The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has restrained commercial banks in Nigeria from releasing or dealing with all monies and assets up to $225.8 million due to Nduka Obaigbena from any account maintained by him.

Obaigbena is the chairman and editor-in-chief of THISDAY Media Group and Arise News Channel.

This decision follows a lawsuit filed by First Bank of Nigeria Limited and FBNQuest Trustees Limited.

The duo accused General Hydrocarbons Limited of owing them a staggering $225,802,379.69 ($225.8 million) in outstanding debt from loan facilities granted as of 30 September 2024.

The court also blocked all commercial banks from releasing or dealing with all monies and assets up to the said amount belonging to Efe Damilola Obaigbena, Olabisi Eka Obaigbena, and General Hydrocarbons Limited.

The three individuals are directors and shareholders in General Hydrocarbons Limited, an oil and gas firm.

First Bank of Nigeria Limited and FBNQuest Trustees Limited had, on 27 December 2024, approached the court to seek orders in respect of a total claim of $225.8 million.

The amount, $225.8 million, is alleged by the plaintiffs to be an outstanding indebtedness on General Hydrocarbons’ account with First Bank as of 30 September 2024.

Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, has expressed that if Nigeria is unable to function as a united country, the different ethnic groups should be permitted to go their separate ways.

In a video shared on Thursday, Igboho, seen at a UK airport, blamed corruption and insecurity for why many Nigerians no longer take pride in their citizenship.

He added that Yoruba youths, enriched by global exposure, are eager to transform the Yoruba nation into a modern, prosperous society like those in Europe.

His words: “Even inside the airport, there is no security. They can steal your belongings inside your bag (in Nigerian airports). All these are the things dissuading people from being proud of the country, Nigeria.

“Things like that make us sad to identify ourselves as Nigerians. This is why we advocate for separation. If Nigeria is not working as a country, it is better we go our separate ways.

“Our (Yoruba) youths will transform Yoruba nation. Most of them have travelled across the world and they have learned a lot. If they come back to Yoruba land, the knowledge will help them build it and transform the nation like those in Europe.”

This is not the first time Igboho has called for the breakaway of Yoruba people from Nigeria.

In April 2024, Igboho, alongside Pro Banji Akintoye and Ola Ademola from the Yoruba Self-Determination Movement, wrote a letter to President Tinubu, urging him to establish a negotiation team to discuss the Yoruba people’s exit from Nigeria.

The letter reads in part: “We are acting for and on behalf of our 60 million Yoruba people of the Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo States, respectively, plus the Yoruba Local Government Areas of Kogi and Kwara State, and plus the Itshekiri homeland of Delta State, all together constituting the Yorubaland in Nigeria, hereby most humbly place our crowning request before Your Excellency as follows:

“That the Nigerian Federal Government shall, within the next two months, but not later than June 15, 2024, inform us Yoruba Self-determination Movement that the Nigerian Federal Government has graciously agreed to our proposal for negotiation and that they have set up a negotiation team that will meet and have a dialogue with our Yoruba Nation’s negotiation team.

“That the Nigerian Federal Government shall invite the United Nations, African Union and the Economic Community of West African States, to send observers to the negotiation meetings.”

The Bauchi State Government has dismissed allegations that it allocated N400 million in the 2025 budget to purchase six computers for the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), labelling the claim as “a lie from the pit of hell.”

In a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Aminu Hammayo, the administration described the allegation as baseless propaganda aimed at tarnishing the reputation of Governor Bala Mohammed’s government.

“The proposed budget allocates N250 million for IT infrastructure, including approximately 150 computers to be distributed across the SSG office, Bauchi Environmental Protection Agency, Hajj Commission, Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Service, and select secondary schools in the state,” Hammayo clarified.

He stressed that the allocation reflects the administration’s commitment to modernizing state institutions and advancing digital transformation, dismissing the claim of N400 million for six computers as “preposterous and unfounded.”

Hammayo further accused critics of fabricating the narrative to undermine the administration’s developmental strides, stating that Bauchi State remains focused on delivering progressive governance despite attempts to derail its mission.

She said, “The preposterous narrative of N400 million for six computers is nothing more than a lie from the pit of hell, concocted by detractors rattled by the administration’s remarkable developmental achievements. Their failure to come up with something remotely credible reveals their desperation and outright ineptitude. Bauchi State will not be swayed by these antics but remains steadfast in its mission to deliver impactful, progressive governance for its people.”

The government reaffirmed its dedication to transparency and impactful reforms, urging the public to disregard what it called “intellectually bankrupt propaganda.”