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How Oluremi Tinubu allegedly stopped EFCC from arresting Obasa
Nigeria’s First Lady, Remi Tinubu, has reportedly stepped in to protect impeached Lagos Speaker Mudashiru Obasa from arrest and prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Sources revealed that Remi instructed anti-graft agents to hold off on Mr Obasa’s arrest to prevent divisions within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos.
Previously, EFCC insiders told The Gazette that a strong corruption case had been built against Mr Obasa, with investigators prepared to take action upon his return to Nigeria.
Authorities have been investigating the Lagos politician since at least 2020, when he was questioned over multiple reports by The Gazette and Sahara Reporters linking him to financial misconduct and the acquisition of illicit assets. Though he was not charged at the time, his recent impeachment on January 13—following a budgetary scandal exposed by The Gazette—renewed calls for a probe, with EFCC officials believing they could now proceed without political interference.
Despite these allegations, Mr. Obasa made a bold return from the U.S. last week, receiving a warm welcome from supporters in Lagos. He appeared unfazed by the corruption claims, even holding a press conference where he denounced his impeachment as illegal and lacking due process.
Presidency sources told The Gazette that Mr. Obasa’s “secret weapon” was First Lady Remi Tinubu, who personally intervened to halt EFCC action against him.
Mrs. Tinubu reportedly blocked anti-graft agents after recognizing Mr. Obasa’s strong political influence in key Lagos strongholds such as Agege and Alimosho—major voting blocs that could significantly impact future elections.
She argued that Mr. Obasa’s political clout in these areas would be crucial for her husband’s re-election bid in 2027, urging anti-corruption officials to delay any action against him to maintain party unity.
“She said he’s useful to them in Agege and environs and they don’t want an immediate crack in their ranks now,” a presidency official said under anonymity to discuss the matter. “She said they should continue their investigation but hold off now on touching him because he’s useful to the party.”
According to EFCC sources, Mrs. Tinubu’s questionable participation had an immediate effect because they did not receive the expected signal from the presidency to take action against Mr. Obasa.
The political ties of the ruling party have always hampered Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies, which frequently wait for high-level approvals before filing criminal charges against dishonest politicians, even when there is ample proof and the case is past due.
Mr Obasa declined comments when reached by The Gazette on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, but he had repeatedly denied all allegations of corruption, blamed his political opponents for his ordeal and said all actions leading to his removal as Lagos Speaker were illegal.
Peter Obi of the Labour Party received 71,327 votes in the Alimosho region, defeating Bola Tinubu, who received 62,909 votes in the most recent 2023 elections.
When asked why she requested that Mr Obasa be exonerated, Mrs Tinubu did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A similar inquiry on whether it was customary for the First Lady to interfere in matters outside of her office was not answered by the State House.
A request for a response from the EFCC was also not immediately answered.
News
JUST IN 2025 Ramadan: Sultan Makes New Announcement For Muslims
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, in collaboration with the National Moon Sighting Committee, has confirmed that there were no verified sightings of the crescent moon marking the beginning of Sha’aban 1446AH.
This announcement holds significant importance for Muslims in Nigeria, as Sha’aban is the last month before Ramadan, the holiest month in Islam.
Official Declaration of Sha’aban 1446AH
In a formal statement, Sambo Wali Junaidu, the Wazirin Sokoto and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, Sokoto, disclosed that no credible reports of moon sightings were received from moon sighting committees across the country.
As a result, Thursday, January 30, 2025, will be observed as the 30th day of Rajab 1446AH, while Friday, January 31, 2025, has been officially declared as the first day of Sha’aban 1446AH.
Sultan of Sokoto Endorses the Decision
The declaration was formally endorsed by His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).
“The confirmation of Sha’aban’s commencement is crucial, as it ensures consistency in the Islamic calendar and helps guide religious observances for Muslims across the country,” the statement emphasized.
Call for Spiritual Preparation for Ramadan
In light of this development, the Sultanate Council has advised Nigerian Muslims to adhere to official moon sighting announcements and begin spiritual preparations for Ramadan.
Sha’aban is considered a sacred month in Islam, often dedicated to increased prayers, fasting, and self-reflection in anticipation of Ramadan, which is set to begin in the coming weeks.
The Council reiterated the importance of unity and adherence to Islamic traditions, urging Muslims to take advantage of Sha’aban for spiritual purification and devotion.
News
JAMB Suspends Law Programs in Eight Universities, Including KWASU and Redeemers.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that it will no longer conduct admissions for the Law program in eight universities. This decision was made following the suspension of the Bachelor of Laws program by the Council of Legal Education for the 2025/2026 academic session at the affected universities.
The affected institutions are:
– *Kwara State University*, Malete, Ilorin, Kwara State
– *Bingham University*, Karu, Nasarawa State
– *Redeemers University*, Ede, Osun State
– *Western Delta University*, Oghara, Delta State
– *Taraba State University*, Jalingo, Taraba State
– *Arthur Jarvis University*, Akpabuyo, Cross River State
– *Alex Ekwueme Federal University*, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State
– *Nigerian Police Academy*, Wudil, Kano State
According to JAMB spokesman, Fabian Benjamin, the suspension of the Law programme at the Nigerian Police Academy will last for two academic sessions, specifically the 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 sessions.
“As a result, JAMB will not approve any admissions for candidates seeking to enroll in the Law program at the aforementioned universities for the 2025/2026 academic session. Furthermore, the ban on registration for the Law program at the Nigerian Police Academy will extend into the 2026/2027 academic session,” the statement concluded.
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Ex-President Jacob Zuma’s daughter arrested over South Africa riots
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, has been arrested over her alleged involvement in the 2021 riots that left over 300 people dead, police say.
Violence, chaos, and fear ripped through the port city of Durban, then spread to Gauteng, after Zuma’s jailing sparked intense protests over four years ago.
Zuma-Sambudla, a controversial figure in her own right, was accused of sharing incendiary social media posts that fuelled the civil unrest.
The arrest comes as a “result of a meticulous investigation” said spokesperson for the Hawks elite police unit, Brig Thandi Mbambo.
Zuma-Sambudla handed herself in to Durban Central police station on Thursday morning to face charges under the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act and incitement to commit violence, police said.
Her father’s party uMkhonto WeSizwe (MK), of which she is a senior member, confirmed her court appearance and urged supporters to “mobilize all ground forces to attend in numbers.”
While she has not commented directly on the charges, Zuma-Sambudla shared a cryptic note on X that simply said: “We see you.”
MK party spokesperson Nhlamule Ndhela told local broadcaster ENCA she had long been preparing for this moment
“She conditioned herself, because there have been many threats about her imminent arrest for the past three or four years,” he said.
He added that she will abide by the law as “a law-abiding citizen”.
This is not the first time her name has been brought up in connection to the 2021 riots, which are considered one of the bloodiest episodes in post-apartheid South Africa.
Zuma resigned as president in 2018 after nine years in office, plagued by corruption allegations, which he claimed were part of a political conspiracy.
Three years later, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court after refusing to testify before a panel investigating corruption under his presidency.
Protests erupted after he surrendered to serve his sentence.
During the unrest, Zuma-Sambudla was outspoken on X, frequently sharing images of the destruction and chaos, accompanied by the caption: “KZN, we see you.”
She used this phrase often throughout the violence. In a now deleted post, she shared a video of someone firing an automatic rifle at a poster of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
In 2022, Brig Mbambo , told local media they were not directly investigating her, but she had been named in statements from sources.
In response to this, Zuma-Sambudla said on X, “I have no fear! I will not be intimidated! I have beaten the dogs, now the masters are coming out! We see you!”
At the same time, the Jacob Zuma Foundation, said in a statement the former president’s children were being targeted.
Last year, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) released a report that said the riots were a “carefully orchestrated event”.
But it said it could find no direct link to Zuma’s arrest.
In 2023, a former security guard was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in the deadly riots.
He was the first person to be prosecuted for the riots.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who succeeded Jacob Zuma in 2018, described the violence as an “attempted insurrection”.
More than 200 shopping malls were looted and more than 150,000 jobs were estimated to have been lost during the unrest, which lasted for several days.
Last year, Zuma’s MK ran against his former party, the ANC, in elections, gaining 15% of the vote to become the country’s third largest party
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