman, stressed that true democracy can only thrive when ordinary citizens are carried along in decision-making processes.

Usman noted that the current political climate requires a deliberate effort to bridge the gap between leaders and the electorate, adding that the Omoluabi Progressives was committed to building a platform where young leaders can champion accountability, transparency, and grassroots development.

‘Our mission is to ensure that the people at the grassroots are not sidelined but remain the bedrock of democratic participation. As young progressives, we believe in a system where every voice counts and where governance reflects the aspirations of the people,’ he said. The group resolved to intensify grassroots mobilization across local communities in Lagos, while also advocating youth involvement in leadership and policy development.

According to Usman, the Omoluabi Progressives’ intends to set a new standard of political engagement in Lagos State, one that prioritizes community needs and sustainable development over personal interests.

The meeting ended with a renewed pledge by members to work together in strengthening democratic ideals and preparing young leaders for more active roles in the political process.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Anti-Corruption Committee has thrown its weight behind the move by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to probe the controversial property dispute in the United Kingdom involving prominent Nigerian lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, PM News has gathered.

The matter, which came before Judge Ewan Paton of the First-Tier Tribunal, Property Chamber, Land Registration, under Case Number REF/2023/0155, was between one Tali Shani (Applicant) and Chief Ozekhome (Respondent) over ownership of 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX. In a statement signed by its chairman, Prof. Babafemi A. Badejo, the NBA Anti-Corruption Committee said the case has raised several questions about the authenticity of documents, the role of Nigerian lawyers, and possible involvement of civil servants in fraudulent practices.

According to the Committee, issues such as the alleged procurement of fake National Identification Numbers (NIN), fraudulent use of MTN phone numbers, fake ECOWAS passports, and attempts to create fictitious identities to advance the case, must be fully investigated. The Committee also noted that Judge Paton had linked the controversial London property to the late Lt. General Jeremiah Useni, suggesting it was acquired under questionable circumstances similar to the £1.9 million case decided against him at the Royal Court of Jersey in 2022.

It urged the AGF to ensure Nigeria asserts its interest in the property with a view to possible restitution. Expressing concern over past cases that were abandoned once media attention faded, the Committee stressed the need for transparency and accountability this time.

Furthermore, it recommended that Dr. George Ekpungu, Esq., Alternate Chairman of the NBA Anti-Corruption Committee, and Mr. Bayo Akinlade, Esq., Chairman of the Ikorodu Branch Anti-Corruption Committee, be included in the investigative process.

The statement was copied to NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, as well as other national officers of the Association.

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, fixed Nov. 6 to hear a suit filed against Sen. Iyabo Obasanjo and others by ABB Electrical Systems Limited and Amb. Yohana Margif over dispute on a landed property.

Other defendants alongside Obasanjo in the suit over the property located at Plot 4254, Cadastral Zone A04, measuring approximately 1.67Ha in Asokoro District, FCT, Abuja are the former Senator representing the FCT, Philip Aduda; Ismail Iron; John Mbata; Jamaila Sani Alhassan; Altine Jibrin, and unknown persons as 2nd to 7th defendants respectfully.

Justice Mohammed Umar fixed the date on Thursday after counsel for the plaintiffs, Abniyilo Na’allah, sought an adjournment following inability to serve the defendants in the suit.

Upon resumed hearing, only Na’allah was in court and no lawyer appeared for the defence.

Na’allah then informed the court that they were yet to do the need in the matter and he sought an adjournment to put their house in order.

Justice Umar adjourned the matter until Nov. 6 for hearing.

Th case is formerly before Justice Inyang Ekwo.

Justice Ekwo had, on Jan. 28, refused to grant the the ex-parte motion filed by the plaintiffs after it was moved by Na’allah.

The applicants had sought an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants/respondents from entering, trespassing, altering or modifying the property known as Plot 4254, Cadastral Zone A04, measuring approximately 1.67Ha, Asokoro, Asokoro District FCT-Abuja belonging to the plaintiffs pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

The judge, instead, directed the plaintiffs to put the defendants on notice in order to hear from them why the prayer should not be granted.

The plaintiffs had filed the motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/67/2025 dated Jan. 13 but filed Jan. 17 by Na’allah.

In their six-ground argument, the applicants said they were agitated with the fear of the defendants trespassing, altering the property belonging to them.

They said they were the rightful owners of the land by virtue of the statutory Right of Occupancy granted to them.

‘That the plaintiffs/applicants have been in quiet and peaceful possession of the land without any challenge from the defendants/respondents or anyone at all.

‘It will occasion serious miscarriage of justice against the plaintiffs/applicants if the defendants/respondents are allowed to tamper with, enter, trespass, alter or modify the property belonging to the plaintiffs.

‘Allowing the defendants/respondents to tamper with, enter, trespass, alter or modify the property belonging to the plaintiffs will destroy the res and render the judgment of this court nugatory,’ they said.

The applicants said irreparable damage would be caused to them if the defendants were not restrained.

Margif, in the affidavit he deposed to, said the company (1st plaintiff) was allocated the parcel of land by the Federal Capital Development Adminstration (FCDA) covered by a Statutory Right of Occupancy with new issued date of May 23, 2006.

He said the company intended to start developing the said land in compliance with terms contained on the statutory Right of Occupancy and other guiding rules and laws within the FCT.

He alleged that the recent activities of the defendants, including Sen. Obasanjo, who represented Ogun Central Senatorial District between 2007 and 2011, had become worrisome.

Margif prayed the court to grant their application in the interest of justice.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says its operatives have arrested 92 fraud suspects in Benin City, the Edo State Capital.

The anti-graft agency said this in a social media post.

The post said, ‘Operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested 92 suspected internet fraudsters in Edo State.

‘They were arrested in a sting operation on Monday, September 29, 2025 at various locations within Benin City, Edo State.

‘Their arrest was based on credible intelligence about their suspected involvement in computer related crimes. All the lawful procedures of arrest were followed in the course of the arrest

‘Upon their arrest, 11 vehicles and mobile devices were recovered from them.

‘Preliminary investigations by the Commission linked the suspects with various forms of internet-related fraud. They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.’

Two councillors, representing Gidan Gona and Tsibiri wards in Maradun local government areas of Zamfara and an Imam have been abducted by yet to be identified gunmen, the police have confirmed.

The two Councillors and an Imam were abducted in Tsauni community, Gusau, the state capital on Wednesday night, spokesperson for Zamfara Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar confirmed to journalists through the telephone .

Abubakar said the victims were abducted in front of their houses in Tsauni area at about 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening, shortly after prayers.

Tsauni community is located behind the Federal Road Safety, Zamfara Sector command headquarters in Gusau.

The community had hosted internally Displaced persons affected by armed banditry from different communities.

Abubakar, however, said the command had deployed its men to the area and efforts are ongoing to rescue the three victims. The PPRO urged the residents to assist the police with relevant information in good time to curtail such incidents.

Meanwhile, the chairman of Maradun local government, Sanusi Gamagiwa corroborated the PPRO’s information via telephone.

He said the suspected bandits had initially abducted six persons.

‘They later released three persons and left with the two councillors and the Imam of the area.

‘So far, they have yet to contact anyone of us to know their demands,’ the chairman said.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Kano state government and other global health Partners, have launched an integrated vaccination campaign, targeting over 7.8 million children with vaccination for measles-Rubella and polio.

This was revealed during a Media Dialogue held in Kano. The vaccination exercise slated to hold between October 6 and 16, 2025 is designed to be the largest of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa.

The targeted 7.8 million children to be vaccinated against measles-Rubella are within the age brackets of 9-14 years.

However, about 3.9 million under-five age children are to be vaccinated against polio.

The routine immunizations will also include hepatitis and HPV vaccines, as well as treatments for neglected tropical diseases such as onchocerciasis. Speaking at a media dialogue in Kano, Dr. Ahmed Tijjani, Director of Disease Control and Immunisation at the Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board, described the campaign as ‘a comprehensive health package designed to protect children and communities from life-threatening diseases.

Representing the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Maryam H. Umar called on journalists to play a pivotal role in public sensitization: She said: ‘Our message is clear-we depend on you, the media, to share accurate information on the benefits of vaccination and to guide parents and caregivers on where to access these free, safe, and effective vaccines.’

Rahama Rihood M. Farah, Chief of UNICEF Field Office, said the objective of the Media Dialogue was for the partners to share information with participants on the upcoming integrated Measles-Rubella Polio Vaccination Campaign.

He said: ‘Our gathering here today highlights the crucial role the media plays in our collaboration to ensure the well-being of children. It is important to highlight that the upcoming integrated campaign is planned and implemented collaboratively by partners including, the Federal Ministry of Health; the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency; WHO; Gavi; the Gates Foundation, Civil Society Organization, UNICEF and the Kano State Government.

‘Nigeria has planned to implement Measles-Rubella (MR) campaign integrated with Polio in all 36 states in two phases starting from 6th October 2025 till 16th February 2026.

‘Kano State falls under Phase One of the Campaign which will be implemented in 21 states in two streams. The phase 1, stream 1, holds from 6th October to 17th October 2025.’

According to him: ‘This year, between August and September, Kano State implemented two In- between Round Activities (IBRA) targeting 354,173 children under five years of age in 3,223 settlements from 125 wards across 44 LGAs achieving 82% and 98% coverage respectively by E Tally data.’

Farah further stated that the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency with the support of UNICEF has allocated 3,347 teams, provided 4.6 million doses of Novel Oral Polio Vaccines (nOPV2) and 4.5 million doses of (bOPV) targeting 3.9 million children under five years age in the state for the October polio vaccination campaign.

‘A total of 7.8 million children from 9 months to 14 years of age will be vaccinated with Measles-Rubella vaccines in Kano state. The campaign will be implemented using a fixed, temporary post and sweep teams strategy.

Each Measles-Rubella team comprises 11 team members having two members in every sweep team for polio vaccination,’ he added.

The campaign, backed by the National Primary Health Care Management Agency , WHO, Gavi, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, civil society organizations, and the Kano State Government, has been equipped with 4.6 million doses of the novel oral polio vaccine (nOPV2) and 4.5 million doses of the bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV).

Our Correspondent reports that the Kano campaign is part of a broader national plan to immunize 106 million children across Nigeria in two phases, with Kano leading the first phase.

Lagos State Government has begun the demolition of illegal buildings in Ebute Metta to solve problems associated with poor drainage.

The exercise which commenced on Thursday, was announced by the Lagos state Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab.

Wahab on his X handle, revealed that the illegal structures that were demolished were one of the major reasons behind flooding in the area. ‘Our enforcement team has removed illegal structures erected along the Jebba/Kano collector, Ebute Metta. These encroachments hinder the free passage of stormwater and are a major factor behind flooding in this area,’ Wahab stated.

Wahab also urged residents not to block drainages with waste or extensions that could affect the drainage system.

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has made it clear that it will not remove Israel from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, despite pressure from some football leaders and fans, PM News has learnt.

The president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, said on Thursday that the world football body cannot fix political or geographical conflicts. Instead, FIFA’s main role is to encourage peace, unity, and the growth of football worldwide. Infantino explained this after a meeting of FIFA’s ruling council, where the situation with Israel was not on the official agenda.

This comes as calls have grown stronger in recent months for Israeli teams to be suspended, following the two-year conflict in Gaza.

However, those demands slowed down earlier this week after U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented a peace proposal at the White House. ‘FIFA cannot solve geopolitical problems,’ Infantino said. ‘But it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying, educational, cultural, and humanitarian values.’

Israel is preparing to play its next World Cup qualifying matches in Europe. They will face Norway in Oslo on October 11 and then play against Italy in Udine on October 14.

This decision has drawn mixed reactions from football fans and officials.

Some argue that sports should remain separate from politics, while others believe FIFA should take stronger action against countries involved in conflicts.

For now, FIFA is standing firm on its position that football should continue as a tool for bringing people together, even in times of international crisis.