News
Another GAC member faults Obasa’s removal, seeks Tinubu’s intervention
A member of the Governance Advisory Council of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos, Chief Muraina Taiwo, has faulted the process leading to the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the state House of Assembly.
Obasa was on January 13, 2025, removed by a majority of lawmakers over alleged misconduct, abuse of office, and financial misappropriations. He was replaced by former deputy speaker, Mojisola Meranda.
Obasa, representing Agege Constituency 1, was away in the United States when he was removed. Upon returning to Lagos on Saturday, he denied the allegations of corruption and faulted his removal, asking the lawmakers to follow the “right process” to remove him.
“My status in the House? I strongly believe I am still the speaker until the right thing has been done. If you want to remove me, remove me the proper way and I will not contest it,” he told supporters at Speaker’s Lodge, GRA Ikeja on Saturday.
Chief Taiwo in a statement obtained on Wednesday, titled, ‘My Take on the Ongoing Imbroglio at the Lagos State House of Assembly,’ said Obasa’s removal was illegal, and a disrespect to the party leadership.
He noted that the situation had polarised GAC, adding that President Bola Tinubu had the final say on the matter.
“The act of the lawmakers is illegal. It shows total disregard and clear disrespect for leadership.
“The GAC leadership is split over the matter but we will all defer to our de facto leader, the President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resolve the crisis,” the message reads.
His comment came after GAC member Senator Anthony Adefuye told The PUNCH in an interview last week that Obasa’s removal was illegal. “What he is saying is that he was illegally removed and the procedure was faulty, and I agree with him,” he said.
The PUNCH reports that the Lagos State House of Assembly has said it is expecting Obasa to resume in the House before it determines the next line of action, including a possible probe.
The spokesperson for the House, Olukayode Ogundipe, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Monday at the Assembly complex in Alausa, Ikeja.
Ogundipe also dismissed the rumour about using fake mace to remove the former speaker.
While citing other instances of removal, Obasa had on Saturday said, “When former speaker, Jokotola Pelumi was removed, he was in the House and there was no police involvement. It was done on the floor of the House, without breaking into the chamber and without presenting a fake mace.”
When asked about the controversy around the use of “fake mace” during Obasa’s removal, Ogundipe said he was also lost, wondering where it was coming from.
“I’m sure he (Obasa) is not supposed to be in charge of the mace in the first instance. The mace is in the custody of the sergeants at arms, and when it was time for us to have plenary, the usual mace was the one we used. So where the issue of fake mace was coming from, I’m also lost. I doubt if that is genuine or not, but if he has his proof, let him also come out. He who alleges also must be ready to prove,” he told our correspondent.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Benue State Government, on Thursday, sealed off the radio station, belonging to former President of the Senate, Dr. David Mark, in Otukpo.
Joy FM, 96.5 Otukpo, established in 2006, was the first private radio station in North Central Nigeria.
The station which covers over 7 states in Nigeria, due to its high frequency modulator, was invaded around 1pm on Thursday, with two trucks laden with armed Policemen.
The team was led by the Chairman of Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), Mr. Sunday Odagba and Mr. Ikwue Ikwue of the State Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Otukpo Zone.
Staff on duty were said to have been rough handled in the process, while Mr. Oloche Adeyi, who was in the studio casting 1pm network news was forced at gunpoint to abruptly terminate the news in the bulletin, a culture that is antithetical to broadcast and media practice.
Managing Director of Joy FM, Amb. Christabel Iyanya, confirmed the unfortunate incident to our Correspondent.
“They came and took siege on the station and caused pandemonium, as nobody was aware of their coming or the reason they have to invade a running station with 2 trucks of armed Policemen.
“They rough handled my staff on duty, right from the receptionist, Juliana Ameh, one of our old staff, Mallam Jibrin, my head of news, Cletus Ogbaje; and even went to the studio with heavily armed Policemen and forced Oloche Adeyi who was reading the 1pm news to stop the bulletin, at gun point.
“They entered all the offices and drove everybody out at gun point. Unfortunately, I was away in Igumale, Ado Local Government Headquarters, to attend to a business. All our entrance doors were destroyed.
“This is the height of it. I only watch this in movies. I have never heard nor seen a media house being invaded with such number of armed men, over what they call business premises. They said the station was owing N150,000 for business premises. This, we were not aware of.
“The people who led this operation, especially, Ikwue Ikwue, is from the same locality with me, he sees me all the time, if my station was owing any bill, he should have told me and I would pay immediately. We have been operating for almost 2 decades and we have never defaulted in payment of any bills or taxes, whatsoever.
“This is beyond tax. This is something they will have to explain to us. This stands condemned. We are definitely going to test this”, Iyanya, who is also the National Vice Chairman of Broadcasters Organization of Nigerian (BON), added.
…attributes low revenue in 2024 to lack of 5G Sales
By Gloria Ikibah
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has set a revenue target of $1 billion in 2025, leveraging the introduction of 6G spectrum and other advanced technologies.
This was disclosed by NCC’s Chief Executive Officer/Executive Vice Chairman, Aminu Maida, and Director of Financial Services, Yakubu Gontor, during the 2024 budget review and 2025 proposal defense before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Communications on Thursday, in Abuja.
For 2025, the NCC projects a total revenue of N272.433 billion, with key components including, N205.7 billion from operating levies, N49.784 billion from spectrum fees and additional revenue from other sources.
On expenditure, the NCC plans N95.668 billion for recurrent expenses, N10.735 billion for capital projects and N30.13 billion for special projects. The total projected expenditure stands at N136.534 billion, with an estimated N120.836 billion to be remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).
Maida revealed that in 2024, the NCC generated N195.8 billion, with N111 billion remitted to the CRF. The breakdown of earnings included, N137.6 billion from annual operating fees and N26.4 billion from spectrum fees. But the NCC said it fell short of its N292.3 billion revenue target for the year, primarily due to the inability to auction a slot of the 5G spectrum.
Gontor explained that telecom companies’ reluctance to purchase additional 5G spectrum licenses significantly impacted revenue.
He however noted that two major operators already hold 5G licenses but are underutilizing them, and the third-largest operator, expected to buy a slot, opted out, citing business expansion priorities.
Additionally, despite a 50 percent increase in telecom tariffs, the NCC does not anticipate a major revenue boost from spectrum sales, as telecom firms are prioritizing service improvements over spectrum investments.
Co-Chairman of the Committee, Senator Aliyu Ikrah Bilbis, noted that the NCC’s presentation will guide lawmakers in assessing the commission’s plans and improving its performance in 2025.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Thursday said its tower T195 along the Ugwuaji–Makurdi 330 kV transmission line was vandalised on Saturday.
TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs Ndidi Mbah, in a statement in Abuja, said that the vandalism took place at Watuolo village, Utonkon, in Ado Local Government Area of Benue.
Mbah, however, said that the vandalism was thwarted by the vigilance of the community members, who at about 3 a.m. noticed suspicious activity around the tower.
She said that the community members promptly apprehended one of the suspected vandals while the others escaped and handed him over to the police.
”TCN commends the people of Watuolo village for their swift action and vigilance.
”We equally appeal to communities hosting critical infrastructure to emulate this example and take ownership of protecting transmission installations in their vicinity.
As we continue to work with security operatives and host communities against vandalism, we appeal for more vigilance by the residents in the communities, who we believe are very critical in this fight,” she said.
(NAN)
Gov Alia bares his fangs, seals Ex-Senate President, David Mark’s radio station
NCC Targets $1bn Revenue In 2025 With 6G Spectrum, New Technologies
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