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How Oluremi Tinubu allegedly stopped EFCC from arresting Obasa

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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.

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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.

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“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.

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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.

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Insecurity: BUDA urges govt to quickly rescue Baruten from terrorists

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The Batombu Unity and Development Initiative, Abuja (BUDIA), has raised an alarm over invasion of Baruten in Kwara state by bandits and terrorists, demanding for urgent government intervention.

This was contained in a statement issued and signed by its President, Nasir Abubakar Othman and endorsed by the Board of Trustees.

The nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for the welfare and development of the Batombu people, expresses grave concern over the worsening insecurity caused by escalating terrorism, which pose a critical threat to lives and properties in Baruten and Kaiama Local Government Areas of Kwara State.

“In recent months, communities in Baruten and Kaiama Local Government Areas, located near Kainji Lake National Park, have endured a surge in violent killings These blood birth has led to tragic loss of lives, widespread destruction of properties and a growing climate of fear and cessation of farming and economic activities.

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The violence has displaced and disrupted numerous families, local businesses and agricultural activities, as well as severely destabilized and displaced the affected areas.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
ALH. YUSUF TUNKU
Chairman
PROF. UMARU SEMO ISHIAKU Member
RT. HON. IBRAHIM ISA BIO
Member
RT. HON. ZAKARI MOHAMMED Member
RT. HON. MOHAMMED OMAR BIO
Member
IBRAHIM ALIYU KPEROGI
Member
SABIYABE YAHAYA Member
EXECUTIVES
BARR. ABUBAKAR NASIR OTHMAN
President
ABDULLAHI KABIR
Vice President
MOHAMMED JIBRIL FCA
General Secretary
ABDULLAHI HALIDU ALIYU
MADAKI’N GWANARA Treasurer
BARR. ABUBAKAR KOTO ALIYU
Legal Adviser
HAJIA AISHA AHMED OYORU President Women Wing

The towns of Chikanda, Yashikira, Kuburufu and Gure are now overwhelmed by the influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs), the majority of whom are women, children, and elderly individuals.

This critical situation calls for immediate intervention from the government and security agencies to restore order and protect vulnerable populations in these communities.

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BUDIA commends the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, along with senior military officials and representatives of security agencies, for visiting Kaiama as part of their ongoing assessment efforts.

However, we strongly urge the government to extend similar assessment visits to the troubled areas of Baruten Local Government Area to address the urgent needs of affected communities and adopt a comprehensive strategy to resolve this crisis.

Similarly, we call on all residents of Baruten and Kaiama to remain law abiding and vigilant, promptly reporting any suspicious activities or unfamiliar movements of strangers to security agencies stationed within their communities and to traditional rulers.
BUDIA stands in solidarity with all sons and daughters of Baruten and Kaiama as we urgently appeal for decisive military intervention to end the violence and restore peace and stability in our communities.

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Kano Judiciary Takes Action Against Judges, Suspend Registrars Over Misconduct

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The Kano State Judicial Service Commission has taken disciplinary action against two court registrars and two Upper Shari’a Court judges over misconduct.

This was contained in a statement issued by the spokesperson for the Kano State Judiciary, Mr Baba Jibo-Ibrahim, on Monday in Kano.

He said that the decision was part of the resolutions reached at the JSC’s 80th meeting held on April 22, 2025.

He said the commission, in line with its mandate, adopted the recommendations of the investigation carried out by the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee and resolved to suspend and issue formal warnings to them.

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Those suspended are Ibrahim Adamu, Principal Registrar II of the Kano High Court, and Maigida Lawan, Principal Registrar of the Sharia Court of Appeal.

Upper Sharia Court Judges Alkali Mansur Ibrahim and Nasiru Ahmad were issued warnings.

Jibo-Ibrahim said Adamu, a Principal Registrar II of the Kano High Court of Justice, was suspended without pay for six months.

The statement added, “His promotion is deferred after a finding that confirmed he verbally assaulted and attempted to use physical force against his superior officer, amounting to gross misconduct in violation of the provisions of the Kano State Civil Service Rules 2004 and the JSC Regulations.

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“This is the second time Adamu has appeared before an investigative committee for violence-related actions at work, and he has been issued a series of queries.”

The commission found Adamu’s actions to be grossly unbecoming of his office and imposed the appropriate disciplinary sanctions.

The statement said Lawan, a Principal Registrar of the Kano State Sharia Court of Appeal, was suspended without pay for six months, immediately, after being found guilty of demanding and accepting improper gratification under false pretences.

“The commission adopted the recommendation of the JPCC, and Lawan was demoted by one grade level (from GL-13 down to GL-12),” the statement read.

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He said that the commission issued a warning to Malam Mansur Ibrahim, an Upper Shari’a Court judge, after evidence confirmed he used insulting and abusive language towards a litigant.

The JSC also issued a formal warning to Nasiru Ahmad, an Upper Shari’a Court judge, for ordering the detention of a judgment debtor in a manner that suggested personal interest and compromised judicial impartiality.

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UNUSUAL! Without invitation, Police declared me wanted — Daughter of ABC Transport owner

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Ihuoma Julia Nneji, 34, daughter of the owner of ABC Transport, claimed over the weekend that she was declared wanted by the police without any prior invitation or notification of a petition against her.

She was recently listed in a Special Police Gazette Bulletin issued by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF NCCC), Abuja, for criminal defamation, injurious falsehood, and cyberstalking.

In a statement, she insisted she never defamed or blackmailed anyone on her verified social media pages or elsewhere.

Instead, she claimed she is the victim of blackmail and threats from her former boyfriend, Henry Uzochukwu, the complainant in the case.According to her: “I met Henry Uzochukwu in April 2024, and we started getting to know each other. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned”.

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“This conflict began in August 2024 when I called off our wedding, scheduled for November 2024, due to unresolved issues regarding Henry’s sexuality. I found incriminating evidence suggesting he is gay and decided not to proceed with the marriage.

“Further investigations revealed not only his interest in men but also that he had been engaged multiple times without disclosing the reasons for the failed marriages. I discovered that the woman he was to marry before me left him a week before the wedding over the same issue.
“I was deceived and manipulated by the many lies he told.
“After I canceled the wedding, he began to harass me, threatened my life, and falsely accused me of operating an Instagram page spreading rumors about him — a claim that is speculative and untrue.”

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