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Obasa’s Return To House: Police deny any link to such development

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

*Says Meranda Security Details Withdrawn For Regular Audit Lagos Police Command

The Lagos State Police Command has denied involvement in the fired Lagos Speaker’s return to the Chambers, explaining that the withdrawal of the police personnel attached to Hon. Mojisola Meranda, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Moshood Jimoh disclosed this during a press briefing with journalists on Thursday at Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja.

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According to CP Jimoh “Periodic audit of police personnel attached to eminent personalities and group is a police statutory laid down procedure which is not limited to Lagos State Police Command alone, this is to ensure that the police personnel are accounted for including their firearms and other police crime fighting equipment in their possession.

“To further ensure that they are on their duty posts and the firearms and equipment under their custody is not misused. As we speak, other Police State Commands in the Country are carrying out similar audit of Police personnel hitch free and without any problem.

“The exercise will equally avail the Command the opportunity to discover where police personnel are posted without approval and or those that are on illegal duties and unapproved duty posts, so that we can withdraw those on unapproved duty posts, those with invalid approval and those on illegal duty and redeploy them to Police Posts, Stations, Divisions and Area Commands to provide security and safety for all Lagosians.

” It is important to underscore the facts that Lagos State, the Centre of Excellence with more than Twenty million population but with a strength of police personnel of less than 18,000 in total need more personnel to be at the police posts, police stations, divisions for the safety and adequate protection of lives and property of everyone in Lagos State.

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The ongoing police personnel audit in the Lagos State Command is done in absolutely public interest and not with any other considerations, except for the safety of all in the State. As I speak with you the audit of the police personnel attached to Hon. Mojisola Meranda has been completed and the four armed personnel attached to her from the Lagos State Police Command have been returned back to her for her protection.

“It is pertinent to also state that the ongoing police personnel audit has been on for several days now and prominent personalities and individuals have been complying with the process. The exercise once again is not aimed or targeted at any individual.

“For these prominent personalities or Business Executives that have no valid approval or having policemen attached to them under unapproved beats, they are implored to revalidate their approval for those with invalid approval or apply afresh to the Inspector-General of Police for their request to be approved without delay. “However, for those whose police personnel are still undergoing audit process with the Command, the outcome of the audit will enable the next line of action to be taken. Let me sound a note of warning that prominent persons/individuals without valid approval, Police deployment to them will be withdrawn throughout the State.

“The Special Protection Units Department at the Force Headquarters have been mandated to provide security coverage for every Nigerian needing police protection in the country, and will henceforth provide deployment of police personnel for guard duties and personnel protection, will be centrally done throughout the country at the Force Headquarters.

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“In the ongoing personnel audit some personalities approval in Lagos State with policemen attached to them cannot be traced or verified. However, they can still apply to the Inspector-General of Police for the approval of request/application and this will be treated urgently on merit as stipulated in the police regulations of guards and protection of VIPs, non-VIPs and other individuals.

“There was an application from Hon. Mudashiru Obasa on threats to his life and that of his family in the last few days and it was on the basis of that, that Police personnel were approved to him for that purpose only.

“The Lagos State Police Command is not aware and not in the know of how and when the office of the Speaker in the Lagos State House of Assembly was broken into.

“The Lagos State Police Command is neutral in the whole episode and will continue to do so to ensure law and order and public safety and security throughout the length and breadth of Lagos State. This we will not be tired of doing at the Lagos State Police Command. I hereby appeal for calm, for everyone to go about their lawful duties and responsibilities peacefully.

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“The police deployment at the Lagos State House of Assembly today has been reinforced and fortified with more deployments of Police Mobile Force Personnel (PMF) units, Counter Terrorism Units, Special Protection Units, the Bomb Squads, the conventional police teams and detectives, along with Armoured Personnel Carrier and other vehicular patrol teams to deter, prevent any untoward incident.

“Whatsoever has been done in the Lagos State House of Assembly today, the Lagos State Police Command is not in the know.

The Police don’t have responsibilities in the hallow chamber, we are limited to providing adequate security coverage for the House of Assembly and not to be involved in any other matters of politics inside the premises, except if there is complaint that bordered on crimes and safety.

“The Lagos Police Command will continue to be neutral and not get involved in any politics. Security situations in the Lagos State House of Assembly is firmly under control and normalcy has been fully restored. Lagosians are enjoined to go about their lawful businesses and other responsibilities without fear and apprehension as the police is absolutely resolved to maintain law and order throughout the State.”

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JUST IN: Fire engulfs Lagos airport’s Terminal 2

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Fire has engulfed Lagos airport’s Terminal 2.

FAAN said its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service (ARFFS) had been deployed to contain the fire.

“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to inform the public that a fire incident has occurred at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos,” the statement read.

“The FAAN Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service (ARFFS) is currently responding to the incident and working diligently to contain the situation.”

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FAAN said there were no reported casualties or loss of life.

“There have been no reported casualties or loss of life,” the authority stated.

It added that further updates would be provided as more information becomes available.

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Photos: NDLEA nabs notorious drug dealer in Rivers Island, bandits’ supplier in Zamfara

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…as China, Italy-bound cocaine concealed in local mortar, backpack intercepted in Lagos

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted consignments of cocaine concealed in local mortar and false bottom of a backpack packaged for shipment to China and Italy respectively through a logistics company in Lagos.

The seizures made by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigations (DOGI) on Thursday 30th July 2026 include 250grams of cocaine factory fitted into the base of a local mortar packed in a carton for export to China, and 500grams of the same class A drug hidden in the false bottom of a backpack being shipped to Italy.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Rivers state have arrested a 38-year-old notorious drug dealer, Ugo Gift Okonkwo, at Eagle Island Port Harcourt, following credible intelligence.

The suspect was nabbed with various quantities of cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, swinol, tramadol and codeine syrup at the time of his arrest on Sunday 26th July.

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NDLEA officers on a stop and search operation at DMGS roundabout, Onitsha, Anambra state on Monday 27th July intercepted a truck marked XK 131 BDG loaded with 26,000 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 3,960kg while the truck driver Chinedu Nwanze, 40, was arrested.

While 331.84 kilograms of skunk were recovered from a Toyota Sienna bus with registration number KUJ 26 DV along Kwale/Ughelli expressway, Delta state on Sunday 26th July, NDLEA officers in Nasarawa state on Tuesday 28th July arrested a 64-year-old man Joseph Nwaeke with 68kg skunk and 29grams of methamphetamine at Asso Angwan Muazu, Karu area of the state.

In Zamfara, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Zaria- Gusau highway on Monday 27th July intercepted a suspect, Sani Umar, 27, conveying 7,400 pills of tramadol 225mg suspected to be supplies for criminal elements.
With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Hausawa Special Primary School, Kano; Royal Crown School, Oluyole, Ibadan; Government Secondary School, Ibi, Taraba; and drivers at Challenge Bus Terminal Park, Ibadan, Oyo state, among others.
While commending the officers and men of DOGI, Rivers, Anambra, Delta, Nasarawa, and Zamfara Commands for the various successful operations, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.

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ADC Southwest Leaders Demand Removal Of Aregbesola As Interim National Secretary

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Leaders of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in the South West have asked the party’s national leadership to immediately remove Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as Interim National Secretary, accusing him of brazen constitutional violations that are threatening the party ahead of 2027.

The South West leaders, in a petition dated July 28, 2026, signed by state chairmen from across the zone and addressed to the National Chairman, said they resolved during an emergency meeting in Ibadan that Aregbesola’s conduct had plunged the ADC into avoidable crises.

According to DAILY POST, the copies of the letter signed by Olusoji Adebiyi, Ogun State Secretary; Abideen Okanlawon, Osun State Acting Chairman; Adesola Akitunde, Osun State Youth Leader; Yinka Olona, Oyo State Chairman; Adebimpe Adelowo, Oyo State member; Ilesanmi Olaiya, Ekiti State Chairman, among others, were copied to the National Working Committee (NWC), National Executive Committee (NEC), the party’s 2027 presidential candidate, the vice-presidential candidate, and the National Legal Adviser.

The chairmen alleged that Aregbesola created a parallel structure across South West states under the name “Omoluabi Progressive” and began parading officers of the splinter group as legitimate ADC executives from the ward to the state level, asserting that this directly contravenes the ADC constitution.

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They cited Article 22, Section 1 (2, 3, 8, 9, 10 and 11) of the party’s constitution, listing offences including breach of the constitution, acts likely to bring the party into disrepute, disobedience to lawful directives, creation of parallel organs, and collusion to convene unauthorised meetings.

The petitioners also accused the former Osun State governor of using his office to interfere in the party’s candidate selection process, alleging that on the last day for uploading National Assembly candidates, Aregbesola “colluded with some cohorts within INEC” to remove duly elected ADC candidates who emerged from INEC-monitored primaries and replace them with members of his Omoluabi Progressive group who never purchased nomination forms.

They also blamed Aregbesola for the lingering crises in Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states, alleging that he usurped the functions of the National Organising Secretary by appointing parallel primary election committees and submitting them to INEC.

Part of the petition reads:
“We, the undersigned State Chairmen of the South West Zone of the ADC, on behalf of the ADC South West Zonal Stakeholders, write to officially transmit our resolutions reached during the South West Zone emergency stakeholders’ meeting held on July 28, 2026, in Ibadan and equally request urgent action regarding the ceaseless, blatant violations and brazen breaches of our party’s constitution by OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA.

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“OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA acted directly in contravention of our great party’s constitution by creating parallel party structures across the South West states, including local government areas and wards, under the name and style of Omoluabi Progressive, and parading the so-called officers of this splinter group as the legitimate structures and officers of our great party across the South West, contrary to the provisions of the party constitution.

“His actions and activities do not in any way befit the status, carriage, disposition and character expected of any person occupying the high-ranking and sensitive position of National Secretary of a great party like the ADC.

“We equally learnt from reliable sources that OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA used his position as National Secretary to collude with some of his cohorts within INEC to, on July 14, 2026, the last day for uploading National Assembly candidates, unlawfully infiltrate the party’s system and fraudulently substitute the names of successful National Assembly candidates who emerged through INEC-monitored primary elections across the South West and other zones of the country with members of his Omoluabi Progressive splinter group, who did not even purchase nomination forms in the first place.”

The South West ADC leaders demanded that the coalition leadership review Aregbesola’s appointment and relieve him of his position, urging it to present a new, “competent, loyal and patriotic” replacement.

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“OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA is not fit to hold the position of Interim National Secretary. His continued stay in office will spell doom for the party.

“We therefore request the coalition leadership to review the appointment of OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA as Interim National Secretary, relieve him of this position, and request the APC extraction of the coalition to present a new, suitable person who is competent, loyal, amiable, patriotic and possesses the native intelligence required to lead the South West zone and the ADC to victory in 2027,” the petition added.

They urged the NWC and NEC to act urgently to stem the crisis and save the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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