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Sanwo-Olu visibly missing as Tinubu flags off Deep-Seaport access road in Epe amid political upheaval
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Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was vusibly absent on Thursday during the official flag-off of the reconstruction of the Epe-Ijebu-Ode deep-seaport access road, a strategic infrastructure project commissioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos State.
The event, which drew several high-profile dignitaries—including Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum and Lagos Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat—proceeded without any formal explanation for Sanwo-Olu’s absence. Eyewitnesses noted that a seat clearly marked for the Lagos governor remained empty, with Deputy Governor Hamzat sitting behind it throughout the ceremony, according to a report by The Cable.
Tinubu’s Comments Directed at Deputy Governor
During his speech, President Tinubu pointedly addressed his remarks to Deputy Governor Hamzat, signaling the Lagos government’s representation at the event but omitting any direct mention of Sanwo-Olu. The President used the platform to issue a stern warning to state governors about unregulated urban development along federal infrastructure corridors.
“Please, our dear governors, let’s work together. Don’t give planning approvals without collaborating with the Surveyor-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Works,” Tinubu said.
“I’m glad the Deputy Governor of Lagos State is here. Take it that we will revoke all those approvals given on setbacks. And please note that we are very serious about it. No more approvals for those unapproved islands being created illegally.”
Signs of a Strained Relationship?
Thursday’s development adds fuel to speculation about a growing rift between Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu, a governor long seen as a close political ally of the President. Notably, Sanwo-Olu was also snubbed by Tinubu during the recent commissioning of Phase 1, Section 1 (30km) of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway an event that featured several state governors and top political leaders.
At that event, Tinubu shook hands with the attending dignitaries, including former Senate President Ahmed Lawan, and Governors Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Bassey Otu (Cross River), and Ahmed Ododo (Kogi). However, when he approached Sanwo-Olu, the President bypassed him and instead greeted Ododo, who stood next in line.
Context: Political Undercurrents in Lagos
While the Lagos State Government has yet to release an official explanation for Sanwo-Olu’s absence from Thursday’s ceremony, political analysts suggest that the ongoing tension may be linked to internal disputes within Lagos politics. In particular, attention has turned to the failed attempt to impeach Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa a move believed to have lacked the President’s support and which may have caused friction between Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu’s political camps.
As of press time, there has been no public comment from either Sanwo-Olu or the Presidency on the perceived tension or the governor’s repeated absence from major federal events in Lagos.
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The Department of State Service (DSS) has arraigned five associates of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Silva, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations that they concealed information about the whereabouts of their principal, who the agency said was implicated as a financier of an alleged aborted coup attempt against President Bola Tinubu.
Silva, a former Governor of Bayelsa State, has been declared wanted by the Federal Government, while some of his identified properties have been marked for forfeiture following allegations that he sponsored and masterminded the purported coup plot.
The five associates — Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha and Ayebaifife Suobite — were brought before Justice Peter Lifu on Wednesday and charged with allegedly concealing the whereabouts of Silva, who the DSS described as a fugitive of the law.
A two-count charge filed against them indicated that the accused persons, on April 28, 2026, became accessories after the fact of felony by concealing the whereabouts of Timiprey Silva, said to be a fugitive of the law.
The alleged offence is said to be contrary to Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The DSS also accused them of conspiracy to commit a felony, specifically concealing the whereabouts of Timiprey Silva, who is described as a fugitive of the law, contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code LFN, 2004.
However, all the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.
DSS lawyer, Emmanuel Orubor, urged the court to fix a date for the agency to open its case by calling witnesses to testify against the accused persons.
Meanwhile, Sunusi Musa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who represented Reuben Ayuba and Paganengigha Anagaha, the first and fourth accused persons, moved applications for bail on behalf of his clients.
Similar bail applications were also argued by Ibrahim Imadegbelo, who represented Musa Mohammed, the second accused person; I. G. Kelubia, who stood for Friday Paul, the third defendant; and E. C. Sogo, who represented Ayebaifife Suobite, the fifth accused person.
The lawyers informed Justice Lifu that their clients had been in custody since October 25, 2025, and urged the court to admit them to bail on liberal terms.
In a brief ruling, Justice Lifu granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N5 million each, with two sureties each in the like sum.
The sureties are required to swear to an affidavit of means, provide evidence of three years’ tax payment, show evidence of visible means of livelihood and deposit their recent passport photographs.
Justice Lifu further ordered that the identities of the sureties must be verified by the Registrar of the Court.
Pending the perfection of the bail conditions, the judge ordered that the accused persons be remanded in Kuje Prison.
The judge fixed July 22 for the commencement of trial.
The charges against them read:
COUNT ONE:
“That you, RUBEN AYUBA, MUSA MOHAMMED, FRIDAY PAUL, PAGANENGIGHA ANAGAHA and AYEBAIFIE SUOBITE, adults, males, on or about the 28th day of April, 2026, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did become accessories after the fact of felony by concealing the whereabouts of Timiprey Silva, who is a fugitive of the law and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act LFN, 2004.”
COUNT TWO:
“That you, RUBEN AYUBA, MUSA MOHAMMED, FRIDAY PAUL, PAGANENGIGHA ANAGAHA and AYEBAIFIE SUOBITE, adults, males, on or about the 28th day of April, 2026, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire to commit a felony to wit: concealing the whereabouts of Timiprey Silva, who is a fugitive of the law and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code LFN, 2004.”
The Delta State House of Assembly says the decision to declare the seat of the member representing Udu Constituency vacant was taken in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Information and House Leader, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, gave the explanation in Asaba.
Nwaobi said the Assembly acted strictly within its constitutional powers and not for political reasons.
He said, “The House merely carried out its constitutional responsibility after considering the resignation and defection letter submitted by the lawmaker representing Udu Constituency.”
The assembly spokesman explained that the Constitution clearly states the conditions under which a lawmaker can defect from the political party on whose platform he or she was elected without losing the seat.
According to him, the only condition is where there is a division or crisis within the political party at the national level.
He said there was no evidence before the Assembly to show that the lawmaker’s defection met that constitutional requirement.
Nwaobi said, “The Delta State House of Assembly is guided solely by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Every action taken by the House is rooted in the law, and nothing is done outside the provisions of the Constitution.”
He added that the Assembly’s resolution should not be seen as a political vendetta but as a faithful implementation of the Constitution.
The House leader reaffirmed the commitment of the Assembly to the rule of law, constitutional democracy and legislative integrity.
He urged members of the public to study the relevant provisions of the Constitution before drawing conclusions on the Assembly’s decision.
DAY 17 of Projects Commissioning in the FCT
Coup plot: DSS arraigns five associates of ex-Gov Silva
Why we declared Delta lawmaker’s seat vacant – Assembly
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